Training the Heavens

Chapter 307 Chinese Speech
These people included staff from the Nobel Prize Committee who needed to communicate with Zhang Xingjiu about the award-receiving process, as well as representatives from the wireless telegraph company who planned to use Zhang Xingjiu's reputation for publicity.

Xingjiu had no objection to how to receive the medal, but during the speech session, he made the staff very embarrassed because when they asked Zhang Xingjiu what language he was going to use to give his acceptance speech, Zhang Xingjiu chose Chinese without hesitation.

The staff member was very confused. "Sir, we all know that you are fluent in many languages, including English, French, and Latin. You can give your speech in French so that the guests present can understand more easily."

From the time of Louis XIV in the 17th century and throughout the 18th century, France occupied an absolute dominant position in the cultural circles of continental Europe and was the center of culture and fashion. French also became the common language of diplomacy and the court.

This habit has continued to this day. During this period, the UK has also tried to enhance the influence of English through politics and diplomacy, and has achieved certain results, but has not been able to successfully challenge the status of French.

It was not until more than forty years later that the United States relied on its unrivaled industrial production capacity to spread English culture through industrial products and economic influence, which allowed English to replace French.

The staff's statement made sense. Firstly, French is the current universal international language, and secondly, Zhang Xingjiu studied in France for a long time. However, Zhang Xingjiu still insisted, "I think it is more appropriate to speak in my native language in such a formal occasion. I also think that using Chinese can also demonstrate the great influence of the Nobel Prize and highlight the fairness of the award."

Hearing these compliments, the staff member was very happy and his attitude softened a bit. "Of course, it's your right. It's just that we have a hard time finding a good Chinese translator to translate your speech for the guests present."

Since they had already agreed to his request, Zhang Xingjiu also took a step back and said, "It's okay. I can speak in both Chinese and French."

After discussing this, the staff of the wireless telegraph company hurried in and told Zhang Xingjiu about the publicity plan they had prepared. After listening, Zhang Xingjiu made some modifications.

They were half-joyed and half-worried after hearing this. "Professor, your plan is undoubtedly more shocking, but is there still time to prepare?"

"When I left Shanghai, I had already communicated with them and brought the relevant equipment with me. You can go back and contact them via telegraph now, asking them to prepare. Then we will conduct a private rehearsal. If it succeeds, we will follow my plan. If it fails, we will continue with yours."

The staff member breathed a sigh of relief. "That's no problem, then. We'll immediately prepare according to your plan. Once the private rehearsal is successful, we'll contact more reporters to come and cover it. With reporters from all over the world gathered in Stockholm, this is a perfect opportunity for publicity."

"I also think this is a very good opportunity, so I worked quickly to produce these new devices. According to the agreement we signed before, the patents of these devices can also be shared with you." Zhang Xingjiu came to Stockholm this time not just to receive the award.

After a night's rest, Zhang Xingjiu woke up the next day and went to visit Stockholm with other winners including Van Tohof and Belin. They also took a boat to the sea to enjoy the beautiful scenery.

Zhang Xingjiu stood on the deck and took a telescope to admire the scenery of Dune Baden, a coastal town southeast of Stockholm. A few years later, Kang Youwei would visit this place and praise the local beauty, saying, "Sweden is the most beautiful scenery in the world, and Dune Baden is the most beautiful scenery in Sweden."

He then spent a huge sum of 36,000 Swedish kronor to buy a small island and built a large-scale construction on the island to create his own Chinese-style backyard - "Beihai Thatched Cottage". Kang Nanhai did not only have this Beihai Thatched Cottage, he also had properties all over the world. No wonder some people in later generations gave him the nickname "Kang Guangsha".

In the next few days, Zhang Xingjiu and his colleagues either went to universities to give speeches or participated in various social activities. Just when the scientists were gradually getting bored, the day of the award ceremony finally arrived.

On the afternoon of December 12, all winners and guests gathered in the Concert Hall of the Stockholm Academy of Music. The ceremony officially began at 10: p.m. King Oscar II of Sweden took the stage to deliver a speech, praising the great significance of the Nobel Prize, announcing the official start of the award ceremony, and welcoming the winners and their families.

The awards were then presented in order, with the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine being the first to be awarded. Emil Adolf von Behring, a German physician and professor at the University of Marburg, won the award for his serum therapy for the prevention and treatment of diphtheria and tetanus.

He accepted the 23K gold medal and award certificate from Oscar II and delivered his acceptance speech in German. It seemed that he and Zhang Xingjiu had the same idea in this regard.

The second one was Zhang Xingjiu. It took several minutes just to read out his award honors, which was much longer than that of Berlin. After receiving the certificate and medal, Zhang Xingjiu stood on the podium and began his speech.

"First of all, please allow me to thank the Nobel Foundation and the Swedish Academy for their warm hospitality. Mr. Nobel was not only an outstanding scientist and successful entrepreneur, but he also left a huge legacy to the world before his death. The establishment of the Nobel Prize will greatly enhance the social influence of scientists, writers, and social activists, and encourage them to promote the development of human civilization."

"Perhaps many people were very surprised to hear that I won the award. They did not expect that such a great honor would fall on an Oriental. Here I want to say that, yes, China has made many important contributions to the history of human natural development over the past 4,000 years. Although our nation is currently at a low point, I believe that Chinese civilization will surely make even greater contributions to the progress of human civilization in the future. I am just the beginning."

"I would like to say that I am proud of my Chinese ancestry and background, and I am also proud to be able to devote myself to modern science as part of human civilization."

"My current achievements are the result of exchanges between Eastern and Western civilizations. I hope that exchanges between human civilizations will continue in the future and jointly promote the progress of human civilization."

Zhang Xingjiu first spoke in Chinese and then repeated it in French. There was warm applause at the scene, which gradually subsided until Zhang Xingjiu returned to his seat.

Looking at the medal in his hand, Zhang Xingjiu was very happy. He had created a record today that would not be broken in the next hundred years.

He is not only the first Nobel Prize winner in physics, but also the first Asian and Chinese winner, and the youngest Nobel Prize winner.

(End of this chapter)