Cataclysmic Era: I can unlock the tech tree

Professor Collins' words made President Abbott's expression freeze.

He remained silent for a long time before slowly saying, "This is indeed a problem."

"Like China, the United States currently does not have its own truly controlled nuclear fusion device..."

Albert's mutterings suddenly caught Professor Collins's attention.

He quickly chimed in, "You're absolutely right, Your Excellency. We need a fusion reactor that truly belongs to us!"

Albert hesitated for a moment: "Give me some time, Professor."

"Without a definite timeframe, Congress can't approve it."

Faced with Albert's meaningful gaze, Professor Collins hesitated for a moment: "Perhaps... about ten years?"

Albert's brow furrowed instantly: "Ten years?! Professor, are you kidding me?"

"Don't even mention me, Congress will absolutely not approve this plan!"

Professor Collins chuckled awkwardly and quickly added, "Five years! I believe that within five years, America's own fusion reactor will be ready!"

Albert nodded in satisfaction.

……

Meanwhile, within the first ring road of the Xia Kingdom's capital.

Inside the building that couldn't be found on the map, Hong Qiming knocked on the office door again with a serious expression.

"Enter."

Hong Qiming took a deep breath to calm his somewhat agitated emotions, and then reached out and pushed open the slightly heavy wooden door.

"Chairman Lee."

Hong Qiming bowed slightly and greeted the old man behind the desk.

Upon seeing Hong Qiming, the old man's face beamed with smiles. He slowly rose, walked to Hong Qiming's side, and nodded, saying, "Excellent, excellent! Well done!"

A smile appeared on Hong Qiming's slightly serious face. He nodded gently and said in a low voice, "I didn't expect that kid Lü Yongchang would be so capable."

A hint of regret flashed in Representative Li's eyes: "Yes... I've read the report you sent a couple of days ago."

The next second, Councilor Li changed the subject, his expression turning serious as he asked, "Qiming, what do you think of this kid, Lü Yongchang?"

Hong Qiming's pupils suddenly contracted.

Representative Li's words stirred a vague suspicion within him.

Could it be that Representative Lee is preparing to...

He dared not hide anything and immediately told everyone he had seen.

After listening to Hong Qiming's words, Councilor Li nodded thoughtfully: "It seems that this kid is to your liking."

"I'm planning to groom him to be the next generation's leader. What do you think?"

Hong Qiming took a deep breath, then said in a deep voice, "Councilor Li, I believe that Lü Yongchang is capable of shouldering this responsibility!"

Councilor Li smiled with satisfaction: "In that case, bring him to my place in a couple of days. I want to meet him in person."

……

"What?!"

"Congressman Lee wants to see me?!"

Even Lü Yongchang, who had seen all sorts of important figures in his previous life, couldn't help but be somewhat surprised at this moment.

He hadn't expected that Representative Li would notice him so quickly.

But what is the reason?

It was just a controlled nuclear fusion ignition experiment, which was not enough to attract Representative Li's attention!

After pondering for a long time without finding an answer, Lü Yongchang put on a fawning smile and moved closer to Hong Qiming: "Minister Hong, do you know... why Councilor Li wants to see me?"

Hong Qiming glanced helplessly at Lü Yongchang, who was grinning in front of him.

He was genuinely puzzled as to why Lü Yongchang wasn't afraid of him at all.

After all, he's a member of parliament at the ministerial level!

Although he was somewhat puzzled, he still told Lü Yongchang everything he knew.

"Congressman Lee means that he intends to groom you to be a leader among the younger generation, and you need to be prepared."

As soon as the words were spoken, not only Lü Yongchang, but also Fang Xu standing to the side, had their pupils shrink suddenly!

Lu Yongchang's smile faded slightly, and he asked in a deep voice, "Minister Hong, is that really what Councilor Li said?"

"Absolutely true!"

Upon hearing Hong Qiming's resolute response, a flicker of excitement flashed in Lü Yongchang's eyes.

If it really works, he will have a better grasp of the future disaster!

Originally, he planned to take about three years to achieve what he has today.

But now... in less than a month, he has completed all the preliminary plans!

"Commander Hong, when do we depart?"

Hong Qiming glanced at the "young upstart" in front of him with a slight smile: "Tomorrow, I'll personally take you to see Councilor Li!"

……

the next day.

A black Audi A6 slowly came to a stop in front of a mysterious building within Beijing's first ring road.

After the car door opened, a middle-aged man got off first, followed by a college student whose face still looked somewhat immature.

"Yongchang, when you see Councilor Li, don't say anything out of line. Be serious, understand?"

A hint of unease appeared in Hong Qiming's eyes. As Lü Yongchang's "guarantor," if something really went wrong, he figured he'd be in deep trouble!

Lü Yongchang nodded slightly without saying a word.

Upon seeing this, Hong Qiming's eyes revealed a hint of a smile.

"I never thought you'd get nervous sometimes, huh?"

"I've never seen you like this before, not even in front of me!"

Hong Qiming's teasing voice brought Lü Yongchang back to his senses.

A hint of surprise flashed in his eyes.

nervous?

He wasn't nervous at all!

He was just thinking about how to get Representative Lee to pay attention to the development of aerospace technology!

However, since Minister Hong had said so, he silently agreed.

We can't very well argue with him at this point, can we?

As a former chief scientist, his emotional intelligence is certainly not that low!

"Don't worry, Representative Lee is very easy to talk to."

Seeing that Lü Yongchang remained silent, Minister Hong's smile deepened, and he gently patted Lü's shoulder: "Let's go, don't keep Councilor Li waiting."

……

"Knock knock knock!"

A brisk knocking sound echoed in the quiet corridor.

"Enter!"

An old man's voice came from inside the door.

The heavy wooden door slowly opened, revealing a familiar and simple office to Lü Yongchang.

A hint of nostalgia flashed in his eyes.

In his previous life, he was a regular at this office!

"Lü Yongchang, right?"

Upon seeing Lü Yongchang, the old man smiled and slowly rose from his chair to stand before him.

Councilor Li looked Lü Yongchang up and down, and exclaimed repeatedly, "Not bad, not bad, a handsome man."

He reached out and patted Lü Yongchang on the shoulder: "On behalf of Xia Kingdom, thank you."

As he spoke, Councilor Li actually bent down towards Lü Yongchang.

"Congressman Lee!"

Seeing this, Hung Kai-ming, standing to the side, looked anxious and said repeatedly, "Councilor Lee! You absolutely mustn't!"

Lu Yongchang immediately realized what was happening and prepared to turn to help Li up, but he was firmly pinned to the spot by Li's left hand and forced to accept the bow.

"Councilor Li, what are you doing..." Lu Yongchang gave a wry smile, "I was just doing what a researcher should do."

Representative Lee, who had stood up, was moved upon hearing this: "It's something that should be done... Good! Very good!"

"A few days ago, I asked Minister Hong for his opinion on you."

"At first, I thought Minister Hong was showing some favoritism towards you, but now it seems that Minister Hong wasn't telling the truth at all!"

As he spoke, Councilor Li glanced at Hung Chi-ming, who was standing to the side with a forced smile, and affirmed again.

"You little brat...good! Very good!"

"If all the youths of my Xia Kingdom were like you, how could Xia Kingdom not prosper!"