Three years ago, Mendel Sr., who had successfully cultivated high-yielding wheat, received the 20,000 florin prize promised by Franz, freeing the family from a long period of hardship.

Old Mendel paid all the 1,700 florins he had borrowed for his wife's treatment, bought two hundred acres of land in his hometown village of Heinzedorff, hired two servants, and deposited the rest of the money in the bank, which was the fulfillment of his most simple dream of a peasant.

And his son Gregor Mendel also benefited from it.

The great biologist of the future, who was famous all over the world, gave up his intention to save money to study at the University of Olmitz, but relied on his hard work and excellent ability to surpass ordinary people, and finally entered the University of Vienna, the best university in the entire Austrian Empire, with excellent grades.

Surprisingly, however, he did not take biology as his major subject, but instead chose to major in mathematics.

Soon the future biotech boss showed a surprising talent for mathematics, much to Franz's embarrassment when he learned the news.

Despite being familiar with the life of this great scientist in history, you can't always run up to a mathematical genius and tell him solemnly, "Mathematics is not for you, biology is your real destination." And of course, don't forget to plant peas in your free time..."

After three years, when Franz met little Mendel again, the black, thin and restrained boy had grown into a little white fat man at this moment. The passage of time did not diminish his gratitude to the Grand Duke in the slightest.

After all, if the latter had not generously helped, the family would have struggled in the same poverty as in history, and his father would have accidentally broken his leg at work, leaving the family without a source of income, and would have to rely on people to survive.

Although the 20,000 florins were earned by the elder Mendel, he, like his son, was still very grateful to Franz for giving him this golden opportunity, and helped him recover the 16,000 florins that were hacked.

In addition to this, the drastic changes in Austria in almost every way over the years have made Mendel the elder have a great affection for the empire and its rulers, the Habsburgs.

"Your Highness, it's my honor to see you again!" After taking off his hat and saluting, little Mendel said sincerely.

"Hello, it is also my pleasure to meet you, Monsieur Mendel."

Franz's words flattered the other party.

"You know my name! It's such an honor! ”

After crossing over, he accepted crazy compliments from others almost every day, which made Franz accustomed to it, but he was still a little embarrassed to accept such a pivotal scientist in human history with such deference to him, so he took the opportunity to change the topic.

"You don't have to, I'm here to ask you a few questions."

Mendel withdrew his hand and said respectfully, "It is my pleasure, Archduke Franz." ”

"Can you tell me the truth what you think of this country?"

"The Austrian Empire is a great country, and although it is somewhat authoritarian and conservative, I think it has a point." Little Mendel suddenly realized that he might have said the wrong thing, and immediately changed his words.

"I'm talking about authority, yes, the authority of the empire is very strong, that's very good, I love it very much! Long live the Empire! ”

There is no doubt that he is a very strong man with a desire to survive.

It's just that what Franz didn't expect was that some ideas had become so deeply rooted in people's hearts. It seems necessary to take some measures in advance, otherwise it will be too late to do so when 1848 comes.

"I know, rest assured, this is a secret conversation, and no one will record it, let alone hold you accountable."

Franz originally wanted to appease the restless genius in front of him, but who had thought that it backfired, and at this moment little Mendel became even more panicked.

He felt that all this was too abnormal, he was obviously just a little-known college freshman, even if he had a relationship with the crown prince a few years ago, the other party would not be able to remember him.

"The only explanation is that the incident was exposed, and it is still necessary to be a man." Little Mendel thought to himself.

Franz naturally couldn't know the other party's inner activities just now, and at this time he just wanted to divert this embarrassing topic, after all, the university campus is a gathering place for all kinds of ideas, and it is not uncommon to hear anything.

"Do you like math?" Franz asked.

"I like it very much, because math is truth." Little Mendel replied without thinking.

"Good. Hold on, the Empire needs a great mathematician to open the skylight to let people know what the truth is, not the relative and uncertain theories of human making. ”

Little Mendel nodded ignorantly, although he was not quite sure what Archduke Franz was referring to, but it was certainly right to continue on the path of mathematics.

"That's good, if you have any difficulties, you can ask me for help. If you are interested, you can also go to the Royal Society of Science and communicate more with those seniors. ”

At this time, the so-called Royal Society of Austria was not so much a scientific organization as a club like a weekend salon. To put it simply, it is a platform for a group of academic leaders from all over the world to communicate together.

All of the people who can be invited are experts in a certain field at this time. Of course, there are some exceptions to the participants, who have been specially recommended by Franz, and all of them are figures who will leave their mark in the history of human science in the future.

So when he handed the invitation to the Royal Society of Science to Mendel the Younger, the latter felt very heavy.

"Yes!"

Franz just nodded politely, then turned away, and after a few steps, he turned to speak again.

"I forgot to mention that once in a while you can try to keep a few pots of green plants, such as peas."

This sentence echoed in the ears of little Mendel for a long time, and he was puzzled, why did the Grand Duke want him to raise peas?

On the carriage back to Schönbrunn Palace, Adjani asked with some puzzlement.

"That little fat man just now, no, it was the young scholar just now, is he really qualified to enter the scientific society?"

"You mean Monsieur Mendel, I've seen it, and his results are really good, and there are no problems." Franz said somewhat perfunctorily.

"He's very powerful, but in the whole of Vienna, there are not a thousand but eight hundred people like him."

Seeing that Adjani seemed to be a little dissatisfied, Franz just spread his hands indifferently and said, "There are hundreds of smart people, but Mendel has only one." ”

"But he's just a little-known freshman who has just entered college, just like Mr. Doppler, whom you've always entrusted with his duties, is nothing more than a not-so-successful middle school teacher.

Didn't you know that many of your practices have baffled some of the real authorities in science? They just don't dare to give you advice because of who you are. ”

Seeing Adjani's anxious and angry appearance, Franz couldn't help but laugh in his heart.

"What should be the criteria by which a scientist should be judged? Is it a qualification? Or age? No, it's neither. Miss Adjani, you should understand that blind belief in authoritarianism is not a good thing, even for me. ”

"Do you know the dangers of authoritarianism?"

(End of chapter)