Beijing.
Institute of Mathematics at the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
In a conference room that wasn't very spacious, a group of people were squeezed together.
Most of them were the heads of major public mathematics research institutions in China, as well as the most prestigious scholars of various large and small schools of thought.
As for why they were sitting here …
In fact, they didn't even know.
"Why isn't there an agenda?"
Wang Shicheng looked at the lonely mineral water bottle on the conference table and frowned.
Just as he was about to ask a staff member, a familiar voice suddenly came from the side.
"Wang Shicheng? Haha, you're here too? "
Wang Shicheng looked over and saw Academician Xiang walking over with a smile on his face. He then sat down next to him.
"The Institute of Mathematics at Yan University is one of the top mathematics research institutions in China, why can't I come?"
"Hey, that's not what I meant, I'm just a little surprised." Academician Xiang looked around and lowered his voice as he said, "It seems that not only the heads of major research institutions are here, but the top number theory experts in China are also here … I wonder what this conference is about."
"No."
"No?" Xiang Huanan paused for a second and looked at him.
Without looking at Academician Xiang, Wang Shicheng raised his eyelids and glanced at the conference room.
"Speaking of number theory experts, there's one person who isn't here."
"You're talking about Academician Lu?"
"Yeah." Wang Shicheng nodded and said frankly, "In the field of number theory, if he says he's second, no one would dare to say they're first. Since it's a gathering of scholars in the field of number theory and he's not here, I can only guess that this meeting is probably related to him. "
Even though he didn't particularly like Lu Zhou, he was quite impressed by Lu Zhou's mathematical achievements.
While they were talking, a middle-aged man in a suit walked to the podium in front of the conference room.
As the man coughed lightly, the voices in the conference room gradually quieted down.
Even though he wasn't in academia, as the second-in-command of the Ministry of Science and Technology, most of the scholars sitting here were familiar with him.
"Looks like this meeting won't be simple."
Hearing Xiang Huanan's whisper, Wang Shicheng didn't say anything. He just nodded in silence.
The "industry-wide conference" hosted by the second-in-command of the Ministry of Science and Technology …
How could it be simple?
"Make it short." After a light cough, the man standing in front of the podium quickly got to the point with a serious expression. "What you are about to come into contact with is the country's top secret. The confidentiality level is temporarily classified as top secret. If there are no other changes, the confidentiality period is 30 years. After the meeting, you are not allowed to discuss any issues related to the meeting in private, and you are not allowed to disclose or divulge any information related to the meeting. "
"Of course, the specific top-secret content has nothing to do with you or me. In order to facilitate the work, I will try to pick out the main points. "
After a pause, the man nodded to the staff next to him and signaled him to turn on the projector.
Soon after, as the projector was turned on, a PowerPoint with black text on a white background appeared on the screen.
The moment they saw this line of questions, the conference room was immediately filled with whispers and discussions.
Almost everyone's faces were full of unexpected expressions.
"ABC conjecture!?"
"What the hell is going on, I don't understand."
"It looks like they are going to call on everyone to solve mathematical problems."
"This is bullsh * t, is this something that can be done by concentrating our strength?"
Academician Xiang Huanan opened his mouth and looked at Academician Wang Shicheng, who was sitting next to him. He spoke with a strange expression.
"Old Wang, what do you think?"
Wang Shicheng had the same confused look on his face. It took a long time for him to squeeze out a sentence from his mouth.
"… I don't know, don't ask me."
ABC conjecture …
Although he didn't know what this thing had to do with state secrets, his rationality told him that this problem couldn't be solved by convening the top domestic experts for a meeting.
"This is a mathematics problem. I believe that with your level, I don't need to explain more. I will only say the key points here." The expression on the man's face did not change as he looked at the discussion in the conference room. He continued, "The Ministry of Science and Technology has set up a special scientific research fund with an annual budget of 100 million yuan.
"Whoever can solve this problem, this fund will belong to that person."
Whoever can solve this problem, will belong to that person?!
The moment they heard this, the people who were still discussing a second ago all sucked in a breath of cold air in unison.
Even Wang Shicheng, who had retired for many years, couldn't help but gasp.
100 million yuan of scientific research funding?!
100 million yuan per year …
Is this f * cking crazy?
For some professional engineering academicians, 100 million yuan may not be a big deal. It was only enough to buy two pieces of equipment. Especially for those scientific researchers who built rockets and planted the sun, forget about 100 million yuan, it might not even be enough.
However, for a poor discipline like mathematics, 100 million yuan was already an astronomical number.
If there really was that much money, they would have to worry about how to spend it every year.
