The next day, Li Yu's article was published in the French magazine "Science and Life", but it was the press releases from "Le Figaro" and Havas News Agency that really made an impact.
"Le Figaro" is the oldest newspaper in France. Its readers are mostly people with a higher level of education. Its content is all-inclusive. It is considered to be the newspaper that best reflects the "aristocratic style" of France. It even has the title of "Bible of the French Middle and Upper Class" explain.
Havas News Agency targets a wide range of people, and its press releases can be seen almost everywhere in the streets.
The name Havas may be a bit unfamiliar to everyone, but it is the earliest news agency in the world. If you name its later names, you may be too familiar with it: Agence France-Presse.
This article on falsifiability is quite profound in thought and very easy to understand. It spread quickly and caused quite a stir in the entire scientific and cultural circles.
Many academics praised Li Yu as a "scientific philosopher".
Although the word philosopher was somewhat of a bad name in later generations, it was indeed a proper compliment at the time.
However, the church was not very happy and published articles in newspapers to confront Li Yu's "falsifiability".
Although Li Yu did not mention the church by name in his article, the church is not a fool. If you can't see it, then it's really better to sell sweet potatoes.
However, Li Yu dared to publish a falsifiable article in France, and he also had an eye on the status of French Catholicism.
Although France has been a major Catholic country until the 21st century, the Catholic faith accounts for the highest proportion. But if you know the history of French religion, you may find that many people will say that France is a "Catholic filial son", which must be a "filial son" in quotation marks. Or simply say that he is a "Catholic filial son."
What I’m talking about is that France’s various behaviors toward Catholicism are so “filial”!
First, in the 14th century, the pope was brought from Rome to his own territory, where he was trapped for more than half a century. During this period, several popes were puppets supported by France, which was known as the "Prison of Avignon" in history.
Then there was a religious war within France, the young emperor succeeded to the throne, and Queen Medici became involved in politics. This Medici queen is a bit like Cixi of the Qing Dynasty. She has political skills, but lacks political wisdom, which intensifies the conflict with another sect, the Huguenots.
Fortunately, the leader of the Huguenots was brilliant and wise, and he cleaned up the mess after succeeding to the throne, namely Henry IV, the famous first king of the Bourbon dynasty. But Henry IV was also assassinated a few years later.
What was even more surprising later was that when the Holy Roman Empire, Charles V, was at its peak, France actually united with the Ottoman Empire in the east and formed an alliance with Suleiman! Ah Tian and Ah Lu unite to deal with another Ah Tian, can you believe it! ?
Historically known as the "Sacrilege Alliance", look at the name.
It’s not over yet!
The Thirty Years' War that followed was a struggle between Protestants and Catholics, but as a major Catholic country, France actually chose to side with the Protestants this time!
If you look at this series of operations, it is not an exaggeration to say that he is a Catholic filial son. I am as filial to the Catholic Church as my grandma’s family!
What is even more "filial" is that in the 21st century, when Li Yu lived, the French Catholic Church engaged in a huge scandal that "hurt" more than 200,000 little boys.
I can't figure out how to do it specifically, but I can't figure it out... Anyway, it really brings shame to the Catholic Church.
This was all done by the French Catholic Church. Later, the Enlightenment Movement was born in France, which to a large extent criticized the ignorance and privilege of the church.
Therefore, Li Yu published this article, which is quite appropriate in France and quite timely.
Although the church is angry now, it can't do anything to Li Yu at all.
Although the church wanted to confront Li Yu in the newspaper, Li Yu didn't even have to do it himself. The church opened its mouth and was silenced by a large number of young college students.
The fighting power of young college students is very strong, and now they have theoretical weapons. They can directly block the spring water and output as much as they can.
At noon, the embassy received a telegram from the Royal Society, and they remitted the royalties to the public account of the embassy.
This time it is a little more than last time, 100 pounds, and there is no handling fee, so you can go to the bank and withdraw it directly. When you get back to the capital, you can go to a bank to exchange money, and you can save more than ten pounds.
French newspapers also quickly paid Li Yu the royalties, which were 1,800 francs, or more than 70 pounds.
The trip to France will soon end, and subsequent missions will also go to Belgium and other countries, but they will all be very short stays.
It's time to return home.
Anyway, there will be more opportunities in the future, but the only thing that makes me feel uncomfortable is that it takes so long to go back and forth.
The Yu family also got on the ship together. Yu Geng had finished his mission as minister and it was time to return home.
The British ocean liner Panlentini was still on the return voyage. Naturally, some Europeans were also on board.
Nowadays, the price of ocean liner tickets is still very high. From bottom to top, there are the cheapest third-class cabins at the bottom of the ship, the second-class cabins in the middle, and the first-class cabins closest to the deck.
The lowest third-class fare is 7 to 9 pounds, which is equivalent to 5,000 to 7,000 yuan in the 21st century based on purchasing power. If you are a child, the ticket price is half.
