The Japanese were really excited to see the information about airships. They had never seen such "high-tech" technical materials.
Tokyo Imperial University organized engineers to study it all night long, but soon found that they encountered all problems, because the things involved looked like heavenly scriptures to them.
This incident even alarmed the military. Army General Staff Officer Yamagata Aritomo personally found the Speaker of the House of Nobles, Konoe Atsumaro, to learn more about the impact of technology on war and the situation about Li Yu.
The term House of Nobles is relatively unfamiliar to most people. It is unique to Japan. It refers to some royal families, Chinese (nobles), high taxpayers, scholars, etc. appointed by the emperor. It doesn’t have to be a noble either.
It can generally be regarded as the later Senate. Anyway, the Speaker of the House of Lords has quite a say.
Konoe Atsumaro is a China expert and must know Li Yu. After listening to the introduction by professors at Tokyo Imperial University, he believed that initiating a plan to conduct airship research was indeed a good topic.
But Konoe Atsumaro asked Professor Nagaoka a key question: "If we conduct research and development, how much money will we need to invest?"
"I'm afraid it will cost millions or even tens of millions of yen," said Hantaro Nagaoka.
The Japanese yen was quite valuable at this time, and 3 yen was almost a silver dollar.
And Nagaoka is just a conservative estimate.
This is a big number. The compensation for the "Shimonoseki Treaty" after the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1899 only amounted to about 10 million yen for education funds.
The Army is not as popular in Japan compared to the Navy, and is less financially wealthy.
Moreover, Japan's financial capabilities are much worse than those of France, the United Kingdom, and the United States. It has no ability to raise debt and can only spend real money.
Unlike Germany and the United States, which have strong industries and can create a lot of wealth through industry.
Konoe Atsuma's head felt heavy, "I'm afraid the empire will not be able to bear such a huge expense."
Hantaro Nagaoka said: "Of course I know it, but in the past, even obtaining these technical data required a huge amount of manpower and material resources. Now that we can easily get it, if we still don't conduct research, it will be even more wasteful."
Konoe Atsumaro couldn't understand the complicated formulas inside, so he asked: "Is this document genuine?"
Professor Nagaoka said: "It comes from Li Yu. He is one of the best physicists in the world today. He will never make mistakes. And many of the materials have been patented by Germany, and there will be no fakes."
Professor Nagaoka now regards Li Yu as the god of physics and admires him very much.
Konoe Atsumaro asked Yamagata Aritomo: "Chief of the General Staff of Yamagata, what do you think?"
Yamagata Yutomo said: "From the front line, the tethered balloons used for observation alone have achieved good results. If we can have aerospace technology, the gains will definitely outweigh the losses."
The Japanese love to settle accounts and gamble very much. After hearing what Yamagata Aritomo said, Konoe Atsumaro looked at the documents in front of him and his hands itched uncontrollably: "The Germans have always had the best technology. If we can also have rigid airships, the Emperor Will definitely like it very much.”
The cost of building a rigid airship is much greater than that of a soft-shell airship, and its safety factor is relatively high, which is a specialty of the Germans. This is why the Zeppelin airship has become synonymous with airships.
Li Yu's trick of "throwing bricks and attracting jade" really worked. He also recalled the trick that American scammers used engine technology to deceive Beiyang.
This most brilliant form of deception really works.
The key point is that what Li Yu has brought out so far is all real, not fake at all. It is clear that he wants you to take the bait, and those who are willing will take the bait.
Konoe Atsumaro coughed a few times and said, "I will report this to the Emperor."
"Konoe-sama, please take care of yourself." Yamagata Aritomo and Professor Nagaoka stood up and left.
After the two left, Konoe Atsumaro found Konoe Aoxue who was beside Li Yu and asked about the airship.
Konoe Akiyuki replied: "Sir, Li Yu is indeed in contact with Count Zeppelin in Germany, and the documents were sent from Germany. There is no mistake."
Atsumaro Konoe was a little relieved now: "This is a project with huge investment, and there can be no mistakes."
Konoe Akiyuki thought for a while and said: "I have paid attention to the news. Many European countries attach great importance to this technology, especially Germany."
"That's good." Konoe Atsumaro coughed hard a few more times and rubbed his chest and abdomen, which seemed to be in pain.
Konoe Akiyuki asked: "Sir, what's wrong with you?"
Konoe Atsumaro said: "I contracted a strange disease, and even after seeing the doctor, I couldn't tell what was going on."
