When he saw the scroll that Newton asked the palace maid to present, Zhu Shuren's first reaction was still a little curious.
Because time was tight, he didn't have time to take a closer look, so he asked directly first.
Newton then showed off energetically and slightly nervously: "These manuscripts include the graduation thesis of the students when they were at Cambridge, as well as some insights gained from studying behind closed doors in the past two years.
A few years ago, when I was a student in Cambridge, I came across a popular science book of the Ming Dynasty annotated by Mr. Huygens. It briefly introduced some conjectures on the laws of object motion, as well as an explanation of atomic theory and several possible
The presumption of basic elements, etc.——That book was written by Dean Fang.
That work had a great influence on students. In the following years, students devoted themselves to studying it and tried to prove it using mathematical methods. As a result, they accidentally obtained this new mathematical tool and asked Dean Fang to correct it."
Newton spoke very sincerely. In the first half, he answered Zhu Shuren, but in the second half, he turned to Fang Ziling with admiration and sincerely asked for advice.
Zhu Shuren couldn't help but smile when he heard this. At the same time, he handed the half-English and half-Chinese manuscript to his wife Fang Ziling without any secret.
Of course he knew what his wife had written, but apart from those natural history works, most of Fang Ziling's other insightful physical and chemical conjectures came from Zhu Shuren.
It's just that Zhu Shuren didn't want to show himself as an omniscient and omnipotent god. He already had all the power in the world, so why did he need such a false name? It was also inconvenient, so he just gave some instructions and let his subordinates write it.
On the other hand, Zhu Shuren also knew that as a high-ranking person, if he had too many academic achievements, it would be easy for future generations to conspire against him, saying that he plagiarized his subordinates' ideas, and portraying him as a hypocritical villain. In this case,
It's better not to have these controversial reputations and just do your job well.
Just like if in the 21st century, some North Korean scientists said that their country's latest and highest scientific research results were produced by a few great people, foreigners would not believe them, and would only attract evil.
In the same way, even in ancient China, if Lu Buwei authored "Lu's Spring and Autumn Annals", would anyone believe that part of the content was written by Lu Buwei himself?
Xiao Tong (Prince Zhaoming) asked people to compile "Selected Works". Would outsiders believe that there was his own academic contribution in it? Impossible, these people just need to provide resources and become investors.
It would be better for him to just provide ideas and conjectures and let the people below to study and prove it. Be more generous and the people below will still respect his kindness and will mention the Prince Regent's contribution to these scientific discoveries in detail in his memoirs. That's it.
In the future, the credibility of history books will be higher, and the living space of conspiracy theories will also be squeezed.
The few "Fang Ziling's writings" mentioned by Newton this time are actually nothing. They are mainly the conjectures of the historical "Newton's Three Laws of Motion" and the Ming Academy of Sciences' research on the atomic and molecular theory of matter in recent years.
At that time, several basic elements were found, and their preliminary characteristics and rules——
It should be noted that most of these contents can only be called "conjectures" and not laws. The three conjectures of mechanics in physics do not have rigorous mathematical arguments. Because previous mathematical tools do not support comprehensive and detailed arguments.
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When you only have basic computing tools, it would be great to discuss uniform motion or uniformly variable motion. In many junior high and high school physics textbooks, the explanation of Newton's laws of motion actually stops at this step.
But as we all know, in order to fully carry forward the perfect Newton's law of motion, you must at least demonstrate other irregular motions, that is, "motion with variable speed and acceleration."
The change process of this connecting force and the change process of speed are completely irregular. If you want to mathematically analyze the motion that is closest to the real situation in nature, it will be nonsense without calculus.
So in the final analysis, Zhu Shuren took out the special cases of Newton's three laws more than ten years ago in order to occupy the pit and to guide the scientific research and development of Ming Dynasty. This can only be regarded as a "guess."
And find several specific solutions consistent with this conjecture", but it is not considered a "general solution", so it cannot be "proven".
From middle school physics textbooks to "Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy", there is still a gap. Basically, the application of calculus in mechanics in "Big Things" must be added to be considered a complete "Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy".
Even Newton himself in history spent ten years from first proposing these conjectures to finally proving them all, and then another five or six years to write "Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy".
…
On the other side, Fang Ziling and Newton obviously didn't know what Zhu Shuren was thinking.
Fang Ziling just took Newton's manuscript and read it carefully for a while. She couldn't understand it for a while, but her expression quickly became serious.
Seeing that Fang Ziling attached great importance to it, Newton also gained the courage to talk and introduce it: "The first volume of this manuscript is my graduation thesis at Cambridge University the year before last. It proves what Mr. Huygens proposed ten years ago.
But he was unable to complete the proof of the generalized binomial theorem.
The next two volumes are a set of new mathematical tools I invented over the past year and a half based on my thinking on follow-up issues and the need for proof of the 'Fang's Three Conjectures', which I call 'calculus'. Finally
There is also a volume that I designed to prove the experimental proof of 'Fang's Three Conjectures'."
