The Shadow of Great Britain

Capítulo 1210: Chapter 138: Honored Guest Arrives

Arthur had just stepped out of the teaching building when he heard cheers erupting from the classroom.

The austere Academic Director removed his hat and fanned himself, muttering to himself, “It seems the first meeting between Mr. Ohm and Mr. Faraday was quite successful.”

Although he had already stated his firm support for Ohm’s side, it was indeed difficult for him alone to overturn the decisions for the person behind the naming of the resistance unit.

In this regard, the academic world, the political world, and the arts circle are actually quite similar.

For scholars, achieving research results is only the first step and also the simplest one.

Next, they must write papers, publish academic works, and go further to publish textbooks or even edit academic journals. Especially at Deutsch University, the government places great value on how grand the ‘applause’ and ‘cheers’ that scholars receive are. Gaining ‘applause’ is gaining fame.

The amount of applause a scholar receives partly depends on the scale and success of their lectures, and on the waves of sound caused by the students’ clapping. Under the same circumstances, scholars known for ‘applause accompanying their teaching’ will have a more recognized academic reputation.

In Germany, even those full professors whose main income isn’t course fees care very much about the number of students in their classes, and they often compare student numbers with other professors at the same school. Even prominent scholars like Hegel and Savini aren’t immune to this.

However, for those unknown scholars, the applause they consider first is not from within the school, but from outside.

In the considerations of the governments of various Germanic states regarding the academic reputation of professors and young lecturers, publishing results and gaining peer recognition is the primary condition for scientific academic prestige. Whether teaching can attract students and earn ‘applause’ is the standard for teaching prestige. Joining elite societies and receiving job invitations are the foundations of social prestige.

These standards, when detailed to the practical level, depend on whether a scholar has joined elite academic societies and whether they have received invitations from well-known scientific societies. As for the most powerful voice among them, it is the job invitations from foreign universities.

If Ohm can gain recognition from this group of Royal Society experimental physicists, then even if the Royal Society doesn’t invite him to become a foreign member at the first opportunity, it will at least open the way for Ohm to publish papers in journals like the “Royal Society Scientific Yearbook.”

As for the job invitations from foreign universities, as one of the committee members of the University of London Alumni Association, Sir Arthur Hastings has already introduced this 44-year-old gem of German electromagnetism to the school board through the alumni association channels.

You should know, the University of London has been trying to recruit Faraday for four or five years, but this Royal Society’s laboratory director sees money as dirt and is unwilling to accept this opportunity that could increase his annual salary tenfold.

Therefore, Arthur suggested in his recommendation letter that the board could consider changing their target and include Ohm in the candidate list for the University of London’s experimental physics professor.

Perhaps elsewhere, Sir Arthur Hastings’ words don’t carry much weight, but at the University of London and Scotland Yard, he believes he has some influence.

Therefore, as long as Ohm can gain some fame, the job invitation from the University of London will not take long to be sent to Gottingen.

If by that time the Kingdom of Hanover still doesn’t intend to appoint Ohm, then Arthur would be happy to bring back a resistance unit for his alma mater.

Although in the eyes of Professor Herbart and others, the Gottingen campus is already a mess, the head of the secret service knows in his heart: from students to teachers, everything is under control.

Arthur hadn’t walked far.

Suddenly, he saw a four-wheeled carriage with a style of its time, exuding elegance and luxury, approaching the campus gate, with the sound of hooves clacking crisply on the cobblestone road.

The exterior of the carriage was painted deep black, adorned with intricate gilded decorations. A unique noble emblem was embedded on the door, and the high canopy of the carriage was adorned with shining silver ornaments at the four corners.

Through the window, one could glimpse the luxurious and comfortable interior of the carriage, with seats covered in royal blue velvet cushions produced in Manchester, matching the color of the curtains. The carpet was made of soft satin, and the footrest was covered with exquisite embroidery, unmistakably expensive at a glance.

The carriage was pulled by four tall English purebred black horses, stoutly built, adorned with gold-embellished harnesses, and reins and stirrups made of a blend of satin and leather. Even the coachman was dressed in a deep black uniform, wearing a stiff tall hat, and with a slight flick of the reins with his gloved hand, he exuded an overwhelming aura of nobility.

And around the carriage, six guard knights followed. They wore standard English riding uniforms, red coats, white breeches, black boots, helmets adorned with feathers, swords on their waists, and gun holsters on their thighs, ready to respond to any unexpected situations.

These knights were divided into two teams, guarding the sides of the carriage, urging their horses to step briskly, maintaining the same speed as the carriage.

And behind these men, there was a smaller carriage, through which the glass window one could see several gentlemen dressed in finely tailored tailcoats. They appeared dignified, wearing silver-white wigs, sitting with straight backs, clearly trusted veteran attendants of the convoy director.