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

Chapter 652 New Factory
Hu Shi was not very interested in Russell coming to China, but Qian Xuantong was extremely excited.

Mainly, Russell raised a question that interested Qian Xuantong very much, a question about Chinese characters.

According to Russell, Chinese characters have three shortcomings:
First of all, it is difficult to write and learn. There are too many strokes, making it cumbersome to write and difficult to learn.

Secondly, there are too many Chinese characters, which are not as simple as English. There are only 26 letters and can be combined at will;

Finally, Chinese is too abstract and prone to misunderstanding.

Qian Xuantong was originally a radical in the movement to abolish Chinese characters. He advocated the complete abolition of Chinese characters and the use of pinyin script. He even shouted the slogan: "Down with ancient Chinese characters! Down with Chinese characters! Down with the quintessence of the Chinese nation!"

He believes: "If we want to prevent China from being destroyed and make the Chinese nation a civilized nation in the twentieth century, we must abolish Confucianism and destroy Taoism as the fundamental solution. The fundamental solution is to abolish the Chinese language that records Confucianism and Taoist myths. the foundation.”

These views were supported by celebrities in the cultural circles such as Lu Xun and Liu Bannong.

However, if you think carefully about the three points Russell mentioned, except for the first one which is a shortcoming, the last two are obviously misunderstandings caused by his insufficient understanding of Chinese characters.

First point, traditional Chinese characters are indeed a bit troublesome, I admit it.

But as for the second point he made, he really said the opposite. The ability to combine Chinese characters is countless times stronger than that of English. Chinese dictionaries basically no longer need to be expanded, while English dictionaries are getting thicker almost every year, and if you introduce a new word and don’t explain it, others will have no idea what it means.

A typical example is the new vocabulary word "computer", which was definitely not available in English before, but these two words have long existed in Chinese.

As for the third point, the abstraction of Chinese cannot be said to be a shortcoming. It can only be said that Chinese is too expressive. Writing it on paper and reading it with emotions are two different things. When saying "fuck", pronounce cao four times to express shock; pronounce cao twice to express confusion. Specifically, it can be subdivided according to context. This is one of the reasons why it is difficult for foreigners to learn Chinese.

Qian Xuantong was determined to improve Chinese characters.

Yes, he has changed a bit now. He knows that Chinese characters cannot be abolished, so it is better to improve them first.

The method is to first make phonetic symbols and Latinize them; the next step is to simplify characters.

Except for the failure of Latinization, both phonetic symbols and simplified characters have been passed down. Qian Xuantong is still very good. (Wanwan still uses phonetic symbols. I don’t know if that’s how the unique accent comes from... It’s just a guess. ).

In a decade or so, there will be a wave of abolition of Chinese characters. But it was started by the Soviet Union, Comrade Comrade Dear Father wanted to create Esperanto. But it is said to be Esperanto, but in fact it is still their Russian language. It was then that Outer Mongolia abandoned the Uighur alphabet and switched to the Russian alphabet.

Anyway, Li Yu was not worried at all, and he would not say anything that if the Chinese characters were not destroyed, the country would be destroyed. It's a pity that they definitely can't realize the superiority of Chinese characters in the information age.

So there is no need to get involved in this matter.

By the way, Qian Xuantong's son is the famous Qian Sanqiang. He is similar in age to Li Yu's son. Maybe they can be classmates in the future.

-

The next day, Li Yu finished his lecture at Peking University and met Fu Zengxiang.

"Director Fu." Li Yu greeted.

Fu Zengxiang smiled: "I am no longer the director of education. I am now the director of the Library of the Palace Museum."

"That's much more leisurely."

"It is indeed more comfortable," Fu Zengxiang said. "I am now collecting ancient books scattered around the world and filling them in the library. Recently, several great scholars have sold many books to the library at friendly prices, including a current emperor. ”

"The emperor's advisor? The emperor's advisor to the young Emperor Xuantong?" Li Yu asked.

Fu Zengxiang said: "It was Liang Dingfen, but he burned most of his writings and poetry collections before his death."

Li Yu said: "He is really loyal to the Qing Dynasty."

Liang Dingfen also had some research on Western learning. After all, he had been Zhang Zhidong's staff, but he stubbornly believed that Western methods could not save China. China could only save itself, and only the Qing Dynasty could save itself. In the last days of his life, he often said: "I have burned many (poetry manuscripts) this year, and some of them cannot be burned. Burn them again when you see them, and don't leave a word in the world. My heart is desolate, and the words cannot be spread."

Fu Zengxiang said: "The library's financial resources are ultimately limited. Morrison, an Englishman who once served as a senior adviser to the Beiyang government, left China and left behind more than 20,000 books about China published in European languages. Unfortunately, we cannot afford to buy them. I heard that a Japanese person offered a very low price and I will buy it immediately.”

