Technology invades the modern world

Chapter 53 Thank God you are finally back!

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The development of container standards was a technological initiative driven by Western countries, led by America, in pursuit of higher profits. This standardization significantly reduced ocean freight costs by improving loading and unloading efficiency, transport efficiency, and cargo safety, bringing them far below those of rail transport.

This is undoubtedly a tool for America to consolidate its economic position. This change will directly promote the rapid expansion of global trade and make maritime transport a core pillar of the globalization process.

This so-called globalization is naturally not for the purpose of equality and mutual benefit, but is dominated by maritime powers and is a hidden exploitation of the vast number of developing countries and working people.

Historically, the advent of the container age has further strengthened the economic and geopolitical advantages of maritime powers. These nations, leveraging the cost and efficiency advantages of maritime transport, have firmly established their control over the arteries of global trade.

The root of this advantage lies in the instrumental rationality of capitalist society—the alienation of technological progress into a means of pursuing absolute profit. As Horkheimer's critical theory reveals, technology is distorted within the capitalist framework into a tool of oppression, exacerbating economic inequality between different classes and consolidating the position of maritime powers.

Finally, if we put aside ideology and look only at the material side, the container revolution will strengthen the economic and geopolitical advantages of maritime powers, while the influence of land powers will decline significantly, because the cost and efficiency advantages of sea transportation will enable them to occupy an irreplaceable position in global trade and economy.

Before this, it will be difficult for countries to be substantially integrated economically. After this, the global economic transformation will begin.

Hong Kong's industrial transformation around containers has begun, and we hope you can send someone to track and observe this process.

The actual forecast data listed in this report will only be more exaggerated than I predicted. If you send someone to verify the data in person, I hope you will pay close attention to the changes in the data."

In this report, Lin Ran uses a large amount of current and predicted data to demonstrate the future container revolution.

I went to 2020 specifically, typed it on a computer, and then searched for a long time in New York for an old printer and yellowed machine paper to make an old version of the report.

This is also the last big gift of his trip to Hong Kong.

I don't know if it will work, "Do your best and leave the rest to fate."

"The weather is not as expected, but I have to fly. I can't wait for you to say goodbye, no matter if there is a flight or not."

The weather was hot and humid the day we left Hong Kong. A heavy rain had just passed and the sky was still overcast.

Lin Ran stood at the airport and said goodbye to the Governor of Hong Kong, the President of Hong Kong University, shipping industry leaders, student representatives and others who came to see him off. He looked at the weather, and for some reason, the lyrics of the song "Years Are Like a Song" flashed through his mind.

“Professor Lin, I will soon be calling you Sir Lin.

Her Majesty the Queen greatly admires your outstanding contributions to mathematics.

"She has decided to confer a knighthood on you. Our staff in New York will discuss with you the timing of Her Majesty the Queen's knighting. The entire academic community in England is also looking forward to your visit," said Governor Robert Black.

Lin Ran's latest achievements also caused a huge response after being spread to the global academic community through "New Advances in Mathematics".

Many mathematicians have begun to believe that he will be the next Gauss, and under his leadership, mathematics will be completely unified before physics.

At this time, Grothendieck had not yet completed his most important algebraic tool, nor had he become the later Pope of algebraic geometry, but the media had already called him the Emperor of Number Theory.

This media is not a Chinese media, but a local media in New York.

After the news was reported back to Hong Kong, the Hong Kong newspapers said, "Emperor of Number Theory, wouldn't it be more appropriate to call him Emperor of Mathematics?"

Therefore, England added a knighthood awarding process to the original medal of honor.

Standing beside him were not only staff members but also Thomas, a senior inspector from the Special Branch. Hearing this, Thomas felt fortunate not to have embarrassed the other person, as he would have been stuck in Hong Kong for life. "Professor Lin, it's a shame that Hong Kong University doesn't have the environment to sustain you long-term. If you ever decide to leave Columbia University, please consider Hong Kong University first."

We will offer you the most sincere conditions and look forward to your visit next year." Sir Abraham Lincoln, President of Hong Kong University, was equally polite.

Lin Ran thought, next year, next year he probably won’t be able to leave America without using the “door”.

Xu Aizhou just shook hands and hugged without saying much. The Chinese and the English were not of the same mind, especially those in the shipping business, who were all competing for this job.

In addition to local ship merchants, there were also a large number of English shipping companies in Hong Kong at that time.

In order to keep it secret, he and Dong Haoyun tried every possible way.

On the surface, the establishment of the Hong Kong Shipping Company was to fight against the English, but in reality it was to compete for international standards.

Except for him and Tung Chao-Yen, no other shareholders knew about this.

When it came to Chen Jingrun, Lin Ran didn't say anything more, "Dehui, if you want to come to New York, remember to call me in advance."

Then he patted his back a few times, reminding him not to forget to leave a treasure for him in his office.

In fact, there was no need for Lin Ran to remind him at all, as the person who was going to pick up the goods had already set off.

As early as a week ago, Old Feng, who was in charge of cleaning the teaching building of Xiangjiang University, had been replaced, and no one even noticed. He was wearing a mask and coughed when others asked him about it. After coughing, he waved his hands to indicate that he was sick and unwell.

He had been cleaning here for a week using this trick and no one had noticed that Old Feng had been replaced.

The report was transported all the way back to Yanjing from Hong Kong, Guangzhou, and Yanjing.

"Our strategic focus in the past has long been on land power, and land border security is our primary concern.

If, as he says, shipping will be the lifeblood of future global trade, then do we need to adjust our strategy?

"Developing maritime transport capabilities can help us better access overseas resources.

Should we increase investment in coastal ports such as Shenhai and Yangcheng to improve shipping infrastructure?

If we can import the raw materials needed for industry more efficiently through sea transport, it will be crucial for us to accelerate our industrialization process."

"I suggest that we should start observing now. As the other party mentioned, it is very necessary to send people to join the Hong Kong ship traders to observe."

The result of the decision being transmitted back to Hong Kong was that Section Chief Zhang resigned from the electronic components factory and prepared to look for an opportunity to join the shipping company mentioned by Lin Ran.

After landing at New York's Idlewild Airport, which was renamed Kennedy Airport after Kennedy's death, Lin Ran found it a bit strange that it was no longer called Kennedy Airport.

However, after landing, Lin Ran didn't expect John Morgan to come and pick him up in person:
"Brother, thank God you're finally back!"

(End of this chapter)