A Man of Science and Engineering in Troubled Times Wandering in the Late Qing Dynasty

Chapter 365 Going to England
Anyway, the European continent is still very close to the old United States, especially on the east coast of the United States. As long as the funds are sufficient, it is very fast and convenient to take a passenger ship to and from New York and London.

In particular, the frequency of passenger ships departing from the United States to Europe is very high. Americans who made money in the industrial revolution like to go to Europe for consumption and tourism.

Naturally, the current ticket will not be very cheap, unless you sit in the first class like Jack.

Yang Xiaolou has toured the United States for several times, and he can continue to go to Europe to gain fame. In Western culture, Europe is overwhelming the United States.

Therefore, if you want to make a name for yourself in the European and American cultural circles, it is more suitable to go to Europe. Li Yu also submitted the manuscript to the UK first.

On the ship, Li Yu read newspapers and books when he had nothing to do. An American on the same boat suddenly walked over and said, "Are you Li Yu, a mathematical genius and the man hiding behind Wall Street?"

Li Yu put down the book in his hand, looked up and saw a tall and thin man: "Who is your Excellency?"

The other party took off his hat and said politely, "I am Livermore, an investor."

It turned out to be the earliest super financial investor in the United States.Or it would be more appropriate to call him a speculator.

This guy is probably most famous for shorting the U.S. stock market at the beginning of the Great Depression in 1929, earning $1 million!It directly made him one of the richest men in the world at the time.

And then this guy went bankrupt after a few years for unknown reasons.

However, he went bankrupt many times in his life, and he can be regarded as a legend in financial history.

Li Yu replied casually, "Hello."

"Can I sit next to you?" Livermore said.

Li Yu stretched out his hand and said, "Yes."

After sitting down, Livermore said to the waiter: "Please give us two glasses of whiskey, thank you."

Li Yu asked, "Why did you say that I am the man hiding behind Wall Street?"

Livermore said with a smile: "Which trader or investor doesn't know your relationship with Mr. Morgan now, he is the god of Wall Street. Of course, you are also the god of science. By the way, you are from the East, or you may say that you are from the East." The Buddha is more suitable? In short, the combination of two god-like characters really made me watch a good show."

Seeing Livermore's happy look, Li Yu roughly guessed the situation: "Sir, did you make a fortune in the stock market?"

Livermore took a sip of whiskey: "It's not a big profit, it's nothing compared to your Excellency. I just made $10 through the big waves of LY radio in your hands."

Li Yu said: "Mr. seems to have bought shares very early, and the news is really well-informed."

Livermore said: "I happened to be in St. Louis at the time, and I saw the radio at the World Expo and knew that this thing would be invaluable in the future. So I hurried back to New York and invested all my wealth, about $[-]. Unexpectedly, the news came out suddenly that Mr. Morgan had invested in LY Radio, and even the Dow Jones Index would join. Moreover, the newspapers heavily reported your company's horrible performance and production expansion plan, and the stock price rose instantly. But the one I made the most money."

What he said was true and false, and I don't know if it was really good luck or an extremely keen business sense.However, Li Yu would not really guess which ones were true and which ones were false, he just said, "Congratulations sir!"

Livermore raised his glass and said, "I should thank you, a genius, without your company, how could I make so much money. And..." Livermore leaned over and whispered, "I heard that you suggested that Carnegie A lady in the family invests in the stock market, and the rate of return is terribly high. In addition, you are so proficient in mathematics, you will definitely become the next Mr. Morgan, and it is not an exaggeration to say that you are the man behind Wall Street."

He doesn't know why there are so many sources of news. Li Yu said with a smile: "I explained to Mr. Morgan that although economics and mathematics are closely related, mathematics has nothing to do with the stock market."

Livermore actually took out a copy of "Fractals and Chaos" from his bag: "All I know are chaotic systems, which cannot be predicted."

Li Yu was really a little shocked, he even read math books!

No wonder I have been hearing that financial companies in later generations often recruit some engineers, and middle and back-office personnel such as banks naturally have the most mathematics and computers.

The investment analysis of some investment banks also likes to recruit some people with science and engineering backgrounds, because they need to investigate a certain industry in great detail in order to make decisions, so they must have people who have a very thorough understanding of the industry.

This kind of understanding must be really, really, fundamentally understood. To investigate the chemical industry, you must have a chemical major; to investigate the automobile industry, you must have a mechanical major; to investigate the pharmaceutical industry, you must also be a pharmaceutical major.

Doing finance is really not easy.

Anyway, the relationship between the world and finance cannot be said to be close, it can only be said that there is me in you and cannot be separated.

