Golden Branch

"Is this a counting rod?"

As soon as the abacus came out, it really aroused Shen Du's curiosity.

He walked closer with his hands behind his back, bent down and took a closer look.

The rectangular wooden frame is divided into two layers, the upper layer is narrow and the lower layer is wide. There are also thin round bars running vertically, with beads strung on the bars.

The beads are polished to be very round, and they roll smoothly on the round bar as the slender fingers pluck them.

Ding-dang-dang, crackle.

The sound is very pleasant, like pearls falling on a jade plate.

Shen Du was indeed smart. Although he had never seen this thing before, he could see that Wang Mian's movements of moving the wooden beads were very regular.

Moreover, she was moving the corresponding wooden beads according to certain numbers.

Shen Du was a master of mathematics and was very familiar with the popular calculating tool of the Dayu Dynasty - counting rods.

The so-called counting sticks are small wooden sticks of varying lengths.

The length of the wooden stick represents the corresponding units of measurement such as ones and tens.

When calculating numbers, you can use counting rods.

This should be considered the prototype of the abacus.

Therefore, Mr. Shen Du, who was good at using counting sticks, roughly guessed the function of this thing after just one glance.

"Sir, you're right. This is the abacus made by Amian and the scholars of the Gewu School based on counting rods!"

Wang Heng answered respectfully, emphasizing Wang Mian's contribution.

"abacus?"

Shen Du became more and more curious.

Wang Heng quickly nudged Wang Mian, "A Mian, quickly demonstrate it to the teacher."

"Sir, this abacus is very useful and can perform calculations quickly."

As she spoke, Wang Heng also listed several formulas.

Simple addition and subtraction of units and tens digits, as well as simple multiplication and division.

Wang Mian: ...In later generations, although I learned abacus and mental arithmetic in elementary school, I only learned it for two or three years.

I haven't used it for more than ten years, and I only remember some formulas to do simple addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.

She is not a real abacus master and cannot even do square root using an abacus!

She just hoped that Jiu Niang would not brag about her too much, otherwise she would fail to show off and end up getting slapped in the face!

Wang Mian prayed silently, his mind and hands were busy.

While looking at the arithmetic problems given by Wang Heng, he quickly moved the beads.

When she encountered a slightly difficult question, she couldn't help but recite the formula:

“…Six minus four plus one”

"Seven back, one back, three back..."

The beads sound crisp and pleasant, and the rhymes are catchy.

Shen Du's ears moved, and he found it more and more interesting.

He looked directly at Wang Mian for the first time and asked, "Did you write the formula?"

Wang Mian quickly shook his head, "No! It's, it's everyone's wisdom!"

Wang Mian didn't dare to take credit for it. She didn't have the nerve to steal the hard work of countless ancestors.

Besides, Wang Mian only knows the basics and can’t be proficient in it.

To put it bluntly, with her simple addition, subtraction, multiplication and division skills, she may not even be as good as Shen Du.

Yes, as a true genius, even if Shen Du just starts learning now, it won’t take a few days for him to master the essence of using the abacus, and make technical innovations and breakthroughs in difficulty.

Maybe, after studying for a while, this real master will be able to calculate square roots using an abacus.

All Wang Mian has to do is to "throw a brick to attract jade", just like many things she has done: propose a rough framework, and then let real professionals or smart people fill in and improve it.

The scholars of the Dongshan Academy, whether they were carpenters, doctors, or students with special talents, were all Wang Mian's greatest helpers in inventing things.

“…He’s not one to take credit for something.”

Shen Du saw the sincerity in Wang Mian's eyes and curled the corners of his lips.

This girl's background is indeed humble, but her character is good.

Hearing Shen Du praising Wang Mian, Wang Heng seized the opportunity and continued to brag about her friend: "Sir, A Mian is very good!"

"She is not only good at cooking, but also knows a lot of new things."

"She also likes to come up with creative ideas. Every time she comes up with an idea, it amazes the professors and students at the Institute of Gewu!"

"Sir, in the past two or three years, thanks to Amian's creativity and the hard work of the teachers and students at the Institute of Natural Science, we have built a new treasure ship and improved our farming methods..."

Wang Heng recounted all of Wang Mian's achievements one by one.

Shen Du smiled casually at first, but as he listened, his expression became serious: "Treasure ship?"

As a native of the southern border, Shen Du is very familiar with that river.

He had traveled on a boat many times and knew that boats played a huge role in such a big river.

Especially now, the Northern Territory is preparing for war and pointing its sword at the Southern Territory. If there are treasure ships to help cross the river, it can also defeat the Southern Territory’s navy on the river... Shen Du previously estimated that it would take three to five years for the Northern Territory to completely take over the Southern Territory.

If we had a treasure ship, the time would be greatly shortened.

Three to five years?

Do not!

Maybe just one or two years!

"Yes! The ship is over thirty feet long, with nine masts and twelve sails, and can carry over two thousand tons."

Wang Heng nodded and narrated the story objectively.

In fact, Wang Heng did not have a more intuitive understanding of the treasure ship. She only knew some numbers from Wang Mian and Lou Yu.

But for Shen Du, who had actually seen big rivers and big ships, the 2,000-ton ship really shocked him.

