The car of the early 20th century can be called a torture instrument,

Lu Shi and Wardhouse were sitting, their butts were about to crack,

Theodore, as a driver, is full of interest, and at every opportunity, he steps on the accelerator deeply, and the car is as quiet as a virgin and moves like a mad rabbit.

Wardhouse was about to vomit.

finally

"It's here!"

With the sound of brakes, the car stopped in an open field.

Theodore jumped out of the car, looked back and saw that Wardhouse's face was purple, so he teased, "Sir, it's time for you to get some exercise." ”

"I was cracking down in South Africa," Wardhouse said...... ...... vomit"

A flurry of retching.

Theodore shook his head.

Lu Shi looked around and found that there were very few buildings within a kilometer around, and there were large lawns, providing visitors with opportunities to get close to nature.

Maybe it's just raining, and there's some mud in the lawn, so the air is fresh.

Looking to the east, you can see old buildings, churches and libraries that bear witness to the city's long history.

Theodore said, "Here it is." ”

Land Hours: ???

"Harvard?"

Theodore smiled and nodded,

"Yes, Harvard, which is expanding. Some faculties will move over. ”

He's got a whole cowboy hat,

"Follow me."

After speaking, he took the lead and walked forward with Lu Shi and said: "As Professor Lu said, the scale of higher education in the United States will become very large, and it is beneficial for universities to participate in global rankings. However, American colleges and universities are like the current U.S. government...... Humph......"

At this point, Wardhouse followed, saying, "Isolationism." ”

Theodore nodded,

"I'm very disgusted by that. If only I could be a ......"

The words are not finished,

But the other two could hear the implications.

Lu Shi said with a smile: "If I'm not mistaken, if the vice president wants to 'inherit the unification', the president must die unexpectedly." ”

Theodore shook his head,

"Accidents are bound to happen, but they don't have to be dead."

Lu Shi: "......"

The heart says that Americans are really cold.

He continued: "Mr. Vice President is really ambitious. But this is also very normal, a soldier who does not want to be a general is not a good soldier. ”

Theodore chuckled,

"Napoleon still has the second half of the sentence, 'A soldier who is not a good soldier is definitely not a general'. Soldiers must be ambitious, ambitious, and idealistic, but at the same time, they must also conscientiously do their own work well and not be too ambitious. Professor Lu is sarcastic about me~"

Lu Shi laughed.

The three of them were walking, and there was a rustle of the lawn not far away,

If you follow the prestige, you can see Goodman walking towards this direction with a white American man in his forties.

The white man was quite tall, the skin on his neck was red from the sun, his yellow hair was some silver, and his deep eyes revealed calmness and confidence.

He shouted, "Teddy! I knew you did it! ”

Lu Shi subconsciously looked at Theodore and asked in a low voice, "You didn't inform Harvard University about picking me up?" ”

Theodore replied, "I remember that I informed it, but the clerk must have forgotten to convey it." ”

This is absolute!

Lu Shi was speechless.

The white man walked over, accidentally stepped on a puddle on the road, and his shoes were covered with mud.

He glared at Theodore fiercely before turning to Lu Shi and said, "Professor Lu, hello, I'm Edward Johnning, and I'm currently teaching at Harvard University. I was blown away by reading your book, Guns, Germs, and Steel. ”

Edward Johnning, a famous American historian and expert on the history of American colonialism and revolution,

His six-volume History of the United States won the Pulitzer Prize in 1926.

This set of historical works has been the standard reference book for historical research in the United States for decades.

Lu Shi shook hands with each other,

"Hello, Professor Channing. You're a historian, and I happened to bring some manuscripts with me to the United States this time, and I wanted to find someone to study together, so I ......"

As soon as he heard this, Qian Ning's eyes lit up,

"What? What is the manuscript? ”

Lu Shi actually brought "The Fifteenth Year of Wanli",

The reason why it is because this book was written in the United States, and its original English book may be more in line with the water and soil here.

He said, "Let's go to the academy first......

Before the words fell, Qian Ning directly interrupted: "Professor Lu, don't worry, I will definitely not mess up your manuscript." ”

The implication is that I want to see it now.

Lu Shi scratched his head,

"I'm not worried about that, I'm just ...... Alas...... All right. ”

It has reached the point where he has to agree, because the fanaticism in the other party's eyes can't be hidden at all.

The people returned to Theodore's chariot first,

Lu Shi turned out the manuscript of "One Hundred Thousand Years of Wanli" in his suitcase and handed it to the other party.

Qian Ning slowly pronounced out the name:

“《1587，A Year of No Significance：The Ming Dynasty in Decline》。”

He couldn't help frowning,

"Ming Dynasty?"

