Chapter 99
Like a stone thrown into still water, Foreign Minister Qi's words were like a bombshell dropped into the meeting hall, leaving everyone stunned. After a moment, the hall erupted in chaos, filled with murmurs and whispers.
As an internationally renowned scientist, Ji Zhixing's research progress naturally attracts much attention. However, unlike internationally renowned research institutes, his private institute does not regularly publish experimental updates on its official website. Furthermore, he rarely gives interviews, and due to China's strict protection of his information and personal safety, the outside world has no way to learn about the progress of his projects.
Moreover, whether vacuum energy truly exists is still a highly controversial scientific topic. Professor Bayer of the UK's controlled nuclear fusion project has publicly criticized Ji Zhixing for using vacuum energy as a gimmick to attract attention.
Even assuming vacuum energy truly exists, developing methods for its extraction and utilization wouldn't be something that can be done in just three to five years. Typical energy research often takes decades, let alone vacuum energy, which is practically a breakthrough energy form from another dimension.
Therefore, when Foreign Minister Qi announced that Ji Zhixing had successfully extracted vacuum energy and achieved stable output, everyone's first reaction was disbelief. However, China's national credibility and Foreign Minister Qi's consistently reliable diplomatic performance led many to quickly accept this news that was enough to shock the world.
"Vacuum energy! Ji Zhixing's vacuum energy project has really succeeded!!"
"I really am. From the moment I was in a daze until now, both reason and emotion tell me that I should believe Foreign Minister Qi's words and believe in Ji Zhixing's abilities, but it still feels like a dream."
"Wow! This is truly a blessing for China! Who said that the advantage of starting first can only be overcome by overtaking on a curve? Well, Ji Zhixing has overtaken us on a curve once again!"
"I don't quite understand, which is more powerful, controlled nuclear fusion or vacuum energy?"
"That must be vacuum energy. Nuclear fusion requires reactants and fuel, but vacuum energy is generated from a vacuum. Theoretically, it can extract energy from any point in the universe."
"So, the spiritual energy described in cultivation novels has become a reality?!"
"Good heavens! I hereby declare that our country has taken a giant leap forward into a society that is half technology and half cultivation."
“That minute is truly worth revisiting. Lawrence must have felt confident of victory at that moment, but when Foreign Minister Qi said that it could be brought forward to 2030, the smile on the Eagle representative's face vanished instantly.”
"It didn't disappear; it just moved from the face of the hawkish representative to the face of the Chinese representative, which is completely in line with the law of conservation of energy."
"You understand physics, but what's with the smile on my face?"
"That must be quantum entanglement among Chinese people."
"Hahaha! I knew it when Lawrence was still grumbling earlier, I think I saw Foreign Minister Qi smile. He must have been holding it in for a long time."
"They've received professional training; they wouldn't smirk unless they were extremely happy."
"Really, if you had a solution, why couldn't you have said so sooner? Making the whole country worry like this."
"Goodness, they have to report everything about the great power rivalry to you!"
"The main problem is that we don't know exactly what moves the other side is going to make, so we should keep our own trump cards hidden for now."
"Actually, I'm a little worried that Foreign Minister Qi and his entourage might be detained by the United States and unable to return."
"It's not that serious. How could detaining a few people affect China's vacuum energy strategy? It will only exacerbate the conflict between the two countries."
"The main reason is that China has a more mature technology than controlled nuclear fusion, such as vacuum energy, as leverage. The United States will not choose to break off relations at this time."
"As soon as Foreign Minister Qi stood up, representatives from many countries followed suit. It was clear at a glance whether people's hearts were with him or not."
"Hehe, several national representatives from Oceania also went out with them."
"We've always believed in win-win cooperation, unlike the United States, which grows stronger by stepping on others. Before, we had no choice, but now that we have a choice, everyone knows which side is better."
"Ah! Why did the video end so suddenly? I wanted to get a good look at the Hawk's expression!"
"It's said that the media have all been kicked out and can no longer take pictures."
"Oh dear, you really can't accept defeat!"
After the World Energy Congress ended hastily, Western media remained silent. It wasn't until the following day that American media, under the direction of their government, fabricated numerous news stories.
Some criticized Foreign Minister Qi for using non-existent vacuum energy as an excuse to refuse to fulfill international environmental obligations; others slandered Ji Zhixing and the Chinese government as colluding to deceive the world; still others analyzed with certainty that the extraction of vacuum energy would lead to the accelerated decay of the universe, which would seriously affect the stability of human living space...
In the past, foreign media's slander against China would always infuriate the Chinese people. But this time, even though many unscrupulous media outlets, driven by a desire for clicks, kept translating and reposting such news, Chinese netizens didn't seem to care much. The general public scrambled online, desperately searching for any information related to Ji Zhixing and vacuum energy.
Sure enough, some sharp-eyed netizens found a clue: a message published on the official website of the Ministry of Science and Technology of China in mid-June.
The message was only one line long: A certain project experiment was successful and has entered the trial operation phase.
This extremely short message went almost unnoticed at the time, and those who did notice it couldn't help but comment, "Hearing this is truly a case of 'a word from a wise man is worth more than a single conversation.'" Now, countless netizens have flocked to it, and they still can't help but start their吐槽 (tu cao, a Chinese internet slang term for sarcastic or critical comments) mode.
"Wow, this message has two sentences with a total of 14 characters, but there are only 0 words of key information."
"Haha, it seems like I said something, but it also seems like I didn't say anything at all."
