Cataclysmic Era: I can unlock the tech tree

the next day.

Before anyone noticed, a news story quietly appeared on the front page of the newspaper.

The Xia Kingdom's controlled nuclear fusion experimental reactor project officially launched today!

Of course, unsurprisingly, this news also made it onto Weibo's trending topics list.

This immediately attracted countless comments from netizens.

"Huh? So this officially launches the controlled nuclear fusion experimental reactor project?"

"I remember it was successfully ignited just a couple of days ago? This progress is a bit too fast!"

"Can someone knowledgeable explain what this news actually means?"

"Here's the explanation: successful ignition only means that Xia Guo can ignite nuclear fusion in a controlled nuclear fusion device. It's still a long way from truly mastering controlled nuclear fusion. The current experimental reactor, on the other hand, is the real beginning of research into controlled nuclear fusion."

"I see... But that's fast enough. Hopefully, China can give ITER a huge boost so they can be the first to develop controlled nuclear fusion!"

"I think it's unlikely. I've heard that the controlled nuclear fusion technology at ITER is almost mature. If they kick China out at this point, everyone should understand."

"..."

Meanwhile, an article appeared on Zhihu.

Futile Efforts! Stellarators Can Never Achieve Controlled Nuclear Fusion!

As time went on, the article's influence gradually began to grow.

Repost, like, share...

The power of the Internet is enormous.

In just over ten hours, this article's popularity soared to the top of Weibo's trending topics!

……

After returning from Councilor Li's place, Lü Yongchang did not rest at all and immediately went into the nuclear physics laboratory of Sandaokou University.

He needs to start the second controlled nuclear fusion experiment as soon as possible.

Only if he can truly achieve long-term controlled nuclear fusion in a stellarator can he propose to Representative Lee the construction of a fusion demonstration reactor!

"What kind of rubbish is this?!"

"I'm so angry!"

Just as Lü Yongchang was hunched over his desk studying the various data collected from the first ignition, the office door was suddenly pushed open, and Fang Xu's angry voice came from the doorway.

Seeing Fang Xu's flushed face, Lü Yongchang was stunned for a moment, then immediately put down his pen and asked, "What's wrong?"

"Which researcher messed up the data this time?"

Upon hearing Lü Yongchang's question, Fang Xu shook his head repeatedly, then took out his phone from his pocket, unlocked the screen, and placed it in front of Lü Yongchang: "Take a look at what's being said online!"

"This is infuriating! These random clowns are getting the chance to say a few words!"

A hint of doubt appeared in Lü Yongchang's eyes as he looked curiously at the phone screen on the table.

Upon seeing the somewhat familiar interface, he instantly beamed with joy.

"Hey! Academician Fang, you're browsing Zhihu now!"

Fang Xu glanced at Lü Yongchang with annoyance: "What the hell? I don't browse that stuff. This is a link a friend sent me!"

Lü Yongchang smiled and shook his head, then reached out and dragged the screen.

Futile Efforts! Stellarators Can Never Achieve Controlled Nuclear Fusion!

Upon seeing the title, he raised an eyebrow slightly, and his expression became much more serious.

The article is not very long, only a few hundred words.

However, the content was somewhat jarring.

The first half of the article objectively describes the differences between stellarators and tokamak devices, "emphasizing" that stellarators were devices that Western countries had phased out.

Seeing this, Lü Yongchang looked up at Fang Xu in surprise: "What... what's going on?"

"Wasn't it written quite well?"

"These are indeed true!"

Fang Xu sighed deeply: "Let's continue watching."

Lu Yongchang looked at Fang Xu with suspicion, then scrolled down the screen again.

Gradually, he sensed a problem.

Judging from the first half alone, this article appears to be a genuine popular science article.

But in the latter half, its rear end became a little crooked.

First, the article states that ITER's tokamak device can sustain the fusion reaction for up to 26 minutes, thus highlighting the "flaws" of the stellarator.

After all, in the first ignition experiment, the stellarator only carried out a fusion reaction for about two minutes.

Secondly, the article directly states that Sandaokou University received a full 1 billion yuan in research funding for this stellarator project!

At the end of the article, the author criticizes the nuclear physics laboratory at Sandaokou University in extremely strong terms.

Money-grabbing, grandiose schemes, and a waste of Xia Kingdom's public resources...

This completely undermines the Sandaokou University and nuclear physics laboratory, making them utterly worthless!

"See? I wonder who this author is. If I find out, I'll definitely..."

Fang Xu's gritted teeth could be heard from the side.

Unlike Fang Xu's reaction, Lü Yongchang casually closed the webpage and returned the phone to Fang Xu.

Seeing Lü Yongchang's reaction, Fang Xu's emotions became somewhat disjointed.

He reached out and took his phone, looking bewildered. "Yongchang, aren't you angry?"

In his view, this article was basically tantamount to pointing fingers at them and cursing them!

As an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Fang Xu asked himself honestly, and he still couldn't swallow this insult!

In his mind, Lü Yongchang, as the chief engineer of the controlled nuclear fusion project, should only be more angry!

But... the reality slapped Fang Xu in the face.

Lü Yongchang chuckled softly and slowly shook his head.

"It's just some misleading ideas published by a popular online figure; there's no need to get angry."

"What, are we supposed to drop what we're doing and run online to write an article refuting this?"

Fang Xu was speechless for a moment.

While glancing down at the data on the table, Lü Yongchang said casually, "We are scientists; we don't need to care about temporary honors or disgraces."

"I believe that as long as we successfully run controlled nuclear fusion on the stellarator, these so-called rumors will naturally disappear."

"Don't forget what controlled nuclear fusion means for the Xia Kingdom."

After speaking, Lü Yongchang focused all his attention on the documents in front of him.

As for Fang Xu, he stood there dumbfounded with a complicated expression.

Unexpectedly, even after living for more than forty years, he still couldn't see things as clearly as a young man in his early twenties!

Controlled nuclear fusion is not a matter of personal honor or disgrace.

This is a battle for the fate of the nation that has never been fought in a century!

……

Although Lü Yongchang put the matter behind him, Jiang Yongxing, the dean of the School of Nuclear Physics at Sandaokou University, could not let it go.

This is, after all, a disgrace to Sandaokou University!

He immediately reported the whole matter to Minister Hong Qiming.

"hiss……"

"Okay, I understand. I'll have someone investigate this matter thoroughly."

Hong Qiming's solemn voice came through the microphone.