Chapter 481: The Clown Was Actually Me

Counting Rods!

What is this?

This is the crystallization of the high intelligence of the Huaxia people, whose entire culture has a long and profound history, in the field of mathematics!

I must mention this separately here.

Some people ask, why has Liu Zheng, having transmigrated back for so long, not even bothered with Arabic numerals, yet dares to try and build a database?

It is very simple.

In fact, in terms of historical significance, precision, and the advancement of algorithms, the Counting Rods in Chinese history are not inferior to Arabic numerals! This is because Chinese Counting Rods achieved a Decimal System thousands of years ago!

The ancient Chinese decimal Counting Rods notation was a great creation in the history of world mathematics. Comparing it with the notation systems of other ancient peoples of the world, its superiority is obvious. The ancient Rome number system lacked a positional system and only had seven basic symbols, making it quite difficult to record even slightly larger numbers. Although the ancient Maya in America understood the positional system, they used a base-20 system; the ancient Babylonians also knew the positional system, but used a base-60 system. A base-20 system requires at least 19 numerals, and a base-60 system requires 59 numerals, which makes recording and calculation very complicated, far less simple and convenient than the Decimal System, which can represent any natural number using only 9 numerals. The reason ancient Chinese mathematics achieved many outstanding accomplishments in calculation should, to a certain extent, be attributed to this Counting Rods notation that conforms to the Decimal System. Marx called the decimal notation "one of the most wonderful inventions" in his "Mathematical Manuscripts," which is certainly not an exaggeration.

In the Counting Rods notation, vertical and horizontal arrangements are used to represent unit numbers. Among them, 1-5 are represented by arranging the corresponding number of rods in vertical or horizontal ways, while 6-9 are represented by adding the corresponding rods below to the rods above. When representing multi-digit numbers, the ones place uses the vertical style, the tens place uses the horizontal style, the hundreds place uses the vertical style, the thousands place uses the horizontal style, and so on; where there is a zero, it is left blank. This notation follows the Decimal System. The origin of Counting Rods cannot be verified, but according to historical materials, it is estimated that Counting Rods appeared no later than the late Spring and Autumn period to the early Warring States period (722 BC – 221 BC).

Our ancestors understood such exquisite calculations more than two thousand years ago; it is truly magical! In this, Counting Rods played an indispensable role; it was an original and most effective calculation tool in China before the invention of the abacus. The early development and continuous progress of ancient Chinese mathematics benefited from Counting Rods.

And what is the significance of the appearance of Arabic numerals?

In fact, just like Counting Rods, they also only achieved a Decimal System!

However, it cannot be denied that the creation of the number "0" by Arabic numerals changed the landscape of the discipline of mathematics.

The invention of "0" made the decimal method complete.

Another advantage is that Arabic numerals are relatively simple to write.

But Liu Zheng believes...

Chinese Counting Rods, at least in this era, still maintain their advancement in the mathematical field of the world.

Numbers, like language, involve many political factors if one wants to overthrow them and adopt another kind. Moreover, this is also a profound discipline. It is not like many transmigration novels where I just teach people a little and they can use it. That is pure nonsense.

Numerical symbols and units of measurement are controlled by the imperial court.

You think you can just change them because you say so?

If the imperial court knew that Liangzhou Prefecture was so arrogant, they might even wipe you out.

Therefore.

Liu Zheng has never deliberately pursued Arabic numerals; he believes that in this regard, the wisdom of ancient China is completely sufficient.

And...

Even as the Industrial Revolution is about to arrive, he still insists on the concept of "Chinese learning as the foundation, Western learning for application." To completely abandon the traditional culture of the Huaxia people is to cut off one's own arms.

Combining Chinese and Western is the King's Way.

Reform should come step by step.

A meal is also eaten one bite at a time. Currently, the Longyan Dynasty has not yet integrated with the whole world, so the significance of the appearance of Arabic numerals is not great, and it might even overthrow algorithms that are already very mature.

As such, the losses would outweigh the gains.

When that day truly arrives, it will come naturally.

Until today.

When he saw this massive Counting Rods tool, he became even more firm in his own ideas!

