94: From Technological Warfare to Space Empire

Back on February 12th, in the period leading up to the Lantern Festival, Lin Yu used artificial intelligence to read through all the literature in the fields of titanium alloys, rocket engines, and actinide photovoltaics.

He spends his days either fooling people at the factory or studying in the basement, and because he's in good health, he even reduces his sleep to four hours a day.

As more and more products were produced and sold, the Insight Points were finally accumulated to a point where they could be used.

Lin Yu assessed his actions in deceiving Sergei and his group. Only after exhausting all his Insight Points did he finally find all the relevant literature in every field.

On February 14th, I memorized the density functional theory equation for vacuum calcination of titanium alloys, and my success rate in fooling people was 33%.

On February 17th, I remembered the derivation of the commutative relation functional, and the success rate of fooling people was [54%].

On February 19th, he remembered the actinide photoelectric conversion, but he didn't understand the theory of radiation photovoltaic at all. The probability of successfully preparing it was only [56%], but the probability of successfully fooling Sergei and his group had reached [87%].

On February 20th, Chief Hou received a message saying that Sergei and his party had departed from Moscow, and Yang Jia, having obtained the technology he had deliberately modified, was even more eager to bring him away. What kind of actions might he take to deal with him next?

On February 21, a steel mill used the pretext of righteousness to threaten Lin Yu into handing over the technology for refining steel slag, but Lin Yu retorted.

On February 23, something far beyond Lin Yu's expectations happened: a massive smear campaign began. Many scholars spoke out, citing the fact that even Americans had not mastered this extraction method, and fiercely criticized Lin Yu for academic fraud and misconduct.

They completely disregarded Lin Yu's flawless and reasonable theory, and instead resorted to all sorts of means to manipulate public opinion.

Lin Yu, who had never experienced anything like this before, was completely bewildered. He never expected that the struggles of this era would unfold in such a simple and straightforward way.

On February 24, even Chief Hou couldn't control the development of public opinion, and it seemed that others were also fueling the flames. Rumors smearing Lin Yu even appeared in the newspapers.

Many people who didn't even know Lin Yu started to comment on him.

Similarly, on February 24th, which was the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, the Harbin Station in northern China still had remnants of snow on its platforms.

Sergei Ivanovich was the first to step off the train.

The moisture he exhaled froze on his white beard under the extreme cold, forming a thin layer of frost.

He was followed by five people.

They were all key members of the former Academy of Sciences who were still struggling after the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Some carried heavy leather bags, while others held bundles of blueprints.

At this point, Russia's internal economic pressures had already reached a breaking point.

All the suits looked a bit worn, and you could tell that the clothes were quite old.

"Hello, Chinese comrades."

Sergei greeted the local officials who came to greet him in Chinese, then switched back to Russian.

"We were invited by Beijing Hongxing Steel Plant No. 2 to conduct technical exchanges on elasticity mechanics."

The translator quickly relayed the information.

The local officials shook hands warmly, but muttered to themselves, "How could a steel mill in the suburbs of Beijing hire these extraordinary Soviet experts?"

But they didn't take it to heart and arranged for the group to get on a minibus, which then drove towards Beijing along the snow-covered road.

Once in the car, the youngest expert, Vaharishi, leaned close to Sergei's ear and whispered a question in Russian.

"Academician, is that news about actinide photovoltaic cells reliable?"

"Is it really possible for Chernobyl's nuclear waste to be converted into clean energy?"

Sergei lowered his voice, looked at the birch forest flashing past the window, and slowly said:

"Information obtained by the KGB from Japan."

"I have indeed verified this with my old friends in China."

"The theoretical framework of the area they are secretly researching is very... ahead of its time."

Another expert had some doubts.

"But why are they willing to exchange information? Shouldn't this technology be kept strictly confidential?"

Sergei patted the paper tube that was tied with rope.

"That's why I asked you to bring the RD170 design drawings and the VT titanium alloy frame."

"I think Boris will soon hand these things over to the United States."

"It would be better for us to use it to exchange for something real. The Chinese need our technology, and we need their new ideas; it's a win-win situation."

"Anyway, just a few techniques taken from above would be enough for the Chinese to learn, wouldn't they?"

"More than enough to exchange for their theories."

Sergei paused, then added:

"Remember, we're here to discuss the elasticity of steel. Other topics... will have to wait for the right time."

On February 25, Chief Hou gathered a group of professors and secretly infiltrated Lin Yu's Red Star No. 2 Factory. He affirmed Lin Yu's exchange plan and expected that Sergei and his party would arrive on the 27th and come for the exchange on the 28th.

When Lin Yu met with Commander Hou to discuss the content of their exchange with Sergei and his group, Commander Hou casually told Lin Yu some information that greatly shocked him.

A horrific tragedy occurred in the West Bank.

Extremist Jews stormed into synagogues and began massacring Palestinians.

The Jews are still the same Jews; they were already this extreme back in 94.

Regarding public opinion, Chief Hou said with a wry smile that he was also being restrained by the higher-ups. Lin Yu could go down into the fray and fight against the opposing interest groups, and he could protect Lin Yu, but he couldn't prevent them from attacking Lin Yu.

On February 26, while resting on the road, Sergei learned about two opposing opinions regarding Lin Yu's madness through a telegram contact with an acquaintance in Beijing.

One type is an unparalleled theoretical genius.

One type is academic fraudsters.

On February 27, while Lin Yu was diligently practicing his Russian, some people came to the factory to cause trouble. Fortunately, there were security guards protecting the industrial park, otherwise the production line would have been smashed by thugs.

However, several truck drivers have already told him that they were threatened with having feces thrown at their doorsteps and that they will no longer be able to transport steel slag.

Lin Yu finally witnessed the naked cannibalism of this era, and felt a surge of hatred in his heart. He gritted his teeth and told himself that he should deal with the RD170 engine issue first.

Once I made up my mind, I was determined to get my revenge.

February 28, Hongxing No. 2 Factory.

Lin Yu stood at the factory gate, with the newly painted production slogans behind him.

He wore a new Zhongshan suit today, which made him look a few years older than his actual age.

Zhang Guoqiang stood beside him and said in a low voice.

"Sergei participated in the structural design of the Buran space shuttle during the Soviet era."

"He is a true top expert."

"Comrade Lin, you're a professional. Let's see if we can extract any other scientific and technological intelligence."

"Our technological progress has slowed down since diplomatic relations were severed."

Lin Yu nodded, his gaze fixed on the dust rising in the distance.

Two Volga cars drove into the factory area.

The car door opened, and Sergei was the first to get off.

He was in his early seventies, with a straight back and exceptionally sharp gray-blue eyes.

Lin Yu stepped forward to shake hands and greeted him in fluent Russian:

"Welcome to Hongxing Steel Plant No. 2."

"I am Lin Yu, the technical consultant who will be working with you today."

Upon hearing the fluent Russian, a hint of surprise flashed in Sergei's eyes.

This young man even has a bit of a Moscow accent. Did he study in Moscow?

"Sergei Ivanovich Petrov".

The elderly academician solemnly introduced himself.

Then he introduced the other five people behind him one by one:

"This is materials expert Andrei, vibration analysis expert Yevgeny, radiation protection expert Grigory..."

Everyone was a prominent figure in the Soviet era.

Lin Yu stepped forward and shook hands with each of them, secretly praising their excellent approach.

This isn't an exchange on the elasticity of steel; it's practically like bringing over half of the Materials Science Department of the Soviet Academy of Sciences.

A few drops of gold coins would be enough for China to live on right now.