Chapter 528

"What do you think... what should we do now?"

Looking at Secretary He who was humbly asking for advice, Lu Zhou fell silent.

This is a difficult question to answer.

To put it bluntly, he is not an expert in international relations, and what he is responsible for is only in the field of scientific research.

After thinking for about five minutes, Lu Zhou said slowly, "This question shouldn't be asked to me. I'm just a scholar, not a diplomat. The only thing I can guarantee is that before 2025, this demonstration stack will be given to Make it."

Having said that, Lu Zhou paused for a moment, looked at Secretary He and continued.

"If I had to offer my opinion, I think the crux of the issue is how we intend to use this technology."

He Mingxuan: "...how to use it?"

Lu Zhou nodded: "Yes."

It is difficult to monopolize a known technology.

When a technology can be expected, the difficulty of solving it will be reduced exponentially.

To give a popular example, just like the original Manhattan Project. The best scientists from all Western countries except Germany were gathered at that time, more than 100,000 people were mobilized to participate in this project, and the first atomic bomb was successfully tested at a cost of more than two billion US dollars. President Truman even complained that the cost of developing an atomic bomb is enough to buy the entire universe...

While Truman's complaints are certainly exaggerated, it can still be reflected to some extent that the price was high at the time.

However, the subsequent nuclear tests obviously did not take so many resources.

If the "STAR-2" project is ultimately successful, it is unlikely that Huaguo will monopolize this technology while enjoying the dividends brought about by the energy revolution.

The way to maximize the benefits is to expand one's influence in this field by virtue of one's own established technical advantages, become the standard-setter in this field, and let latecomers become catchers.

Of course, there is also the most critical thing, fusion energy can be used as a bargaining chip to exchange for the political interests that China needs.

Secretary He was silent for a while before speaking.

"About the question you mentioned, we haven't discussed it at the meeting for the time being."

Lu Zhou nodded, "I can understand, after all, these things about the future are still very far away."

"But what I would say is that if we are only going to be players in the international community, then agreeing to what the United States is asking for in exchange for reasonable benefits is an appropriate option."

"But if, or if, we had this ambition to be the rule-makers..."

Having said that, Lu Zhou was silent for a while, and said in a serious tone.

"Then the pains and setbacks encountered on the road to success are inevitable."

Hearing this sentence, Secretary He couldn't help holding his breath.

Makers of the rules...

it sounds like...

It's really an exciting vocabulary.

The fist resting on his knee was clenched tightly, and then slowly loosened. He repeated this movement and took a deep breath.

Although he is not a decision-maker, but only a conveyer of opinions, at this moment, he feels that he needs to ask this question on behalf of Director Lu and the country's high-level officials.

Restraining his beating heart, Secretary He said.

"If we withdraw from the ITER project, how will it affect the STAR-2 project?"

Lu Zhou thought for a moment, and replied in a positive tone: "The influence exists, but not too much!"

Hearing Lu Zhou's words, a smile finally spread on He Mingxuan's face.

"With your words, we can rest assured! I will fully convey your opinion to the higher-ups."

Lu Zhou nodded.

"Please do this."

Did not stay too long in the office.

Secretary He, who was planning to return to Beijing immediately, drank the tea in the cup and got up to leave.

After sending Secretary He downstairs, when Lu Zhou was wondering if he should say hello to Principal Xu before going back, he happened to run into Principal Xu who was coming back from outside.

Seeing Lu Zhou standing downstairs alone, Principal Xu, who was holding a stack of documents in his hand, came over and said with a smile.

"Are you done talking?"

"It's over," Lu Zhou smiled sheepishly, "Sorry to borrow your office for a while."

"It's okay, use that thing as you like, your business is more important," Principal Xu waved his hand nonchalantly, and handed a document to Lu Zhou with a smile, "You just took over the office, and I can't handle official business , I went to the academic affairs side to make a circle, and by the way, I also finished the formalities for you."

After taking the document from Principal Xu, Lu Zhou subconsciously asked, "Procedures?"

Principal Xu said with a smile: "Didn't you tell me that you want to come back to be a professor? Sign this contract, and you will be a member of our School of Mathematical Sciences!"

Lu Zhou said unexpectedly: "So fast?"

Principal Xu said with a smile: "You have long nights and many dreams. It's better to settle down early, lest you suddenly change your mind."

Hearing this joke, Lu Zhou smiled and said, "Why? That's fine, I'll take this document back and sign it, and I'll send it over tomorrow."

Principal Xu: "Don't you even ask how much your annual salary is?"

Lu Zhou smiled embarrassedly.

"Anyway, it's all written in the contract. It's fine if you don't see it when you go back. I'm not in such a hurry. Or, can you tell me now?"

"Let me tell you now, so that when you go back and look too little, you will blame me later."

Speaking of this, Principal Xu smiled, paused for a while, and continued, "About your treatment, we actually discussed it at a school meeting at the end of last year. The plan we discussed was an annual salary of 4 million, and another 5 million housing subsidies... I know you probably don't like the money, but this is already the highest salary we can give you. As for research funding, you are the general manager of a 40 billion project, I guess you There is no need for start-up funds for scientific research projects, and I will not show my shame. But if you have any other needs, just tell me, and we will do our best to help you solve them!"

Lu Zhou smiled and said, "Why don't you like it? This is already higher than my salary in Princeton."

As a top university in China, the salary offered by Shuimu University to a certain "prospective Nobel Prize scholar" is only 1.7 million annual salary.

The annual salary of 2 million is basically the upper limit for the introduction of academician-level talents.

As for the tens of millions of annual salaries advertised in the newspapers, most of them have included the settlement allowance, other benefits, and the most critical start-up funds for scientific research.

Jin Da offered him an annual salary of 4 million, which was almost double the maximum standard. I believe that to make such a decision, Principal Xu himself will have to bear a lot of pressure and discussions.

For him, such things as annual salary are actually not important anymore. So much so that he didn't even think about it at first.

But he was very touched by the importance his alma mater attached to him...

...

Once the energy problem is solved, many problems will be solved, but more problems will follow.

Don't say far, just say near.

Even the cake is not ready yet, at most, the smell of butter coming out of the stove has made so many people unable to sit still, if the cake is really ready, what will it look like?

What is happening on ITER today is just a preview of the future.

That night.

In an office in Shangjing.

Standing by the window smoking a cigarette, Director Lu looked at his watch.

In about an hour, there is another meeting.

Thinking of what happened recently, Director Lu pinched his brows with some headaches.

Although they had expected the actions of the United States, most people, including him, felt unexpected by the United States' actions so quickly.

Obviously, the Americans came here to snipe the STAR-2 project.

Just then, there was a knock on the office door.

Sighing, Director Lu extinguished his cigarette, went back to his desk and sat down.

"Come in."

It was his secretary who opened the door and walked in.

Looking at Secretary He, Director Lu asked, "Have you met Professor Lu?"

He Mingxuan nodded.

"I saw you this afternoon."

Having said that, he immediately reported the content of his conversation with Lu Zhou in the afternoon.

After listening to the secretary's report, Director Lu tapped his index finger on the desk and thought for a while.

"...Is that what he said?"

He Mingxuan nodded earnestly: "Yes...he assured me that even if Huaguo withdraws from the ITER organization, the progress of the STAR-2 demonstration reactor project will not be greatly affected!"

The frowning brow finally eased a look of relief, Director Lu nodded.

"okay, I get it!"

This promise was probably the best news he had heard today.

However, even this is enough!