One day in the summer of 1926.
Su Lian, Liegeler.
Auditorium of Sulian Academy of Sciences.
Chen Muwu stood in the center of the podium, and Kapitsa stood at the interpreter's seat on the side of the podium.
His second lecture of this trip was coming to an end.
"...
"To sum up, I think Einstein's theory of relativity is completely consistent with ***.
“The last thing I want to say is that during the more than two weeks since I came to Lezhigrad, I have been warmly received by the teachers and students of the university, and I have also visited every corner of the university.
"In order to prepare for today's lecture, I have gone to the university library many times these days to look for information. There, I accidentally saw an article by Dimiryadev, a professor at the Department of Physics of the Capital University of Mozambique, named It's called "Einstein's Special and General Theory of Relativity."
“I don’t know what the relationship is between this professor and the famous Sulian agriculturist and biologist Klimont Dimiryadev.
“And I am just a physics practitioner, not a professional philosopher, and may not have a deep enough understanding of the content of Professor Dimiryadev’s article.
“However, I personally disagree with some of the physics views in Professor Dimiryadev’s article.
"He said that 'the theory of relativity is the mathematical expression of Machism', which, from a physical point of view, 'is not immediately acceptable to sound reason.'
"Professor Dimiryadev also gave specific reasons for his view. He vowed that all the conclusions drawn from Einstein's theory that are consistent with reality can be obtained by using things that people can come into contact with in their daily lives. , Theories that absolutely do not contain any incomprehensible content are clearly proven in a simpler way, and these theoretical methods definitely do not contain anything that is pretentious and incomprehensible like the theory of relativity.
“I think Professor Dimiryadev’s words are a little too exaggerated.
"I personally would like to know how to calculate the precession of Mercury at perihelion without using the principles of relativity, and how to explain the light deflection observed by Professors Eddington and Campbell during the two total solar eclipses. Phenomenon.
"If anyone in the audience of this lecture can prove it to me, I think I can provide him with a small reward. For example, a bonus of one hundred pounds, or I can also give this person a small reward for me. If you are a genius in solving problems, please go to the University of Cambridge in England and provide him with a PhD qualification in the Cavendish Laboratory.
"This reward of mine is valid for a long time..."
In the auditorium of the Surian Academy of Sciences, Chen Muwu's words at the end of the lecture were translated into Russian by Kapitsa and caused an uproar in the audience.
Three good friends from the Physics Jazz Club of Lezhigrad University also obtained tickets for the lecture through some means. They were sitting in the last few rows of the auditorium at this time.
Gamow touched the sleepy Land next to him with his elbow and said: "Tao, don't sleep."
Landau opened his sleepy eyes in confusion: "I originally thought that Dr. Chen, as a Nobel Prize winner in physics, would have great lectures at the Academy of Sciences, but I didn't expect that today's lecture was not interesting at all.
"Although the two weeks of courses he took at the university were also boring, at least the content was serious knowledge, but there was too much mathematics in it, as if he was a professor from the mathematics department. When I changed my career, I started talking about physics.
"Of course, his level of mathematics is enough to become a professor of mathematics at Capital University in Mozambique.
"I don't know why he is in the Academy of Sciences today, talking about something even more boring than what he did in class.
"I don't know Professor Dimiryadev who teaches physics. As his nickname says, this man is just the 'son of the monument'. He relied on the reputation accumulated by his father in the country to gain a reputation in the country. He became a professor of physics at the Capital University of Mozambique. Did he have any outstanding achievements in physics? Professor Dimiryadev's most well-known identity in the country is that he often claims that he is a friend of Gorky.
"I really don't understand why Dr. Chen would attack such a person. Einstein's theory of relativity is a beautiful, great and correct theory. Is there anything to doubt about this?
"When he heard the barking of a stray dog on the road, Dr. Chen chose to lower himself and bark at the stray dog twice. Why bother?"
Landau, whose sleep was disturbed, was very angry and full of fire.
