The seats at the banquet were equally interesting. On Planck's side were Li Yu, Piano and others; while Mach and his followers Ostwald and others were on the other side.
Although physics has advanced by leaps and bounds, after all, it was still the eve of the birth of the theory of relativity, and quantum mechanics had not yet shined, so doubts about physics are not uncommon.
Mach, a physics researcher with a strong philosophical color, has many supporters.
After serving a piece of seafood soup, Li Yu whispered to Planck: "Professor, why didn't you firmly oppose Mr. Mach?"
Planck sighed: "Before coming to Rome, I had just attended an international physics conference, where a resolution was unanimously adopted in the hope of quelling the current widespread attacks on natural science."
Europe is always one or two versions ahead, and now every other region, including the United States, worships natural science.
Li Yu asked: "If everything now is not given by natural science, what is there to attack?"
"They attack the natural sciences as a cause of spiritual and moral decay, an enemy of faith and family, and a threat to good literature," Planck said.
Li Yu suddenly understood why Poincaré said that he received so much criticism after receiving the academician of arts. It turned out that it was not just because of the title of "academician of arts", but also because of his aura as a mathematical physicist.
Li Yu said: "Is this what Mr. Maher is worried about?"
Planck said: "It's possible. Didn't he say that physics can't completely build the world. But in fact, they should see that no physicist has such an idea."
Li Yu said with a smile: "It's really unfounded. The scope of worry is too wide. What's the difference between fearing something that doesn't exist and worrying about encountering a vampire?"
Planck said helplessly: "But you can't influence other people's thoughts."
Li Yu came up with an idea and said: "It seems that it is necessary for the Vatican Academy of Sciences to recruit more people who study psychology. Psychology is also a science and knows how to treat the spiritual world."
Planck said: "How could I forget this, thank you for reminding me!"
Li Yu said: "In fact, they don't need to worry at all. The strength of science will only make people's lives better. As for art, literature, and aesthetics, they will also develop more prosperously because the economic base determines the superstructure. Broadly speaking, everyone When your life is better, you will be in a good mood to appreciate art."
Planck said: "You should really write this point down. Many people don't even realize what you are saying. It happened that the Pontifical Academy of Sciences was established, and everyone had to write a paper on any topic."
Li Yu nodded: "I also want to use 'truth, goodness and beauty' to talk about the dangers of chauvinism. Many countries always think that bullying the weak is natural. After robbing cultural relics, it is their own. If we only talk about the law of the jungle, then humans and animals What's the difference?"
Plank agreed: "I really like you more and more. When I was your age, I couldn't say such quality words. This kind of maturity seems not to belong to your age."
Li Yu said with a smile: "Children from poor families have long been the masters of the family. I wish I could be a carefree optimist."
——
After the dinner, Li Yu hurriedly left the Vatican to see Lu Bicheng and Konoe Aixue. Hey, Li Yu now realizes that it is a good thing to bring one girl out, but it is super troublesome to bring two.
The two of them didn't understand Italian, so they didn't dare to go anywhere while staying in the hotel, even though there were some famous Roman attractions across the river, such as the Pantheon and the Colosseum.
Of course, Li Yu didn't understand Italian, so he brought over Piano, who knew English, as a guide.
When Piano saw the two young and beautiful girls, he was shocked: "They are indeed romantic young men. Take two of them with you!"
Li Yu smiled and said: "We are just traveling together."
Being the romantic Italian that he is, Piano "pretended" to understand and then showed them around together.
The Pantheon and the Colosseum at this time were quite different from what they looked like after the maintenance of specialized scenic spots in later generations, and the cultural landscape needed more explanation, otherwise it would just be a spectacle.
Fortunately, Piano had taken many friends on tours before, so he behaved like a qualified tour guide.
Li Yu said gratefully: "If you go to China in the future, I will definitely take you to climb the Great Wall myself!"
Before the tour guide led everyone to go shopping, when Lu Bicheng passed by a store, she was suddenly attracted by some exquisite handicrafts. She stopped Li Yu: "Look, isn't this something only found in the palace? It seems to be called, um... …By the way, it’s called Enamel!”
The three emperors of Kangxi, Yongzong and Qianlong in the Qing Dynasty all had a great love for enamel art, and there were quite a few exquisite enamel wares in the palace.
Konoe Akiyuki picked it up and said, "They seem to be daily necessities."
Li Yu smiled and said: "Yes, they are originally toothbrush cups."
Lu Bicheng was shocked and said: "Italians use such expensive things as tooth cups?"
Li Yu said: "To be precise, the thing in your hand is called enamel."
"Enamel?" This was the first time Lu Bicheng heard about it.