After hearing Newton finally reveal the answer to the mystery, Zhu Shuren's vague expectation was finally confirmed.
It’s calculus indeed!
Zhu Shuren felt a little ashamed of his conscience. He and his wife could only put forward conjectures and cite special cases that were consistent with the conjectures. In the history books of this time and space, this will only be written in the future. Specific and detailed mathematical arguments
and experimental demonstration, which was ultimately completed by Newton.
Who told Zhu Shuren that he didn't need to use calculus at work until he was in his thirties in his previous life? If he didn't have someone to remind him after time travel, he would have almost forgotten all the high-speed knowledge he had in college in his previous life.
This is really not a reverse cheat - to compare with others, thirty years after a person leaves college, he may still remember many of the conclusive things he learned in college. However, the specific operation and solution of advanced mathematics problems cannot be reviewed again without touching the textbook.
Once, that is probably impossible to do.
In this case, there is nothing to regret.
What's more, Newton's three laws in history can be regarded as Newton himself completing the process from conjecture to examples to mathematical demonstration in one go. Now Zhu Shuren and Fang Ziling have completed the first one or two steps respectively, but left the third step with the highest rigor to Newton, which can be regarded as
It hung up after a long time.
…
Historically, Isaac Newton chose to retreat to the countryside for two and a half years after the Great Plague broke out in London in 1665. As a result, he discovered the new subject "Calculus" in the autumn of 1667.
Then when the University of Cambridge reopened after the plague and verified his results, he was immediately awarded the position of "Lucas Professor of Mathematics".
(Note: Leibniz of Germany also invented calculus in 1672, and added many algorithms and proofs that Newton did not cover. These two people invented calculus independently, and each has its own contribution)
In this life, Newton can be regarded as "standing on the shoulders of more giants", so he accelerated his progress and completed the manuscript of calculus more than half a year ahead of schedule.
Zhu Shuren and Fang Ziling listened to each other's explanation and carefully read the contents of the manuscript.
Because Zhu Shuren had the foundation of the university in his previous life, and now he has picked it up again, he naturally reacts much faster than Fang Ziling.
Moreover, Newton's written Chinese level was not enough for him to write all his mathematical manuscripts in Chinese. The main reason was that there were many professional terms and nouns for which there were no corresponding words in Chinese at that time. Even the English words were invented by Newton himself based on etymological logic.
It was created, so it is impossible to write in Chinese.
However, these mathematical words and symbols were not a big obstacle in Zhu Shuren's eyes. After flipping through them hastily, although he could not find any mistakes, he could make demands for Newton and make a big pie.
Zhu Shuren casually pointed out: "Is this just a general integral algorithm? Its geometric equivalent essence is to find the area of a region wrapped by two function curves with irregular upper and lower edges.
But if we want to guide engineering design practice, we also need to find the volumes of two cylinders with irregular upper and lower surfaces, which requires the use of ‘double integral’. By extension,
If you want to calculate a completely irregular body, even the side walls are irregular, you should need a 'triple integral' - in short, your mathematical tool called 'calculus' still has a lot of room to dig deeper. Think about it.
By extension, only by increasing its versatility can it truly benefit mankind."
When Newton heard this, he was completely shocked.
He finally believed what Dean Fang had said modestly just now, saying, "The ideas for these conjectures were actually originally thought of by His Highness the Prince Regent himself. It's just that he has so many things to do and doesn't have time to deal with scientific research, so he just put forward an idea."
From the beginning, the specific work will be left to the people below."
Newton thought at first that Fang Ziling was giving Zhu Shuren a favor, but now he has no doubt at all.
His Royal Highness the Prince Regent can actually understand mathematical expressions and all formula symbols that are mixed in English and Chinese, and he can immediately solve problems that cannot be solved with this mathematical tool.
From this look, he is a genius who is very thoughtful and far-sighted and is suitable for pressuring his subordinates to perform tasks. Although he may not participate in research and development himself, he knows very well what human needs are.
A person who is good at asking valuable and meaningful questions is often more valuable than a person who is good at answering this question.
"Oh, Your Royal Highness the Regent, your wisdom is truly unique to me. I thought it would take you a long time to understand the value of calculus... Please forgive my superficial prejudice.
Your advice is so right. I really feel that there is still a lot of room for improvement in this tool. I will definitely work hard! I’m really ashamed. I don’t know... I wonder if the results I have presented can convince you to accept the previous ones.
Under the conditions, the Ming Dynasty merchant fleet was dispatched to export carbolic acid, concentrated sulfuric acid and sodium hydrogen arsenic acid to England.
Perhaps my achievement is indeed insignificant, but if I strengthen and improve it in the future, it should be very valuable..."
Newton actually began to worry humbly that "the mathematical results he presented were not significant enough to convince the regent of the Ming Dynasty to spend the cost, take the risk, and disrupt his original rhythm to earn this small amount of money."
Fortunately, Zhu Shuren is still thirsty for talents.
