The clock in the living room rang twelve times, and when the clock struck midnight, Russell remembered the main purpose of today's conversation and asked, "Jonas, what do you think of the new weapon, the atomic bomb?" ”

Hearing his question, everyone's attention was also focused.

Ever since the two atomic bombs exploded last year, the world has suddenly entered an atmosphere of extreme fear.

Previous wars, no matter how serious and severe, could only be regarded as local wars, and they could not harm the earth on which human beings lived.

However, when nuclear weapons appeared, people realized that the development of science and technology does not necessarily mean progress, but may also represent destruction.

Zhou Nan has the experience of later generations, so he naturally sees farther than today's people. While humanity was still worried about its homeland, what he saw was the peace behind nuclear deterrence.

"It depends on how we analyze this matter, the emergence of nuclear weapons means that human beings have the ability to destroy the earth, but this also brings limiting power to the war in the world."

Somewhat surprised, he asked, "Do you think this is still positive?" The world we live in is no longer safe! ”

His ideas also represent the mainstream of thought now, and there is no one who is not worried about it.

Zhou Nan didn't want to show himself too unconventional, and said with a smile: "I also said it just now, it depends on what angle to analyze." Idealists may be extremely worried from now on, but if we analyze it with the materialist dialectic, we will find that the ultimate weapon of war may also bring peace. ”

In terms of the level of academic research, none of the people here are lower than Zhou Nan's, and Zhou Nan's words can naturally be easily understood. Only Jean Nord and Theodore, the second son of Toynbee, did not understand, but they did not disturb the conversation between Zhou Nan and them.

Wittgenstein asked, somewhat lazily, "You don't seem to care that this weapon will destroy the planet, but most people are worried about the fact that in the event of such a situation, the odds are terrible even in mathematical terms." ”

Zhou Nan straightened his legs and looked at his toes, because of the nerve in his left leg, his left toes trembled unconsciously. "I'm scared, too, but I'm not afraid. Because nuclear fission and nuclear fusion are actually not complicated. I am optimistic that in the future, more countries will master this technology. ”

Russell stood up with some excitement and shouted: "We should take action to stop the research of all countries in the world, this kind of weapon should not exist in this world." ”

"But it's been created."

"Then destroy it!"

Well, although this sentence is very naïve, it is also the truest thoughts of people in this era.

Zhou Nan looked up at his somewhat excited eyes and asked, "Can you make the U.S. government listen to you?" Can you stop the Soviet government from not going to study it? Don't say that they, even Britain and France are also studying now, who can really stop it? ”

Russell was frozen for a few seconds, and then muttered with confidence: "Although we don't have the power to stop it, it doesn't mean that we won't do it, sometimes, the process is more important than the result." ”

This is also the expression of idealism, and although this idealism seems ridiculous and childish, it is truly moving.

Just because you should do it, do it, and don't care what the outcome is.

In contrast, Zhou Nan was a little ashamed. Because although he has obtained memories of the future, he uses these as advantages to seek advantages and avoid disadvantages, and everything he does is very realistic and very utilitarian.

But even if it weren't for these, Zhou Nan was not a true idealist. All he cared about was himself and the people he cared about, lacking that kind of true fraternity and compassion.

This may be because he never saw himself as a big man.

Or maybe it's because he already knows the result and has no interest in the process.

Through their conversations, Zhou Nan learned that he was lonely and unheard, and Britain developed the atomic bomb before the United States, so Russell was speechless.

In 39, Britain had already begun to develop the atomic bomb, but the British research process was interrupted by World War II.

At that time, their technological process had reached the second stage, that is, a neutron could only be caught if it was within the range of the effective target of the nucleus.

As for the United States, at that time, they were still exploring the theory of atomic reactors, which was in the initial stage.

In the summer of '41, a British scientific delegation visited the United States. During their stay in the United States, British scientists disclosed to the United States the progress made by the British side in the development of the atomic bomb, and at the same time the two sides discussed the issue of cooperation.

British Prime Minister Winston Churchill soon met with US President Franklin D. Roosevelt, and after consultations, the two sides reached an agreement: British nuclear scientists would go to the United States to develop an atomic bomb with American scientists in order to avoid the air raids of German bombers. In 43, the first British scientists left for the United States and began to work with the United States to develop the first atomic bomb.

Thanks to their technical support, the United States developed the world's first atomic bomb.

Speaking of which, this is a big bargain picked up by the United States.

For this reason, after the United States developed the atomic bomb, Britain demanded that the United States disclose its technology to them, and Attlee, the leader of the Labor Party who came to power last year, fought a year-long war with the United States for this.