"The fewer the words, the shorter the news, no, the bigger the story."
"I can't go into details, but I still want to share this with the general public. What does this mean?"
"The explanation is too advanced to be shown."
"Ah! I'm so happy!"
"I'm so eager to know more about vacuum energy."
While the online discussions were in full swing, Ji Zhixing and his researchers were also busy at the research institute.
Once scientific research finds its direction and gets on the right track, progress is quite smooth. Ever since Ji Zhixing had a breakthrough and had a flash of inspiration, his experiments have yielded positive feedback almost every day.
Yi Yan and the others were so engrossed in their work that they almost forgot to eat or sleep, spending every minute of every day in the lab. It was Ji Zhixing who ensured that everyone got at least the minimum amount of food and rest.
In early June, after successfully extracting vacuum energy and achieving stable output in the laboratory, Ji Zhixing reported it to the state through Fang Shou.
Vacuum energy in private hands could cause huge problems. Ji Zhixing could guarantee that he had no ambition, but he couldn't guarantee that his descendants wouldn't abuse it after his death. Therefore, he reached a preliminary transfer agreement with the state as soon as possible.
The state quickly added layers of security to the research institute, rebuilt high walls with anti-ferromagnetic material interlayers, and even activated anti-missile systems.
It's no exaggeration to say that nowadays even a fly flying into a research institute would have to be swatted down to determine if it's a bionic eavesdropping device.
After the successful extraction of vacuum energy, the issue of energy transmission was quickly put on the agenda.
Energy transmission is not a problem that can be solved in the laboratory; it involves the overall national infrastructure layout and construction. Therefore, Ji Zhixing and Director Song, who was sent by the state, discussed it for a long time.
"As far as I know, the current power transmission process involves delivering electricity to users through step-up transformers, high-voltage transmission lines, step-down transformers, distribution lines, and distribution transformers. However, given the unique nature of vacuum energy, the old power transmission system is probably not suitable for transmitting new energy sources."
Director Song, a capable middle-aged man, said: "Director Ji, there is absolutely no need to worry. Whatever kind of transmission system the new energy needs, the country will build that kind of transmission system!"
Ah... Ji Zhixing, who had been living frugally due to budget issues recently (Zhu Ren: ?), was completely impressed.
Building a power transmission network is a complex and costly undertaking. For example, the construction of the Jinbei-Guangling ±800 kV 8000 MW ultra-high-voltage direct current transmission project a few years ago cost nearly 2 billion yuan for just this one line. If a new system matching the transmission of renewable energy were to be laid across the country, how much would that cost in total? It wouldn't be measured in "hundreds of millions," it would be in "megawatts"!
Of course, the cost of infrastructure at this level is entirely within the country's means to afford. Moreover, vacuum energy is such a perfect energy source—limitless, free, and clean—that the country is unlikely to abandon it simply because of the mere cost of infrastructure.
But Ji Zhixing was really worried about the money, so he came up with a solution—wireless transmission.
Currently, wireless power transfer is mainly used for mobile phone charging. However, the core of wireless mobile phone charging is non-radiation technology, which has a relatively small charging range and is not suitable for industrial or residential power transmission. Therefore, a new approach is needed.
However, compared to vacuum energy research, the theoretical basis for wireless energy transmission is relatively mature. In addition, given the ubiquitous nature of vacuum energy, achieving wireless transmission of vacuum energy is not difficult.
Ji Zhixing sought Director Song's opinion: "I plan to research vacuum energy wireless transmission technology to create a wireless energy transmission network that is wire-free, adaptive, and operates at the speed of light. I wonder if the government..."
Director Song was very straightforward. He laughed and said, "I'm an outsider in this area. The country sent me here not to give orders, but to provide support. Director Ji, just go for it! The country will provide unconditional support for any funding, personnel, materials, equipment, etc."
With the government's support, Ji Zhixing was able to work freely and devise a feasibility study plan in just half a month. At a group seminar, he presented the entire vacuum energy wireless transmission architecture to everyone.
"Using the magnetic field of a special form in magnetic confinement fusion to confine quantum fluctuations within a finite volume, it is easy to apply stress intervention to generate vacuum energy, and then achieve high-altitude long-distance energy transmission through road-based laser conductors..."
Yi Yan hesitated before speaking: "However, theoretically, energy quality is directly proportional to transmission efficiency and conductor volume. The farther the transmission distance, the larger the conductor volume must be."
Yu Zhuli quickly calculated some data in his mind: "In that case, the cost of building a giant conductor is probably not lower than that of laying a wired transmission network."
"What if it's readily available?" Anyone could hear the certainty in Ji Zhixing's words.
Yi Yan, Lin Yujing, and the others looked at each other in bewilderment. A ready-made giant conductor?
"A 'space-based' system in eastern Tibet?" But there's only one space-based system, which can't cover the whole country.
"GTC from the United States?" But GTC is far away in the Americas, and distance greatly affects transmission efficiency and quality.
"Ouzhou's LSC?" But borrowing someone else's facilities inevitably leads to being hampered.
"No, none of that!" Ji Zhixing's eyes were burning, and he rarely kept people in suspense. "This giant conductor belongs to the collective, or you could say it's ownerless, and it's completely free! Most importantly, its size is large enough to radiate throughout the country and even the world!"
Everyone's curiosity was piqued; could such a bargain really be possible?
Deng couldn't help but press, "Boss, what exactly is this giant conductor you're talking about?"
"Earth!"
Others: Fuck!
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