Chapter 187 The power of the father-in-law is so terrifying
Chapter 187 The power of the father-in-law is so terrifying
Wang Wensu knew that His Majesty was studying his "Baojian of Arithmetic Studies", so he frantically compiled this book in the past year when he didn't have to worry about any other chores.
Now, the emperor showed Wang Wensu the results of his "study", but he found that he couldn't understand it.
It’s not that I can’t understand it at all: “Your Majesty… this seems to be arithmetic from the Western Regions?”
Wang Wensu naturally knows Arabic numerals, but there are many strange symbols in His Majesty's manuscript.
In addition, these calculations were actually written horizontally. Wang Wensu suddenly couldn't turn around. After looking at it carefully, he asked: "Your Majesty's manuscript...should be read from left to right?"
Zhu Houcong smiled and nodded.
After recognizing the Arabic numerals and looking at the numerical values before and after the calculation, Wang Wensu naturally easily understood the meaning of some mathematical symbols with his basic skills.
After all, the first few sheets of paper are all examples.
Such as the plus sign, the minus sign, the multiplication sign, the division sign, the equal sign... Maybe some of this series of mathematical symbols have already appeared in Europe, maybe some have not yet, Zhu Houcong didn't even bother to care about them.
At least he didn't see this in Wang Wensu's "Baojian of Mathematics".
All Wang Wensu's calculations are still expressed in calculation chips and some words, and they are written vertically.
Wang Wensu didn't understand why the emperor expressed it like this: "Your Majesty, these characters... are very difficult to remember. I wonder what's the beauty of writing calculations in this way?"
Since the emperor showed this to him, he naturally thought it was better, but Wang Wensu couldn't turn around for the time being.
A person has long been accustomed to the current calculation formulas. Those calculations are very close to him and are easy to remember. He is also very familiar with the use of old calculation formulas.
The other is more accustomed to the calculation method of Arabic numerals, and is well aware of how important a more systematic mathematical expression is to the development of the subject of mathematics.
So Zhu Houcong said: "I have already roughly studied this masterpiece of yours. Mr. Wang, why don't you give me some questions to test, and then see how I calculate?"
The specific calculation process is more convincing. Zhu Houcong must first make everyone in this calculation pay attention to these most basic symbols: to a certain extent, this is a change in mathematical language, like a foundation.
Wang Wensu is obsessed with mathematics and is still interested in this.
And testing the emperor, to be honest, is a bit exciting.
"Baojian of Mathematics" is actually mainly an "applied mathematics" book.
In other words, mathematics was originally summarized from specific applications. Rules, rules, standards, and ropes are the earliest mathematical tools. The decimal system, the multiplication table, the four arithmetic operations, and even fractions have already appeared in the Spring and Autumn Period.
After years of summarization, nine specific mathematical application types such as Fangtian, Corn, Difference, Shaoguang, Shanggong, Uniform Loss, Equation, Winning and Insufficiency, etc. are called the "Nine Numbers".
"Nine Chapters of Arithmetic" is based on these nine numbers as the framework. "Nine Chapters of Numbers" is also divided into nine categories with 81 questions, including Dayan, weather, field, survey, taxation, money and valley, construction, military, and market changes.
, Wang Wensu's "Baojian of Mathematics" lists various mathematical application problems, conducts research on various solutions, lists them, and adds some of his algorithms.
Zhu Houcong used to be an accountant and was not bad at mathematics, but what he needs to do now is to advance the "applied meaning" of mathematics toward the aspects of ease of learning, ease of use, and systematization.
The best person to lead this work is Wang Wensu.
If Wang Wensu is asked to come up with questions, the original questions mentioned in "A Book of Arithmetic Learning" will naturally no longer come up. However, Wang Wensu has long been in his own way, and he can still come up with several questions easily.
The three questions at the beginning were not difficult. After all, he was the emperor, so he had to save some face.
They are "Due to Total Loss of Zero" in Volume 4, "Division and Variation" in Volume 6, and "Yuantian Product" in Volume 8.
