Great love knows no bounds; B2 bomber, am I hallucinating?

Chapter 49: Boundless Love; B-2 Bomber, Am I Hallucinating?

The situation was exactly the same as the previous three times.

On the screen, dense compressed files were stacked, each with a terrifyingly large capacity.

After a long silence, Zhang Yuli mechanically selected one of the compressed files to download.

The progress bar was jumping rapidly. If it weren't for Great Xia Academy of Sciences' dedicated network, directly connected to Great Xia's bandwidth server, even this single compressed file would have taken a long time to download.

Liu Zhixue pointed at the screen and said with shock after a while, "Did we really get the complete B-2 bomber technology?"

"It was that simple... How long has it been?"

Liu Zhixue remembered that it had only been two days since the Mysterious Organization sent an email saying they had a 'huge surprise' for Great Xia.

This wasn't stealing technology, was it? It felt as easy as going home for dinner.

The few of them didn't doubt the authenticity of even a sliver of the technology. Doubting it would be an insult to the 'Mysterious Organization'.

"It seems we've far underestimated the capabilities of the Mysterious Organization."

Zhang Yuli exclaimed, "Describing their methods as 'vast and mighty' couldn't be more fitting."

Before, when he used 'vast and mighty,' he was merely expressing an emotion of disbelief.

But now, when he used this word, he truly felt that only immortals could possess such methods.

It wouldn't be an exaggeration to call the B-2 bomber the most core secret weapon of Eagle Country. In terms of numbers, it was only ten more than nuclear-powered aircraft carriers.

Eagle Country had even dismantled the B-2 bomber production line, and there would definitely never be another one in the future. Describing it as 'out of print' was very fitting, unlike the F-22 fighter jet, which was still in production and even undergoing upgrades.

Its rarity was no less than any of Eagle Country's nuclear-powered aircraft carriers. Under such circumstances, how could the Mysterious Organization obtain the complete set of technical blueprints from Eagle Country?

The difficulty was unimaginable for ordinary people.

This might have required infiltrating every level of the B-2 bomber research and development team, from the top brass to the bottom. What terrifying methods were these?

"Old Zhang, stop sighing over there," Zheng Lixing quipped from the side. "The Mysterious Organization over there is still waiting for our reply."

"How much 'remuneration' do you think the complete B-2 bomber technology is worth?"

"This..." Hearing this, Zhang Yuli was speechless. "I don't know either."

Who the hell knew how much the B-2 bomber technical blueprints were worth? The research and development costs alone amounted to over 40 billion US Dollars.

And that was 40 billion US Dollars from the 70s and 80s. How much would that inflate by 2009?

After thinking for a moment, he typed out a line of text and replied.

'We are very satisfied with this great surprise. May we ask how much 'remuneration' your organization desires? We can meet any demand.'

"Let them name their price," Zhang Yuli said, taking a sip of tea from the side and exhaling.

This time, he still didn't state a precise price.

The reason was the same as the previous two times. He wasn't afraid of them quoting a high price, but rather of the Mysterious Organization feeling the 'remuneration' was too low.

Therefore, whatever price they wanted, Great Xia would give it if they could.

Even if they asked for a hundred billion or two hundred billion US Dollars, Zhang Yuli wouldn't bat an eye. He would immediately report it for the highest level approval for fund transfer and then transfer the money to them in any designated way as quickly as possible.

"This approach is sound," Zheng Lixing agreed.

Now, they just had to wait for the Mysterious Organization's reply.

A few more minutes passed before a new email arrived.

[I do not want cash or any equivalent items as remuneration. I still hope Great Xia will pay in another way.]

'May we ask what method? As long as it is within Great Xia's capabilities, we will do our utmost.'

After replying, Zhang Yuli frowned and muttered, "Another payment method?"

"It's not going to be like last time, continuing to build a thousand schools in Northwest Province, is it?"

"Build more schools? Northwest Province is currently lacking more teachers," Zheng Lixing shook his head. "Even if we build thousands more, it won't be effective at this point."

