"Chen Muwu! He is Dr. Muwu Chen from the University of Cambridge! ”

Chen, a surname that is not easy to pronounce with monosyllables, is typically a Chinese surname.

Professor Hilbert also called him a doctor, and Chen Muwu had a very typical East Asian appearance.

The others who had gathered around Hilbert before they had time to leave to observe the opening ceremony of the International Congress of Mathematicians soon realized that the young man who was holding Professor Hilbert's hand was Chen Muwu of Cambridge University.

Seeing Hilbert at the International Congress of Mathematicians is nothing new, because even before the opening of the conference, the organizing committee had already determined that German scientists would be attending this year's conference.

But seeing Chen Muwu at the International Congress of Mathematicians is an out-and-out novelty.

No one knew that this Chinese, who had been in the limelight in physics in recent years, would also come to Bologna, Italy, to attend their mathematicians' conference.

Other people who learned the news were very excited, and everyone who had just taken a photo with Hilbert to ask for an autograph wanted to take a photo with Chen Muwu again and ask him to sign an autograph.

Chen Muwu didn't want to leave Hilbert aside, so he sent an invitation to the latter: "Professor Hilbert, if you have time, how about we go to lunch together?" ”

"Of course, I think after dinner, the two of us can talk about math and physics."

Chen Muwu's invitation skillfully separated the two of them from the land of right and wrong.

Of course, Hilbert didn't want to be watched by others, so he readily agreed to have lunch with Chen Muwu.

Hilbert was a guest of the organizers, and instead of going to dinner with the more than 1,000 other people who came to the International Congress of Mathematicians, there was a special place for him to eat.

Chen Muwu's invitation, to a certain extent, allowed him to rub off on Hilbert's status and go to the high-end restaurant chartered by the conference organizer in Bologna.

After the two of them ordered the meal separately, while waiting for the food to be served, Hilbert was a little anxious to find some topics with Chen Muwu.

"Dr. Chen, I wanted to meet you a few years ago, and I sent John to visit the University of Cambridge and invite you to visit the University of Göttingen.

"Dr. Chan's charisma is so outstanding that John almost stayed in Cambridge, England, and never returned!"

Hilbert made a joke with Chen Muwu, and von Neumann did not force him to stay at Cambridge University, but the latter voluntarily stayed.

"Professor Hilbert, you're joking. By the way, Mr. von Neumann, how is he now? It's not bad in Göttingen, right? ”

Since von Neumann was mentioned, Chen Muwu remembered that since he started to go to Stockholm, because he was really busy with work, he had not been in touch with those relatives and friends in the past for a long time, in addition to von Neumann, there were also Oppenheimer in the United States, Heisenberg in Germany and others.

I should have found time to write a few letters to them and reconnect with them.

Oppenheimer, who was crossing the Atlantic on a steamer, was standing on deck when a strong sea breeze blew and made him sneeze.

"John had a great time in Göttingen. However, there seems to be something wrong with his research direction. ”

Speaking of von Neumann's incident, Hilbert's face suddenly had a little more worried.

More than purely mathematical problems, his mind seemed to be focused on a machine that existed only in the imagination.

"John has also talked to me a few times about this, but I am not very interested in this kind of virtual machine that does not appear in the real world, and I can't help him much."

Yes, Chen Muwu didn't expect that the fruit that Hilbert said was the cause he planted at Cambridge University.

The virtual machine that von Neumann is obsessed with studying should be the kind of machine he described to him at the steakhouse in Cambridgeshire.

Counting the time, von Neumann has been doing research with Professor Hilbert at the University of Göttingen for several years.

In the past few years, I haven't seen him make any too famous results.

Chen Muwu felt that it was time to swing his little hoe and dig von Neumann back to his side.

Von Neumann was certainly a genius, but his only weakness was that he was not sure about the direction of his research, and his ability to innovate was also a little poor.

If someone can point him in the right direction of research, then von Neumann's future must be immeasurable.

Of course, this kind of person should get Stockholm and be his right-hand man.

Chen Muwu remembers that the list he left in London, England, should also have von Neumann's name.

If nothing else, the eldest brother should have sent a telegram to Göttingen.

Just take the opportunity of his marriage to have a good chat with von Neumann about the Prince Academy in Stockholm.

Chen Muwu was somewhat conceited that with his own charisma, he should be able to bring von Neumann to Sweden.

Thinking of this, Chen Muwu said with a smile: "Professor Hilbert, the kind of virtual machine that Mr. von Neumann is researching, which I inadvertently brought up a kind of thinking with him when I was at Cambridge University.

"I didn't expect him to be so concerned about this issue, so I think I should find an opportunity to write him a good letter and talk to him about his views and opinions on this issue."

Hilbert also laughed: "I said that as soon as John returned to the University of Göttingen, there was such a strange question in his brain, and it turned out that the initiator was Dr. Chen.

"Since you brought this question up, it suddenly seems to me that it doesn't seem so strange.

"I even think that this question should be worth researching, if nothing else.

"When I return to the University of Göttingen after this International Congress of Mathematicians, I will have a good chat with John and find out what this virtual machine is all about."

"It's an honor, Professor Hilbert."

Chen Muwu didn't expect that when he said that he raised this question, it would arouse Hilbert's great interest.

He didn't know if the other party really thought the question was interesting, or if it was just a polite remark.

After chatting for a while, lunch for the two of them was finally served.

Both the dishes and the presentation are exquisite, and the waiters are friendly.

Chen Muwu cut a small piece of steak and put it in his mouth to chew carefully, and the taste was also unspeakable.

