Project approved

Two days later.

Inside Capital City's First Ring Road.

As he looked at the somewhat old-fashioned building before him, a trace of wistfulness appeared in Lü Yongchang's eyes.

"Come on, Senator Li is waiting for you!"

Seeing Lü Yongchang stop, Hong Qiming hurried him along. "By the way, did you get everything I asked you to prepare ready?"

Lü Yongchang smiled and nodded, giving the briefcase in his hand a little shake.

"It's just a budget proposal. I had it ready ages ago."

At that, Hong Qiming breathed a small sigh of relief. "Good."

"I won't be going in with you this time. You'll have to handle everything yourself."

"Remember, be a little more levelheaded. Don't go saying unrealistic things like you did last time!"

Lü Yongchang nodded helplessly.

Knock, knock, knock!

Standing before the heavy wooden door, Lü Yongchang drew a deep breath, raised his hand, and gently knocked.

"Come in."

A brisk, firm voice came from inside.

Creak...

As soon as he pushed the door open, Lü Yongchang saw Senator Li sitting behind his desk, watching him with a smile.

"Yongchang, you really gave me a surprise!"

Smiling warmly, Senator Li stood and walked over to Lü Yongchang.

"Have a seat!"

Senator Li sat down on the sofa to one side first.

After a moment's consideration, Lü Yongchang accepted without fuss and sat comfortably across from him.

"What are you planning to do next?"

Without any pleasantries, Senator Li went straight to the point.

Lü Yongchang answered his question without the slightest hesitation. "I recommend launching the controlled nuclear fusion demonstration reactor project immediately!"

Senator Li frowned slightly.

"A demonstration reactor? So soon?"

Lü Yongchang nodded gently. "We already have relatively mature controlled nuclear fusion technology. I think this is an opportunity."

"An opportunity?" Senator Li raised his eyebrows slightly, studying Lü Yongchang with interest.

"Yes, an opportunity to catch up with and surpass the United States!"

"An opportunity for Xia Country to soar once again!"

Lü Yongchang's eyes gleamed as he enunciated every word.

Senator Li's pupils abruptly contracted.

He gave Lü Yongchang a meaningful look and said softly, "You said something similar the last time we met."

"Didn't Hong Qiming tell you to be more levelheaded? You shouldn't say things that are unrealistic."

His expression serious, Lü Yongchang slowly shook his head.

"Minister Hong did remind me."

"But... in my opinion, if we don't even dare to entertain such an idea, Xia Country will never catch up with and surpass the United States!"

"Perhaps you see controlled nuclear fusion as nothing more than a better way to generate electricity, something that can provide Xia Country with an inexhaustible supply of cheap energy. Am I right?"

Senator Li fell silent.

After a long while, he asked, "Isn't it?"

"Of course not!"

Lü Yongchang grew somewhat agitated.

"Controlled nuclear fusion is the key to unlocking a new era!"

"And that new era is the interstellar age!"

"With controlled nuclear fusion as our energy source, we can set our sights farther afield!"

"The Moon, Mars, even the entire Solar System!"

"With nuclear fusion powering it, Xia Country could absolutely lead the way into space!"

Seeing that Senator Li remained impassive, Lü Yongchang steeled himself and played a much stronger card.

"I've already made some headway on the fusion reactor miniaturization project."

"If it succeeds, Senator Li, imagine our aircraft carriers, submarines, or even fighter jets powered by nuclear fusion!"

Now, even Senator Li could no longer remain calm!

He sprang up from the sofa, his eyes burning as he stared at Lü Yongchang.

"Is everything you're saying true?!"

Under Senator Li's intense gaze, Lü Yongchang's heart thumped several times.

He had not originally planned to say any of this.

After all, Xia Country in this lifetime was already several years ahead of where it had been in his previous life.

Logically speaking, at its current pace of development, Xia Country would certainly be able to escape the Solar System in twenty years!

But... for some reason, a lingering unease remained in his heart.

Perhaps it was because he had truly experienced that helplessness when the helium flash erupted. Now, Lü Yongchang was like a soldier terrified of having insufficient firepower.

Only in his case, he was terrified of having insufficient technology.

Especially after seeing the cutting-edge technologies in the Technology Tree System in his mind, he had come to understand one thing all too clearly.

Compared with the universe, humanity was simply too insignificant!

"Of course!" Lü Yongchang nodded gently, his expression resolute.

"Phew..."

Senator Li let out a long breath. "How confident are you?"

As he spoke, an unprecedented gleam shone in Senator Li's eyes!

He had to admit that Lü Yongchang's words had won him over!

The moment he heard that question, a smile appeared on Lü Yongchang's face.

He knew he had won his gamble again!

"Ninety percent!"

Lü Yongchang looked firmly at Senator Li. "I'm willing to stake my reputation on it. Within six months, the compact fusion reactor project will achieve a breakthrough!"

"Good!" A flicker of excitement flashed through Senator Li's eyes.

"In that case... I'll put my faith in you this once!"

"Xia Country can still afford to take this gamble!"

Lü Yongchang hurried to strike while the iron was hot. He opened the briefcase beside him, took out a document, and handed it to Senator Li.

"Senator Li, this is the budget proposal we agreed on at the laboratory, for the Fusion Demonstration Reactor!"

Senator Li's breath abruptly caught.

A moment later, he gave Lü Yongchang a meaningful look. "You little rascal... had you planned all along to persuade me?"

"What would you have done if I'd refused?"

Lü Yongchang's face fell, and he said with a wry smile, "Senator Li, surely you wouldn't do that?"

"Don't you want to see Xia Country keep getting better?"

Senator Li paused, then burst out laughing. "You're right! Who would have thought that at my age, I still wouldn't see things as clearly as a young whippersnapper like you!"

As he spoke, Senator Li took the document from Lü Yongchang and began examining it carefully.

When he saw the string of digits at the bottom of the budget proposal, his expression changed at once.

"Ahem... Senator Li, this is a nuclear fusion power station, after all. It's only natural that the cost would be somewhat high."

Seeing the sudden change in Senator Li's expression, Lü Yongchang hurried to explain. "But I guarantee that once the nuclear fusion power station is built, the returns it generates will be staggering!"

Senator Li looked at Lü Yongchang helplessly. "Relax. I'm not about to go back on my word."

"Xia Country can still come up with fifty billion!"

Hearing that, Lü Yongchang let out a great sigh of relief.

That's a relief.

Holding the budget proposal, Senator Li returned to his desk. Then he picked up the fountain pen on it and wrote four large Chinese characters in bold, flowing strokes.

"Project approved!"