To tell the truth, he knew very little about Chinese history, which was about the same as none, and he couldn't help but worry: "Professor Lu, I can read it...... Forehead...... I mean, can anyone who doesn't have a deep understanding of Chinese history read it? ”

Lu Shi thought for a while,

"It should be possible."

Qian Ning thought of the popularity of "Guns, Germs and Steel" and nodded silently.

He was a little curious,

"Why did Professor Lu use the word 'irrelevant'?"

No Significance=Insignificant,

So the literal translation of the title of the book is "The Inconsequential Year of 1587", which is very confusing as the title of a historiographical book.

Lu Shi replied: "You can understand after reading the full text." ”

Channing didn't answer again, and buried himself in reading.

The rest are helpless,

Theodore had to remind, "Edward, we have to go to school." ”

Qian Ning didn't raise his head, and read the beginning of the whole book with words in his mouth:

“

'A.D. 1587, in China for the fifteenth year of Wanli in the Ming Dynasty, on the Ganzhi is Dinghai, which belongs to the pig ......'

”

I didn't understand a sentence,

"What is Wanli?"

"What is a dry branch?"

"What is Ding Hai?"

"What is a pig?"

……

100,000 whys.

Theodore on the side couldn't help but complain: "I think you're a pig." ”

Qian Ning raised his head blankly,

"Huh? Am I a pig? ”

Theodore sighed, and said to Lu Shilian: "You have also seen it, and it will become like this when you read a book to him." So, I suggest you answer his question and grab the manuscript back, or we won't be able to go to Harvard. ”

Lu Shi didn't expect this, so he had to explain: "Professor Qian Ning, Wanli is the era name. ”

Qian Ning said "ah",

"What is a year name?"

Lu Shi: "......"

If this goes on like this, it will definitely become endless,

He had no choice but to say, "Professor Channing, in short, you just remember that the first sentence is about time." ”

In fact, it is not difficult to understand from the context,

Qian Ning can guess that such as "Ganzhi" and "Dinghai" are unique to China's chronological method, and even "pig" is also in this chronological system.

So the first sentence says the year.

But he was really curious,

"Professor Lu, can you tell me about it?"

Lu Shi touched his nose in embarrassment and said, "Look, that's why I looked for an American scholar." Professor Channing, I know very well that this book is inevitably difficult to understand in one way or another, so I need someone to help me find it out, and it will be easier for me to annotate it later. ”

Qian Ning understood,

"Understood. Is there anything I don't understand, I'll remember it first? ”

Lu Shi nodded again and again,

"Yes, you remember first."

Qian Ning seemed to be very encouraged,

"That's it!"

With that, he lowered his head again and continued to read carefully, the pestle still there.

Theodore collapsed and said, "Edward, I think you'd better get in my car?" ”

Qian Ning immediately refused: "I don't take a car." I ate some cream stew at noon today, and if I spit it out, the taste will be too strong. If I had a salad, I might have sat down. Alright, you go ahead, and I'll follow. ”

He's already like this, how can others refuse?

Theodore spreads his hands,

"So be it."

He took the lead in taking a few steps forward, turned around, and sure enough, found that Qian Ning was following closely behind.

Everyone: "......"

They were all speechless.

Lu Shi said: "This can only be done. ”

Theodore nodded, and controlled his pace towards Harvard University,

"Professor Lu, there will be an academic buffet tonight, and you may want to attend."

When Americans say "maybe", that is "must".

Academic conferences are a feature of the circle.

Its primary goal is academic exchange, and its secondary goal is socializing.

Of course, whether at home or abroad, many modern academic conferences are reversed, with social interaction as the mainstay, supplemented by communication (or even not at all), resulting in gates like clouds and mountains, and engaging in academics is about the same as worshipping the dock, and the evil spirit is raging.

But at the beginning of the 20th century, the situation was not serious,

So Theodore said: "Professor Lu, it is inevitable that there will be socialization at the cold lunch, but it should not be too utilitarian. ”

Of course Lu Shi understands these doorways,

"I understand. Socializing, first of all, you have to be clear about your purpose, if you keep promoting yourself or clinging to the bull, it will be disgusting. Besides, I'm a big bull, and if I want to sell, someone else should come to me. ”

Theodore: "Ahhhh......h

He was a little confused,

"Professor Lu, are you serious?"

Lu Shi laughed,

"Not seriously, of course. My nicknames aren't big names in the United States, I know that. In short, I understand what to do on such occasions. ”

Theodore showed a reassuring expression at this time,

He didn't want to be told as a joke about what he had done for himself.

