In an office on the 10th floor of NB Labs' Clear Water Bay Peninsula headquarters, the hour and minute hands on the wall clock point to 5:34 p.m., and the second hand rotates "tick-tock" after turn.

Long past the end of work, Gao Kun, a member of the laboratory council and chairman of the academic committee, did not accompany his wife for a walk on the beach as usual, but sat on both sides of the desk with the hurried vice president of HKU, Zhou, quietly waiting for news from the Division of Basic Studies, the University of Hong Kong, the Chinese University of Chinese, and the NB Laboratory in Berlin on the sixth floor.

The U.S. government's allegations against NB Electric, as well as the British government's investigation into NB Electric, have caused great controversy in Hong Kong.

The Hong Kong legal profession, led by the group's chief legal counsel, Mr. Yung Queen's Counsel, unanimously believed that the Hong Kong government's investigation of NB Electric violated the most basic legal spirit, and did not hesitate to send the Hong Kong government to court. There is no legal basis, no relevant evidence, and at the request of the Supreme Court, the Security Department and the Department of Justice can only withdraw their troops.

This does not mean that the matter is over, due to political considerations and pressure from Uncle Sam, the British government in Hong Kong still cites the provisions of international agreements such as "Batumi" on the embargo against China, and requires NB Electric to explain the source of the array processor used in medical imaging diagnostic equipment within two working days.

At the same time, NB Electric Group, whose reputation and legitimate rights and interests have been seriously affected, also demanded that the Hong Kong government compensate for losses of up to 2 billion Hong Kong dollars through legal channels!

With the disclosure of the identity of NB Electric's three major shareholders in the United States, things have become more complicated.

Encouraged by this, Uncle Sam once again exerted pressure on the British and German governments, and the scope of the investigation was expanded from the previous NB Electric Group to the NB Laboratory in Hong Kong and the NB Laboratory in Berlin.

Experience teaches. And it involves experimental centers located in China. The British government in Hong Kong has been extremely cautious in investigating the issue of the NB laboratory. In addition to providing the US side with a bunch of lists of laboratory personnel that were originally public. No further investigation was conducted.

Their caution does not mean that Uncle Sam, who is determined to win, is also cautious, although the Hong Kong government has strictly blocked the news of the investigation of the NB laboratory, but it has been made known by its allies on the other side of the ocean.

Congressional "NB Electric Embargoed Materials to China Investigation Committee", members of the US Department of Justice, the US Department of State, the US Department of Commerce, the US Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the US Federal International Trade Commission proclaimed: "The national security of the United States depends in part on the protection of American technology, especially those that can be used by other countries militarily." We believe that NB Electric and NB Labs knowingly attempted to circumvent laws protecting U.S. national security and U.S. technology. ”

Even the attorney general threatened in a statement: "Those who violate our export control laws put U.S. national security at risk." Those who illegally provide sensitive materials involving national security to other countries will face serious consequences! ”

What makes all the scientists and researchers in NB Labs even more indignant. Even Dr. Yangzhi Cai and Dr. Wushou Chen, who were invited by the University of California, Berkeley and Arizona State University to do research, were taken from the lab by FBI and USCIS officials at 3 p.m. EST yesterday for investigation.

They are the discoverers of "carbon nanotubes", real scientists, and the pride of Hong Kong NB Laboratory! Moreover, it is all basic research, which has nothing to do with the "embargo" and politics.

President Gao's honest smile is gone, and dozens of foreign scientists, including those who joined the laboratory at the end of last year and the beginning of this year, think it is an insult to science.

For a time, their anger and strong dissatisfaction with the US judiciary spread to all parts of the world through telephone, fax, and e-mail, and the University of California and Arizona State University even exploded in order to give an explanation to the international academic community. The two principals issued statements one after another, apologizing for the failure of the FBI and USCIS to release him immediately. They will have to show their dissatisfaction with the government by resigning.

As the chairman of the board of directors of the NB Lab, Vice President Zhou of HKU not only knows the cards in the hands of the constitution, but also believes that this is an opportunity to expand the influence of the NB Lab and the academic and educational circles in Hong Kong, so he has remained silent.

The time for a backlash was approaching, and he was thrilled to think that this would become the biggest scandal of the end of the century for the US judiciary.

Because this is a political event and a historical event, when people talk about "NB Gate" in the future, they can't help but think of Hong Kong NB Electric and Hong Kong NB Laboratory.

It's just around 4 a.m. EST, and whether the phone rings or not, the charter will launch a counteroffensive four and a half hours later.

