Li Yu originally wanted to go to Germany or Europe, but Markov sent a telegram asking him to go back and take the train back as soon as possible, otherwise there would be no more passenger trains to the Northeast in a short time.
Of course Li Yu could guess that it was already 1903 and the situation in Northeast China was becoming increasingly tense. In the past few months, the Czar seems to be concentrating his limited transportation capacity on mobilizing military supplies to the Northeast.
Li Yu had no choice but to go back and take the train. There was no other way. Taking the ship was too time-consuming.
Before that, he had not forgotten his promise to Emperor Guangxu and went to buy a pocket watch.
Like later generations, pocket watches at this time were also social tools. When the upper class opened high-level salons, they always showed off to each other. Even if there was a big clock in the room, they had to pretend not to know the time in front of others and take out their pocket watches from time to time to check the time.
As the saying goes, the poor play with cars and the rich play with watches. There is nothing wrong with this sentence in the early 20th century, and the price is even far higher than that of the newly born automobile.
The pocket watches on display in the store often cost several thousand or even tens of thousands of kronor.
As for some models that use top-notch self-sounding functions and minute repeater series, Li Yu doesn’t dare to look at the numbers. Not to mention buying a car or a house, he can even buy an island!
Now Europe has really begun to play with luxury goods, and century-old brands such as Patek Philippe and Vacheron Constantin have already had stable sales.
It was definitely impossible for Li Yu to buy a luxury pocket watch. He chose a few Swedish pocket watches. I didn't know if the movement was Swiss. It is estimated that with proper maintenance, it will last seven or eight years without any problem. If it is a Swiss movement, it may last even longer.
It's not the lowest-end goods, otherwise it won't be available to the emperor. Each pocket watch costs five to six hundred crowns, which is seventy or eighty taels of silver.
This thing was small and convenient. Li Yu thought it would make a good gift in the future, so he made up the lucky numbers and bought eight yuan in one go.
When he was going out, Li Yu happened to see canned herrings being sold in a grocery store. On a whim, he accidentally bought 10 cans.
Naturally, I didn’t buy it to eat back, simply because its reputation as “the smelliest food in the world” was so great that I couldn’t suppress my curiosity.
Although the current advertising law prohibits the use of the word "most" in promotion, it is said that canned herring is really smelly, and perhaps only pickled puffins can compete with it.
Li Yu once saw it on a certain website. The promotional picture was actually an emoticon, pointing outside the screen, and followed by the words "Do you dare to eat shit?".
Some comments said that after eating it, the burps at night smelled like shit, just like eating re-cooked shit again.
Anyway, he has to go back to the Capital University. If he doesn't do something about it, how can his classmates have a complete college memory?
We must set more excellent examples to make the first Capital University Hall famous and form a tradition of excellence among students.
Li Yu felt that his idea was so cool!
At the port of Stockholm, Levler personally came to see off the luggage and said reluctantly: "Time is really short. We have to say goodbye so soon. I hope you can still see the gorgeous aurora in the east."
"Professor, stay here. We will see you again later." Li Yu took out a piece of paper and said, "The above is my
"Okay," Levler said, "I will send you the new book as soon as it is published, and I will also report to you more about the construction period of the island project."
Li Yu said gratefully: "Thank you so much, Professor!"
Levler wished that Li Yu would live in Sweden from now on, but Li Yu didn't want to live abroad.
The reason for purchasing a small island is that Europe is now the center of scientific research. It will be more convenient in the future and it will also have a backup just in case. It is equivalent to buying insurance.
After all, big trees attract the wind, and if the wood wants to show off in the forest, the wind will destroy it. Li Yu doesn't want to fight with the villain, but if he doesn't protect himself, accidents may happen in the future.
The right should be to guard against the slightest change.
The return journey was also smooth sailing, except that when we traveled from the Northeast to Yekaterinburg, there were no people, but this time the train to the Northeast was almost full.
