Joseph submitted the "Four Color Conjecture" to the Academy of Sciences. Indeed, those guys, including Laplace, were stumped, and everyone studied for a while but could not come up with an answer or even a feasible solution to the problem. For the time being, there is no idea. Everyone, including Laplace, had their own research and couldn't possibly spend all their time on such a topic, so in the end, as Joseph said, the Academy of Sciences simply publicized the topic and sought answers from all over the world.
Joseph originally threw out the subject as a way to pit Mara. In Joseph's experience in his last life, generally speaking, the civil science thing was more in physical chemistry and very little in math. But what he didn't realize was that the reason why there were fewer civil subjects in mathematics in later times was because the topics of those mathematical problems in later times were, in themselves, already beyond the comprehension of those civil subjects, so that there were fewer civil subjects in mathematics in later times, and that wasn't because they had any reverence for mathematics, but because they couldn't even understand the topics!
But the "Four Color Conjecture" is a topic that everyone - including folk like Mara - understands. Then Laplace just glanced at it and saw seven or eight errors. Then, naturally, the paper went where it was supposed to go.
However, Mara did not give up and sent the "paper" to Joseph. In his letter, he also expressed confidence that Joseph would see the value of his thesis. Only then did Joseph realize that he had made a mistake by digging a hole and ended up burying himself in it.
Mara's "thesis", like all "civil science theses", is full of problems, ranging from derivation to conceptual errors. Joseph likewise identified seven or eight problems with just a quick glance.
'If Napoleon had written this, or any of my other students, I would have blown his ass wide open!!' Joseph cursed through clenched teeth while his head hurt over how to write back to Mara.
'It is not easy to find 'something of value' in this 'thesis'. If I must say that there is something 'valuable' in this 'thesis', it must be fearless courage. After all, ignorance is fearless.' Joseph couldn't help but spit in his mind.
'But in the reply, one can't praise his 'courage' one way or the other, can one? Mara was indeed a crank, but he was no fool. He'd think I was being sarcastic if I praised him like that.'
So Joseph had to study Mara's flawed "thesis" over and over again for a long time before finally finding something praiseworthy: "Well, although the derivation of this paragraph is not serious, some of the ideas are still interesting. Ah, just blow hard on that part for now."
So Joseph began to put his pen to paper to write a reply to Mara. In this letter, Joseph begins by devoting two full sides of the paper to praising Mara for that small piece of analysis. The complimentary tone of voice even sent goosebumps straight up his own body.
'I'm almost as bad as the root-digging king in this physicality, aren't I? I never imagined that I would do this just to have a good meal. Alas, to earn money, business, is not shabby.' Joseph spat at himself as he continued to write back.
'Now it's time for a twist, it's time for a but.' With this in mind, Joseph wrote under his hand, "But there are still a few minor problems with this paper as well, such as in ... Mr. Laplace's opinion that there are logical holes in the argument here, ignoring the fact that ... You may not be aware of the fact that people who work in mathematics are a little bit paranoid, and Mr. Laplace is very paranoid about this type of problem, and as a result, he believes that this paper doesn't succeed in proving this conjecture ..."
Wrote the "but" in a few sentences and steered the scourge to Laplace's side in the process. Joseph then finished his reply, and then, after carefully removing the excess ink from the letterhead with blotting paper, he sealed the letter and sent it back. As for how Mara would hold a grudge against Laplace after receiving the letter, that was none of his business. Considering how much of a headache Laplace had caused himself in a previous life with his set, Joseph suddenly felt better in his conscience.
This tactic does work. Not long after, Mara again sent a letter of reply, thanked him for his affirmation, and expressed anger at the "old-fashioned guys" inside the Academy of Sciences, and vaguely revealed the day he came to power, he must drive these guys out of the Academy of Sciences, and then let such courageous young pioneers as Joseph in charge of the Academy of Sciences, which will surely make the science of France to shine.
"Is this 'If I am the Qing Emperor in other years, I will reward you with a peach blossom blooming in one place'?" Joseph couldn't help but laugh.
Mara did have his day to climb up, but that was still in the future. And as of now, he won't be able to bear much ill will toward Joseph when he climbs up. So, for the time being, the matter concerning Crank Mara can be brought to an end by the greatest supremacy. Now, Joseph's attention can focus on his younger brothers again.
