Fox of France

Joseph had also heard of the name Lazar Kano, but not in history class—after all, Joseph learned history from his physical education teacher in his previous life. In fact, Joseph first heard his name from his math teacher and physics teacher.

The math teacher mentioned him when he mentioned the concept of "complete quadrilateral", but he didn't introduce him more. When the physics teacher was talking about thermodynamics, he mentioned another Kano——Sadi Kano, and it was said that Sadi Kano’s father was a mathematician and military strategist, and his nephew Been President of France. (Referring to Marie-François Sadi Cano, the third president of the Second Republic).

Later, Joseph also saw the image of Lazare Cano in a film depicting the story of the French Revolution. In that movie, Lazar Cano was a prominent member of a cabal against Robespierre. And he was the only one in this group who openly opposed Robespierre. The strange thing is that the murderer Robespierre never sent him to the guillotine, and he didn't even have the idea of ​​sending him to the guillotine. In that movie, on the contrary, after Kano and others sent Robespierre to the guillotine, the newly established government almost chopped off Kano. Until one person said: "If Kano is cut down, who will organize an army for us?"

That's all Joseph knew about Lazar Cano. In contrast, Joseph probably knew more about Lazar's unborn son who founded thermodynamics in later generations.

But those who really understand the history of the French Revolution know that Lazar Carnot was definitely a man of the day in the Revolution. He is also one of the rare people who can stay firmly in the center and hold power from the kingdom to the republic to the empire.

During this time, there are only three people who can stand like this. Two of them are famous chameleons, they survive by reading the words and the wind.

But not Lazar, who has always been an unlikable republican. When Robespierre was in power, he openly sang against Robespierre, and when Napoleon proclaimed himself emperor, he publicly spoke against the monarchy. Neither Robespierre nor Napoleon actually liked him, but they had to rely on him. (The Directorate expelled him for a time, and the logistics organization of the army immediately became a mess) because the entire French army was organized in his hands. Some people even say that without Carnot's efforts, there would be no Napoleon's army that swept across Europe. In a sense, Lazar Carnot is the father of the modern French army.

Kano also has a lot of research on geometry, and at this time they happened to be free, so the two of them chatted about some mathematical problems. After this chat, Joseph discovered that Kano also fell into the trap he dug for Mara.

"Mr. Bonaparte, do you have any new thoughts on the 'four-color problem' recently?" Kano asked.

"Ah? This question?" Joseph was taken aback, because after he asked that question, he never thought about it again. Because he knows that although this problem can be proved, its proof process is too complicated and cumbersome, so that it is not possible for human beings to complete it. (The proof of this question was done by a computer. During the proof process, the computer completed 10 billion judgments.) Now that Kano suddenly asked this question, he was surprised.

"I have a little idea, but when I was advancing, I encountered a big trouble, and then I didn't make any progress at all." Joseph replied, "Otherwise, I would write a thesis to get a prize. You know, the previous paragraph Time bread is ridiculously expensive."

"I also had a little idea, but it's the same. I couldn't proceed at the beginning. That's what I thought at the time..." Kano said as he dipped his hand into the teacup and began to draw on the coffee table.

Joseph took a general look, and Kano's idea was actually good. He believed that the essence of this problem was that it was impossible to construct five or more pairwise connected regions on a plane or a sphere. But then he encountered an unsolvable problem: there were too many configurations, and he couldn't solve them one by one.

"That's pretty much what I thought," Joseph said, "but I have another idea..."

Joseph then brought the concept of "reducibility" into consideration, talked for a long time, and then said: "But... there are still too many configurations to count, let alone prove. I It feels like if I try to prove one configuration after another, it is almost like trying to dig out the Alps one by one."

The two laughed together. They also understand that this problem will definitely not be solved in a short time. They stopped talking about this issue and turned to chatting about other things.

During the chat, Joseph learned that Kano was born as a civilian. He joined the army ten years ago after graduating from the military academy and was awarded the rank of lieutenant. Now he is a captain.