It wasn't until April of this year that Truman spoke publicly. "As far as the scientific knowledge of the atomic bomb is concerned, scientists in every country understand that this cannot be kept secret. But how to make the first atomic bomb, this secret is not open to the United States. ”

At this point, Britain had no hope at all and decided to develop the atomic bomb independently.

Russell used this to put pressure on the United States in the academic community, which was also an overall political strategy of the United Kingdom, trying to dilute the advantages that the United States had developed to ensure that it was not blackmailed by the United States.

Hearing these contents, Zhou Nan realized that he was still too simple, and nothing was as simple as it seemed on the surface.

Although Russell has been advocating anti-nuclear weapons in the future, that is on the basis of the fact that Britain already has the atomic bomb. At this stage, he was first an Englishman, and only then a scientist.

Therefore, after understanding this, Zhou Nan was not interested in Russell's anti-nuclear initiative.

On the grounds that he was a member of the Liberal Democratic Party and needed authorization from the party organization, he politely rejected the suggestion to join the anti-nuclear group now.

Until all the permanent members possess nuclear weapons, only the United States has nuclear weapons, and this is the real threat to the world.

If it weren't for the fact that the United States had nuclear weapons, the Soviet Union would now control almost half of Europe, so why wouldn't it dare to expand further south and west?

From 45 to 49, this was the most rampant era in the United States, and the whole world was frightened by the United States. This kind of weapon is even more terrifying than the two million troops sent by the United States.

It was not until several major powers possessed nuclear weapons that the international situation reached a fragile equilibrium and peace truly came.

Of course, the curtain of the Cold War has officially opened.

Zhou Nan stood in front of everyone and reiterated his views on nuclear weapons. It is dangerous to believe that only the United States has nuclear weapons.

Of course, if all countries in the world have nuclear weapons, it will be even more dangerous.

The most optimistic outcome would be for the five permanent powers to possess nuclear weapons, and then control the research and development results of other countries, and control the technology and raw materials, which is the best outcome.

It is true that nuclear weapons can threaten the only home of mankind, but when the development of the situation cannot be controlled, only mutual containment can achieve a relative balance.

Of course, in their opinion, Zhou Nan's thinking is very dangerous and contrary to the mainstream thought.

It's just that in this regard, none of them can convince anyone.

At two o'clock in the morning, everyone proposed to end the session after the topic was over.

Although they had the idea of talking all night, the youngest of them was almost sixty years old, and their energy was a little low.

Zhou Nan, the only young man, was also mentally deficient because of his injury.

Zhou Nan sent them out of the house and made an appointment with Schweitzer and Henderson to continue the conversation the next night.

Toynbee and his wife, Veronica, stayed here, and they were going to give a lecture at the Historical Society the next morning.

Zhou Nan slept for about five hours and was woken up by Audrey before eight o'clock. "Jonas, Etinny asked me to wake you up, and they didn't sleep all night, and finally sorted out the debate on the study of history in the British newspapers some time ago."

Zhou Nan hugged her delicate body and lingered with her for a while before she came to her senses. "Are you going shopping with Veronica today?"

"Yes, and Mom. The main thing is that I'm going to get acquainted with the Harrods mall first, so we'll go shopping there. ”

"Is your ad airing in the UK?"

Audrey nodded triumphantly. "It is said that the effect is not bad......"

Zhou Nan smiled and rubbed her hair. "My Audrey is going to be a big star!"

She was a little embarrassed and pulled Zhou Nan's right arm. "Get up, everyone is waiting for you."

In the dining room on the first floor, everyone was eating breakfast while reading today's newspaper.

Zhou Nan's assistant team has picked out all the news about Zhou Nan published in today's newspaper and summarized it for Zhou Nan to see.

Toynbee was surprised by this effective approach, which not only saves half the time, but also provides a comprehensive understanding of current events.

Most of the scholars of this era still consulted the materials by themselves, but Zhou Nan's team had the efficiency of the team work of later generations under his arrangement.

Toynbee didn't expect Zhou Nan to apply this kind of company or enterprise management to his home, although this would make him less fun, but the efficiency was not improved a little.

In just one breakfast, Zhou Nan already fully understood the impact of their arrival in London.

The British Empire is not a loss of old power, and it is extremely arrogant. They don't have the frenzied pursuit of France and Italy. In today's newspaper, there is not as much news about Zhou Nan as Audrey, which is probably not only because Audrey is beautiful, but more importantly, Audrey is British!

(This is the first time since the book was opened, and these chapters are extremely painful to write, a lot of politics has not been written, and many philosophical theories have not been written, because many book lovers think it is too boring.) I also took this opportunity to read the previous article, and there is indeed too much written on the academic side, and since the protagonist has laid the foundation, after a few more chapters, I will appropriately reduce the narrative in this area. ）