He could only read Zhu Houcong's calculations "invertedly" from the front of the imperial case. He saw that the emperor only spent a few sips of tea to finish the calculations. He picked up the piece of paper and turned it over to show him: "Is there any mistake in the calculation?
"
"...Your Majesty is truly a genius in arithmetic."
Zhu Houcong did not want to show off, he said leisurely: "Mr. Wang, you might as well come up with some questions after the twentieth volume."
If it weren't for the purpose of making him pay attention to the efficiency of new mathematical tools, Zhu Houcong would not have to do this: focus on the junior high school and high school questions, and don't focus on the elementary school questions.
Wang Wensu also became serious now. In his "Baojian of Arithmetic Studies", after twenty volumes, there are many problems that everyone in arithmetic has painstakingly studied throughout the ages, such as finding the product of a cubic circle, slow travel, concealed differential integration, and mutual calculation.
Use the principle to find the original, enter the equation into Pythagorean, and find the chord with the radial vector...
But in Zhu Houcong's eyes, these questions were nothing more than some equations of one variable, two variables, linear, quadratic, and cubic. In addition, they were also simple problems in the fields of plane or solid geometry, functions, etc., at least they did not exceed his mathematics.
level.
Seeing the emperor's pen running non-stop and quickly calculating one question after another, Wang Wensu was a little doubtful about life.
Although the types of questions are similar, even if he encounters these calculation problems, he has to use calculation chips or an abacus to fiddle with them before he can say that the results will be correct.
But judging from the emperor's algorithm, he calculated very quickly and the steps were much simpler.
Probably because... each number does not need to be written in one stroke, and most words are written in one stroke? And those symbols...
After Zhu Houcong showed him the calculation process and results of the last question, Wang Wensu's throat moved and he asked in a harsh voice: "Your Majesty, you have memorized all the calculation formulas by heart, and did you do all the calculations in your head?"
"There are calculation formulas here. The mental arithmetic part is just the simplest addition, subtraction, multiplication and division." Zhu Houcong said, "The secret lies in these calculation formulas. The numbers and symbols used are clear at a glance."
In the original calculation formula, calculations are like Bagua symbols, and each number requires several strokes to be written; and the calculation formula is recorded vertically, and the operators representing the relationship between numbers are also Chinese characters, so the efficiency of written calculation is very low.
.
For transformations in equations, complex calculations are first broken down into steps to calculate simple calculations. Zhu Houcong's efficiency is the embodiment of many mathematical ideas after mathematics has been perfected from generation to generation.
Wang Wensu was greatly shocked.
Zhu Houcong did not understand the so-called systematic ideas of algebra, geometry, and analysis in mathematics, nor did he know when the basic axiom system in mathematics was systematically sorted out, but the mathematical training he received was comparable to that of contemporary Wang Wensu.
Mathematical discussions even inspired him.
What he wants is not just one Wang Wensu, but thousands of talents with certain mathematical skills. How to make mathematics education simpler is what Zhu Houcong hopes Wang Wensu will do.
As for more advanced mathematical research, as long as the base is large, geniuses will always emerge.
Wang Wensu listened to the emperor talking about the meanings of different mathematical symbols, why the calculation formulas should be arranged in this way, and what each step of the calculation formula changes...
Suddenly I felt that I was not a math teacher, but a student.
"What do you think Mr. Wang thinks of these algorithms?"
"...Your Majesty is a scholar of heaven and earth, and I admire you greatly."
Zhu Houcong looked at him: "Mr. Wang, I am discussing with you the ingenuity of these algorithms, not to listen to your flattery. Mr. Yang Ge and others please introduce the new method. One of the major changes is the new accounting method. In the new
Under the accounting system, future land, taxes, checking accounts... there are many places where arithmetic cannot be ignored. Mr. Wang, I think this arithmetic should not be more difficult than the Four Books and Five Classics, right?"
