PFC Chapter 13 Afternoon Tea That Will Go Down in History
Chapter 13 Afternoon Tea That Will Go Down in History
How to improve social status and influence?
There are only three ways to achieve this: money, power, and fame.
Each of these three paths has its advantages and disadvantages, but for Chen Wenbin, the easiest to achieve right now is undoubtedly fame, especially fame as a doctor and scientist.
Unless in a society where all interpretive power is completely monopolized by royal or ecclesiastical authority, doctors and inventors are undoubtedly respected professions, and the North American colonies at that time happened to have a relatively relaxed environment.
There was no stubborn monarchy here, nor a Catholic Church that monopolized thought. It was even influenced by European Enlightenment ideas, making it arguably the freest place in terms of social atmosphere in this era... not including black slaves, of course.
As an outsider, Chen Wenbin was well aware of his situation—
Even though he became a wealthy man by opening textile mills and other factories, and by giving up shares to bind some local bullies, he could not guarantee that these local bullies or the British would not forcibly seize his wealth... In fact, this should be a highly probable event.
Therefore, Chen Wenbin had long planned to use the "scurvy principle," the "oxidation theory," and other knowledge and scientific theories to gain the reputation and status of a "great scientist" in North America and Europe.
Since Galileo and Newton, scientists in Europe have increasingly resembled the "great Confucian scholars" of ancient China.
Once someone becomes a renowned scholar, it's like giving themselves a golden shield, and rulers of various countries will be less likely to go too far due to the influence they wield.
After all, competition among European countries is now all-encompassing, and persecuting scholars can truly damage national interests, because European scholars have legs and can run away when persecuted.
As a colonial elite, Reverend Johnson naturally understood the value of the "oxidation theory" far better than the children. Upon hearing from Chen Wenbin that it could be proven experimentally, he immediately pleaded:
"Robin! If your theory can really be proven experimentally and overturn the phlogiston theory, I think you can definitely become a Fellow of the Royal Society like Mr. Benjamin Franklin! Not to mention you also have a method to cure scurvy... Good heavens!"
I actually became friends with a future academician!
Robert and David looked at Chen Wenbin with the same respect when they heard him say that. They knew, of course, the prestige of being a Fellow of the Royal Society and a member of the French Academy of Sciences. In Europe, any academician could be a guest of honor of the king and the duke at any time!
Only Elisa was oblivious and thought Uncle Robin was incredibly amazing.
"Maybe! I am actually a doctor."
Chen Wenbin remained calm, saying that an oxidation theory was nothing special. Eleven years later, the Englishman Priestley produced oxygen by heating mercuric oxide, and three years after that, the famous decapitated Lavoisier formally proposed the oxidation theory...
Of course, it cannot be said that this theory is unimportant. It completely opened the door to modern chemistry and established the law of conservation of mass through experiments.
However, it takes a long time to truly use theory to drive technological progress. For example, it took eighty years after Newtonian mechanics was proposed for the steam engine to finally appear.
By the time Europe has truly developed a large number of practical chemical technologies using the oxidation theory, Chen Wenbin's capabilities at that time should be so strong that he won't need to care about these things anymore.
Finally, the afternoon tea at Reverend Jansen's house on July 19, 1763, became a major scientific event that went down in history.
Chen Wenbin proposed using the heating experiment of metallic mercury to prove the metal oxidation reaction, and the red phosphorus combustion experiment to prove the proportion of oxygen in the air, laying the foundation for this world chemical theory... These are the evaluations in history books.
The truth is that Jason and his group didn't even know what red phosphorus was.
Chen Wenbin then remembered that red phosphorus was also discovered by Lavoisier, and was later made into safe red phosphorus matches.
Even a small match can be a big business! It might even be more profitable than a textile factory, and you're less likely to be antagonized by textile merchants.
So Chen Wenbin simply said that he had discovered red phosphorus during his previous experiments, which could be used as a coating for safety matches, and that he was preparing to establish a match laboratory to conduct related research.
"...Robin, I fully support your research!"
Completely impressed, and even feeling that the other person was chosen by God, Jason immediately expressed his agreement, and then he said with a complicated expression, "God really favors you, giving you such an outstanding mind and wisdom!"
I think you should focus your main energy on scientific research; I'll take care of everything else... I promise!
Dedicate your life to science and the laboratory?
Chen Wenbin is not that noble!
Besides, was he working so hard to improve the technological level of North America and Europe to help them conquer the world faster?
He just wanted to accumulate strength, and then... see if he could change the fate of China!
This is not only for the two or three hundred million compatriots who are still under the oppression of the Qing Dynasty, but also for himself!
Once the Qing Dynasty was defeated by Britain, what good could possibly come of it?
Even without the war of 1840, the visit of the British Macartney Division in 1793 alone was enough to shatter all European illusions about the East!
He sighed inwardly, shook his head at the expectant pastor, and said, "James, you know I come from the East. Besides science, I have more important things to do. Many of my people... need my help!"
Jansen immediately remembered Chen Wenbin's identity as an exiled nobleman from the East. He wanted to offer some advice, but he didn't say it aloud. Instead, he firmly resolved in his heart to introduce Chen Wenbin to a suitable wife.
Such an outstanding scholar must be kept in Providence!
After dinner, Chen Wenbin stayed overnight at Pastor Jensen's house, and the two talked by the light until 8:30.
After realizing Chen Wenbin's academic abilities, Jansen changed the priority of building the textile factory, insisting that Chen Wenbin complete the oxidation theory experiment as soon as possible and write a paper before taking care of the textile factory.
"...Robin, you may not realize it, but the status of a member of the Royal Society and the French Academy of Sciences, believe me!"
If you receive such an honor, the whole of New England will regard you as a hero and the most honored person!
At that time, all the governors and members of parliament of the colonies will be proud to be your friends!
Do you understand what this means?
Chen Wenbin understood this, so he was quickly persuaded by Jansen and agreed to focus most of his energy on experiments and papers. He was very familiar with both experiments, and the only two difficulties were the experimental equipment and the expensive price of white phosphorus.
Education in the North American colonies was still in its early stages, and all kinds of experimental equipment had to be imported from Britain. However, beakers and measuring flasks could probably be purchased from Harvard College in Boston, Massachusetts, or Pennsylvania College, founded by Benjamin Franklin.
The price of white phosphorus... is indeed outrageously expensive, even twice as expensive as gold!
At this price, it would be hard to buy even in Providence; you'd have to go to New York or Boston to buy it!
Because in this era, white phosphorus could only be extracted from urine, which was extremely expensive!
Ok!
Upon learning this information, Chen Wenbin immediately rejected the idea of making money by opening a match factory. He thought of using animal bone meal and sulfuric acid to produce white phosphorus in large quantities, which would definitely be more profitable than a red phosphorus match factory!
Because white phosphorus could not only be sold to universities and alchemists (i.e. chemists) in Europe, but it could also be used to make incendiary bombs, and even as a new weapon that changed the way warfare was conducted in the Age of Sail!
But won't this cause a chain reaction?
He recalled that before the advent of steam-powered ironclad warships in the mid-19th century, European countries probably did not use white phosphorus incendiary bombs as naval weapons, presumably because the risks were manageable.