The Shadow of Great Britain

509: Chapter 269: The Mathematical Needs of Soldiers (4K8)_3 509: Chapter 269: The Mathematical Needs of Soldiers (4K8)_3 But I’ve always kept an eye on the latest scientific advancements.

The paper you co-authored with Mr.

Faraday is definitely of high value in the field of electromagnetism.

I could even say that if Faraday’s publication of “On Electromagnetic Induction” was the opening act of this new field, then your “On Faraday’s Lines of Force” and “On the Three Rules of Electromagnetism” are the first two exhibits displayed after the curtain was raised.

Now, when researchers in electromagnetism refer to the Three Rules, they cite them directly as: Ampere’s Rule, Faraday’s Rule, and Hastings’s Rule.

Although your research achievements cannot yet be compared with the former two, just the fact that your name is mentioned alongside theirs means there is no problem in calling you an authority on electromagnetism.

At the very least, I think you shouldn’t be stumped by an apprentice’s questions.

If you’re truly not holding back from an apprentice, then I can only think you’re being modest.”

“Modest?”

Arthur heard this word and couldn’t help but take a puff of his cigarette.

He wanted to adjust his black-framed glasses, but after patting around for a while, he realized he didn’t have such an accessory, so he could only gently shake his head and say, “I think the apprentices should seek someone more skilled.

It’s really not modesty.

How did a history graduate from the University of London end up at the Royal Society?”

Regardless of what Arthur said, Louis simply wouldn’t believe him.

Not only did he disbelieve, but he even wanted to ask Arthur a few questions about electromagnetism.

Seeing that he persisted, Arthur could only divert his attention with a topic Louis would find more intriguing.

Arthur asked, “You just mentioned that Napoleon was once elected a member of the French Academy of Sciences?

Was his membership genuine, or did the other members elect him under political pressure?”

When Louis heard this, he immediately forgot all about electromagnetism.

The Scotland Yard police secretary who was also a Swiss military academy graduate and French artillery commander immediately set up his stance and began fervently defending his uncle.

“I know that many people have had their doubts about this.

But I must stress that most of the achievements of my uncle were the result of his own hard work.

It’s just that his military achievements were so dazzling that they overshadowed his talents in other areas.

In fact, in 1784, when my uncle was studying at the Brienne-le-Chateau military school, he had already displayed his mathematical talent and ranked among the very top in the entire school.

He even participated in the mathematical exams organized by Laplace, and his talent even received direct praise from Laplace himself.

Later, my uncle went on to study artillery command at the Paris military school.

As everyone knows, without a good understanding of mathematics—being unable to calculate range, angles—one can’t correct trajectories, and naturally cannot become an excellent artillery commander.

And just how excellent my uncle was in artillery command, I need not elaborate further.

When he was on his Egyptian campaign, he even took time from the busy war to personally participate in the measurement of the Egyptian pyramids and discovered that the ratio of the pyramid’s height to its perimeter is approximately the value of pi.

He later became interested in the periodic floods of the Nile River and tried to find a pattern.

But since he returned to his country before long, that task came to naught.

Moreover, like you, he had formulas and theorems named after him: the Napoleon function, Napoleon equation, and Napoleon’s theorem.

Speaking of which, I can let you in on a secret.

Do you know why my uncle always liked to bring along a bunch of scientists on his campaigns?”

Arthur followed the flow and asked, “I’m indeed curious about that.

Do you know why?”

Louis, with a secretive tone, whispered, “Because he was always trying to use mathematical methods to analyze the possible outcomes of wars.

He wanted to establish a complex mathematical model based on factors such as his and the enemy’s troop strength, equipment, supply, terrain, and climate, and to calculate his odds of winning using probability theory.

Sadly, he ultimately did not succeed.

The bitter fruit of failure was reflected in the campaign against Russia where he failed to consider the Russian scorched-earth tactics and the severity of the Russian winter.

This led to his otherwise perfectly calculated plans to fail and resulted in severe losses.”

Arthur, thoughtful, said, “Now that you mention it, I suddenly understand why the Duke of Wellington previously did not skimp on investing in Babbage’s difference engine.

It seems that great commanders have a mad need for improving mathematical calculations.

Maybe the Duke had the same idea as Napoleon.”

Louis was taken aback and said, “Babbage’s difference engine?

What is that?”

Arthur shook his head slightly and said, “It’s best left unmentioned; it’s a veritable black hole for money.

Poor Mr.

Babbage has been ruined by it.

With his talents, if he hadn’t devoted himself entirely to the difference engine, he might have already achieved many world-shattering accomplishments by now.”

Just as Arthur spoke, he suddenly heard the client sitting beside him at the shoe-shine stand speak up, “Sir, you are perhaps being too pessimistic.

Although Mr.

Babbage’s research has indeed encountered difficulties, I believe that as long as the Cabinet continues to invest in him, he will eventually succeed.

Once that device is made, it will exponentially increase the army’s logistic support and resource allocation capabilities.

The Cabinet should continue to fund him—they are being far too penny-pinching at the moment.”