Lazar Cano was a name Joseph had heard of before, but not in history class – after all, Joseph had learned history from a physical education teacher in his previous life. In fact, Joseph first heard his name from his math and physics teachers.

The math teacher mentioned him when he mentioned the concept of "perfect quadrilateral", but he didn't say much more. When the physics teacher was talking about thermodynamics, he mentioned another Kano - Sadie Kano, and thus mentioned that Sadie Kano's father was a mathematician and military strategist, and his nephew was the president of France. (referring to Marie François Sadi Canot, the third president of the Second Republic).

Later, Joseph also saw Lazar Carnot in a film about the French Revolution. In that film, Lazar Cano is an important member of the cabal that opposes Robespierre. And he was also the only one in this group who openly opposed Robespierre. Strangely, Robespierre, the killer, never sent him to the guillotine, not even the idea of sending him to the guillotine. In that movie, when Carnot and others guillotined Robespierre, the newly established government almost cut Carnot with ease. Until a man said, "Cut Kano, who will organize an army for us?" ”

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

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

During this time, there were only three people who could stand like this. Two of them are famous chameleons, and they stand tall by observing words and seeing the wind and steering the rudder.

But Lazar was not, he had always been an unpleasant republican. When Robespierre was in power, he openly contradicted Robespierre, and when Napoleon was emperor, he publicly spoke against the monarchy. Neither Robespierre nor Napoleon actually liked him, but they had to rely on him. (The Directory expelled him for a time, and as a result, the logistics of the army was immediately in disarray) because the entire French army was organized in his hands. It is even said that without Carnot's efforts, there would not have been the army that swept across Europe under Napoleon. In a sense, Lazar Carnot is the father of the modern French army.

Kano also studied geometry, and at this time there was free time, and the two of them chatted about some mathematical problems. After this conversation, Joseph discovered that Kano had actually fallen into the trap he had dug for Marat.

"Monsieur Bonaparte, do you have any new ideas for the 'four-color problem' lately?" Kano asked.

"Huh? The problem? Joseph was taken aback, for he had not thought about it at all since he had asked that question. Because he knows that although this problem can be proven, its proof process is so complicated and cumbersome that it is not possible for humans to complete it at all. (The argument for this question is done by a computer.) In the process of proofing, the computer completes 10 billion judgments. Now Kano suddenly asked this question, which surprised him.

"I had a little bit of an idea, but when I was moving forward, I had a big problem, and then there was no progress at all." Joseph replied, "Otherwise, I'll write my dissertation and get the prize." You know, bread was surprisingly expensive some time ago. ”

"I also had a little bit of an idea, but it was the same, I couldn't go on at the beginning. That's what I thought...... "Kano said, reaching out to dip water from his teacup and drawing it on the coffee table.

Joseph took a general look at it, and Carnot's idea was actually not bad, and he believed that the essence of the problem was that it was impossible to construct five or more regions connected by pairs on a plane or a sphere. But then he ran into an unsolvable problem: there were too many configuration cases to solve one by one.

"That's pretty much what I thought." "But I have another idea......

Joseph then pulled the concept of "reducibility" as well, talked about it for a long time, and then said, "But...... There are still too many configurations to count, let alone prove. I feel that if I were to prove it one configuration after another, it would be almost like trying to dig up the Alps with a hoe and a hoe. ”

The two of them laughed together. They also understand that this problem will definitely not be solved in a short period of time. I stopped talking about it and moved on to something else.

During the chat, Joseph learned that Kano was of civilian origin, had graduated from military school and joined the army ten years ago, where he received the rank of lieutenant and is now a captain.

It is not easy to become a lieutenant as soon as you graduate from military school. The average military academy graduate, when he joins the army, is at most a second lieutenant. In particular, it can be seen how outstanding Kano's performance in the military academy is. More than a decade later, however, he was only promoted to the rank of lieutenant, from lieutenant to captain.

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

"Nowadays, the National Assembly is quite uneasy about the army, especially for the aristocratic officers. At this time, a capable civilian officer is particularly valuable. Joseph thought.

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

Kano stood up, bid farewell to Joseph, and went out with the servant. Joseph stayed alone in the side hall, drinking tea and waiting.

But this time he didn't have to wait long. A short time later, servants came and invited him to the Marquis de Lafayette.

Joseph stood up, straightened his clothes again, and followed the servant through a corridor into the formal drawing room.

The Marquis de Lafayette's parlor was not as large as the Duke of Orleans, so large that it was almost enough for a ball. His living room is the same size as the side hall, which is actually not much larger than the living room of ordinary people, and there is no too elaborate decoration, and it looks quite civilian. I just don't know if it's always been this way or if it's done on purpose.

Lafayette was also talking to Kano at this time, and when he saw Joseph enter, he stood up and walked up to greet him. When Joseph sat down, he smiled at Joseph and said, "Monsieur Bonaparte, I have invited you here this time because I hope to get your help in one matter. ”

According to Lafayette, he noted Joseph's performance when he formed the National Guard in the neighborhood. Many of his friends had mentioned him to him, and everyone thought that Joseph was very talented in organizing and training the army. (Joseph: How did I not know myself?) Today, the situation facing France is still very precarious, and the military has become more and more important as an important force for maintaining stability in France. Therefore, he hoped that Joseph would stand up for his country and help him train the army.

Joseph instinctively wanted Lafayette to ask for another master, he said that he was not modest, but although he was wearing a military uniform, he had not received a military education, in fact, he was just a technician in mathematics, how could he take on such a heavy responsibility?

Lafayette, however, said that the National Assembly had already decided, and it was you. And it's not about letting you pick up the lead alone. The person in charge of this is Lazar Kano, and you are only his deputy. And Kano also said that just now he talked to you for a long time, and found that you are very good at military research, many ideas, very reasonable, very inspiring. When he accepted the assignment just now, he made a request, that is, he wanted you to help him. Wouldn't you like to contribute to France?

At this point, Joseph has nothing more to say. He feared that if he refused, he would become the enemy of the rightful Lafayette. He wanted to recite two lines of poetry, but suddenly found that the plainness and rhyme of these two lines were wrong when translated into French, so he suppressed the magic surging in his heart and replied, "I am willing to serve France." ”

After leaving Lafayette's mansion, Joseph was thinking about the right decision today. Now Lafayette is indeed in power, but with his little knowledge of history, he also knows that Lafayette is not the protagonist of this era, he is just a supporting role in this drama of "you sing and I will go on stage". Now that he has injured his thief ship like this, is it right?

But many years later, looking back, Joseph lamented that tonight's actions were too correct, because he followed Lazar Cano on a path to becoming an indispensable "technocrat". After that, whoever comes to power needs them, and they can't do without them. This is also the reason why in the original history, Lazar Cano did not die when he jumped to death. And Joseph, who is essentially a coward, will not love death as much as Lazar, and his situation is naturally safer.