Looking at Li Tai's attitude, it seemed like he would not turn back until he hit a wall. Li Zexuan could only give him a hand and let him hit his head until he bled.
"Your Highness, please listen to the fifth question. Before I ask, I want to know if Your Highness has heard of 'Ode of Mulan'?"
Li Tai nodded. "Of course I have."
Ode of Mulan, also known as Poem of Mulan, was a narrative poem written during the Northern and Southern Dynasties in China. It told the folk story of the heroine Hua Mulan, who replaced her father in the army. The poem was written in the Northern Wei Dynasty. It was originally recorded in the Southern Chen Dynasty's' Ancient and Modern Music Records'. It was about 300 words long and was later embellished by scholars in the Sui and Tang Dynasties.
Li Tai was well-read, so of course, he had seen this poem before.
"It's good that Your Highness has heard of it. The fifth question is, why was Hua Mulan, who had been in the army for 18 years, so surprised when she changed into women's clothing?"
Li Tai replied matter-of-factly, "Wasn't it because her companions had never seen her in women's clothing before?"
Li Zexuan shook his head. "Wrong, it was because her companions thought that it was more appropriate for her to wear men's clothing."
Li Tai was speechless.
He really wanted to curse in his heart, but he did not know if he should say it.
"Pfft, hahaha. Tsk ~ ~ "Cheng Chumo could not take it anymore. He laughed loudly, but tragically, the wound on his face was torn.
Lan 'er covered her mouth when she heard this funny answer. She could not help but giggle.
Li Tai said with a dark face, "Continue, next question."
.....
"Next question."
.....
"Next question."
.....
As time passed, Li Tai's face became darker and darker. However, he couldn't help but listen to the next question every time. Putting aside the gambling, Li Zexuan's questions were all very novel, and the answers to each question were even more unexpected.
He was like an opium addict. Although he knew that he would lose if he continued like this, he could not help but want to listen to the next question and the answer to the next question.
"Your Highness, this is the last question. Please listen carefully."
After Li Zexuan finished, he sighed in relief. He was finally going to get rid of this troublesome fatty.
"Wait!"
Hearing that this was the last question, Li Tai was startled and quickly interrupted. He frowned, thought for a moment, and said, "That's right.
"For the last question, you are not allowed to come up with such a crooked question. You must come up with a proper question."
If he really couldn't answer a single question, then wouldn't his reputation be ruined? Although Li Tai liked those strange questions, it didn't mean that he was willing to lose the bet.
Li Zexuan looked at Li Tai's face, which was as black as the bottom of a pot. He didn't want to push this little fatty too far.
"I heard that Your Highness is also proficient in mathematics. How about I give you an arithmetic question for the last question?"
Hey, since this little fatty is looking for a beating, then don't blame me. I can also play you to death with a proper question, Li Zexuan thought insidiously.
Li Tai was energized. He was quite confident in mathematics. He didn't believe that Li Zexuan would be able to stump him.
"Okay, then it's an arithmetic question. Quickly give me the question!"
"Your Highness, please listen to the tenth question. Let's say that our Tang Empire wants to attack the Turks. We need to transport 100,000 dan of grain from Qin Province to the front line of Feng Province. If we travel by water, we will lose 300 dan of grain for every 100 li. If we travel by land, we will lose 500 dan of grain for every 100 li."
"If the grain transport army travels a total of 1000 li by water and land, they will have 95,800 dan of grain left. May I ask Your Highness, how many li did the grain transport army travel by water and land?"
Li Zexuan casually came up with a two-variable linear equation. As for higher order equations, he didn't bother. He was afraid that Li Tai wouldn't be able to understand it.
Although this question wasn't as strange as the previous one, it was still difficult for the ancient people. The people of the Tang Dynasty didn't have the concept of equations.
Li Tai furrowed his brows. This question was open and aboveboard. He tested all the hypotheses in his mind one by one. Gradually, sweat appeared on his forehead. After a long time, he still couldn't find the correct answer.
Li Zexuan reminded him, "Your Highness, the East Market will be closed soon."
Li Tai looked at the sky and said unwillingly, "If I have another two hours, I will definitely be able to find the correct answer."
