Training the Heavens

Chapter 305 Reasons for Winning the Award

"It's a pity that you can't go with me this time." Zhang Xingjiu said goodbye to Ma Zongwen reluctantly at the dock.

"I also want to go with you to witness this important moment, but the child is still young and can't leave me alone." Ma Zongwen said while holding the child. With the current level of transportation, it is too unsafe to take such a young child on an overseas trip.

"Then let's wait for next time. There will definitely be a chance to go to Sweden to receive the award again in the future. We will go together then!" Zhang Xingjiu comforted him. Although the Nobel Prize in Physics Selection Committee took all his previous achievements into account, he still had confidence in winning the award again.

Apart from anything else, the photoelectric effect will definitely win the award. This year is 1901, and it has not been long since the birth of the photoelectric effect. He plans to bring it out in two or three years, and he will still win the award then.

"I also believe you can do it. Take care of yourself on the way. When you arrive in Paris, remember to say hello to Mary and the others for me." Ma Zongwen held the child in one hand and used the other hand to pick the fluff off Zhang Xingjiu's collar.

"Please go back, everyone. I will be back in three months at most. I still have to make up for the classes I missed!" Hearing the whistle urging passengers to board the ship, Zhang Xingjiu waved goodbye to everyone and stepped onto the gangway.

Now at Aurora University, he not only serves as the head teacher of the physics class and teaches them physics courses, but also has to teach mathematics and English to students of other majors. He is really busy. It is only because the award is too important that he would not be willing to leave for so long.

Ma Zongwen is in a similar situation. He not only has to teach professional courses to students in the education class, but also has to teach French to students in other departments. Fortunately, his family is well-off and they can afford to hire someone to help take care of the children, otherwise they would be too busy.

Walking onto the deck, the captain personally led his men to greet Zhang Xingjiu and said respectfully, "Professor, it is an honor to have you on board this ship. The best first-class cabin has been prepared for you."

This award is also a great improvement to Zhang Xingjiu's status. With the progress of the Industrial Revolution, the status of scholars, especially top scholars, has continued to improve. Now that he has won the Nobel Prize, these foreigners must give him the respect he deserves.

"Thank you very much. I am also very happy to take this ship to Europe." Zhang Xingjiu responded politely, chatted with the captain for a few words and then returned to his cabin. Two sailors followed him with his luggage and took it all the way to the cabin. They arranged it according to Zhang Xingjiu's requirements and left with satisfaction taking the tip.

After the journey began, Zhang Xingjiu once again became the focus of attention on the ship. Whenever he appeared in restaurants, cafes, bars, etc., a large group of people would gather around him and talk to him curiously about physics. However, the level of most of these people was very average, so they just listened for fun.

A month later, the passenger ship arrived at the port of Marseille. Zhang Xingjiu abandoned the ship and took the train back to Paris after two years. The Sorbonne University welcomed his return with a grand ceremony.

After all, Zhang Xingjiu obtained his bachelor's and doctoral degrees from the Sorbonne University. Now he has won the Nobel Prize, which is also an honor for the Sorbonne University. Now that Zhang Xingjiu is back, they must give him a warm welcome.

"Professor, thank you very much for your nomination. I finally won the prize! Next year, I will also nominate you, Pierre and Marie. Your achievements will also win the Nobel Prize!" Zhang Xingjiu first thanked Professor Lippmann. Of course, the efforts Professor Lippmann made for him to win the prize this time were not just the nomination. It's just that there are so many people around now that it's not convenient to say it.

After attending the cocktail party held by the school, Zhang Xingjiu was invited to Professor Lippmann's home. Lang Zhiwan and the Curies were also there. Since there were no outsiders around, Zhang Xingjiu asked the question he hadn't asked directly before, "Professor, I'm curious about why the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences broke with its prejudice and awarded me the award?" "I also thought I had a good chance of winning the award, but I didn't expect it to be the first, and I didn't expect to be the only one to receive it. Candidates like Professor Roentgen and Professor Michelson are also eligible for this award, and of course, you, Pierre, and Marie."

Lippmann took out a bottle of Bordeaux red wine from his collection and poured it for them slowly. After whetting Zhang Xingjiu's appetite, he slowly said, "I heard some information from a few old friends. It's actually not as complicated as you think."

"You were awarded the prize for several reasons. First, your achievements are truly impressive. Cathode rays, blackbody radiation, and wireless telegraphy—these three achievements are undisputedly Nobel Prize-worthy! Even more specifically, some of the important steps alone could be considered worthy of the prize."

"Secondly, the Nobel Prize also needs to demonstrate fairness, and awarding you the prize undoubtedly shows that they are not influenced by political, racial or other issues, at least on the surface."

"Also, your country's political situation has had a certain impact. During that unfortunate war, some local officials chose to compromise. Therefore, some judges privately believed that awarding you the prize would help cultivate a spokesperson for European countries."

Zhang Xingjiu had not expected that the Southeast Mutual Protection Movement organized by Zhang Zhidong, Liu Kunyi, Li Hongzhang, Sheng Xuanhuai, and Yuan Shikai would actually affect his chances of winning the award, but after thinking about it carefully, he felt that it made sense.

The Boxer Rebellion can be said to be backward, but it also demonstrated China's firm determination not to be enslaved by foreigners like India. At this time, the attitudes of European countries towards China also changed. They realized that it was unrealistic to completely divide and colonize China, and they could only cultivate spokespersons to safeguard their own interests.

Zhang Xingjiu was trained in a European university and has a high reputation. He does have the potential to be a spokesperson, but Zhang Xingjiu is destined to disappoint them. He will never sell out China's interests.

"The last and most crucial point! Your wireless telegraph technology is already commercially viable. Several influential Swedish companies have secured patents for this technology in the Nordic region. They all believe that winning you the award will save a significant amount of publicity costs and will easily make it easier for people to accept this new technology!"

"They even planned a promotional event to be launched after the awards ceremony, and they will invite you to appear at that time."

"These companies already have some senior technical personnel who are members of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences and have the power to vote for Nobel Prize winners. Add to that those who have received funding from them and have partnerships with them, and the number is even greater!"

"Because winning the award is more in their best interest, you were able to defeat Roentgen, Strathairn, Michelson and others to win the award!"

Ha, Zhang Xingjiu finally understood, it turned out to be a matter of money!

(End of this chapter)