Chapter 193: Human Speech And Myth
The audience surged in like a tide.
Even the audience who felt their status was insufficient did not leave, but stood in the outer circle centered on Lin Ran, wanting to hear what else the professor had to say.
Only a diplomat specially arranged by the Downing Street side went to entertain Mikoyan and Korolev and others.
This made Lin Ran think that no matter how much London’s underground belonged to Soviet people, on the surface, this was still the position of the free world.
“Professor, your ideas coincide with ours.
Peace is embodied, not achieved by mere verbal claims. Soviet people claim to pursue peace, but they keep pressuring the whole Europe with nuclear weapons.
Professor, we look forward to you having the opportunity to teach in London in the future, or to take a position in the House of Lords. Compared to Washington, London is much better in cuisine.”
Lin Ran smiled and shook hands with the Queen, and because she mentioned English cuisine, he held back with great difficulty.
English cuisine is just like England’s moral standards, something that doesn’t really exist.
But now it’s the 1960s, and American fast food Wimpy entered England in 1954.
At this time, the blandness of English cuisine was not yet well known to the public, and American cuisine’s impression on English people was fast food.
So Elizabeth saying this was in line with the actual situation at the time.
Speaking of Wimpy, there’s also an interesting story: in the late 1960s, Wimpy refused to serve women alone after midnight, but later canceled it due to protests from women’s rights activists.
“Alright, Your Majesty the Queen, I will certainly consider it seriously. Whenever Washington no longer needs me, I will certainly consider taking a position in England seriously.” Lin Ran nodded, pretending to be serious.
Queen Elizabeth continued: “If you are willing, the Governor is also a good choice.”
Lin Ran’s consistent performance fully demonstrated his identification with his Chinese identity and his feelings for the Chinese people, so after Queen Elizabeth finished speaking, without waiting for Lin Ran to answer, Humphrey next to her already saw Lin Ran’s interest and quickly said:
“Your Majesty the Queen, the professor is America’s treasure. No matter which president takes office at the White House, they will definitely make good use of the professor.”
Lin Ran said: “Your Majesty the Queen, thank you for your appreciation.”
The English Prime Minister Harold next to him chimed in: “I also hope to have a colleague like the professor.
I and Home Secretary Henry Brooke from the Home Office talked about this over afternoon tea.
Although whether Governor or Congressman, both require British Commonwealth nationality. But after the professor retires from the White House, it can theoretically be arranged.”
Humphrey next to him, like Jenny before the interview program, would have rolled his eyes at the English people if not considering diplomatic etiquette.
At that time, the English newspapers on Fleet Street would say again that the country bumpkin from America doesn’t understand etiquette.
“Harold, the professor and America are inseparable; we are one.
I think you should go to India to dig up talents like the professor, just like you found Ramanujan in the past.
The British Empire should find its own professors on its crown jewel, rather than coveting ours.” Humphrey laughed.
Disgusting people, right? If you disgust me, I’ll disgust you back, Humphrey thought.
Saying to find from India is disgusting, not because India’s talents at this time are “world-renowned” like later, but because India has been completely free from England’s jurisdiction since 1950.
And India’s independence, India remained in the British Commonwealth as a republic through the London Declaration of 1949, which also marked the transformation of the British Commonwealth from “England-dominated” to an equal international organization.
Simply put, the British Empire turned from a sun-never-sets empire into a small island country, and the last shovelful of dirt on its grave was dug by India.
Saying in front of the Queen and Prime Minister that India is your crown jewel is like pointing at a monk and laughing at a bald donkey.
After Humphrey finished speaking, everyone present except the English people laughed very happily, without making a sound, but their smiles were as brilliant as if they had made a fortune.
The French diplomat asked:
“Professor, your dialogue with Korolev is inspiring. Paris warmly welcomes your visit. If space exploration embodies human freedom, under the shadow of the Cold War, will this freedom be constrained by politics?
For example, some countries developing their own aerospace technology would be considered related to missiles and not allowed, just like nuclear bomb research is not allowed.”
Lin Ran said: “Good question. Humanity is always so contradictory.