Although it is the lowest third-class cabin, it is still on an ocean liner and has everything you need: beds, bathrooms, restaurants, rest areas, etc.
But after all, the bottom floor is close to the power unit of the ship, so it will be noisy; in addition, there will be some cargo placed at the bottom of the cabin, so it will definitely be more crowded.
The middle second-class ticket costs 13 pounds, which is equivalent to about 10,000 yuan in the 21st century.
This floor is mainly for the middle class. It is better than the third class in every aspect. It has a larger space, more libraries, smoking rooms, and even playgrounds, and the food provided is much richer.
As for first class, the ticket price is 30 pounds, which is more than 22,000 yuan.
However, above the first class cabin, there is also a luxury first class cabin with a ticket price of 870 pounds, which is equivalent to more than 600,000 yuan per ticket in modern times!
All the amenities of first class are luxurious, including swimming pools, Turkish baths, and band performances.
Spending more than 600,000 yuan just for the enjoyment during the trip is really what the wealthy do.
Of course, this situation also exists in the 21st century. The most expensive flight in the world is the flight from London to Melbourne operated by Etihad Airways, the second largest airline in the United Arab Emirates. It is said that the air ticket costs more than 500,000.
Alas, poverty really limits imagination! I really can't understand it.
Zai Zhen was riding in the luxurious first class cabin on the passenger ship. As for the rest of the mission, they flew in ordinary first class.
Of course, the ferry ticket can be reimbursed, otherwise 60 pounds per trip would be a dead end.
The passenger ship still stopped in Sri Lanka, Singapore, Hong Kong, Shanghai and other places, and finally docked at Tanggu Port in Tianjin.
Compared with Zaifeng's previous visits, this visit is definitely a success. News from abroad was also sent back to China via telegram early.
Two teams of the Beiyang Standing Army were clearly lined up at the pier, with Yuan Shikai in a new military uniform standing at the front.
There was no farewell during the voyage, but this time he came as the Governor of Zhili and the Minister of Beiyang on the return voyage.
The Qing Dynasty had little diplomatic ability at that time, and Zai Zhen's trip this time was not considered a diplomatic trip, but at most a tourist trip. But no one expected that they would make headlines several times in a row and cause a sensation in most of Europe.
The main reason is of course that Li Yu is so awesome.
——Who would have thought that the weakest science in the Qing Dynasty would become unexpectedly famous. Well, it seems that everything else is pretty weak too...
Just a few decades ago, the scholars of the Qing Dynasty still looked down upon the "wonderful skills" of science. However, now that times have changed, they really don't dare to do so. People all over the country are studying how to set up new schools to learn Western learning.
Yuan Shikai was very active in this regard and even set up many schools in his Beiyang Standing Army.
Although you don't need much knowledge to fight in battle, if you don't know anything, you are a fool, and it is inconvenient to command.
Li Yu once had a classmate who studied civil engineering. After graduating from high school, he went abroad to participate in engineering construction. That classmate went to Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates. Many people may know Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, but in fact the capital of the United Arab Emirates is Abu Dhabi.
At that time, when the financial building and airport ancillary projects in Abu Dhabi were being built, the people brought over from China must have been skilled workers, and their wages were very high.
As for the labor teams that do the work, they must not use domestic ones, otherwise the costs will not be controllable. Therefore, the labor force teams are basically from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and other South Asia. With a monthly salary of 2,000 RB, these people were so happy that they went crazy.
The classmate once complained to him many times: Many Asans are really difficult to teach, and they can't teach them even if they are taught step by step! And I'm lazy, so it's impossible to work overtime. I'm thankful that I don't have to work as a foreign worker. However, it's far less useful than the domestic labor force.
No matter what field you are in, it is really useful to understand some culture.
During the Anti-Japanese War, we also spared no effort to eliminate illiteracy and educate the troops in the army. It was not for nothing, and it was extremely useful to improve combat effectiveness.
Although Yuan Shikai failed to gain fame twice and was not admitted to the imperial examination, he climbed up from the grassroots level step by step and was very knowledgeable about military construction. The two rows of Beiyang standing armies behind him today are the strongest combat power of the Qing Dynasty today.
Originally, his army was under the control of Ronglu and belonged to the right army of the front, rear, left, right and center armies. It was also the only new army among them.
Two years ago, Yuan Shikai moved to Shandong with his right army of the Wuwei Army.
Then...then the remaining four armies were all defeated by the invading Eight-Nation Allied Forces.
Yuan Shikai participated in the mutual protection of the Southeast at that time and promised to send 3,000 people north to Qinwang, but in the end he still followed the order.
Now that the troops in his hands were the only trump card of the Qing Dynasty, his status was naturally rising.
These are all matters of real power. Yuan Shikai is a veteran in officialdom. Later, Cixi wanted him to join the Military Aircraft Department, but Yuan Shikai was very unhappy. No, it should be said that he no longer looked down on the Military Aircraft Department at all.
For example, Zeng Guofan and Li Hongzhang have never entered the military aircraft department, which does not hinder their status.
