This Quanye Expo was full of bargains. Only six Chinese provinces, Jiangsu, Hubei, Hunan, Shandong, Sichuan, and Fujian, purchased items to participate in the exhibition. However, looking along the way, most of the exhibits were antiques.
There are even tiles from the Han Dynasty and scripture buildings from the Tang Dynasty among the exhibits in Hubei.
Zhang Jian couldn't stand it: "These things should be placed in museums. Why come to the Quanye Expo?"
Then I looked at the exhibits from the six provinces and found that many of them were duplicates. I sighed helplessly.
Zhang Jian was most familiar with the exhibits in the Agricultural Museum, but he still said with regret: "It's a pity that our salt and cotton from Nantong were not able to participate in the exhibition, otherwise it would not be inferior to other countries."
Of course, the agricultural equipment produced by others was indeed better, so Zhang Jian placed an order for a batch of agricultural equipment such as rakes.
After shopping here, the most eye-catching thing is of course the Industrial Museum.
The Industrial Museum even held a "light show" today, lighting up thousands of electric lamps at the same time.
It made the whole place excited.
It may not sound like a big deal to later generations, but at the beginning of the 20th century, it was really an incredible industrial achievement.
Zhang Jian was very impressed: "I have never seen so many electric lamps in the whole of Nantong. They can be lit at the same time. How much energy is required!"
Li Yu was not surprised. Japan was obviously imitating the European and American expositions this time, and at the same time lighting up the electric lights was imitating the Chicago Expo ten years ago.
At that time, Tesla used alternating current to light up the lights in the entire venue at the same time, directly allowing his alternating current to win the "current war" with Edison's direct current, which is famous in history.
Although it was the brightest, there was no booth for Chinese exhibits in the industrial hall. Fan Xiren and He Yujie had no choice but to pull up a small bench and put on the small differential made by Li Yu.
The third auto show was held in New York last year, but there are not many cars in Japan, and the only ones they have are imported from Europe and the United States.
Soon someone became interested in this gadget. A Japanese man came over and took a closer look: "This is... a differential?"
Fan Xiren understands Japanese, but when Japanese people refer to "differential", they use English.
——Anyway, the Japanese language is like this. It has a weak ability to accept foreign words, so many times it can only be borrowed.
Fan Xiren didn't understand the technical vocabulary of machinery very well, so he didn't understand the phrase "Japanese-English", so he had to call Li Yu over.
The Japanese asked again: "Who did this?"
Fan Xiren said: "Far away in the horizon and close in front of us, it is Li Yu who is right in front of us."
The Japanese was surprised: "Li Yu? I've heard of you. When I was in the United States last year, you were mentioned in many news."
Li Yu really didn't expect that in an era when communications were so backward, people in the United States and Japan would know about him.
The Japanese said: "My name is Shintaro Yoshida. I just bought some parts from an American auto show to assemble a car. Today I have nothing to do to visit the Quanye Expo. I never thought that a Chinese person could make a steering system by himself."
"
Japan's first domestically produced car was assembled a few years later by Shintaro Yoshida and his own engineers using auto parts purchased from the United States.
But even just assembling it took Shintaro Yoshida and the engineers four to five years to figure it out.
Japan's automobile industry was too well-known in later generations, and Li Yu naturally understood it, but at this time, Japanese automobiles were really lackluster. At this point in time, it can even be said that they are not much different from China in the late Qing Dynasty and the early Republic of China. It is a pity.
It was because no one in the Qing court had any understanding of the importance of the automobile industry.
Li Yu said: "There is nothing particularly difficult, it's just a differential."
What he said is true. Cars are the crystallization of industry, and the differential is only a small component of it.
Shintaro Yoshida studied it for a long time and couldn't help but marvel: "It turns out that a small steering system is so complicated! Looking at the whole of Japan, I'm afraid there is no engineer who understands such profound mechanics."
Shintaro Yoshida himself was not good at mechanics and relied on buying and selling. Then he asked: "Can I buy this patent from you?"
"Acquisition?" Li Yu said, "I'm afraid it's not possible, and besides, it hasn't taken shape at all."
Shintaro Yoshida said regretfully: "That's true, I don't seem to be able to use it after I buy it."
Fan Xiren on the side was confused, "Patent?"
Well, there is no patent system at all in China now. Even if Fan Xiren studied law after studying in Japan, even he currently does not know about the patent system.
Li Yu had no choice but to explain to him: "It is the decree issued by the imperial court that can protect inventors from enjoying the exclusive rights and interests of their own inventions for a certain period of time."
Fan Xiren still knows the law, and as soon as he thought about it, he felt that it made sense: "There is nothing wrong with it. If you don't do this, how can you encourage people to create, otherwise it will become a wedding dress for others."
But then I thought that the Qing government had no laws related to patents at all, so there was no protection. There were no even more basic laws above the patent law.
Zhang Jian somewhat knew what patents were, but why did the Japanese ask the Chinese to buy technology patents? It was like a dream, so he asked: "Are you a Japanese government employee?"
