CHAPTER 1119: CHAPTER 106: MY LIFE, WALKING ON THIN ICE

On the streets of Göttingen, you might casually find a young student capable of helping Einstein solve the problems of four-dimensional geometry.

—— David Hilbert

In the twilight, within that time and space gently caressed by the years, the University of Gottingen quietly nestled in tranquility.

This venerable institution, founded by George II in 1737, has been the cradle of countless German youths’ dreams and has witnessed the glory of numerous scholars. The breeze rustled, stirring the lush green leaves atop the trees, and the golden sunset paved the paths across the campus, as if one could see the students of Göttingen who had once strolled there.

Among them were those such as the old alumnus, Austrian Empire’s Prime Minister Klemens von Metternich, reviled by the students of Göttingen, as well as the genius poet Heinrich Heine, hailed as the leader of German freedom.

Although they always disagreed, going as far as to hurl words like hemorrhoids, urinary incontinence, and portable toilets at each other in insults, it did not change the fact that they were both alumni of the same university.

Additionally, the forerunner of the German historical school of law Friedrich von Savigny, Hegel’s number one opponent Arthur Schopenhauer, the founder of Berlin University William von Humboldt, Baron Stein who implemented nationwide educational reforms in Prussia, and Arthur’s old friend, the richest young man in all of Europe, Lionel Rothschild, were also among them.

In the near future, the likes of Heisenberg, Dirac, Xue Dinggua, Fermi, Stern, Pauli, Oppenheimer, Fermi, Planck, and Minkowski would also join this roster.

Even if they were about to play football, they could proudly pat their chests and declare to the world that they could easily form at least five world-class starting lineups.

It is because of having such an outstanding university that the external wall of Göttingen Town Hall could confidently carry the city’s motto — There is no life outside of Göttingen.

And as one of the top five prestigious schools in Germany, Gottingen University during its heyday could rightfully stand above Berlin University, Munich University, Heidelberg University, and Jena University, proclaiming ’There is no academia outside of Göttingen.’

The fine tradition of Göttingen University is the pride of every professor teaching there and every student studying there. However, for Sir Arthur Hastings, who had just assumed the position of the first National Special Representative and Academic Director of Göttingen University, the reputation and strength of Göttingen University represented a kind of pressure.

Göttingen University to Hanover is what Oxford and Cambridge are to Britain.

In the past, Sir Peel offended his alma mater, Oxford University, while assisting the Duke of Wellington in promoting the "Catholic Bill," resulting in expulsion from Oxford University and losing what was regarded as Oxford University’s most prestigious seat in all of Great Britain, and was even denounced for several years by the priests of Oxford University.

The ’anti-Robert Peel movement’ they initiated not only struck at Sir Peel’s political reputation but also caused the Tory Party extremists, who were likewise Oxford graduates, to break ties with Sir Peel, and to this day, their relationship remains unreconciled.

And if Arthur messed up at Göttingen University, the chain reaction would undoubtedly be far more severe than Sir Peel’s provocation of Oxford University. After all, in Britain, there’s still Cambridge University to dilute Oxford University’s influence, whereas in Hanover, Göttingen University is the sole power in education.

Or, even if speaking from the worst-case scenario, if Arthur failed to maintain stability, His Majesty the King and the lords of Whitehall would definitely hold him accountable.

And if he maintained stability too well, before long, in Heine’s writings, Arthur Hastings would develop the same German hemorrhoids and suffer from urinary incontinence just like Metternich.

Thinking of this, even Sir Arthur Hastings, who had balanced precariously like a tightrope walker all his life, couldn’t help but sigh: "From Scotland Yard to Göttingen University, the Tory Party and the Whig Party, conservatives and liberals, my life has always been like walking on thin ice."

Accompanying Arthur on his tour of the campus was Professor John Helbart, Dean of the Philosophy College. This professor didn’t notice that the young Academic Director next to him, who looked barely older than the average student, was lost in thought. Remaining dedicated as a philosopher and driven by a professor’s natural inclination to teach, he was introducing Arthur to the history of Göttingen University.

"In the 18th century, when Göttingen University was newly established, the differences between universities were not distinguished by their academic reputation, but rather by the overall atmosphere and mood of student life."

For instance, the universities in Jena and Wittenberg were famous for the amount of beer students drank and the number of heads they broke, while Marburg University gauged the number of duels students had engaged in. Leipzig University was widely popular for the lifestyle debauchery of its students.

As for Tübingen, in the 18th century, it was more of a Colosseum in Rome than a place of learning. Southern farmers and residents from Jewish quarters were harassed by student pranks, plagued beyond measure.

Moreover, the pranks adopted by the students were extremely malicious, such as disrupting folk festival activities, crashing weddings, attacking Jewish shops, and other acts of violence.