It seems that Livermore is really good at it, he is not a complete speculator, he knows that he must learn all the time, otherwise he will not make so much money.

Li Yu asked curiously, "Can you understand this book?"

Livermore spread his hands: "I can only understand a small part. After all, I only have a middle school education. It is not easy to read all the characters in it. I can guess some truths from the stories in the book. But I really like reading Your book, a math book has so many images and stories, it makes people like me read it with gusto."

The second edition of "Fractals and Chaos" has made many improvements, and the first half is written for the general public.

Li Yu said: "Since you also know that the stock market cannot be predicted by mathematics, why do you need to read mathematics books?"

Livermore's thinking was actually very clear: "You said the opposite. I only realized that the stock market cannot be analyzed by mathematics after reading your book. But there is no harm in knowing a little mathematics, at least the calculation ability has improved a lot. Now the market It is so difficult to get news on the Internet, it may be a good plan to enrich yourself.”

Now that listed companies do not have the clear financial statements as later generations, it is more difficult for ordinary investors to obtain company information.It's a bit unbelievable that Livermore can make correct judgments so many times.

Li Yu said: "When you go to Europe this time, do you want to visit the French stock exchange in London?"

"You are really right! If I have the opportunity, I would like to see how the British and the French manipulate finance," Livermore said, "Of course I would like to take a good vacation first, and I can't live so exciting every day. "

Li Yu was also amused: "The word 'manipulation' you used is not subtle at all."

Livermore continued to take a sip of whiskey: "Everyone knows what is so reserved! If I have that ability and want to manipulate an industry, then I can make a lot of money!"

This kid later really manipulated the cotton market in the United States.

The ship docked in London, Li Yu had to disembark first, and Livermore continued to go to Greece to enjoy the scenery of the Aegean Sea. He finally said: "Your company's stock is one of the few that I plan to hold for a long time. , I think it will not disappoint me."

Livermore is a frequent short-term speculator, and the "long-term" in his mouth is probably only a few months.

-

After disembarking, Li Yu was greeted by Lord Kelvin and President Huggins, who did a good job of giving Li Yu face. Li Yu shook hands with them and said, "The two seniors came to the pier in person. I'm sorry."

Lord Kelvin smiled and said, "If you don't show some sincerity, how can you contribute more articles to us?"

Li Yu also laughed and said, "I just want to boost the reputation of the "Science" I just bought."

Lord Kelvin said: "It's great that you have promoted! Now our society and universities are sending letters to the United States. This time you are here, and you have to send us another high-quality article. Then I will help you apply for a professorship at Cambridge, or just give you a Ph.D., and I will make it sound better in the future.”

He was quite considerate of himself, Li Yu asked, "Doctor? Do you still want to defend your thesis?"

Holding a brand-new pipe, Kelvin said: "This little thing couldn't be easier. There are a few people with higher academic levels than you, just go through the motions. The main reason is that I have the title of Cambridge and I want to use their laboratory in the future." Much more convenient."

President Huggins also said: "Research must be inseparable from the laboratory, and you don't know, all universities in Europe are doing your oil film method experiments. I heard that even Mach and Mach, who often published articles criticizing atom theory, Ostwald did it all, but they still don't want to admit it."

Li Yu said: "The laboratory, the elders are referring to the Cavendish Laboratory?"

"What else?" said Lord Kelvin. "Cambridge people are so stingy that they only let their own people use the laboratory."

Li Yu said: "This regulation is normal, otherwise everyone can use it, and the laboratory will become a vegetable market."

Lord Kelvin said: "I will say hello to you when the time comes. Just pick one of your articles as a doctoral thesis. Of course, it would be better if there is a new one."

Li Yu thought for a while and said, "I have already done some work on the ship. Since the Lord has helped me so much, I will definitely give you some new results."

Lord Kelvin said happily: "You really surprise me every time!"

Seeing that the time was ripe, Li Yu immediately continued to offer conditions: "If Lord can let Cambridge not only give me a doctorate, but also recruit some Chinese students every year, I will definitely be very motivated."

Lord Kelvin said with a smile: "Since you started a business in the United States, you have become more and more like a profiteer. The offer is so open that I can't refuse it."

Li Yu also smiled and said, "It doesn't need to be too many, ten a year is not a problem, right?"

Lord Kelvin said: "Fortunately, my old face is still recognizable in Cambridge. Since this is the first time you have asked me for a request, I will do everything for you."

Li Yu cupped his hands and said, "Thank you, my lord."

Lord Kelvin followed suit, cupped his hands and said, "It's easy to talk about."

President Huggins laughed beside him and said, "Your Majesty, let's learn Chinese as well next time!"

(End of this chapter)