"No," Shintaro Yoshida said quickly, knowing that China and Japan were currently in conflict, "I am just an ordinary businessman without any military or government background, but I do plan to set up a car factory specifically for
Selling cars imported from the United States.”
Zhang Jian nodded, he turned out to be a second-rate dealer.
However, the Tokyo Automobile Manufacturing Plant founded by this person did indeed assemble Japan's first car and then to a certain extent create Japan's first "domestic" car. Of course, the core components are still purchased from the United States, and only the car body is produced by itself.
, also uses a relatively slow and backward manual method.
The mass production of Japanese cars will not be until Mitsubishi ten years later.
Mitsubishi again...
The Japanese government quickly noticed the potential of automobiles, especially the huge potential in the military. Many automobile companies later had strong military backgrounds.
Li Yu knows it well. Not only does he not want to sell technology, he has even begun to have competitive thoughts, although currently he is as small as an ant compared with several major Japanese consortiums.
Fan Xiren didn't know what happened next, but he just felt that if he could easily make a lot of money by selling patents, why not do it. And this kind of thing would definitely become important news, and it would even boost the country's domestic market after it was reported in the newspapers.
morale.
Fan Xiren whispered: "Why not offer him a big price?"
Just as Li Yu was about to reply, someone came over and said, "So we also have a booth in the Industrial Museum, and there are still Japanese people who want to buy?"
Fan Xiren recognized him and saluted: "Prince Gong!"
Then he introduced to Li Yu: "This is the king of Karaqin County in Mongolia."
They came too.
Fan Xiren introduced the other two people who followed King Gong: Xian Zhang, son of Prince Su Shanqi, and Qi Chengwu, son of Nayantu, Prince of Khalkha, Mongolia.
During the Qing Dynasty, there were almost twenty princes in Mongolia.
But Qi Chengwu’s surname is a bit powerful: Borzigit, the descendant of Genghis Khan.
Therefore, one of these three people is already the prince of Mongolia, and the other two are the prince's sons and will inherit the throne in the future.
The people selected by the Japanese Black Dragon Society and the ambassador to the Qing Dynasty, Uchida Yasuya, are indeed very influential.
However, by the time the next two succeeded, the Qing Dynasty was gone... Japan also directly gave up on wooing them and turned to the seemingly more valuable Qing emperor Puyi.
Anyway, Japan naturally only sees interests, and interests that can be exploited by them.
King Gong looked at the differential model car in front of him: "This is what the Japanese want to buy?"
Xing Zhang and Qi Chengwu also became interested. After taking a closer look, they found that the gear transmission inside could provide different speeds to the left and right wheels during steering. The principle was quite good.
But they couldn't see anything: "So it's such a small thing? I thought it was some serious industrial product."
"That's it, extremely disappointing!"
Although Shintaro Yoshida doesn't understand Chinese, he can tell from his tone that the two of them have little regard for the little invention in front of them. He just praised him, and then he was insulted by others. The typical insult was to himself.
Shintaro Yoshida didn't know any of these princes and princes, so he said directly: "I heard an old saying in China, a leaf can't see Mount Tai. No, no, no, it should be that you can't see Mount Tai with eyes."
Qi Chengwu and Xianzhang couldn't understand Japanese, so they asked Fan Xiren: "What did he say?"
Of course Fan Xiren understood it, but it was a bit awkward to be caught in the middle and it was not convenient to translate directly, so he said instead: "He means that this kind of thing is actually very powerful..."
"Oh?" King Gong said in surprise, "But why do I look like a toy? Even if it is exquisite, it is just a thing made by a superb craftsman."
Fan Xiren said angrily: "How can something made by Brother Li Yu be just a toy!"
"Li Yu? Are you the emperor's advisor?" King Gong had never met Li Yu, but he had heard of his name.
"Of course it is!" Fan Xiren said, "And don't think it's just a model. It will be more useful in the future."
King Gong didn't care about the model, he held up his hands and said: "I'm sorry, I didn't expect to see you in Japan."
As soon as the title of Imperial Master came out, Xian Zhang and Qi Chengwu did not dare to say anything.
I didn’t expect that taking lessons from Guangxu would have such an effect.
Li Yu replied: "King Gong is polite!"
Although Guangxu has no real power now, even the Mongolian kings believe that sooner or later they will return power to the emperor.
Guangxu has always respected his teachers. When he still had real power, he slowly promoted his English teacher Zhang Deyi to a second-rank official. Zhang Deyi's level was still very mediocre.
Therefore, the identity of the emperor's master was indeed quite impressive, and they really did not dare to look down upon Li Yu.
Qi Chengwu and Xian Zhang also immediately changed their words: "Since foreigners think it's awesome, it must be awesome!"
Li Yu was too lazy to explain to them and just said: "It is still far from practical application, but once it is popularized in the future, it will not only boost the economy, but also benefit the people."
Qi Chengwu nodded and said: "Sir, it is true, but I think we must first benefit the Queen Mother Lafayette!"
