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There are many surprising stories on the stage of world history.
世界历史舞台上上演过许多意外。
The invention of the automobile is one.
汽车的发明就是其中之一。
And, so, our play begins.
我们的故事也是从这里拉开了帷幕。
In the 1670s, Ferdinand Verbiest was a Flemish Missionary and scientist.
十七世纪七十年代，费迪南德·韦尔比斯特曾是弗拉芒地区的一名传教士兼科学家。
He was sent to visit the court of the Kangxi Emperor in China.
他被派往参观中国康熙皇帝的皇宫。
The emperor's court was a dangerous place.
而皇宫是个危险的地方。
When Verbiest arrived, he was held prisoner, almost chopped to bits.
到达中国后韦尔比斯特被囚禁了起来，差点被剁成肉酱。
But instead was forced to compete in a series of math and astronomy contests.
但他没有被剁成肉酱，而是被迫参加了一系列数学和天文学竞赛。
You know, like you do.
就像大家参加竞赛时一样。
Ultimately, Verbiest's performance so impressed the emperor,
最终，韦尔比斯特凭借出色的表现给皇帝留下了深刻的印象，
he banished the current astronomer and gave Verbiest the job.
皇帝赶走了当时的天文学家，将这份工作交给了韦尔比斯特。
Over the years they became friends.
多年后，他们成了朋友。
Verbiest tutored the emperor in geometry, philosophy and music.
韦尔比斯特还成了皇帝的几何，哲学和音乐老师。
Around 1672, Verbiest designed, as a toy for his friend the emperor, a steam propelled trolley.
1672年左右，韦尔比斯特设计了一台蒸汽驱动的推车，原本是想作为玩具送给他的皇帝朋友。
It was an automobile in the truest sense.
但那的确是一台货真价实的汽车。
No one really knows if it got built. The drawings that Verbiest did are all that remains.
没有人清楚他的这一设计最终是否真的落了地，他当时绘制的图纸已经成了这一设计唯一的凭证。
Nonetheless, those designs are most likely the earliest self-moving machine ever conceived.
尽管如此，这些设计仍然很可能是有史以来最早的自动机器设计。
Many automobiles would follow over the years, but few were conceived as a gift to a merciful emperor/BFF.
尽管各种各样的汽车随后相继出现，但很少像韦尔比斯特的设计一样被当做礼物送给仁慈的皇帝/铁哥们儿。
