British writer

On the issue of McKinley, Lu Shi didn't want to say more.

He waved his hand,

"That's all."

Then, Franklin's pen moved again and wrote:

Speaking of the former President, Professor Lu seemed to be filled with a trace of ignorant sadness and was unwilling to talk further...

Lu Shi: "..."

I couldn't help but complain: "Mr. Roosevelt, that's about it."

Franklin quickly apologized and laughed,

"Yes, yes. Don't worry, I will delete this paragraph."

He tore up the paper, crumpled it into a ball, and threw it into the trash can nearby. He probably thought that the writing was a bit outrageous.

Lu Shi said, "Let's talk about business."

This is a hint and a warning.

Franklin understood and said, "Let's talk about global university rankings?"

Lu Shi nodded,

"good."

Franklin raised a corner of his mouth and said, "Professor Lu, I'm curious, if you were to host it, where would you place Harvard University in the rankings?"

Lu Shi almost vomited blood.

I didn't expect that the other party would ask such an entertaining question.

Franklin continued,

"Professor Lu, please don't say those superficial words, such as 'standards have not yet been released and are difficult to define', that is too boring. I just want to know, in your mind, what is the position of Harvard University? Compared with Niu and Jian How to compare?"

Lu Shi pondered,

After a long while, he said: "Harvard today cannot be compared with Cambridge."

Franklin became interested,

"You said 'now'?"

Lu Shi said "hmm" and explained: "In the foreseeable future, Harvard will have a huge advantage in the number of students, which is determined by the scale of higher education."

"It's a matter of quantity and quality," Franklin said.

Lu Shi said: "You have misunderstood. Large quantity does not mean poor quality."

Franklin asked again: "Where are the subjects?"

Lu Shi thought for a while and replied: "I think Harvard University will have more courses in business and law in the future, and they will be more prominent."

Franklin couldn't help but be surprised,

"Why? It's only been a few years since Harvard established the Department of Economics!"

Lu Shi smiled,

"I went to the Department of Economics some time ago and met several young gentlemen. Their views on monopoly and transactions were very unique."

Speaking of "monopoly", Franklin's eyes changed slightly.

He blinked and said, "I've heard about that, too. You had communicated with Bell, Mayer, and Stearns, and you also proposed a hypothetical model. Economics professors are very interested in that hypothetical model." The model rated it very highly.”

Lu Shi was stunned for a long time before he realized that the other party was talking about "The Ultimatum Game".

Models or something...

It sounds a bit like mathematical modeling.

Lu Shi asked: "Have you heard that too? Yes, I think not all transactions are zero-sum."

"Zero-sum..."

Franklin chewed the word,

It is not difficult to understand from the literal meaning. It refers to a situation where the sum of the benefits of both parties is zero.

In other words, when one person obtains more benefits, the benefits of the other person or party will decrease accordingly, so that the total benefit of both parties remains zero.

Simply put, what one party gains is what one party loses.

Franklin kept digging in his memory,

He said: "Is this a new definition established by Professor Lu? I have never heard it before."

Lu Shi scratched his head,

"I just think it's appropriate to say that."

Franklin said excitedly: "Of course it's appropriate! To be honest, Professor Lu, you really admire me! You just said that the model of dividing gold coins is not zero-sum. So, can you give an example of a zero-sum model?"

There are still many such examples.

Lu Shi pondered for a moment and said: "There are two gang leaders now, and they need to play a game about courage to decide the right to speak. The two men each drive a carriage towards each other. When death is getting closer and closer, who will Whoever cannot hold on and orders the horse to dodge is considered a coward and loses; whoever faces impending death without fear and rushes forward bravely will be regarded as a hero."

Several reporters from the Crimson Newspaper fell into deep thought.

Someone said: “Does this happen in real life?”

Franklin said contemptuously: "Reality? Reality will only be more absurd than this. Think about the former president...ahem..."

A perfunctory cough.

McKinley's case cannot be discussed in detail.

Franklin changed the topic awkwardly: "This kind of thing is actually entirely possible. There are many people who are impulsive under the instigation of others."

Lu Shi spread his hands,

"You can understand what is needed for discussion. It is easier to explain the problem by using examples of people who love to go to extremes."

Everyone expressed understanding and then fell into deep thought.

In Lu Shi's game, whoever is afraid of death first and drives out of the way loses.

However, if the two sides fight to the end, the outcome will be disastrous——

perish together.

This result is the worst for both the individuals involved in the game and for everyone involved in the game.

