Building a Sci-Fi Empire: Starting with Cold Nuclear Fusion

Zhang Shulin looked at Chen Yuan with great enthusiasm and asked, "Young man, what's your name?"

Chen Yuan said, "My name is Chen Yuan."

"Mr... Mr. Chen," Zhang Shulin said, pointing to the design drawings, "Your design is a miniature nuclear battery. The technology is very mature, and in my opinion, it can meet the requirements of Liyao. Why don't I call everyone over to discuss how to develop it?"

Chen Yuan quickly waved his hand and said, "No, that won't do."

Zhang Shulin was taken aback. "Why not?"

Chen Yuan realistically stated, "This technology is too advanced; I want to keep it for myself. For example, for the nuclear battery needed by Liyao, I adopted other technologies."

He signed a contract with Xinghe Company.

It contains not only non-compete agreements but also patent declarations.

All research and development results and patents related to the company's business belong to the company.

In fact, nuclear batteries are not within the company's business scope at all, and therefore are not included in the contract terms.

Therefore, Chen Yuan's privately developed nuclear battery technology did not actually need to be handed over to the company.

Of course, if nuclear battery technology is developed as a result of this business, the patent rights belong to the company.

How could Chen Yuan possibly give such advanced technology as the carbon-14 nuclear battery to someone else?

He certainly won't give us anything that's relatively better, but as long as it meets the requirements for medicine, that's fine.

Zhang Shulin: "..."

He was completely stunned and asked incredulously, "You mean you designed more than one type of nuclear battery, there's another one?"

Chen Yuan hummed in agreement and said, "Yes, the nuclear battery I envisioned for Liyao would use nickel-63 decay technology. Although nickel-63 has a half-life of only one hundred years, while carbon-14 has a half-life of five thousand seven hundred and thirty years, it is sufficient to make the power supply equipment for the pacemaker. In my vision, the nuclear battery made of nickel-63 can power the pacemaker for fifty years."

Zhang Shulin became interested. "It seems you really have a plan. Can you tell me about the data you envision for the nickel-63 nuclear battery?"

He had already seen the projected data for the carbon-14 nuclear battery on Chen Yuan's computer, so there was nothing more to ask.

Chen Yuan thought for a moment and said truthfully, "There's not much to say about the size. Liyao has requested 15 x 15 x 5 millimeters, and I will definitely design strictly according to this standard. As for the energy density, I expect it to reach more than ten times that of ternary lithium batteries, with approximately 3,300 milliwatt-hours of energy stored per gram. The continuous power supply time is over 50 years, as mentioned earlier, and it can also work in extreme environments ranging from -60 to 120 degrees Celsius. The output power will be 100 microwatts and the voltage will be 3 volts, as required by Liyao."

After listening, Zhang Shulin nodded slightly. "These data meet the requirements of Liyao. There is indeed no need to bring out the better carbon-14 nuclear battery."

He didn't ask about radiation at all, because beta rays have weak penetrating power and can be shielded by a sheet of A4 paper. Even if shot or punctured, there would be no radiation leakage.

So what's the point of asking?

After finishing his sentence, Zhang Shulin added, "Could you draw up the design blueprints for the nickel-63 nuclear battery and let me take a look?"

Chen Yuan looked troubled and said, "I would like to, but..."

Zhang Shulin asked, "Just what?"

Chen Yuan spoke frankly: "This project has just started, and I've already produced the design drawings. Won't the others look like they're just sitting around doing nothing?"

Zhang Shulin understood what the other party meant.

So you think you're the only one who can do it, and everyone else is just there to make up the numbers?

In this way, Chen Yuan will definitely be envied by others.

He said meaningfully, "Geniuses are always envied. You have the ability, so don't be afraid. If Xinghe Company can't tolerate you, I still have some influence at Huahe Group. You can come work for us; it's a stable job with a permanent position."

It's clear that Zhang Shulin, an expert in nuclear energy, really admires Chen Yuan.

Nonsense, he designed two different new types of micro nuclear batteries in no time. Although the other one has not been seen yet, the carbon-14 nuclear battery technology he just learned about is already revolutionary. How could Zhang Shulin not appreciate it?

To be honest, Zhang Shulin thought Chen Yuan was too talented, and even considered poaching him from Huahe Group, but that would be unethical.

He came to help Liyao, but then he poached the technical staff from Liyao's partner company. Who knows what people will say behind his back?

Chen Yuan wasn't worried about others being jealous; it's just that he had already stood out too much.

Now that he's done this again, he's afraid people will suspect he has a system or something.

Seeing that Chen Yuan remained silent, Zhang Shulin pondered for a moment and then suggested, "If they ask, just say that I provided the suggestions on nuclear energy, and that you designed everything else. That way, they won't be too jealous."

After careful consideration, Chen Yuan nodded in agreement, "Okay."

