The First Uncle of the Ming Dynasty

Chapter 114 Apply what you learn
These great scholars and doctors in the main hall were quite familiar with Ma Xun. After all, he had studied here with the prince.

Even if they were only there for ten days or half a month, they had been there. These people in the main hall were even the first officials in the Ming Dynasty to come into contact with Ma Xun.

He did not seek to understand the depths of what he read, liked to read history books for his own amusement, and never discussed the meaning of classics with others. These were some of the impressions that great scholars had of Ma Xun.

As for Ma Xun's proficiency in medicine, it is said that he is also good at miscellaneous studies. This is also something I have heard of, but when it comes to numerology, many people find it new.

Ma Xun also finished beating people. Except for Zhu Zhen and Zhu Shouqian who had tears in their eyes, the others were standing firm.

These boys in the Zhu family are generally of fierce and stubborn temperament. Sometimes, even when facing Zhu Yuanzhang, they dare to stick their necks out and stand firm.

It was common practice for Zhu Zi, Prince of Tan, and Zhu Bo, Prince of Xiang, to burn themselves to death to express their determination, and for Zhu Shouqian, Prince of Jingjiang, to compose poems to mock Zhu Yuanzhang after being punished by him.

When Ma Xun finished punishing him, Zhu Biao smiled and said, "Uncle has always been good at numerology. I also know that there are doctors and tutors who are good at numerology in the main hall. You can accompany uncle to solve the problem."

A younger tutor quickly stepped forward and said, "Your Highness, I wonder what kind of question the uncle wants to solve?"

"Anyway, it's not the three-point four-point five-point nine-square grid or the like. If it's really a chicken and a rabbit in the same cage, it would be even more boring." Ma Xun said directly, "If it's that kind of question, I might as well go back to sleep."

Ma Xun's tone was a bit loud, but the tutor and others were not angry. "Uncle, you are joking. Read more "Nine Chapters on the Mathematical Art" carefully. These are not difficult."

Ma Xun smiled and asked, "Then how about we evolve from the chicken and rabbit in the same cage, from one yuan to two yuan, or three yuan? 2 and 4 are too simple, so we can choose an odd number, an odd and an even number, or use the method of measuring the height of a mountain by its shadow?"

This made the young tutor feel a little embarrassed. Putting chickens and rabbits in the same cage or the nine-square grid was not difficult, but evolving it was a little difficult.

Ma Xun continued, "How about we make some evolution from the Pythagorean theorem and use it to find the length of a line segment? This is the most basic application of the Pythagorean theorem. We can use it in practice to measure the length of a building slope, stairs, roof or any inclined structure, how about that?"

This made some people sweat, because, well, they were good at numerology, and sometimes they could apply it to practice, but what Ma Xun said was not something they needed to do on a normal basis.

Measuring the slope, etc., is the job of a craftsman.

Besides, what does this have to do with the Pythagorean theorem? How can it be the simplest and most basic application?

Zhu Biao also reacted. Now he was not worried about his uncle's lack of divination skills and being embarrassed, but that he could not handle the few doctors and tutors who claimed to be good at divination specially hired by him.

"Uncle, I have only heard of the Pythagorean theorem before. How do you solve this?" Zhu Biao asked with a smile, "Uncle, please teach me. I am really not very knowledgeable."

Ma Xun took the brush and white paper and drew a triangle. "a+b=c, I usually write it like this. This is one of the ways of expressing numerology. Please look, Prince. The smaller of the right angles is the hypotenuse, the other longer right angle is the leg, and the hypotenuse is the chord."

Not only Zhu Biao was reading it, but the tutors and doctors were also reading it. They were just a little surprised to see the words written by Ma Xun because they couldn't understand them.

"Uncle, why is there a small 2?" Zhu Chong asked curiously, "Isn't it just three points, four points and five points? Why is there a two?"

Ma Xun immediately got angry, "I asked you to do academic calculations but you were lazy. I told you before that the characters I taught are easy to calculate."

Zhu Biao quickly praised him, "Your maternal family has a profound knowledge. I'm sure your uncle often solved problems for fun when he was traveling in his early years, right?"

"What do you mean by wandering? It means roaming." Ma Xun laughed and said, "I'll teach the second child some lessons in the future. Some things may be forgotten after a long period of non-use, but once you learn them and think about them carefully, you can recall some of them."

Forget about calculus, linear algebra, and analytic geometry of space. It is enough to master some knowledge from elementary and junior high school.

Ma Xun continued, "Your Highness, the Pythagorean theorem can also be used to measure the height of a building. First, erect a flagpole and make sure it is parallel to the shadow, and then you can measure the height of the building. By extension, you can measure the height of a mountain, but the situation of the mountain is complicated, but if you find the right method, you can know the height of the mountain."

Not to mention Zhu Biao was greatly surprised, Zhu Chong and others beside him also seemed extremely shocked. They had heard of the three-legged four-digit mysterious five method a little, but they did not expect that this method could be used in this way in the hands of their uncle.

Including some doctors, they are good at numerology, which is used for counting and coordination, etc., but no one expected that the king's uncle could actually use this knowledge in many places that they never dared to imagine. The Pythagorean method was used in many ways in the hands of the king's uncle.

Seeing his nephews' surprised expressions, Ma Xun didn't feel like he was "proud" or trying to clear his name. He was just setting an example himself.