But if both parties retreat and give way, although they are physically safe, they will lose their right to speak in the gang, which is equivalent to social death, and both parties lose.

"The game really seems like a zero-sum, winner-takes-all game," Franklin concluded.

Lu Shi said: "If two people are impulsive and reckless, then they are likely to rush forward under the encouragement of the belief that 'a scholar can be killed but not humiliated' until they die together. At this time, zero sum becomes It’s a negative sum.”

negative sum, negative sum,

Another new word.

Franklin looked at Lu Shi in surprise, feeling even more impressed.

Lu Shi said: "The question now is, if you are a party to the game, what should you do?"

No one can give an answer.

Franklin could see that the beauty of this game was:

It seems to prove that in a certain situation, the more irrational a person is, the more likely he is to be the winner and get the desired outcome.

But if both of them are irrational...

Well, forget it.

Franklin thought for a long time, and his CPU was almost burned out, but he still couldn't come up with the so-called "optimal solution".

"It's hard to decide," he said.

Lu Shi said: "So, it's best for us to avoid getting into a dilemma where we can't stop. This is the best policy."

Franklin’s pen started going crazy again:

After telling this example, Professor Lu showed a gentle smile on his face, just like the kind of smile a tolerant teacher would have when teaching stupid students. He is such a warm person, always with a warm smile...

Lu Shi: "Ugh!"

I was immediately nauseated and vomited.

The "Mirror" he hosts is not so disgusting in its interview column.

can only say,

As expected of a top student at Harvard, his writing is so good.

Lu Shi complained: "Mr. Roosevelt, what we are asking is, can this kind of content be allowed..."

Franklin shook his head,

"No! I believe students like this kind of content."

He carefully folded and put the paper away, and continued: "Besides, the game you gave is really interesting. Harvard students and professors will definitely find ways to come up with answers, and they may even write papers."

If a paper is born as a result, game theory will come early.

Lu Shi sighed,

"Okay~ okay~ I can't control how you write."

Franklin continued: "Let's talk about race again?"

There is definitely no way around this problem.

The early 20th century was not a modern era, and the United States was not yet serious enough to talk about such topics.

Lu Shi said: "Chinese Exclusion Act?"

Franklin nodded,

"When the bill was introduced, there were not only Chinese workers, but Latin Americans, Spanish, Irish... they were also working as coolies. Therefore, there is a saying that the emergence of the "Chinese Exclusion Act" was because Chinese workers passively participated in trade union activities, and even betrayed the union, causing It aroused the dissatisfaction and rejection of other workers. In 1882, voting qualifications were expanded, giving those people the opportunity to elect members to promote Chinese exclusion, so there was the Chinese Exclusion Act."

Lu Shi replied: "This rhetoric is not completely unreasonable, but in essence, workers are harming each other."

Franklin said: "Professor Lu doesn't agree?"

Lu Shi said: "When you are weak and discriminated against, there is always a crime that suits you. If the people who formed the union are Chinese workers, then the crime is to cling to a group, repeatedly disrupt the normal project schedule, and not do much. "

Franklin understood,

"So Professor Lu believes that there are effects first and causes later."

Lu Shi shrugged.

"What you think is the cause may be what I think is the effect. I am not used to thinking about issues from a racial perspective. The starting point I like is the economic basis."

Franklin admired Lu Shi even more,

He didn't dwell on the issue anymore.

"It's okay, Professor Lu, we can keep our opinions to each other. It's not a big deal."

Lu Shi smiled,

"It may not really be a big deal in America right now."

The tone of his voice was prophetic,

Franklin felt awkward hearing this.

Lu Shi waved his hand,

"That's all, let's talk about something else. Let's talk about literature, history, or even education and tabletop game design."

Franklin's advice flowed freely,

As a result, the next questions were no longer sharp and continued for thirty minutes.

The final notes are:

Professor Lu dealt with each problem calmly and gracefully. His knowledge was like the ocean and the sky, so vast that it seemed as if there were no boundaries, which made people fascinated. Moreover, he never hesitates to share his wisdom, which is admirable...

This cowhide is almost blowing to the sky.

Lu Shi was a little uncomfortable at first, but finally got used to it and let it go.

The interview is over.

The reporters began to pack up their things.

Franklin deliberately slowed down his movements and waited until the others left, then immediately closed the door and said, "Professor Lu, Theodore wants me to consult you on his behalf."

Lu Shi couldn't help but laugh,

"I didn't expect that the United States also has the setting of 'saying things behind closed doors'."

Franklin looked at the doorknob;

Closed well.