"It's the little devil again!" Li Yu certainly couldn't let them take advantage. "How much does it cost?"

Fu Zengxiang said: "There are almost 2 oceans, and the Japanese only contributed 5000."

Li Yu immediately said: "I paid for it and donated it to the library."

Fu Zengxiang was overjoyed: "I knew that Academician Li would be generous!"

Li Yu said with a smile: "In the future, whenever Director Fu finds ancient books scattered outside, just tell me. My library at Datong University is very large."

Fu Zengxiang loved books as much as his life, otherwise he would not have asked Li Yu to help him buy Song books from the Song Dynasty.

-

A few days later, Li Yu received a telegram from Song Ziwen from the Shanghai Automobile Factory.

He and Liu Hongsheng moved very quickly. The entire factory building has been completed, and most of the production lines shipped from the United States have also been installed. There are still some material supplies that need to be solved, such as glass, which is used a lot. If this thing is shipped by sea, the price will be high.

A few years ago, there were people in China who wanted to produce glass, but due to problems with technology, funding, and war, they failed to expand.

Li Yu remembered that Zhou Xuexi had the idea of ​​investing in a glass factory, so he immediately took a small plane to Tianjin and met him.

Zhou Xuexi looked at the handsome leather jacket Li Yu was wearing and said, "We have just imported 200 idle aircraft and related supporting products from Britain and France. Among them is this kind of good-looking leather jacket. I like it very much when I see it. It's a pity that I wear it at this age." No."

"It's easy. Textile factories can do it. You can ask them to specialize in more stable styles," Li Yu said with a smile, and then asked, "Mr. Zhou is planning to invest in a glass factory?"

Zhou Xuexi nodded and said: "I have joined forces with a company in Belgium. They provide technology and equipment and plan to build a factory in Qinhuangdao. I have already thought of a name, Yaohua."

"It's a good name," Li Yu said, "but Qinhuangdao is a bit too close to the Japanese."

Zhou Xuexi said: "The land price there is cheap, and the transportation is convenient, with railways and ports."

"Okay," Li Yu said, "but it's best not to let foreign capital take up too much equity and lose control."

Zhou Xuexi sighed: "This is not easy to handle."

Li Yu said: "It doesn't matter, let's build the factory first, and then we will find a way to get more equity and management rights back later."

"We are still raising initial funds." Zhou Xuexi said.

Historically, it would take a few years for Yaohua Glass to officially operate. Li Yu certainly couldn't wait that long: "I'm going to negotiate with the Belgians and take a stake. The sooner we do it, the better."

The Belgians gave Li Yu a three-point salute. It was not difficult at all for him to come forward for interviews. The Belgians also wanted to make money as soon as possible.

During the Republic of China, Yaohua Glass was operating very well and was very profitable. By the 30s, its products were even sold abroad. However, the factory has always been controlled by foreign capital. After September , several Belgian shareholders secretly negotiated and sold their shares to the Japs without authorization, and it was controlled by the Japanese thereafter.

Now that he's involved, Li Yu can't let the little devil reap the benefits in the future.

Zhou Xuexi is a northern industrial giant, and his family power is deeply intertwined. Deep down in his heart, he definitely does not want to stay under others for a long time. But for now, let’s talk about being accommodating and not rush for success.

Things in the north came to an end for the time being, and Li Yu immediately went to give lectures at Datong University in Shanghai.

Under his leadership, the domestic scientific atmosphere is now quite active, even if the research environment is not particularly good.

When Li Yu was reading the latest scientific magazines mailed from abroad in his office, someone knocked on his office door.

"Please come in."

"Mr. Academician, I'm here to apply."

Li Yu raised his head: "It turns out to be classmate Zhu Kezhen. No, I should call you doctor now."

Zhu Kezhen said modestly: "Compared with your academician title, it is not worth mentioning."

"Do you have a doctorate in meteorology?" Li Yu said.

Zhu Kezhen nodded and said, "I just received my PhD in meteorology from Harvard University last year."

"Great! Come to apply for a professorship here?" Li Yu asked
"Yes."

"I wish I could," Li Yu said with a smile, "I just happen to be thinking about getting some observation balloons on campus. It would be best for you to operate them specifically."

This thing is not cheap, so Li Yu is not willing to spend money.

Zhu Kezhen attaches great importance to the scientific atmosphere of Datong University: "I often study chaos theory. If I have questions in the future, I can still ask academicians for advice."

"Discuss with each other," Li Yu said. "I don't have much research in meteorology. I can only help with mathematics."

Zhu Kezhen said: "Meteorological calculations are extremely complicated, and I am still improving my mathematics."

