Episode 12 recap: Wang Miao learned about a significant discovery.
Shi Qiang also learned about Ye Wenjie's past experiences and instructed Xu Bing Bing to continue investigating the matter. Standing on a platform, Chang Wei Si watched everyone busy but achieving nothing, and he didn't know what to say. Shi Qiang approached him, jokingly suggesting that he could join in on the frustrating game. Chang Wei Si had recently discovered that many high-level intellectuals in several regions were also playing the Three-Body game.
This was a significant discovery, and he didn't understand why Shi Qiang was investigating Ye Wenjie's affairs. Initially, Shi Qiang had shown no interest in Ye Wenjie's matters, but later, he couldn't help but develop a strong interest in her. Yang Dong's suicide, her investigation into the boundaries of science, her contact with Shen Yu Fei, her involvement in researching the Three-Body game and cosmic twinkling phenomena—all these seemingly unrelated clues converged on one point. This was what he needed to investigate.
Furthermore, a portion of Ye Wenjie's file remained classified. Based on Chang Wei Si's investigation, it was discovered that Ye Wenjie had participated in a significant national defense project, with the application filed under Red Coast Base. In that base, there was an unprecedented and enormous antenna, which analysis indicated was used for information interference against Western countries. Before leaving, Shi Qiang reminded Chang Wei Si to assist him promptly in the investigation of Ye Wenjie's affairs.
At home, Wang Miao measured Dou Dou's height. Shi Qiang quickly called him and invited him out for a meal. As the food was served, Wang Miao promptly pulled Shi Qiang aside and asked him to accompany him to a particular place. They soon found Ye Wenjie's student, Sha Rui Shan, who proudly claimed to be the chosen one. He enthusiastically introduced the model he had created. Soon, Wang Miao and Sha Rui Shan got to the heart of the matter.
Mu Xing quickly arranged another meeting with Pan Han. She was still curious about how he obtained such important information and what he intended to do with it. After hearing Mu Xing's questions, Pan Han calmly replied that he wanted to reveal more truths to the public. However, Mu Xing hadn't finished reviewing the information, and she had no understanding of the significant environmental hazards caused by technology. She was concerned that the public might react negatively to the related reports. Pan Han insisted that people were opposed to the harm caused by technology, not technology itself. He intended to present the facts without forcing anyone to make choices or judgments.
Meanwhile, Wang Miao quickly immersed himself in the Three-Body game and noticed changes in the color of the soil and alterations in the composition due to the new climate conditions. Wang Miao responded to prompts from passersby and re-entered the tower to investigate. Inside, he discovered what appeared to be an observatory. Mo Zi warmly welcomed Wang Miao's arrival and prepared to show him the previous civilization they had visited. Civilization 137 of King Wen of Zhou had been restarted four times, with the shortest attempt only reaching halfway through the Stone Age. However, Civilization 139 had achieved a record by advancing to the steam age. On the other side, Shi Qiang quickly picked up Dou Dou after school. He had forgotten Wang Miao's instructions not to smoke in front of the child. Soon, Shi Qiang took Dou Dou to eat things that Wang Miao had forbidden. While sitting in the restaurant, he saw Mu Xing reporting on environmental pollution on the television, and Mu Xing ended the call abruptly.
Wang Miao returned to the Three-Body game, walking alongside Mo Zi. They witnessed various phenomena, and Mo Zi explained his theories, which were based on extensive observations rather than mysticism. Mo Zi vividly described the mysteries of the universe to Wang Miao. Shortly after, Sha Rui Shan called Xu Bing Bing, asking him to come to her place because he had made a significant discovery. Wang Miao and Mo Zi then watched the simulation of the universe, marveling at its exquisite nature. Through a telescope, Wang Miao made a major breakthrough. Civilization 141 had been destroyed in a raging fire, but its seeds remained, and it would be restarted.
