Rebirth 08: Equipment God

Chapter 321 Call Me Martial Uncle!
"Xiao Zhai, how have you been lately? The last time we met was during the interview in Yang City, right?"

In the principal's office, Zhai Da sat down and opened the teacup to inspect the goods.

It's drinkable as long as the foam isn't removed.

"The interview was a bit of a letdown, but Lu Wei did appear on the evening news once, which is quite impressive."

Principal Wang nodded: "It's alright. The news we received was already confirmed on the evening news, so the interview was just a 'possibility.' What's wrong with our great writer this time? What difficulties has he encountered?"

Do you need my GPA? I'll call right now and have it come to you.

Zhai Da carefully considered his words before saying, "Principal, I've come here for two matters. One is about my strategy for cultivating academicians."

A glint of light flashed in Principal Wang's eyes: "Oh? What are your thoughts?"

Seeing the principal's expression, Zhai Da smiled and said, "You should already know, right?"

The two looked at each other with smiles, and finally Principal Wang laughed and said, "You've been hiding this for a long time, haven't you? Mr. Qian's last disciple, do you know how many years it's been since he had a proper student?"

"I've been waiting for you to come. What's wrong? Are you feeling distant from your alma mater?"

Zhai Da said tactfully, "This is actually a private relationship. I didn't initially intend to make it public, but later..."

Later, when I visited my teacher in the hospital, so many bigwigs came, so this matter was naturally no longer a secret.

In particular, the top two officials from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and the Ministry of Science and Technology visited the university one after another. It should be noted that Harbin Institute of Technology is a university directly managed by the state and under the supervision of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.

Qian Xuesen's last disciple was a student from Harbin Institute of Technology, but the president of Harbin Institute of Technology was informed by someone else. Wang Chunguo has been thinking about this matter recently.

The reason he didn't call Zhai Dalai directly was twofold: firstly, the "closed-door disciple" relationship was a personal bond, not really related to the school, and he had to respect Zhai Dalai and Professor Qian's ideas.

Yes, mainly the latter.

Otherwise it would seem as if Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT) wanted to take advantage of the situation, which HIT neither needs nor is necessary.

Secondly, I'm also curious whether Zhai Da will change as a result.

This relationship is too complicated and difficult to deduce using common sense.

Mr. Qian was of extraordinary stature and seniority, but he was not the kind of person who abused his influence.

If Zhai Da becomes arrogant because of this, then as the principal, he should guide him accordingly.

For example, someone came in, patted the principal on the shoulder, and said, "Call me Junior Uncle!"

However, it seems that Zhai Da is still very steady. Or rather, if he didn't have such temperament and talent, Qian would not have accepted him as a student.

A century has passed, and the number of geniuses he has encountered is countless.

Those who consider themselves exceptionally intelligent are nothing more than children whom Qian Lao had to look down to see.

Being smart alone is not enough to become a "closed-door disciple".

Temperament alone is not enough.

Only "recognition" is the sole standard.

Now that things were out in the open, Zhai Da frankly stated, "Because of my teacher, it's no longer appropriate for me to follow my original plan and become an apprentice of an academician. However, I still want to learn more, and my university life is far from over."

"I think the learning model can continue. If I need guidance from a master in a certain field, I will respectfully seek their knowledge. You know what I mean."

Principal Wang wiped the lid of his teacup: "It's a pity. Actually, there are quite a few academicians in the school waiting for you to knock on their doors. But it's not a big problem. I'll coordinate. It's a one-person-one-policy approach. The focus is on the students, not the academicians." The initial intention of giving such preferential treatment was to cultivate Zhai Da and Lu Wei well, not to give academicians a top scorer to enhance their prestige. He can distinguish between the order of arrival and the importance of each.

Moreover, with that teacher, Zhai Da has no shortage of so-called guidance. If Qian Lao doesn't have time, then the people below him don't have time either?

He could be transferred to the Chinese Academy of Sciences for further studies with just a word.

In comparison, Lu Wei's situation is also quite special. Although the Department of Mathematics does not have any full-time academicians, it does have external academicians.

But now, Lu Wei has single-handedly carried the torch for the mathematics department at Harbin Institute of Technology. There's no need to specifically identify any particular teacher; all the professors in the department treat her like a treasure, lining up to teach her.

An academician's work represents personal achievements and does not necessarily make them a good teacher. Having the support of the entire mathematics department is far more valuable than having a single academician providing guidance.

Individual teachers used to have to allocate "personal resources," but now they are "supported by the entire school."

Most importantly, as a talented and self-disciplined contestant, and given that mathematics is a special subject, it would be more appropriate for Lu Wei to explore new frontiers according to her own interests, at least until she turns 30.

After experiencing "Sensitivity Conjecture" and participating in many seminars, Lu Wei has broadened her horizons and is now looking for her next goal.

Zhai Da's first request was exactly what Principal Wang expected; he readily agreed and then said, "Didn't you have something else to say? Tell me about it."

The second thing, however, was a bit unconventional.

Zhai Da said in a deep voice, "Actually, I registered a research institute some time ago."

Principal Wang: ?

After a moment of mental translation, I said, "You mean a research institute registered with the business administration department?"

Zhai Da gave a brief overview of the "Mechanical Core Research Institute," but what might seem like an impressive development to young people was just ordinary to the president of Harbin Institute of Technology. President Wang simply nodded.

Harbin Institute of Technology has dozens of national-level laboratories, research institutes, and research centers. In his ears, a research institute registered with the industry and commerce authorities is not much different from a college student starting a shell company.

They have ideas, but I disagree on whether they have the capability.

"Did you register this research institute as a sole proprietorship, and is it focused on mechanical engineering?"

"This is the medium-term plan, but we've encountered a small problem."

"what is the problem."

"The problem is not enough money."

Principal Wang:
He shifted his posture awkwardly, wondering what this meant. Did Harbin Institute of Technology have to fund his project?
The risk is probably a very high one in a hundred million.
In fact, Zhai Da was also quite helpless. Excluding software parts such as the "operating system", most of the technologies in the [Mechanical Core] have very high hardware requirements.

For example, take the "motor" on it.

According to Zhai Da's own research, the full name of that motor should be "silicon carbide motor". Silicon carbide refers to the technology of its internal semiconductors, which is touted as the third generation of semiconductors.

If we use "mature market entry" as the standard, silicon carbide motors represent a technology two generations ahead of current traditional induction motors, boasting an electronic control efficiency greater than 99%, double the maximum speed, ten times the power density, and a 70% reduction in energy loss.
Between motors and batteries, the changes brought about by motors are actually no less significant than those brought about by batteries. If we can fully understand them, in addition to new energy vehicles, revolutionary progress will be made in fields such as industrial automation, wind power, and ultra-high voltage power grids (application of silicon carbide semiconductors).

but!
The starting cost of an electrical motor laboratory, which includes the capability to cut and process silicon carbide substrates, is around 2000 million yuan. (The substrate can be considered a raw material; it was available in 09, but expensive.)
Harbin Institute of Technology has all the equipment needed for this.
Let alone the initial cost, even if all the demands are met, Harbin Institute of Technology will always have more, never less.

This is the confidence of a top-tier engineering university.

Even silicon carbide semiconductors, which are currently at the forefront of technology, are well-equipped in schools because they are related to aerospace and satellites.

So here's the question: if they're all available at the school, why should I, Zhai, spend money to buy them?
This is just one motor; the investment in other technologies like batteries is no less than that in the motor itself. He's poured his entire fortune into it.
How unwise!
Why not come and have some tea with the principal?

(End of this chapter)