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

The day after the first phase of acceptance was completed, there was no celebration banquet or commendation meeting at the Northwest Base.

At six o'clock in the morning, the alarm for an emergency meeting rang throughout the entire base.

1,273 experts and core technical workers were all in place within half an hour. On the holographic screen in the command center, the countdown to the second phase of Project Xuanyuan—orbit assembly—had begun: 365 days, 00 hours, 00 minutes, and 00 seconds.

"Everyone, we don't have time to celebrate."

Lin Feng stood on the command platform, his voice amplified through the loudspeaker system, reaching every corner:

"Three hundred modules are still lying in the ground factory. Our goal is to assemble them into a complete starship in a geosynchronous orbit at an altitude of 360,000 kilometers."

"Over the next 365 days, we will complete the most complex space engineering project in human history—orbit assembly."

He brought up the simulation animation:

Twelve specially designed Xuanyuan-class heavy-lift launch vehicles will conduct thirty-six launches over the next year. Each launch will carry eight to ten modules into their designated orbit, where twelve pre-deployed space docks are already in place.

"This is not a simple matter of assembling building blocks." Lin Feng zoomed in on the docking details. "In a zero-gravity, high-radiation, and vacuum environment, docking two modules weighing tens of thousands of tons requires a precision of 0.01 millimeters. Any deviation could lead to docking failure, or even... module damage."

The meeting room was completely silent.

Everyone knew the danger of this mission—it meant that every launch, every docking, was like dancing on a knife's edge.

"But we have no way out." Lin Feng's gaze swept across the entire room. "Because this is the only path to the Star Sea."

He pulled up the task assignment sheet:

"The rocket launch team is led by the chief designer of the Long March series. The goal is: 36 launches with a 100% success rate."

"The orbital operations team is responsible for the flight control team of Tiangong Space Station. Objective: Precisely control the module to reach the designated position."

"The space assembly team, led by the most senior mechanical engineers, has the objective of completing all docking in orbit."

"I personally oversee the quality control team. Every step must undergo triple verification."

The order was given, and the base entered a state of war.

On the first day, the first Xuanyuan-class rocket was erected on the launch tower.

This rocket is 120 meters tall and 15 meters in diameter, with a carrying capacity five times that of the most powerful rocket currently in existence. Inside its fairing, it carries the command module of the Xuanyuan rocket and the first set of fusion thrusters—a total weight of 12,000 tons.

Seventy-two hours before launch, Lin Feng completed the final simulation in the control room.

"All systems are functioning normally."

"Weather conditions meet launch requirements."

"Optimal orbital window."

"Astronauts are in good condition."

The countdown has reached zero.

At four in the morning, the night sky over the Gobi Desert was ignited by raging flames.

"Xuanyuan-1, launch!"

The rocket roared off the launch tower, soaring into the sky like a dragon, its exhaust illuminating half the sky. One hundred and twenty seconds later, it broke through the atmosphere; three hundred seconds later, it entered its designated orbit; six hours later, it successfully released its payload.

A suppressed cheer erupted in the command center—but it quickly subsided.

Because this is just the beginning.

In the days that followed, launches became routine.

Meanwhile, a miracle is happening in the geosynchronous orbit.

In the first month, twelve space docks were deployed. They bloomed slowly in space like giant steel flowers.

In the third month, the command module successfully docked with the first set of thrusters. When the two 10,000-ton modules were seamlessly joined together in the void 360,000 kilometers away from Earth, many people in the ground control center were moved to tears.

In the sixth month, the skeleton of the Xuanyuan began to take shape. The twelve main keel sections connected in space to form a 1,200-meter-long silver dragon, reflecting a cold light in the sunlight.

By the ninth month, more than half of the hull modules had been installed. Images transmitted back from space telescopes showed that they were no longer scattered parts, but the outline of a starship taking shape.

But problems soon followed.

"General Manager Lin, there was a 0.03 mm deviation during the docking of module 7." This was the urgent report from the orbital operations team after the eleventh launch. "Although it's still within the tolerance range, the cumulative effect..."

"Stop subsequent docking," Lin Feng immediately ordered. "Initiate the correction procedure. Use the auxiliary thrusters for fine-tuning. Objective: Return the deviation to zero."

The correction process lasted for forty-eight hours. Moving a module weighing tens of thousands of tons in space, even with adjustments down to the millimeter level, requires enormous energy. When module number 7 was finally in precise position, the entire control center breathed a sigh of relief.

The bigger challenge comes in the twelfth month.

"The quantum docking system of module 23 has malfunctioned." The bad news came: "The module cannot recognize the docking signal and is spinning out of control in orbit."

That's the core module of the ecological recycling cabin, weighing nine thousand tons. If it goes out of control, it could collide with other modules, triggering a chain reaction of disasters.

"Activate the emergency plan." Lin Feng remained unusually calm. "Dispatch the Fuxi aerospace fighter jet for manual docking."

Three Fuxi fighter jets scrambled from the Northwest base and arrived in geosynchronous orbit six hours later. The pilots risked their lives, maneuvering their aircraft close to the malfunctioning module, forcibly securing it with robotic arms, and then manually activating the backup docking system.

The entire process lasted eighteen hours.

When module 23 finally docked safely, the three pilots were exhausted. But their first words back were: "Report, mission accomplished. Xuanyuan is fine."

At the ground control center, the applause was thunderous and prolonged.

The twelfth and final launch.

The thirty-sixth Xuanyuan-class rocket, carrying the last batch of components of the Xuanyuan—the fourth set of thrusters and directed energy weapon array at the stern—soared into the sky.

When the modules successfully docked in space, it was exactly 365 days after the completion of the first phase.