He continued: "It could be a school, a city, or a recent news. Because the topic is too professional to talk about in depth, it seems rude to just talk for a few minutes and then leave......"

The words are not finished yet,

Knock –

There was a muffled sound behind him.

The crowd turned back,

I saw Channing stuck on the ground, and the whole front was spread on the muddy lawn.

And his right hand was forward, half-holding the manuscript of "The Fifteenth Year of Wanli", and the manuscript paper was not wet at all.

It's clear that this is a trip over something.

Theodore stepped forward,

"Edward! Fast! I'll help you up. ”

But Channing didn't move,

From the place where his face touched the mud, there was an urn sound and an angry voice: "Take the manuscript first." ”

Theodore had no choice but to put the manuscript away first.

Qian Ning stood up with his hands on the ground, his blazer was mottled with mud, his sleeves, trouser legs, and collar were all yellow mud marks, and his black leather shoes had also turned earthy yellow.

But he didn't care,

"Where's the book?"

Theodore's whole person was shocked,

"Do you still want to watch?!"

Channing said impatiently: "Of course it sees!" Do you understand? I'm not reading books, I'm reading history! ”

He snatched the manuscript that the other party was holding,

"I just heard you introduce Professor Lu to the academic conference?"

Theodore muttered, "Can you still be distracted?" ”

Qian Ning didn't pay much attention to this joke, and continued the topic just now,

"There's no need for Professor Lu to attend boring meetings. Because he is a big bull himself, this book is very advanced, but anyone who is engaged in historical research will pay attention to him. In this case, is it to go to the meeting to make someone hug your thigh? ”

Theodore said, "You've only been reading it for a while, and you think this book was ahead of its time?" ”

Qian Ning "tsk",

"You know a hammer! This is a popular science book on history! ”

Theodore raised an eyebrow,

"So what?"

Qian Ning said: "For a long time, there have not been many excellent popular science books in the social sciences. But what about science and engineering? Galileo could write, Newton could write, Leibniz could write, and even Guns, Germs, and Steel was interdisciplinary,...... Alas......"

A long sigh.

Theodore said: "Isn't it because the social science language is too complicated? ”

These words made Qian Ning have no temper.

He was silent for a moment and said: "Professor Lu's book is very good, even if there are a lot of unique expressions in China, I can read it in context. The most important thing is that it is not boring at all, as long as you have a little interest in history, you can read it.

Theodore asked, "What else?" ”

"Other than that......"

Qian Ning took a deep breath, but choked on his mouth full of mud, and couldn't help coughing again and again,

It took him a while to calm down,

"I can understand why Professor Lu used "The Inconsequential Year of 1587" as the title of his book. Because only 'inconsequential' can show the book's unique view of history. The Wanli Emperor in the first chapter of this book hardly talks about any major events, but instead sees the big from the small and starts from the details. ”

Lu Shi was surprised,

"Have you finished the first chapter?"

Qian Ning shook his head,

"It will not be possible to read it all. It's just that when I encounter something I don't understand, I'll skip over it for a while, so I've roughly skimmed through the content of the first chapter. ”

I see.

Lu Shi felt that although "The Fifteenth Year of Wanli" was not a historiographical monograph, it would not be done so quickly.

He said: "I didn't expect Professor Channing to speak so highly of this book. ”

Qian Ning smiled bitterly in his heart,

I'm afraid that I still underestimate this book.

Judging from the brushstrokes of this book, I am afraid that it can open up a new world for historical research and writing, and create a miracle of historical works and even liberal arts works.

He said, "Today I will go back and study it carefully, and I will read it all night." It was then published in a Harvard journal. ”

Theodore is a Harvard graduate and knows a lot about school affairs.

He frowned and said, "Crimson Newspaper?" ”

Channing smiled and replied, "No, it's Harvard Magazine." ”

Harvard Magazine is the official magazine of the school, founded in 1901.

The magazine covers a wide range of topics, including academic research, campus culture, student life, alumni dynamics, and a series of columns on a variety of social and political topics.

In modern times, Harvard Magazine has a very large number of subscriptions and influence, and is considered one of the leading American college magazines.

Theodore frowned,

"The ...... of Copyright Issues"

He looked cautiously at Lu Shi.

Lu Shi said: "I have no problem with publishing it in Harvard Magazine, but is it appropriate? ”

Qian Ning chuckled: "Of course it's appropriate!" ”

Lu Shi opened his mouth and wanted to say again,

As a result, before he could speak, Qian Ning preemptively said: "With an academic expert like Professor Lu, the school will definitely pay high royalties." ”

Lu Shi didn't expect that he would become an academic bull like this.

(End of chapter)