[Infrastructure] After being mistaken for a god

Inan's ship approached Alexandria.

The wind and waves are a bit big.Yi Nan stood at the bow of the ship, the salty sea breeze engulfed her cheeks and hair with water vapor, but she did not go back to the cabin below the deck.

She kept looking up at a building near Port Alexandria.It stands majestically on a small island near the port, and its towering spire is clearly visible.Although it is daytime, a bright light can still be seen reflecting from the tower.

"This is the Lighthouse of Alexandria!" Vitruvius was standing next to Inan, seeing her so focused, he couldn't help but explain, "There are mirrors and lights on the top of the tower. During the day, the tower guards use mirrors to reflect sunlight and guide the ships by lights at night."

Vitruvius wondered: Had this woman never seen the world-famous lighthouse?

When he first set out, Vitruvius didn't have much affection for the woman who was walking with him: he felt that she was really unreasonable, and despite his objection, she forcibly took him out of the construction site by the Nile River, delaying his work.

Although it is only a month, but within this month, he can completely complete the fortifications on the banks of the Nile——

Now, he accompanied people to Alexandria, and then he will return to near Cairo.Once back and forth, the time on the road is a waste for him.

Of course, Vitruvius must admit: this woman is extremely beautiful.Her figure conforms to the golden ratio, and she is definitely the favorite figure of mathematicians——

But so what?He had already written down all her figure data.

——Is this data enough for him?

The young guy really couldn't understand: why others would envy him so much, even Caesar was congratulating him.Where does this joy come from?

As long as he thought that for the next month, he would have to be by this woman's side instead of doing the research he wanted to do and presiding over those crucial projects, Vitruvius felt a little dejected.

He was sullen and blamed himself for not being brave enough to oppose the arrangement of the consul and this woman face to face.

But at this moment, seeing Inan looking at the lighthouse in Alexandria so intently, for some reason, Vitruvius felt a little more comfortable—maybe he found a feeling that connected with her:

What a tall and magnificent lighthouse it is!

It is said to be the tallest building in the world built by manpower.It is taller than the Tower of Babel in Chaldea.

Its three-story building is also unique: the first floor is a calm square structure, the second floor is octagonal, and the top floor is a circular tower supported by eight columns.Every time Vitruvius saw this lighthouse, he was always excited by the mechanical structure and aesthetic style of this building.

Unexpectedly, at this moment, Yi Nan seemed to remember something, turned around suddenly, grabbed Vitruvius' arm, and said, "Do you want to go to the lighthouse to see?"

Vitruvius: ...!

"I tried it. There are guards under the lighthouse, and no one will be allowed to wait up the tower."

Yi Nan shook his arm: "We are not idlers, I am from this lighthouse...don't worry, you follow me."

Immediately she gave the order, speaking to the sailors on board in a language Vitruvius could not understand.The sailors responded loudly and turned the rudder. The ship turned slowly in the sea wind and headed for the lighthouse.

Inan took Vitruvius ashore, and the two came to the lighthouse together.

Sure enough, as Vitruvius said, there were guards under the lighthouse to stop them—not to let them in.

Yi Nan pulled out a copper badge from his collar, took it off, and waved it in front of the tower guard.The tower keeper looked at it, as if dazzled by the light reflected by the copper badge, immediately changed his attitude, and respectfully invited Inan and Vitruvius to go up the tower together.

Even the tower keeper not only let them visit the tower, but also accompanied them all the way, explaining to them how the space in the tower is used, how barrels of lamp oil are sent from the bottom of the tower to the top of the tower, and how the people eat and drink. Where do you live, how do you shift shifts during the day and night...

Vitruvius just thought it was an eye-opener: he only knew that the external shapes of the three-story lighthouse were different, but he never knew that each layer of the structure inside was different.Climbing the tower this time solved many mysteries in his heart and gave him many hints.Vitruvius blushed with excitement when he heard the exciting part of the explanation, and almost wanted to dance.

Yi Nan was on the side, seeing his appearance, couldn't help but pursed his lips and smiled.Those flexible eyes seemed to say: I knew you would like this place.