The Counting Rods tool on this entire platform is composed of long and short sticks, but unlike ordinary Counting Rods, because there are so many of these sticks, these Counting Rods can achieve semi-mechanization. There is no need for people to arrange them one by one!

Sticks, Gears, scales, exquisite and extremely complex, it is breathtaking!

The Counting Rods on the high building are not just on this flat surface; the walls on all four sides are also covered in Counting Rods!

The creaking sound of the Operation seems to never stop.

With the addition of Mechanism Art, the Counting Rods are working at all times.

"Clang!"

"Clang..."

At this moment, it is unknown which mechanism was triggered downstairs; perhaps some information data was entered, causing these Counting Rods to begin calculating rapidly, and then slowly come to a stop...

Only then did the person guarding these Counting Rods strike the large bell beside them.

"Ding Character Horizontal Eighteen, point empty, Small Virtue!"

"Small Virtue!"

The sound echoed melodiously, and the entire academy praised it one after another.

And following the high-speed work of these Counting Rods, the name Ding Character Horizontal Eighteen began to appear on the Counting Rods on the wall, and quietly rose one position...

Not only that.

Because Liu Zheng was concerned about the Counting Rods, he also discovered that several names beside Ding Character Horizontal Eighteen had also undergone some changes...

"This, this, this..."

Although Liu Zheng is a person from later generations, he was stunned at this moment.

Jie Yu said beside him at this time: "They belong to the same Seven Kill Star Disk, whether collaborating or opposing... the change of one person naturally affects the entire Star Plate."

Amazing!

Liu Zheng took a deep breath upon hearing this.

Yes.

Although if this thing were seen by people of later generations, it would seem so simple. Some might even sneer, who couldn't calculate these things?

However...

It is not like that!

The thing Liu Zheng sees before him, with the support of Mechanism Art and through thousands of years of inheritance and perfection, is no longer simple Counting Rods! It could even be mentioned in the same breath as the most impressive analog Computer in human history, the "Antikythera Mechanism"!

No!

This thing should be even more complex than the "Antikythera Mechanism"!

Because the Antikythera Mechanism was only a tool used to calculate the orbital periods of celestial bodies. But the complex, massive Counting Rods before him can almost tally and calculate any mathematical problem in the world today!

Wisdom.

This is the wisdom of humanity.

This is the wisdom of the Huaxia people, this is the wisdom of Wangbei Academy!

For the first time, as a transmigrator, Liu Zheng began to resonate with this world; he could not help but cup his hands and sigh: "Wangbei Academy, truly lives up to its reputation! This youngster almost bombarded the life's work of thousands of predecessors, I am deeply ashamed!"

Wang Chao laughed heartily; despite being praised by Liu Zheng, a hint of pride still leaked through, yet as he thought about it, why was he bickering with this young man? He shook his head to himself: "It is not important, these things are not important..."

"Those Who Enter the World distinguish clearly between good and evil, and record their merits."

"Only those whose merits are full may become Those Who Leave the World..."

He pointed to the top of the Counting Rods and chuckled: "In three thousand years, those from the Academy who have become Transcendent are few and far between, only seven or eight. Prefect Liu, do you still dare to try?"

Liu Zheng looked over accordingly.

His entire body trembled instantly.

At the very top, the few glittering names—each one was a renowned figure in this world!

One thousand years ago, General Chang, who annihilated fifty thousand Xiongnu with eight hundred soldiers!

Five hundred years ago, the divine physician Hua Chen, who quelled a plague with his own strength!

Four hundred years ago, the greatest strategist in history, Xia Gang, who used a single scheme to plunge the seven Southern Barbarian kingdoms into chaos and secured fifty years of stability for the Longyan Dynasty!

Three hundred years ago...

Liu Zheng took a deep breath.

He finally understood today why the Academy had been able to remain in this Liangshan region for so long.

He also finally understood.

Why this Academy was called Wangbei.

They had always been looking toward Longyan.

They had always kept their hearts set on Longyan.

They had always looked up to Longyan.

They are the watchers of the north.

Likewise...

They also guarded the Longyan Dynasty and the people of Longyan in another way.

Their standard of good and evil explained everything.

He could not help but feel a sense of solemn respect and bowed deeply.

The clown...

Had actually been himself all along!