Basic education was a matter of fundamental importance. Building schools could only solve part of the urgent problem.

Even though Great Xia was already improving the treatment of teachers in Northwest Province, as one of the least developed provinces, many teachers were still going to teach in mountainous areas, and recruitment wasn't as simple as imagined.

The subsidies you offered were already quite generous, even comparable to the salaries in many second-tier or even first-tier cities. But with no roads and no entertainment, could you expect all teachers to be selfless 'saints'? That was clearly unrealistic.

In the long run, it was still necessary to cultivate local teaching resources for healthy and robust development.

Soon, an email reply came.

[For this B-2 bomber technology, I believe the 'remuneration' can be 5 billion US Dollars.]

'Great Xia has no objections. 5 billion US Dollars is completely acceptable,' Zhang Yuli typed quickly.

To exchange B-2 bomber technology for 5 billion US Dollars? He would gladly do such a good deal a hundred times over, even if it meant emptying Great Xia's foreign exchange reserves.

"It seems that the mastermind behind the Mysterious Organization is the one communicating with us now," Zheng Lixing guessed.

"It should be. The 'alias' in the email has changed again," Zhang Yuli nodded in agreement.

Previously, they had always used 'they,' but when it came to the crucial remuneration, the pronoun changed to 'he.'

This aligns with conventional logical deductions. It's impossible to delegate something like this to subordinates; direct negotiation is necessary.

Following that.

[I want Great Xia to use fifty billion US Dollars as a subsidy program for all primary and secondary school students in Northwest Province.]

[Provide partial or full exemptions on their accommodation, meals, and clothing.]

[The entire amount will be allocated as a short-term plan, expected to last five years.]

[In the future, this plan will transition into a long-term, nationwide initiative.]

"Hiss—a subsidy program for all primary and secondary school students in the entire province? And only for five years?"

Zhang Yuli gasped, taking in a sharp breath.

Although he had vaguely guessed what this 'Mysterious Organization' intended to do, he hadn't anticipated their boldness to be so astonishing.

This was fifty billion US dollars, a colossal sum of thirty-five billion RMB, all to be used to aid the primary and secondary school students of Northwest Province?

"Old Zhang, if I recall correctly, the total number of primary and secondary school students in Northwest Province is just over six million, right?"

Zheng Lixing quickly calculated a detailed figure: "Thirty-five billion over five years, averaging nearly eleven hundred RMB per person annually?"

"That's a substantial amount."

Considering the price levels in Great Xia in 2009, a daily subsidy of three RMB was already quite generous. Pork prices were generally just over four RMB per jin.

This money could allow many children to have meat and milk with their breakfast and lunch every day, with plenty left over.

'May I ask what method we should use for this aid this time?' Zhang Yuli didn't say much, but silently replied.

After all, this form of aid couldn't be carried out under Great Xia's name again. Otherwise, other provinces would raise objections.

Northwest Province needs subsidies, but don't other underdeveloped provinces need them? Even the southern provinces of Great Xia had vast underdeveloped regions.

Other provinces wouldn't know that all of this was obtained in exchange for the 'compensation' from the Mysterious Organization. They would only feel that Great Xia was being unfair.

Therefore, this time, they needed a legitimate reason.

The reply from the other side came quickly.

[Then, it can be referred to as funds donated by a 'Enthusiastic Citizen,' with the full name being the 'Enthusiastic Citizen Student Subsidy Program.']

Looking at this line in the email.

"Pfft, does this Mysterious Organization have a peculiar fondness for the name 'Enthusiastic Citizen'?" Liu Zhixue twitched the corner of his mouth.

He seemed to recall that when they first contacted him, the other party also asked him to refer to them as 'Enthusiastic Citizen.'

However, judging by their actions on both occasions, the Mysterious Organization truly lived up to that name.

'We will promptly devise a plan and implement your requested requirements as quickly as possible.'

After Zhang Yuli finished replying, he sat back in his chair and sighed, "It seems the leader of this Mysterious Organization has deep affection for Northwest Province, and even holds Great Xia in high regard."