Calculation is Li Yu's specialty: "I'm pretty good at this part. I'll help as much as possible when I have time."

Li Yuneng kept Zhu Kezhen to teach at Datong University for seven or eight years, and maybe he could produce some good scientific research results.

-

In addition, Li Yu plans to use the fluorescent lamp patent he just applied for in the United States to open a lighting factory in China.

So an advertisement was placed in the newspaper to recruit relevant technical personnel.

It didn't take long for him to find a suitable candidate. ——Li Yu is just fishing for Jiang Taigong. Even if he doesn’t put the hook, the people who should come will naturally come...

That afternoon, Li Yu looked at a young man in front of him and asked, "Are you Hu Xiyuan?"

"Yes," Hu Xiyuan said, "I just graduated from the Electrical Engineering Department of the Higher Industrial School. I am determined to make Chinese people's own light bulbs. I happened to see the notice posted by Mr. Academician and came to work immediately."

"Very good," Li Yu said, "We need you too."

Hu Xiyuan is known as the "Father of China's Electric Light Source" and created China's first electric light bulb.

He took out some of his transcripts and research drawings from his bag: "I read most of the English versions of Edison's patent documents, as well as some Westinghouse materials brought by Mr. Westinghouse, and fully grasped the relevant principles. and craftsmanship.”

It was indeed beneficial for Li Yu to recruit Westinghouse. This guy was angry that Westinghouse abandoned him and brought out a lot of technical information.

And the fluorescent lamp patent in Li Yu's hands is even more impressive. Of course, ordinary light bulbs also need to be produced, it is simple after all.

Li Yu looked at his information and became even more satisfied: "I plan to open a company with the backing of Datong University, specializing in lighting facilities. I can provide factories, equipment, and funds. As a senior technical director, if the operation goes smoothly in the future, How about becoming the factory director?”

Hu Xiyuan was shocked: "Mr. Academician takes this very seriously."

Of course, Li Yu couldn't say that he had the vision of a time traveler, so he joked: "Some people privately say that I am a living Bole, and I reluctantly accept this title. I think you are a rare thousand-mile horse, worthy of training."

Hu Xiyuan had to say solemnly: "Students must try their best to learn."

Li Yu also talked about the lighting market situation: "After so many years, the country has been basically monopolized by foreign products. We must avoid the truth and avoid going head-to-head with them."

"Listen to Mr. Academician," Hu Xiyuan said, "I have conducted a secret investigation and found that all electrical stores in Shanghai sell foreign lamps."

Li Yu said: "Then let's fish in troubled waters and give the factory a foreign name."

"Is it like the German 'Siemens' or the Dutch 'Philips'?" Hu Xiyuan said.

"Yes, for example, take the word '亚' and the word 'pu' from the German 'Asia Commander' and the Dutch 'Philips' respectively." Li Yu said.

"Yapu? It doesn't sound like a foreign name. If you don't add the word 'er', it means being the leader in China's light bulb manufacturing industry. Together, it means Yapuer." Hu Xiyuan said.

"Okay, let's call it Yapuer!" Li Yu said, "As for the initial business, we don't sell in big cities like Shanghai and Tianjin. You can do more errands and explore other small and medium-sized cities along the railway. When the business grows, Then move into the big cities.”

Hu Xiyuan said: "It should be like this."

Li Yu said: "In addition, we will join forces with the Shanghai Industrial Association and the Shanghai General Chamber of Commerce to establish a Chinese domestic products maintenance association to specialize in public welfare activities and promote domestic products."

"Now the enthusiasm of the Chinese people is high and the Japanese are aggressive. This is an opportunity for us." Hu Xiyuan agreed.

"Although we don't do business in big cities, we can do sales. All major schools will send light bulbs and fluorescent lamps for free. Gradually, they will realize that our products are also of excellent quality," Li Yu said.

Hu Xiyuan said with a smile: "It is said that Mr. Academician is a Confucian businessman and is not very good at economics and business. Looking at it today, it is not the case at all!"

Li Yu also smiled and said: "It's all forced. Use your brain, there are always more solutions than difficulties."

Hu Xiyuan said: "If you follow this set of procedures, it will be difficult to succeed."

"It's necessary! You write a business plan in the next few days, and I will send people to buy land and build factories," Li Yu said. "At the same time, we are developing products in the university's laboratory, including incandescent lamps and the newly applied Use patented fluorescent lamps, high and low-end products together, and walk on two legs.”

Hu Xiyuan is very motivated: "From today on, I will live on campus!"

The Yapuer Light Bulb Factory was a well-known national enterprise throughout the Republic of China, not inferior to foreign products at all. Now with the blessing of Li Yu's patent, he will definitely be able to soar to the sky faster.