While the entire industry was searching for the team behind the carbon-based chip, the Ministry of State Security had already spoken with Professor Wu's team. Once the confidentiality arrangements were settled, the Jinling Institute for Advanced Study distributed the twenty-million-yuan bonus.
Of course, for reasons of confidentiality, the twenty million was quietly divided among the research team's main contributors without any public announcement. Lu Zhou found that rather regrettable.
What was the point of splashing cash if you couldn't show off?
But after giving it some thought, he let it go.
An amount that large really was difficult to publicize. Otherwise, even without an explanation from the Jinling Institute for Advanced Study, the entire industry would probably figure out what had happened.
At least until Hua Nation finished establishing its carbon-based semiconductor industry, the relevant information still had to remain confidential.
The Jinling Institute for Advanced Study would also cooperate with the intelligence services to release a few smokescreens, drawing the eyes watching them in other directions.
It had to be said that Lu Zhou's lecture on the Quasi-Riemann Hypothesis had come at just the right time. Now the whole world knew that Professor Lu was studying the Riemann Hypothesis. Even if certain rumors led some people to make other connections, those suspicions would be difficult to substantiate...
And so the days passed. As mid-December drew closer, the atmosphere throughout Jinling City grew increasingly unusual.
First, banners went up at the airport to welcome mathematicians from around the world.
Then came a citywide crackdown, followed by sanitation inspections and fire safety checks. The streets all the way from the airport to Jinling University's old campus received a thorough cleanup.
Although it certainly put people through some trouble, the city's appearance improved considerably.
The municipal leadership was pulling out all the