"It's because we haven't done enough that these people have to suffer."

Did the education departments not notice the difficult living conditions of many students in Northwest Province? Even Zhang Yuli, the dean of the Great Xia Academy of Sciences, was well aware of this.

But it wasn't a matter of not knowing; it was simply that they couldn't do anything about it. Northwest Province's annual education budget was only a little over three billion RMB, and the salaries of many rural teachers were paid only once every six months. How could they provide subsidies?

Furthermore, how many impoverished mountainous areas and impoverished counties were there nationwide in Great Xia? Could they afford to neglect one for another?

"It will get better in a few more years," Zheng Lixing patted his shoulder. "Once fiscal revenue increases, we'll naturally have the funds for subsidies."

Great Xia's fiscal revenue was not high to begin with. Being able to provide nine years of compulsory education was already the limit of what they could afford.

After all, besides education, wasn't scientific research important? Wasn't the support and development of various industries important? Wasn't building roads important? Were the major military projects and defense spending unimportant? Everything was important, so Great Xia had to be meticulous in its calculations for each.

However, the Mysterious Organization didn't have these concerns. After all, this 'compensation' was their own money, and Great Xia wouldn't have any objections to how they spent it.

"Xiao Liu, go notify the highest level first," Zhang Yuli thought for a moment, then said, "I'll prepare a preliminary plan in the next day or two to submit, and then implement it according to the Mysterious Organization's requirements."

"Understood, Dean." Liu Zhixue nodded and quickly walked out of the room.

As the external liaison for the special secret group, his responsibility was to maintain contact both upwards and downwards.

Watching him disappear into the distance, Zheng Lixing suddenly remembered something: "Old Zhang, how should we handle this B-2 bomber technology?"

As mentioned earlier, the B-2 bomber was extremely expensive.

Even if Great Xia could afford to build it by gritting its teeth, its current situation likely couldn't sustain it. With an annual military budget of only four hundred billion RMB at most, how could they operate B-2 bombers? Which air force unit could afford such a demanding aircraft?

Both of them were well aware of this point.

"The technology is already in hand, so we can't just not develop it," Zhang Yuli paused for a moment. "It's just that we don't necessarily have to develop the B-2 bomber itself."

"Oh? You mean..." Zheng Lixing's eyes lit up. "The H-20 project that's about to be approved?"

Zhang Yuli nodded. "We'll learn from its strengths and compensate for its weaknesses. This way, the development time for the H-20 project will be significantly shortened, and the unit cost can also be controlled."

"It's time for the H-20 project to be formally approved."

Absorbing the advantages of the B-2 bomber technology to develop Great Xia's H-20 project was the optimal choice.

"Then I need to quickly notify that guy Duan Fei."

Zheng Lixing narrowed his eyes, a smile spreading across his face. "If he hears this news, he'll probably jump three feet high."

The territory of Chang'an, Institute 603, also known as 'Xifei'.

This is a crucial research and manufacturing base for Great Xia in developing bombers, transport aircraft, civilian planes, and more. Many bombers, including the H-6, are also R&D achievements of Institute 603.

At this moment, it is deep into the night.

A middle-aged man, looking somewhat thin and wearing black-rimmed glasses, had just woken up to an urgent phone call, his expression bewildered.

"Old Zheng, what did you say? What bomber?"

He suspected he hadn't heard clearly, otherwise, how could such an outrageous thing happen?

"Duan Fei, hurry to Yanjing." Zheng Lixing's voice was filled with excitement. "This isn't just about the H-20 bomber, it's also about the B-2 bomber. Get on a special plane and come over immediately."

"???"

Duan Fei suspected he had woken up too suddenly and was hallucinating, otherwise, why would he suddenly hear the name of the B-2 bomber?

Maybe he should go back to sleep? This dream was quite exciting.

(PS: The author is not from Northwest Province, so don't guess. I just felt at the time that the Northwest was the best entry point, so I chose this location. The story will definitely expand nationwide later, but it has to be done gradually, just like national poverty alleviation, where problems are solved one region at a time.)