Around the underground meeting room were six small chambers segregated from the main hall.
Inside one simply furnished room, seated and standing around a small round table were five “Fogfolk, ” along with Lyon Korvic, the elder of the Golden Shell Legacy who wore a protective suit and a special glass helmet, and a young Grainwood person in similar attire beside him.
After the lady codenamed “Alice ” from the Radiance team took her seat by the table in the small hut, she directly spoke to those around her:
“In the 1830s of our continent, Edmond Becquerel discovered the photoelectric effect. “
A man with a chiseled face, wearing a woolen cardigan, was surprised for a moment before immediately speaking:
“I know. I participated in protecting that Secret Box of science. A chosen family has already accepted the task; they are now mainly waiting for the linguistic re-creation action of the Silent Sage. “
After finishing his words, the young man swept his gaze over the people present and said:
“So this is the reason I was invited here? “
“Yes, Mr. Wang Qiu. I believe this photoelectric effect technology, selected for the Scientific Vein preparation plan, needs—no, must—at the current time node, be cracked along an alternate path. “
The aged Ryan Curveick tapped the table heavily with his finger and said.
These natives, sheltered and whose fates were rewritten by the Heroic Flash, could basically hear and understand the true core plan that this “Science Heritage Preparation Meeting ” was meant to execute.
With a slight nod from the old gentleman, the young man beside him spread open a large prepared folded paper and propped it up on the small wooden board standing nearby.
Everyone looked at the dense mathematical symbols on it, along with a somewhat dizzying linguistic introduction.
The woman codenamed “Alice ” said to Mr. Wang: “Would you like to explain it instead? “
The man immediately nodded, stood up, and said:
“The photoelectric effect refers to the phenomenon where light, especially light of a certain frequency such as ultraviolet or visible light, irradiates a metal or other material, causing the metal atoms to absorb photon energy and release electrons. “
The fellow townsmen in the room murmured among themselves. They were still somewhat puzzled.
“It was a crucial foundation for the development of quantum mechanics and posed a major challenge to classical physics. “
Several people nearby immediately showed expressions of surprise.
“Because the photoelectric effect confirmed the particle nature of light. “
Seeing that these Fogfolk, who were not too well-versed in physics, had such a strong reaction to this one sentence, the older man wrapped in protective gear like a tomb guardian let out an indistinct sigh of complex emotion.
Hearing the term quantum mechanics, it seemed these Fogfolk were all well aware of its weirdness and importance. What kind of world did these people from another land actually live in… the older man couldn’t help but wonder once again.
After a few discussions, a man among the townsmen said, “For us, quantum mechanics has always remained shrouded in mystery and imagination. I really didn’t expect that its research basis already existed during this period. “
“Yes, ” Alice said. “In our continent, as early as 1997, the German physicist Heinrich Hertz had already observed the photoelectric effect manifesting as a significant enhancement of the discharge process when ultraviolet light irradiated between electrodes during his experiments on electromagnetic waves. ” ｛Translator’s note: 1887 by modern reckoning; but maintaining in-context year｝
Scanning the surroundings with a gaze, she smiled and said, “I will be responsible for providing Teacher Rein with information support that has been blocked by the times. This will also require Mr. Wang Qiu’s help. “
“I see. ” Wang Qiu nodded heavily.
……
Meanwhile, in another meeting room.
The gray-haired scientist chuckled a few times and said:
“There are only about a dozen of us here, including Mr. Buchen, so we should be able to have a discussion. “
“Everyone, rest assured. I know nothing about so-called ‘wireless power transmission,’ ” Yang Zicang said.
“Good. “
Amidst the laughter around them, the man in the helmet grinned slyly, then reached out and gave Yang Zicang’s hand a firm shake:
“In your words, ‘my idol,’ I mean no harm. Just speaking plainly: the less you know, the safer this information is preserved. “
“Ah. Grandpa Goas, you… ” Yang Zicang knew it was just a joke, but still felt a chill down his spine.
