Chapter 16: An Unexpected Visitor

“Professor Grothendieck, news from New York says that a young Chinese-American professor at Columbia University named Randolph Lin has proven Fermat’s Last Theorem.

Moreover, he employed a novel method that transforms number theory problems into complex analysis. It is said that the complete proof contains a vast amount of similar content, bridging different fields of mathematics.

Now, they’re asking if you would like to attend Professor Lin’s academic lecture on Fermat’s Last Theorem. If you are willing to participate, they will postpone the lecture until after you arrive in New York.”

At this moment, Grothendieck was teaching in Paris. Unlike English, French distinguishes between informal and formal forms of address.

Initially, Columbia University intended to invite only mathematicians from American universities for discussion. However, both the proof of Fermat’s Last Theorem and the contents related to the Langlands program proved to be too astonishing.

Once the news broke, mathematicians spread the word rapidly, using transoceanic calls and faxes. The news quickly reached Europe.

Columbia University thought, since the word is already out, why not invite Grothendieck, arguably the greatest mathematician of the time—or perhaps of all time—to attend Randolph’s lecture?

After Randolph Lin sent his 150-page paper on Fermat’s Last Theorem to Princeton University, the mathematics department there held meetings for three consecutive days and nights. Their conclusion was that, in principle, the proof was sound, though some points required further clarification from Lin.

In mathematics papers, if the writing isn’t clear, steps described as “easy to prove” or “obvious” can be far from obvious to others. Such details require thorough explanation through academic lectures.

With Princeton’s endorsement, Professor Fox was confident enough to invite Grothendieck, believing there would be no major issues.

The chance to appear before the global mathematical community was not one Fox intended to miss.

“Randolph Lin? I’ve never heard of that name,” Grothendieck asked his assistant.

The assistant replied, “I don’t know much about him either. This is the latest New York Times, featuring a report on Lin. It’s a fax from Columbia University, including the proof of Fermat’s Last Theorem.”

The assistant handed Grothendieck two documents. He first picked up the New York Times, where the front-page headline boldly declared:

“After 333 Years, a Mystery in Mathematics Solved: Professor at Columbia University Announces the End of Fermat’s Last Theorem

It is reported that Randolph Lin, a Chinese-American professor from Columbia’s mathematics department, has apparently proven Fermat’s Last Theorem, a conjecture posed by French mathematician Pierre de Fermat in 1637 as the ‘last theorem.’ It states that there are no three positive integers satisfying the equation a^n + b^n = c^n for any integer n greater than 2...”

Glancing briefly at the article, Grothendieck then turned to Lin’s paper on the theorem.

Silence fell over the office. When he reached the section constructing the relationship between elliptic curves and modular forms, he suddenly said, “Hait, book me the earliest flight to New York.”

Such conversations echoed among many European mathematicians.

Having read the portion concerning the Langlands program, they all realized the mathematical world was on the verge of a seismic shift.

Regardless of whether the proof was ultimately correct, the bridging of number theory, arithmetic geometry, and complex analysis was undeniable. The mathematical ideas were genuine, and the proposed theory of automorphic representations had myriad applications.

Anyone who could understand this paper found it impossible to resist booking a ticket to New York.

Among the most enthusiastic was Andrew Wiles, who was already in New York. Had Lin not been staying at Hockheimer’s house, Wiles might have spent entire nights discussing mathematics with him.

The mathematical ideas and methods Lin employed closely matched Wiles’s own aspirations.

“As I suspected, there is a profound connection between number theory, algebraic geometry, and representation theory! Randolph, you are truly a genius! Perhaps you will surpass me as an even greater mathematician!”

However, Wiles was displeased that Lin was pursuing a philosophy doctorate under Hockheimer.

“Randolph, you shouldn’t be studying philosophy with him—it’s a waste of your talent. You’re still young and need to devote more energy to mathematics, not throw yourself into philosophy so early. Besides, Hockheimer is a coward; following him won’t lead anywhere good!”

Under Lin’s persistent questioning, Wiles revealed that his sister, Simone Weil, was also a philosopher. Hockheimer had fled early to America, away from the European battlefront, while Simone Weil remained on the front lines in Europe opposing the Nazis, ultimately sacrificing herself due to overwork and poor health.

To Wiles, those who fled to America were cowards.

It’s worth noting they were all Jewish.

“How dare Andrew say that about me? He himself fled to America during World War II, and I was the one who introduced him to a teaching position at the University of Chicago. Does he have the right to call me a coward?” Hockheimer exclaimed incredulously upon hearing this from Lin.

When Lin relayed this to Andrew during the day, Wiles was equally indignant.

“My situation is different. I was involved in anti-Nazi activities in Finland, got arrested, and only escaped to America after that. If not for Rolf Næsvold, I would have been executed in a Finnish prison. Hockheimer just ran away without any resistance. How can that be compared?”

Once Grothendieck’s schedule was confirmed, the date for Lin’s academic lecture on Fermat’s Last Theorem at Columbia was also set—the last day of January.

As mathematicians flocked to the event, one unexpected visitor came to see Lin.

“Mr. Lin, I am Zhou Shukai, the Consul General of China in New York. Besides consular duties, I also handle affairs related to the Chinese diaspora. After hearing of your outstanding achievements in mathematics, I’ve come to offer my congratulations. This is a small token of appreciation; please accept it.”

Zhou Shukai had previously been the secretary to Wellington Koo, a veteran diplomat.

Lin guessed that Zhou had come after reading the New York Times report, intending to build a connection with him.

His sensitivity was impressive.

Lin took the envelope from Zhou’s hand and could tell by touch that it contained ten $100 bills.

“A generous gift,” he thought.

If China made rapid progress in the aerospace field in the future, maintaining good relations with 4v would be a way to mitigate risks, Lin reflected.