"Report," the orbital operations team leader said, his voice choked with emotion, "all modules have been docked successfully. The Xuanyuan space carrier... is now fully assembled."

On the holographic screen, the real-time images transmitted from the synchronized track are clearly displayed:

A silver starship, 1,200 meters long, floated silently in the dark void. Its hull was perfectly streamlined, the sensor array on the island shimmered like stars, and the four fusion thrusters were as powerful as the limbs of a behemoth.

The blue planet slowly rotates below it, and the azure planet and the silver-gray starship create a breathtaking cosmic scene.

"The second phase," Lin Feng took a deep breath, "was a complete success."

This time, there were no cheers at the base.

Everyone just stared silently at the screen, at the starship that humanity had created with its own hands, tears streaming down their faces.

Three years.

From blueprint to reality, from the ground to space, from the impossible to the possible.

They did it.

But the mission is not over yet.

"Everyone," Lin Feng's voice rang out again, "we have one last year."

He pulled up the third phase plan:

"Phase Three: System debugging and maiden flight. Goal: To get the Xuanyuan spacecraft truly flying."

"Right now, it's just an empty shell. Over the next 365 days, we'll breathe life into it."

With the order given, the base once again entered high-speed operation.

But this time, the main battlefield has shifted from the ground to space.

Three thousand engineers and technicians, selected through rigorous processes, boarded the Fuxi fighter jet in batches and entered space to board the Xuanyuan spacecraft.

Their mission is to activate every system on this starship.

On the first day, the fusion thruster underwent its first ignition test.

All four thrusters activated at 1% power simultaneously, and a dark blue plasma plume erupted into space. The massive hull of the Xuanyuan trembled slightly, and then... it began to move.

Although it was only a tiny speed of a few meters per second, this was the first autonomous maneuver of the largest spacecraft ever built by mankind.

"Propulsion system, normal!" Cheers erupted from the control center.

Week 1: Full-power testing of the energy system.

The space-advanced version of the Nuwa Fusion Reactor began operating inside the Xuanyuan. When the power meter reached 100%, all the lights inside the starship lit up simultaneously, like a newly born star in space.

"Energy system, normal!"

The first month was dedicated to testing the closed-loop operation of the ecosystem.

The three thousand personnel stationed on the ship shut down all external supplies, relying entirely on the starship's internal ecological system for survival. Thirty days later, everyone was in good health, and they were completely self-sufficient in air, water, and food.

"Ecosystem, normal!"

In the third month, the weapon system underwent live-fire testing.

In a deep-space test site far from Earth, the Xuanyuan spacecraft's directed energy array locked onto a defunct satellite. An invisible beam of energy flashed, and the satellite instantly vaporized, leaving not even a trace.

"Weapon system...normal." The reporter's voice was filled with both fear and excitement.

In the sixth month, the artificial intelligence shipborne system went online.

Xuanyuan Intelligence, an upgraded version of Pangu AI, has taken over the daily operation and maintenance of the starship. It can handle 100,000 task threads simultaneously, make tactical decisions within 0.01 seconds, and activate emergency plans 0.5 seconds before a crisis occurs.

"Intelligent system, normal!"

In the ninth month, the first manned deep space flight test took place.

The Xuanyuan spacecraft left its geosynchronous orbit around Earth and headed towards the far side of the moon. It arrived six hours later, orbited the moon three times, and then returned to Earth. Throughout the entire process, all systems operated stably, and the crew was in perfect condition.

"Navigation system, normal!"

The twelfth month, the last day.

The Xuanyuan spacecraft is anchored in geosynchronous orbit around Earth, quietly awaiting its final command.

Inside the starship, all three thousand crew members were in place.

On the bridge, the captain—an ace pilot selected from the Fuxi fighter unit—saluted Blue Star: "All crew of the Xuanyuan are ready. Requesting permission to carry out our first official deep space voyage."

At the ground control center, Lin Feng stood in front of the command console.

Behind him stood 1,273 experts, representatives of 100,000 skilled workers, Elder Chen and Elder Li, and everyone who was watching this moment.

On the holographic screen, there is a real-time image of the Xuanyuan, three thousand expectant faces inside the starship, and the magnificent sight of the blue planet slowly rotating in the darkness.

Three years.

One thousand and ninety-five days.

The moment has finally arrived.

"Xuanyuan," Lin Feng's voice clearly resonated throughout every corner of the starship via the quantum communication system, "This is the Blue Star Control Center."

He paused, looked at the colossal ship on the screen that carried the nation's dreams of reaching for the stars, and said, word by word:

"I command—"

"Activate all thrusters."

"Set course: Mars orbit".

"Objective: To conduct a 30-day deep-space flight test."

"May your journey to the stars be smooth sailing."

The order has been issued.

In geosynchronous orbit, the four fusion thrusters of the Xuanyuan spacecraft were lit up simultaneously.

A deep blue trail of flame surged from the nozzle, extending into four streaks of light hundreds of kilometers long in the vacuum.

The starship began to accelerate.

Slow, but determined.

It broke free from Earth's orbit and slowly drifted into the deeper darkness, towards the more distant stars.

On the bow, the two huge Chinese characters "Xuanyuan" shone brightly under the starlight.

In the ground control center, everyone held their breath.

As the Xuanyuan ship gradually shrank and eventually became a point of light in the starry sky, I don't know who was the first to cry out.

Then came the second, the third...

Finally, everyone embraced and wept.

It wasn't sadness, but joy, pride, and the relief that three years of hard work had finally blossomed.

Lin Feng stood in the center of the crowd, watching the light spot on the screen gradually recede into the distance, his expression calm.

China's first starship has set sail.

Humanity's space age has truly begun today.