Special forces soldier demobilization: Starting from the county government compound, a meteoric rise

Base 201, three underground floors, central control room.

The time was 4 a.m.

This place is the most strictly guarded forbidden zone in the entire Chinese science and technology community, and it is also the heart that carries the future of a nation's science and technology.

The air was filled with a strong, strange smell, a mixture of ozone and caffeine. Countless cables, like the veins of a giant python, coiled around the walls and ceiling, eventually converging in the center of the room to the colossal machine that looked like a prehistoric beast—the prototype of the "Loongson-1" EUV lithography machine.

This steel behemoth, which brought together thousands of top minds, consumed countless resources, and carries the technological future of a nation, finally emitted its first heartbeat after months of slumber.

"Energy system is normal!"

"The vacuum environment is stable!"

"Laser pulse synchronization rate is 99.9%!"

"Mirror array calibration complete!"

On the command platform, Qin Lao and Lister Chen stood side by side, their voices trembling slightly with extreme tension and excitement. Behind them stood Liu Ming, the man who hadn't slept for seventy-two hours straight.

His face was pale, his eyes were sunken, and his chin was covered with bluish stubble, but his eyes shone like two burning stars.

"Let's begin." Liu Ming's voice was soft, yet it seemed to possess a certain magic, instantly making the noisy control room so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Everyone held their breath, thousands of bloodshot eyes fixed on the silicon wafer on the main screen, smaller than a fingernail and covered with blue photoresist.

Success or failure hinges on this!

"Start the final etching process!" Old Qin shouted into the microphone, uttering the most powerful sentence he had ever uttered in his life.

"Buzz—"

A deep yet penetrating hum resounded as the extreme ultraviolet beam, embodying the pinnacle of Chinese technology, was precisely projected onto the silicon wafer like a scalpel from God.

one second.

two seconds.

ten seconds.

Time seemed to stretch out infinitely at this moment, with each second feeling like an eternity.

In the control room, only the whirring of the server fans and the heavy, drum-like heartbeats of everyone remained.

suddenly!

On the main control panel, an indicator light representing yield testing flashed a few times in a glaring red before suddenly and without warning switching to a dazzling green that signifies success!

The moment the green light turned on, the whole world seemed to stand still.

Everyone seemed to be frozen in place, staring blankly at the small green light that was brighter than the sun.

Three seconds later.

"It's a success..."

Lister Chen, the Chinese genius who had witnessed countless cutting-edge technological miracles at MIT, was the first to react. His lips trembled as he muttered to himself. Then, this man in his forties, like a child, suddenly jumped up and let out a deafening roar!

"We did it!!!"

boom!!!

This roar was like a spark that ignited a powder keg, instantly setting the entire 2011 base ablaze!

"We did it! We did it!"

"Waaaah... It's done! It really worked!"

"Damn it! My life has been worth it!"

A deafening roar of cheers erupted from every corner of the control room, like a landslide or a tsunami!

The exhaustion, grievances, and despair that had been suppressed for months were all released in this moment, turning into scalding tears. The white-haired academician, disregarding his image, hugged the young doctoral student beside him and wept bitterly.

Those normally meticulous and rigid engineers were now frantically throwing documents, blueprints, and even coffee cups into the air. The entire 201 Base had completely transformed into a sea of ​​joy!

This is the most glorious and greatest victory for China's scientific and technological community!

Amidst the cheers, Liu Ming remained motionless.

He simply stood there quietly, looking at the green light that symbolized victory, and at the flawless 3-nanometer-level circuit diagram etched on the screen, which was tens of thousands of times finer than a human hair.

He slowly raised his hand, wanting to touch the cold screen, but found that his fingers were trembling slightly.

His eyes, which had witnessed mountains of corpses and seas of blood and faced hail of bullets without ever blinking, were now filled with a layer of scalding moisture.

His eyes had already reddened without him realizing it.

From that dilapidated office in Qingyun County to this laboratory in the Forbidden City that houses the nation's most important instruments.

He has been away for too long and has carried too much on his shoulders.

Today, he can finally say a few words to the spirits of his father and mother in heaven, as well as to the martyrs who shed their blood for this country.

We did not lose.

"Little Liu! Little Liu, come quick!" Old Qin and Lister Chen, like two children showing off a treasure, dragged Liu Ming to the microscope. "Look at this! The precision! The detail! This is a work of art! It's several levels better than that piece of junk the Dutch had!"

Liu Ming took a deep breath, forcing back the tears welling in his eyes. He stepped forward, looking at the complex, star-like microscopic world in the imaging device, and a relieved smile finally appeared on his face.

"Professor Qin, Professor Li, thank you for your hard work." He turned around and said solemnly to the two heroes.

"It's not hard work! I can make this thing with my own hands in this lifetime. Even if I die tomorrow, I can die in peace!" Old Qin was so excited that his face turned red.

Lister Chen was deeply moved: "I finally understand why you said that only here could my technology become a reality. Director Liu, thank you for letting me participate in this world-changing gamble."

"Now, shouldn't we announce this good news to the public?" Old Qin rubbed his hands together excitedly. "I really want to see what kind of expressions the Americans will have when they hear this news! Those compradors are probably busy selling off our stocks right now, aren't they? Hahahaha, I can't wait to see them go bankrupt and jump off buildings!"

The scientists in the entire command center all looked at Liu Ming with extremely expectant eyes.

They have suffered too many injustices and desperately need a resounding victory to wash away their shame.

However, Liu Ming slowly shook her head.

"No."

His voice wasn't loud, but it instantly silenced the entire hall again.

"It's not the right time yet." Liu-Ming's eyes regained their unfathomable calmness and sharpness.

He walked to the command post, picked up the internal communication phone, and connected to the base's highest security department.

"Relay my orders."

His voice, broadcast over the radio, reached every corner of Base 201, carrying an undeniable, chilling killing intent.

"From this moment forward, Base 201 is entering the highest level of silence. All communication signals are blocked, all personnel are placed on indefinite leave, and all experimental data is sealed. Until I issue my next instructions, not a single word of what happened here today is to be circulated. Anyone who disobeys will be charged with treason!"

The entire venue was deathly silent.

Everyone was stunned, not understanding why the commander-in-chief would issue such a perplexing order at the height of victory.

Old Qin frowned, puzzled, and asked, "Little Liu, what's wrong with you...?"

Liu Ming hung up the phone, turned around, looked at the puzzled faces of the crowd, and a cruel sneer curled at the corner of her mouth.

"Gentlemen, our enemies are not just abroad."

"Those treacherous compradors are now busy dumping us like garbage. The big tiger hiding deep inside must also think it has victory in its grasp."

He paused, a hunter's mockery flashing in his eyes.

"Next month is the Geneva Semiconductor Technology Conference. Let's let them enjoy a few more days of glory as 'technological gods'."