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

Chapter 585: The Analects of Confucius is held in the right hand

While waiting for Masuda Takashi's reply, Li Yu was invited to give a lecture at Tokyo Imperial University, where he talked about some issues in aerodynamics - of course, mainly about airship technology with little future.

Many people's biggest impression of airships is Kirov in "Red Alert", whose phrase "Kirov reporting!" is unforgettable.

However, after all, "Red Alert" incorporates a lot of elements from the old American and Soviet Union. The equipment of the Allied forces in the game is very modern, but the Soviet side seems very backward. There are also many horror game units such as self-destructing trucks and radiation engineers. .

Moreover, the Allies all have fighter planes, but the Soviet side turns out to be an old World War I-era airship, which is considered advanced.

But before the First World War, airships were really intimidating.

In the years after World War I, when airplanes did not have civil aviation capabilities, they were also a luxury passenger transportation method. After all, rich people liked it.

Little Japan has invested nearly one million yen in developing airships, and has actually produced a rigid airship similar to Zeppelin's.

This thing is expensive to make, and the helium filled in it is even more expensive.

If you use nitrogen, safety is safety, but maintenance costs may outpace construction costs.

Iwasaki Koyata said: "Maybe it's because I read Buddhist scriptures every day that I don't have time to take care of the symphony orchestra. I have to think about human spiritual issues and the connotation of Eastern philosophy every day."

Li Yu asked: "President Iwasaki really plans to practice Zen?"

He, the vice president, is very leisurely. The president of Mitsubishi is his cousin. He is young and energetic, so Iwasaki Koya doesn't have to worry about too many things.

"Mr. Li Yu, I am Masao Shibusawa. I have passed on the request of my father Eiichi Shibusawa. I hope that Mr. Shibusawa will come and sit at my house." Masao Shibusawa said respectfully.

Even if airships can be profitable, it is difficult to make big money because the operating costs are too high. Even Germany's Zeppelin Company has difficulty making money and relies entirely on financial support.

This should be Japan's first symphony orchestra, but it is not very professional.

"Please lead the way." Li Yu said, just in time to transfer the money from the Hongmen in the United States to him.

He is an economist, with the title of "Father of Japanese Enterprises", "King of Japanese Finance", "Leader of Modern Japanese Economy", "Father of Japanese Capitalism", "Father of Modern Japanese Industrial Industry" etc. Piles of titles.

Li Yu, a "good guy", went to the end, sent Buddha to the West, and helped Japan obtain helium from the United States so that they could continue to contribute to the "promising" cause of airships.

Li Yu said with a smile: "I can't say happiness. If I really want to be happy, I will travel around the mountains and rivers every day."

Li Yu doesn't need to worry about this.

But after all, the little devil has to taste a little bit of the sweetness first.

After 2019, Shibusawa Eiichi replaced Yukichi Fukuzawa and became Japan's largest figure on the -yen bill.

Li Yu immediately gave him an idea: "We can open up a high-end travel route from Tokyo to Osaka, Kyoto and other places. We can even have a transoceanic route, go to Pyongyang, then go to Beijing, then go to Shanghai, and finally turn back to Japan. There is no need to I’m worried that no one will take it. One of your company’s big businesses is shipping, so why not open another air route? As long as the fare is set high enough, you can definitely make a profit.”

Li Yu teased: "Has President Iwasaki had an epiphany?"

When Li Yu arrived, Shibusawa Eiichi and Mr. Sun had already been chatting for a while. After seeing Li Yu, Shibusawa Eiichi said: "Academician Li Yu, please take a seat quickly! You are a young talent who is admirable."

Shibusawa Eiichi had already reached a high-ranking official position, but he suddenly abandoned his official position and entered business, and eventually became a figure of Japanese business father level.

Moreover, this guy is a bit idealistic and is currently trying his best to ease Sino-Japanese relations to ensure normal trade.

Iwasaki Koyata said: "I was very bored before, so I started a symphony orchestra. Unfortunately, it was disbanded within two years due to poor management."

Li Yu said politely: "It's an honor."

After the lecture, Iwasaki Koyata specially invited Li Yu to his house to drink sake.

Shibusawa Eiichi said: "Mr. Sun has repeatedly asked me about economic issues. Why not give up politics and become an entrepreneur?"

Masao Shibusawa said: "My father also invited Mr. Sun to his house."

Koya Iwasaki rubbed his chin: "It makes sense! But cross-border routes require authorization from the Presidential Office of your country. I have to find Mr. Mitsuru Toyama and contact the embassy through him."

After bidding farewell to Koyata Iwasaki, when Li Yu returned to the hotel where he was staying, a Japanese man was waiting.

"Thank you." After Li Yu sat down, he saw a map on the table with some railway lines drawn, so he said, "Are you two studying industry?"