Li Yu had the order from the embassy in his hand, so he still sat in the private compartment of the superior carriage. There were also some senior Russian military officers and diplomats in the carriage.
Although Li Yu learned a little Russian during this period, he still couldn't understand what they were saying, and could only occasionally make out a few short sentences.
They were all important military and political officials, and Li Yu didn't want to mix with them.
However, when he closed his eyes and rested his mind, someone took the initiative to say hello to Li Yu.
"Hello, are you Mr. Li Yu?"
Li Yu opened his eyes and saw a Russian over fifty years old, wearing an officer's uniform. Li Yu thought to himself, he didn't know a Russian soldier either, and the other person still spoke English.
Li Yu said: "Hello, I am Li Yu. Who is your Excellency?"
The other party said: "I am Makarov, the naval commander of Kronstadt Port in St. Petersburg."
Seeing that Li Yu was a little puzzled, Makarov continued: "I am also a member of the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences."
Li Yu was a little impressed. There were too many people named Makarov in Russia. This Makarov was a senior Russian officer who was later killed in the Japanese-Russian naval battle.
Li Yu asked: "Are you also at the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences?"
"Exactly." Makarov sat down opposite Li Yu, and then said to the flight attendant: "Two glasses of vodka, plus ice."
"Although I am a navy, I have led many teams on around-the-world trips and polar expeditions. I have long joined the Academy of Sciences. I also heard Markov mention you some time ago."
Makarov belongs to the technical stream in the navy. Not only can he command the navy, he also personally improved ships, fish, and artillery shells, and even wrote many maritime works.
It's a pity that there are not many people like him in the Russian Navy now. Later, the Russo-Japanese naval battle was unfavorable in the early stages. Makarov came to the front as the commander and wanted to remedy the situation, but unfortunately he died in the battle only 36 days later.
Li Yu said: "So that's it. I'm glad to meet you. I didn't expect that the commander is both civil and military. Where are you going?"
Makarov said: "The navy in Port Arthur currently has insufficient training, low awareness of vigilance, and corrupt officers. I have been ordered by the Navy to investigate and rectify it."
"Oh." Li Yu responded casually, his brows furrowed with displeasure.
No matter what, Port Arthur is its own territory, but it is watching Japan and Russia fight.
The Qing government simply couldn't play "driving the tiger and swallowing the wolf". The two families were fighting over who had the right to continue beating the Qing Dynasty.
Makarov said: "Actually, I was in the North Pole and was preparing to break the ice for another expedition to investigate magnetic declination and other related issues, but I received news from the Winter Palace at the last minute."
Li Yu had lost all interest, and after a few perfunctory words with him, he stopped talking.
Modern history is always very sad to watch, but now that I am immersed in it, it is even more heartbreaking.
Even if it were not for the direct invasion of China by the Second Opium War and the Eight-Power Allied Forces, more than 20,000 people would still have died in the war, and property losses would have reached nearly 70 million taels.
But there seems to be no good way to avoid it. Li Yu can only try his best to take advantage of the current disputes between the great powers and do something quickly. At least until the end of the First World War, the great powers will not focus on the East. This is a rare window. Expect.
Moreover, the Russo-Japanese War will not break out for another year. We can find ways to keep the local people as far away from the war as possible and save their lives.
Li Yu's thoughts were wandering for several days, and he stopped doing scientific research as the train clanked.
During the next ten days of the train journey, Li Yu spent most of his time in his private room and no longer had too much contact with senior Russian officials.
He planned to write another more powerful paper and publish it in the name of Capital University.
Now look, this is what he can do.
Ten days later, the train arrived in Dalian. After Li Yu got off the train, he called a carriage and rushed to the dock.
On the ferry, he heard two people talking.
"Mr. Zhan, if this negotiation goes so smoothly, you will definitely be rewarded by the court when you return to Beijing."