It's not easy being a lieutenant straight out of military school. Ordinary military school graduates, when they join the army, are at best second lieutenants. In particular, it can be seen how outstanding Kano's performance in the military academy is. However, more than ten years later, he was only promoted by one rank, from lieutenant to captain.

This is not because of other reasons, but because, in the French army at that time, there was a glass ceiling. Generally speaking, for a civilian officer, the lieutenant was already the ceiling. Kano was able to obtain the rank of captain, which is enough to show his excellence.

"Now the National Assembly is quite worried about the army, especially the noble officers. At this time, a capable civilian officer is extremely valuable." Joseph thought.

The two talked for a while. At this time, a servant came in and greeted them: "Mr. Carnot, the Marquis is welcome. Mr. Bonaparte, the Marquis asked me to apologize to you. I am afraid you will have to wait a little longer."

Kano stood up, said goodbye to Joseph first, and then followed the servant out. Joseph stayed alone in the side hall, drinking tea and continuing to wait.

But this time he didn't wait long. After a while, a servant came to invite him to see the Marquis of Lafayette.

Joseph stood up, arranged his clothes again, and then followed the servant through a corridor and into the formal living room.

The drawing room of the Marquis of Lafayette is not so large as that of the Duke of Orleans, which can almost hold a ball. His living room and the side hall are about the same size, not much bigger than the living room of ordinary people, and there is no too exquisite decoration, it looks quite ordinary. I just don't know if it's been like this all the time or on purpose.

Lafayette was also talking to Kano at this time, and when he saw Joseph coming in, he stood up and walked up to welcome him. After Joseph sat down, he smiled at Joseph and said, "Mr. Bonaparte, I have invited you here this time because I hope to get your help with one thing."

According to Lafayette, he noticed Joseph's behavior when he formed the National Guard in the neighborhood. Many of his friends have mentioned him to him, and everyone thinks that Joseph is very talented in organizing and training the army. (Joseph: Why don't I know?) Today, the situation facing France is still very unstable, and the army has become more and more important as an important force to maintain the stability of France. Therefore, he hoped that Joseph could stand up and serve the country and help him train the army.

Joseph instinctively wanted Lafayette to hire another expert. He said that he was not humble, but that although he was wearing a military uniform, he had no military education. In fact, he was just a math technician. What about the heavy responsibility?

Lafayette, however, said the National Assembly had already decided and it was you. And it's not about letting you do it alone. The person who is mainly responsible for this matter is Lazar Kano, and you are just his deputy. And Kano also said that he talked with you for a long time just now and found that you have a lot of research on military affairs and a lot of ideas, which are very reasonable and inspiring. When he accepted the task just now, he made a request, that is, he hopes that you can come to help him. Aren't you willing to contribute your strength to France?

Having said that, Joseph has nothing to say. He was worried that if he refused, he might become an enemy of the legitimate Lafayette. He originally wanted to read two lines of poems, but suddenly found that after these two lines were translated into French, the rhythm and rhyme were wrong, so he suppressed the magic power surging in his heart, and replied: "I am willing to serve France."

After leaving Lafayette's mansion, Joseph was thinking about gains and losses along the way, whether today's decision was right or not. Now Lafayette is indeed in power, but with his little historical knowledge, he also knows that Lafayette is not the protagonist of this era, he is just one of the big dramas of "I will go on stage after you sing" It's just a supporting role that comes and goes in a hurry. Is it right for me to hurt his thief boat like this now?

But many years later, when looking back on the past, Joseph lamented that what he did tonight was so correct, because he followed Lazar Cano and embarked on a path of becoming an indispensable "technocrat" the way. From then on, no matter who comes to power, they need them and cannot do without them. This is also the reason why in the original history, Lazar Kano did not die in such a deadly jump. And Joseph, who is essentially a coward, does not love to die like Lazar, so his situation is naturally safer.