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

Chapter 80 High-Tech Strategy (Bonus Chapter for Qianmengjian)

Chang Weisi said, "The people here have already discussed the low-tech and medium-tech strategies quite thoroughly over the past six years. Now I would like to hear your thoughts on the high-tech strategy. Beihai, as the only member representing the high-tech strategy, please speak up."

Zhang Beihai began his report, and unusually, he didn't start by mentioning the spaceship, but rather the Wallfacers.

The military is a place that values ​​collective strength. In the military, it is taboo to publicly mention the Wallfacer who has supernatural powers. Discussions about this Wallfacer, Luo Qing, are mostly limited to private rather than public.

The U.S. military, for example, has even included prohibitions on discussing Luo Qing in its military discipline, although few people actually follow it.

Zhang Beihai has now clearly crossed that line.

He said, “Comrades, a consensus has been reached at the top that Luo Qing’s existence is an incomprehensible accident. However, Luo Qing’s thought process and behavioral logic are understandable to us. We all know that various countries have successively established similar [Luo Qing Research Labs], and I believe that the Trisolarans will certainly organize a special team to analyze the Wallfacer Luo Qing. Now, after several years of analysis, and with the Wallfacer’s active cooperation, we have reached several conclusions:”

"First: Luo Qing, the Wallfacer, stands on the side of humanity. His existence plays a protective role for human society. For example, his existence completely prevented the outbreak of internal wars among humans."

"Secondly, Luo Qing, the Wallfacer, stands at the pinnacle of human thought. He has a far-sighted purpose for all his actions in human civilization. For example, rather than forcibly pushing forward the development of something with his own powerful personal strength, he prefers to guide humanity to move forward on that path autonomously. He hopes to be a guide for human civilization rather than a father figure who takes on everything."

"Third, the supernatural power of Wallfacer Luo Qing is limited. Macro-fusion can temporarily eliminate him, and a high-yield nuclear explosion can force him to use protective measures. This means that in the future war with the Trisolarans, humanity cannot rely entirely on Wallfacer Luo Qing to solve all external problems. This is a point he repeatedly emphasized in front of the television."

Zhang Beihai's words clearly caused a murmur in the room, which was exactly what he wanted. After the room quieted down, he began to formally explain his conclusions on the high-tech strategy.

"As we all know, the core spacecraft of the low-tech strategy is a chemically fueled spacecraft with a speed of 50 times the third cosmic velocity, which translates to Mach 2400, or about 800 kilometers per second. This is 20 times the speed of Luo Qing in the atmosphere, which is Mach 120."

This sounds fast, but it's still insignificant in the context of the solar system. These chemically fueled spacecraft lack ecological recycling capabilities, and their operational radius will be limited to the inner solar system, within Neptune's orbit, not exceeding 30 astronomical units.

"The core spacecraft of the medium-technology strategy can obviously only be achieved by a propellantless spacecraft. According to the original numerical definition of the medium-technology strategy, the spacecraft of the medium-technology strategy can reach 300 times the third cosmic velocity, or 4800 kilometers per second, which is about Mach 15000. This is about 125 times Luo Qing's flight speed. A spacecraft of this level should have some ecological recycling capabilities and can push humanity's front line to the Kuiper Belt. The combat radius will be expanded from 30 astronomical units to 1000 astronomical units."

All the space force officers present could tell that Zhang Beihai was intentionally mentioning Luo Qing's existence to create a strong contrast.

Upon hearing the exaggerated difference in these figures, some space force officers who subconsciously believed in Luo Qing's power gradually calmed down.

Zhang Beihai said, "High-tech spaceships are exactly what I have been pursuing. I have never hidden this fact because I believe that only a star-class spaceship that can reach about 1000 times the third cosmic velocity, or 16000 kilometers per second, which is at least 5% of the speed of light, can make us invincible in a war 400 years from now."

Someone whispered, "What's that Mach number again? Can someone help me calculate it?"

“Approximately 5 Mach... It’s pointless to calculate it using the speed of sound; the number is too large. This speed is 400 times that of Luo Qing.”

"Hiss, then we really can't look up to him in future wars."

"That's right. If we rely entirely on him, what's the point of our space force?"

Zhang Beihai seemed oblivious to the whispers below. "A spaceship of this level must possess complete ecological recycling capabilities, which is the basis for humanity to push the battlefront to the Oort Cloud. In other words, a spaceship of this level has the ability to sail to the Trisolaran system, which is the source of confidence for the human fleet to confront the Trisolaran fleet."

Bi Yunfeng asked, "Beihai, actually, I share the same thought as those veteran space astronauts: is it really possible for humanity to develop this so-called starship within our lifetimes?"

Zhang Beihai said, "In the past, I would have had the same question as you: humanity's strategy was indecisive, and the old and new factions were pulling in opposite directions. Under such internal friction, it was obviously impossible to develop a star-level spaceship. But now it's different. The Wallfacers' clear statement has allowed the technical routes of various countries to be determined at a rapid pace. I personally believe that this is the right research direction."