"Professor, I heard that you were sick some time ago, I wonder how you are recovering now?"

Chen Muwu also asked a polite word.

If he remembers correctly, Hilbert, like Planck, lived to the forties.

It's only 1928, and even if Hilbert is sick, it's probably not a serious illness.

The newspapers said that Hilbert came to Italy with illness to participate in the International Congress of Mathematicians, and Chen Muwu felt that there should be a lot of water in it.

It was just to highlight how hard it was for German mathematicians to come back to the International Congress of Mathematicians after an eight-year hiatus.

"Hey, it's just that I had some cold and flu a few days ago, and it's not a serious illness at all.

"Their newspaper reporters are like this, as long as there is some trouble, they are eager to make a big news that women and children know."

Chen Muwu picked up the cup filled with sparkling water: "Professor, I sincerely wish you good health and a long life. ”

"Thank you, Dr. Chen."

Hearing the news of Hilbert's health, Chen Muwu was relieved.

After a few more polite words, Chen Muwu sent an invitation to Hilbert.

"Professor, do you have any plans for this international congress of mathematicians after the end?"

"What's the arrangement! It was nothing more than going back to China with the mathematicians from Germany, and when I returned to the University of Göttingen, I went to Johann to talk to him about the problem of the virtual machine that he had raised. ”

Chen Muwu didn't expect Hilbert to repeat his question again, obviously he himself still attached more importance to it.

"In that case, Professor Hilbert, I would like to invite you to join me on a trip to England. I will be wedding to Marie Curie's youngest daughter, Av, in London in October, and I hope you will join us too. Rest assured, I'll take care of the travel from Bologna to London and from London to Göttingen. ”

"Dr. Chen, congratulations!"

Hilbert didn't expect that Chen Muwu would throw out such an invitation.

"Since you invited me to the wedding, of course I can't miss such a lively event. Then I'll be cheeky and wait for the International Congress of Mathematicians to go with you to London for your wedding, Dr. Chen.

"By the way, Dr. Chen, speaking of the International Congress of Mathematicians, you are coming to Bologna, Italy, this time, aren't you going to give a speech or speak at the conference?"

In the face of Hilbert's question, Chen Muwu was very honest: "Professor, to be honest, I came to the conference this time, and I heard that German mathematicians were finally allowed to participate in international academic conferences, so I came to Italy and wanted to meet you.

"You have always invited me to visit the University of Göttingen, but I have never had time, and this has always been a regret in my heart.

"That's why this time, I said that I had to take time out of the time to get to Italy before I got married, just to meet you.

"By the way, Professor, this is a comprehensive academic journal in Stockholm, and if you have the opportunity, you are welcome to submit to this journal."

As he spoke, Chen Muwu took out a copy of the inaugural issue of the Journal of Prince College from the bag he was carrying, and handed it to Hilbert across the dining table.

After Hilbert took it, he politely opened the cover of the journal and briefly skimmed the table of contents.

When he saw that the title of the paper was not neutrons and positrons, iodine-like and manganese-like, he raised his head with a wry smile.

"Dr. Chen, the content of your journal is a little esoteric to me.

"If it's about general relativity, I'm barely able to read it.

"But it's all experimental physics, so there's really nothing I can do about it.

"Speaking of general relativity, Dr. Chen, did you know that we also have this part of the mathematicians conference? In the third session, there will be seminars on celestial mechanics, astronomy, fluid mechanics, elastic mechanics, mathematical physical equations, and relativistic mechanics.

"I'm actually looking forward to you giving a talk on stage, and I guess the other participants who are here at the International Congress of Mathematicians will also hope that you will do the same."

Hilbert looked at Chen Muwu with a smile.

At this time, Chen Muwu didn't agree, and it wasn't if he didn't agree.

Promise, he wasn't prepared for anything beforehand.

If Chen Muwu was asked to come to the stage and talk about how his neutrons and positrons were discovered, Chen Muwu would definitely come easily.

If he didn't agree, Chen Muwu didn't think it was appropriate.

Especially Hilbert was still staring at himself with burning eyes, and it was obvious that he wanted Chen Muwu to take the stage to make a report.

After thinking for a while, Chen Muwu finally agreed to Hilbert's invitation.

— but he only half agreed.

"Professor, I would like to tell you that I actually have the idea of going on stage to give a lecture, but I don't want to talk about physics-based mathematical problems like general relativity, but something else.

"I don't want to go to the third session in mechanics, but I want to go to the seventh session in the history of mathematics.

"I looked at the conference brochure that was handed out before the opening of the conference and found that the section on the history of mathematics could publish papers or lectures on the history of mathematics in ancient and medieval times, and the history of mathematics in the Renaissance and modern times.

"I'm still very interested in this topic, and as you know, I'm from China, one of the four ancient civilizations, and it's the only one of those four countries whose culture has been passed down uninterrupted.

"Perhaps in modern times, China has been left far behind by Western countries in all aspects.

"But in ancient times, China was absolutely at the advanced level of the world in all aspects.

"I'm not a professional historian, so it's impossible to tell everything clearly.

"But I happen to be very interested in the mathematical achievements of ancient China, and I have done some research on the history of this aspect when I was in China.

"So I thought, if the organizers of the conference allowed, I would like to go to the seventh history of mathematics branch to give a talk called "The Development of Mathematics and Its Achievements in Ancient China."

"Of course, this is also very good," although he could not get a satisfactory answer, Hilbert still smiled and nodded, "The West has always lacked a certain understanding of the development of mathematics in China, if Dr. Chen is willing to show up to speak, I believe it will also be of great help to mathematicians to broaden their horizons." ”

(End of chapter)