“Sorry, it was really not my intention that things turned out like this.
“I… I didn’t plan to publish that paper, but I didn’t expect my student to act too fast. I contacted the Southwestern Institute of Physics yesterday and the paper has been withdrawn, but that didn’t seem to do anything.”
The call came from Academician Qiu Mingrui.
His voice was full of exhaustion and self-blame.
Lu Zhou could hear that it was not his intention that things would turn out like this. He did not expect that this academic debate would actually be used as a political tool by those who were interested.
Lu Zhou looked at the old man in the video window as he tried to comfort him.
“Don’t blame yourself for this matter. Even if you didn’t publish the paper, nothing would be different.”
Just as there would still be a war without the gunshots from Sarajevo, Lu Zhou didn’t think that the foundation hiding in the dark would let him launch the second-generation controllable fusion project.
Whether it was due to an old grievance a century ago or a conflict of interest in the new century, they were against his actions.
“Thank you for understanding my difficulties…”
Qiu Mingrui looked at Lu Zhou gratefully. He hesitated whether to tell him more, but when he thought of the warning from that person, he stopped himself.
After all, he was nothing more than a scholar. Although an academician, he only had a dazzling academic aura. It was nothing at all in the face of real power and death threats.
He was nowhere near the level of participating in their conspiracy…
“That’s it, I have another important meeting… If you have any new clues, call me again.”
Lu Zhou looked at the time on the holographic window. He guessed that Li Guangya, who was sitting across the conference table, was impatient, so he ended the conversation and hung up the phone.
Although he had a hunch that the old man had not told him everything, this was not important anymore.
When the chaos in Guanghan City first happened, he had told Xiao Ai to focus on Academician Qiu Mingrui. Although he didn’t think that this riot was related to Academician Qiu, after all, he was at the center of the whirlpool of public opinion, it made sense for the people from the foundation to contact him.
In some sense, his behavior could be regarded as a kind of protection in disguise.
If everything went well, the fish hiding in the dark should have begun to bite.
Whether it was a big fish or a small fish, he just needed to wait patiently for the result…
After finishing the call, Lu Zhou reached out his index finger and swiped it in the air, closing the holographic window.
Seeing that Lu Zhou was finally finished, Li Guangya, who was sitting across the conference table, asked casually, “Who was on the phone?’
“Academician Qiu.”
“Qiu Mingrui?”
“Yeah.”
The conversation between the two people stopped abruptly.
They looked at each other with their eyes wide open. Li Guangya had a blank face, but he had a headache.
Whether it was to quell the grievances of the residents of Guanghan City or to correct their attitudes, as the chairman of the Pan-Asian Cooperation, he had to talk with East Asia Energy.
However, he didn’t know what to talk about with Lu Zhou.
To put it bluntly, there was nothing to talk about.
Sitting across from him was the greatest scholar from a hundred years ago. If he had the ability to question him academically, he wouldn’t just be a chairman.
Li Guangya sighed and said euphemistically, “Since so many people oppose you, can’t we focus on the space elevator first?”
Lu Zhou was slightly stunned and confused.
He spoke.
“The space elevator… There are too many things involved. I am only 30% confident at most. However, after a hundred years of research on the second-generation of controllable fusion, the time is now.”
“The time is now. But the problem is that you have to consider what everyone else wants.” Li Guangya said with a headache, “At least, in my opinion, the first generation of fusion technology is completely sufficient. Even for another fifty years, there is no problem. We should solve the current problem first.”
“In my opinion, this is the current problem.” Lu Zhou continued after a moment of silence, “The second-generation of controllable fusion technology is the prerequisite for interstellar navigation. With only the first-generation controllable fusion technology, we can only exist in the solar system at best. But if we master the second-generation controllable fusion technology, we can take our footprints to the world lightyears away.”
Li Guangya: “You aren’t willing to compromise?”
Lu Zhou shook his head.
“If it really doesn’t work, I will think of another way, such as going to the Lagrange Space Base or Mars to do this experiment.”
