Training the Heavens

Chapter 352 Seed
A bespectacled student immediately raised his hand and, after receiving permission, replied, "We believe that with the advancement of military technology, wars are no longer determined solely by bravery or strategy. Understanding science and technology will become an important quality for a commander. The school has invited a scholar like Director Zhang to teach us in order to improve our overall abilities."

"Chen Shukang, right? Your answer is very good." Zhang Xingjiu matched his image with the name on the roster and secretly praised him in his heart. He was worthy of being one of the three heroes of the military academy. His knowledge was deeper than that of ordinary students.

"Some of you might not understand, so let me tell you the story of Napoleon. As we all know, Napoleon is Europe's most famous military strategist. He led the French army across Europe! His brilliant achievements, in addition to his military talent, are also inseparable from his support for science and technology."

"In the 18th century, French mathematics was a brilliant field, with figures such as Lagrange, the founder of the calculus of variations; Laplace, known as the 'French Newton'; Monge, the creator of descriptive geometry; Fourier, the founder of the Fourier series; Poncelet, the founder of projective geometry; and Cauchy, the pioneer of complex functions. These mathematicians all served Napoleon to varying degrees, and some even established close friendships with him."

"Napoleon's unparalleled use of artillery was inseparable from these mathematicians. While studying at the military academy, Napoleon thoroughly studied Étienne Baecho's six-volume 'Mathematical Course (for the Navy and Artillery)'. These six volumes covered the geometry, algebra, calculus, and other mathematical knowledge required for artillery. This enabled him to master fast and accurate calculations, enabling him to precisely direct artillery and make the most accurate decisions on the battlefield."

"It was precisely because of this experience that, after coming to power, Napoleon placed great emphasis on the application of specialized knowledge such as mathematics, physics, and civil engineering to the military. Mathematicians such as Cauchy, Rasputin, and Lagrange taught at military academies or compiled specialized textbooks for artillery. After years of training, the comprehensive quality of the French artillery was unrivaled in Europe. Their strong mathematical attainments made the French artillery invincible in the European War."

"How high are the requirements of the French Artillery School for its students? I have an example here. It is an exercise for ballistics that the French mathematician Poisson wrote more than 200 years ago. You students can try to do it and see if you can solve it." After saying that, Zhang Xingjiu wrote a system of linear differential equations on the blackboard.

Those who can enter this military academy can be said to be outstanding representatives of young people from all over the country. They have always been full of confidence in themselves, thinking that even if they enter the military academy, they can complete their studies with ease, but this confidence was shattered in the face of this set of equations.

Even Chen Shukang looked bewildered. "Forget about solving the questions. I can't even understand them."

"Yes, I would rather fight the enemy with bayonets than do this kind of questions. There is still hope of winning in a bayonet fight, but I can't solve this kind of question even if you break my head." A short student next to him echoed.

After waiting for a while, and seeing that no student dared to attempt to solve the problem, Zhang Xingjiu continued, "This is the quality of a French artillery officer two hundred years ago. With such a level of mathematics, it is more than enough to study in the Department of Mathematics at Aurora University."

"The Beiyang artillery also needs to learn some math, but what they've learned is very superficial and can't compare to the French artillery. If you can master this knowledge, you'll be able to shoot more accurately and quickly than the Beiyang when you meet them on the battlefield in the future. I'm sure you understand better than I do what this means on the battlefield!" "And math isn't just for artillery command; it's also for military command. Ten years ago, British engineer Lanchester published a series of papers in the British journal Engineering. He first drew on the differences between ancient combat using cold weapons and modern combat using firearms. Based on some simplifying assumptions, he established a corresponding system of differential equations, profoundly revealing the quantitative relationship between the changes in the number of combat units (troop strength) on both sides during a battle."

"This equation, known as the Lanchester equation, has now attracted the attention of military experts from many countries. They have expanded upon it and it has found widespread application in military decision-making. These users have found that this system of equations can indeed improve the efficiency of troop deployment to a certain extent."

"Let me give you a simple example. A foreign military advisor conducted a simulation based on the Lanchester equation. For example, if a Blue force of 1000 soldiers engages a Red force of 1000 soldiers, and the average combat effectiveness of individual combat units on both sides is the same, then the Red force is split into two halves of 500 soldiers each. Assuming the Blue force's 1000 soldiers first attack the Red force's 500 soldiers, the Blue force will annihilate the Red half at the cost of 134 soldiers. Then, the Blue force will annihilate the Red half with its remaining 866 soldiers, for a total loss of 293 soldiers in these two battles."

"This process demonstrates the importance of concentrating superior forces in combat. Previously, determining the appropriate number of troops to annihilate the enemy depended entirely on the commander's experience. Now, this can be calculated more accurately through mathematics, greatly improving the efficiency of troop deployment."

"Physics also plays an important role in the military. Most basic physics can be applied in the military. For example, the wireless telegraph I invented allows commanders to obtain timely information from the front lines, allowing them to make correct decisions in a timely manner!"

"So, when engaging the enemy, commanders must consider how to intercept enemy communications and prevent their own communications from being intercepted. Wireless information can also reveal the location of enemy headquarters. If they can seize the opportunity to launch a surprise attack and decapitate an enemy general, their chances of victory will greatly increase."

"Civil engineering. How do you construct the most scientific defensive or offensive fortifications on the battlefield based on factors like terrain and enemy force size? To understand how to do this, you need to study civil engineering, like during World War I."

Zhang Xingjiu used one battle example after another to illustrate the importance of scientific knowledge in the military field. These words also planted seeds in the hearts of each student, making them realize the importance of knowledge.

He clearly saw that Chen Shukang and his companions were much more focused than others. This seed had already taken root in their hearts and would grow stronger in future wars. This might be one of the reasons why they could ultimately win!
Although the conditions they faced were far more difficult than those of their enemies, they never gave up learning no matter how difficult it was. This army, armed with knowledge and faith, became the strongest army on this land.

(End of this chapter)