Chapter 793 The Worst Case
In the end, Americans still did not scan the code to pay.
After all, it is impossible for the online payment platform to give such a large amount, let alone the transfer to the company, which can only go through the special transfer channel of the bank.
It's just that Lu Zhou still didn't expect that the other side of the Pacific actually gave money...
"America really paid for it?" When Director Li told Lu Zhou about this, Lu Zhou was surprised for a while.
But after thinking about it carefully, it is no longer a matter of money or not.
Not to mention something that has been promised, even if there is no promise to pay for this rescue operation, the White House can't really ask Hua Guo to pay for it.
It is not just a matter of embarrassment that one's own citizens do nothing when something happens outside, and let others spend money to save them.
Director Li nodded and said: "This morning, the U.S. Secretary of the Treasury did summon our embassy staff in Washington and talked about it, but they said that the figure of 1.7 billion is too exaggerated, and they are only willing to bear 10% of it. billion dollars.”
$1 billion!
Lu Zhou felt that his hand holding the teacup was shaking a little.
Coughing lightly, he forced himself to calm down.
"...1 billion is not bad."
However, after hearing his words, Director Li looked a little sorry.
"Although we have fought for you here, 1 billion US dollars is already the bottom line that the White House can accept... Is it enough on your side? If not, we can post some for you here."
This rescue operation has greatly improved Huaguo's international image and national prestige, even if it is just looking at these hidden values, it is worth paying for it.
Although Lu Zhou is the chief designer of the Lunar Orbit Construction Committee, Starry Sky Technology is his private property after all. If Xingkong Technology really spent so much money for this rescue operation, it is reasonable for the central government to subsidize it appropriately.
After all, high-tech companies are the future of the country, and these excellent companies cannot be allowed to lose money to do such things.
However, after hearing Director Li's concern, Lu Zhou shook his head.
"Where do you need so much? If you count all the costs, at most two to three hundred million will be enough."
This time it was Director Li's turn to be stunned.
"Only two or three billion? Then you reported $1.7 billion..."
Lu Zhou was embarrassed and gave a dry laugh.
"Uh, isn't this waiting for them to bargain?"
Director Li: "..."
With a budget of 200-300 million yuan, the quotation of 1.7 billion yuan is indeed too much, not to mention that this is humanitarian aid.
In fact, Lu Zhou's original intention was not to make money, he even planned to pay only a fraction from the United States, and then "reluctantly" accepted it on his own side.
However, who would have thought that the White House would be so generous, wipe off the change, and type the rest, which made Lu Zhou feel a little embarrassed.
After thinking for a while, Lu Zhou also felt that it was not good for him to do so, so he tentatively asked.
"Shall I change my mouth?"
"Changing your mouth... There's no need for it. Your quotation is really nonsense. There is no bargaining price of 100 million units," couldn't help complaining about Lu Zhou, Director Li pondered for a while, and said, "This way... you will Said the remaining 700 million US dollars, we have borne it ourselves."
The remaining $700 million?
One billion has exceeded the standard, so where is the 700 million?
Lu Zhou was taken aback for a moment, then met Director Li's scheming smile, and immediately reflected.
Sighing, Lu Zhou couldn't help but sigh with emotion.
"I thought I was shameless enough for doing this... I didn't expect you to be more awesome than me."
Director Li said with a stern face: "What's so awesome... Hidden expenses are not allowed? And there is no money for the documentary "The Martian"? Of course, you don't need to pay. Anyway, when the media asks, we Let’s unify the caliber here. The entire rescue operation cost a total of 1.713 billion US dollars. The US side paid 1 billion, and our side subsidized 713 million out of humanitarian principles...”
Lu Zhou couldn't help asking: "How did this 13 million come out?"
Picking up the teacup and taking a sip, Chief Li said without blushing.
"Come up with a decimal, it looks like that."
Lu Zhou: "..."
...
Almost at the same time.
NASA headquarters building.
The Ares Project Ground Command Center.
Standing next to the console, the expressionless president put his hands behind his back, staring straight at the flickering green dot on the big screen, and the irregular curve connecting the green dot.
Although he knew that the green dot was the Xiaguang rover flying to Mars to support them, but at this moment his mood couldn't be any more beautiful.
Twenty years have passed since the Columbia disaster, in which all seven astronauts were killed.
To say something politically incorrect but correct, he would rather double the number of people than exchange these people for the Soviets to get the wreckage of the Columbia ... and he is also 10,000 sure that the then president Definitely the same as he thought.
Of course, this is just a hypothesis, and the Soviets never got their hands on these wrecks.
But now...
The situation is developing towards the worst direction.
After being silent for a long time, the president, who felt that his neck was a little stiff, tilted his head slightly, looked at Director Carson beside him and asked.
"How's the situation? I mean New Virginia."
Carson said profusely, "The colonists' emotions are still stable. We have told them that the rescue ship is heading to Mars, and let them ensure that the fuel in the return capsule is sufficient..."
The president nodded, indicating that Carson said that this is enough.
After a pause, he spoke slowly.
"The second phase of the Ares plan has completely failed, what we need now is to stop the loss."
"The BFS spacecraft is equipped with our most advanced space communication equipment. Boeing's suggestion is that we better find a way to actively crash the BFS spacecraft...if we don't want the Chinese to get it."
Not only communication equipment, but also environmental control and life protection systems, and even the cosmic ray shielding materials in the cabin, these are the technologies that American aerospace companies have continuously accumulated and improved during thousands of launch missions.
Although Huaguo may temporarily lead the world in terms of propulsion means with the electric propulsion system designed by Professor Lu, after all, there is only one Professor Lu, and American aerospace companies still have unparalleled competitiveness in other fields.
Such a "crystallization" that condenses the core technology of North American aerospace companies, not to mention being boarded by the Chinese people, even if they were taken up by those people to take a look, would be a huge loss to them.
Hearing the president's crazy plan, Director Carson broke out in a cold sweat.
This is billions of dollars of equipment!
not to mention……
"But the high-power signal transmission equipment on the BFS is the only way for us to get in touch with New Virginia. If we take the initiative to crash the BFS spacecraft..."
"After Huaguo's Xiaguang reaches the orbit of Mars, start the crash plan...as an excuse, let's say that the spacecraft is malfunctioning." After a pause, the president continued, "Anyway, compared to the safety of the colonists, no one will To pay attention to an iron shell floating in the sky."
Director Carson said in a difficult tone: "But... if the BFS spacecraft is scrapped, New Virginia will be completely lost from our communication channel, and this may increase the difficulty of rescue work."
"God bless our heroes," interrupted Director Carson forcefully, the president made a sign of the cross on his chest, looked up at the big screen on the console, and said silently in a voice that only he could hear.
"If something happens to them, we will remember their sacrifice."