Chapter 54

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The standardization of shipping containers was a technical measure promoted by Western nations led by America to pursue higher profits. This standardization significantly reduced maritime shipping costs by improving loading and unloading efficiency, transportation efficiency, and cargo safety, making them far lower than rail transport.

This was undoubtedly a tool for America to consolidate its economic position. This transformation would directly drive the rapid expansion of global trade, making maritime shipping the core pillar of globalization.

This so-called globalization was not motivated by equality or mutual benefit, but was dominated by maritime powers and served as a hidden exploitation of developing countries and the working class.

From a historical perspective, the arrival of the container era further strengthened the economic and geopolitical advantages of maritime powers. These nations leveraged the cost and efficiency advantages of maritime shipping to firmly control the lifeline 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 under capitalism is distorted into a tool of oppression, exacerbating economic inequality between classes and consolidating the position of maritime powers.

Finally, if we set aside ideology and examine only material reality, the container revolution will reinforce the economic and geopolitical advantages of maritime powers while significantly diminishing the influence of land powers, because the cost and efficiency advantages of maritime shipping will render it irreplaceable in global trade and the economy.

Before this, nations found it difficult to achieve substantial economic integration; after this, the transformation of the global economy would begin.

The industrial transformation centered on containers in Xiangjiang has already begun. We hope your side will send personnel to track and observe this process.

The projected data listed in this report will, in reality, be even more extreme than my predictions. If you send personnel, you may verify the data firsthand; we hope you will pay particular attention to how the data changes.

Lin Ran used a large volume of current and projected data in this report to argue for the future container revolution.

He even traveled to 2020, typed it on a computer, then spent a long time in New York to find an old-fashioned printer and yellowed machine paper to produce this aged version of the report.

This was also his final great gift from this trip to Xiangjiang.

He didn’t know if it would work: “Do your best, leave the rest to fate.”

“The weather isn’t as expected, but we must fly to go—farewell can’t wait for you, whether or not there’s a plane.”

On the day he left Xiangjiang, the weather was hot and humid; the heavy rain had just passed, and the sky remained overcast.

Lin Ran bid farewell one by one to the Governor of Hong Kong, the President of Xiangjiang University, major figures in shipping, and student representatives standing at the airport. He glanced at the sky, and for some reason, lyrics from “Years Like a Song” flashed through his mind.

“Professor Lin, I’ll soon be addressing you as Sir Lin.”

“Your outstanding contributions in mathematics have deeply impressed Her Majesty.”

“She has decided to grant you a knighthood. Our staff in New York will contact you to arrange the timing of the investiture, and the entire English academic community also looks forward to your arrival,” said Governor Alexander Grantham.

Lin Ran’s latest findings, disseminated through *New Advances in Mathematics*, had also triggered a strong response across the global academic community.

Many mathematicians were already beginning to regard him as the next Gao Si, believing that under his hand, mathematics would achieve complete unification before physics.

At this time, Grothendieck had not yet completed his most important algebraic tools nor become the later Pope of Algebraic Geometry, but the media had already dubbed him the Emperor of Number Theory.

This was not Chinese-language media—it was local New York media.

After the report returned to Xiangjiang, Xiangjiang newspapers asked: “Why not call him the Emperor of Mathematics instead?”

As a result, what had originally been only an honorary medal now included a knighthood from England.

Standing beside him, besides staff, was Senior Inspector Thomas of the Special Branch. Upon hearing this, Thomas inwardly rejoiced that he had not harassed the man—otherwise, he would have been stuck in Xiangjiang for life.

“Professor Lin, unfortunately, Xiangjiang University still lacks the environment to retain you long-term. If you ever leave Columbia University in the future, please consider Xiangjiang University first.”

“We will offer the most sincere terms, and we also look forward to your visit next year,” said Sir Lin Deng, President of Xiangjiang University, equally courteous.

Lin Ran thought: next year, he probably couldn’t leave America without using the “Gate.”

Xu Aizhou merely shook hands and embraced him without saying much—Chinese and Englishmen were not of one mind, especially those in shipping, who all competed fiercely for the same livelihood.

At this time, Xiangjiang hosted not only local shipping firms but also a large number of English shipping companies.

To maintain secrecy, he and Dong Haoyun had exhausted every possible method.

On the surface, the establishment of Xiangjiang Shipping was to resist the Englishmen; in reality, it was to compete for international standards.

Only he and Dong Haoyun knew this—the other shareholders were unaware.

When it came to Chen Jingrun, Lin Ran said nothing more: “Dehui, if you come to New York, remember to call me first.”

Then he gave Chen’s back several hard slaps, reminding him not to forget the treasure he’d left in his office.

In truth, no reminder was needed—the person sent to retrieve it had already departed.

A week earlier, Old Feng, who had been responsible for cleaning the Xiangjiang University teaching buildings, had already been replaced—no one had noticed. The impostor wore a mask, coughed whenever asked, and waved his hand after coughing to indicate he was ill and unwell.

Using this ruse, he had been cleaning the halls for a week without anyone discovering that Old Feng had been swapped out.

The report was transported from Xiangjiang to Yangcheng to Yanjing, then finally delivered to Yanjing.

“Our strategic focus has long been on land power; securing our terrestrial borders has been the primary concern.”

“If what he says is true—that maritime shipping will become the lifeline of future global trade—should we adjust our strategy?”

“Developing maritime shipping capacity will help us better acquire overseas resources.”

“Should we increase investment in coastal ports like Shenhai and Yangcheng, and upgrade our shipping infrastructure?”

“If we can import industrial raw materials more efficiently via maritime shipping, this will be crucial to accelerating our industrialization.”

“I recommend we begin monitoring now. As the other side suggested, sending personnel to observe Xiangjiang shipping firms is essential.”

The decision’s feedback to Xiangjiang resulted in Zhang Ke, a section chief, resigning from his position at an electronic components factory and preparing to find an opportunity to join the shipping company Lin Ran mentioned.

After landing at New York’s Idlewild Airport—which would not be renamed Kennedy Airport until after Kennedy’s death, and which was still called Idlewild at the time—Lin Ran found it strangely odd.

But after landing, Lin Ran did not expect John Morgan to personally meet him:

“Brother, thank God you’re finally back!”