Siberia has not been very inhabited since ancient times, let alone at the beginning of the 20th century, it was simply a bitter and cold place.
Today's Trans-Siberian Railway is very close to the Sino-Russian border. Since then, the international situation has been turbulent and unpredictable, and Sino-Soviet relations once fell to a freezing point. Therefore, during the Soviet period, another Belt-Asia Railway was built, far away from the border.
It was Lu Bicheng's first time to take a train for such a long time, and it was also her first time to go abroad. She often sat by the window and looked at the endless wilderness.
I have to say that in inaccessible places, the scenery sometimes makes people feel relaxed and happy, but also feels infinitely small.
People who engage in art like the feeling of being vast and integrated with nature.
Li Yu had already flown once, so it wasn't that new. Besides, he had flown several times in his previous life, so he still spent most of his time doing his own calculations and research.
The train still needs to change trains in Chelyabinsk, then go to Yekaterinburg, and then go all the way west through Moscow to St. Petersburg.
After arriving at the station, Markov and Lyapunov from the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences came to greet him again.
However, this time Li Yu obviously changed his appearance, without his braids and wearing Western clothes, so the two of them did not recognize him immediately.
On the contrary, Li Yu went over and greeted them in English: "Mr. Markov, Mr. Lyapunov, you are well."
The two of them looked at Li Yu and asked, "Are you...Li Yu?"
Li Yu said: "I finally recognized him."
Markov laughed and said: "The gap between him and the Chinese in my impression is really big. If I didn't say anything, I would have thought he was a Japanese."
Li Yu also smiled and said: "Now the Japanese don't dare to come to St. Petersburg casually, for fear that they will be arrested as spies."
Lyapunov also said happily: "Mr. Li Yu, I am so excited to see you again! We have been rushing to read your new mathematical book "Game Theory" recently. Like the previous "Fractals and Chaos", both
It’s really fascinating to have such profound mathematical ideas.”
Lyapunov was a person obsessed with mathematics, so he started chatting with Li Yu about mathematics.
Li Yu said frankly: "What I can do is a little pioneering work. The term mathematical thinking is appropriate, but many details still need to be added by more professional math masters like you."
The development of mathematics is inherently like this. It is impossible for one person to complete all the work. It will take many years of continued development.
Moreover, fractal, chaos theory, and game theory are subjects with strong vitality, profound connotations, and strong extensions. There are still many places that can be explored in the future.
Lyapunov said: "Sir, you are so humble. In just one year, you have already produced two such brilliant mathematical works, which even reminded me of my ancestors."
The teacher he mentioned was Chebyshev, a great figure in Russian mathematics and the founder of the Petersburg School of Mathematics.
Markov and Lyapunov were both his disciples.
Russian mathematics is still very strong today, mainly because Chebyshev laid the foundation.
Li Yu said: "My mathematical ability is still very lacking."
Compared with professional mathematicians, Li Yu’s words are truly correct.
You can be dissatisfied in any field, but I really admire mathematicians every one of them.
Those who can study and understand mathematics must definitely have a first-class genius brain. In terms of IQ, it is basically the upper limit of human beings and the level of the top of the pyramid.
As for Euler, Gauss and the like, they can really only be described as gods. I really can’t imagine how they came up with so many advanced results in the field of mathematics, it’s like traveling through time.
Markov looked at Lu Bicheng on the side and said with a smile: "Last time, Mr. came with the ambassador. I guess this one is Madam."
Lu Bicheng blushed: "No, we are just traveling together."
Although Russians are not as romantic as the French and Italians, when Markov heard this, he immediately understood: "I understand."
Lu Bicheng asked: "What do you understand?"
Markov said happily: "After hearing that Mr. Li Yu was coming to St. Petersburg, I also studied Chinese culture. There is a very interesting proverb, which seems to be that it can only be said, not understood."
Lu Bicheng corrected: "You said the opposite. It should only be understood but not expressed."
Then he thought that Markov still wanted to say that they were a couple, and now his ears turned a little red, and he quickly defended again: "We are really just traveling together!"
Lyapunov couldn't help but said: "It is said that oriental women have a unique kind of beauty. When I saw her today, it turned out to be true."
Markov said: "Let's not stand here anymore, let's go to the Academy of Sciences first."
On the way, they passed by the Kazan Cathedral again. Li Yu remembered that he had met the great magician Rasputin here before, so he asked: "Is the priest who claimed to be able to bring the water of God still there?"
Markov said: "Who knows where Rasputin has gone? He is just a swindling and fake priest. What a big deal. Sir, he still remembers him."
If someone hadn't experienced it, who would have thought that such a ridiculous magic stick could bring trouble to the imperial court of Tsarist Russia.
——It’s just that this kind of thing has happened too many times in Chinese history.