Gamov, who suffered such an unreasonable disaster, looked a little aggrieved, but he still kindly reminded his friend: "Did you hear the last words of Dr. Chen? He said he could provide a doctor to Cambridge The opportunity to study abroad at the Cavendish Laboratory of the University is as long as you can calculate the precession of Mercury at perihelion without using the method of relativity, or you can calculate the deflection of light during a total solar eclipse."
Studying abroad can attract Gamov, who has always wanted to study abroad and be famous like Kapitsa, and it can also attract Landau, who thinks Sulian's physics level is too poor.
Although the moon in foreign countries is just as round, the level of physics in foreign countries is really high.
But Landau knew that the two questions raised by Chen Muwu were the two earliest examples that proved the correctness of general relativity.
It is difficult to find a reasonable explanation without using relativity theory but using other methods.
Dr. Chen made it clear that he was ridiculing Dimiryadev in public.
His two questions had no solution at all, and the two rewards he proposed, one hundred pounds and the opportunity to study abroad at Cambridge University, were just a gimmick to attract attention and should not be taken seriously.
Landau felt that Gamow around him was a bit naive. Why did he even believe such nonsense?
But even if the question had no solution, Landau didn't want to admit that he couldn't give the answer.
So he said a little arrogantly: "I didn't fall asleep. I just felt that the lecture was boring, so I closed my eyes and meditated in my seat.
"If the reward given by Dr. Chen is something else, I would still be interested in writing and counting.
"But study abroad at the University of Cambridge? Then I think it's better not to calculate it at all, just forget it. Dr. Chen, who has the highest level of physics at Cambridge University, you have also seen his true situation in the past half month, but... Er. This kind of school simply cannot arouse my desire to study abroad."
After saying this, Landau leaned against the backrest behind him and closed his eyes coolly.
Unfortunately, there were no female classmates from the same department or school around him, only two witnesses, Gamov and Ivanenko.
After putting on a big show, he failed to attract the attention of the opposite sex, which still made Landau feel a little unhappy.
Not only the trio of Landau, Gamov and Ivanenko were shocked by the topic and reward proposed by Chen Muwu, but also those in the audience who had some basic knowledge of physics were all shocked by Chen Muwu's sudden mention of this matter. I was shocked.
But after reacting, they all, like Landau, realized that Chen Muwu was mocking Dimiryadev.
Only a few people who didn't react took Chen Muwu's promise seriously.
There was an opportunity to study abroad at Cambridge University, and I wanted to give it a try.
Even the Crown Prince of Sweden, who came specially to listen to Chen Muwu's lecture today, couldn't help but ask the staff around him to record Chen Muwu's two questions.
I will wait for an opportunity to send a telegram to China and ask the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences and the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm to see if there are any good answers to Dr. Chen's questions.
It would be best if they could calculate the results in the next few days and send the answers by telegram to the embassy in the capital of Mozambique.
In this way, I can have a common topic with Dr. Chen on the train from the capital of Mozambique to the Far East.
The excitement caused by the questions and rewards gradually subsided in the auditorium.
The instigator, Chen Muwu, then continued to finish the speech.
"I heard that Professor Dimiryadev also had this argument, that is, although Einstein himself did not carry out any active attack on the principles of materialism, the theories he proposed have been adopted by the bourgeoisie and their intellectuals in various countries. used by molecules.
"Some people say that Professor Dimiryadev is a fan of Sir Isaac Newton and a strong supporter of classical mechanics.
"But I think Professor Dimiryadev may not know that in addition to being a great physicist, Sir Newton also served as director of the Royal Mint for thirty years. Year.
“During this period, in addition to paying private visits incognito, sneaking into bars, and cracking down on criminals who minted counterfeit currency in the UK, Sir Newton also accomplished another major event.
“He unintentionally adjusted the exchange ratio between silver and gold too low, causing silver coins to gradually withdraw from circulation in the British market. Because of this accident, the entire United Kingdom actually adopted the gold standard, and passed it in the following decades. He passed the "Gold Standard System Act" and became the first country in the world to implement the gold standard.
“Since then, countries all over the world have followed suit, and it was not until the world war that just ended that they gradually abandoned this monetary system that had been in place for one or two hundred years.
