Rejecting Tsinghua and Peking Universities: I Will Lead Harbin Institute of Technology to World Lead

Lin Feng picked up the red encrypted phone and pressed the only shortcut key.

After three beeps, Old Chen's familiar voice came through, carrying a rare hint of relaxation: "Lin Feng? You didn't attend the celebration banquet for the Kuafu System. What are you thinking about now, figuring out something new?"

"Professor Chen, I have new research to share." Lin Feng got straight to the point.

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone.

Then, Old Chen's voice became serious: "What resources are needed this time?"

They didn't ask about the research content, the technical difficulties, or the expected results—this was the absolute trust built up over the years. As long as Lin Feng asked, the country would provide full support.

"Top experts in tanks, and facilities for tank research," Lin Feng stated his requirements.

"tank?"

For the first time, there was a clear hesitation in Old Chen's voice.

It's not that I doubt Lin Feng's abilities, but rather... a tank?

In an era where Fuxi spaceplanes soar through space, Kuafu satellite systems cover the globe, and Nuwa fusion energy is changing the world order, tanks—this traditional land warfare weapon—seem somewhat...ordinary.

Old Chen's mind flashed through China's existing tank models: the Type 99A main battle tank, with world-class performance; and the latest "Qilin" heavy tank, which had just completed its type certification testing. They were already powerful enough; could Lin Feng possibly make a revolutionary breakthrough in this field?

Lin Feng sensed the disappointment in Old Chen's tone.

After all, every project he has undertaken in the past—the Kunpeng aircraft carrier, the Zhuque sixth-generation fighter jet, the Pangu AI, the Shennong rice, the Bianque medical instrument, the Nuwa fusion, the Fuxi space fighter jet, and the Kuafu satellite system—was a strategic project that changed the fate of the nation.

As for tanks, they do seem to... have a smaller scope.

"Old Chen," Lin Feng's voice remained calm, yet carried an undeniable penetrating power, "the direction of my research this time is electromagnetic railgun tanks."

He paused, then said, word by word, "A land fortress that combines mobility, intelligence, and near-invincibility. It's not an improvement on existing tanks; it's a next-generation weapon that completely redefines the rules of land warfare."

A clear inhalation could be heard from the other end of the phone.

"What did you say? An electromagnetic railgun tank?!" Old Chen's voice suddenly rose. "That electromagnetic railgun tank that's still just a theoretical concept, that countries haven't even been able to build a prototype of? You...you've already developed it?!"

As one of the top leaders in the country's science and technology field, Grandma Chen clearly understood the weight of the words "electromagnetic gun tank".

That is the direction of future land warfare development recognized by the military industry, but it is also a recognized problem that will last for thirty years—energy supply, electromagnetic acceleration, thermal management, and system integration, each of which is an insurmountable barrier.

The Free State's Future Combat Systems program proposed the concept of an electromagnetic railgun tank a decade ago, but to this day, not even a single operational prototype has been built. Europe's land-based warship project, having burned through billions of euros, remains only at the PowerPoint stage.

Now, Lin Feng says he wants to build an electromagnetic railgun tank.

"With preliminary theoretical support," Lin Feng didn't make any definitive statements, a cautious approach he had cultivated over the years, "we should be able to figure it out."

should.

When Lin Feng said that word, it was equivalent to "absolutely possible".

Old Mrs. Chen understood this young man—he wouldn't speak unless he was 99% certain.

"Good! Good! Good!" the old man exclaimed three times, his voice trembling slightly with excitement. "I'll immediately gather all the experts in the tank field! The site... I'll approve a site for you in the Northwest! It has the largest tank testing ground, the most comprehensive security facilities, and is perfectly suited for this kind of groundbreaking project!"

"Thank you, Mr. Chen."

"Wait for my message, I'll go coordinate right away!"

The call has ended.

Old Chen put down the phone, paced back and forth in his office three times, and then picked up another top-secret private line.

Fifteen minutes later, in a conference room in China.

The seven top decision-makers sat around the table, listening to Mr. Chen's report.

"Approved." Old Li, sitting in the main seat, made the decision. "The venue will be in the Northwest. The list of experts will be drawn from the top across the country, including those retired senior experts—tell them that the country needs them to come out of retirement again."

"Security level?"

"On par with Fuxi. If this project succeeds, it will completely change the rules of land warfare. Not a single word of it can be let out."

"yes!"

The command was issued with the highest priority.

Four hours later, a top-secret transfer order was sent to 37 units across the country.

Army Armored Forces Engineering Academy, China North Industries Group Corporation, Norinco Corporation, Tank Electronics Research Institute of China Electronics Technology Group Corporation, Institute of Materials Science and Engineering of the Chinese Academy of Sciences... Each name represents the pinnacle of China's tank industry.

The transfer order was concise yet impactful: "Effective immediately, proceed to the Northwest to participate in the Xuanwu Project. Chief Designer: Lin Feng. Project Type: Top Secret. Return Date: Undetermined."

Those who received the transfer order reacted in various ways.

Wang Zhenhua, chief engineer of Norinco, was overseeing the finalization tests of a new heavy tank. He paused for three seconds, then told his assistant, "Testing is paused; I'm going to the Northwest."

Academician Zhang, 73, of the Army Armored Forces Academy, had been retired for eight years. When he received the transfer order, he was in his study writing his memoirs. After reading the order, the elderly man silently closed his manuscript and said to his wife, "Help me pack my bags; I'm going on a business trip."

"Where are you going? How long will you be gone?"

