Liu Tan’s first reaction after hearing this was: Who is this?
Miao Rui seemed to notice that he had forgotten about this person, and quickly reminded him, "It's the crazy student who stopped the car last time."
Liu Tan was shocked when he heard this. How long had it been? Half a month, right? He thought the other person had given up long ago, so he didn't take it seriously. But he didn't expect that this person had actually been working on this problem for half a month?
To be honest, it was a bit unfair to give this person this question, because the solution is actually not difficult. Addition, subtraction and a little division will do, but it requires a little bit of clever thinking. If you can't think of that point, you may have to use a very complicated way to solve the problem.
However, no matter how complicated the problem is, Liu Tan rarely meets someone who can spend half a month to solve it.
He was momentarily curious and said, "Let's check if this person solved it himself. Has he really been solving this problem for the past half month?"
Miao Rui immediately gave the order and asked, "Your Highness, this man is standing at the gate of Shihe Garden, and his clothes are messy. If you want to see him, I'm afraid you'll have to ask him to clean up."
Liu Tan raised an eyebrow. "Is he so focused on solving the problem that he doesn't even care about his personal hygiene? Forget it. Have someone take him to wash up, get the car ready, and go to Shihe Garden."
On the way to Shiheyuan, Liu Tan got the news that Wei Guan had actually rented a house in Chang'an and locked himself in the house to solve problems. He hardly left the house for half a month and even gave some money to the aunt next door to deliver his meals.
After Liu Tan knew about this, he couldn't tell for a moment whether this person was really obsessed with mathematics or was just ruthless in order to get ahead.
However, with his persistence, as long as he doesn't go astray, it will be easy for him to succeed if he encounters an opportunity.
But the word "opportunity" was already difficult for ordinary people. There was no imperial examination in those days, and officials were appointed through recommendations. Unless the court was really short of people, or Emperor Wu of Han felt that these people were not capable of fighting, he would issue a decree to the world to seek talents.
Although Liu Che issued many announcements, in reality, it was rare for a commoner to enter the officialdom.
Liu Tan suddenly became very interested in this person.
When they arrived at Shihe Garden, Wei Guan had already packed up and was waiting for Liu Tan quietly.
When Liu Tan saw him, he felt as if he saw the kind of unkempt scientific researcher he had always imagined.
Although Wei Guan looked good at this time and was dressed quite neatly, he had dark circles under his eyes and a pale face. He seemed a little swollen, and looked seven parts human and three parts ghost.
This was the first time Wei Guan met Liu Tan. He was so excited that he couldn't help but stumble when performing the greeting, and he didn't dare to look up at Liu Tan.
After Liu Tan sat down, he asked, "Have you figured it out?"
Wei Guan's voice trembled slightly: "I've solved it."
Liu Tan wanted to laugh when he saw him like this. It turned out that what brings pressure to people is never appearance, but status and position, which are things that are deeply recognized in people's hearts.
Otherwise, given Liu Tan's image, which can be said to be very gentle and harmless, it is impossible for him to scare Wei Guan like this.
However, Wei Guan's appearance made him feel vaguely familiar. After a little thought, he understood. Wasn't this exactly the same as when he met Liu Che?
Liu Tan subconsciously imitated Liu Che's posture and leaned back in his seat and said, "What's the answer?"
Wei Guan said, "There are twenty-three pheasants and twelve rabbits."
Liu Tan nodded: "Yes, that's the answer. Come on, tell me how you solved it."
Perhaps because he was very confident in his approach to solving the problem, Wei Guan finally looked up at Liu Tan. When he saw the handsome young man with delicate features looking at him with a smile, Wei Guan's heart suddenly started beating faster for some reason.
He looked away, tried to calm himself, then swallowed and said, "I'm assuming the cage is full of pheasants. Then thirty-five would be seventy feet. There are ninety-four feet in the cage, so twenty-four feet are missing. If the cage were full of rabbits, that would be 140 feet, forty-six more than ninety-four. Rabbits have two more feet than pheasants, so the twenty-four missing feet should be rabbit feet. Since we already counted two rabbit feet, we only need to add two more rabbit feet to make twelve rabbits. The extra forty-six feet are due to the two extra pheasant feet, so the pheasant count should be twenty-three."
After Wei Guan finished speaking, he asked nervously, "Your Highness, do you think... am I right?"
Liu Tan... Liu Tan was already confused by his series of pheasants and rabbits. He began to wonder if Wei Guan had been struggling with rabbits and chickens for half a month.
In fact, this method is indeed correct. Of course, there is a simpler and clearer way, but Liu Tan doesn't want to discuss this issue with him.
He nodded and said, "The idea is good. Although it's a bit complicated, the answer is correct."
Wei Guan was very happy after hearing this, but he did not ask what the simple method was. Liu Tan initially judged that this person should not be someone who simply studies numerology, or he is not so obsessed with numerology.
But this is nothing. There are only a few people in this world who can devote themselves to studying a subject without sleep or food.
In Liu Tan's eyes, these disciplines are nothing more than tools to help humans better understand the world and survive better.
He admires those who keep researching, but he also doesn't think that Wei Guan is not pure enough.
But he still asked, "Are you interested in divination?"
He wanted to see Wei Guan's character, because he had said before that he liked numerology. If Wei Guan just wanted to please him, he should have admitted that he liked numerology at this moment.
However, after hesitating for a while, Wei Guan said, "Your Highness, I only have a superficial understanding of divination."