"What the hell happened, why did the Ministry of Science and Technology spend so much money …" Academician Xiang Huanan, who was sitting next to him, whispered in an incredulous tone.
"I don't know …" Academician Wang Shicheng shook his head with a dignified expression. "But I'm sure that the responsibility behind this is not small."
…
In fact, the hunch of many scholars in the conference room, including Academician Wang Shicheng, was correct.
A report from Mars not only turned the entire 128 project into a Class A secret, but it also made the entire Mars landing office feel like they were facing a formidable enemy.
Extraterrestrial civilization …
Just a day ago, this sounded like a distant concept.
But now, this had become a problem that everyone had to face.
Almost all the leaders of public mathematics research institutes in the country were called to a meeting at the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Not far away, on Chang 'an Avenue, a ministerial closed-door meeting was also going on.
"… Let's just directly disclose it to the international community, regardless of whether there are benefits or not. The risks are too great! If everything goes well, it will be fine. If it is not handled well, it may even cause our decades of hard work and achievements to go down the drain. We will also have to bear the infamy of humanity. "
"I agree with Minister Wang's point of view. Just like global climate action, this is no longer a problem faced by our country, but a problem faced by all of humanity. Even if it is a top secret, it will be kept secret for 30 years at most. Instead of risking the world to take the risk, it is better to make a limited degree of disclosure. "
"I object. At least before we confirm the safety, we should make sure that all the options are in our hands!"
"Seconded! If it's useful, then fine. If it's useless, so what? Other than arguing, who else can you count on to help? The Americans? "
"I don't agree with disclosure, but I also don't agree with this. We can fully disclose part of the information with reservations. Under the premise of relatively controlling the channels of communication, we can set up an international organization to discuss countermeasures. Not only will this help us enhance our international influence, but it will also avoid the risk of a crisis of trust. Otherwise, once the slightest news is leaked, or other countries have evidence that we are in contact with extraterrestrial civilizations alone, it is likely that our relationship with the international community will fall into a very awkward situation. "
"Indeed … It's too difficult to keep this a secret for ten or twenty years, and not even the slightest bit of information is leaked!"
No matter when, contact with extraterrestrial civilizations is always a risky thing.
This risk not only came from the distant light-years away, but also from the neighbors of Earth.
If a country was in contact with extraterrestrial civilizations alone, it meant that it had the power to declare war and negotiate with the extraterrestrial civilization. Other countries could only become passive recipients of all dialogue results.
All the benefits were taken by others, but they had to bear the risks with them. They were even kept in the dark. No one would be happy if they were in their place. It would be fine if it could be kept a secret, but this was obviously impossible.
The head elder, who was sitting at the conference table, went silent for a while. He then looked at Lu Zhou and spoke.
"That ABC conjecture, can't you solve it?"
Although this question seemed to have nothing to do with the agenda of the meeting, it was actually the most critical point.
Being able to solve this mathematical problem seemed to be the prerequisite for a dialogue with the extraterrestrial civilization.
They gradually began to realize this, and the voices of discussion gradually subsided. Everyone in the conference room quieted down, quietly waiting for his answer.
"I don't know." Lu Zhou shook his head and said carefully, "This kind of thing can only be known after trying … And my intuition tells me that even if I can solve it, I'm afraid it will take a lot of time."
The old man pondered for a while and nodded.
"Let's not consider the situation where there is no answer for the time being. Now that you have solved this problem, who do you think is better?"
"From a sincerity point of view, it is better for the person who solved the problem to go." After a pause, Lu Zhou continued, "If it is me … and not someone else who solves this problem, I am willing to go to Mars."
The elder frowned.
"Can't we talk remotely?"
"It's very difficult." Lu Zhou shook his head and said, "Forget about Mars, even on Earth, radio signals can't be transmitted that deep underground. Unless a communication base station is built on the ground and optical cables are laid. However, with the current conditions of the Mars scientific research base, it is almost impossible to do this. "
After a pause, Lu Zhou looked at the other people in the conference room and continued.
"Besides, I also want to go and see what the so-called alien looks like."
"I think it's still too risky." Although he was moved by Lu Zhou's selfless dedication, Director Li still couldn't help but say, "It's Mars tens of millions of kilometers away … If something goes wrong, it's not a joke."
"Science itself is a risk. When did I say I was joking?" Lu Zhou looked at his old friend with concern on his face and said calmly, "If everything goes well, the impact of this meeting may be greater than controllable fusion.
"Whether it's from the standpoint of a country or a human being.
"It's necessary for me to go there in person!"
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