He couldn't help but said in surprise: "Professor Lu, I don't quite understand your humor."

Lu Shi said: "It doesn't matter, that's not humorous, just think that I'm talking to myself."

Franklin could feel that Lu Shi's teasing was not malicious, and without going into details, he said: "To be honest, the questions Theodore asked me to consult with Professor Lu were a bit...some...well...professional. I thought Professor Lu couldn't be good at it." , but after experiencing the interview just now, my mind has completely changed."

Lu Shi was curious,

"Vice President... No, what do you want to ask Mr. President?"

Franklin smiled mysteriously,

""monopoly"."

Lu Shi was stunned for a while, realizing that what the other party wanted to say was not board games, but the more profound problems facing the United States now——

trust.

Lu Shi thought for a while and asked, "Is it Carnegie or Rockefeller?"

Carnegie was a giant in the U.S. steel industry, while Rockefeller was at the helm of Standard Oil.

Franklin looked surprised,

He still finds it unbelievable that a Chinese person has a clear understanding of the capital situation in the United States.

"..."

"..."

"..."

A solemn silence fell on the room.

Lu Shi said: "Don't be surprised. Steel and energy are more important to a booming industrial country. Naturally, these two are what Mr. President cares about most."

After being completely seen through, Franklin was no longer prepared to hide it.

"It's Standard Oil."

"Tsk..."

Lu Shi was speechless.

Theodore will take drastic measures as soon as he comes on stage. He is indeed a strong man descended from heaven.

He said: "Doesn't the United States have the Sherman Antitrust Act? If I remember correctly, this act aims to combat market monopoly and protect consumer rights."

Franklin sighed,

"Is it possible to implement it if there is a law? Professor Lu may not be thinking too simply."

Lu Shi said: "I think exactly the opposite. It is precisely because of the law that Mr. President's next actions are just."

Franklin whispered: "'Next behavior'? What do Professor Lu think?"

Lu Shi said: "What else can we do? It's just three steps~"

Franklin said, "Can you tell me more?"

Of course Lu Shi can talk about things that happened once in history.

He said:

"

The first step was to conduct a detailed investigation of Standard Oil Company, send personnel, and audit its operating conditions and financial data;

The second step is to split the company according to the requirements of the Anti-Monopoly Law. All subsidiaries and affiliated companies are required to be separated from the parent company, and each separated company must comply with the legal enterprise size and business scope. ;

The third step is to strengthen supervision. After the split, the companies cannot carry out business crossover and resource sharing, and cannot carry out price coordination and division of market shares.

"

Lu Shi finished speaking in one breath.

Franklin looked at him with astonishment.

This is so meow...

Is this person just a professor? Really not a politician?

Lu Shi continued: "Of course, the real difficulty lies in practical operation. If Mr. President wants to complete the feat of splitting up trusts, he needs to mediate multiple forces. The difficulty is beyond my imagination."

Franklin muttered: "Isn't this unimaginable? Your imagination is enough."

Lu Shi laughed loudly after hearing this.

"However, this is only a temporary solution, not the root cause. If industrial trusts are broken up, there may be financial trusts in the future. This is determined by the capitalist system."

that's the truth.

After the breakup of Standard Oil, it was still a bunch of giants:

Mobil Oil, Exxon Oil, Chevron Oil, BP...

Based on these companies, the Rockefeller consortium has become one of the most powerful consortiums in the United States and has gradually become as powerful as the Morgan consortium.

Franklin frowned,

"Professor Lu, you have too little confidence in the United States."

Lu Shi laughed even louder,

"Don't you have confidence!? I am obviously too confident in the United States, okay!?"

His confidence made Franklin uncomfortable.

For a moment, Franklin thought of "The Insignificant Year 1587", in which there was a great prime minister——

Zhang Juzheng.

The prime minister's reforms were undoubtedly successful;

But what is the final result?

When people die, government disappears.

Could it be that Theodore will also become the Zhang Juzheng of the United States?

America is the Ming Dynasty!

Ming Dynasty is the United States!

Is this really not a joke?

Unknowingly, a thin layer of cold sweat appeared on Franklin's forehead and back, and his lips trembled, not knowing what to say.

He couldn't help but look at Lu Shi,

"Professor Lu, didn't you say before that history cannot predict the future?"

Lu Shi said: "Yes, yes, it is impossible to predict the future."

"Huh~"

Franklin couldn't help but breathed a sigh of relief, and then remembered the task assigned to him by his cousin, and said, "Professor Lu, are you willing to serve as an aide to the current President of the United States?"