Training the Heavens

Chapter 335 The King’s Flag changes at the top of the city

To give a very intuitive example, the Nobel Prize is actually similar to the content in martial arts novels. Huang Shang wrote "Nine Yin Scriptures" and Dugu Qiubai wrote "Nine Swords of Dugu". These achievements are epoch-making and no matter who is the judge, they cannot ignore them. They must be awarded a Nobel Prize.

However, such geniuses are so rare that in ordinary years, most of those who compete for the Nobel Prize are people like Qiu Chuji or even Ke Zhenwu.

Zhang Xingjiu was able to win the first Nobel Prize because his achievements were indisputable. The results he produced were on the same level as "Nine Yin Scriptures" and "Nine Swords of Dugu", and there were also many forces cheering for him.

It's like Zhang Xingjiu wrote the "Nine Yang Manual", and he had Shaolin, Wudang, and Emei behind him to help cheer him on. If he is not given the award, the authority of the Nobel Prize will be questioned.

Now Wu Lien-teh has come up with many ways to prevent the epidemic, just like Han Xiaoying improved the sword technique of "The Sword of Yue Girl". This achievement is enough to win the Nobel Prize, but it is not as unquestionable as "Nine Yin Scriptures", "Nine Yang Scriptures" and "Nine Swords of Dugu".

He was definitely qualified for the prize, but it was also understandable not to give it to him, so at this time the operational capabilities behind the scenes had to be tested. Wu Lien-teh himself did not have this ability. The identity of a PhD from Cambridge University was certainly an honor, but Cambridge could definitely field more than one candidate for the Nobel Prize every year. Instead of giving the resources to Wu Lien-teh, it would be better to give them to someone who was born in the UK and studied at Cambridge.

Wu Lien-teh's achievements are definitely worthy of a Nobel Prize, but there are many other candidates who are equally qualified to compete for the Nobel Prize. At this time, it is necessary to test how much support the candidates have behind them. Wu Lien-teh is undoubtedly weak in this regard.

So it was time for Zhang Xingjiu to take action. He first contacted his connections at the Sorbonne University and explained Wu Lien-teh's contributions to them. At the same time, he hinted to them that China was now in a critical period of historical change, and whoever supported Wu Lien-teh to win the award would win the favor of Chinese youth.

Then there is Cambridge University. Cambridge's status in academia is unquestionable. This is not the era when American universities have become increasingly powerful. The status of Cambridge and Oxford in academia is similar to that of Shaolin and Wudang in the martial arts world. If Cambridge supported Wu Lien-teh, it would have been much easier for him to win the award.

Before this year, no scholar from Cambridge had won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, so Wu Lien-teh's achievements were quite attractive to them.

Next is the United States. Through wireless telegraphy, Zhang Xingjiu has established relatively close relations with American universities and foundations. For them, if they can obtain some wireless telegraphy conveniences through the Nobel Prize, this business will definitely be profitable.

Soon, Zhang Xingjiu received a reply. Sorbonne University said very frankly that their current research focus is Professor Charles-Robert Richet of the school. His work in allergic reaction research is definitely worthy of a Nobel Prize.

In response, Zhang Xingjiu expressed his understanding and stated that he was willing to use his own resources to help Professor Charles-Robert Richet win the award. His only requirement was to wait until Professor Charles-Robert Richet won the award before helping Wu Lien-teh win the award.

Sorbonne University thought that Zhang Xingjiu had considerable influence in academia and industry, and that this deal would definitely be a good deal, so they readily agreed and promised that after Professor Charles-Robert Richet won the Nobel Prize, they would use their influence to help Wu Lien-teh win the prize.

Cambridge University had no objections. They had been lacking a Nobel Prize candidate in recent years, and Wu Lien-teh was the top candidate. If he could secure support from the French academic community, his chances would only increase. The US was even more promising. They also wanted to secure a Nobel Prize for Alexi Carrel of the Rockefeller Center. If he could secure support from Zhang Xingjiu and the UK and France, his chances would undoubtedly increase.

So the parties quickly reached an agreement. Zhang Xingjiu deliberately delayed Wu Lien-teh because he knew that in six or seven years, the Spanish flu would break out and sweep the world. Many of the prevention methods proposed by Wu Lien-teh would also play an important role in this flu. This would be the best time for him to win the award, so he should first let Britain, France, the United States and other countries owe him a favor and then redeem it when the Spanish flu breaks out.

After the discussion, Zhang Xingjiu found Wu Lien-teh and told him about these things, and told him clearly that there were many people queuing up now, and he would have to wait a few years if he wanted to win the award. If he was lucky, he might win the award in eight or nine years.

Wu Lien-teh was very nonchalant about this. "I am very satisfied that I can help the Chinese people suffer less from the plague. I don't really care whether I win the award or not."

Zhang Xingjiu replied solemnly, "Mr. Wu, the many methods you pioneered in preventing the plague in Northeast China are a model for humanity's defense against plague. These methods will surely become the standard for humanity's defense against large-scale infectious diseases. This achievement is undoubtedly worthy of a Nobel Prize. If the organizers don't give it to you, it can only be interpreted as racial discrimination. China now desperately needs you to win the prize to boost national self-confidence, so this is not just your fault!"

"I understand. Just tell me what you need me to do." Wu Lien-teh now realized the importance of this matter.

"You'd better contact the teachers and students in Cambridge as soon as possible and talk to them about the plague in Northeast China. Mention their names as much as possible in your paper. If you win the award, it will not only be an honor for China, but also an honor for Cambridge and even the British medical community." Zhang Xingjiu reminded.

"I understand, I understand." Now Wu Lien-teh also knew the ins and outs of award judging and began to demystify the Nobel Prize.

Before Wu Lien-teh sent the telegram to his teachers and classmates in Cambridge, the political situation in China had undergone earth-shaking changes. Sun Yat-sen was forced to resign after only serving as the interim commander-in-chief for more than a month.

Then Yuan Xiangcheng succeeded Sun Yat-sen as the commander-in-chief, which really fulfilled the words in Ah Zhang's poem later, "The king's flag on the city wall changes."

China still has a long way to go before entering modern society. After Yuan Shikai took office as the commander-in-chief, he immediately announced a series of policies, including one about Zhang Xingjiu.

In his telegram, Yuan Shikai praised Zhang Xingjiu's academic achievements, calling him the most outstanding academic and educational talent in China, and cordially invited him to the capital to serve as the president of the Imperial University of Peking.

Zhang Xingjiu knew very well that with Yuan Xiangcheng's academic background, he would definitely not be able to understand his achievements. He made such an invitation only because of his status in academia, education, and more importantly, in the hearts of foreigners.

So, should I agree to it?
(End of this chapter)