When he really put himself in the shoes of those linguists from the “Silent Sage ” operation, he realized just how utterly clueless he felt.
“Ha ha, ” Goas laughed, still holding Yang Zicang’s hand.
“I was just imagining what it’d be like if I were carrying out what you call the Scientific Vein mission. Of course, our current task is no easier. “
No one knew how many years the future blockade would last—maybe hundreds, maybe thousands, or perhaps it would never end. So the burden of the project and actions aimed at Unveiling the Future was indeed no light one.
Someone lit a cigarette, and soon the room was filled with the smell of tobacco.
Beside him, a spirited young man glanced at Yang Zicang with a faint smile:
“Mr. Buchen, the television signal used by your World Ark—one that not only covers the entirety of Mutaolu Continent but even connects the two continental epochs—is already a magnificent solution for radio signal transmission. “
“Huh? ” Yang Zicang turned his head in surprise, scanning the room as the five people inside let out a few low chuckles. “Ni Hua, you people really… have been scheming to see me make a fool of myself. “
Goas clapped Yang Zicang on the shoulder:
“Just kidding, there are still some slight differences. But Mr. Buchen has quite a lot of capable people around you, to pull off something like this. Honestly, I really like your Tetaviwan relay system. Oh, little Ni Hua says it’s a technological transformation of your ancient televisions in your world. “
As Yang Zicang nodded, a young man beside him spoke up:
“Besides, Mr. Buchen, your team manages to remember the signal relay technology our Jinbei Federation left behind in corners without widespread promotion decades ago, even in times like this. It really touches us. “
After an amicable exchange, a European person in the room code-named Ni Hua, said to the person in charge of this small conference room, shifted his gaze and asked the people present:
“Regarding the earliest time for wireless power transmission in our world, has anyone heard when that was? “
Some nodded, some shook their heads. Ni Hua glanced at the contemplative Yang Zicang and began to explain.
“It was the era when Edison and Nikola Tesla were fiercely participating in the invention war between alternating current and direct current. That is, the period after 1880, but the power transmission projects we need to look at are slightly further down the timeline. “
“So, what we need to avoid are the inventions of one of those two? ” Some people in the room frowned slightly.
“Looking at it systemically, this is a necessary effort we must undertake to perceive and break the future. Without new methods of generating electricity, all this scientific research is out of the question for the curse of the upcoming Era Jiyuan. “
Guwasi, wearing protective clothing, spread his hands and said.
After speaking, he sighed softly:
“But currently, we have no way to carry out such a large-scale project. So I took a lazy way out, and also as a way to appreciate the efforts of President Buchen’s team, I want to propose a project modeled after a ‘worldwide wireless communication’ initiative, which is the Wireless Power Transmission Plan. “
“Worldwide? So what exactly should we be avoiding? “
“There’s nothing to avoid, ” Ni Hua said, “because our world has an unrealized similar plan, and that is Nikola Tesla’s Wardenclyffe Tower Plan! “
Ni Hua’s eyes lit up. “In a sense, the inventor Mr. Nikola Tesla has already drawn a new track of fate for us, one we can draw inspiration from. “
Some documents were placed on the table, and a few people nearby picked them up and began reading.
This inventor’s name, if not thunderous, was certainly household knowledge. Therefore, as Yang Zicang looked over the documents in his hand, he gradually pieced together information about this man he had passively absorbed from various scattered sources.
And it was then that the Wardenclyffe Tower truly entered his consciousness for the first time.
In 1901 on his home planet of Earth, Tesla concealed his true intentions and pitched an advanced global communication network to J. P. Morgan, then the world’s wealthiest man.
A year earlier, he had published a paper in _”Electrical Experiment magazine, conceptually treating the Earth as an inner conductor and the ionosphere as an outer conductor, forming a giant resonant cavity between them for the transmission of electrical signals.