"Northwest. How long... I don't know, but this might be the last time."

His wife's eyes reddened, but she didn't say anything. She just silently helped him pack his luggage—she knew her husband too well. That look in his eyes was exactly the same as when he received the order fifty years ago.

Within 36 hours, 47 top experts from all over the country rushed to the Northwest.

The youngest among them is forty-two years old, and the oldest is seventy-three. They include theoretical giants, engineering masters, materials experts, and electronics authorities. Each and every one of them is a capable industry leader.

Now, they will come together under one man's command for a common goal.

On the third day, Lin Feng arrived at the Northwest Base.

When he entered the temporary conference room, forty-seven pairs of eyes turned to him.

Their gazes held curiosity, scrutiny, anticipation, and undisguised skepticism—after all, the concept of electromagnetic railgun tanks is considered by the industry to be a long-term goal that will take at least another thirty years.

Lin Feng walked to the head seat, and without any formalities, directly turned on the holographic projection.

A 3D design drawing was laid out in the center of the conference table.

It was no longer the boxy shape of a traditional tank, but a low, streamlined, wedge-shaped hull that almost touched the ground. A huge electromagnetic gun barrel extended from the front of the hull, twice the length of the hull, and its surface was covered with heat dissipation fins. The hull surface was not traditional armor steel plates, but a honeycomb composite structure, with the light path of electric current flowing within it faintly visible.

"Dear teachers and seniors," Lin Feng began, his voice clear and steady, "this is what we are going to build—Xuanwu-1, an electromagnetic railgun main battle tank."

He pulled up the performance parameter table:

Vehicle weight: 72 tons

Main weapon: 120mm electromagnetic railgun, projectile muzzle velocity 8000 m/s, maximum range 50 km, armor penetration capability 1000mm homogeneous steel armor.

[Secondary Weapon: 2 x 30mm Smart Close-In Weapon System, capable of intercepting incoming missiles, drones, and low-flying aircraft]

[Protection: Active electromagnetic armor + nano-ceramic composite armor, equivalent to resistance to 3000 mm of armor-piercing projectiles and 5000 mm of shaped charge projectiles]

[Power source: Miniaturized fusion reactor, 50 megawatts output power; range: theoretically unlimited]

[Intelligent System: Pangu AI Battlefield Submodule, capable of simultaneously tracking and processing 200 targets, autonomously deciding on firepower allocation, and supporting multi-vehicle networked collaborative operations]

Every piece of data exploded in the conference room like a thunderclap.

"Eight hundred...eight thousand?" The materials expert's voice trembled. "A projectile muzzle velocity of eight thousand? The best tank guns right now only have a velocity of eighteen thousand!"

"Fifty kilometers range?" The artillery expert jumped to his feet. "That's farther than most tactical missiles!"

"Equivalent to 3,000 millimeters?" The defense expert exclaimed incredulously. "Current anti-tank missiles can only penetrate a maximum of 1,000 millimeters..."

"A fusion reactor?" The power expert's eyes widened. "Miniaturized enough to fit in a tank?"

A flood of questions arose.

But Lin Feng was prepared.

He pulled up the second document—the technical feasibility analysis report.

"Regarding the initial velocity of the electromagnetic railgun, we adopted a staged acceleration technology. The projectile undergoes three electromagnetic accelerations within the barrel, each powered by an independent capacitor array. This is the specific energy conversion scheme..."

"Regarding the range, it benefits from the extremely high initial velocity and intelligent flight-guided munitions. After leaving the barrel, the projectile deploys a glider and is guided by satellite, with terminal homing using millimeter-wave radar. This is a schematic diagram of the guidance system..."

"Regarding protection, the working principle of active electromagnetic armor is: 0.01 seconds before the incoming warhead makes contact, an instantaneously strong electromagnetic field is generated on the armor surface, causing the metal jet to deflect or detonate prematurely. This is the design of the electromagnetic field generator..."

"Regarding energy, the miniaturization of the Nuwa fusion reactor has been successfully verified in the laboratory. We have reduced the output power from the megawatt level to the megawatt level, and shrunk the volume to one-fifteen-hundredth of its original size. This is the architecture of the miniaturized fusion reactor..."

Every question has a complete technical solution in response.

The forty-seven experts went from initial shock and skepticism to focused reflection, and finally to irrepressible excitement.

They knew all too well that if these technologies could be realized, then the Xuanwu No. 1 in front of them would not be a tank, but a mobile fortress on land, capable of taking on an entire armored division single-handedly.

"Chief Engineer Lin," the eldest academician, Zhang, spoke slowly, his voice hoarse with excitement, "how mature are your techniques?"

"The theoretical perfection is 100%," Lin Feng replied. "The feasibility in engineering depends on our technological level and resource investment. But I can guarantee that every technical route is feasible."

A brief silence fell over the meeting room.

Then, Academician Zhang stood up and bowed deeply to Lin Feng: "Chief Designer Lin, in my lifetime, I have built three generations of tanks, and I always thought that the Type 99A was the pinnacle. Today I realize that... the future of tanks has only just begun. I request to join the project, even if it's just to assist."

Immediately afterwards, Chief Engineer Wang Zhenhua stood up: "Norindustry will fully cooperate."

All forty-seven experts expressed their support.

They saw it; it wasn't a fantasy, but a blueprint so complete it was terrifying, enough to overturn the entire land warfare system.

And they will become the creators of this history.

Looking at these pillars of China's tank industry before him, Lin Feng solemnly returned the greeting: "Then, from today onwards, the Xuanwu Project is officially launched."