Chapter 1169 Postscript: The Legend of the Twenty-Five Great Princesses

The legend of the 11th eldest princess

In a teacher's dormitory of Luoyang Taixue, Wang Daqing is working at his desk with concentration.

This dormitory is for temporary rent.

There is an obvious chain of contempt between the various administrative regions of the Ming Dynasty.

The North Korean Province where Wang Daqing was born is at the lower end of the chain of contempt, and is better than those of the Governor-General's Palace and the Protectorate's Palace.

He has publicly emphasized many times that his ancestors were pure Han Chinese and were Shandong military officers who were transferred to Pyongyang during the Hongwu period of Taizu.

But his weird accent when he was young was still often made fun of by his colleagues.

For this reason, Wang Daqing specially took in a concubine from Luoyang. He practiced the Zhongyuan Zhengyin by talking to the concubine every day.

"Dong dong dong."

"Please come in."

A servant opened the door: "Erlang, Tang Xianggong from the Mathematics Society is here to visit."

The Tang Xianggong had already entered the room, clasping his fists and smiling, "Bringing good news to my dear brother."

Wang Daqing asked expectantly: "Which scholar approved my new geometry?"

Tang Xianggong shook his head: "You print papers and distribute them everywhere, even at gatherings of literati. The impact is really bad. People who know mathematics will naturally know that your papers are too ridiculous. But what do those literati know? They still think that we are mathematicians. Learn not to tolerate dissent!”

"The news has reached the ears of the old president. Although the old president does not agree with your paper, he has spoken and allowed your paper to be published. During the academic event in early summer, a hall will be reserved for you. You will have half a day. Sufficient time to present your academic results in public.”

Wang Daqing couldn't help but said: "It's really good news. Do I need to come to visit the old president to thank him?"

Tang Xianggong said: "The old president is not in good health, so don't bother him."

Wang Daqing asked again: "It has been two months and there is still no mathematician who agrees with my paper?"

Tang Xianggong patted Wang Daqing on the shoulder: "I have also carefully verified Brother Xian's paper. The derivation process is all correct, and the conclusions drawn are more absurd than the last. What is the use of studying these?"

Wang Daqing said: "Eyes can deceive people, thoughts can also deceive people, but mathematics cannot deceive people. Since it exists, it has its own value, and maybe one day it will be used."

It can indeed be used, but it will probably take hundreds of years.

In another time and space, Lobachevsky, the founder of Loche geometry, is known as "Bruno of geometry". From this nickname, we can know what kind of situation he was facing at that time.

Although he was not burned to death, he was never recognized and was even ostracized by the academic community. He died in depression in his later years.

Gauss was also doing similar research at the time, but Gauss never dared to publicly support Lobachevsky, and only privately praised Lobachevsky as the best mathematician in Russia.

Wang Daqing's research into this stuff was destined to disapprove of him for the rest of his life.

"Just take care of yourself." Tang Xianggong said goodbye.

Wang Daqing hurriedly sent him downstairs in person, and stood quietly under the eaves for a long time. After Tang Xianggong completely disappeared from sight, he sighed and returned to the temporary dormitory.

Sitting on a chair, Wang Daqing took out his tobacco and puffed away at his pipe, his thoughts wandering to nowhere.

He is very irritable!

Ever since he came up with the new geometric system, Wang Daqing has been restless. Even his students seemed to be full of admiration on the surface, but secretly they didn't believe it at all.

He seemed to be standing on the opposite side of the entire world.

He was isolated.

"Dong dong dong."

Another knock on the door brought Wang Daqing, who was in a daze, back to reality.

Before Wang Daqing agreed to open the door, the servant happily pushed the door open and said, "Erlang, a young bachelor came to visit. He said he approved of Erlang's knowledge of geometry!"

Agree with me?

Wang Daqing stood up quickly and walked quickly to the door, only to see a young man standing outside the door.

This young man's face was too immature, Wang Daqing looked at his waist.

Bachelor of Jasper.

"My little friend, please come in quickly." Wang Daqing said enthusiastically.

Xie Yan bowed his head and said: "Xie Yan, who is a junior and is the last to learn, would like to pay my respects to Professor Wang."

Wang Daqing reacted suddenly: "Xie Yan discovered the damping phenomenon and caused controversy due to molecular theory?"

"Exactly." Xie Yan replied.

"Ha ha ha ha!"

Wang Daqing suddenly laughed heartily: "You were scolded miserably, and I was scolded miserably. We share the same fate."

Xie Yan also smiled: "Those doubts about me will soon dissipate. But I am afraid that your criticism will not dissipate for another few decades."

Wang Daqing dragged a chair over and asked Xie Yan to sit down and talk: "Can you prove yourself?"

Xie Yan said: "I made a balance that is more accurate than the long-arm damping balance that came out some time ago."