Wang Miao returned to reality, where he discussed the significant discovery with Sha Rui Shan, Shi Qiang, and others. They realized that as long as they could predict the Stable Era, they could successfully complete the game. All Three-Body games predicted the Stable Era. During the time of King Wen of Zhou, divination was used to predict the Stable Era. Kong Zi used the laws of the universe, and Mo Zi used a massive model of the universe he had built. Wang Miao understood that everyone desired an accurate calendar that spanned thousands of years, but they had not succeeded because the world of Three-Body was different from the real world.
In the game, Mo Zi revealed a crucial piece of information to Wang Miao. During the time of Kong Zi, after the sudden extinguishing of the sun, a flying star appeared in the sky. If it was true, Wang Miao believed that there was only one possibility: after the sun went out, the star that had been obscured by the sun's rays became visible to everyone.
The biggest problem with Ye Wenjie was her foolishness and naivety.
Her father was a leading figure in the scientific community and embodied rationality and goodness. Therefore, she naturally believed that having more knowledge would bring about morality and rationality.
However, her father was tortured to death by his students.
She thought that Bai Mulin, who had read "The Silent Spring," saw the duality of things, the moral and rational aspects.
But that man quickly pushed her into the abyss.
In prison, someone was kind to her, and she learned her lesson not to easily trust strangers. But that person wanted to use her to undermine political enemies, and when things didn't go as planned, they turned around and tried to freeze her to death.
With a broken family and near-death experiences, she sought revenge not against individuals, but against society itself. She wanted to reform society.
However, her foolishness lies in the fact that she still believed that science and knowledge could bring about wisdom, morality, and rationality—the radiance of human nature.
If she looked at history, she would know that agriculture built empires, but those empires imposed heavy taxes on farmers. Industry built cities, but entrepreneurs exploited workers, forcing them into 996 work schedules, extracting all their value.
Technological progress does not necessarily equate to happiness itself.
High technology, low quality of life—let's delve into the world of cyberpunk.
Therefore, Liu Cixin's works go beyond scientific science fiction and encompass various speculations about society and morality.
Ye Wenjie is neither a savior nor a proponent of the arrival of higher civilizations. Her own goal is to introduce advanced civilizations to completely solve the inherent flaws of human nature. Unfortunately, the young Ye Wenjie did not understand that advanced civilizations do not necessarily equate to higher moral standards. Moreover, during her pregnancy, she witnessed the thirst for knowledge in many children and the respect the villagers had for her. She still held a trace of goodwill in her heart. However, after learning that the Trisolarans referred to humans as "insects," that trace of goodwill shifted to Luo Ji, leading him to propose the concept of "cosmic sociology" which eventually developed into the Dark Forest theory. I cannot judge the morality of Ye's actions as I have not experienced her suffering, but she was the catalyst for everything.
I agree with what you said. Technology and science can transform the world, but they cannot provide inner fulfillment and happiness because happiness is a spiritual matter. That is why theology and philosophy exist on Earth. However, even they cannot save humanity from its suffering because human nature and human society are incredibly complex. High technology in a complex human society has the potential to lead to the destruction of Earth's civilization. We have been searching for an exit for Earth's civilization, but no one knows where that exit is. In reality, we all know the eventual fate of Earth's civilization.
I really love the effect of the Three-Body Game segment. I've seen some people criticize the stiff actions and expressions, as well as the subpar special effects. I want to remind them that this game was released in 2007!
You have to understand that the scientific boundary invested heavily in developing this game back in 2007, but they were limited by the technological standards of that time. The visuals may not be cutting-edge in our eyes in 2023, but we're talking about a game from 2007!
Just take a look at the big productions of that era like Final Fantasy VII and Crisis Core, and you'll see the level they were at.
Of course, the production team probably had budget constraints, but I think the slightly stiff and somewhat uncanny feeling of the final result is very much in line with the era.
If they had poured money into creating AAA game graphics that match the standards of today, even if they achieved it, there would be people complaining that it doesn't fit the time period. Personally, I'm extremely satisfied with the Three-Body Game segment in the seventh episode!