Rebirth: Controlled Nuclear Fusion

Part 173：I Want to Do Research with You

Gao Zhicheng stared at the experimental result sheet in his hand.
The more he looked, the wider his pupils grew, and his hands began to tremble involuntarily, his mouth muttering repeatedly.
"This... this..."
Several team leaders standing beside him, noticing his reaction, immediately gathered around.
The sheet displayed the following:
Maximum fuel combustion temperature: 4608°C!
Maximum fuel energy thrust: 1089 tons!
...
Damn!
The moment they saw these results, they couldn't help but curse under their breath.
Maximum fuel energy thrust: 1089 tons?
1089 tons of thrust?
Such an explosive fuel energy was terrifying beyond belief!
To put this in perspective, before Long Lao's research on the 500-ton rocket booster, their own maximum fuel thrust had only reached 349 tons.
This was a difference of threefold!
This Jiang Fan was too formidable!
In just four days, he had developed such a powerful new fuel!
They stood there, mouths agape, utterly stunned, staring at the result sheet.
The others, noticing their astonished expressions, couldn't help but grow curious.
What kind of result could have shocked them so much?
Had Jiang Fan's fuel reached a thrust of 700 tons?
Some of the more impatient researchers turned to Gao Zhicheng and asked eagerly,
"Gao Chief Engineer, what's the result of their experiment?"
Gao Zhicheng was jolted back to reality by their calls.
He slowly handed the experimental sheet back to Tian Hongxuan.
His heart was a storm of conflicting emotions.
A thrust of 1089 tons—this was a new historical record for Longguo, even for the entire Blue Star.
Such an achievement would make all the nations of Blue Star pale in comparison.
As a leader in the aerospace field of Longguo, Gao Zhicheng should have been proud of such a technological breakthrough for the country.
But, in truth, he couldn't bring himself to rejoice.
He was forced to admit that Jiang Fan truly had the capability to develop a thousand-ton rocket booster.
Looking back now, when Commander Liu Tianhang had presented him with Jiang Fan's plan for the thousand-ton booster, he had instinctively rejected it. Now, he realized that his fear was the root of it all.
He had feared the rise of a new generation, one that could surpass him, once regarded as the brightest star in Longguo's aerospace field.
He didn't even know when he had started harboring such dangerous thoughts.
But at this moment, he had no choice but to admit it—the thought had taken root in him.
Gao Zhicheng glanced at Jiang Fan, who was smiling calmly at him.
This made him feel even more guilty and self-reproachful.
He had made things difficult for Jiang Fan, mocked him, and yet Jiang Fan didn't come to gloat when the tables had turned.
Such magnanimity put him to shame.
What Longguo truly needed was a technological leader with this kind of grace and composure.
He believed that, in the future, Longguo's technological advancements would be even stronger thanks to this young man.
Gao Zhicheng opened his mouth, as if to say something to Jiang Fan, but in the end, he remained silent and turned to leave.
The group leaders around him, seeing this, called out,
"Gao Chief Engineer, what about us?"
Gao Zhicheng raised a hand in a silent gesture of dismissal, then lowered his head and walked alone toward the door of the First Experimental Warehouse.
The researchers in the First Experimental Warehouse watched his slightly stooped figure, a deep, unspoken emotion swelling within them.
In the past, Gao Zhicheng had always stood tall, no matter where he was.
He had been like an iron man, invincible, overcoming every difficulty that came his way!
For the older generation of researchers in the First Warehouse, Gao Zhicheng had been their spiritual leader.
There was a time when he had led them, tirelessly battling through hardships, and together, they had developed the 100-ton rocket booster, the 150-ton, the 200-ton...
Until they reached the 300-ton rocket booster, a collective triumph that had shone in their hearts.
But now, they watched helplessly as their spiritual leader lowered his head and walked away in solitude.
It was as if they had all suddenly realized something.
Yes!
He was getting old!
And so were they!
This era was no longer theirs—it belonged to the younger generation!
For years, they had believed that they could still contribute to the country. But from the lack of significant results in the recent years from their Northwestern Base, they now saw the truth.
At this moment, they understood—they were wrong. They no longer had the capacity to contribute to the country's advancement. They couldn't keep up with the pace of technological progress!
Therefore, the only thing they could offer now was to step off the stage and allow the younger generation to showcase their talents.
Soon, several senior researchers in the First Warehouse, moved by the realization, quietly left the lab.
The younger researchers, confused, watched all this unfold before them.
Until only about 200 researchers remained in the First Experimental Warehouse.
Tian Hongxuan, unfazed, addressed everyone,
"The results of this experiment show that the new solid-state fuel we developed has achieved a maximum thrust of 1089 tons!"
Upon hearing the result, everyone erupted into jubilant cheers!
The entire First Experimental Warehouse was abuzz with excitement!
Some of the researchers from the First Warehouse turned to Jiang Fan and said,
"Chief Engineer Jiang, I want to work with you on developing the thousand-ton booster!"
"Chief Engineer Jiang, I also want to join the research on the thousand-ton booster!"
"Chief Engineer Jiang, count me in too!"
"..."