The Fox of France - Chapter 342: The Elderly Scientist, Lavoisier

Nathan Rothschild quickly noticed that there wasn’t anyone surnamed Bonaparte in the fifth carriage. However, he didn’t feel his money was wasted because he knew these individuals had close ties to the Bonaparte family. Though not Bonapartes by name, they constituted a vital, central part of the colossal entity that was the Bonaparte clan.

Most of these individuals were, or were going to be, luminaries in their respective fields, key figures cherished by the zeitgeist. For Nathan, getting acquainted with them and forging connections was absolutely worth the price of admission. However, after conversing briefly with them, he discovered that establishing rapport wasn’t particularly easy. Their conversations, even during leisurely moments, were incomprehensible to him.

Fortunately, he soon found someone equally interested in economics, holding the highest status within this carriage. That person was Monsieur Lavoisier, the esteemed honorary head of the French Academy of Sciences.

At fifty-nine, Monsieur Lavoisier was considered aged in this era, especially for a scientist, reaching the retirement age.

Owing to numerous legendary tales and entrenched customs of bygone eras, many people harbored unrealistic fantasies about elderly scientists. Just like a story Joseph had read once, it expressed:

“Dean Sang of Sanlu University is an elderly scientist.

The placement of ‘elderly’ here is quite puzzling; it could describe science or the scientist.

Regrettably, scientists and science differ greatly. Scientists are like wine, growing more precious with age, while science, akin to women, loses value with age. In the future, when the national language’s grammar matures, there might be a clear distinction between ‘elderly scientists’ and ‘the elderly of science,’ or perhaps ‘the ancient home of science’ and ‘elderly scientists.’ But for now, it’s too early to precisely delineate.”

However, Mr. Money, the author of the novel, wasn’t particularly knowledgeable about the field of science. Natural sciences differ from humanities; there’s no truth in ‘scientists are like wine, growing more precious with age.’ Science, unless debunked, retains its value whether old or new. For instance, the laws of thermodynamics, centuries old, still command respect. Scientists, on the other hand, are indeed akin to women; they lose value as they age.

In historical and humanities research, accumulating experience and knowledge holds more significance, making scholars somewhat akin to wine. However, in natural sciences, it’s different as scientific research demands extensive data processing capabilities, placing significant strain on the brain. As age advances, bodily functions decline inevitably. While experience gained with age is crucial, it’s insufficient to offset the physiological decline’s effects. Hence, for most natural scientists, their most significant achievements are usually made in their prime. As they age, they’re relegated to mere symbols.

Monsieur Lavoisier keenly felt the decline in his energy and cognitive abilities. His hands trembled; in the laboratory, he struggled to conduct experiments. Even when analyzing data, he often couldn’t keep pace with his assistants’ thoughts. This realization led Monsieur Lavoisier to contemplate retirement.

Despite the decline in his brain’s data processing ability, often resulting in inexplicable errors, akin to a worn-out graphics card in a mining rig, Monsieur Lavoisier was reluctant to become a mere figurehead.

Monsieur Lavoisier always had two passions: science and money.

Currently, science seemed disdainful of his aging; once his body was exhausted, it no longer favored him. Consequently, he diverted more attention to his other passion. With his diminishing data processing capabilities, delving into natural science apps seemed insufficient, but running business programs appeared manageable.

However, while considering data processing capabilities, Monsieur Lavoisier overlooked something crucial: his database lacked extensive knowledge about conducting business.

Despite this, their shared interest forged a strong bond between Lavoisier and Nathan Rothschild. Rothschild discovered that while Lavoisier wasn’t an expert in business, he occasionally articulated profound insights, sparking moments of revelation for Rothschild, often stemming from Joseph Bonaparte.

“Joseph Bonaparte isn’t merely a scientific prodigy; he’s a prodigy in every aspect,” Nathan Rothschild couldn’t help but muse.

For Rothschild, establishing a connection with Lavoisier left him thoroughly content. He believed the money spent was truly worthwhile. Aware of Lavoisier’s close ties to the Bonaparte family—Joseph Bonaparte’s wife being Lavoisier’s niece—he saw an opportunity to engage with the true helmsmen of this illustrious clan.

At this juncture, most passengers had boarded, the train blew its whistle, emitting a long “woo-woo” sound. Soon, it gently jolted, and as one gazed out the window, everything outside gradually began receding.

“Ah, the train’s departed. Well, ultimately, passenger cars are more comfortable than freight trains; much better,” remarked Lavoisier.

“Monsieur Lavoisier, have you ever traveled on a freight train?” inquired Nathan Rothschild.

“I did, at the Lorraine Steel Company. Out of curiosity, I sat with a group of workers on a flatbed and caught a cold from the wind. Well, freight trains are much more jarring, but disregarding the wind factor, even a flatbed is more comfortable than a carriage.”

As they conversed, the train’s speed increased.

“Monsieur Lavoisier, do you know how fast this train can go?” queried Nathan Rothschild.

“Ah, you’ve asked the right person,” responded Lavoisier with pride. “It can reach speeds of up to seventy kilometers per hour. But considering coal consumption, that’s not the most economical speed. The most economical speed varies based on different loads but generally hovers around fifty kilometers.”

“So fast?” mentally calculated Nathan Rothschild, then remarked, “Monsieur Lavoisier, don’t you think railways could be an incredibly profitable venture?”