Those who face the wall, but are in the Nascent Soul stage.

Chapter 79 Science Fiction Enthusiasts

Upon Ding Yi's visit, Luo Qing learned about his needs.

"Circum-equatorial particle accelerator?"

"Correct."

Luo Qing frowned and pondered for a while. He did a rough calculation and felt that humanity probably didn't have the energy to undertake such a large project anymore.

Humanity today is simultaneously focusing on people's livelihoods, space exploration, scientific research, environmental protection, agriculture, industry, the economy, space forces, and space elevators.

There aren't enough hands, and you shouldn't waste an octopus like this.

"Wait a moment while I make a call and ask." Under Ding Yi's watchful gaze, Luo Qing made a phone call to the UN Secretary-General.

"Chairman Sa, it's me, Ronaldinho."

"Dr. Luo Ji?"

Luo Qing: “…”

A mocking laugh came from the other end of the phone: "Professor Luo Qing, what's up?"

Luo Qing briefly described Ding Yi's vision for a circum-equatorial particle accelerator.

After listening, Sai said bluntly, "If Dr. Ding Yi's idea gets out, the major powers will go crazy. He will become the number one target of their intelligence agencies, and they will not hesitate to use nuclear bombs to kill him."

Because the call was on speakerphone, Ding Yi could hear it clearly, which startled him.

"Of course, the assassination attempt was a joke. Dr. Ding Yi is right here too, so you can just give him the phone."

"Here." Luo Qing handed the phone to Ding Yi.

Frankly speaking, this was Ding Yi's first time speaking to the world's nominal highest-ranking official. Fortunately, President Sajé was not a traditional state politician, and he quickly relieved Ding Yi of the pressure.

Sai explained in detail the objective difficulties of building the 'Ring Equatorial Particle Accelerator'.

It's not that we don't want to build it, it's that it's simply impossible to build it.

Given the exorbitant cost of particle accelerators, the construction of a ring-equatorial particle accelerator would accelerate the collapse of national economies. At that point, accelerators that are only half-built would certainly be abandoned halfway, and the livelihoods that countries around the world are struggling to maintain would quickly collapse.

Furthermore, given that the technologies of 'controlled nuclear fusion' and 'industrial synthesis of starch' have not yet been fully developed, the premature collapse of national economies could plunge the world into a severe humanitarian catastrophe.

After all, global food reserves have already fallen below the red line, and there is a possibility that they may have hit rock bottom.

In short, given the current overall health of human society, it would be a miracle if the construction of three space elevators could be completed on schedule. After that, a period of rest and recuperation is necessary before the construction of the next large-scale project can begin.

The engineering feat of the Ring Equatorial Particle Accelerator is hundreds of times greater than that of the Space Elevator.

This level of engineering is not something that can be accomplished simply by pooling all of humanity's resources.

Moreover, whether the circum-equatorial particle accelerator can break through the Sophon's blockade is just wishful thinking on Ding Yi's part; no one knows exactly where the Sophon's interference limit lies.

If the massively constructed equatorial particle accelerator still cannot break through the proton blockade, then the only future purpose of this mega-project will be to set off a giant firework.

A giant firework display to celebrate humanity's self-destruction. After hanging up the phone, Luo Qing comforted the dejected Ding Yi, saying, "There are many ways to deal with the interference from the sophons. We can always think of something. If all else fails, you can consider hibernation and wake up in 100 years. Maybe by then the world will be prosperous, and it will be possible to build the Red Ring Equatorial Particle Accelerator."

"I'll figure it out myself when I get back." Ding Yi sighed, bid farewell to Luo Qing, and left the Wallfacer's compound.

...

Chang Weisi flipped through the meeting minutes about the selection of spacecraft paths. "The research direction for future spacecraft has begun to shift. The direct intervention of the Wallfacers has made propellantless spacecraft a possibility."

Zhang Beihai said, "Chief, it won't be that easy. Luo Qing's intervention was in his personal capacity, not as a Wallfacer. He left out a word."

Chang Weisi closed the document in front of him: "Researching propellantless spacecraft is part of the plan."

Zhang Beihai nodded: "That's the sentence I forgot to say."

Chang Weisi commented: "This shows that he still respects us ordinary people and did not intervene in human development with force. After all, if he wanted to, he could have said that he was researching steam-powered spaceships and that humans would have to listen to him. But he did not do that. He only expressed his opinion in the form of suggestions, and whether we listened or not was entirely up to us."

Zhang Beihai nodded: "But that's the biggest problem. His words were too mild. Although the development path of propellantless spacecraft has been finalized, the chemical fuel rocket path has not been completely abandoned. The reason is that those veteran aerospace engineers who work with chemical fuels are unwilling to back down. Actually, this is understandable. It would be hard for anyone to feel that something they've worked on for most of their lives is about to be thrown into the dustbin of history."

Chang Weisi said, "Since the current research direction of the scientific community already meets our needs for propellantless spacecraft, then we should stop worrying about chemical fuel rockets."

Zhang Beihai said, "Unless we completely stop research on chemical fuel rockets, humanity will never forget this baby carriage."

Chang Weisi glanced at him and said, "You seem quite interested in propellantless spaceships."

“That’s right.” Zhang Beihai admitted without hesitation: “After all, this is the greatest hope for the decisive battle 400 years from now. No navy wants to fight in a small wooden boat.”

Chang Weisi thought for a while before finally saying, "I have no other choice. The Central Military Commission has repeatedly issued orders strictly prohibiting the military from interfering with the selection and development of scientific routes. Let's leave the stroller behind; at least it will be a memento for the future."

Zhang Beihai hesitated for a moment, then finally nodded: "I will follow the instructions of my superiors and return to my post."

Chang Weisi watched Zhang Beihai leave.

...

At the meeting, Chang Weisi emphasized: "Thanks to the intervention of the Wallfacers, the research on propellantless spacecraft, which was originally planned to begin 200 years later, will start in the next two years. Although we do not know whether the research on propellantless spacecraft will be successful, we must still be prepared to rely on propellantless spacecraft to carry out space warfare."

Those present were still members of the first phase of the Space Force. There were not many members in the first phase, only about 30 people in total, but these 30 people have obviously become the backbone of the Space Force. Their lowest rank is senior colonel, which is enough to serve as the captain of an aircraft carrier or a large destroyer in the far-sea naval system.

Compared to the larger second and third cohorts of the Space Force, this cohort will undoubtedly become the core leaders of the Space Force in the future.

Chang Weisi said, "Does anyone still remember the three-tiered technology strategy that the headquarters divided up six years ago?"

Bi Yunfeng raised his hand and answered immediately: "The three space warfare theories and strategies based on the technology level are: low-tech strategy, medium-tech strategy, and high-tech strategy."

Chang Weisi nodded: "Yes, six years ago, when the Technology Strategy Office was being divided, most of you chose the low-tech strategy, a few chose the medium-tech strategy, and only Comrade Beihai chose the high-tech strategy. At the time, many people ridiculed Comrade Beihai, saying that he aspired to become a science fiction enthusiast. And what happened?"

The screen behind Chang Weisi displayed large red characters.

[Notice Regarding the Establishment and Advancement of the "Propellerless Nuclear-Powered Spacecraft" Project]

"Now even the people up there have become science fiction enthusiasts."

Some people in the room were clearly trying to suppress their laughter, but under Chang Weisi's sweeping gaze, their barely suppressed laughter vanished instantly.
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(End of this chapter)