Well, Li Yu really can't explain anymore.
Shintaro Yoshida couldn't understand their conversation, but since he couldn't buy the patent, he really wanted to buy the small model.
After all, it's an exhibition, so if someone buys it, they can't refuse it.
Moreover, Shintaro Yoshida has bought a lot of auto parts from the United States, but the finished products are more complicated. Even if his engineers can disassemble genuine American differentials, he really can't understand them.
To him, the thing in front of him was small and "delicate" and looked much more comfortable.
Shintaro Yoshida said: "Sir, please give me a price. I can accept any amount."
Li Yu had no choice but to say casually: "Then 100 yen."
"Deal!" Shintaro Yoshida was unambiguous at all.
The Japanese yen is still relatively valuable now, almost equivalent to 10 pounds.
Although the Tokyo Automobile Manufacturing Plant subsequently established by Shintaro Yoshida also produced some "assembled cars", the performance and technology were simply incomparable with products such as Ford's in the United States during the same period, and the three key parts had to be imported.
Even Yoshida's automobile manufacturing plant could not survive within a few years and became part of Isuzu Corporation.
In fact, the Japanese automobile industry has been suppressed by the United States and Germany since then. Its rise in later generations is really thanks to the oil crisis. Everyone suddenly felt a pain in their flesh when refueling.
King Gong and the others found out that the Japanese really paid. They counted with their fingers and said in surprise: "A small model costs 25 taels of silver?"
Qi Chengwu didn't know why either: "Is this made of gold? It turns out it's so easy to make money! I'll just sell the models in the future."
Li Yu kept his head blank and talked for a long time, but they still didn't understand what science and technology was and what industrial output was.
The cause and effect are not yet understood.
After the things were bought and there was nothing left to look at, King Gong called a Japanese over: "Mr. Amano, I also want to learn about Japanese education this time. Do you have any recommendations?"
Mr. Amano is the counselor of the Japanese Consulate and said: "There are many places where education can be observed. I wonder where King Gong wants to see?"
King Gong replied: "Of course it has its own characteristics."
Amano-kun thought for a while: "The best university in the country is Tokyo Imperial University. In addition, if it is unique, we also have a school specially set up for Chinese students."
"Japan actually has a school specially set up for Chinese students?" King Gong said in disbelief.
"That's right," Amano-kun nodded, "and the school's dean of academic affairs is a famous lady who once came from the palace."
"Still a woman?" King Gong found it even more difficult to imagine.
Amano continued: "Ms. Utako Shimoda, the academic director, is very famous in our country."
"How famous can it be?" King Gong asked curiously.
Mr. Amano said: "Ms. Utako and our two former prime ministers of Japan, Prime Minister Ito and Prime Minister Yamagata, both have hidden secrets."
"oh?"
This is so exciting!
Although few people have never heard of Shimoda Utako, Ito Hirobumi and Yamagata Aritomo are both familiar with her name.
King Gong couldn't help but ask: "What's the secret?"
Amano-kun said: "Utako is called the 'Female Fox of Meiji', but what exactly is the secret? I can only imagine it but cannot tell it in words!"
The more educated Japanese people are, the more they like to say a few ancient Chinese proverbs or poems.
Moreover, Amano-kun still picked up the best title for Shimoda Utako among the people. Some people directly called Shimoda Utako "slut", "demon" and "Japan's Rasputin".
King Gong and others suddenly realized that they knew very well what the "female fox" represented: Daji was called a fox back then.
The interest of several people was completely aroused: "We must go and see it!"
"No problem!" Amano-kun said, "You will definitely gain something!"
King Gong and others all said yes.
But few people noticed, and Amano-kun secretly smiled mysteriously.
But Li Yu saw it. That smile was obviously malicious, and he didn't know what kind of trick it was.
According to the information Tang Shaoyi told him at the beginning, the Japanese will definitely try their best to win over King Gong. Although historically it is difficult to win over King Gong directly, they have a second plan, Plan B!
King Gong suddenly said to Li Yu: "Sir, do you want to go and see it together? Since the lady Amano-kun mentioned Gezi is from the palace, and you are the emperor's teacher, I think it is most appropriate for you to go, and you can also be strong for us."
prestige."
Li Yu was stunned for a moment and then said: "Okay, I happen to be going to Tokyo too."
King Gong said: "This is very good!"
Mr. Amano glanced at Li Yu, but he didn't expect that Prince Gong agreed directly, so he couldn't say anything else.
Li Yu wanted to go not only because of the "explosive content" they mentioned.
How can I put it this way, Utako Shimoda was also an early feminist activist in Japan, but at that time, Japanese women’s rights were not much stronger.
There are many popular people.
What's more, she is a woman who is very beautiful and appears frequently online.
What's more, a year later, a Chinese woman will sell her dowry to pay for school fees, go to Japan alone, and study in the girls' school founded by Utako Shimoda. It is the heroine Qiu Jin.
Everyone agreed to set off in two days to go to Yokohama, where Utako Shimoda was.