94: From Technological Warfare to Space Empire

More than a dozen experts drawn from various research institutes stared at the hand-drawn replica of RD-170 on the table, their eyes burning with the fervor of young men on their wedding night.

"The design of this combustion chamber... is simply ingenious!"

Aerospace engine expert Chen's hands trembled as he stroked the lines on the blueprint:

"With four combustion chambers in parallel, the total thrust is 740 tons, which is more than three times stronger than our largest engine!"

"With this thing, the other components of the Long March series will also need to be modified, haha. What a happy problem."

"Take a look at this turbopump," Professor Wang, a fluid mechanics expert, said, adjusting his glasses as he chimed in.

"A staged combustion cycle, with separate oxygen and kerosene pre-combustion chambers, yet the combustion efficiency still reaches over 97% in such a large space. How did the Soviets come up with this structure?"

Lin Yu sat in the main seat, with three thick craft manuals left by Sergei spread out in front of him.

He rubbed his still throbbing temples; he was exhausted today.

"Structural design is only the first step."

Lin Yu opened the booklet for VT-20 titanium alloy, pointed to the process specifications, and said:

"The real challenge lies in the materials and processes. The process parameters of vacuum electron beam welding, the phase transformation control during heat treatment, and the protection of the surface oxide layer... these are the core technologies."

"It still requires a lot of research."

The conference room was filled with the sound of pages turning and whispers.

Academician Li from the Institute of Materials Science took off his reading glasses and rubbed his eyes:

「小林说得对。这VT-20的屈服强度能达到1400兆帕，比我们最好的TC4还高30%。关键是它能在600度高温下保持性能。」

"Right now, the problem with our engine nozzles is that the material strength can't be increased at high temperatures, but this is a real solution!"

"Not only that, Sergei and the others are really too honest." Lin Yu pulled a page from the folder.

"This is the preliminary design for the plasma stealth coating that the materials expert provided."

"Although it's incomplete, the idea is clear: a plasma layer of a specific frequency can absorb radar waves."

"Compared to aircraft engines, which can't be manufactured in a short time, this thing is a real treasure."

"The Soviet-style stealth fighters probably used this technology. If we were to use this modification on our fighter jets..."

"I'm afraid their skill level has skyrocketed."

These words immediately caused an uproar in the conference room.

"Stealth technology?!"

"The Soviet Union has actually come to this?"

"That American F-117..."

Lin Yu raised his hand to suppress the murmurs:

"Dear teachers, the question now is, how can we master these technologies in the shortest amount of time?"

He stood up and walked to the blackboard: "I suggest we divide into three groups. The first group will focus on the RD-170, emphasizing the structural strength and vibration issues of the high-thrust combustion chamber. The second group will study the VT-20, aiming to establish our own high-end titanium alloy smelting production line within a year. The third group..."

Lin Yu paused for a moment, then wrote the words "Plasma Physics" on the blackboard.

"This group is the most unique. Andrei only provided a theoretical framework, and we need to start by learning basic physics. But I believe this may be the most critical technological direction for military aerospace in the next decade."

The meeting room fell silent as everyone watched the young man, barely over twenty, exuding confidence and charisma.

Old Chen suddenly laughed: "Xiao Lin, you're starting to sound just like your teacher now. You're humble in your words, but you always step up when it really matters. And you can really explain complicated things clearly and logically."

Lin Yu scratched his head sheepishly: "I learned it all from the teachers."

"Don't give me that crap," Academician Li chuckled. "We old folks are really envious of the fresh ideas you've got. So, tell me, how exactly do we divide the work? If it's a good fit, then we'll do it this way."

"If it's not suitable, we can go back and discuss it again."

The young man wanted to show off and made such a great contribution, so Academician Li was not annoyed and let Lin Yu preside over the allocation of research plans for the technology.

The meeting went on until late at night.

The meeting ended after the general process had been explained.

After seeing the professors off.

Zhang Guoqiang walked to his side and said in a low voice.

"Comrade Lin, those technical documents and meeting reports have been delivered to Commander Hou. Three teams escorted them along the way, which ensures that no one has touched those documents."

Lin Yu nodded, finally shedding his forced professionalism and relaxing as he smiled and began to talk about the field of rocketry, which he was most interested in.

"That's good"

"The blueprints for RD170 are enough to save us 10 years of detours in developing rocket engines."

"And with it, my own commercial space empire has finally been truly established."

"Let me tell you, this engine is awesome!"

"The four-combustion-chamber design, with each chamber generating up to 190 tons of thrust, results in an overall sea-level thrust of 760 tons!"

In the darkness, Lin Yu laughed like a child, his face beaming, as he followed Zhang Guoqiang and explained the technical advantages of the RD170 one by one.

He talked for a very long time before finally breaking down. After yawning, all the fatigue he had accumulated over the past few days rushed over him. When Zhang Guoqiang drove over to pick him up to go back to Beihang University, Lin Yu relaxed and fell asleep in the car.

By the time Lin Yu was driven back to Beihang University, it was already past midnight.

When Zhang Guoqiang shook him off the bus, he was still talking in his sleep.

"Hehe, big rocket, my big rocket."

"Does Gutter's Little Life like Daddy's Big Starlink?"

"I told you not to post inappropriate content on my Starlink network."

"Even the cannibals in the equatorial forests only watch this kind of indecent content for amusement and stop hunting. You are truly heinous."

"They should be punished!"

"The radioactive elements in nuclear wastewater have half-lives of thousands of years. We're here protecting our environment, ensuring sustainable development for future generations, while you guys are leaving behind a legacy of poison for millennia. You're a bunch of bastards!"

"Google, OpenAI, Apple"

"And don't even think about engaging in your technological feudalism anymore."

"Now I'm in charge of satellite internet, hehe."

Exhausted to the extreme, Lin Yu talked in his sleep and laughed, which made Zhang Guoqiang both amused and exasperated.

But Lin Yu was sleeping so soundly, having such a happy dream.

Zhang Guoqiang finally called two comrades over. They didn't wake Lin Yu by shaking him, and the three of them carefully carried Lin Yu upstairs so he could sleep peacefully.

Even after Lin Yu fell asleep, the turmoil was far from over.

Sergei and his group were still studying late into the night.

The document sent to Chief Hou, Lin Yu's technical report, and all the recent controversies surrounding Lin Yu were submitted to him through the fastest channels, reaching the highest levels of government.

Meanwhile, the lackeys of those private steel and oil refineries who colluded with Yang Jia and his group were still using all their connections to spread rumors and smear the steel slag refining technology.

On the other end of the mobile phone, Wu Xiangrong bowed and scraped as he spoke into the phone.

"Hey, okay, just you wait and see!"

"What kind of connections could Lin Yu possibly have?"

"Don't worry, I've already united all the private factories to attack him together."

"The technology will be mine, and the people will be yours."

"This kid's got good skills, but what good is he without backup?"

"I know he has some connections, but the workers in his factory can't be threatened. I have plenty of capable scoundrels under my command, so don't worry."

"The batch of cheap tel (ethyl gasoline additive) you promised Afton..."

"What? They're already at sea? Great, great, just you wait and see. I'll make sure Lin Yu handles this perfectly."