216: Chapter 217 Making a Phone Call

General Li Zhenguo looked carefully at the small metal piece against the light, as if he were looking at a precious treasure.

Elder Qin caught his breath and added excitedly: "This is just the beginning!"

"According to the description in the data, if we can find substitute elements with better performance, or put more effort into the energy injection phase, there is still room for its performance to improve further! What we used this time were just the most basic industrial-grade raw materials!"

Upon hearing this, the light in General Li Zhenguo's eyes grew even brighter!

This meant that this technology was not only mature and reliable, but also had room for improvement!

Its strategic value was simply immeasurable!

He took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the surging excitement in his heart, and waved to the people who had arrived shortly after: "You all go out first and stand guard outside. No one is to disturb us!"

"Yes!" Several people hurriedly retreated and gently closed the door.

Only General Li Zhenguo and Director Qin Weiguo remained in the office.

General Li Zhenguo carefully listened to Elder Qin report the more detailed experimental process and data interpretation; his expression became increasingly solemn, yet also increasingly excited.

A moment later, he stood up and said to Elder Qin: "Old Qin, you just rest here for a while and catch your breath. I must report this matter immediately!"

He walked to a seemingly ordinary wall on the inner side of the office, performed a series of complex identity verifications, and the wall slid open silently.

It revealed a confidential communication room inside, only a few square meters in size, with walls covered in special silver material.

General Li Zhenguo walked in, and the wall slowly closed behind him.

He stood in the center of the communication room, with only a simple console and a screen in front of him.

He took a deep breath, a solemn look appearing on his face.

After a slight pause, he pressed a special red button.

After the waiting tone rang a few times, the screen lit up, but no image appeared, only a symbol indicating that the encrypted line was connecting.

A steady voice, carrying an invisible sense of authority, came through the equipment and echoed clearly within the small secret room:

"Comrade Zhenguo, this is XXX. What kind of emergency is there to use this line to contact me at this time?"

General Li Zhenguo stood straight, like a soldier undergoing inspection. Although there was no image on the other side of the screen, he still maintained the highest level of respect and focus.

General Li Zhenguo's voice was steady and powerful, carrying the crispness and decisiveness characteristic of a soldier.

"I am very sorry to disturb you at this time, but there is an emergency concerning national strategic security that must be reported to you immediately!"

"Speak." The voice on the other side remained calm, yet it carried a reassuring strength.

"Yes!" General Li Zhenguo took a deep breath and, using the most concise language, clearly explained the ins and outs of the matter:

"About a day ago, District Mayor Zhao Wenhao, who is under the jurisdiction of our Eastern Theater Command in the Magic City New District, introduced a civilian named Jiang Jing to contact us."

"This person is the founder of Xingchen Technology. He learned that the country had encountered bottlenecks in the research and development of T-series special materials. Based on personal interest and inspiration, he independently developed a Super Material with performance far exceeding the T-7 design specifications and is willing to donate its complete production process to the country free of charge."

Even just recounting it, General Li Zhenguo could still feel his heartbeat accelerating.

"Out of caution, Academician Director Qin Weiguo in our region conducted a preliminary verification of the samples he provided at the 705 Research Institute, and the data was astonishing."

"To ensure absolute safety, I have immediately dispatched personnel to escort the samples and the equipment storing the production process back to the theater's highest-security Laboratory."

"Just now, led personally by Academician Director Qin Weiguo, we strictly followed the process provided by him, successfully reproduced the material, and conducted a comprehensive test on the sample."

General Li Zhenguo's tone deepened, filled with unbelievable excitement: "The test results confirm that the comprehensive performance of this material, conservatively estimated, is at least fifty years ahead of the world's most advanced level!"

"Its process is mature and complete, with the potential for immediate large-scale production! Furthermore, according to the judgment of Academician Director Qin Weiguo, there is still room for its performance to improve!"

On the other end of the communication line, there was a brief silence.

Even having seen all kinds of storms, upon suddenly hearing such a piece of news that sounded like a fantasy, the waves stirred in one's heart were absolutely earth-shattering!

Fifty years ahead of the world? Independently developed by a civilian? Any one of these points would be enough to shock the world!

After a brief silence, the voice coming from the other side remained steady, but the speaking speed seemed to quicken slightly, showing the inner restlessness of its owner: "Scope of the news?"

General Li Zhenguo replied immediately: "The news has been strictly controlled to the smallest possible scope!"

"The initial contacts, Jiang Jing and District Mayor Zhao Wenhao, have left the Research Institute, and the Research Institute was fully locked down at that time."

"Currently, all scientific research personnel who are aware of the situation are under our absolute control and are awaiting further instructions."

"District Mayor Zhao Wenhao, due to his father's status and having played a positive bridge-building role in this matter, has not yet been subjected to measures, but his awareness and reliability are trustworthy."

"Hmm." A thoughtful sound came from the other side. "You handled it very decisively and thoroughly, Comrade Zhenguo."

Hearing the other party's affirmation, General Li Zhenguo felt at ease.

"This matter is of great importance." The other party's voice became incomparably solemn. "I will immediately dispatch a central special task force to your unit."

"Your task is to ensure the absolute safety and confidentiality of all samples, data, and informed personnel before the task force arrives! You are authorized to use all means necessary!"

"The special task force will take full control of the subsequent verification, evaluation, and strategic planning work."

"Yes! I guarantee the mission will be accomplished! All officers and soldiers of the Eastern Theater Command swear to protect state secrets with their lives!" General Li Zhenguo made a resolute military pledge.

"Good." The communication was immediately cut off, and the screen went dark.

General Li Zhenguo stood in place, slowly exhaling a breath of stale air.

He did not hesitate at all and immediately walked out of the confidential communication room.

In the office outside, Elder Qin was waiting anxiously. Seeing him come out, he immediately cast an inquiring look.

General Li Zhenguo nodded heavily at him, then his expression turned stern. He picked up the internal hotline on the desk, and orders were issued quickly and clearly like unsheathed swords:

"The base is to implement an internal martial law effective immediately; entry is allowed, but no one may leave! All communication equipment is to be centrally managed!"

"The guard regiment is to add double shifts and implement twenty-four-hour armed guard at all entrances and exits of the base and key Laboratories!"

"All scientific research personnel participating in the 'Spark' project (temporary code name) and their families are to be placed under level-one protective control by the security department effective immediately. Without my personal permission, they are not allowed to have any contact with the outside world!"

"The intelligence department and the security department are to immediately conduct the highest-level background checks and security assessments on the interior of the base and all informed personnel!"

"..."

As order after order was issued, the entire Eastern Theater Command base was like a sleeping giant suddenly awakening, entering a state of high-speed operation!

The atmosphere became solemn, using various measures to ensure nothing went wrong!

Watching General Li Zhenguo's swift and decisive deployment, Elder Qin felt both shocked and completely at ease.

He knew that this matter had already risen to the highest level of the state.

...