Outside the STAR-2 demonstration reactor base, a helicopter landed smoothly in the open field.

Although it is resistant to this type of transportation, I have to admit that it is the fastest option.

After getting off the helicopter, Lu Zhou did not stop, carried the computer bag in his hand, and strode towards the direction of the base.

I walked through the construction site in the center of the base, went straight to the main building, and found the office of Academician Wang Zengguang.

Lu Zhou, who was standing at the door, knocked on the door, then pushed the door and walked in.

Looking at Lu Zhou, who pushed the door in, Academician Wang Zengguang stopped the pen in his hand and said with a smile.

"Yo? Already back? Academician Li Jiangang asked me to tell you that the ICRF antenna they are responsible for improving is ready and basically meets your requirements. ”

"Everything is going well on our side, and it may not even be the end of the year before what you want can be built."

"Now the most critical part is the liquid lithium neutron recovery system, can you do it?"

When he said this, Academician Wang said it with a smile, just a joke, so much so that there was no sense of urging.

Because he knew very well that the reason why the road under his feet was so smooth was because Lu Zhou had paved the way for them.

It is no exaggeration to say that from the plasma turbulence model to the LPC-1 material, these research results have saved them at least two decades of time.

So, even the most critical liquid lithium neutron recovery system has not made much progress, which is perfectly acceptable.

After all, human energy is limited.

However, Lu Zhou's answer was beyond his expectations.

I saw him take out a stack of materials from his computer bag and speak at the same time.

"I should ask you this, the design work has been completed, whether you can build it or not depends on whether you can do it here."

"So fast?"

Academician Wang suddenly stood up from his chair in surprise, walked quickly around the desk, stepped forward, took the stack of drawings from Lu Zhou's hand, and carefully flipped through them.

Time passed like this, minute by minute.

Looking at the drawing in his hand, the expression on Academician Wang's face became more and more solemn.

Noticing the change in his expression, Lu Zhou yawned and asked casually, "Is there any problem?" ”

Academician Wang shook his head and said, "No,"

It's better to say ......

It was so perfect that he couldn't even suggest a little improvement.

As for the difficulty of engineering implementation, it is also within the acceptable range.

Closing the drawings in his hand, Academician Wang looked at Lu Zhou and couldn't help but say.

"You're a genius."

Hearing this, Lu Zhou smiled embarrassedly.

"It's not just me who works, it's all the researchers at the STAR Research Institute......"

And, of course, the system.

Even if you don't need points, you can solve these problems.

However, it will take a lot of time, and it is impossible to achieve such perfection in one step.

However, for Lu Zhou's modesty, Academician Wang didn't seem to buy it, and waved his hand with an expression of "I understand".

"Yes, yes, it's everyone's work, I believe it."

Lu Zhou: "......?" ”

What do you know?

……

In mid-November, the weather was slightly cold, and the red bricks and tiles of the Forbidden City were already stained with hoarfrost.

At this moment, in a sanatorium not very far from the Forbidden City and with a quiet environment, a chessboard is being placed under the big willow tree where the two are hugging.

On this rare sunny day, the two old men were sitting opposite each other, playing chess.

Red and Black are killing back and forth, and the battle situation is extremely anxious.

However, at this moment, the situation suddenly took a turn for the better.

"General!"

With this shout of excitement, Red's knight kicked Black's elephant away, forming horns with the rook, forcing Black's checkmate to the corner of the palace.

There is no doubt that the winner has already been decided.

Staring at the chessboard and meditating, the old man suddenly said to himself thoughtfully, "This step should not be arched by this pawn, if this elephant flies-"

Seeing that he reached out to touch the chessboard, the old man sitting opposite him immediately stopped.

"Alas, alas, what are you doing, if others regret the move, you can't regret it!"

The old man who had just touched the edge of the chessboard was slightly stunned, then let go of the chess pieces with a smile and said.

"Chief Designer Ren is right, I lost this chess!"

Sitting across from him was none other than Academician Ren Changming, the former chief designer of China's lunar exploration program.

"Have you been busy lately?"

Old man: "If you say you're busy, you're busy, and if you don't say you're busy, you're not busy." ”

Ren Changming: "I see that you are quite idle, and you have time to come to me to play chess." ”

The old man shook his head: "The international situation is not optimistic, and I am just busy." ”

Ren Changming: "I heard that Jinling is engaged in controlled nuclear fusion? ”

The old man nodded: "There is such a thing." ”

Although many old experts are not optimistic about this project, he feels that whether it can be completed or not, at least it is worth a try.

Maybe this technology can be the key to breaking the game?