"Some knowledge in books is dead, but people are alive." Ma Xun warned earnestly, "There are principles in books, but how to apply the principles in books in daily life, these are what you need to learn more."

Zhu Biao said quickly, "My uncle is teaching me that we are indeed a little dull sometimes."

Ma Xun quickly spoke up, "Your Highness, you are too kind. I am just a teacher and can't help but nag you."

Zhu Su suddenly asked, "Uncle, can you really solve the world's problems after learning these numerology?" "That's not necessarily true, but if you learn numerology well, you can try to solve many problems." Ma Xun smiled and encouraged, "This cannot be done by one person, it requires the efforts of everyone."

Afraid that his nephews would think too much, Ma Xun continued, "I am just repeating what others have said. If it weren't for the summary of the predecessors, it wouldn't be my turn to comment here."

"It is because of your quick thinking that you can go one step further on the achievements of your predecessors." Zhu Biao said with a smile, "The talent that your uncle showed today really opened our eyes."

It's a bit exaggerated to say that it's eye-opening, but there are some things that I never thought could be explained by numerology, and even some difficult problems could be solved by numerology.

Ma Xun continued, "I always wonder, what is the purpose of studying? It is nothing more than 'establishing one's mind for the world, establishing one's mind for the world, establishing one's destiny for the people, inheriting the lost knowledge of the saints, and creating peace for the world.' But many times, the old principles are not suitable for the present, and copying them is not appropriate."

Zhu Su said unwillingly, "My uncle's teaching is very true! It's just like prescribing medicine for a disease. For the same disease, you can use the same prescription, but you have to change the dosage based on the patient's weight, age, etc."

"Yes, that's the truth." Ma Xun said halfway, and suddenly came to his senses, "See a doctor, don't think about seeing a doctor now."

This "little nephew" seems to really have a special liking for being a doctor. At such a young age, he wants to study plants and herbs whenever he has time. It is said that he is still reading some Taoist classics.

"If you can't be a good prime minister, you should be a good doctor."

This kid Zhu Su will definitely not be able to become a prime minister, but now he likes to study the Yellow Emperor's Classic of Internal Medicine and delve into the profound principles of medicine.

In fact, many scholars are like this. They take medicine for themselves whenever they have time, because there are some records in books.

Zhu Su suddenly felt a little depressed. What he wanted most was to study medicine with his uncle.

Anyway, I had this idea since last year, probably because my uncle saved my mother and elder brother, and also because my uncle was able to bring Duke E back from the brink of death.

Moreover, the Tai Chi created by my uncle is also in line with the principle of yin and yang. My uncle likes to eat and supplement food, saying that it is nutritionally balanced, which is also the truth of simplicity.

There seems to be no need to test Ma Xun's level of numerology, because it seems that the people in the main hall are not capable of testing him.

Zhu Biao brought Zhu Su excitedly to Rouyi Palace, "Mother!"

"What's wrong?" Ma Xiuying asked with a smile, "From your expression, did those people from the main hall fight your uncle in the art of divination?"

Zhu Biao said quickly, "How can that be possible! Uncle is better than all those people combined in the art of divination. Moreover, Uncle is not only good at divination, but can also use it to solve difficult problems."

Ma Xiuying was a little surprised. "I know you are close to your uncle, but there is no need to brag about him like this. If you are good at numerology, you can keep accounts, help distribute the army's supplies, and do logistics."

The brothers Zhu Biao and Zhu Su were explaining some of the things that happened in the main hall, and the more Ma Xiuying listened, the more complicated she felt.

My brother's level of numerology was far beyond her imagination, and she didn't expect that my brother was so smart that he could use numerology in other places.

But then I felt regretful. I am so smart. If I had been well educated in my early years, I would have definitely become a great scholar and a pillar of the court.

"Mom, is grandpa also very good at numerology?" Zhu Biao asked curiously, "I always thought that my uncle didn't study very deeply, but now I see that this is not the case."

Ma Xiuying was a little unsure, "When your grandfather fled, I was only twelve, and I don't remember a lot of things clearly."

Zhu Biao said, "I had someone check my uncle's past, and they only said that he was a loner, a moderate in everything, and didn't socialize with most people. Not many people knew about his medical skills, and I've never heard of him being good at writing."

"If my uncle could read, he would have been drafted into the army long ago." Zhu Su said hurriedly, "Didn't the great monk in the temple where my uncle became a monk say that my uncle has a talent for wisdom?"

Ma Xiuying was very angry. "Your uncle has never been a monk. He just makes a living. He can only read some Buddhist scriptures."

Zhu Biao tried not to laugh. His uncle did not admit that he had ever begged for food, and his mother did not admit that his uncle had ever been a monk. These two siblings sometimes cared about these "details".

Zhu Biao then smiled and said, "I admire some of the truths my uncle said today. My uncle taught us to apply what we have learned to practice, and to put the knowledge we have learned from books into practice in dealing with daily matters, big or small."

Zhu Biao then added, "My uncle has always been well versed in the doctrine of the mean, and he dislikes flowery articles. I am now looking forward to a group of students being taught by my uncle's school, who will definitely be of great help."

Ma Xiuying nodded and then reminded, "Have him keep an eye on the Imperial College. It takes time to teach a lot of people. The people in the Imperial College have a good foundation and you can use them at any time."

(End of this chapter)