Wang Wensu was greatly shocked when he heard this: "...Your Majesty's intention is that all the scholars in the world should learn clearly in the future?"
"I don't expect him to become a great master, but etiquette, music, archery, charioteering, calligraphy, mathematics, and arithmetic are originally one of the six arts that scholars need to know." Zhu Houcong nodded and said that he did mean this. "It's just that arithmetic has been passed down for so many years.
The arithmetic problem is longitude and latitude, so it is naturally difficult to learn. There are also laws of nature in arithmetic, just like the multiplication method. If we can find out the most commonly used and simple laws of nature in arithmetic, we will have a simpler way to learn it.
Can flexibly master most of the arithmetic problems in this "Arithmetic Guide"."
"Arithmetic... Dao?" Wang Wensu muttered to himself.
His "Baojian of Mathematics", the ideological guidance is actually the technique of solving problems. In this world, except for Confucianism, Buddhism, Taoism, etc., how can other knowledge dare to be called the great way?
"Arithmetic naturally has its own way." Zhu Houxuan took this opportunity to express his own point of view, "From my point of view, natural principles are at the top, physics, and human principles are at the bottom. This physics means that it does not change according to human will, and everything is indestructible.
Great truth. This is how it is when learning arithmetic. No matter who solves the same arithmetic problem, the result will remain the same, and the numbers will not deceive others. If you continue on the path of arithmetic, you can also get a glimpse of the laws of heaven!"
Wang Wensu was not a master of Confucianism. He did not know that he was the first person besides the consultant and fellow bachelor to hear about the three principles of "Heaven, Things, and Humans".
In his opinion at this moment, this was the emperor's recognition and encouragement for arithmetic.
Not only is it called the Great Way, but does it also mean that arithmetic will be included in the imperial examination in the future?
He understood the purpose of being left behind today, and looked at the manuscript and the calculation processes handed to him by the emperor: "Your Majesty wants me to re-compile the "Baojian of Arithmetic Studies" and recommend new numbers and new calculation formulas?"
"Any knowledge should be easy to get started with." Zhu Houcong stood up and took down a few thicker books from the nearby bookshelf, "I have studied the "Baojian of Arithmetic Science" one by one and compiled it with new calculation formulas. Mr. Wang
, what I want you to do is not to re-compile the "Baojian of Arithmetic Learning", but I hope that you can integrate these new numbers and new calculation formulas, find some of the simplest arithmetic rules, and you can learn them after writing two or three volumes of Mongolian learning.
Textbook."
Wang Wensu stared blankly at the thick stack of books. After flipping through them, he found that they were all in the emperor's handwriting.
Only then did he realize that the emperor had actually read his "Baojian of Arithmetic Studies" volume by volume, and had rewritten it stroke by stroke into what it looks like today.
It is hard to imagine how much time and ink His Majesty spent on this matter in addition to dealing with so many state affairs in the emperor's study.
Wang Wensu's eyes filled with tears and she choked with sobs and said: "I...will live up to your majesty's high expectations..."
Zhu Houcong encouraged him: "Let's rest for some time and recuperate our body before starting. If I have any enlightenment, I will write it down and give it to you. I think this arithmetic may be the foundation of the way of heaven, and the principles of all things will be separated from each other." No arithmetic classes."
Whether it's arithmetic or mathematics, Zhu Houcong doesn't care about the title.
But once the mathematical foundation is laid, physics, chemistry and many other disciplines will be able to use it as a tool in the future. Zhu Houcong is clear about this.
Now we need to popularize mathematics more so that other subjects can no longer rely solely on experience, but have the habit of quantifying everything.
Only in this way can there be a smooth path for experimentation, analysis, and progress.
When Wen Suyun and Wen Zhengming came to thank the emperor after finishing their conversation, they saw the emperor and the arithmetic priest standing in front of the desk with a pen and writing and drawing.
Hearing her voice, Wang Wensu lowered his head and did not dare to look around, but Zhu Houcong just said to her: "Go back first."
