"What kind of lottery did you win? I've been very busy lately," Dean Qin also sat on the sofa and said with a smile, "Which of your eyes can tell that I'm doing well? I've lost a few pounds, okay?"
Just when Dean Qin was wondering why Old Tang came to visit him, Old Tang, who had finished his cup of tea, picked up the teapot and refilled a cup for himself, and suddenly changed the subject and said.
"Now the world of mathematics is standing at the crossroads leading to the future. Everything in the future is a new world that no one has ever seen. I propose that we organize a group of potential scholars to jointly compile a book on algebraic geometry. unifying theory, and its future development, and passing it on."
"… I will think about it."
"...The birth of the Bourbaki school is inseparable from the origin of "Principles of Mathematics". From their development process, we can learn a lot worth learning."
To be honest, faced with such a situation, Deligne didn't know which side he should be surprised by.
Given Academician Lu's current status in Chinese academic circles, such a big boss would be treated with great courtesy even if he were the leader of the Ministry of Education, let alone a dean.
Although the first moment he saw Lu Zhou's paper on the grand unified theory, he had a feeling that the standard conjecture might be just a step away, but he still did not expect that this day would come so soon.
Professor Sarnak looked a little unnaturally embarrassed and coughed dryly.
It would be fine if it was well written.
It's not because Valentine's Day or Christmas is coming, but because of the large number of foreign scholars staying here.
"Old Tang, just say what you want to say. If you play riddles with me like this, I may not be able to guess it..."
Maybe he no longer cares about this influence.
Seeing the hesitant expression on his face, Old Tang continued speaking seriously.
In the past few days, almost all hotels near Jinling University have been fully booked.
Dean Qin: "...How could I not have heard of it? What you are asking is too embarrassing."
Upon hearing this, Deligne glanced at him and asked sharply.
"Don't think about it. The older you get, the more you are nagging. You always look forward and backward about everything. You were not like this before." Tang Zhiwei patted his thighs and stood up from the sofa. Tang Zhiwei continued, "Lu I'll go talk to the academicians."
He felt that Old Tang was going to say something, so he gave up the topic to him.
He picked up the tea cup and took a sip. After a moment of pause, Old Tang continued with an emotional tone.
The man was not yet thirty years old.
However, although Old Tang was an ordinary professor before he retired, and he was still a relatively honest and unflexible kind, Dean Qin did not dare to disrespect him.
Just like the Principles of Mathematics of the Bourbaki school.
Although there was some dispute between the two about the time when this day came, they reached a consensus on the latter matter.
At the same time, the dean’s office of Jinling University’s School of Mathematics.
"Yes..." Looking at the undergraduates who were walking along the tree-lined paths, Professor Sarnak couldn't help showing an envious expression, "... Let them have Professor Lu all to themselves. It's really a shame." It’s so enviable.”
Old Tang smiled and said, "Oh? Then I have to thank you for being so busy and still having time to chat with this bad old man like me."
It can be said that the book "Principles of Mathematics" has almost run through the past and present of the mainstream schools of mathematics in Europe from the Göttingen School to today.
After having dinner in the cafeteria, the two old men took a walk along the tree-lined path leading to the observatory.
Dean Qin: "Learning is like sailing against the current. If you don't advance, you will retreat. It's normal."
As the most famous work of the Bourbaki school, "Principles of Mathematics" was jointly compiled by Weil, Didonne, Cartan, Xuehuali and many other scholars. It has a total of about forty volumes and has been published since the 1930s. It is said that It has not been updated today, and is still being added.
After saying this, Old Tang stopped talking and leaned on the sofa, drinking tea and quietly waiting for Dean Qin's reply.
"The Mathematics Department of Jinling University has developed to this day, and its influence is no longer what it was back then. Even Yanda and Aurora do not dare to underestimate us when it comes to our international influence. But haven't you noticed? Even if it comes to Now, we don’t really have a school of thought.”
After thinking for a while, Professor Sarnak suddenly spoke.
Deligne shook his head and said.
Upon hearing these words, Dean Qin was slightly stunned.
This time, Dean Qin was silent for a long time.
"Old Tang, what kind of wind has brought you here? Please sit down quickly. Come and shake hands."
"Does it take ten years?"
"No... that person is an exception. I think all problems solved by him should be discussed separately."
He didn't speak until the mist on the teacup completely dissipated.
And, some questions about standard conjectures.
Putting down the tea cup, Professor Tang looked at him and said solemnly: "I want to ask you something."
"Huh, I didn't see that."
"... It should still be necessary. The training of a scholar is a long cycle, and stabilizing the status of a school requires the efforts of countless generations of scholars. Ten years is only a conservative estimate, and it may take twenty years or even longer. indefinite."
“Knowledge lies not only in creation, but also in inheritance.”
But for the future of Chinese mathematics, he decided to make an exception.
Professor Sarnak smiled bitterly and said.
Jinling University campus.
"It has only troubled the mathematics community for half a century... Doesn't it seem a bit too shameless?"
"We can discuss with them to exchange a group of students for training every year."
"But it's not your fault. You also have your concerns. Many times we use old methods to solve new problems. Although it is difficult to achieve big results, we will definitely not make big mistakes."
Although he has thought about many things these days, including consolidating the huge influence that this report will bring to the Department of Mathematics of Jinling University, including the future of the Department of Mathematics of Jinling University, he has not even thought about such distant things. Thought about it.