He couldn't hide the excitement in his heart, looked up and asked, "President Gao, have you been treated unfairly in the United States?" ”

Principal Gao was stunned for a moment, and then said casually: "I have had experiences similar to Dr. Cai and Dr. Chen, but I can't tell whether it is unfair treatment or not." ”

"Can't tell?"

"The Standard Laboratory used to use a factory in Luanac as a center for the development of fiber optic communications, and I still wonder why I chose it, because the only thing that is relevant is the name of the plant, called the Electro-Optical Products Division, which mainly produces starlight mirrors, which is a high-tech product for the military.

At that time, the Electro-Optical Products Department was a division of the Defense Space Group of Standard Laboratories, which was contracted by the U.S. Department of Defense, and I had to pass certain security checks when entering a certain level of classified business. ”

Although one is the chairman of the Senate and the other is a member of the Senate and the chairman of the academic committee, both of them are very busy, and apart from some major decisions related to the development of the laboratory that need to be discussed in meetings, they rarely interact with each other, let alone sit together and chat as they do now.

In a few hours, the truth will be revealed, Vice President Zhou was full of interest, and after thinking about it, he asked with interest: "How did you check it?" ”

"At first, I didn't know what to do."

Principal Gao glanced at the time on the wall clock and said with a smile: "Then one day, a neighbor asked me if I was in some trouble and told me, 'The CIA personnel are spying on you.'" They came and asked me a lot of weird questions. Like if you don't often have some noisy parties. Have you ever been drunk, have you ever been visited by someone suspicious?' ”

Vice President Zhou also studied and conducted research in the United States, and he knew very well what kind of discrimination Chinese people would be subjected to in the United States, so he couldn't help but shake his head and said, "If you were white, they would definitely not do this." ”

"Maybe."

Principal Gao obviously didn't want to discuss this anymore, and was about to change the topic when the phone in his hand suddenly rang.

"Principal Gao, I'm Chen Zhengming. The verification method and data are completely fine, and I really want to announce this news to the whole world now. ”

Professor Chen of the Department of Mathematics at CUHK was so excited that his voice trembled when he spoke, and Dean Gao was excited, but in order to make sure that nothing was wrong, he still asked, "Professor Chen, are you sure there is no problem?" ”

"No problem, Dr. Perelman is only 27 years old, which is amazing!"

"Xie Lu Xie," Dean Gao clutched the phone and said excitedly, "But this news is good for the laboratory." It is very important to the academic and educational community in Hong Kong as a whole, Professor Chan. Please keep it confidential for you and your students, and we need to announce it to the whole world at the most appropriate time, by the most suitable person, and at the most appropriate occasion. ”

The NB laboratory is on the cusp, how can Professor Chen Zhengming not know how important this is, and immediately promised: "President Gao, please rest assured, we will definitely keep it confidential, after all, what we have done is only verification, this honor belongs to Dr. Perelman, belongs to the NB laboratory." ”

Having proved the "soul conjecture" in such a short time, the young mathematician Perelman from Russia is simply a genius! Gao Kun and Professor Chen on the other end of the phone made Vice President Zhou ecstatic, and he suddenly got up and said, "Great, really good, Principal Gao, I think we can call Zhang Gong." ”

Principal Gao, who specializes in art and is not very proficient in mathematics, did not dare to gamble on the reputation of the Hong Kong NB laboratory, put down the phone and said: "Verification is being carried out downstairs, and there is no news from the University of Hong Kong and the Berlin NB laboratory, so let's wait." ”

Academic matters can't be joked, Vice President Zhou thought so, and said with a serious face: "Zhang Gong has a good eye, and he will help the laboratory hire a great talent after going around St. Petersburg." Dean Gao, as soon as this news is announced tomorrow, there will definitely be an endless stream of universities inviting Dr. Perelman to exchange, and we will keep him no matter what. ”

Thinking of the young mathematician on the sixth floor, Principal Gao sighed, "I don't know how many friends Dr. Perelman had since he was a child, but I am sure that there are very few of them. Even in the midst of a community of mathematicians who are full of 'weirdos', he is a special kind of weirdo. ”

"How weird?"

He always seemed to wear the same clothes, with a scruffy beard, and he didn't cut his nails, thinking that was the natural state of his nails. He lived a very simple life, only bread and yogurt, so I specially hired a Russian baker so that he could eat bread that suited his taste. ”

Principal Gao paused, and then said: "He has no concept of money, and he has no place to spend, and his monthly salary is deposited in the bank, so it is impossible to hire him with a high salary; He had a very deep affection for his family, especially his mother, so with the consent of both him and his family, we took her over and took care of his daily life. ”

"Is the old lady used to it?"