Napoleon didn't need Joseph's trouble too much these days, and he was back in Corsica and wouldn't be back anytime soon. As for Louis, who was still young, Joseph had asked someone to find a nice elementary school for him to study in. As for Lucien, Joseph arranged for him to be admitted to his alma mater, the Louis-le-Grand.
Lucien was certainly not as remarkable as Joseph at the Louis-le-Grand, though academically, he was not bad and did well in speeches and plays. Joseph has now stepped down as a writer for the Dragon and Rose Theater Troupe, though his connection to the troupe remains. Relying on this relationship, he also allowed Lucien to guest star in a few roles in the troupe from time to time. According to Director Denardi, "He was a natural-born actor." It was just that Joseph hadn't gone to see Lucien perform with his own eyes, so he didn't realize how much exaggeration there was in Denardi's remark.
In addition to this, Joseph hired an Austrian musician named Fraser to teach Lucien piano. According to the musician, although Lucien was a late learner of the piano, he had a good talent, and if he were willing to work hard on it, he would have a chance to reach the level of performing on stage in the future.
In fact, Joseph did not require Lucien to reach such a level. In his conception, Lucien will be responsible for cultural and artistic propaganda in the future. He does not need to be very proficient in all kinds of art as long as a little dabbling on the line.
Lucien does seem to have some real talent in these areas, though; he's even written a couple of little plays lately and composed a couple of little tunes of his own. Joseph has seen and heard all of these works, and frankly, they're not too great, but they're passable.
Because of his performance, Armand simply brought him into his "Spartacus Writers Group" and often dragged him out on weekends to discuss the script.
Time just drifted away. In a flash, it's 1789. During the last two years, France's finances had reached a point where they could not be sustained, and King Louis XVI was forced to propose a tax increase to avert the total bankruptcy of the kingdom's government. French society was divided into three estates: the clergy, the nobility, and the commoners. The first two estates occupy a great deal of the wealth of society but do not bear much of the burden of taxation. These two estates were naturally adamant in their opposition to the increase of taxes on them, and with the political power they wielded, they did have the strength to oppose it. Therefore, the only target of tax increase is, naturally, the third estate.
In order to increase taxes, the king had to reconvene the Estates General, which had been interrupted for one hundred and seventy-five years, to find a solution to the financial crisis.
"The King of France is such a fool that he would come up with such a stupid, stupid idea as calling Estates General at this time!" In a letter to Joseph, Napoleon taunted the French king unmercifully, "Doesn't he realize how much discontent and resentment the Third Estate has buried against him? If he hadn't called Estates General, all this anger would still just be subtle and wouldn't be in much danger for a while, but he called some kind of Estates General! Doesn't he realize that this will give those who oppose him a chance to organize? Individuals are always timid and weak; they dare not do anything even if they harbor resentment in their hearts. But once they were together and organized, they had the guts and strength to go and fight lions and even dragons. People are like locusts; when they are not swarming, they are just grasshoppers that are not worth mentioning, but when they are swarming, they are unstoppable locusts. And that fool was foolish enough to give those who opposed him such a chance, a chance to unite them, to go from grasshoppers to locusts. This idiot must have thought that the Estates General guys would just bluff and pay up, or at best, even if they wouldn't pay up, they couldn't make much of a mess, and yet there are others watching ..."
To Napoleon's judgment, Joseph was in complete agreement. Indeed, the whole of Paris was in turmoil as the representatives of the Third Estate gradually concentrated there. Some pamphlets began to become popular among the public. Some of these pamphlets are intended to introduce to the public the relevant knowledge of the Estates General, and most of this "knowledge" is directed in a certain way, with one side of the pamphlet describing what taxes the King intends to increase and how he intends to exploit everyone further. Such propaganda worried the already struggling Parisian civilians.
At the same time, because of the widespread spring drought in the northern provinces, out of fear of a possible great harvest failure, starting from the grain merchants under the command of several great nobles, almost all of them eventually began to adopt the practice of selling sparingly. There was less and less grain for sale in the market, and the price naturally climbed all the way up. The climbing prices have further stimulated a culture of hoarding and selling, and the continued rise in food prices is making Paris complain. It was at this point that Armand once again found Joseph.