After whispering his agreement, he walked to the harem and heard His Majesty continue: "This algebra is to be included in the calculation formula first. Although I don't know what the number is yet, it can be substituted into the equation for calculation. I just looked for this first. Symbols, but after careful consideration, I feel that using hexagrams and lines instead of strokes is still too much. Do you have any other ideas?"
The sound is getting smaller and smaller.
Wen Suyun felt confused: The emperor was studying algorithms? Why did it sound like he was teaching arithmetic?
Didn’t Dad say that Wang Chongfeng is one of the few mathematicians in the world?
…
In the early spring of the second year of Jiajing, Guangdong was full of new ideas.
Just after the New Year, the sound of reading began to be heard in social studies and county schools in various places. The announcement from the Chief Envoy Si Yamen has been circulated to all counties. In May of this year, the Litong Yamen will send out examiners to conduct exams in various prefectures. The hall examination will be held uniformly, and in August the Ministry of Rites will hold another provincial examination for the deputy examination, Enke, in Guangdong.
A large number of new talents will appear in Guangdong this year, including Juzi.
The corresponding response is naturally the many new official positions in Guangdong.
After the reform, the top-down officials of the Guangdong Government Office have been in place, but there is still a shortage of a large number of service officials.
The chief envoy of Guangdong, Si Yamen, Huang Zuo, the chief official, Gui Cai, the household chief, and Zhai Luan, the chief ceremonial hall. One is busy selecting and appointing officials, one is busy compiling and reviewing scientific regulations, and the other is busy with this year's Enke.
Li's father, Zhang Ji, and Jing's father, Chen Wanyan, both worked as stewards in the hall.
Duan concubine's father, Cao Cha, was transferred from a prefect in Fujian to be the head of the Guangdong Provincial Criminal Department. And An concubine's father, Ma Yong, was transferred from the chief military officer of Jizhou to be the head of the public security department.
As for Guangdong's original prosecutor, Wang Hong, was transferred to the newly created governor position in Fujian. When he went to Fujian, one of his main tasks was to strengthen military equipment on the coastal defense road.
There are two things that people in Guangdong are hotly discussing right now.
"I heard that if the newly-produced official land is leased, we will only pay five tons of grain per year for three years as if it were our own land. Is it true or false?"
"That's right! Didn't Yang Shenzheng tell us personally?"
"Aren't you stupid? It's more cost-effective to buy it."
"You are stupid! It turns out that Guifuzun of Huizhou is deciding how much food will be paid for the miscellaneous taxes next year. I heard someone said that the bottom of the field will be counted as one piece of money, and the top of the field will be counted as one piece of money."
"Doesn't that mean we have to pay two taxes for our own fields?"
"I don't understand... but Yang Shenzheng said that the two coins will be calculated only after the fields have been counted. They are collected exclusively from high-ranking officials and wealthy households!"
"How can Mr. Guan be so good? Stop having such wishful thinking!"
"..."
Many annual offices stipulated by the imperial court are now handled by the Ministry of Household Affairs. Now the Ministry of Household Affairs has to pay money to Guangdong for procurement. Some local government expenditures are also borne by the Guangdong Household Office, and some large-scale projects are paid by the Household Office to Huangmingji Labor Service Co., Ltd.
and other private merchants, the remaining miscellaneous taxes and corvee are being compiled and reviewed, and unified into one local miscellaneous tax.
How this tax will be collected is still being discussed between the imperial court and Guangdong. Anyway, it will be after next year.
There is another thing that people are hotly discussing now.
"Pei Lizheng, are you telling the truth? Are you really going to be paid?"
"That's what Mr. Zhang told me." Li Zheng here replied, "In the past, the county used to exploit us, Li Zheng, but Mr. Zhang said that things will change in the future. I'm afraid it's better to rely on farmland to make money."
Purchasing makes money. But the head of the Industrial Department said that although the Commercial Department has not yet been established, the company license and regulations are already in place. If the purchase is contracted, the balance must be kept and verified. Employees must be paid, otherwise the license will be lost.
there is none left."