Li Yu really didn't want them to understand Chinese too well, so he said casually: "President Iwasaki can go ask the eminent monks in Japan and meditate more."

"Not really," Koyata Iwasaki shook his head, "Buddhism is vast and profound, I only have a brief understanding of it, and you need to have a profound foundation in Sinology to read more profound Buddhist scriptures."

There is no need for Li Yu to get involved in things like the railway. Even if it is built, it will only become a channel for foreign powers to exploit China's resources and even an artery for aggression. So let it develop.

Needless to say, the one who was interested in these new things was Koyata Iwasaki, now the vice president of Mitsubishi.

——Let the little devil accomplish this, otherwise it will damage his prestige, and Li Yu will have to lead the little devil's technology tree in the future.

"I understand, studying things leads to knowledge, right?" Iwasaki Koyata said, "I have a futon in my room."

After entering his home, Li Yu saw many Western musical instruments.

Shibusawa Eiichi said: "I was shocked and very pleased to hear that Mr. Li Yu wanted to cooperate with Mitsui and other chaebols. I have been working hard to ease Sino-Japanese relations for many years. It is inevitable to establish more business relations. The key one."

The main person responsible for the development of airships is the Mitsubishi Zaibatsu.

Mr. Sun sighed and said: "The sprouts have not yet sprouted."

Eiichi Shibusawa said: "Based on my experience in politics and business, Mr. Li Yu has always been devoted to academia and business, but he is much happier."

Mr. Sun sighed: "Without a stable environment, it is impossible to build railways, and a few military expenditures may reach tens of millions, which is heartbreaking!"

"I think it's just that the six roots are impure," Iwasaki Koyata sighed, and then said, "A lot of money has been spent on the current airship research and development, and we are deeply involved in it. If we can't think of a way to make profit, I'm afraid we have to suspend it. I work every day I’m so worried that I can’t rest at ease.”

Shibusawa Eiichi said: "Mr. Sun visited Japan last year and worked with me to study the construction of 10 kilometers of railways in China. We have almost reached an agreement to jointly establish the 'China Industrial Company' with 500 million yen. And Sun My husband also discussed loan matters with several banks, but it just happened that Mr. Song Jiaoren was assassinated and he had to return to China, so the matter came to an end for the time being."

Li Yu pointed to the bookshelf and said: "Symphony seems to be different from Buddhist music. Your wall full of Buddhist scriptures does not match Western orchestral instruments."

Shibusawa Eiichi certainly didn't know Li Yu's purpose, but he was indeed opposed to the war and hoped to establish normal economic and trade relations.

Li Yu said: "This depends on Japan's attitude. If it keeps thinking about aggression and plunder, it will never be possible to have genuine and normal economic and trade relations."

Li Yu worked hard on those strategies, which were not considered normal economic and trade relations, but they were all forced by the little devils.

After hearing this, Shibusawa nodded and said: "Mr. Sun suggested that I visit your country and promote Sino-Japanese economic cooperation with practical actions. I have booked a boat ticket and will leave soon." Mr. Sun said: "Thank you Shibusawa. Mr. Ze."

Eiichi Shibusawa said: "I have been deeply influenced by Confucianism since I was a child, and I respect Confucianism. I have always wanted to visit the tomb of the most holy teacher, and I have fulfilled my wish."

Perhaps because of the influence of Confucianism, Shibusawa Eiichi did not become a big chaebol.

He founded more than 500 companies in his life. As the "father of industry" in modern Japan and with deep political connections, he could actually easily transform into a large chaebol like Mitsubishi and Mitsui.

However, he despised the plutocratism pursued by the Japanese business community from the bottom of his heart, which was very strange.

Some of the businesses he created made no money at all, or very little. The reason why he insisted on establishing it was because he felt that the country lacked this kind of industry. Invest in them not simply for personal victory, but for the country as a whole.

It can be seen that he has extremely strong Confucian ideas of "loyalty to the emperor and patriotism" in his mind.

Of course, one must see clearly: the one who is loyal is his own country, Japan.

Mr. Sun said: "If Japan has more people like Mr. Shibusawa, the economy and trade between the two countries will definitely grow rapidly."

Shibusawa Eiichi said: "I have always believed that international economic relations are not about holding a weapon in the right hand and an abacus in the left hand. It is not that the two countries are confronting each other, but that the two countries respect each other and seek the development of a common cause on the basis of morality. . When a businessman like me runs a business in this country, he must hold the Analects of Confucius in his right hand and an abacus-like precision in his left hand, and use this as his only creed."

"The Analects of Confucius is held in the right hand and the abacus is held in the left hand" is Shibusawa Eiichi's famous saying.

