Under the shade of the tree.
Watching the somewhat explosive Little Niu and Hook, Xu Yun quickly recalled the history he knew.
It's unclear whether it's due to Little Niu's interference, but later generations didn't have detailed records on Hook's specific experiences, often glossing over them.
Most of the time when Hook is mentioned, it serves the same purpose as leveraging Tyue Lun just to highlight faker, merely to either praise or disparage Old Niu.
As such, Xu Yun couldn't immediately recall when Little Niu and Hook might have met; he could only find clues to deduce the timing.
"1665... Hook was a professor at Gray Sam College, and his hometown White Island is also in the southern part of the United Kingdom, completely in the opposite direction of Lincolnshire... Moreover, the publication of 'Microscopic Image' took place in the latter half of the year...."
Xu Yun sifted through Hook's rather public records one by one in his mind, and suddenly, a light bulb went off:
"Wait, publish 'Microscopic Image'?"
In 17th-century United Kingdom, the Royal Society tightly held the power to define science, a typical academic monopoly.
Anyone wanting to publish academic books first needed the society's approval and secondly, had to go through the society's press to print them.
At that time, the press operated under the Royal Society was only one, coincidentally located in Lincolnshire!
Realizing this, Xu Yun's focus began to shift between the two people:
"In other words, the current Hook should be preparing to go to Lincolnshire to discuss publication matters, so it doesn't make sense for him to be at odds with Little Niu at this time....
Uh, could it be due to the Cambridge and Oxford university rivalry?"
Those who studied as exchange students at the University of Cambridge should be aware.
Cambridge and Oxford, as two of the most famous colleges in the United Kingdom, have enmity that even dates back to before their founding.
Oxford is the main city in the Thames Valley, rumored to be a place where ancient herds of cattle forded the river, hence the name Oxford.
As is well known.
Before the 12th century, the United Kingdom actually had no universities, and people went to France and other European countries to study.
In 1167, some scholars returned home from Paris, gathering in Oxford with the support of the king and the church, forming what is now Oxford University.
By 1209, a student from Oxford University accidentally killed a woman while practicing archery, escalating tensions with the Oxford townspeople.
Two scholars and several students who lived with the offender were hanged by the townspeople without church consultation (which would usually pardon scholars first).
This further intensified the conflict, triggering violent clashes between the school and the townspeople.
During the conflict, some teachers and students fled north to Cambridge Town, where they focused on studying culture and academics with local church support.
Thus, the University of Cambridge as it is today was formed.
From the start, the two schools had significant enmity, which was even evident in their oppositional emblems:
Both Cambridge University and Oxford University's emblems have a book, except Cambridge's is closed while Oxford's is open.
During the English Civil War, Oxford was the command center for Charles I and the Royalists, while Cambridge became the base for the Parliament Army, politically opposed to each other.
So if Hook, due to school rivalry, saw Little Niu in university attire along the way....
That would indeed be quite a dramatic situation.
As Xu Yun pondered this, Hook, standing nearby, spoke again:
"Kid, how is Barrow doing lately?"
Upon hearing Hook mention his teacher's name for the second time, Little Niu had a faint understanding:
"The teacher is in good health. Mr. Hook, do you know each other?"
Upon hearing this, Hook's mouth curled into a smirk, and with his hunched body, he resembled something of the Casimove:
"Know each other? It's more than that. I didn't get a bachelor's back then... never mind, it's pointless to talk about this with a current student like you.
How about this, you can help me deliver something."
Hook took out a piece of paper from his body, densely filled with several lines of words:
"I don't have Barrow's address. If you know where he is, send him this problem, and let him take a good look at it.
If he cannot solve it, according to our previous bet, he needs to resign from the position of Professor Lucas.
Of course, if you can't find him or he pretends to be dead, that's fine; after the plague ends, I will visit in person.
In any case, he can't escape from this, grimly leaving is his best end."
Upon hearing Hook's particularly villainous words, Little Niu's face immediately darkened.
Professor Lucas.
This is not a name, but an honorary position at the University of Cambridge.
The title is awarded to researchers in mathematics and related fields, awarded to only one person at the same time, and its holder is referred to as "Professor Lucas."
In a way, it is somewhat like the 'Shadow' from the Legend of the Five Villages' Weapon Fight:
A village might have four or five shadow-level combatants, but the one who can truly be called the Shadow to represent the highest honor is only ever just one.
Little Niu's mentor, Isaac Barrow, was the Professor Lucas of the time, the "Shadow"— indeed, Little Niu's mathematics teacher was also named Isaac.
Western cultures, unlike the local, typically have fewer given names but more surnames, so sharing names is quite normal.
Little Niu had a very close relationship with Barrow. According to posthumous manuscript decryption, Barrow had even reached results on the product, quotient, and differential theorems of two functions at this time.
Yet, he ultimately passed this knowledge on to his beloved pupil, making a monumental contribution to the establishment of calculus.
In accordance with historical trajectory, Barrow would voluntarily resign from the position of Professor Lucas in 1669 and recommend Little Niu as his successor.
If William is without doubt listed as Little Niu's top1, then Barrow, Stock, the current Lisa, and the future Halley can probably all be counted as top2.
After suddenly hearing Hook's disrespectful words, Little Niu's inner anger surged immediately.
He quickly scanned through the letter Hook handed to him, and after glancing over a few lines, a trace of shock and uncertainty flickered through his eyes.
Then he suddenly raised his head and called out to Hook, who had already turned to leave:
"Mr. Hook, please wait a moment!"
Hook stopped upon hearing this, raised his slightly ground-touching robe, and turned to face Little Niu:
"What else is it?"
Little Niu first glanced at Xu Yun beside him, took a deep breath, and said:
"Mr. Hook, your problem doesn't need to be passed to the teacher; if you give me five days, I can solve it myself!"
....
Note:
The incident between Barrow and Hook is indeed strange, not to mention involving Newton, as well as Hook's graduation and Barrow's resignation, but hardly anyone in the country has mentioned it...
It's somewhat puzzling, but the events are certainly true, scratching my head.