People in the Three Kingdoms: Starting from Preaching

Chapter 244 How to be a Thief
In the study of the Cai Mansion, two people were discussing with each other around a paper book. The book was actually the "Natural Classic", and it seemed to be the latest publication of Xuan Xia.

Because the Mingshi chapter of "Nature Classic" will often update new natural science results, and if you want to see these new results, you can only find a way to get the latest version of "Nature Classic".

It took them a lot of effort to get this thing from Xuanxia to Chang'an.

But for them, this is obviously worth it. After so many years, the Natural Science Church has come up with a lot of things based on Xu Chen's natural science methodology. Of course, these things are relatively simple theories at present, and many are even conjectures that lack empirical evidence. Excellent papers can still be published.

For example, Gan Shi, the alchemist who once helped Xu Chen optimize gunpowder, now proposed the theory of elements under the guidance of Xu Chen.

According to the theory of elements, everything in the world is made up of various basic elements. Various substances have different properties and can react with each other. Many things made by alchemists are actually manifestations of elemental reactions.

Now Gan Shi has made a bold statement to the public that he will discover all the basic elements and then record and summarize them one by one in a table.

However, only Xu Chen knew that this was absolutely impossible. Not only was it impossible to discover all the elements, but the periodic table could not be created with the existing level of knowledge.

Of course, even so, Xu Chen had no intention of stopping Gan Shi. Scientific exploration is the process of discovering and solving difficulties.

Achievements like these, as well as various papers on mechanics published by Hu Tao, are now gradually beginning to build a serious theoretical system. Perhaps as research deepens, there may really be a discipline of mechanical engineering in the future.

Although the world is not peaceful nowadays, the development at the academic level is quite stable. Naturally, more and more doctors are beginning to pay attention to many things in the Ming Dynasty.

Once these scholars and doctors are attracted to it, they often find it difficult to extricate themselves, because what they see is clearly a whole new world.

"I heard that the Nature Classic is getting thicker and thicker and it is not suitable to continue printing the Mingshi chapter. It seems that the Mingshi chapter will be separated into an independent journal, Nature. In the future, all new discoveries or conjectures in natural science will be published in this journal."

Cai Yong started muttering to himself as he flipped through the "Nature Classic" in his hand.

Sitting opposite him was a relative of the Han royal family named Liu Hong. Of course, in addition to this identity, Liu Hong was also a great mathematician of the time. He had made great achievements in observing celestial bodies and formulating calendars. He had once studied things related to the calendar with Cai Yong.

The two knew each other in their early years and had a close relationship. When the Natural Sutra flowed out, they were both attracted by the ideas contained in it, and thus they often discussed it together.

In fact, in comparison, Liu Hong, who was good at mathematics, had strong rational thinking, which was very consistent with the knowledge of natural science. He was more fascinated by the natural science than Cai Yong.

Hearing Cai Yong's words, Liu Hong did not take his eyes off the book at all: "This is a good thing, so that we don't have to be forced to read his natural teachings every time we read it."

Cai Yong smiled and said, "Don't you think the teachings of naturalism are very interesting? At least, they are much more interesting than those ghost paintings you have seen."

Liu Hong paused, then raised his head with an expression of disbelief.

He looked down again uncertainly, and after a while, he seemed to be more certain and resolute, so he pushed the book in front of Cai Yong and said, "Bo Ji, take a good look at these formulas. Do you really think these are ghost paintings?"

Cai Yong took a look and saw that the book was mostly filled with mathematical symbols, which gave him a headache, so he nodded.

Liu Hong just found it hard to accept: "Don't you think these formulas are beautiful?"

Cai Yong's mouth twitched suddenly. No matter how you look at it, this has nothing to do with beauty.

How can you not know whether something is beautiful or not?

As a master of calligraphy and rhythm, no one understands beauty better than myself. Those formulas are dizzying and have nothing to do with beauty.

He was about to say something when a woman came in and served them tea and dried fruits.

Cai Yong was interested, so he pointed at the book "Nature" and said, "Wenji, take a look at these formulas and tell me what you think."

Cai Yan was stunned. After looking at the expressions of the two men, she roughly knew what was going on and couldn't help but smile slightly.

After bowing to Cai Yong and Liu Hong respectively, she went over and picked up the book to read. As she read, her pretty eyebrows frowned and a look of confusion appeared on her face.

Cai Yong laughed and said, "What do you think of this formula, Wenji? Can it be like appreciating the beauty of music?"

Cai Yan smiled bitterly, did not answer, and just shook her head.

Cai Yong laughed even louder now, and looked at Liu Hong proudly: "My daughter is extremely talented, and there must be no beauty that even she cannot feel."

Liu Hong was speechless for a moment, but he had to admit that Cai Yan was indeed a talented woman, no less talented than Cai Yong, and this was not Cai Yong's nonsense. Cai Yan came to Liu Hong's rescue: "I think it's not that the formula is not beautiful, but that I can't feel it. Just like the beauty of music that I can feel, Mr. Liu may not feel it. Everyone has different preferences. Maybe my music is just like Mr. Liu's formula."