"But Tomoko..."

Zhang Beihai interrupted, "The sophon is just a proton. Apart from interfering with the operation of particle accelerators, it has no effect on us in the macroscopic world. Humanity is still far from reaching the end of theoretical limits. The scientific theories of the 20th century are enough to support technology for another 10 centuries."

Everyone felt a strong sense of conviction. It seemed that the establishment of the research direction for interstellar spacecraft had brought about a strong change in Zhang Beihai's temperament from the inside out.

"I have sent my report on the high-tech strategy, such as the specific defense strategy for the Oort cloud, and some related ideas, to the electronic screen in front of you. You can take a look first."

The reports provided by Zhang Beihai cover a wide range of topics and are rich in imagination. For example, they include interstellar dust and matter collection technology, the construction of a high-speed transportation channel for materials across the solar system, the establishment of an interplanetary logistics system, the formation of a defense system centered on the Oort Cloud, the construction of a monitoring and early warning system 0.5 light-years away, and spacecraft artificial intelligence automation technology.

These tactical ideas are not unfounded. For example, in establishing a monitoring and early warning system, Zhang Beihai proposed many practically feasible concepts:

Launch a large number of sensitive detectors, including gravitational wave detectors, neutrino detectors, optical and radio telescopes, to comprehensively monitor the space surrounding the Oort Cloud. Promptly detect extraterrestrial objects, alien spacecraft, or other anomalies, and issue early warnings to the interior of the solar system so that further countermeasures can be taken.

The details and richness are astonishing.

Looking at the wealth of information before him, Bi Yunfeng said, "If humanity can truly complete this series of defensive steps as Bei Hai has described, then I do have the confidence to defeat the Trisolaran fleet." Someone said, "In the face of Bei Hai, any defeatist ideology is like snow under the scorching sun, quickly melting into a puddle and disappearing."

"It is my honor to fight alongside Comrade Beihai," some people said.

Chang Weisi also read through these reports and said, "Comrade Zhang Beihai has put forward a vibrant future, and I think the military and the scientific community will work hard for it in the future."

However, the strength of one person in Beihai is ultimately limited. Therefore, the next step for the Space Force is to shift its work to research related to high-tech strategies. If there are officers who cannot adapt to high-tech strategies, then they should at least shift from low-tech strategies to medium-tech strategies.

Here, I have another announcement to make: the Central Military Commission has approved the selection of members for the 'Reinforcing the Future' program, and I will now announce the list.

Everyone immediately perked up.

“Bi Yunfeng, Zhang Beihai, Zhao Xin, and Li Wei, the four of you have been selected for the first batch of the ‘Reinforcement Task Force for the Future’ program. The related hibernation work is currently scheduled for four years from now, that is, in 2019.”

"Only four people?" someone asked in surprise. "I thought our whole batch would be going."

“There were originally only three.” Chang Weisi’s eyes swept over Zhang Beihai imperceptibly. “But the higher-ups were adamant and insisted on adding one more spot.”

"In any case, the reinforcement plan may have some impact on our work, and I hope that the other comrades are mentally prepared for the future. Whether or not you are selected for the task force, you must do your current work well."

...

After the meeting, Chang Weisi stood alone in the conference room. He looked at Zhang Beihai's previous seat and recalled his resolute remarks at the previous meeting. He couldn't help but shake his head and chuckle.

He lit a cigarette, and the smoke drifted into a beam of sunlight streaming through the window, becoming ethereal and translucent.

In the end, they still couldn't stop it.

Thank you to Qian Mengjian for the 10000 Qidian coins.

Thank you 8liang581 for the 1666 coins!
Thank you to the first deeply affectionate Yanzu for the 500 Qidian coins!

Thank you to the beast and animal for the 500 Qidian coins!

Thank you Liuyang1 for the 100 Qidian coins!

Thank you to Yun Teng Er Sheng for the 100 Qidian Coins reward.

Thank you for the 100 Qidian coins reward from "Watching the Spark Ignite the Sky".

Thank you to Shushan Yala Da Wu Nao for the 100 Qidian coins!

Thank you Qingbieyun for the 100 Qidian Coins reward.

Thank you to reader 20170517224054763 for the 100 Qidian coins.

Thank you for the 100 Qidian coins that I, in the end, only deserve to be a passerby.

Thank you to Meng Yuehua for the 100 Qidian Coins.

Thank you to reader 20220201220722343 for the 100 Qidian coins.

Thank you Yun Qianyou for the 100 Qidian Coins reward.

Thank you to the Holy Demon Lord for the 100 Qidian Coins!

Thank you Bait for the 100 Qidian Coins!

May the glory of the eternal era forever shine upon you all. Orz
(Everyone else gets an extra chapter for the Alliance Leader, but I'm getting an extra chapter for the Helmsman.)

(The third chapter tomorrow should be in the evening.)


(End of this chapter)