"What reward do you want? We are just getting back our own things this time. The railway outside the customs is ours. Why should Russia interfere? Is it possible that they want to use this railway to reach Beijing again?"
The Guanwai Railway ran from Shenyang to Beijing, which later became the Beijing-Fenghuang Railway.
The Manchuria branch line built by Russia leads from Shenyang to Dalian.
"We should build the railway ourselves. The property rights are in the hands of foreigners. It is not an option to continue building it."
"Having said that, the railway may seem simple to you, but it's really not easy for us to build it ourselves. This time the imperial court ordered the construction of the Xinyi Railway and appointed me as the general manager. The pressure is really not small."
Li Yu was listening, railway? Mr. Zhan?
He stepped forward and asked, "With the excuse of interrupting me, are you Mr. Zhan Tianyou?"
The other party was stunned, "How do you know me?"
After recognizing the right person, Li Yu put down his suitcase and said, "Nice to meet you, Li Yu."
Zhan Tianyou was surprised: "Are you Li Yu, the great Western scholar mentioned in newspapers these days?"
"It's all a false name for the newspaper." Li Yu said.
Zhan Tianyou is now in his forties, and he does not look as rich as in the photos, but rather thin.
Zhan Tianyou said: "Mr. Li's ability is too great. I have read all the reports about you. I studied Western learning for many years when I was at Yale University, and I know how difficult it is to reach your level. If it weren't for this paragraph I have been busy with the Guanwai Railway and the Xinyi Railway, and I should have visited you in person a long time ago."
Li Yu smiled and said, "I'm still in school. My husband is already a top student who graduated from Yale. I can't say whether I want to pay him a visit or not."
Zhan Tianyou also smiled and said: "I can't even speak of top students. I only studied at Yale University for three years. I originally planned to study for another three years. Unfortunately, the court ordered that I had to return to China temporarily. But I know in my heart that even for my own civil engineering major , it’s not even close.”
"Civil engineering is so professional, and industry can prosper a country." Li Yu said.
Zhan Tianyou sighed: "I think so too, but I have been engaged in the railway industry for more than ten years. In the end, looking back, it seems that I was working for foreigners. We worked hard to build the railway outside the customs, but the Russians almost took it away again. This time I went to Shenyang to completely take back the railway."
Li Yu nodded: "We can't let them take advantage of it."
Zhan Tianyou asked: "You, Mr. Li Yu, why did you board the ship in Dalian?"
"I just went to Sweden." Li Yu told Zhan Tianyou about the trip in general.
Zhan Tianyou praised: "It's amazing! When I was studying, mathematics was the most difficult subject, but my husband was able to do it with ease, and even won the grand prize, which is incredible."
Li Yu asked again: "I just heard you talking about Xinyi Railway and Mr. Zhan became the general manager. What happened?"
Zhan Tianyou explained: "The Xinyi Railway is a small branch from the Beijing-Hankou Railway, which just leads to Xiling."
"I see."
No wonder Li Yu didn't hear the so-called Xinyi Railway just now. He knew it when he mentioned the Xiling Railway. Speaking of it, the first railway actually built by the Chinese was actually it, not the Beijing-Zhangjiakou Railway that is better known to the world. railway.
Zhan Tianyou said: "The Queen Mother was going to pray for her ancestors. She had visited Dongling before, but Xiling was really far away, so she ordered the construction of this railway."
Isn't it far? Xiling is in Baoding, more than 140 kilometers away from the Forbidden City.
But what Cixi did was really funny. In order to change her xenophobic image during the Boxer Rebellion and please the great powers, she decided to take a train to visit Xiling.
Of course, Cixi really tasted the benefits of trains. When she fled back to Beijing from Xi'an, she took the train from Shijiazhuang to Beijing. The fast and stable journey left a deep impression on her, so she decided to visit Xiling and also take the train. .
Cixi then ordered the construction of such a railway, which had no economic significance at all, just to facilitate her trip to Xiling.
