The invention of the automobile is one.

而汽車的發明就是其中之一。

And, so, our play begins.

那就讓這個故事開演吧。

In the 1670s, Ferdinand Verbiest was a Flemish Missionary and scientist.

在 1670 年代時，南懷仁，一位尼德蘭弗來芒人，他是一位傳教士和科學家。

He was sent to visit the court of the Kangxi Emperor in China.

他被派遣至中國，康熙皇帝的宮廷。

The emperor's court was a dangerous place.

朝廷是一個危險的地方。

When Verbiest arrived, he was held prisoner, almost chopped to bits.

當南懷仁到達時，他被關進監牢，差點就慘遭大卸八塊。

But instead was forced to compete in a series of math and astronomy contests.

但後來他被強迫參加一系列的數學及天文競賽。

You know, like you do.

你知道的，就是一些學術的競賽。

Ultimately, Verbiest's performance so impressed the emperor, he banished the current astronomer and gave Verbiest the job.

最終，南懷仁的表現讓皇帝印象深刻，他就把現任的天文學家驅逐，讓南懷仁來取代他。

Over the years they became friends.

經過了好幾年，他們成為朋友。

Verbiest tutored the emperor in geometry, philosophy and music.

南懷仁教授皇帝有關幾何學、哲學及音樂的知識。

Around 1672, Verbiest designed, as a toy for his friend the emperor, a steam propelled trolley.

大約在 1672 年，南懷仁設計了一個玩具給他的皇帝朋友一台蒸氣驅動的小推車。

It was an automobile in the truest sense.

這實質上就是一台汽車。

No one really knows if it got built.

沒有人知道這車是否有被做出來。

The drawings that Verbiest did are all that remains.

現在僅存的，只有南懷仁的那張設計圖了。

Nonetheless, those designs are most likely the earliest self-moving machine ever conceived.

儘管如此，那些設計很有可能就是世上最早的驅動機械了。

Many automobiles would follow over the years, but few were but few were conceived as a gift to a merciful emperor slash BFF.

在過去的這些年，很多的汽車都被設計出來，但很少有車是拿來送給一位仁慈的皇帝兼好友的。