"Where's Huang Ming Ji? Is this the same?"
"The same is naturally true for Huang Ming Ji. However, I heard that Huang Ming Ji now uses Yi people for workmanship."
"Why use barbarians? Why don't you make money for us if you have money?"
"...I don't know about that."
"..."
Huang Mingji has brought back nearly 3,000 barbarians one by one from Nanyang. They are specially controlled by people, live in the same camp, and do the most labor-intensive work - repairing the Chidao in Guangdong.
Now, Zhang Tingbo, an in-law of Liang Chu's Zhang family, only heard Wei Bin say lightly: "Brother Zhang, don't worry. If Huang Mingji takes over everything, the wealthy gentry and wealthy people in Guangdong will have no way out, then how can
Okay? Not to mention that there are still a lot of purchases, you can go to the Industrial Department to submit an application for recruitment, even here at Huang Mingji Sea Trade Co., Ltd., there are also a lot of purchases."
"I see, then I can tell the shopkeepers of other companies." Zhang Tingbo laughed along with him, "This year, the sea trade house still has to build ships and buy goods?"
"It's like this. The wind was strong last year and many ships were destroyed." Wei Bin said with a smile, "Yang San and Dai Ming, who were recruited by Wang Futai last year, one went to Beijing to worship His Majesty, and the other stayed in Guangdong. Official Office
The shipyard has limited building capacity, and the Haiphong Road needs many ships. We have already asked Your Majesty if we can try privately building sea-going ships exclusively for Huang Mingji Sea Trading Company. Although the decree has not yet been issued, but
It should be possible."
Zhang Tingbo's heart suddenly swayed.
In fact, the private construction of sea-going ships has never ceased, and the Zhang family has gradually accumulated a large fleet.
But when it comes to the shape of the ship, we should try our best to avoid going overboard. If we have this "license", we can build a large ship with hundreds of materials? If all such large ships are purchased, a large ship will cost one thousand taels of silver.
Wei Bin stopped talking and said: "The situation is overwhelming. Since Brother Zhang is well aware of the wind direction on the sea, you, the leader of the Guangzhou line, will have to work harder. The crew and workers of the sea trade company will not hire foreigners. Now what is the matter?
Although the determination of taxes has not yet been determined, it is ultimately related to the fields and people. There are still so many hidden fields and hidden people, which is harmful rather than beneficial. Those who know the current affairs are heroes, but those who keep their eyes only on the fields are no different from fools.
?”
Procurement by various agencies is creating countless huge opportunities in Guangdong and requires a lot of manpower. How Guangdong's real population is balanced between agriculture and industry and commerce is being adjusted through new rules.
Sun Jiao, who went south to supervise the reform of the Guangdong government offices, is now a little embarrassed.
"Congratulations to Mr. Jiu Feng, you are going strong!" Liang Chu looked at him with a funny face, "This good news must be reported to His Majesty."
"..." Sun Jiao was actually doing nothing in Guangdong and was just avoiding the limelight. Who knew that he would avoid problems if he avoided the limelight? "Don't make fun of Mr. Liang."
"This is a good sign!" Liang Chu said seriously, "Perhaps when the good news comes to Beijing, the good news about the Queen will also come soon."
Sun Jiao was very confused and distressed.
To be honest, I can't bear to let the new "bed-warming concubine" in Guangdong abandon this child, and I can't bear to let him live happily even at such an old age.
I also feel a little proud in my heart.
But his daughter, the queen, was originally a "daughter born in old age". Now that the good news that her daughter has not yet been conceived has reached Guangdong, he, the head of the state, actually wants to give her a younger brother or younger sister in Guangdong. What does this mean?
He did not take the initiative to report, but the news quickly reached Zhu Houcong through Jin Yiwei.
Zhu Houcong was stunned: Isn't he already seventy years old? The power of the father-in-law is so terrifying!