Konoe Akiyuki said: "Should we invite some Western doctors?"
Konoe Atsumaro shook his head: "Please, it's of no use. You go back first, pay more attention to Li Yu's situation, and don't forget your mission."
Konoe Atumaro contracted an infectious disease caused by bacteria, which could only be cured by penicillin. In other words, it’s now a terminal illness.
Konoe Akihi had no choice but to say: "Akiyuki understands! Sir, you must take care of yourself."
Konoe Akiyuki really hoped that he would live well, because he also pointed at him to promote his distant branch.
Konoe Atsumaro reported the situation of the airship. The emperor was indeed interested. Although the parliament felt that the budget was too large, they finally agreed to give it a try first and see the situation before investing more.
Professor Nagaoka happily found Li Yu: "Mr. Li Yu, you really know how to unite, we should unite!"
Professor Nagaoka is not a militarist. During Japan's invasion of China, he vigorously opposed enslavement education. Unfortunately, at that time, most of Japan was an extreme right-wing force. Nagaoka and other scholars were so soft-spoken that they could not influence them and were unable to stop them from going astray. car japan.
But many people, including him, really think that the yellow people need to achieve "lower control over the upper class" and win over the white people, so as to have a "yellow defeat the white people".
Professor Nagaoka believed that Li Yu was helping Japan. In fact, Li Yu was already a little sinister at this time.
Nagaoka enthusiastically discussed some technical details with Li Yu, but got stuck in the theoretical part.
Li Yu immediately cheered and said: "Technological research and development requires continuous investment, otherwise how can we reach the level of German airships."
In fact, Nagaoka didn't need Li Yu's encouragement at all and was full of confidence: "Tokyo Imperial University and Kyoto Imperial University will select students to study in Germany as soon as possible to specialize in airship technology."
Li Yu said: "I wish you good luck!"
Hehe, this is not an easy task.
Even if they conquer German technology, there will still be huge expenses on the American side.
Because the airship still has a key technology in the hands of the Americans: the preparation of helium.
To put it bluntly, the biggest safety hazard of the airship is that it is full of hydrogen, which is like carrying a huge explosive bag. If the inert gas helium is used instead, the safety factor will not be improved at all.
However, helium production is a technology exclusively owned by the United States.
Later, the United States even imposed sanctions on Germany, restricting the export of helium to Germany. The Hindenburg had to switch to hydrogen, which led to the famous air crash.
But even if it is available, helium is prohibitively expensive.
At this time, Pu Lun and other large groups visiting the United States also arrived in Yokohama. Li Yu's people met them and boarded the ship to the United States.
The North Pacific was calm, and Li Yu even did a lot of experimental design and planning on the ship. He had a big project in mind. He has discovered now that if he doesn't make more preparations, the experiment will not be possible at all. He must first get a lot of experimental equipment that is not yet available.
After the ship arrived in California, it was transferred to St. Louis by train.
This city is located in Missouri and is currently one of the top ten largest cities in the United States because it is one of the three major hubs of the Mississippi River: Chicago on the Great Lakes in the north, St. Louis where the middle tributaries converge, and New Orleans at the mouth of the Mississippi River in the south.
But the city later declined, and its reputation is not as great as that of Detroit, and not many people know about it.
There is a university in this city called Washington University in St. Louis, which was once considered a pheasant university...
Because the name is "Washington", it is not in Washington. The "St. Louis" in front of it sounds like a small place.
But at this time, because of the World Expo and the Olympic Games, it became the most dazzling city in the United States.
In later generations, bids to host the Olympic Games often took several consecutive years to succeed, and the current World Expo is very similar. St. Louis applied to host the World's Fair ten years ago, but it was rejected because of a lack of hotels.
So St. Louis had a grand plan this time and invested 15 million US dollars in the World Expo.
This fund also commemorates the land purchase 100 years ago.
Around 1803, the United States purchased Louisiana from Napoleon of France for US$15 million, a vast land covering an area of more than 2.1 million square kilometers.
It was such a success that the territory of the United States doubled overnight.
So this year’s World Expo will use US$15 million to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the purchase of Louisiana from France.
I don’t know what France thought after seeing it.
Of the 15 million US dollars, one-third was even raised through voluntary donations from citizens.
Since the venue may not be enough, the city of St. Louis also recruited Washington University and rented the entire campus for US$750,000, which was conveniently used as one of the exhibition projects: "Model University."