And the funny thing is, what’s the use of praying to her ancestors?
If Yongzheng, Jiaqing, and Daoguang in the Western Tombs of the Qing Dynasty saw that Cixi violated the ancestral precepts and engaged in prohibited women from intervening in politics, they would be afraid that the coffin boards would not be able to cover it.
Li Yu said: "If it is separated from the Beijing-Hankou Railway instead of being built directly from Beijing, it seems that it will only be 40 to 50 kilometers long."
"Absolutely," Zhan Tianyou said, "but it's my first time to serve as chief engineer, so I don't have much confidence."
The Xiling Railway is located in Hebei and is under the jurisdiction of Yuan Shikai, the governor-general of Zhili. Yuan Shikai originally planned to let the British chief engineer of the Guanwai Railway, Jinda, continue to serve as the chief engineer of this railway.
However, the French believed that the Beijing-Hankou Railway (now called the Lu-Han Railway) was within their sphere of influence and firmly disagreed.
Cixi felt that building the railway was not difficult, so she was only given a six-month construction period and 600,000 taels of silver. Two months were wasted in a stalemate between Britain and France.
The feud between Britain and France has been a problem for hundreds of years. Yuan Shikai had no choice but to choose a Chinese as the chief engineer. The best candidate was naturally Zhan Tianyou, who had been an assistant engineer and section engineer for 14 years.
Speaking of which, Zhan Tianyou was previously a subordinate of Jinda, an Englishman.
It can be said that he suddenly became a project manager from the previous chief engineer.
Li Yu said: "I just want to take this opportunity to practice my skills. We have many more railways to build."
Anyway, even if the Qing Dynasty fell, the railways would not disappear for nothing. Even if the Japanese occupy most of the territory in the east through rapid railway advancement in the future, they cannot stop eating because of choking.
After all, China's natural three-level geographical ladder, at the current level, the second level is an unbridgeable gap and can only be built in the eastern plains.
To solve these problems, the only way to do it is by the infrastructure maniacs many years later.
Zhan Tianyou smiled bitterly: "The difficulty is indeed great. There are only four months, so it is almost an impossible task. But the imperial court issued a fatal order and must not delay the Queen Mother's visit to Xiling. I really have no choice. This time When I came to take back the railway outside the customs, I just thought I could pull some old rails back, which would be quick and save money."
Li Yu shook his head: "Of course you can go faster, but you can't save money."
Zhan Tianyou said: "If we don't save money, I'm afraid I can only repair more than half of the 600,000 taels."
Li Yu smiled and said: "That's right, of course you can only cultivate more than half."
Zhan Tianyou didn't understand: "If you practice more than half, you won't be able to complete the task."
Zhan Tianyou was too honest. He said he would spend the 600,000 taels according to this budget. Not to mention the late Qing Dynasty, even in the 21st century, no project is within budget.
Li Yu said mysteriously: "Of course the mission must be completed, but the road is difficult and dangerous, and there are frozen soil gullies. I don't think 1 million taels is much."
"Ah?" Zhan Tianyou said in surprise, "This is too high!"
"Not too high, not too high," Li Yu waved his hand, "In order to ensure quality, of course not much. Moreover, it is the first time to build a railway, so there will be many problems. I think the court can understand."
Zhan Tianyou finally understood, thought for a while and then said: "However, even if there is more money, the construction schedule is very tight, and there is no time to erect the bridge. We can only use wooden bridges for the time being, and then change to steel bridges later."
"That's it. It's more normal to pay more for work." Li Yu said.
Zhan Tianyou laughed and said: "Sir is indeed a master of mathematics!"
Although the Xiling Railway has no practical or economic significance, it still gave the Qing government the determination to build its own railway. It was inspired by this that it decided to build the famous Beijing-Zhangjiakou Railway on its own two years later.
Zhan Tianyou also gained experience as a chief engineer through this small railway and completed a series of feats thereafter.
