  We present a combinatorial geometry and dynamical systems framework for the
investigation and proof of the Minkowski conjecture about critical determinant
of the region $ |x|^p + |y|^p < 1, p > 1. $
  The application of the framework may drastically reduce the investigation of
sufficiently smooth real functions of many variables.
  Incidentally, we establish connections between critical lattices, dynamical
systems and elliptic curves.