If successful, this system could transmit encrypted news, stock prices, private messages, and so on, and generate profit by charging users fees. Through his investment, Morgan could become co-owner of this future monopolistic communication empire.
Morgan was swayed by this commercial prospect and invested a massive sum of approximately one hundred and fifty thousand dollars. He wanted to see the results of the Wardenclyffe Tower experiment; subsequently, Tesla successfully used the experiment to transmit electrical power over a distance of one hundred miles.
However, in December 1901, Marconi succeeded in completing the first transatlantic radio transmission experiment.
This caused Morgan to waver. Marconi had achieved communication functionality using a far cheaper method, while Tesla kept requesting further investment.
Torn between hesitation and persuasion, Tesla, unable to secure sustained investment, finally confessed to his investor that what he intended to do was a project far more advanced than a simple wireless communication system: the global “free wireless transmission of electricity ” project.
Morgan, who believed he was investing in a super “telegraph company, ” finally felt a chill in his heart. The man before him actually wanted to create a project that would terminate “commercial power transmission. ” This made the investor, who might not see any return on his investment, completely cut off funding.
This project was therefore strangled in its cradle.
“This could actually be real? I thought it was just a folk legend. “
The people around the table glanced through the materials and conversed in low voices.
Goas said, “For this project, with the help of everyone present today, we should be able to verify it much more easily than its original conceiver. “
In his aging eyes, there seemed to burst forth a youthful and fiery flame as he looked at the individuals before him, each wearing expressions of varying doubts.
“We don’t need to actually build an iron tower covering the entire continent. As long as we can successfully obtain electrical energy, then in the next future era, many obstacles on the path of electricity generation and transmission will be cleared up. “
Upon hearing this, everyone pondered for a moment, and they all felt so excited that their limbs tingled pleasantly.
“The more fundamental something is, the harder it is to find a substitute in the current era. “
“If wireless power transmission succeeds, it can avoid many of the difficult problems associated with the deterioration of wire materials. “
After these fellow countrymen chatted for a bit while looking over the data, one person looked up and asked:
“But I still have some doubts about this new technological path. After all, ultra-long-distance wireless power transmission is still a challenge even in our time. “
Nihua nodded, _”Yes. In the era when this plan was proposed, its success would cause power companies to lose their right to charge fees, which was itself the first major obstacle.
“Secondly, the technology of that era also had its limitations. Of course, ultra-long-distance transmission was out of the question, as we just explained. “
After Nico said these two sentences, one person smiled and looked at Yang Zicang, who was reading materials beside the older man.
“I suppose people who have just been through a baptism of knowledge regarding nuclear radiation may not be lacking in fear toward this kind of electromagnetic field. “
Yang Zicang looked up in surprise, then gave a slightly bitter smile after a moment’s thought. “Maybe it will also interfere with the signals from some of our other wireless communications. “
“And these are matters we need to anticipate and try to resolve as much as possible, ” Goas said.
……
“The importance of aluminum is self-evident. “
“If we don’t research the techniques to purify aluminum as thoroughly as possible in this era, and wait until the era when we need to snatch things from monkeys’ hands to study materials science, I’m afraid any resulting products will turn into heavyweights. “
A young man wearing a glass cover over his seat hummed in acknowledgement, barely suppressing a laugh.
“Hmph. Your smile makes me think that day may not be far off, ” said Einar Guers, a theoretical physicist, as he gave a stern glare at his student.
“No, instructor. I just think… we are diverging quite a bit from the strategic choices, ” the young man mumbled after glancing instinctively but remained silent with tight lips as caution knitted well despite unsaid remark when that woman stared strictly across.
Beside the deep solid wood round table, someone ruffled his hair and said:
“Electrolytic refining for aluminum is definitely no longer acceptable—it has now essentially become pseudo-compounding alchemical recipe. “
Obviously, this secret box must have bred evil spirits because the cipher text was leaked and cracked. Henceforth, any act of writing or crafting related tools is merely creating demons that prey upon science.