"At first, I was not used to it, but now that we have provided the best living and working environment, we have given her the best treatment, and even specially helped her hire a Jewish nanny from Russia who is proficient in English."

In order to stay in the talents, the NB laboratory can be said to spare no effort, Vice President Zhou nodded with satisfaction: "I can rest assured, you don't have to worry about the funding, if someone makes irresponsible remarks, I will defend you." In short, stay for at least five years and help us bring out ten to fifteen young mathematicians. ”

The supervisor of the NB laboratory can only take three doctoral students at the same time, and it is normal to bring ten in five years, but whether or not you can achieve success in the future depends on your personal talent.

Just like Dr. Perelman, with an IQ of more than 200, can the average person compare? Principal Gao smiled and didn't say anything more.

After a while, the phone rang again, this time with the results of the Faculty of Basic Studies' Digital Research Center, and there were no problems either. Immediately afterward, the NB Laboratory in Berlin and the Department of Mathematics of the University of Hong Kong called one after another to reconfirm Dr. Perelman's research results.

It was 6 o'clock in the morning Washington time when the four-page fax was delivered to the charter, and looking at his excited appearance, Xia Yao couldn't help but ask, "Husband, why are you so happy?" ”

"Dr. Perelman has prepared me a big gift, and it seems that I need to make a small adjustment to today's schedule."

Henry Pearce, who was so overwhelmed by the House of Representatives yesterday that he didn't sleep well all night, asked with dark eyes, "Don't go to Congress for questioning?" ”

"I'm not going."

The charter tore off the tie that had just been made, put it on the sofa, and said with a fluttering eyebrow: "I can tell you very responsibly that the matter will be completely resolved before noon today." Before I do that, Mr. President, I need you to go to Congress and talk to the politicians for a few more hours. ”

"What about you?"

"I'm going to Georgetown University, Mr. Jack, and I'm sorry if you will go downstairs at 8 o'clock sharp, make a brief statement, and tell the press that I'm going to Georgetown University to give a talk entitled 'Me, My Family, My Company, and the Lab I Serve,' where they can learn everything they want to know."

"Do you want to contact the school first?"

"No, the news media will help us figure it out," the charter smiled and continued, "Mr. Wisson, please contact BNB News colleagues in Washington immediately and tell them to carry out Plan B and ask them to prepare the appropriate equipment and equipment." ”

Henry Pierce was confused and asked eagerly, "Zhang, what the hell do you want to do?" ”

Can't hide it anymore, if they keep it hidden, they will definitely have ideas, the charter whispered a few words in his ear, and then smiled proudly: "In short, we have to give them a powerful riposte, let them know that NB Electrical and NB Lab are not so easy to mess with!" ”

"Really?"

Henry obviously didn't ask about the riposte, but was skeptical of the news just revealed, and the charter nodded his head and confirmed again: "Really, the reason why I didn't tell you is because I was worried that you would mess up." In fact, it proves that your true colors are very successful, and they think that they are really sure to win. ”

Henry Pierce couldn't help but laugh, pointed at his nose and gritted his teeth and said: "Zhang, remember, you owe me, you owe all of us, if you don't raise your salary and don't give us more rights to subscribe to the original shares of NB Airlines and BNB News Network, we will definitely let you know what it means to regret it!" ”

The charter was happy, and nodded again and again: "No problem, in fact, Mr. Wu has made a corresponding commitment at the reception on New Year's Day last year." ”

"Let's go back to the matter of subscription rights, and now let's study the business first."

After a week of fear, Henry decided to let out a bad breath, and paced the room twice with his arms crossed, and said incessantly: "Gentlemen, I think we should plan carefully how to achieve the best results, my God, I really want to see what kind of expressions they will have when they learn the truth, frustrated, dumbfounded, in short, they will be embarrassed." ”

Jack crossed his legs, lit a cigarette, and gracefully proposed: "Hearings involving national security, they actually allowed live TV." Since they want everyone to see us make a fool of ourselves, then let's make them make a fool of themselves in front of the TV audience of the whole world. ”

"That's a good idea."

Henry reacted and said with a wicked smile: "Zhang, I propose that before you speak, let BNB News or the university set up the background of the forum, half of which will be slides about you, your family, your company and the lab you work for, and the other half will use a projector to play the live hearing of the hearing. ”

The charter smiled and asked, "Everyone knows the truth of the Dao, and they are still messing around?" ”

"I really can't think of a better way to do it, knowing that there are only cameras and no televisions at the hearing site, and the information is asymmetrical, they can only and must become the laughing stock of the whole world."

The charter weighed it again, and readily agreed: "As you wish, but this time must be taken right." (To be continued......)