"Well said!" Liu Hong's eyes lit up, and he looked at Cai Yan with admiration: "I don't know music, just like Bo Ji didn't know mathematics. My understanding is definitely not what Bo Ji can understand."

Cai Yong was stunned for a moment, but then he started to laugh. He certainly didn't want to compete with Liu Hong, he just wanted to have fun with his friends.

At this time, Liu Hong looked at the book again and sighed: "You don't understand how simple and intuitive it is to express mathematics with symbols and formulas. It is really beautiful. Xu Chen can create a new theory of mathematics. He is really a great talent in this field. I have to admit it."

After hearing Liu Hong's words, Cai Yong looked down again, but still couldn't figure out anything.

The updated content of "Nature Classic" this time is a paper published by Xu Chen, the Prime Minister of Xuanxia and the leader of Nature. It is the Three Laws of Mechanics. It argues in great detail about the three laws of the movement of objects and proposes basic formulas of mechanics.

At this time, Liu Hong was fascinated by the formulas, but for Cai Yong, this was not his area of ​​expertise.

However, when Cai Yan heard the name Xu Chen, her expression moved slightly, and a figure suddenly appeared in her mind. He was a young man with a calm temperament but gentle words and deeds.

At this point, Liu Hong suddenly remembered something and looked at Cai Yan: "I heard from Bo Ji that Wen Ji seemed to have experienced a disaster before returning to the capital, and she also saw Xu Chen with her own eyes."

Upon hearing this, Cai Yan nodded and said, "It is true. Fortunately, my daughter was able to enter the capital safely without any danger."

Liu Hong became interested: "I have read this "Nature Sutra" for a long time, and I have been curious about Xuanxia Huangjin and Xu Chen. However, most of the relevant things I know here are inaccurate. I would like to hear from Wen Ji what the real Xuanxia Huangjin is like, and what kind of person Xu Chen is."

Cai Yong had actually heard about these things from Cai Yan a long time ago, so he smiled and said, "If Wen Ji doesn't mind, then tell me."

Cai Wenji did not refuse. After bowing to Liu Hong, she told him everything she had seen and heard in Mount Tai.

When she found out that both her and her sisters were captured by the Yellow Turbans and taken to serve the leader of the Yellow Turbans, Liu Hong was shocked.

He thought he had asked about Cai Yan's sad and shameful story. When he was about to interrupt, Cai Yan changed the subject and told him that the two sisters were safe and sound, and that the leader Xu Chen did not take advantage of the situation. This immediately surprised Liu Hong.

In fact, when faced with such things, most people will do it without any psychological burden. They can resist their desires and restrain themselves, which is actually a gentlemanly behavior.

Especially when he heard what Cai Yan said, that the leader spoke frankly about equality for all and respected women's rights, which made Liu Hong even more amazed.

Liu Hong would read "Natural Classic" every time there was an update. He could recite the ideas advocated in it by heart, and of course he was also clear about the idea that everyone is equal.

It seems that Xu Chen is not just talking nonsense, but really demands this of himself and practices it.

Cai Yan said that she witnessed the Yellow Turbans attacking powerful nobles and distributing wealth, which was obviously the implementation of the teachings of the Natural History. The behavioral logic of the Xuanxia Yellow Turbans was completely in line with the teachings.

Although this was all Cai Yan saw, it was absolutely true information, which made Liu Hong's understanding of Xuan Xia and Xu Chen's images gradually more concrete.

This also made him feel a little conflicted. The more he knew, the more he found that he couldn't seem to hate Xuan Xia and Xu Chen. However, he was obviously a relative of the Han Dynasty, and they were obviously Han Dynasty rebels. Not hating them was exactly the problem.

However, no matter how you look at it, Xuan Xia seems to be a man of benevolence and righteousness. Even in academics, he has an amazing and admirable spirit of innovation. This is truly a very unique existence.

Even Liu Hong wanted to go and see it in person. Not to mention anything else, even just sitting and discussing mathematics with Xu Chen would be enough to make him fascinated.

At this time, Cai Yong was also feeling emotional. He was straightforward and didn't have too many taboos, so he said: "Although Xu Chen is the leader of the bandits, he can be called a hero of the time in terms of career and academics. Looking at the world, I can't see anyone who can match him. If there is a chance, I really want to make friends with him."

Although Liu Hong had the same idea, he did not dare to say it out loud. For him, staying here to study banned books was already a very bold thing to do. He only dared to set foot in Cai Yong's mansion.

Hearing this, he said, "Bo Ji is naturally free to speak and act in front of me, but he needs to be cautious when interacting with outsiders."

Before Cai Yong could reply, he saw a servant from the mansion hurried in, immediately attracting their attention.

Then the servant brought them shocking news.

"Master, news just came from the palace that Grand Tutor Dong was stabbed to death!"

(End of this chapter)