A few of them sighed softly. Zhao Anlong shifted his gaze, scanning toward the organizer of the small meeting among the Scorching Light Ablaze team members beside him, and began to speak.
“We may as well return our focus to the era of Napoleon. “
“Napoleon? “
“That’s right. Through reducing aluminum oxide using potassium. He had also used tableware made from that very material. “
“So that should take care of it. ” Zhao Anlong spread his arms with a smile, saying, “You see, even Napoleon used tableware made of aluminum. Just by that, it doesn’t seem so hard to me. “
A fixed half-smile was on them all, watching him.
“At that kind of formal banquet, it was valued above gold going for even higher price up. That being said, do you still think there’s no trick at hand? “
“‘Valued higher than gold’ means what, exactly? “
“Aluminum exists mainly in ore mostly bonded oxide configured. These high bound-like arrangement stabilized configuration is already harder toward break and reduce inside chemical positions. “
The farmer who weighed remarks gestured toward ore lump sat pressed the including the shiny-glinted aluminum ore chunk made presence stand on measured on mat.
“Past days able used known used, lifted fingers uncrumple one could see that kind wrap showing done cheap cans/payment-light built type: for would sit thought no richer difference about more. By 1800 year end side then backward flip arranged different a difference: period study-time worker type working with mental concept layout finding but simply methods tapping allowed all break-back toward help helped smaller normal drop through life none happen beyond lab production zero – against bulk shaping mode harder anyway. “
“And also how possible to get. ” the nearer guest watch repeating shapes whispered low waking line shift stretch gradually upward seeming lost too show near self for for that got full shaped ways beginning asking could drive seen see possible occur itself done event route _”
Annabelle Zhu the party-turned-hall guide host measured sharply soft “It fell from left core glory crown nation Lord three of our actual central owner stock rank. ” “The great turning to interest shape I deliver entire lay using keep meant join added world reach. “
“According to historical records at the time, during an important national banquet, the distinguished guests used sparkling aluminum tableware, while those of lower status had to make do with ordinary golden utensils. “
Beside Zhao Anlong, a man in a red patterned coat showed a slight look of realization, then his eyes lit up.
“You mean to say, what you’re researching is this plan, a low-efficiency purification method comparable to the fabled touch turning stone into gold? “
“Uh… “
Across the table, Professor Aina, a female theoretical physicist, let out a weary sigh in response.
“This stuff, it’s simply not called ‘aluminum’ anymore. It’s silver—no, it’s artificial platinum! ” Zhao Anlong declared loudly. “I love this material formula. “
The man in the red shirt stood up with a look of delight.
“You can go ahead and work on this without any worry. I guarantee I won’t tell a second soul. Not even to a dog. “
“You misunderstand, sir. We are not keeping the formula. “
The somewhat agitated man cleared his throat lightly, glanced left and right, then pulled his chair in as he sat back down. “And that wasn’t my meaning either. I was referring to commercial confidentiality. “
Anna Berre gave a fake smile and said,
“Our plan is to research more efficient methods for extracting aluminum along this material science path of reducing alumina with potassium. The applications for aluminum in an industrial society are practically endless. That is why, for these crucial chemical raw materials, we must break the constraints of our era. Even if we fail, we must accumulate experience for the… the General Organization that will follow in years to come. “
“But the most efficient methods must have already been tested by countless people, right. What remains now are only the most costly production methods, ” one person said.
“That’s correct. “
The man in the red shirt nodded while crossing his arms.
“Then that settles it. In the future, only the most noble will be able to use aluminum utensils. It’s like the ‘secret silver’ of ancient times! Its price rivals gold, yet its color is understated—such a symbolic metal of noble virtue! This metal radiates a softness like the radiance of a saint. Wow, I can already imagine its appearance on crowns, scepters, and all kinds of mysterious patterns. “
Slap!Zhao Anlong smacked his own forehead.
“Maybe I should switch conference rooms. Apart from Napoleon, I can hardly understand the rest. “
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