Chapter 223 Space Elevator
The conference room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
Dragon? What kind of dragon?
Elevator? What elevator? Why are you talking about it so seriously?
Commander Zhang opened his mouth, but found he couldn't utter a single word. He looked at Zhou Jue, then at Chen Jianguo and Commander Qi, who were equally bewildered, and wondered if he was hallucinating from being too excited.
The group of white-haired scientific giants looked at each other, their eyes filled with confusion.
Zhou Jue didn't keep them in suspense; she knew how much these two things would impact them.
She first explained the dragon, a creature familiar to everyone in China but never actually seen.
“That dragon is called the ‘Golden Dragon Guardian of National Fortune.’” Her gaze swept over everyone present, her voice clear and steady.
"It is not a spiritual being; its energy comes from the 'national destiny'."
"National destiny?" Chen Jianguo repeated subconsciously. This term is easy to understand, but it is invisible and intangible, and there are no specific values to measure it.
“Yes, the fate of a nation.” Zhou Jue nodded: “A country’s comprehensive national strength, the happiness index of its people, the cohesion of its culture, the speed of its technological progress, its international influence… all of these together constitute the ‘fate of a nation’.”
"When the nation prospers, the Golden Dragon is strong, able to roam the heavens and awe all around. When the nation declines, the Golden Dragon weakens and may even fall into slumber. It is a guardian whose fate is completely intertwined with that of the nation, and also a barometer."
"It doesn't need us to supply any energy; its power comes from ourselves, from every hardworking Chinese person on this land."
Zhou Jue paused, a hint of barely perceptible respect in his voice.
"It's not a new reward, it's just... coming home. Our ancestral dragon spirit, which once perished during the national calamities of modern times while protecting the flame of civilization, has now... returned as the nation's fortunes have risen again."
boom!
These words were a thousand times more shocking than the three words "one-stop service" from before!
Commander Zhang suddenly stood up, his hands braced on the table, veins bulging on the back of his hands, his whole body trembling slightly.
His eyes were red-rimmed, and his lips trembled. The other old generals also stood up, their bodies ramrod straight like javelins, but their red-rimmed eyes and clenched fists betrayed the turmoil in their hearts.
They understand better than anyone what the word "return" means.
They witnessed firsthand the devastation of the nation's decline, the shattered landscape, and the unbearable suffering of its people.
He also personally participated in the arduous and extraordinary struggle that gradually pulled the country back from the abyss.
Now, the results of their hard work have coalesced into a dragon?
A dragon that once protected them, and now returns to protect them again?
This makes them feel more proud and excited than any material reward!
"Good...good!" Commander Zhang slammed his fist on the table, making a dull thud.
Chen Jianguo took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing his surging emotions. He looked at Zhou Jue and asked the most crucial question: "Xiao Jue, how do we bind it?"
Zhou Jue immediately asked the system in his mind.
[Host, take out the reward token, which is a dragon-shaped jade pendant, and then recite the summoning incantation.]
[Friendly reminder: We recommend performing the binding ceremony late at night when it's quiet, as it might be a bit noisy~]
Zhou Jue's lips twitched. The system said it was "a bit big," so it probably wasn't just "a bit."
She relayed the system's answer, emphasizing the last sentence.
"Tonight!" The boss's voice came through the video call with unwavering certainty, without the slightest hesitation.
"We'll take advantage of this time difference to get to the base! We want to witness it with our own eyes!"
"yes!"
All the generals echoed in unison.
Seeing the mixture of excitement, anticipation, and solemnity on everyone's faces, Zhou Jue knew that the matter of Jinlong had been settled.
Then she dropped her second bombshell: "Distinguished leaders, distinguished experts."
She brought everyone's attention back to her.
"The other award is the complete set of technical data for the 'space elevator'."
The atmosphere in the conference room, which had just become lively because of the "Golden Dragon," froze instantly.
Everyone froze on the spot, forgetting even to breathe.
If the "Golden Dragon of National Fortune" is a spiritual stabilizing force, a mysterious and wondrous surprise, then...
So the phrase "space elevator" is a real, powerful technological hammer that can pierce the sky!
"What did you say?"
A white-haired academician, wearing thick glasses and in charge of the national aerospace project, suddenly jumped up from his chair. His body swayed due to excessive excitement and he was quickly supported by the students next to him.
He stared intently at Zhou Jue, his voice hoarse as if sandpaper were being rubbed.
"Comrade Xiaojue, can you say it again? Is it... is it the 'space elevator' I'm thinking of?"
Zhou Jue met his almost burning gaze and nodded solemnly.
"Yes, Academician Wang, it's the one you're thinking of, the space elevator from science fiction movies."
"A physical link directly from the planet's surface to geostationary orbit. The reward includes the base construction plan, the complete synthesis process of the core cable material 'carbon nanotube reinforced composite material', the climbing device design drawings, the energy supply system... all the technologies, all in one step."
"hiss--"
A collective gasp filled the conference room.
Especially those experts from the scientific research field, their eyes were wide open like saucers, their faces filled with disbelief and ecstasy.
"Carbon nanotube-reinforced composite materials! Do they have the theoretical strength?"
"The complete technology! My God! My God! We...we don't have to figure it out step by step anymore?"
"What does this mean? It means that we can send supplies and personnel into space at one percent, or even one-thousandth, of the current cost and time! It means that we will usher in a true space age!"
A young scientist was so excited that his face turned red and he became incoherent.
"good!"
"good!!"
"good!!!"
Commander Zhang shouted "Good!" three times in a row. He paced back and forth in the conference room excitedly, and finally slammed his fist on the table. His eyes shone with an unprecedented light, even more intense than when he learned of Jinlong's return!
"Hahaha! Comrade Xiao Jue, you always bring us surprises!" In the video, the boss's face also showed an uncontrollable smile. He waved his hand vigorously and issued the highest order.
"Immediately establish the 'South Heavenly Gate Project' top-level project team! Academician Wang, you will lead it! All relevant units and resources nationwide will cooperate unconditionally! At all costs, I want to see our elevator standing on the equator in the shortest possible time!"
"Yes, sir! Mission accomplished!"
Academician Wang straightened his back and spoke in a loud voice, as if he had become twenty years younger.
The entire conference room erupted in cheers.
Excitement, thrill, and pride intertwined, creating a surge of intense emotion.
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