Although this was not a suitable choice, it was indeed a backup option that had been seriously considered by Lu Zhou, but the two backup options might be troublesome.
Moving the reactor to a space station was least likely to cause controversy, but it would increase the maintenance cost and safety risk of the reactor. The centralized autonomous management system of Tiangong City might be more convenient than the Guanghan Special Economic Zone. But the flood of weapons on Mars would have an unpredictable impact on the progress of the experiment.
There was also the threat of space pirates…
Unless it was the last resort, he didn’t want to send his researchers to such a dangerous zone.
“But if this is the case, the cost will be very high.” Li Guangya touched his chin and said thoughtfully, “I heard that the fuel for the second-generation fusion is helium and deuterium. These two things are on the moon or Earth.”
Looking at Li Guangya, Lu Zhou suddenly didn’t quite understand what he wanted to do.
“… Yes, and the energy demand on Mars is not as huge as the Earth-Moon system. My original idea was to build a moon-based second-generation fusion reactor on the moon, and then use high-powered laser power transmission technology to transmit electrical energy to the geosynchronous. This creates an Earth-Moon energy corridor.”
After a pause, Lu Zhou shrugged and continued, “But now it seems that I ignored the feelings of the residents of Guanghan City.”
Li Guangya: “You did ignore them. You only care about research and papers. You have forgotten that they are all living people! Of course people will be afraid, and they will be incited because of fear! If it were me, I would definitely not be so aggressive. For example, for a space elevator, I would first conceive a reason that would make sense, and after that, I would try to arrange a mascot to make people believe in me or themselves.
“Just like war, you have to give them the courage and honor to face death so that they will not be afraid of death. Or you can use a whip to slap them and force them to change, but think about it, this is the 22nd century, is that possible?!”
Lu Zhou frowned.
“Mascot?”
“Ahem… Focus on the main point.” Li Guangya coughed dryly, changed the subject forcibly, and continued, “Let’s make a deal, I’ll help you. You will also help me. Helping each other is good for us, and we can all keep our names in history.”
Our names in history…
It feels like a very distant concept.
Although Lu Zhou was not interested in leaving his name in history, he still became interested in his proposal.
“What do you want me to help you with?”
“The space elevator.” Li Guangya said, “I will help you settle things in Guanghan City. In exchange, I hope you will serve as the chief consultant for the scientific development of the Pan-Asian cooperation as well as the chief designer of the space elevator!”
In other words, you want me to plan the space elevator?
Lu Zhou spent a few seconds thinking about this matter. He then finally spoke.
“I can do that, but I am afraid I will have to wait until the second generation of controllable fusion technology is completed before I can free up my time.”
Li Guangya frowned and asked, “How long will it take for the second-generation fusion reactor to be completed?”
Lu Zhou thought for a while and answered, “One year, or maybe two years, but my instinct tells me that the final result is not far away.”
“Then set a predetermined period of one year.” Li Guangya continued, “After one year, you will serve as the chief consultant for the scientific development of the Pan-Asian Cooperation! Whether you participate or not, I just need your name on the title!”
“Done.”
Although Lu Zhou could see through the old man’s cunning eyes, he still agreed.
Whether it was for fame or for profit, the result was always positive.
Every individual was selfish, even he himself.
Only children would care about insignificant things.
Lu Zhou’s watch on his left wrist flickered slightly, and a reminder icon popped up.
Li Guangya’s face suddenly showed a speechless expression. He asked with a sigh, “Why do you get so many calls?”
“Because I’m busy… I’ll go outside.”
“Can’t you just answer the call here?”
“No, it’s not appropriate.”
Lu Zhou got up and walked out of the meeting room.
Li Guangya leaned back into the chair and waited impatiently for about two minutes.
Finally, the door opened again.
Lu Zhou walked into the room.
Noticing the weird expression on Lu Zhou’s face, Li Guangya raised his eyebrows and asked casually, “What’s going on?”
Returning to the chair and sitting down, Lu Zhou casually replied with a weird expression, “Nothing, I just caught a big fish.”
An unexpected big fish…
