Start with a photographic memory and build a memory palace

Chapter 19: Through Heaven and Earth
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"Come, look at this!"

Li Chunfeng guided Wu Wen and watched what he was busy doing.

Looking at the cloth spread out on the table, it was covered with complex lines forming strange patterns.

Wu Wen asked curiously, "What is this?"

Li Chunfeng smiled mysteriously.

"You don't understand?"

"This is the 'star map' I drew!"

As he spoke, he pulled Wu Wen towards the instrument in the center of the attic that looked like a celestial sphere.

"Look at this again!"

"This is my most laborious creation. I call it 'The Armillary Sphere'!"

The name is indeed impressive, but what exactly is the use of this instrument? Wu Wen pondered in his heart.

He took a step closer and observed it carefully.

Li Chunfeng pointed to a copper column that went straight up and down on the instrument frame.

"Look here, this is the 'Jingtian' pillar, with scales on it for measurement and calculation."

Wu Wen looked in the direction his finger pointed and saw a pillar that looked like an accurate ruler with clear markings.

Then, Li Chunfeng pointed to the bronze pillar extending horizontally below.

"This is the 'Latitude Earth' column, which intersects with the 'Spirited Sky' column to form the basic framework of this armillary sphere."

The intersection of longitude and latitude is a coordinate system, Wu Wen thought to himself.

Li Chunfeng gestured up and down and explained:

"It is a complete crisscrossing structure that can be used for complex calculations."

As he spoke, he pointed to the two circular copper rings that surrounded the cross frame.

The ten heavenly stems are marked on it: Jia, Yi, Bing, Ding, Wu, Ji, Geng, Xin, Ren, and Gui.

And the scales for the planning of the twelve Earthly Branches: Zi, Chou, Yin, Mao, Chen, Si, Wu, Wei, Shen, You, Xu and Hai.

"Alright!"

Li Chunfeng demonstrates the operation.

He turned the ring engraved with the ten celestial stems. As the instrument turned, the scale on the horizontal axis 'latitude' corresponded to the values on the scale of the ten celestial stems, and the sum of the two was exactly equal to the value of the vertical axis 'longitude'.

Seeing this, Wu Wen was quite surprised and thought to himself: I didn't expect this instrument to be an abacus, it's a bit special!
Li Chunfeng did not stop and continued to demonstrate more complex calculations.

The numerical values of the ten heavenly stems and twelve earthly branches were seen rotating between the coordinate axes of heaven and earth. Through the construction method of space, the rules of multiplication of two numbers and majority multiplication operations were actually displayed.

The product of the two numbers is the area of the parallel space formed.

The product of three numbers is the volume of a three-dimensional space.

Aiya, I go!

At this moment, Wu Wen was even more shocked.

This can no longer be called an abacus, but a computer!

Li Chunfeng looked at Wu Wen's surprised expression and a smug smile appeared on his face.

He turned and walked to the table, picked up a copper ball and placed it on the ring on the instrument engraved with the ten heavenly stems.

As the instrument rotates, the copper ball moves regularly inside the instrument.

"See this ball?"

"Every time it rotates to a certain position, there will be a corresponding numerical coordinate."

"If you record all these numerical coordinates and put them together, you can find that this is the trajectory of the ball."

He paused and continued, “And this movement trajectory contains a law.

This pattern can be written down using the method of numerology.”

Describing the trajectory of an object? Isn't this a function expression? This is really amazing. Wu Wen admired Li Chunfeng even more.

Li Chunfeng hadn't finished speaking yet, he continued: "If you compare this copper ball to the stars in the sky.

The laws of motion of the sun, moon and stars in the sky can also be described in the form of numerology."

As he spoke, Li Chunfeng came to the table again and pointed at the contents on the cloth. "And this is the origin of this 'Star Map'!"

At this moment, Wu Wen had to admire him.

Li Chunfeng is truly a famous genius in history. His attainments in astronomy and mathematics have reached a very high level.

"How about it? Do you want to learn?"

When Wu Wen heard Li Chunfeng's question, he was slightly stunned.

"As long as you accept me as your master, I will teach you the art of 'Star Divination'."

Wow, after saying so much, it turns out you were waiting for me here!

When Wu Wen heard that Li Chunfeng wanted to become his disciple, he thought about it for a while.

"I already have a master. If I want to take you as my master, I need to ask for your permission."

"You have a master? What's your master's name? What does he do?"

"My master is Master Zhu Jiu, and he is the doctor of Zhujia Village."

"Doctor, with your talent, it's a pity for you to study medicine. Go back and talk to him. If he disagrees, I will go to his house and talk to him in person."

Wu Wen smiled slightly.

Before they knew it, they had been chatting for a long time.

"It's almost time. Wu Wen will often study here in the future, so you two can communicate slowly. Let's stop here for today."

Wei Zheng took Wu Wen out of the library and sent him out of the Eastern Palace, and arranged a residence for him in an alley across the street.

This place is not big, with only two rooms in total. One is the bedroom for resting and sleeping, and the other is the kitchen for cooking. It is a standard residential house.

"How is it? Are you satisfied?"

"Satisfied. Thank you Wei Xima for your trouble."

What could Wu Wen be dissatisfied about as long as he had a place to live in Chang'an City, at the feet of the emperor?
"That's good. You can rest first. Tomorrow morning, you can take this badge to enter the East Palace and go to the library to read."

Wei Zheng took out an iron token and gave it to Wu Wen.

Wu Wen solemnly reached out and took it.

Then Wei Zheng left.

Wu Wen looked at his new residence again and couldn't help but sigh in his heart. He didn't expect to have such an encounter during his visit to Chang'an City this time.

After tidying up the house a little, he lay down on the bed in the bedroom and took a rest.

He opened his eyes, looked at the ceiling, cleared his mind, and stayed quietly for a while.

Then he closed his eyes slightly, and the model of the 'Armillary Sphere' emerged in his mind!

If he had not seen it with his own eyes today, he would never have believed that there would be such high-tech products in the Tang Dynasty.

This armillary sphere is very similar to a modern computer and can be considered an advanced abacus.

Just input the data, turn it around, and get the results directly.

Li Chunfeng is truly a genius. He can actually use the coordinate system and list equations to study the laws of motion of objects.

Wu Wen can now imagine that the legendary divination ability of Li Chunfeng is very likely to be true.

In his mind, he gradually perfected the model of the 'Armillary Sphere'.

He has a photographic memory and has an excellent memory.

Now that he has moved the model of the armillary sphere into his mind, it means that his calculation ability will be elevated to a higher level and his thinking will become more agile.

—

Just as Wu Wen was resting in his room, Wei Zheng returned to the East Palace.

He reported Wu Wen's performance in the library to Crown Prince Li Jiancheng.

As a Taoist priest who was well versed in state governance, he knew very well how powerful a person would be if he was proficient in the art of numerology.

Not to mention his deductive ability, even if he was assigned to do some work in the areas of allocating food and supplies, and collecting taxes on money and grain for the imperial court, he could still be considered an efficient official.

"Oh? I didn't expect this kid to have such talent. He can be cultivated well. Doesn't Li Chunfeng want to take him as a disciple? Then you can help bring them together."

"Yes, Your Highness!"

……

(End of this chapter)