A large ship of 2,000 tons can carry 2,000 tons of cargo, and if it is carried, it can accommodate nearly 2,000 people!

If the North really launches a large-scale attack on the South and wants to cross the river, with treasure ships like this, only a few would be needed to transport tens of thousands of people.

By the time……

Shen Du closed his eyes. In his mind, a huge ship appeared on the river, like a monster, and countless northern cavalry, like a dark cloud pressing down on the head, approaching Jiankang.

"Yes! Our treasure ship has been built, and the eldest brother, the prince, has personally inspected it!"

Unfortunately, after the eldest prince saw it, he took away the treasure ship, the dock, the craftsmen, etc.

Of course, Yang Rui didn’t get it for free.

He confiscated Yizhou and countless wealthy families and noble clans along the river, and the gold, silver, fertile land, shops, etc. in his hands were also countless.

Yang Rui selected some of them and distributed them to the two major shareholders, Lou Yu and Wang Heng.

There is also Wang Mian. Her small treasury has expanded rapidly, and the amount has already reached a level that ordinary people can hardly imagine.

Yang Rui knew about this giant treasure ship weighing two thousand tons?

"It's over! The Southern Territory is completely finished!"

The last bit of hope in Shen Du's heart disappeared.

The northern border is already strong in terms of military strength, and the southern border's only support is the natural barrier of the river.

Now that Yang Chong has the treasure ship and trains some more sailors, the natural barrier will no longer exist!

"Sir, this abacus was also first proposed by Amian!"

"Oh right, the abacus can do a lot of calculations, but unfortunately Amian and I are not good at arithmetic. You are the best, sir. If you learn how to use an abacus, you will definitely be able to explore its functions to the extreme!"

Wang Heng deliberately used the treasure ship to "shock" Shen Du a little, and then quickly brought the topic back to the abacus.

The Southern Territory will no longer exist. If Shen Du wants to continue his glory in the Northern Territory, he cannot rely on his past achievements.

Teach students, do research, write books, and create more fame... How great!

As a noble and respectable man, Shen Du could not let Wang Mian teach him how to use the abacus for no reason.

In exchange, Shen Du should also reward Wang Mian with the title of a famous student.

Wang Heng's little thoughts were all written on her face.

Shen Du took a quick glance and couldn't help but snorted coldly: "Little rascal! You haven't even entered the door yet, but you're already plotting against the master?"

"Sir, Ajiu doesn't dare! Ajiu just thinks that Amian is really talented and much better than me!"

"You've already accepted me, so why not accept another Amian?"

Wang Heng, relying on her young age, started to act like a spoiled brat. She grabbed Shen Du's sleeves, and her body twisted like a pretzel.

"Sir, think about it, Amian can cook all kinds of delicious food. If you accept her as your disciple, you can eat different delicacies every day."

When talking about delicious food, Wang Heng couldn't help but swallow her saliva.

Shen Du was amused. Seeing the fat girl's greedy look, he actually felt a little appetite.

"Little girl, I think you want to eat the food made by Amian." If you are greedy, just say it directly. Why drag an old man into it?

but--

Shen Du did not covet food, but he also did not want to starve to death.

Thinking about that day by the river, the meat roasted and porridge cooked by Wang Mian were indeed more delicious than those cooked by the Lou family's kitchen. And this abacus, Shen Du was indeed a little curious.

As a famous scholar, Shen Du naturally would not do the work of a craftsman, but if he could improve tools and create many calculation methods... perhaps he could also write a book "Mathematical Classics".

Writing books is quite tempting for scholars.

Well, the Southern Territory will no longer exist, but he still has to make plans for his family, students, and old friends and in-laws.

Just stay in Hedong for the time being, recruit a few students, and do some research. Once the world is unified and he recovers from his illness, he will do something big again.

"Wang Mian, is it?"

Shen Du thought to himself, his eyes already on Wang Mian.

"Sir, I'm Wang Mian!"

Wang Mian held his head high and chest puffed out, with confidence and pride emanating from his bones.

Shen Du's eyes narrowed slightly. How could this peasant girl have the air of an aristocratic family?

"Okay, from now on you will be with Ajiu."

Shen Du relented, but still did not explicitly accept Wang Mian as his disciple.

At most, he is a "student" rather than a disciple.

Wang Mian: ...I see! It's just the difference between outer disciples and direct disciples.

Even if you are not a direct disciple, you can still call Shen Du "Sir". In the future, when you go out, you will be looked up to by others!

……

Shen Du decided to accept a disciple, but was not in a hurry to hold the apprenticeship ceremony.

He rested for a few days. Wang Mian served him delicious food, and Wang Heng accompanied him to enjoy it. Shen Du had full meals for a few days.

My body is no longer weak and powerless, I feel a little more nourished, and my complexion looks a little better.

Shen Du then stood up and went to the river camp to meet Yang Rui.

The two men dismissed their attendants, so no one knew what they talked about.

Lou Yu didn't want to know either, as he was busy giving gifts to Wang Heng.

"Guard? Or a woman?"

When Wang Heng saw the two little girls in front of her, she couldn't help but be a little surprised.

Brother actually gave her two female guards?!

PS: It’s time to speed up the progress bar again, the two little ones are entering the next stage - love!