The Great Ming in the Box-Chapter 198: The Math Duel
Bai Yuan: “Oh? Never expected the County Lord to be a math expert too.”
Liang Shixian smiled: “My learning may be miscellaneous, but all aimed at practical governance. Far superior to those who merely compose verses and moan without cause.”
His boasting stirred Bai Yuan up.
Bai Yuan gripped his math textbook tighter, an invisible aura of competitiveness rising around him. Hmph, daring to boast about miscellaneous learning? Just how varied could yours be? How many of the Six Arts of Gentlemen have you mastered?
In classical texts like the Four Books and Five Classics or imperial exam material, Bai Yuan knew he couldn’t rival a proper scholar-official. But challenging Bai Yuan in math? That was courting death. Hmph! Might as well settle scores with you alongside my rebellious boy.
“Excellent, County Lord!” said Bai Yuan, grinning broadly. “Since you’re an expert yourself, how about we compete shortly?”
“Why not indeed?” Liang Shixian too grew eager. In this remote northwestern county, the academic atmosphere paled compared to Jiangnan’s. Finding someone intellectually stimulating here was rare, and now Bai Yuan seemed formidable—no reason to decline.
Fang Wushang fumed: “Weren’t we here to discuss military strategy? Why are you suddenly squabbling over math?”
Thirty-Two hurried over and pulled Fang Wushang aside: “Calm down, General Fang. Leave the bandit planning to me. I’ll mobilize the militia to Bai Family Fortress. You focus on your garrison.”
Fang Wushang gave a disdainful Hmph!. After all, the bandits wouldn’t arrive for days. He had no patience for the scholars’ game. Rallying his troops, he marched toward the border between Bai Family Fortress and Fengyuan Town.
Meanwhile, Bai Yuan and Liang Shixian entered Gaojia Fortress together.
For a scholarly duel, the Book Well was the natural setting.
Sitting inside its schoolhouse, surrounded by scrolls, desks, and writing tools, Liang Shixian felt serene—a true literatus, delighted by the ambiance. “This private school is remarkably well-run!”
Bai Yuan chuckled: “Not private at all. It’s a public school, free for any child in this village who wishes to learn reading and writing.”
Liang Shixian startled, then grew deeply moved: “A noble deed! Truly noble! I knew the Li Family was kind-hearted, but never imagined such charity.”
Just then, Young Master Bai and Madam Bai arrived.
After initial pleasantries were briefly exchanged…
Hearing his father wanted another math duel, Young Master Bai grew rushing with pride: “Father! Since becoming Math Representative, I’ve devoted myself daily to math. My skills have soared. Though I respect you, I refuse to lose in this subject!”
Bai Yuan roared with laughter: “Enjoy your moment! Soon you’ll learn why your father is always your father.”
Liang Shixian interjected with a snort: “You father and son forgot me? With me here, you’re both doomed to lose.”
The trio clashed, none backing down.
Li Daoxuan, thoroughly amused, poured himself a cup of Mingqian Longjing tea. What a spectacle.
Bai Yuan gestured magnanimously: “County Lord, why not set the first problem?”
Liang Shixian nodded: “Agreed. Imagine a field twelve bu wide and fourteen bu long. How many square bu?”
He’d barely finished speaking…
Father and son answered almost simultaneously: “One hundred sixty-eight bu!”
Liang Shixian jolted: “That quickly?!”
Bai Yuan smiled thinly: “Just a two-digit multiplication problem? Were you holding back, County Magistrate?”
Young Master Bai grinned too: “Your question couldn’t stump even a second-year child, Lord Liang.”
Though unfamiliar with “second-year,” Liang Shixian knew it meant elementary—slightly nettled. “Oh? Then show me your problem.”
Bai Yuan smiled: “Fine, I’ll go next. Here is eighteen twelfths. When reduced, what does it become?”
Upon hearing this problem, Liang Shixian was delighted: Fractions?
Hah! Thinking you can stump this official with fractions? You underestimate me greatly.
Let this official ponder it carefully.
Liang Shixian, Knowledgeable in many matters, instantly activated his calculation mode. Images flashed through his mind like a spinning lantern – classic texts like Nine Chapters on the Mathematical Art, Zhou Bi Suan Jing, and Wu Jing Suan Shu whirled past. Suddenly, a mental “Ding!” sound signaled it settling on the Nine Chapters on the Mathematical Art.
The Grand Width technique in the Nine Chapters on the Mathematical Art states: Multiply the denominator by its remainder, the numerator follows suit.
Liang Shixian laughed aloud: “Two-thirds!”
Only after he spoke did he notice that Young Master Bai beside him had already written “2/3” on paper earlier. Young Master Bai’s calligraphy was quite good.
Liang Shixian was astonished: This child solved it faster than me? Impossible! This official’s mental lantern wasn’t spinning slowly at all. How could this child’s mind work faster than this official’s?
Young Master Bai chuckled: “You’ve both set problems, now it’s my turn.”
Young Master Bai swiftly drew a circle on the paper: “Given a circular field with a diameter of ten zhang, find its area.”
Liang Shixian felt a jolt of panic. This problem was difficult! How could this little child pose such a difficult problem right away? This was a challenge to an adult! This was absolutely a challenge to an adult! This official will fight you with everything!
Liang Shixian, Knowledgeable in many matters, once more activated his calculation mode. All his learning, the various mathematical texts, spun through his mind like a lantern again. Suddenly, another mental “Ding!” sound signaled it settling on the Nine Chapters on the Mathematical Art.
The Square Fields chapter in the Nine Chapters on the Mathematical Art states: The area of a circle is found by multiplying its circumference and diameter together and taking one fourth.
Meaning: Multiply the circumference by the diameter, then divide by four, to get the area.
But, this child only stated the diameter was ten zhang! He didn’t give the circumference!
Liang Shixian spoke up: “Is your problem incomplete? The circumference of the circular field…”
Before he could finish his sentence.
Bai Yuan beside him laughed: “The area of this field is 78.5 square zhang.”
Liang Shixian: “!!!”
Why?!
How did Bai Yuan calculate it? The problem wasn’t complete! How on earth did he manage it?
Just then, Bai Yuan actually continued posing another problem: “Given a circular barrel, its base diameter is one chi, its height is two chi. Find its volume.”
The images flashed through Liang Shixian’s mind… whoosh… whoosh… whoosh… spinning wildly for a long time. Spinning and spinning, but every panel of the lantern was utterly blank, showing nothing at all.
Thud! He collapsed face-first onto the table. “This official… concedes!”
Young Master Bai also paled visibly: “Volume of a cylinder?! Oh no! This… I haven’t learned this yet.”
Bai Yuan laughed heartily: “I win! I knew I could win! With the twelve heavenly books in hand, who in the ‘Mathematics’ art of the Six Arts of Gentlemen can rival me? Hah hah hah hah!”
Chapter 198: The Math Duel
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