Li Fanyu's request is really a bit excessive, but he has some intention of sitting on the ground and paying back the money. In everything, there is always room for negotiation, right?

But in fact, his request is a trivial matter for the current Conservation and Exploration Bureau.

A bigger crisis, out there.

This part of the eastern Pacific Ocean is already a sensitive area in the eyes of all countries.

When the International Seabed Resources Association allocated this area to China more than a decade ago, in fact, other countries did not take it seriously. At that time, to be honest, China didn't even have a decent underwater probe, and it couldn't even do the most basic underwater exploration.

In the eyes of any country, giving such a place to China is just a hand. After all, the authorization issued by the International Seabed Resources Association (ISRA) is valid.

However, with the progress of Chinese science and technology, especially when the Jiaolong underwater probe discovered the almost inexhaustible reserves of manganese nodules in this sea area, they all got a terminal disease called red eye.

Now, seeing the slow progress of China's Dryland Exploration Bureau, I don't know how many people are praying to God that this mining plan will be aborted as soon as possible, so that they can pick up a ready-made bargain.

At this time, on the sea, in a research ship.

Matesson, director of UNCV Marine Mining, is holding a telescope and observing the busy but seemingly slow, inefficient construction team of the China Ocean Exploration Bureau.

The undulating sea surface made the target in the telescope a little unstable, but it did not prevent him from observing. Because the work is so familiar, for the past three months, he has been surveying the area almost twice a week on average.

"May, how's it going?"

Lewis, Materson's lieutenant with a cigarette in his mouth, came out of the cabin and asked. Feeling the sea breeze to his bones, he tightened his coat.

"It's still the same, two weeks have passed, and their support station still hasn't been set up. At this rate, unless God intervenes, they will definitely not be able to complete the mining plan. ”

Materson put down his binoculars and reached out to Lewis, who threw over half a pack of cigarettes.

With the pungent smell of tobacco, Materson raised his eyebrows: "It seems that we will not be short of projects in the next two years." When the Chinese withdraw, the right to exploit this sea area will definitely be ours. We'll have to hurry up when we go back this time. ”

"Haha, or we'll go over now and let those Chinese guys stop working. Knowing that the project is not going to be completed, wouldn't it be a waste of time for us to continue with it now?" Lewis said with a mocking tone as he took a hard puff of his cigarette.

"Hey, Chinese, stop! Even if you are exhausted, you can't finish it!"

As he spoke, he literally put his hand to his mouth and shouted into the distance.

Construction of the sea area.

Seeing the exploration ship flying the American flag, Lu Ming, the chief commander of the construction, glared fiercely. During this time, exploration ships flying various flags appeared more and more frequently.

This veteran who is over 50 years old is actually not from the Ocean Exploration Bureau, but seconded from CNOOC. In fact, CNOOC itself has also handled a lot of deep-sea operations, including several drilling wells at a depth of about 2,000-3,000 meters.

This underwater project is mainly for the construction of power supply infrastructure for large-scale underwater facilities in the designated area for the future mining of large-scale offshore cutter suction vessels. Originally, the joint construction team had formulated a fairly complete construction plan, but the underwater operation at a depth of more than 4,000 meters, coupled with the existence of manganese nodule distribution areas, made the complexity of the entire plan more than ten times more complicated!

The current work can only be filled by grinding foreign workers and consuming manpower.

And looking at the project deadline that is getting closer and closer, how can Lu Ming not be in a hurry?

"Good news! Good news! Mr. Lu, just now the bureau has reported that Zhengxin Group has begun to transform the Jiaolong and install their latest robotic arm equipment for it! It is expected that there will be half a month to go, and the first batch of Jiaolong after the transformation will be sent here for service!"

Just when Lu Ming's heart was on fire for nothing, Xu Shenghe of the Maritime Survey Bureau took a satellite phone and ran over from the cabin in a hurry.

Hearing this, Lu Ming dismissed it with disdain: "You always rush to the doctor when you are sick! What kind of righteous belief is that you are excited to ride in a car with a robotic arm that is high? How many experts have come here from CNOOC? The current situation is that the topography of the seabed is too complicated, and the working depth is too great! Whether it is welding or laying pipelines, we are facing tremendous difficulties. I advise you not to put all your hopes in that robotic arm, as I have stressed to you many times. ”

Seeing that Lu Ming was in a bad mood, Xu Shenghe smiled and said: "Old Lu, you have to believe in science and technology! Now it seems that the construction period is not enough, let's be optimistic, what if that robotic arm can play a major role?"

"!"

Lu Ming pointed directly to the deep black sea and said: "Five thousand meters below! The United States is now the most powerful country in the world in mining manganese nodules on the seabed, right? Wouldn't it take more than a year for them to build such a deposit? I believe that science and technology can improve efficiency, but you must see the reality clearly, the current situation is that we can't finish it, you don't understand if we can't finish it!"

Seeing Lu Ming's big reaction, Xu Shenghe was slightly stunned.

He knew that the commander-in-chief's mentality had completely collapsed.

Sure enough, after roaring wildly for a while, Lu Ming shuddered and took out the cigarette in his arms, lit one for himself and put it in his mouth.

"Lao Xu, I'm sorry, I'm excited. I'm a sinner, I'm a sinner, such a large manganese nodule mining area, because of our progress, is about to change hands, how many years is that a strategic resource!"

Looking at Lu Ming's tears, Xu Shenghe sighed, stepped forward, and patted him on the back.

"Don't be so pessimistic, do your best to obey the destiny of God, we still have time, as long as there is time, there is a possibility of miracles!"

"Let's hope, let's hope a miracle happens. Lu Ming took a deep breath of his cigarette, looked at the dark black, undulating sea, and muttered.

Meanwhile.

In a workshop of Zhengxin Power, more than a dozen of the latest models of Jiaolong large water detectors have been hoisted high by gantry cranes. The original polio-like robotic arm has been dismantled.

Under the gantry crane, the SQ bionic robotic arm, which is more than four meters long and proportional like a crab's big pincers, is being installed on the underwater detector with the crane being angry!