Liu Tan was surprised: "Oh? You can't solve this problem with just a superficial understanding."
The superficial understanding back then was not like that of later generations where everyone could do addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. Basically, being able to do addition and subtraction well was already very good.
Wei Guan said, "After I received the question from Your Highness, I went back and found some books and studied for a long time before I finally solved it."
Liu Tan was immediately shocked. There were actually very few books on mathematics now, and what a commoner like Wei Guan could get were even fewer. These might really just be some introductory books.
And he was able to solve the problem just by looking at these, is he a genius?
Liu Tan was now genuinely interested in him and couldn't help but ask, "So what now? Do you like divination?"
Wei Guan was silent for a long moment before he said, "If you hope to be of use to Your Highness, I might say I'd like to, but... I have my own ambitions and responsibilities. Divination requires dedicated study, and I really... don't have the heart for it."
Liu Tan smiled and said, "You are honest. Well, everyone has their own aspirations. I can't force you. However, I may not have a place for you to display your talents here."
Wei Guan said firmly, "At least there is a chance. Otherwise, given my humble background, I might not even have this chance even if I wait another ten or twenty years."
Liu Tan nodded. No matter what this person's ability was, his character was okay. At least he knew how to tell the truth.
He thought for a moment and asked, "Then tell me, what are you good at?"
Wei Guan looked up at Liu Tan and said, "I wouldn't say I have a photographic memory, but I do have an excellent one."
"Excellent memory? How excellent does it mean?" Liu Tan was generally interested in this. He was admitted to one of the top universities in the country. Before entering the university, he felt that he was very talented. After entering the university, he found that photographic memory was a standard feature of his classmates. In addition to this, they also had many other advantages, but he seemed to be only good at studying.
He had seen a lot of people like this, so he didn't think there was anything special about them.
Wei Guan said in a deep voice: "I know the geography of every place I go."
Liu Tan was stunned for a moment. Does this mean remembering the way?
No, that's not right. The fact that it was specifically brought up in front of him meant more than just this.
Liu Tan asked, "How much do you know?"
"I know the topography, the abundance of plants, and the direction of rivers by heart."
Oh shit!
Liu Tan was shocked. This person is extremely talented in geology!
To make sure he understood correctly, he asked seriously, "How can you prove that you remember everything?"
Wei Guan said, "I have recorded everything. If Your Highness does not mind, please take a look at it."
Liu Tan said very straightforwardly: "Give it to me!"
Then... he saw the bamboo slips that were characteristic of the Solitary Age. Of course, the bamboo slips these days were no longer carved with knives but with pen and ink.
The tiny Chinese calligraphy on the bamboo slips is very beautiful. If it were in the era of imperial examinations, he would have been able to get a job just for this one stroke of calligraphy.
Liu Tan looked at the records on the bamboo slips carefully.
It can be seen that this may be the first time that Wei Guan recorded these things. His recording method was very free and casual. Basically, he wrote whatever he thought of, or whatever he saw. There were also some traces of additions and modifications in the middle. It seems that he did not record while walking, but waited until he stopped to write it down according to his memory.
Wei Guan gave him the terrain near Chang'an, probably to make it easier for him to verify.
But to be honest, since Wei Guan used this as his selling point, Liu Tan believed that he would not deceive himself.
Liu Tan didn't speak in a hurry after reading it, which made Wei Guan a little worried. He knew that his specialty was actually nothing, and could even be said to be useless. No one would want him to be an official, let alone a staff member.
Coming to talk to Liu was basically his last attempt. If it still didn't work, he decided to return to Shuofang to inherit the family business.
Coincidentally, Liu Tan thought his ability was quite good. After thinking carefully for a long time, he suddenly asked, "Can you draw?"
Wei Guan's heart suddenly sank, and he whispered, "I'm not very good at it."
Poor people had to use bamboo slips to write, so how could they afford to learn painting?
Learning to paint requires paint, wood boards or paper, or even stone slabs. Of course, you can also use cowhide or sheepskin, but this is too luxurious and most people cannot afford it.
In fact, there was no such thing as a painter in this era. After all, there were too few people who could do it.
Liu Tan felt a little regretful when he heard this, but soon he no longer felt so regretful. Not knowing how to draw also has its advantages. He can start learning from scratch.
Thinking of this, he said, "I can give you a chance and teach you some drawing methods, but I have a condition."
After hearing this, Wei Guan's heartbeat quickened. He couldn't help swallowing and said, "As long as Your Highness is willing to give me a chance, no matter what the conditions are, I will agree!"
Liu Tan laughed and said, "I haven't said it yet. It's too early for you to agree now. This condition may be a bit excessive, but... I still have to say this. If you really stay, you will not be allowed to set foot outside of Chang'an for the rest of your life without my order. You must also bring your family to Chang'an. If you dare to disobey, you should be able to imagine their fate."
Wei Guan was completely stunned after hearing this. Although he didn't understand why the Fifth Prince made such a request, he guessed based on his most simple thinking that the more important the person, the higher the requirements would be.
So he gritted his teeth and said, "I... am willing!"
Liu Tan nodded and said, "Okay, but I don't believe in verbal promises. I'll have someone draft the documents later. Don't worry, I'm not going to make you a slave, it's just a restriction."
Finally, Wei Guan couldn't help but ask, "Your Highness, what exactly do you want me to do?"
Liu Tan smiled slightly: "Draw a map!"
The author has something to say: Liu Tan: Once you step into my door, you are mine. Don’t even think about running away. Get ready to sell yourself.
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