"Controlled nuclear fusion," Ren Changming's expression was full of emotion when he said this, "I discussed this issue with Qiao Gong before, and we both thought that in 20 years at most, between the United States and the Soviet Union, one country would be able to do it, and we would be able to keep up quickly." As a result, 20 years have passed, and I see that it will be another 20 years soon, and I don't know when I have to look forward to it. ”

At that time in the 90s, everyone was engaged in inertial constraints, claiming that it would be ignited within 10 years and commercialized within 20 years. Seeing the dawn of controllable fusion rising, Huaguo was naturally not far behind, and in 93 the ICF project was quickly launched, selected into the 863 plan, closely following the international hot spots to launch a technical breakthrough against inertial constraints, and even once formed a "thousand people battle" situation.

However, things did not go as smoothly as imagined, and the ignition failure of the NIF in the United States poured cold water on the direction of the entire inertial constraint, and the originally tepid tokamak began to become more and more popular, and the once popular inertial constraint gradually became unmentionable.

If it weren't for the fact that laser ignition technology could still be transferred to the military industry, it would not be an exaggeration to say that the investment in the route of inertial restraint was nothing to gain.

All of this today is like a cycle of the past.

Although he is not engaged in nuclear engineering, Ren Changming can be regarded as having seen it all the way.

To be honest, instead of optimism, he still has more worries in his heart.

Of course, deep down, he still looks forward to the successful completion of this project.

"The person in charge is that Lu Zhou?"

Old man: "Do you know him?" ”

"It's not just acquaintance," hearing Lu Zhou's name, a trace of nostalgia appeared on the old academician's face, and he said with a smile, "It was probably a few years ago, when this kid was still studying in Jinling, and I knew him." ”

"At that time, it was an expert interview for the digital simulation competition, and I sat on the judge's seat and asked him what he thought about the prospects of the moon landing project. This kid is very interesting, he is different from other interviewers, and in turn asks me what I think of the Great Wall? He talked to me about history, about the future, and about the Tao. ”

"At that time, I could see at a glance that he was a talent, and it was really a loss to squat in the one-acre three-third of an acre of land in Jinda to study mathematics, so I also went to Jinda in person, wanting to get him to Yanda to engage in aerospace, and asked him if he wanted to learn to build rockets with me, but guess what he said to me?"

The old man smiled and asked, "What do you say?" ”

Ren Changming patted his thigh and said with a smile: "He told me, Professor Ren, I don't want to go to heaven yet!" ”

"Hahaha......"

The two old men laughed heartily.

Chatting about the past and feeling the rush of the years, Ren Changming couldn't help but feel a little melancholy.

At that time, I could still run everywhere, but now even if I want to run everywhere, I can't walk anymore.

Enough laughing, Ren Changming stopped laughing and said with emotion.

"Later, it's almost the same as what you saw, this kid is really not simple, although he didn't go to heaven, he is no different from heaven."

Speaking of this, Ren Changming paused for a moment and continued.

"If he doesn't succeed, don't be disappointed, scientific research is not infrastructure after all, and input and output are not necessarily proportional. I'm more optimistic about his future than he is now. Unlike those of us who will visit Qiaogong soon, his scientific research career has just begun, and he still has a long way to go. ”

Hearing the words of Mr. Ren's words, the old man smiled faintly and said, "Of course I know, you can rest assured about this." ”

Ren Changming nodded with relief.

Although it was just a precaution, he should still say these words.

If he didn't even say it, no one would say it.

At this moment, the guard came over from the side and reported beside the old man,

"......, Director Lu is outside."

The old man nodded, "Let him in." ”

"Yes!"

Lizheng gave a military salute, and the guard turned and walked out of the courtyard.

didn't wait long, followed by the guards, Director Lu walked in with an excited face.

Noticing the letter he was holding in his hand, and then seeing the excited expression on his face, the old man smiled and said, "What excites you?" ”

Director Lu said excitedly: "There is good news from Haizhou! The demonstration team project has entered the final stage! Here I am a letter from Professor Lu! ”

The moment he heard this, Ren Changming's face showed a surprised expression.

The chess pieces in his hand fell on the chessboard, and the old man looked moved and stood up.

"What did he say in the letter?"

Taking a deep breath and restraining the excitement in his tone, Director Lu said in a deep voice.

"The demonstration reactor project has entered the countdown, and it is expected that the pilot fire will be carried out at the end of December! Request Central Approval! ”

Hearing this, the old man laughed heartily and said "yes" three times in a row.

Restrained his smile, his expression was slightly adjusted, and he ordered in a deep voice.

"Approve the ignition!"