After Lu Zhouhui taught at Jinling University, Old Tang retired from his teaching position. In the past few years, he basically spent the mornings going to the park to play Tai Chi, and the afternoons sitting in the yard playing chess and fishing with other retired old men. retirement life.
As if he thought what he said made sense, Professor Deligne nodded after thinking for a moment.
What's more, this is also a thing of great benefit to Lu Zhou himself.
"No, you misunderstood me," Professor Tang waved his hand and continued, "Some time ago, when I was bored, I looked through the history of mathematics, and I found that the origin of the Bourbaki school was the same as "Principles of Mathematics" Books are indivisible.”
Professor Deligne smiled noncommittally.
"Old Qin, speaking of which, our Jin University has been very lively recently."
Doesn't apply to him.
Dean Qin was stunned for a moment, then said with a smile: "It's quite lively, otherwise I wouldn't be so busy."
If it's not well written, wouldn't it become a joke
Strictly speaking, the twenty years from thirty to fifty are the real golden period of a scholar's academic career. Ten and twenty years is indeed a relatively conservative estimate, but that is only for general situations.
Old Tang: "Otherwise? Can we still hide from this thing?"
"...Would this be a bit too radical?"
When the topic reached this point, for different reasons, the two of them fell into silence. Deligne was thinking about the future of the Bourbaki school, and Sarnac was thinking about the future of Princeton.
Seeing Old Tang coming to visit, Dean Qin, who was sitting behind his desk, stood up with a bright face, stretched out his right hand from a distance, and greeted him with a smile.
In fact, he was not prepared.
After all, at his age, the fact that he can still keep his head clear and not become confused is all thanks to his status as a mathematician.
Professor Deligne raised his eyebrows: "Joint training plan?"
But I'm afraid he missed one point.
"I recently downloaded the paper on the Grand Unified Theory of Algebraic Geometry and read it over. I'm ashamed to say that I've only been away from my job for less than five years and I'm already almost out of touch."
Even if you are not engaged in research in the field of algebraic geometry, as long as you are a mathematician, it is impossible not to have heard of this famous book whose influence is second only to Euclid's "Elements of Geometry".
"I'll go back and mention it to the principal."
The earliest term Bourbaki was the pen name of the author of "Principles of Mathematics", referring to a group of mathematical structuralists composed mainly of French mathematicians.
"That makes sense."
Even if you don’t want to admit it, the center of the world’s mathematics community has shifted. Since the establishment of the "Future" series of journals, this trend has become more obvious.
At the scene of this report meeting, Lu Zhou, standing on the stage, took less than two hours to completely solve this problem of the century.
Of course, Old Tang didn't put on any airs with him, he just asked him to chat about some daily trivial matters.
"Yes," Old Tang sighed softly, paused, and continued, "We people will grow old one day. In fact... this day has already arrived."
But it would be a pity not to seize this historical opportunity...
In his memory, this was probably the first time that Old Tang asked him to do something in such a solemn tone.
Dean Qin smiled and said nothing.
It was obvious that he understood Professor Tang's thoughts, but Dean Qin's expression was still a little hesitant.
As for mathematics, apart from occasionally paying attention to the latest trends, he has not touched academic matters for a long time.
"I dare say that in ten years, this place will definitely become the center of mathematics in the world."
Writing a book and biography for the future of the entire mathematical community...
"… What's up?"
Not only because of their personal relationship, but also because he once took care of Academician Lu. Dean Qin had heard of it. Until now, Academician Lu would visit the elderly every New Year with gifts.
After all, the standard conjecture has guided the development trajectory of algebraic geometry for half a century. Even if it becomes history a bit too "quickly", this does not hinder its contribution to the development history of algebraic geometry. .
For three days, except for eating and sleeping, Lu Zhou hardly went anywhere. He stayed in the temporary lecture hall converted from a gymnasium all day long, answering other scholars' questions about the grand unified theory.
"What is our focus, what are our strengths, and what role do we play in the world's academic community? You may have never thought about these things."
"But the situation is different now. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! If we don't seize it, others will definitely seize it. We are not the only ones who are unwilling to lag behind. Do we have to hand over the knowledge we create to others to help us pass it on? ?”
After walking along the path for a while, Professor Sarnak suddenly spoke.
This is true in theory.
"Okay, since when have you been so polite to me?" Tang Zhiwei pushed his hand away, smiled, walked to the sofa next to him and sat down, "Look at you, you have been doing well recently, you won the lottery ?”
Dean Qin: "No matter what happens, you are always messing up the old man. Aren't I going to get better too?"
Glancing in the direction of the gymnasium, Professor Sarnak, who was walking next to him, suddenly spoke.
"Have you ever heard of Principia Mathematica?"
To be honest, he himself had no idea how much international influence Jinling University could have.
He has never asked his students to do anything in his life.
"Radical? Is there anyone who is not radical in learning? How can it be moderate?" Hearing Dean Qin's concerns, Tang Zhiwei laughed and said, "Old Qin, I'm not even confused yet, why are you getting more confused as you live? Yes. We are scholars, not officials, so we cannot believe in the golden mean."
Dean Qin frowned in confusion.
As the birthplace of Grand Unified Theory, as long as that person is determined to spread this discipline, at least in the field of algebraic geometry, scholars who come out of here will always be at the forefront of the world.