Li Yu explained: "In popular terms, what is attached to the surface of pottery or porcelain is called 'glaze'; what is attached to building tiles is called 'glazed'; and what is attached to the surface of metal is called 'enamel' or 'enamel' enamel'."
There is essentially no difference between enamel and enamel.
In later generations, there were so-called enamel wares sold on the Internet. Those who didn't understand thought it was really the legendary cloisonné, but it turned out that the enamel had actually been renamed.
It's all just a marketing ploy. Just changing the name and calling it an enamel bowl will make it many times more expensive than an enamel bowl.
Just like cherries and big cherries.
If we insist on talking about the difference between enamel and enamel, we can only say that enamel is divided into daily enamel and art enamel, and enamel is art enamel.
Enamel during the Qing Dynasty did have an artistic component. But later in the industrialization era, changing the name to boast that the same thing was made by machines would be deceiving consumers.
Lu Bicheng asked: "I have porcelain at home, but no enamelware. It must be very expensive, right?"
Li Yu asked Piano to help ask about the price.
"This set of tableware costs 10 lire," Piano said.
10 lire is about 2 US dollars, and the price is neither high nor low. After all, this set of enamel tableware has a certain artistic design, otherwise Lu Bicheng and Konoe Akiyuki would not regard it as royal enamelware.
Lu Bicheng's eyes immediately shone: "I want to buy one set, no, three sets!"
Li Yu didn't have Italian currency on him, so he had to ask Piano to pay for it and then gave him pounds.
Li Yu thought more and continued to ask: "I want to buy a set of enamel production equipment. Does Mr. Piano have any channels?"
Piano didn't know much about industrial production, so he thought for a moment and said, "Perhaps you will gain something from a trip to Austria. Many of our enamel products are imported from there."
The production process of enamel is not complicated. If it forms an industrial scale, the price of enamel products will be much lower than that of porcelain, so it is very suitable for domestic promotion.
People born in the 2000s may not have much impression of enamel, but this thing has dominated the domestic daily market for a long time, with countless face plates, dental bowls, dinner plates, and drinking glasses.
Those who got married in the 1970s and 1980s must have an enamel faceplate with a peony-red double happiness pattern.
The water cup with the portrait of a great man on it has accompanied countless people in their youth.
Konoe Akiyuki was even more surprised: "Buy production equipment?!"
Li Yu said: "The land in the suburbs of Beijing given to me by the Ministry of Commerce is too big. It can open many factories. It is easy to add an enamel workshop."
"Can it really be mass-produced?" Lu Bicheng was still curious.
Li Yu affirmed: "It must be possible, but some supporting upstream industries need to be built, such as glaze powder factories."
Although there have been enamel products in China in recent years, most of them are imported products from Germany and the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Due to the long transportation distance, the price is relatively high, and they are high-end daily necessities.
Once we can build a local factory, we can then weaken the artistry, reduce the patterns, and only highlight the advantages of enamel, which will be very promising.
Besides, with the name "enamel" attached at this time, it will definitely be easy to sell.
Of course, Li Yu’s idea is to allow more ordinary people to use durable daily necessities.
And enamel not only has the advantage of being durable, but its ability to last for so long is also inseparable from an important feature: antibacterial properties, so there are many enamel products in hospitals.
In short, if we can promote enamel in China early, there will be many benefits, and we will make more money than soap and instant noodles.
Furthermore, Li Yu knew that during the Republic of China, the domestic enamel market was monopolized by Little Japan. At that time, Little Japan's economy was actually very fragile and it was completely dependent on the Chinese market. Cutting off one of its economic sources would make the country less dire.
Until the end of World War I, it was a golden period for the development of national industry in China. Li Yu intends to use it as a demonstration enterprise in the future, and will encourage production in all provinces. All the technologies, processes, and patents purchased will be made public in the country, and it will be free to do so.
——
After Planck heard that Li Yu was going to Austria, he told him: "Don't forget to write the manuscript on the train."
"Promise to complete the mission," Li Yu said, "Professor, how long do you plan to stay in Rome?"
Planck said: "I will also go back to Berlin in a few days, and I can't be separated from you there."
Planck was a busy man, wearing many hats. He smiled bitterly and said: "It's not like you, young and rich, surrounded by beautiful girls. I also have endless meetings, examination reviews and reports!"
After all, Planck had not really become famous yet. At this time, his salary was mainly from being a university professor, an academician of the Academy of Sciences, and writing various reports.
The current salary paid to academicians by the Berlin Academy of Sciences is the lowest among the major European academies of science, far less than that of France and the United Kingdom. It also has something to do with the low value of the mark. Germany attaches too much importance to industry and is not as financially flexible as Britain and France.
(This seems to be one of the reasons why Germany dared to strike hard later.)
Anyway, the master Planck and the patent clerk Einstein still look like ordinary people running for life.