"What a young prodigy." Wang Daqing praised.

The servant brought the kettle with boiling water from the briquette stove in the corridor.

Wang Daqing took out the tea leaves and made tea for Xie Yan himself: "Do you agree with my new geometry?"

"Mathematics doesn't lie." Xie Yan said.

Hearing this, Wang Daqing's eyes lit up and he quickly took Xie Yan's hand: "You know me!"

Xie Yan said: "There are some parts of that paper that I didn't understand. Can Professor Wang explain it in person?"

"You don't have to call me by title, my name is Wang Daqing, my courtesy name is Shanzhi, and I belong to the second generation of my family. Although you and I are meeting for the first time, we are no different from being close friends, and we can be friends by the same generation."

Wang Daqing looked forward to the stars and the moon, and finally hoped that someone would take the initiative to ask him for advice on his essay: "If there is anything you don't understand, brother Xian, just ask. Brother Fool knows everything and can tell you everything."

Although Xie Yan had never learned Lobachevsky geometry, no one else in the world had learned it.

Even Wang Daqing himself had only worked on it for more than a year, and the new geometry system was not yet perfect.

The two sat side by side at the desk, holding paper and pen to ask and answer questions.

At noon, they asked the servants to buy some food, and continued to explain geometry problems while eating.

Time passed quickly, and it was already mid-afternoon.

Xie Yan's attendant stood at the door and reminded: "Liu Lang, it's almost time to go back to the city. If you delay too long, you may not be able to close the city gate in time."

Wang Daqing said: "Why don't you stay here tonight, my dear brother? There are extra dormitories in the Imperial College. I will help you borrow one."

Xie Yan stood up and said goodbye: "Thank you for your kindness. My elder brother is still waiting at home."

Wang Daqing sent the guest downstairs again.

But he was upset when he saw off the guest in the morning.

But he was happy when he saw off the guest at this time.

When saying goodbye, Xie Yan suddenly said: "Brother Shanzhi's new geometry is derived by assuming that a straight line has multiple parallel lines. What if it is assumed that a straight line has no parallel lines?"

Wang Daqing was stunned on the spot, as if struck by lightning.

When he came to his senses, Xie Yan had already walked away.

Wang Daqing shouted at Xie Yan's back: "Thank you for your reminder, brother. No matter what results are derived, we will sign the paper together. You are the first author and I am the second author!"

Xie Yan is not good at mathematics, and it is very difficult to work with him, so he simply let Wang Daqing do the relevant research.

Lobachevsky geometry is already available, so why not work out Riemann geometry as well.

At this stage, this thing cannot win honors, but will only bring endless criticism.

It is a supporting mathematical tool for relativity.

In the next two or three months, Wang Daqing has been immersed in research, completely ignoring what is happening outside.

In the blink of an eye, it is early summer.

More and more scholars are gathering in Luoyang, and some even come from border areas.

Before the official conference started, some unofficial meetings were already being held.

These unofficial meetings were held when scholars invited their peers to participate, pooled money together to rent a conference venue, introduced their latest academic achievements, and discussed the next research direction.

Many scholars who were not invited to the official conference, if they came to Luoyang to join in the fun, their main activity was to participate in unofficial meetings.

Meng Shu was one of them.

His research direction was mathematics and astronomy. He had been a teacher in his own academy, not a public teacher in the Imperial College.

After a small meeting, Meng Shu wanted to sleep.

The content of the exchanges of those scholars was either seen in journals or they were stuck on a certain problem. A large group of people discussed for a long time, basically talking about the same old things. It would be better to read journals at home.

The second half of various small meetings tended to become tea parties for scholars, and even gradually talked about gossip news in the academic world.

A teacher from the Chengdu Imperial College said, "Have you heard? The Queen Mother and the Grand Princess will also attend the opening meeting."

Before Meng Shu could answer, the teacher from the Lanzhou Imperial College asked, "Which Grand Princess?"

"The one the late emperor loved the most."

"Are you looking for death? The Prince Consort participated in the coup, can the Grand Princess be mentioned?"

"Since the news has been released this time, the matter will definitely be over."

"It's hard to say."

"..."

Meng Shu smiled, "Don't ask around, the court has its own deep meaning in doing things."

The Grand Princess they are talking about is the youngest daughter of Emperor Dingtai, the aunt of the current little emperor.

The Prince Consort was also a young talent, but because of the forced marriage by Emperor Dingtai, his career was ruined and he could only study academics. The couple seemed to be loving and harmonious on the surface, but in fact their marriage was extremely bad. They didn't even have children after many years of marriage.

The Prince Consort used cold violence against the princess.

Before the coup, Prince Yong had no real power. While colluding with civil and military officials, he also secretly made friends with Luoyang scholars.

Because the Royal Society, in addition to scientists, also has many great scholars and artists. These people also have great influence, especially in manipulating public opinion.

