Later, the ancient bream people improved on this basis and invented ten symbols to express the numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 0, which became the basis for counting.

Around 700 years ago, the Arabs conquered the Punjab region and were surprised to find that the conquered areas were more advanced in mathematics than they were. So try to absorb the numbers.

In 771, mathematicians from northern India were captured in Baghdad, Arabia, and forced to teach the natives new mathematical symbols and systems, as well as the Indian method of arithmetic.

Because of the simplicity and convenience of Indian numerals and Indian notation, which far outperformed other calculations, Arab scholars were willing to learn these advanced knowledge, and merchants were happy to use this method to do business.

Later, the Arabs introduced this figure to Spain. In the 10th century, it was transmitted to the rest of Europe by Pope Gerbert Aurillac.

Around 1200 AD, European scholars formally adopted these symbols and systems.

By the 13th century, under the initiative of the mathematician Fibonacci of Pisa, Italy, ordinary Europeans also began to adopt Arabic numerals, and by the 15th century this phenomenon was quite common.

Zhao Longji also expressed interest, and Xiang Yan was not easy to explain when asked, so he had to say that he didn't know much about it, and these were all seen in some ancient books.

Wait until you've talked about it about the same.

Xiang Yan finally got down to business.

That is to say, the ultimate purpose of Arabic numerals:

Reform of the Academy System!

"And if we want to implement this system throughout the country, if we want to use Arabic numerals for bookkeeping and accounting, whether it is the private sector or the government, it will inevitably involve the reform of the college system!"

"And it's not just a reform of mathematics."

"It's a whole all-round reform aimed at the needs of the imperial court!"

"Oh?" Zhao Longji was already a little moved by Xiang Yan's words, and asked, "What do you say?" ”

Xiang Yan replied:

"Your Majesty, what is the purpose of studying?"

"Is it true that becoming a person who is useful to the court and a person who is needed by the court is the ultimate goal of a scholar?"

"In that case, then we need to consider what kind of people the court needs?"

"Under the Ministry of Officials, there are Divisions of Officials, Divisions of Seals, Divisions of Honors, and Examination Divisions, which are in charge of the appointment and dismissal of officials under heaven, examinations, promotions, awards, transfers and other affairs."

Similar to today's Organization Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China.

"Then it can be concluded from this that what the officials need is a traditional reader who reads the Four Books and the Five Classics."

"Therefore, although the college system needs to be reformed, it is not a deletion!"

"There is a certain degree of retention of the existing academies."

After saying this, Xiang Yan deliberately stopped, gave Zhao Longji time to digest, and then continued.

"The Ministry of Households, which is the organ in charge of household registration and finance, is in charge of land endowment, customs duties, centigold, public bonds, currency and banks, etc."

"Therefore, it can be concluded from the function that what the household department needs is a talent in mathematics!"

"That's what I just said, people who need to go through systematic learning and become proficient in Arabic numeral arithmetic systems."

"Are those who read the Four Books and the Five Classics capable of doing this?"

"I don't have the ability to know!"

"Therefore, we want to add a mathematics department to the existing college to meet the needs of the household department."

"Or open a separate school of mathematics!"

"To take charge of the cultivation of talents required by the household department!"

After speaking, the household department said the etiquette department.

"The Ministry of Rites, the five rites of Kaoji, Jia, military, guest, and fierce; Manage the affairs of the national schools, the imperial examinations, and the affairs of the vassal and foreign countries. ”

"In this regard, the existing seowon can also perform its functions for the time being, and it can be temporarily immobilized."

The Ministry of Rites was followed by the Ministry of War.

"The Ministry of War is in charge of the selection of military attachés and military registrations, ordnance, military orders, etc. Originated from the Five Soldiers of the Three Kingdoms and Wei. ”

"From the functions, it can be concluded that what this department needs is a military attaché and a person who can fight."

"Is this what those who read Spring and Autumn can do?"

"I don't have the ability to know."

"Can a civilian officer manage the selection of military attachés? He didn't understand. ”

"If you let someone who reads benevolence, righteousness, etiquette, wisdom and faith lead the troops, will you be able to win the battle?"

"I can't fight, if I go on like this, I will lose Mongolia, Mongolia will lose to the Turks, and the Turks will lose to Rouran, and no one will lose anymore, and I don't want my face!"

"So what do we need people to read?"

"That's naturally a reader who reads books like Sun Tzu's Art of War."

"Therefore, we need to add a section of the art of war to the existing academy."

"Or set up a special military academy."

"To be in charge of the training of personnel needed by the Ministry of War."

And then down is the Criminal Department.

"The Ministry of Criminal Justice, the agency in charge of the national penal decree and the examination of criminal names."

"From the function, it can be concluded that this department needs people who are proficient in the law."

"Can those who read the Four Books and the Five Classics be able to do this?"

"Even if a person is convicted of stealing, he will be able to understand the sentence stipulated in the Great Zhou Law?"

"I don't understand, do I?"

"Therefore, what this department needs is talents who can not only memorize the laws of the Great Zhou Dynasty backwards, but also understand why the laws of the Great Zhou are the way they formulate the deep principles of sentencing."

"Therefore, we need to add a criminal law department to the existing college."

"Or set up a separate penal academy."

"It is provided by the training of talents required by the Criminal Department."

Finally, there is the Ministry of Works.

"The Ministry of Industry, as the organ in charge of construction projects, was the main repair, work, salt pond, and garden in the Later Han Dynasty. After the Western Jin Dynasty, Cao Zhangtuntian was placed in the field, and there was a ministry in charge of the project, and the water department was in charge of navigation and water conservancy. He is in charge of various projects, craftsmen, tuntian, and water conservancy. ”

"From the functions, it can be concluded that what this department needs is talents in engineering, agriculture, and water conservancy."

"Is this what those who are the ones who are the ones who do it every day can do?"

"You still don't have the ability to know!"

"Can you make it possible for those who read the Four Books and the Five Classics to build a garden?"

"It's hard work to get them to fix a toilet!"

"Do they understand?"

"They don't even know how long the seed needs to get to the ground!"

"Do they understand this water conservancy?"

"Without a foundation in mechanics and engineering, we don't talk about whether we can build it or not, and even if it is built, who dares to use it, what if it collapses one day, and how many people will die?"

"Therefore, we need to add an engineering department to the existing college."

"Or set up a separate engineering school."

"It is provided by being specifically responsible for the training of talents required by the Ministry of Industry."

After saying the six parts, Zhao Longji suddenly felt quite reasonable!

And Xiang Yan talked in the middle, and lost respect between words, and Zhao Longji did not blame.

On the contrary, with Xiang Yan, he prefers this kind of open talk between relatives and friends.

Again, that's the same sentence.

He treated Xiang Yan as his own nephew!