Zhang Shulin immediately broke into a bright smile. "Bring me the design drawings of the nickel-63 nuclear battery, and then we'll call the others over for a meeting to discuss it."

Chen Yuan said, "The design is in my mind. I'll draw it for you right now. Please sit next to my master and wait for a while. It may take me some time to draw it."

what?

Drawing on-site?

To be honest, Zhang Shulin initially doubted whether the carbon-14 nuclear battery design was really conceived by Chen Yuan alone. But now that he heard the other party say that he would draw a nuclear battery using another technology in front of him, he immediately realized that this young man was not only proficient in nuclear decay, but also a true genius.

Otherwise, how could two different nuclear batteries have been developed in such a short period of time?

Zhang Shulin was eager to see the design drawings for the nickel-63 nuclear battery; he was unwilling to sit down and wait.

He waved his hand and said, "No need, no need, you draw yours, I'll just stand here."

Chen Yuan said, "Whatever you say."

He didn't say anything more, sat down in front of the computer, and began to draw the design drawings for the nickel-63 nuclear battery.

Zhang Shulin stood behind the chair and watched with great interest.

Little did they know, their actions were being observed by someone not far away.

Zhen Yuhan is cleaning the equipment.

He was too far from Chen Yuan's desk to hear what the two were talking about.

However, he saw Chen Yuan come over and seem to say something to Zhang Shulin.

Then Zhang Shulin stood up excitedly, seemed to argue with Chen Yuan for a few words, and finally left the computer desk.

Zhen Yuhan figured that Chen Yuan must not want Zhang Shulin to use his computer, which is why the two of them started arguing.

Otherwise, why was Zhang Shulin so agitated just now?

Hey!

You have some nerve, kid!

They even dared to give attitude to the nuclear energy experts that the client had paid a lot of money to hire?

Zhen Yuhan just wants to say: Chen Yuan, you are simply lawless!

He didn't want to meddle, but then his eyes lit up and he immediately realized that this was the perfect opportunity to sideline Chen Yuan.

Zhen Yuhan was already quite unhappy because Chen Yuan had taken the lead and she couldn't win the argument with him.

Now that he's finally got a chance for revenge, how could he possibly let it slip by?

So, he stopped cleaning the equipment and quietly walked towards the laboratory door, intending to find Zhao Peng, Wang Kai, and others to give Chen Yuan a good beating.

……

Chen Yuan was so engrossed in drawing up the design blueprints for the nickel-63 nuclear battery that he paid no attention to anything else.

Zhang Shulin was in the same situation. He watched Chen Yuan draw up the nuclear battery design step by step, and his whole body showed amazement. He was still frantically calculating whether it was feasible, and naturally he did not pay attention to the situation around him.

Just as the two were completely immersed in it.

Suddenly a noisy commotion came from outside.

"Minister, Manager, look, this kid is still letting Professor Zhang stand!"

"He is utterly lawless. Professor Zhang is an expert that Liyao invited from Beijing, but he received this kind of treatment here. When Liyao finds out, they will definitely cancel their cooperation with us."

The sounds were faint and indistinct; Chen Yuan and Zhang Shulin couldn't hear them clearly at all. They only heard a commotion, so they both turned their heads to look.

As soon as they turned their heads, they saw Zhao Peng, Wang Kai, Zhu Yun, Lao Qin, and a group of others walking quickly towards them.

Zhao Peng, Wang Kai, and other mid-to-senior level leaders in the department did not look too good, while Zhu Yun and Lao Qin looked worried.

Perhaps Zhen Yuhan's fanning the flames was a bit too loud, attracting the attention of Ding Yang, Xiao Yun, and others who were working nearby.

"What's wrong?"

"I don't know."

"Why are the minister and manager all here?"

Although Ding Yang, Xiao Yun, and the others didn't know what had happened, they still moved closer to Chen Yuan and Zhang Shulin.

A moment later, Zhao Peng, Wang Kai, Zhen Yuhan, Zhu Yun, and others arrived in front of Chen Yuan and Zhang Shulin.

Before Zhen Yuhan even got close, he shouted, "Chen Yuan, what's wrong with you...?"

Before she could finish speaking, Zhao Peng seemed to notice something and quickly raised his hand to stop Zhen Yuhan from continuing. Instead, he put on a smile and asked, "Xiao Chen, are you discussing nuclear battery research and development with Professor Zhang?"

Chen Yuan hadn't even finished drawing the nuclear battery design yet, and he hadn't expected so many people to come. He really didn't know how to answer for a moment.

Zhang Shulin had no idea what had happened. Seeing Zhao Peng's appearance, he assumed that the other party had received some information.

He chuckled and said, "Minister Zhao, your information network is really impressive. Xiao Chen and I just finished discussing a nuclear battery development plan, and you've already come over?"

what?

You two came up with a nuclear battery research and development plan?

Upon hearing this, Zhen Yuhan's expression changed.

He realized he might have messed up this time!