He waved his hand: "I know, no need to explain. Well, the calculus you presented will indeed be of great use in the future, but it is not perfect yet.
Are you willing to make an agreement with me to stay in the Ming Dynasty to study and work for at least ten years? During this period, I will treat you as politely as other people in the Academy of Sciences who have made outstanding contributions.
If you wish, I am willing to temporarily relax the export ban on Ming Dynasty's concentrated sulfuric acid, carbolic acid, sodium hydrogen arsenic acid and other drugs for the sake of your unparalleled mathematical genius, and send the Ming Dynasty fleet to trade in Europe to rescue people infected by the plague.
All the peoples harmed.”
Newton breathed a sigh of relief and quickly praised: "Your Highness, your kindness is like sunshine and rain, benefiting all the people in the world. I believe that the people of England will always be grateful for your kindness.
It is also an honor for me to be able to serve you temporarily."
Zhu Shuren smiled slightly and didn't answer. Although he didn't have a good impression of the British, since he could make money by selling medicine, it wasn't too shabby.
He is there to collect money, not to be an international attention fighter.
By the way, it can also win Newton's temporary allegiance, and this business will make a lot of money.
So much of the scientific research work I had done piecemeal before was not systematic yet. Each one was based on accumulated experience and direct copying of answers and flashes of inspiration.
As long as Zhu Shuren does not point out the direction, the research model of the Ming Academy of Sciences will still only remain at the level of "whims and trial and error".
Of course, this does not mean that there is no progress in the trial and error method - at least compared to the original Ming Dynasty in time and space, today's Ming Dynasty is already "willing to try and make mistakes". Originally, it was unwilling to try and invest resources.
Historically, until people like Edison, research and development was also about "inspiration plus trial and error". Otherwise, how could Edison say that success is "99% perspiration plus 1% inspiration". Then 99% perspiration is the stupidest way.
trial and error.
In fields such as biochemical and environmental materials that are not very logical, the trial and error method can also produce miracles by increasing the scale of experiments. Therefore, in the first few years of the Ming Dynasty, he focused on chemical research and development. This was after Zhu Shuren fully understood his own talents and used his strengths to avoid weaknesses.
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However, in fields such as physics and mathematics, including electricity and mechanical design, these things are very logical and perceptive. Miracles cannot be achieved by spending money and trial and error.
Until now, Newton is about to exert his power! Ming Dynasty can finally make up for the shortcomings of another leg in the field of scientific research, the path of "theory guides practice"!
Newton came just in time.
From now on, both hands must be grasped and both hands must be strong! Miracles will come from vigorous efforts, and theory will guide practice if theory guides practice.
Zhu Shuren even feels that the original "academy of sciences + research institute" model is finally not enough.
With the seed of Newton, if the Ming Dynasty in the future wants to get rid of the trial and error of vigorous efforts to produce miracles, it must introduce the modern university system that is also budding and transforming in the West, and establish Ming Dynasty's own university system!
Of course, there is no need to study those rubbish seminaries and law schools in the West, and they are not much more noble than Ming Dynasty’s own Imperial College.
If Zhu Shuren wants to learn, of course he must also transplant it based on the top Western universities with natural science genes.
Specifically, by the late 1660s, Cambridge and Leipzig were considered the first echelons and were worth copying, along with the University of Tübingen in Württemberg (where Kepler came out) and the University of Leipzig in Saxony (where Kepler came from).
Buniz is there)
Therefore, after Zhu Shuren received Newton's affirmative answer, he immediately said that he would organize the fleet to set sail as soon as possible, hoping that the British captain who brought Newton could lead the voyage.
Then, he also hoped that Newton would write more letters to his mentors and classmates who stayed in Europe, so that the pilot captain could take them back to recruit more talents from contemporary natural philosophy universities for Ming Dynasty.
Zhu Shuren also specifically pointed out that he hoped to see talents from the Cambridge, Leden, Leipzig, and Tübingen departments represented in the Ming Dynasty in the future, so that a hundred flowers could flourish.
Newton's shock was no longer enough, so he didn't question why His Royal Highness the Regent was so familiar with Europe's top universities of natural sciences. He just thought it was because of the Ming Dynasty Jinyiwei's excellent spying ability that he could feel it so clearly.
Newton racked his brains to search for his personal connections, and wrote seven or eight sincere letters overnight. He also said in the letter that the regent of the Ming Dynasty sent them a meeting gift and invited them to study and exchange in the Ming Dynasty.
Even if you don’t want to work in Ming Dynasty for the rest of your life, it doesn’t matter. It can be regarded as a life journey.
As for the meeting gifts mentioned in the letter, of course they were all paid for by Zhu Shuren. He asked the Ming Dynasty fleet, which was responsible for setting sail to sell medicine in Europe, to carry an additional batch of porcelain, jade, brocade, embroidery, gold and silver jewelry that the Ming royal family regarded as fine products.
It is used for giving gifts at that time. Anyone who receives Newton's letter can get a commemorative gift package.