Li Zexuan smiled and said, "Your Highness, the correct answer to this question is 400 li by water and 600 li by land. I can find the correct answer in three breaths."
Li Tai subconsciously put Li Zexuan's answer into the question to check. He found that it was correct, but he still couldn't believe it.
"You must have calculated the answer in advance. That's why you can say it so quickly."
"If Your Highness doesn't believe me, you can change a few numbers in the question. Let's see if I can find the answer in three breaths. If I can't, I will lose today's bet."
"Alright, that's what you said. Then, this prince will change the remaining provisions to 96,500 dan. You can calculate how many li we have traveled by water and land respectively. "
Li Tai changed a number casually. He didn't believe that Li Zexuan could find the answer in three breaths.
Li Zexuan's mental strength was far beyond that of ordinary people. As soon as Li Tai finished speaking, he immediately got the answer in his mind.
"Your Highness, the soldiers traveled 750 li by water and 250 li by land."
So fast! It didn't even take a breath. Li Tai was shocked. He quickly put Li Zexuan's answer into the question to check. A moment later, Li Tai's eyes widened and he muttered, "It's completely correct. How is this possible? Even Dr. Liu from the Imperial College can't do it …"
Although Cheng Chumo didn't know how to calculate, seeing Li Tai's reaction, he knew that his good brother had calculated correctly. He couldn't help but change his understanding of Li Zexuan. He thought to himself, "It's fine if his martial arts are better than mine, but why is he smarter than me? How am I supposed to live in the future?"
When Li Tai wanted to compete with Li Zexuan in mathematics, Lan 'er wasn't worried at all. She still remembered Li Zexuan's heroic performance in the clothing store.
"Your Highness, what about today's bet?"
Seeing Li Tai in a daze, Li Zexuan asked worriedly.
Li Tai had been tortured miserably today. He waved his hand dispiritedly and said, "I lost.
"A bet is a bet. This King will not make things difficult for your Strange Interest Pavilion in the future."
"Thank you, Your Highness, for keeping your promise. We'll take our leave now."
Li Zexuan admired this little fatty's character of being willing to admit defeat and keeping his promises.
"Wait, are you really not willing to write a story for me? If you have any requests, you can tell me. I'll consider it. "
Li Tai was still unwilling to give up, but his tone was no longer as arrogant as before. Not only was this person in front of him good at writing stories, he was also quite talented and had strange ideas. He was a smart and interesting person. Li Tai really wanted to rope him in as a guest of the palace.
Li Zexuan shook his head and said, "Sorry, this humble one's ambition does not lie in this."
Looking at the little fatty's disappointed expression, he also felt that Li Tai's tone was no longer as arrogant as before. He thought to himself that this fatty was just a child spoiled by his parents.
Li Zexuan then added, "But in my free time, I'll write some stories. When the time comes, I'll engrave them into books and sell them at Strange Interest Pavilion."
Li Tai's eyes lit up and he said with a smile, "Okay, I'll definitely get someone to buy a few books. But you must tell me about your learning skills in the future. I'll definitely treat you well. "
Li Zexuan smiled and said, "Of course."
.....
The few of them bade farewell. Li Zexuan looked at the sky and estimated that the market would close in a few minutes. He let Wang Zhong take Lan 'er back first. He quickly walked to Strange Interest Pavilion's workshop and happened to meet Faubert who was preparing to go home.
He asked Faubert about the progress of the curved plows. Faubert smiled and said,
"Young Master, the twenty curved plows you wanted have all been made. They're just waiting for you to send someone to take them away tomorrow. I'll go to the manor with you tomorrow to see how effective the curved plows are. "
Li Zexuan nodded and said, "Okay, that's good. I'll send someone to take these curved plows away tomorrow."
At this moment, Faubert seemed to have thought of something and said, "Oh, that's right. Young Master, the roller bearings you mentioned before have been made in the workshop. Now we can make roller bearings of various sizes."
Li Zexuan was overjoyed and said with a smile, "That's great. After I'm done with this, I'll give Faubert a blueprint. Faubert can help me build a carriage with roller bearings for all the parts that need to be rotated."
Li Zexuan was very happy that there was finally hope for the luxurious carriage that he had been longing for.
Faubert smiled and said, "Okay, no problem."
.....
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