Going all in is a kind of wisdom

Professor Guan Hualiang found his answer in Lü Yongchang's expression and smiled in satisfaction.

He said cheerfully, "After yesterday's meeting, Dean Tian and Academician Fang decided to submit your controlled nuclear fusion proposal to the Xia Kingdom Parliament. Parliament will decide whether we should proceed with experiments based on your proposal."

"Academician Fang?"

Lü Yongchang's gaze shifted slightly.

Could it be... Academician Fang Xu?

The academician of the Xia Kingdom Academy of Sciences who single-handedly drove the development of controlled nuclear fusion?

In his previous life, without the groundwork Academician Fang Xu had laid early on, Lü Yongchang would never have been able to take over Xia Country's first experimental controlled nuclear fusion reactor so smoothly!

"Sandao Kou University has a Nuclear Physics Laboratory. You know that, don't you?"

Seeing Lü Yongchang nod, Guan Hualiang picked up the teacup on his desk. After a sip of strong tea, he continued, "Academician Fang Xu is the head of that Nuclear Physics Laboratory."

A flicker of astonishment crossed Lü Yongchang's eyes.

It really was him!

It looked like his somewhat "reckless" move had actually worked!

On only the second day after his rebirth, he had already made contact with one of Xia Country's foremost scientists!

"Academician Fang Xu is quite remarkable. In the field of controlled nuclear fusion, he..."

Clearly, Professor Guan Hualiang held Academician Fang Xu in great esteem.

Looking at the admiration on Guan Hualiang's face, Lü Yongchang did not know whether to laugh or cry.

Others might not know how formidable Academician Fang Xu was, but how could he not?

Despite the collective monopoly maintained by all the Western Great Powers, he had single-handedly advanced Xia Country's controlled nuclear fusion technology by decades!

That would be Academician Fang's greatest achievement!

Ring, ring!

An urgent telephone ring interrupted Professor Guan Hualiang's enthusiastic account.

"Tsk..." Professor Guan Hualiang frowned slightly. Clicking his tongue softly, he picked up the phone. "Who is this? Guan Hualiang speaking."

But a moment later, Guan Hualiang's expression began to turn serious.

"What? Minister Hong is here?!"

"All right, understood!"

"Lü Yongchang... he's here with me right now."

"All right, I'll bring him over immediately!"

Guan Hualiang hung up with a strange expression. "Yongchang, you don't have anything else to do right now, do you?"

Without waiting for Lü Yongchang's reply, Guan Hualiang continued, "Never mind. Even if the sky falls, you'll have to come with me first..."

Lü Yongchang: "...???"

"Ahem! Professor, what happened?"

Guan Hualiang's gaze grew stranger still. "Young Lü, have you ever spoken with a Ministerial-Rank Parliamentarian?"

Lü Yongchang's pupils abruptly contracted!

"P-Professor?"

Guan Hualiang gave Lü Yongchang a meaningful look and said quietly, "It seems this ITER affair has angered the Xia Kingdom Parliament as well."

"I never expected it to bring the Minister of Science and Technology here."

Sandao Kou University, Nuclear Physics Laboratory.

"Minister Hong, Lü Yongchang will be here shortly."

With a grave expression, Fang Xu addressed Hong Qiming, who stood before him. "Minister Hong, what did Senator Li... say about this?"

Hong Qiming gave Fang Xu a meaningful look. "Which matter are you referring to?"

"ITER, or Lü Yongchang's controlled nuclear fusion proposal?"

Fang Xu gritted his teeth slightly and said in a low voice, "Both!"

Hong Qiming fell silent for a moment, seemingly weighing his words.

After a long pause, he slowly began, "Academician Fang, you must trust that Xia Country would never sacrifice its future for such a paltry immediate gain!"

Fang Xu's pupils contracted slightly.

He understood!

Just as he had suspected, there was more to this ITER affair than met the eye!

"But... but we've withdrawn from ITER. Doesn't that mean..."

Hong Qiming raised a hand in a small gesture, cutting Academician Fang off before he could finish.

"Academician Fang, I believe that even without ITER, Xia Country can independently develop controlled nuclear fusion technology."

"Since our nation's founding, Xia Country has never allowed such minor matters to slow its development, has it?"

Fang Xu's gaze trembled, and then he nodded gently.

"Besides, if Lü Yongchang's proposal really can achieve controlled nuclear fusion, I personally believe withdrawing from ITER might be a good thing!"

"Do you understand what I mean?"

Facing Hong Qiming's meaningful gaze, Fang Xu had a sudden flash of insight!

He had figured it out!

Once Lü Yongchang's proposal was proven effective, Xia Country, as a member nation, would naturally have to share its technology with the other members!

But now... Xia Country had already withdrawn from ITER!

That meant that if the proposal worked, this controlled nuclear fusion technology could give Xia Country a technological lead lasting at least several years!

When that happened, Xia Country's overall national strength would rise to new heights!

But...

That also meant Xia Country had gone all in, staking every chip it had on this second-year undergraduate!

Of course, had Lü Yongchang known what the leadership was thinking, he would have answered with a smile: "Going all in is a kind of wisdom!"

In his previous life, relying on his keen scientific intuition, he had more than once placed enormous bets on research directions that everyone else doubted!

Those bets had also allowed the Human Federation's technology to advance at a breathtaking pace in just a few short years!

The Underground City Cluster capable of housing billions of people, the Interstellar Spaceship under construction...

Every last one of them was the result of "going all in."

Yet... in the most important "gamble" of all, Lü Yongchang had failed.

And because of that, human civilization had met its end.

The doors of the Nuclear Physics Laboratory slowly opened.

A slightly stooped figure and an upright figure appeared in the doorway.

Hong Qiming's gaze shifted slightly, and he quickly turned toward the upright figure.

One glance was enough for Hong Qiming to nod inwardly in approval.

Not bad!

Full of vigor, and an upstanding-looking young man!

"Minister Hong, let me introduce them. This is Lü Yongchang, a second-year undergraduate in Sandao Kou University's physics department."

"And this is Professor Guan Hualiang."

Fang Xu's voice sounded beside them.

"This is Hong Qiming, minister of the Xia Kingdom Ministry of Science and Technology."

Guan Hualiang and Lü Yongchang hurried forward to greet him.

Seeing no trace of timidity on Lü Yongchang's face, Hong Qiming's eyes flickered with curiosity.

"Lü Yongchang, correct? You look... as though you aren't afraid of me?"

The corners of Lü Yongchang's mouth lifted slightly, and a faint smile appeared on his face.

"I haven't done anything wrong. Why should I be afraid of you?"

Caught off guard by Lü Yongchang's question, Hong Qiming paused, then clapped his hands and burst out laughing. "Good! Good! Good!"

"Student Lü Yongchang, we've already checked your proposal. I can say that its feasibility is extremely high."

"I imagine you're also aware of the ITER affair."

"Because of this, Senator Li Chief specifically assigned me a task. The question is, do you dare take it on?"