"But! Shortly after the end of the world war, just last year, British Chancellor of the Exchequer Churchill, in order to restore the glory of the British Empire, announced that Britain would re-implement the gold standard system that was abandoned during the war.
"This Churchill, he is quite hostile to your country's system. I remember that the great mentor Lie Yan once called him 'Su Goose's biggest enemy'.
“Although Professor Dimiryadev is not here today, I still want to apply his logic.
“Sir Newton was the actual inventor of the gold standard, and this Churchill was an advocate of the gold standard.
"It stands to reason that Churchill is more bourgeois than the bourgeoisie described by Professor Dimiryadev, so should Sir Newton, who was highly praised by him, also be criticized by him like Einstein?
“As an aside, I think Churchill’s move is completely like a tiger rather than a dog.
"Although I am not an economist and don't know much about economics, I know that his economic mind is completely incomparable to Sir Newton. Let alone Sir Newton, Churchill didn't even have a degree from Cambridge University.
"The restored gold standard is destined to be short-lived in the UK. Churchill will not only face the Waterloo of his political career, but may also have other more serious consequences."
After raising the question of "using the son's spear to attack the son's shield", Chen Muwu's second lecture ended.
He nodded and walked off the stage. The audience in the auditorium had mixed reactions.
Oppenheimer, who followed Chen Muwu from the UK, had arrived in Sulian a few days ago.
He was also present in the audience of today's lecture, pumping his hands harder than anyone else.
Although Oppenheimer didn't understand why Chen Muwu would associate the theory of relativity with such a weird thing, the last example he gave was really wonderful.
You know that Dr. Chen is not a person who swallows his anger. The British Chancellor of the Exchequer has been targeting Chen Muwu in newspapers for more than a day or two.
Dr. Chen's example today undoubtedly dealt a heavy blow to that little fat man.
It is not a compliment to say that Churchill's economic acumen is completely incomparable to Newton's.
After all, Newton was a famous stock market god, and Nanhai Company was his lifelong enemy.
There is an unconfirmed tabloid theory that the gold standard introduced by Newton won the heart of the then British King George I, and then the king recommended a stock to Lord Niu of which he personally served as president on the board of directors. .
Then the stock did rise, but Lord Niu...
However, this statement is mostly far-fetched by later generations. After all, George I couldn't even speak English, so how could he communicate with Newton?
Oppenheimer felt that Chen Muwu's method of cursing was really heart-wrenching. He didn't know whether there were reporters present at today's lecture, whether it would be reported in newspapers, and whether British media colleagues would reprint it.
If the British don't know about this in the future, they will definitely help Chen Muwu publicize it when they get to Cambridge University.
Oppenheimer guessed it, and Chen Muwu got off the podium and walked to the lounge of the auditorium, where Yofei was already waiting.
"Dr. Chen, what you said is really good. To tell you the truth, many of our colleagues are opposed to Professor Dimiryadev's views on Professor Einstein and the theory of relativity. You have spoken out our voices today.
"Dr. Chen, I have another unkind request. Can I reprint the full text of your speech in our country's newspapers? Everyone originally wanted to fight back against Professor Dimiryadev. This speech of yours is very important to our country's newspapers." It’s a very powerful weapon for us.”
Of course Chen Muwu was happy to see this, so he fully agreed to Professor Yofei's request.
But he didn't expect that the newspaper Yoffei was talking about was not the journal of Lezhigrad University, nor the journal of the Sulian Academy of Sciences, but the largest national newspaper with an editorial office in the capital of Mozambique.
In addition, Chen Muwu also told Yofei about another thing.
He is about to leave Su Lian, and this matter cannot be delayed any longer.
In the afternoon after the lecture, Iofei sent someone to call Landau from class to the office of the professor of the Department of Physics at Lezhigrad University.
Many people have written memoirs about Landau screaming hysterically in the office that afternoon.
"What, what? You said that Dr. Chen intends to invite me to study abroad at Cambridge University and asked me if I would like to go?"
"I am willing to go, I am willing to go, of course I am willing to go!"
"Who said I didn't want to go? Gamow said that?"
"Oh, this man is real! Professor, he is joking. Don't take what he says seriously! I am willing to go!"
(End of chapter)