If little Japan can develop with peace of mind, it might be able to become a country like the Five Nordic Countries, but they are too ambitious and always look greedy like a snake swallowing an elephant.

And if it does not engage in militarism, it seems difficult to develop with peace of mind.

It's a dead end of contradictions.

Shibusawa Eiichi really wanted to do something when Sino-Japanese relations were about to become tense, but it was of no use.

Given the increasingly radical trend in Japanese society, any of his efforts will be in vain. Japan will propose the "Twenty-One Plan" early next year.

In fact, through his connections in the political circles, Shibusawa Eiichi had roughly guessed that his efforts would be fruitless, but he seemed to still have the Confucian saying in his mind: "Do something when you know you can't do it."

Anyway, this guy is really idealistic.

But it is obvious that Japan's four major chaebols have more influence on Japan's political situation.

As for who is right and who is wrong, it goes without saying.

Mr. Sun admired Eiichi Shibusawa's views very much, "The next time I come to Japan, I will definitely bring a set of The Analects of Confucius to me."

Shibusawa Eiichi smiled and said, "I know this book by heart."

His son Masao Shibusawa suddenly said: "In addition to "The Analects of Confucius", I also hope that Mr. Li Yu's Star Wars series will be released in Japan."

Shibusawa Eiichi said: "This book has been popular in Europe and the United States for many years. Even an old man like me wants to read it."

It was inevitable to release Star Wars in Japan sooner or later, so Li Yu said: "I will entrust someone who is proficient in both Chinese and Japanese languages ​​​​and has translation capabilities to translate it."

Masao Shibusawa said happily: "I will definitely contact Kodansha personally at that time to distribute Mr.'s book."

Li Yu said: "Kodanshe?"

Masao Shibusawa said: "Sir, do you know this publisher?"

Li Yu said: "I heard something."

The "heard" in his mouth refers to the comics later published by Kodansha, such as "Attack on Titan", "Ghost in the Shell", "Slam Dunk", "Initial D", and "Fairy Tail" ”, “Sailor Moon”, “Cardcaptor Sakura”, and the original light novels of the fate series, etc.

Masao Shibusawa only knew that Kodansha was now one of the largest publishing houses in Japan. Li Yu had been to Japan many times and must have seen it in bookstores.

Masao Shibusawa was interested in brokering this matter and could earn a considerable commission from it, so he guaranteed: "When Kodansha publishes it, we will pay you the same royalties as American publishers."

Li Yu didn't have much time to contact Japanese publishers. With the little devil's domestic consumption power, he wouldn't make much money, and the sales volume would be less than half of Germany's at most.

It would be better if he was willing to do it for him. With Shibusawa Eiichi's reputation, the royalties would be easier to negotiate and save a lot of trouble.

The kid at this time is very stingy and may not readily agree to such a high royalty.

But if I can slowly enter the Japanese publishing industry and control Shueisha, which has not yet been established, I will still have some motivation...

Thinking about the future, those Japanese traitors in the domestic publishing industry will be angry, and they will not even let them go to the textbooks for Chinese primary school students. Mad, I have to let them have a taste!

And maybe it can influence the minds of some little devils.

It's just that Japan's militarism is too strong, so it may not have much effect.

The few of them chatted casually about economic and cultural issues. Before leaving, Li Yu gave the money handed over by Situ Meitang to Mr. Sun: "They have all been transferred to Citibank. It is easier for Mr. Sun to withdraw money in Japan and China. Brother Situ warned I don’t want to exchange it into other currencies, they gave it in U.S. dollars, so I’ll just send it to you directly from a U.S. bank.”

Li Yu personally handed over the voucher, and Mr. Sun expressed gratitude: "Brothers from Hongmen have worked hard."

Li Yu said: "Brother Situ guessed that you would say this, and asked me to tell you that this is what they did willingly."

Mr. Sun sighed: "I will continue to rely on them in the future."

Revolution is a bottomless pit of money.

Next to him, Eiichi Shibusawa and his son Masao Shibusawa said, "You will see off Mr. Sun and Mr. Li Yu later, and then go to Yasuda's house."

After hearing this, Li Yu suddenly thought: Among the four major chaebols in Japan, in addition to Mitsui, the Yasuda chaebol does not seem to be difficult to penetrate.

The Yasuda Zaibatsu is not as well-known as Mitsubishi, Mitsui, and Sumitomo because it is mainly engaged in the financial industry and has many banks, making money quietly.

As a modern person, Li Yu certainly understands the power of finance.

A chaebol can dominate the banking industry, which is the core of the financial world. It is conceivable that there is almost no supervision in the Japanese financial industry.

Later, the Yasuda Zaibatsu annexed a bunch of small banks, which also caused obvious "indigestion".

These are perfect opportunities for infiltration.

(End of this chapter)