The son-in-law was also won over by Prince Yong. It is estimated that the son-in-law wanted to become an official through the coup.

What happened at that time was unclear to outsiders.

We only know that Prince Yong and the son-in-law were executed together, but the eldest princess was fine. The young emperor even gave the eldest princess the "respect" badge.

For the academic community, the eldest princess is a sensitive word.

Because before the coup, the couple often held private academic gatherings, and many scholars went to their salons. At that time, the eldest princess was the dream goddess of countless scholars, and she could brag for several months if she was invited once.

A large number of scholars followed the son-in-law to rebel, especially the number of liberal arts scholars was the largest.

These people may not be proficient in coups, but they are good at creating public opinion. After Prince Yong forged the imperial edict to succeed to the throne, scholars flocked to help build momentum, saying that Prince Yong was enlightened and benevolent, and had always been known as a wise king. If he became an emperor, he could catch up with Taizu's rule.

When the Queen Mother came back with the little emperor, those scholars changed their positions in an instant, writing articles to curse Prince Yong for his wolfish ambitions, saying that they were deceived by his disguise.

Queen Mother Ye and Prime Minister Deng did not indulge him, and all scholars who sang praises for Prince Yong were labeled as rebels!

3 people were beheaded, 25 were exiled, 61 were imprisoned, and they were permanently expelled from the Royal Society.

Among them were seven scientists.

In the past three years, many scholars have been restless because they were also close to the prince consort, but they just didn't publicly support the succession of Prince Yong. They were afraid that the court would bring up the old matter again one day and treat them as rebellious remnants.

Although the prince consort was executed, the eldest princess was still alive.

Moreover, the eldest princess could be a witness and point out that they had made friends with the prince consort.

The former goddess of dreams has now become a soul-snatching messenger and a life-taker!

After discussing the eldest princess for a while, the people around Meng Shu gradually talked about Xie Yan.

"Who knows where Xie Yan came from? The sixteen-year-old Jade Scholar is too eye-catching."

"I heard that he is the son of the Tongpan of Huangzhou Prefecture."

"His damping paper is indeed a major discovery. But the damping phenomenon is very common, and he has not studied it in depth. I think it is a bit too much to give the Jade Scholar. It is not a good thing to force the growth of seedlings."

"That's right. The last sixteen-year-old Jade Scholar died young at the age of twenty. Young people should still suppress their own long-term development. It is also helpful for their own long-term development."

"From his molecular paper, we know that he is an unlearned person, and his discovery of the damping phenomenon is purely accidental. He actually said that homogeneous atoms can form molecules, and he didn't even understand the basic chemical knowledge. He said that two oxygen atoms form an oxygen molecule. Do you dare to believe this nonsense?"

"Alas, the academic atmosphere has become worse in recent years."

"..."

Meng Shu listened silently and said nothing throughout the whole process.

All those who came to participate in this informal meeting were low-level scholars who were not qualified to participate in formal meetings. They have few academic achievements, but their academic prejudices are very deep, and they especially like to rank people by seniority.

They have worked hard for half their lives, but they are only low-level bachelors.

And Xie Yan can be on the same level as them with just a damping paper, or even one level higher than some of them. How can they accept this?

What's more, Xie Yan also published a controversial molecular paper, which provides them with more topics to criticize.

Meng Shu glanced at the scholar on his left. He was in his fifties before he became a Yaoyu bachelor, and now he is in his sixties and still standing still. It would be strange if such a person could get used to Xie Yan!

"You should say less," Meng Shu couldn't listen any more, and reminded, "Xie Yan is currently living in the residence of the Minister of Industry."

As soon as this was said, this small circle was instantly quiet.

Many project grants for science scholars are allocated by the Ministry of Industry.

The Yaoyu scholar in his sixties, who had just been madly criticizing Xie Yan, asked cautiously in the blink of an eye: "Does Mr. Meng know that Xie Yan?"

Meng Shu said: "We met on the train some time ago, and the exchange was quite harmonious. He became a Jade scholar at a young age, but he was rare not to get carried away, and he was polite to others."

Another scholar in his fifties asked: "Is Xie Yan a junior of Minister Chen?"

Meng Shu said: "I don't know about this. When we got off the ship and said goodbye, he left me the address of the Minister of Works."

"Haha, the damping phenomenon can be widely used, I think it is just right for a Jade scholar." Suddenly someone changed his words.

"Yes, yes, I actually want to add a damper to the carriage."

"Since Mr. Meng knows Xie Yan, why not invite him out for a get-together? Young people may not be mature enough, but they can always come up with new ideas that will impress us."

"I agree with part of that molecular paper, and we can discuss the controversial parts further."

"..."

Meng Shu stopped talking again, and ran away under the pretext of going to the toilet.

Why am I attending such a small meeting?

It's a waste of time!