Freedom is the essence of human existence. The free world emphasizes freedom, but political constraints are everywhere.
Space exploration symbolizes infinite possibilities, yet it cannot completely escape the entanglements of geopolitics.
However, this is precisely the reason we persist in our belief in freedom, to transcend the current divisions.
But to achieve true freedom, I think it requires the joint efforts of the politicians present.”
The other nodded and continued to ask: “Professor, your optimism is encouraging. How do you view the Soviet Union’s true intentions? Are they sincerely pursuing peace, or do they have other plans?”
Lin Ran thought to himself, shouldn’t this be asked to politicians? I’m not an all-purpose machine.
He answered cautiously: “The Soviet Union’s motives may be complex, but the fact of our cooperation cannot be ignored.
Korolev’s speech tonight reveals a longing for human unity. As long as dialogue continues, the kindling of peace will not go out, and hope exists.”
Italian Prime Minister Aldo asked: “Professor, you mentioned postmodernism’s skepticism toward technology. Do you think space exploration will exacerbate inequality on Earth?”
Whether diplomats or administrative officers, they all communicated with Lin Ran in English.
Randolph thought for a moment and said: “Of course it will. Universe exploration is a game for a few countries; most countries lack the material foundation and talent reserves.
But I believe technology is inclusive; technological progress will ultimately benefit all humanity.
Just like the steam engine era, England tried every means to keep technology secret, but eventually the whole world entered the steam engine era.
The electrical era was the same.
I think the new era opened by space or other technologies will ultimately spread globally.
Just like my homeland successfully completed the nuclear test explosion last year; neither America nor the Soviet Union wanted to see that.
They all tried every means to stop China’s nuclear test, but in the end China succeeded.
Once technology emerges and is mastered by a few groups without spreading further, this cannot be achieved by administrative orders or the subjective will of a few individuals.”
The Indian diplomat present, after listening, was thoughtful and felt that what the professor said made too much sense.
Yes, China can, so can we; we also need to research nuclear bombs! Otherwise, we’ll only be threatened by our neighbors.
When India really has atomic bombs, it will turn the gun barrel and go threaten others.
The Indian diplomat not only felt that what the professor said made sense, but also that what Humphrey said earlier made equal sense.
With India’s huge population base, we had Ramanujan before; how can we not find talents like the professor in the future.
Aldo nodded: “Your answer is very enlightening. I hope to see more achievements benefiting all humanity in the future.”
English Lord James Pembroke, holding a cigar, said:
“Professor, your performance tonight is comparable to Churchill! But is your criticism of the Soviet Union too sharp? After all, Korolev showed a longing for peace.”
Lin Ran’s eyes were firm, his tone neither humble nor arrogant: “My criticism is just stating facts. Cooperation requires candor; avoiding problems does not help progress. I believe Soviet people can fully understand.”
Pembroke patted Lin Ran’s shoulder: “Professor, you have courage. I hope your candor brings more dialogue.”
Randolph glanced around with his peripheral vision and found that the Soviet team had already left.
He thought to himself: Soviet people were neglected but maintained dignity and restraint; perhaps true unity starts from understanding.
What no one present asked was whether the Soviet Union and America would still pursue moon landings? Joint moon landing or independent moon landing.
Because it had already been made very clear in speeches both at the White House and the Kremlin.
Both sides will continue investments in the aerospace field and execute their own moon landing programs respectively.
It’s just that for Soviet people, it’s not so urgent, because even if America succeeds in moon landing, it cannot change the fact that the first on the moon was a Soviet person.
They need to concentrate more resources on the semiconductor field and on mediating internal economic contradictions.
While America urgently needs to send an American to the moon to further consolidate the argument of American technological leadership.
“Randolph, your performance was stunning.” Seagull said.
On the first day of 1965, Lin Ran was to attend a banquet at Buckingham Palace in the evening, and at noon with the Göttingen delegations.
A total of six people, led by Seagull and Döblin, all professors from the mathematics department.
Seagull was beaming with pride; their trip was fully handled by Ten Downing Street, and his Göttingen colleagues were very envious that he had a student like Lin Ran.
