Recruitment

Once construction began on the Fusion Demonstration Reactor, the task weighing on Lü Yongchang was recruitment.

After all, the Nuclear Physics Laboratory at Sandao Kou University had only a dozen or so researchers in total.

There was no way those dozen researchers alone could complete the research required for the Fusion Demonstration Reactor.

Taking any technology from the laboratory to commercial use meant facing countless difficulties.

That was especially true of a major technology like controlled nuclear fusion!

Although Lü Yongchang had already solved the most critical problem of sustaining controlled nuclear fusion, they still had countless issues to resolve before they could put it to commercial use.

For example, the main control software for the Fusion Demonstration Reactor.

Surely they couldn't build the Demonstration Reactor only to have several researchers constantly monitor all the data inside the Reactor, just as they did in the laboratory?

Another example was the Fusion Demonstration Reactor's installed generating capacity.

Although Lü Yongchang had already decided how the Fusion Reactor would generate electricity, they had yet to draw up a detailed plan.

Thus, to truly make controlled nuclear fusion a reality, Lü Yongchang needed to increase the number of researchers working under him severalfold at the very least!

Capital City University of Science and Technology.

Lu Hezheng returned to his office looking dejected.

As a professor in the nuclear physics department at Capital City University of Science and Technology, his main research project had originally been the Tokamak Device.

After all, just two months earlier, the Tokamak Device had still been the leading approach to achieving controlled nuclear fusion!

But... everything had changed after Lü Yongchang wrote those notes on the board!

Especially after the Nuclear Physics Laboratory at Sandao Kou University successfully ran a controlled nuclear fusion experiment, almost every laboratory researching controlled nuclear fusion in Xia Country had suspended its projects.

What followed was "downsizing."

Unfortunately...

Lu Hezheng was one of the researchers who had been "cut."

That had left him in an extremely awkward situation.

Lu Hezheng now had no research assignments whatsoever.

It would be a laughingstock if word got out.

A professor at Capital City University of Science and Technology, without a single research assignment to his name.

Thinking of the responses he had received when he contacted Xia Country's major nuclear physics laboratories a few days earlier, Lu Hezheng let out a deep sigh.

With construction underway on the Canghai Bay controlled nuclear fusion Demonstration Reactor project, virtually all the major nuclear physics laboratories in Xia Country had suspended their work.

"Ah..."

Looking at the unchanging scenery outside his window, Lu Hezheng sighed again.

Ring, ring!

A shrill telephone rang.

Lu Hezheng, who had been staring absently out the window, gave a sudden start.

He whipped his head around to look at the landline on the desk beside him, a trace of puzzlement flashing through his eyes.

Who would be calling him at a time like this?

Apart from a few university teaching duties, he now had absolutely nothing to do!

Frowning, Lu Hezheng walked over to the landline and leaned forward to look at its LCD screen.

It was a number he had never seen before.

Lu Hezheng's frown deepened.

Could it be... a pyramid scheme call?

No, that couldn't be right. Those calls couldn't get through to this phone!

As he pondered this, Lu Hezheng reached out and picked up the receiver.

"Hello?"

A somewhat steady male voice came from the other end of the line.

"Hello, is this Professor Lu Hezheng of Capital City University of Science and Technology?"

Lu Hezheng paused, then hurriedly nodded. "Yes, yes, that's me. And you are...?"

"Hello, Professor Lu. This is Lü Yongchang from the Nuclear Physics Laboratory at Sandao Kou University. Were you working as a researcher at Capital City University of Science and Technology's Nuclear Physics Laboratory until recently?"

The instant he heard those words, Lu Hezheng's heart gave a violent thump!

Lü Yongchang...

As a professor of nuclear physics, how could he not know what that name meant?!

This was the Chief Engineer of the controlled nuclear fusion Demonstration Reactor!

Lu Hezheng swallowed, excitement flashing in his eyes.

"Y-yes, I was indeed working there as a researcher until recently..."

Before he could finish, another question came from the other end of the line.

"Professor Lu, we're still short of researchers here at the Canghai Bay Fusion Demonstration Reactor. Would you be interested?"

Lu Hezheng's eyes suddenly lit up!

He nodded vigorously. "Yes! I'm interested!"

How could he possibly not be interested?!

This was a researcher position on the controlled nuclear fusion Demonstration Reactor project!

"Good. Professor Lu, please arrive at Capital City Railway Station before nine thirty tomorrow morning. Your high-speed train ticket to Vast Sea City has already been purchased."

"Once you reach Vast Sea City, someone will take you to the temporary research institute."

Lu Hezheng hurriedly asked, "Then... Professor Lü, do you need my identification details to buy the ticket?"

The line fell silent.

After a long pause, a voice drifted through the receiver. "Don't worry, Professor Lu. The ticket has already been purchased. You can check the text messages on your phone."

With that, the call ended before Lu Hezheng could say anything.

Ding!

A text message notification sounded.

Lu Hezheng hurriedly pulled his phone from his pocket, unlocked the screen, and checked it.

"Mr. Lu Hezheng, your high-speed train from Capital City to Vast Sea City will depart promptly at 9:30 tomorrow morning. Please bring the relevant identification documents and arrive at the waiting hall in advance..."

The following afternoon, Lu Hezheng walked out of Vast Sea City Railway Station, pulling his suitcase behind him.

Looking at the crowds coming and going in front of the station, Lu Hezheng felt momentarily lost.

Where... was he supposed to find the person meeting him?

While Lu Hezheng was puzzling over this, a man in military uniform walked up to him.

"Hello, Professor Lu!"

The man gave him an impeccably executed military salute. "I'm Du Zhen. I've been ordered to escort you to the temporary research institute!"

In an instant, Lu Hezheng felt countless astonished gazes turn toward him.

"Ahem, there's no need to salute, no need. Well, yes, I'm Lu Hezheng. Let's get going!" Lu Hezheng said, feeling rather embarrassed.

Du Zhen chuckled, took the suitcase from Lu Hezheng, and strode forward.

Over a drive of just over an hour, Lu Hezheng passed through three checkpoints.

He couldn't help marveling. "Is security around the Demonstration Reactor really this tight...?"

Du Zhen, who was driving, smiled and nodded. "Professor Lu, this is nothing."

"All of Canghai Bay is under lockdown now. Just counting the troops stationed here, I'd estimate there's at least a brigade!"

"And..."

At this point, a mysterious smile appeared on Du Zhen's face. "I've heard Xia Country has even stationed an aircraft carrier fleet near Canghai Bay!"

Lu Hezheng's pupils suddenly contracted, and he exclaimed, "An aircraft carrier fleet?!"

"Is that really necessary?!"

Du Zhen shrugged as he drove. "I'm not sure either, but... my orders are to get you safely to the temporary research institute at any cost."

"Of course, it's not just you. We have more than a hundred researchers to pick up and escort."