Chapter 50: Do You Still Want Göttingen to Rise or Not?

Compared to Xiangjiang, New York is a wonderful place for doing number theory.

The City University of New York, Columbia University, New York University, and nearby Princeton University boast a wealth of top-tier talent in number theory.

Melvin Nathanson frequently hosts number theory seminars, and Harvey Cohn, whose primary research focuses on algebraic number theory and quadratic forms, is also an active organizer of these gatherings.

Throughout New York, mathematicians have shifted their research focus within number theory from classical number theory to modern analytic and algebraic number theory.

If you go there, immersed in such an environment, you will be able to produce a vast amount of interesting work, said Lin Ran.

New York's reputation as a vibrant hub for number theory is often referred to as the New York number theory community, a distinction largely owed to the New York Number Theory Seminar organized by Melvin Nathanson in 1982.

However, although it was formally established in 1982, the community had already been active since the 1950s.

Lin Ran was deeply curious: if Chen Jingrun were placed in an environment like New York, working alongside Harvey Cohn, what kind of breakthroughs could he achieve? Would he truly be able to solve the Goldbach conjecture in the truest sense?

I know what you are worried about. The cost of living in New York is indeed very high, but I will speak with Professor Cohn and arrange a scholarship for you that will be more than enough to cover your expenses there.

Additionally, if the scholarship falls short, I can help you apply for funding through the Fulbright Program, Lin Ran added.

Six months ago, Professor Hökheimer had taken care of him in much the same way; now, half a year later, he was able to extend the exact same care to another Chinese genius. A powerful sense of deja vu washed over Lin Ran.

Chen Jingrun's eyes turned slightly red. Based on the past month and a half of spending time with Lin Ran, he knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that the other man would never stand idly by. Lin Ran's attentive care this time only served to reaffirm his suspicions.

After a brief moment of silence, he said, Thank you, Professor. I will seriously consider your advice.

Given Chen Jingrun's current circumstances, it was naturally impossible for him to give an immediate, definitive answer.

Lin Ran stood up and patted the shoulder of this renowned mathematician who had previously only existed in textbooks. Then, with a smile, he said, Dehui, a man of integrity should not harbor the hesitant, timid airs of a young maiden. Following me around would actually be a source of trouble for you.

Besides, do not think that helping you requires any great sacrifice on my part. Professor Cohn has constantly invited me to attend his number theory seminars. I rarely go because they hold them far too frequently—on average, once every two weeks.

If I attend a few more of his seminars in the future, he will be more than happy to grant this request.

In fact, once he meets you in person, he might even feel that he owes me a favor and may very well treat you as his closest, most prized disciple.

Lin Ran had previously considered recommending Chen Jingrun to Shiing-Shen Chern, but firstly, he and Chern were not well acquainted, and secondly, Chern's field was differential geometry, whereas Chen Jingrun specialized in number theory—their research areas did not overlap in the slightest.

The reason he chose Harvey Cohn was not only because Cohn was a towering figure in the field of number theory and could provide Chen Jingrun with access to venues like the New York Number Theory Seminar, but also for another crucial reason: Cohn was at the City University of New York, an institution long renowned for serving a diverse student body, including working-class individuals and ethnic minorities.

Even if unforeseen circumstances arose, Chen Jingrun would have a much higher likelihood of being protected at the City University of New York.

It could be said that Lin Ran had anticipated virtually every factor.

Thank you, Professor. Thank you so much.

By the way, Dehui, I recall you mentioning previously that your father was looking for work? If he hasn't found anything yet, I suggest he consider working in shipping—specifically the shipping routes running from Xiangjiang to New York. That way, every time he docks in New York, he will have the opportunity to come visit you, Lin Ran mentioned casually, as if it were merely an offhand suggestion.

Chen Jingrun certainly did not take this as a mere suggestion. He was well aware that Lin Ran knew his true background, as well as the actual identity of his so-called father.

Since the other man brought it up this way, it undoubtedly carried a profound and deliberate meaning.

Nevertheless, Chen Jingrun maintained a calm and impassive exterior. I will discuss it carefully with him.

Lin Ran nodded. Shipping companies like Shun Tak Holdings, Orient Overseas Container Line, and Wheelock Marden are quite good. Make sure to mention them.

Finally, Lin Ran handed him an envelope. This is a letter of recommendation. If you decide to apply for Professor Cohn's doctoral program, write to me in advance.

As he stood up to leave and walked over to Chen Jingrun, Lin Ran lowered his voice and said, On the night I leave, remember to go to my office at the University of Xiangjiang to retrieve a document. I have placed it in the very bottom drawer on the right side. It is a hundred thousand times more important than all the mathematics I have taught you.

Without looking back, Chen Jingrun silently committed Lin Ran's words to memory, then likewise lowered his voice to reply, Professor, Professor Hua Luogeng has already been transferred to work in Guangzhou.

Lin Ran stopped in his tracks, his fists tightening into a sudden, fierce grip. Good!

He knew precisely what message Chen Jingrun was trying to convey to him.

Inside the Peninsula Hotel near Nathan Road in Tsim Sha Tsui, at a Japanese restaurant named Tokyo Pavilion, Japanese mathematics professors and Indian mathematics professors gathered together.

Yasutaka Ihara wrinkled his nose at the heavy aroma of curry filling the room, feeling quite displeased.

Although they did not have to pay for the meal—the bill was being covered by the Xiangjiang office of JETRO (Japan External Trade Organization)—it had originally been intended as a banquet to host Professor Lin, only to end up with a group of Indian scholars instead.

Had Srinivasa Ramanujan been among them, it would have been one thing; but apart from Ramanujan—let alone anyone of that caliber—by Yasutaka Ihara's standards, not even a single second-rate mathematician was present.

Shimura-kun, I simply don't understand why Professor Kodaira would invite these Indian scholars to dinner, Ihara complained. This holds not a shred of significance for the Japanese mathematical community.

Yasutaka Ihara was only twenty-two years old at the time. After completing his bachelor's degree, he continued his studies as a doctoral student in mathematics at the University of Tokyo. Similar in age to Goro Shimura and working in the same field of number theory, he had been brought along to Xiangjiang.

Goro Shimura, roughly eight years his senior, had already experienced the roller coaster of having his research pass unnoticed before being thrust into prominence due to citations by leading authorities. Consequently, he was far more mature:

How can you be certain that there isn't someone among these Indian scholars on par with Randolph?

...

Germany, Department of Mathematics Office, University of Göttingen

Professor, how could you let a mathematician like Randolph slip through your fingers?! Max Deuring held the latest issue of Inventiones Mathematicae, which had traveled across oceans to reach him, an expression of sheer disbelief plastered across his face.

Don't you want the University of Göttingen to become the center of mathematics once again?

This issue of Inventiones Mathematicae detailed Lin Ran's proof of the Fermat-Catalan conjecture, introduced and proved the vital tool of the logarithmic theory of linear forms, and further refined his own Randolph Program.

Following the publication of the paper, the journal circulated globally, and the work was widely hailed as yet another Fields Medal-caliber achievement.

Indeed, Alan Baker ultimately won the 1970 Fields Medal precisely because of the theory of linear forms in logarithms.

After reading Lin Ran's latest paper, Carl Ludwig Siegel was consumed by a deep and profound regret.

All because he had made a promise to Hökheimer, taking on Randolph Lin as his final closing-door disciple, only for it to threaten to ruin his lifelong reputation.