Chapter 335: The King's Flag Changing on the City Wall
To give a very intuitive example, something like 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". Such 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.
The reason why Zhang Xingjiu was able to win the first Nobel Prize was because his achievements were indisputable. The results he produced were on the same level as "Nine Yin Scriptures" and "Dugu Nine Swords", 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 cheer for him. 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 "Dugu Nine Swords".
He was definitely qualified to win 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 there were definitely more than one candidate that Cambridge could put forward 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 to them Wu Lien-teh's contributions. He also hinted to them that China was now at a critical period of historical change, and whoever supported Wu Lien-teh in winning the award would win the favor of Chinese youth.
Then there is Cambridge University. Cambridge's status in the academic world is unquestionable. This is not the era when American universities have skyrocketed in strength. The status of Cambridge and Oxford in the academic world 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 Cambridge scholar had ever 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 a relatively close relationship with American universities and foundations. For them, if they can gain some convenience in wireless telegraphy through the Nobel Prize, this deal will definitely be a good deal.
Soon, Zhang Xingjiu received a reply. Sorbonne University said very frankly that their current research focus is Professor Charles-Robert Richet of the school, whose work in allergic reaction research is definitely worthy of a Nobel Prize.
In this regard, 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 not be a loss, 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 objection. In recent years, they had lacked candidates who could compete for the Nobel Prize. Wu Lien-teh was already the best candidate. If he could get the support of the French academic community, Wu Lien-teh's chances of winning would be even greater.
Not to mention the United States, they also want to win a Nobel Prize for Alexi Carrel of the Rockefeller Center for Medical Research. If they can get the support of Zhang Xingjiu and the United Kingdom and France, the chances of winning will undoubtedly be higher.
So the parties quickly reached an agreement. Zhang Xingjiu deliberately delayed Wu Lien-teh because he knew that in another 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 let Britain, France, the United States and other countries owe him favors first, and then it would be just right to redeem them when the Spanish flu broke out.
After the discussion, Zhang Xingjiu found Wu Lien-teh and told him these things, and clearly told him 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 relaxed about this. "I am very satisfied to help the Chinese people suffer less from the plague. I don't really care whether I can win the award or not."
Zhang Xingjiu replied solemnly, "Mr. Wu, the many methods you have pioneered in the process of preventing the plague in Northeast China can be regarded as a model for human beings to prevent plagues. These methods will definitely become the standard methods for humans to prevent large-scale infectious diseases. This achievement is worthy of a Nobel Prize in any case. If the organizers do not give it to you, it can only be interpreted as racial discrimination. Now China really needs you to win the award to enhance national self-confidence, so this is not just your business!"
"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. Try to 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 his telegram to his teachers and classmates in Cambridge, the political situation in China had undergone earth-shaking changes. Sun Yat-sen had been the interim commander-in-chief for just over a month when he was forced to resign.
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 changes on the top of the city."
China still has a long way to go before entering modern society. After Yuan Xiangcheng took office as the commander-in-chief, he immediately announced a series of policies, including one regarding Zhang Xingjiu.
In his telegram, Yuan Xiangcheng 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. The reason he made such an invitation was only because of his status in the academic and educational circles, and more importantly, in the hearts of foreigners.
So, should I agree to it or not? (End of this chapter)
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