The two climbed straight to the top of the lighthouse, and finally saw the huge bronze mirror used to reflect sunlight.They stood at the highest point of the circular tower, overlooking the vast sea, overlooking the Alexandria Port in front of them, and the ships that frequently entered the port.

The wind here is very strong, and the robes of Vitruvius and Inan are fluttering in the sea breeze.The tower keeper had gone down first, and there were only the two of them on the tower.Vitruvius shouted to the woman beside him, "Thank you for taking me up the tower!"

He really didn't expect that he had just arrived in Alexandria, and he already felt that the trip was worthwhile.Vitruvius's grievances are all gone now, and he can only be grateful to Yinan in his heart——

He is such a simple-minded person, take him to see the lighthouse, and he is illuminated.

Vitruvius was upwind, and the sea breeze carried his voice far away. The woman beside him turned around and smiled at him.This smile is more radiant than the sunlight reflected by the bronze mirror.

"You don't need to thank me. I'm also here to take a look, to satisfy my curiosity."

Against the wind, Vitruvius didn't hear Yinan's words, and continued to ask: "That badge of yours is so powerful——"

Yi Nan knew what he wanted to ask, but shook his head with a smile, not daring to say any more.

She is actually the sponsor and designer of the Alexandria Lighthouse.

That was more than 200 years ago, she traveled to Alexandria.This port, named after Alexander the Great, was once a shipwreck-prone port, and ships frequently ran aground, causing scenes of tragedy.Eventually the Egyptian pharaoh Ptolemy II (son of the Macedonian warlord) ordered the construction of a navigation lighthouse.

Inan happened to know Ptolemy II, and because it was a civil project, she decided to donate generously, so that Chaldea's property in Egypt donated one-third of the tower's construction costs.

She also recommended the lighthouse designer, the Greek Soschatus, to Ptolemy II.

So Alexandria has such a lighthouse, which has stood here for more than 200 years.

It is also because of this that she has such a badge that can be used as a "passport".

But this cannot be said to Vitruvius - she is afraid of frightening the other party.

"The Lighthouse of Alexandria, one of the Seven Wonders of the World!" Looking at the extremely busy Alexandria Port in front of him, Yi Nan couldn't help but sigh, "But this is the only one, and it was neither built for gods nor kingship, but Built for so many sailors, travelers, merchants . . . so many ordinary people."

Among the seven wonders of the world, the Lighthouse of Alexandria is unique.

"Yes, we designers should devote ourselves to designing and building for 'people' to better meet the needs of ordinary people." This time Vitruvius heard Yinan's words clearly, and responded in her ear.

Yi Nan's heart shook violently.

Yes, in this era, "humanity" has begun to shine. In Greek and Roman paintings and sculptures, even mythological figures appear in the form of "human". is the best example.At the same time, as Vitruvius said, Roman architecture, whether public or private, is gradually shifting from "god" to "man".

This is an era that begins to emphasize "people-oriented".

Yinan thought: It seems that she has to find the key to the mission quickly. If she misses this era, wouldn't she have to wait until the Renaissance era more than 1000 years later to regain such hope?

Thinking of this, she couldn't help but have a sad face, recalling what Daniel said at the beginning: This is indeed an extremely abstract task-the birth of human "free will".

She once understood it simply and crudely as "subjective initiative", and once regarded it as the degree of human "belief": whether human beings trust gods more or believe more in themselves.

But now mankind has entered an era that is more "self" than in history, and people are changing the world at an unprecedented speed.

Yi Nan began to doubt herself in an instant, whether the key to solving the puzzle had been missed by her inadvertently?

Or, the moment when the so-called "free will" was born was not a world-shaking feat, nor was it a heroic oath—it might just be a trivial thing, a moment that was not noticed by people.

——This is how she should look for it?

Seeing Inan's sad face, Vitruvius was surprised.Holding the pillars of the tower on the top floor, he leaned over and asked Yi Nan, "Is there anything I can do for you?"

Yi Nan raised his eyes, and happened to meet Vitruvius's clear eyes.

She was holding her breath and could not speak.

Originally, she did not expect to meet a familiar soul on the banks of the Nile River.The moment she saw his eyes, countless memories flooded her mind, but she didn't know how to speak.

"I was your mentor, your partner, your comrade-in-arms, your lover, your wife..."