Lin Ran nodded: “Professor, it’s all thanks to your guidance during my time at Göttingen.
If you hadn’t laid a solid foundation for me, I wouldn’t have such profound attainments to complete such an astonishing task.”
Döblin had doubted before whether Randolph had really studied at Göttingen.
Because there were similar rumors locally in Göttingen that Lin Ran hadn’t stayed at Göttingen at all, but had fabricated an origin.
He wouldn’t ask Seagull; question Seagull? If Lin Ran really wasn’t, what good would it do for Göttingen?
Döblin’s suspicion was purely out of curiosity, curiosity about the truth behind it.
But after seeing it with his own eyes this time, Döblin no longer had such doubts.
Because Lin Ran’s German was very standard, with a slight northern German accent, which is standard German that cannot be practiced without staying in Göttingen.
Göttingen is located in Lower Saxony, Germany, belonging to the northern German dialect area, but because Göttingen is a famous university town, it has always attracted students and scholars from all over Germany and the world.
This diversified language environment has made the local German accent influenced to a certain degree of standardization, reducing obvious dialect features and tending more toward standard German.
And before World War II, Döblin also knew a few international students from China; these students from China, though learning standard German, had obvious traces of Chinese accents.
Rumors can deceive, Seagull’s words might be false, but accents won’t.
Unfortunately, Döblin didn’t realize that there exists a monster like Lin Ran who can even deceive with accents.
Döblin asked: “Professor, Göttingen sincerely invites you back to Göttingen for a lecture; Göttingen has waited too long.”
Lin Ran nodded: “Of course, my honor.”
Regarding the Göttingen lecture, he was supposed to go before coming to London, but it was canceled due to Korolev’s sudden appearance.
This time, after the Berlin side learned Lin Ran was coming to London, given Lin Ran’s completely different status and fame, they extended a warm invitation.
First, West Berlin directly communicated with Washington, repeatedly ensuring no accidents, with the highest level of security provided throughout.
After the White House assessed, they believed that since they had just cooperated, the Kremlin wouldn’t risk worldwide condemnation to act against a scientist like Lin Ran, so they agreed.
Then West Berlin’s Federal President Erhard personally called Lin Ran to invite him to Germany.
Finally, Döblin invited in person as the head of the mathematics department of the alma mater.
So actually, when Erhard invited, Lin Ran had already agreed.
Seagull glanced at Döblin, the subtext being: See, I have face. Yesterday the French diplomat invited, the Italian Prime Minister invited, but Lin Ran is only coming to West Germany, to Göttingen.
Isn’t it because of my face!
Döblin smiled: “Professor, what is the theme of your lecture in Göttingen this time? What specific day, so we can arrange in advance.
Because it’s now holiday, we need to communicate in advance with professors and PhDs in related research fields to let them prepare.”
Lin Ran said: “What I settled with Erhard is January 5 to January 10, six days in Germany.
I plan to spend all six days in Göttingen.”
Originally it was first to West Berlin, then to Göttingen, but Lin Ran changed his mind and planned to spend all six days in Göttingen.
“I think my alma mater nurtured me, but I haven’t done anything for my alma mater.
At last month’s New York Mathematicians’ Gala, I said I would complete the proof of the Twin Prime Conjecture in one year.
There will definitely be many things this year; I may not have continuous time to do this.
As the ancient Chinese saying goes, seize the day rather than choose a day.
I want to use these six days, on site at the University of Göttingen, to complete the proof of the Twin Prime Conjecture.
Hilbert of the University of Göttingen proposed the problem of the century in 1900, which included the Twin Prime Conjecture.
As a talent nurtured by Göttingen, I return to Göttingen and solve the predecessor’s problem on site; how is this not a kind of inheritance of the Göttingen school.
Six days all reserved for Göttingen, proving the Twin Prime Conjecture on site.
Göttingen is also the center of number theory research; I want to add another glory to Göttingen’s number theory research.”
The six professors from the University of Göttingen’s mathematics department present, including Seagull and Döblin, looked at each other, feeling not like they were listening to someone speak, but listening to a myth.
That’s all for today; Crow has to catch the train today. Resting for a day isn’t too much, right!