After arriving at the venue, most of the people immediately went to work building the "Chinese Village". Fortunately, Lei Xiancai's hot stamping samples were available, so the process did not take too long.
Yang Xiaolou's theater troupe also had to build a stage, and everyone was very busy.
Since Pu Lun was considered an official representative of the Qing court, Liang Cheng, the Qing ambassador to the United States, personally came to St. Louis to greet him.
When Pu Lun arrived for the first time, he was very curious, so he asked Liang Cheng to take him to a more distinctive American cafe. Li Yu was also called over.
Liang Cheng said: "Master Bei, please try this authentic coffee."
Pu Lun had never drank it before. Although it was a bit bitter, he still found it interesting. He said: "Mr. Liang, it seems that you are living a pretty good life in the United States."
Liang Cheng said: "Master Bei is joking and doing things for the imperial court."
Li Yu thought of Gengzi's compensation and asked, "Mr. Liang, has the payment been approved?"
Liang Cheng said happily: "Congress has passed it! When you return to China this time, there should be American diplomats going to the capital with you to handle the receipt and use of the money."
Li Yu was also very happy: "Great! Minister Liang has really done a great thing that benefits the country and the people!"
Pu Lun didn't know much about the level of education in the United States, but he was surprised when he saw the great powers spit out the money they had swallowed: "The minister is really a god!"
Liang Cheng smiled and said: "It's just a little mediation, understanding with reason, moving with emotion, and adding the help of God's teacher. Besides, for the United States, more than ten million US dollars is not a big deal." The key is the amount, but they didn’t actually spend a penny.”
Li Yu did not continue drinking coffee with them, but asked Zhang Boling to take a look at the Olympic Stadium nearby.
Unfortunately, there is no big stadium. Compared with the bustling World Expo, the visual impact is very small.
But Zhang Boling was still very interested. More importantly, they met a legendary figure: Coubertin, the father of the Olympic Games.
Historically, Coubertin did not attend the 1904 Olympic Games.
But according to regulations and traditions, the president of the Olympic Committee and the top leader of the host country should attend the Olympics.
Perhaps it was because he heard that the mysterious ancient Eastern country was invited to participate that Coubertin was interested in taking a look, because his goal was to promote the Olympic Games to every corner of the world.
"At first glance, you look like people from the Qing Dynasty!" Coubertin walked over and said excitedly.
Zhang Boling didn't know him, but Li Yu had seen Coubertin's photo in the textbook: "Are you Mr. Coubertin?"
Coubertin smiled and said: "Exactly!"
Coubertin was in his prime at this time, only 40 years old. He was in very good spirits and was constantly working hard for the Olympics.
Li Yu and Zhang Boling shook hands with him happily: "I am Li Yu, this is Mr. Zhang Boling."
"Oh? I also met a famous scientific giant, what an honor!" Coubertin said, "I don't know many people in your country, but you are definitely one of them."
Li Yu smiled and said, "I also know your name."
Coubertin lamented: "At the first Greek Olympic Games, I and the Crown Prince of Greece wrote a letter to your Prime Minister Li Hongzhang, hoping that your country could participate in the Olympic Games, but unfortunately it was rejected. If it were not for the world's most populous With the participation of many countries, the Olympic Games has been overshadowed too much.”
Li Yu said: "Perhaps Li Zhongtang, oh, Prime Minister Li was sad about the signing of the Treaty of Shimonoseki at that time, so he didn't take it to heart."
The situation back then was actually much more complicated, and Coubertin also had a general understanding: "I am extremely pleased that you can come today."
It was not easy for Coubertin. The international situation at the beginning of the 20th century could be called "turbulent". There were too many calculations in the minds of various countries. It was really difficult to organize an international sports event. Even the first Greek Games were held only by convincing a wealthy Greek businessman to provide money.
Zhang Boling said: "It's a pity that our preparations are too inadequate. We are just a few temporary athletes."
Coubertin didn't take it seriously: "The most important thing is to be able to participate! Unity, friendship, and peace are my slogans and purposes."
Li Yu sighed: "These three words of yours are the three most difficult words in the world today."
"You have to have a vision!" Coubertin said, "By the way, did you bring any flags?"
Zhang Boling said: "There is the Dragon Flag of the Qing Dynasty."
Coubertin said: "Okay, you can give me one as soon as possible, and I will hang it at the venue for you."
Li Yu and Zhang Boling found the flag and went to the International Olympic Committee's office in St. Louis with Coubertin to handle the matter.
(End of chapter)