But how could she speak it out? ——The current Vitruvius has his own life experience and is a unique person.

Vitruvius was taken aback, for in the girl's eyes he saw a profound sadness—and it seemed to concern him.

"Miss Yi Nan, really, if there is anything I can help you, please do so."

Just then a whirlwind blew past, the wind was strong, wrapped Inan's body, and hit Vitruvius.Without thinking, Vitruvius opened his arms and embraced the woman in his arms.His back rested on a column of the circular tower—a column that helped them stand.

Unexpectedly, at this moment, the wind died down.

The wind is also quiet.The sound of sea waves and the chirping of water birds are far away, as if they are the background of a painting.

Vitruvius only felt a warm body bump into his arms, and his hands touched the cool and smooth skin.He instantly heard his own heartbeat.

This feeling is extremely strange, but there is an inexplicable familiarity.

"Miss Yi Nan, I..."

Vitruvius explained dumbfounded.

Yi Nan quickly left his embrace, took his hand, and hurried away from the top of the tower.

"The wind is too strong, and the top of the tower is too dangerous!" Her gentle little hand held his rough big hand.Vitruvius's hand has always been used to holding chalk, charcoal, quill...but never a woman's hand.

He had never felt this kind of feeling before, but he didn't find it awkward at all—as if he could let this girl lead him to the ends of the world like this... Wait a minute, isn't that right?

Vitruvius stopped suddenly, retracted his hand, and began to examine his heart in surprise.

Yi Nan had already walked down the spiral staircase several steps.At this time, she had already regained her composure and composure, and her sorrow was washed away. She raised her head and looked at Vitruvius. Those bright eyes seemed to ask, "Aren't you coming down?"

Vitruvius collected himself and asked, "Where are we going next?"

Inadvertently, he has already used the title "we".

Yi Nan smiled immediately, forgave his hesitation, and asked, "Where else can I go? Naturally, back to Alexandria."

Reboarding from the Lighthouse of Alexandria, Inan and Vitruvius sailed into Alexandria.

This is about the busiest port in the world.Standing in front of the port, looking around, you can see masts and sails everywhere; sailors with oars and porters with sacks pass in front of you.Ships here enter and leave the port day and night, continuously transporting the agricultural products produced in Egypt to various places on the northern shore of the Mediterranean Sea—and because of this, the Lighthouse of Alexandria is probably the most important security building in the world today.

Yi Nan did not regret her initial investment at all.

Vitruvius followed Yi Nan all the way.He could see that this woman knew Alexandria well, she knew every street and alley like the back of her hand—she even had a residence of her own: a small courtyard away from the hustle and bustle, where she could enjoy a quiet night.

"Where are you going to live? Do you need to stay with me?" Yinan asked.

When she spoke, she raised her face, as if inviting.

"No need—" Vitruvius declined, "I rented a small quiet room in the big library..."

Seeing the girl looking at him with burning eyes, he suddenly had the desire to explain, and quickly said, "I paid the rent for three months before, just wanting to read books at night..."

But why did he explain?Is it to express that he will not linger in the flowers like other Roman officers, nor will he get lost in the enthusiastic singing and dancing of the Egyptians?

"...Otherwise the rent will be wasted." Vitruvius said his reasons embarrassingly.

The girl on the opposite side burst out laughing with a "puchi".Looking at her expression, she seemed to think of someone who, like him, liked to spend a good night soaking in books.

Her smile was brighter than the roses that covered the walls around her, and the little bit of resentment in her eyes melted away, turning into a pool of spring water.

"Then, we'll see you tomorrow!"

Yi Nan didn't force it, he turned around and walked into the courtyard along the passageway covered with vines.There is a light at the end of the passage, which just reflects her back.He could clearly see every step she took, every step made her back flicker on and off, every step was so beautiful.

Vitruvius stood there stupidly for a long time, not knowing what he was thinking. He seemed to have something in his mind, but it was stuck in his throat and he couldn't express it at all.

But he didn't know at all that at the end of the passage, where the lights couldn't see, Yi Nan was also standing there.

She knew what she wanted to say, and now she only had those three words in her mind to express—but she was afraid that it would disturb his life.