Li Yu couldn't explain much, so he said: "It's just because he is good at cheating, so he must be careful. Not everyone has the knowledge to see through scams."
Lyapunov said: "Sir, what you said makes sense."
It's a pity that they are all scholars and will not be involved in politics, so even if you tell them, it will not interfere with the Tsar himself.
Along the way, Lu Bicheng could hardly see with his eyes. The exotic scenery was too attractive to those who had just seen it.
After arriving at the Academy of Sciences, Lyapunov found a pile of manuscripts and told Li Yu: "As for the previous fractal and chaos theories, I also conducted in-depth research on the stability of dynamic systems. These are my recent achievements."
Li Yu flipped through it and found that they were all in the field of pure mathematics, and they were also important achievements that later made him famous and left a name in the history of mathematics.
Li Yu said: "The professor is indeed a master of mathematics, I admire him very much."
Markov came over and said: "Originally, with your achievements, you could meet the emperor, but now the Winter Palace is busy with military affairs and has no time to take care of it."
Li Yu had no interest in meeting Tsar Nicholas II, and it didn't matter whether he met or not.
Li Yu said: "It is a great honor for me to meet several outstanding scholars."
"Speaking of scholars," Lyapunov said, "Professors Mendeleev and Pavlov from St. Petersburg University both want to see you again."
Li Yu said: "I should pay a visit to the professors."
The next day Li Yu came to St. Petersburg University with them.
When Lu Bicheng saw this kind of real Western-style university, he couldn't help but sigh: "So this is what a Western university looks like."
Although she could not become a student of the Capital University Hall, and it was even difficult for her to enter the campus, she was Yan Fu's apprentice after all, and she still occasionally entered the University Hall a few times.
Li Yu met Mendeleev who was working in the chemistry teaching and research department.
"Hello, Professor," Li Yu said with a smile.
Mendeleev did not recognize Li Yu, "Are you a new student? You look like you are Japanese?"
Li Yu said: "I am Li Yu."
Mendeleev looked at it carefully for a while before he recognized it: "The changes are really big."
Li Yu said: "It won't be long before Chinese people will be like this."
It's a pity that Mendeleev couldn't see that time.
Mendeleev said: "Since using the new arrangement of the periodic table of elements that you introduced to me, I have received a lot of praise. Many students who have just studied chemistry can also master it quickly, which really helps me a lot.
"
"As long as it's useful," Li Yu said with a smile, "If it is popularized all over the world in the future, the professor won't object, right?"
Mendeleev said: "Of course there is no problem. I also hope that more people will know such an excellent periodic table of chemistry."
Top scientists still have a broad mind.
Li Yu added: "I have some questions to ask the professor when I come here."
Mendeleev said: "Please speak."
Li Yu said: "I would like to ask about the manufacture of a disinfectant preparation."
"Disinfection?" Mendeleev asked, "So you are still concerned about the field of chemistry."
Li Yu said: "I don't know the specific operation. After all, I don't have much research on chemistry."
Li Yu told Mendeleev some characteristics of iodophor.
Mendeleev thought carefully for a while and said: "It is not difficult to prepare iodine, but it is really difficult to make it so stable. It seems that some surfactants can be used, but I am not sure."
Mendeleev had already guessed the direction, but it was indeed not a simple matter.
Li Yu said: "I will ask more professors for advice in the future."
Mendeleev said: "This is a good thing that benefits mankind. I will pay more attention to it and send you a telegram if there is any progress."
Li Yu said: "Professor Lao."
Mendeleev sighed: "Your proposal is very good. The current situation with Japan in the east and the situation with Germany and Austria in the west are very tense. I am afraid that war is inevitable. If there is a war, innocent soldiers will be injured. If we can make something like this
Better disinfectants can save many more young lives."
Li Yu praised: "Teach the heart of a benevolent person."
Now Tsarist Russia is indeed under pressure on both fronts.
To some extent, the Russo-Japanese War also affected the direction of the world.
Russia's eastward expansion was blocked, which intensified the conflicts with Germany and Austria-Hungary in Eastern Europe, which indirectly affected the outbreak of World War I.
History is intertwined, like dominoes. There is a cause but not necessarily an effect, but there must be a cause if there is an effect.
Mendeleev added: "With your achievements, I think it won't be long before you can go to Sweden and win the Nobel Prize."
Li Yu laughed and said: "Even the professor can't get it."
Mendeleev said: "You are different from me. You are from China and do not pose any threat to Western Europe. They will even be happy to award you."
Since then, Europe and the United States have been talking about China's recession for a while, which is a bit like that...
But this also shows that you are strong and others have to pay attention to you.
In the early 20th century, there was indeed no threat, although this sentence sounded more uncomfortable.