153: Chapter 153 Elder Long's Dream of a Nuclear-Powered Aircraft Carrier!

Xu Hao and Professor Zhou Xuemin walked out of The Compound side by side.

He was just about to talk to Xu Hao about the H-20 Strategic Stealth Bomber.

Looking up, he saw a middle-aged man in a formal suit walking from the entrance of The Compound.

Professor Zhou Xuemin immediately swallowed his words and looked at the person approaching.

The middle-aged man was Naval Commander Ding Lei, and when Professor Zhou Xuemin saw him, he also saw Professor Zhou Xuemin.

He walked up with a smile and greeted Professor Zhou Xuemin respectfully.

"Elder Zhou."

Professor Zhou Xuemin nodded, a smile appearing on his face as well.

"What wind blew Commander Ding here? Are you looking for Elder Long?"

Naval Commander Ding Lei nodded, his eyes glancing at Xu Hao.

Xu Hao nodded with a smile, and Naval Commander Ding Lei returned the smile.

He didn't ask any questions, but he remained cautious in his heart.

After all.

To be brought to Elder Long's The Compound personally by Professor Zhou Xuemin, and to be such a young person at that.

No matter what, he was certainly not an ordinary person.

"I need to discuss something with Elder Long. He hasn't rested yet, has he?"

Commander Ding asked.

He knew Elder Long had a habit of taking a nap around 1:30 PM.

It was already 1:00 PM.

Professor Zhou Xuemin shook his head, "We just finished eating; Elder Long will probably rest in a while."

Commander Ding raised his thick eyebrows.

Just finished eating?

Elder Long usually ate lunch around 12:20 PM, rested for about an hour after eating, and then took a nap.

Eating so late today?

He took a deep look at Professor Zhou Xuemin and the handsome youth beside him who was wearing a faint smile, and he understood a little in his heart.

Professor Zhou Xuemin added, "Take advantage of the fact that Elder Long hasn't rested yet and go in quickly. Otherwise, you'll have to wait again in a while."

"Yes, thank you, Elder Zhou!"

Commander Ding nodded, thanked Elder Zhou, and then walked towards The Compound.

Before leaving, he took another look at Xu Hao.

He searched his memory, but Xu Hao's face still felt extremely unfamiliar.

Who exactly... is this youth?

He frowned, puzzled, then brushed the thoughts from his mind and stepped into The Compound.

He wouldn't think too much about the rest; the important business came first.

No matter what, he had to convince Elder Long today!

...

On the way back to the Courtyard House, Professor Zhou Xuemin introduced to Xu Hao:

"The person just now was Commander Ding, the Commander of our Long Country Navy."

Xu Hao was stunned; he hadn't expected that the unassuming middle-aged man from earlier was actually the Commander of the Long Country Navy.

This was something he hadn't expected.

Professor Zhou Xuemin continued:

"Commander Ding coming here is likely for that same matter again."

Professor Zhou Xuemin shook his head.

Xu Hao became interested.

Listening to Elder Zhou, it seemed this Commander Ding had come to look for Elder Long many times for the same thing?

Seeming to see the doubt in Xu Hao's heart, Professor Zhou Xuemin didn't hide anything and explained:

"He is here, nine times out of ten, because of the matter of Long Country's fourth aircraft carrier."

"The fourth aircraft carrier?" Xu Hao raised an eyebrow, puzzled. "Didn't the officials say the fourth aircraft carrier is already under construction? Why would Commander Ding come specifically to find Elder Long for this?"

Xu Hao asked.

"Sigh..." Professor Zhou Xuemin let out a long sigh.

"It was originally planned to be built at the beginning of this spring, but the superiors had different opinions."

"Elder Long feels that our Long Country Navy's fourth aircraft carrier must be a Nuclear-powered Aircraft Carrier, it cannot be a conventionally powered aircraft carrier anymore."

"But Commander Ding is in a difficult position. Although he also wants to build a Nuclear-powered Aircraft Carrier for Long Country, he is troubled by the lack of relevant technology, especially since there hasn't been a major breakthrough in nuclear technology. Building a Nuclear-powered Aircraft Carrier rashly is too dangerous."

"So, the opinion of Commander Ding and his team is that the fourth one should still be a conventionally powered aircraft carrier, and they should wait until the technology is fully mature before building a Nuclear-powered Aircraft Carrier for the fifth one."

"Because of this, both sides hold different opinions, which has led to the fourth aircraft carrier being delayed in construction."

"But looking at Commander Ding's attitude today, I guess he wants to get the matter of the fourth aircraft carrier settled no matter what."

Professor Zhou Xuemin's expression changed, and he felt a complex mix of emotions.

After hearing his words, Xu Hao's heart stirred.

After pondering for a moment, Professor Zhou Xuemin added:

"Actually, according to Long Country's development strategy, it is indeed better for the fourth aircraft carrier to be conventionally powered. After all, the main strategic direction for Long Country for the next dozen years is still in the inland coastal areas."

"Therefore, a conventionally powered aircraft carrier is sufficient to support the Navy's daily military tasks and operations."

"But having said that, I can also understand Elder Long."

"With the prosperity of Long Country's national power and the vigorous development of the Navy, we must also possess a more complete maritime combat formation, especially for ocean-going combat."

"If it is a conventionally powered aircraft carrier, it is still a bit stretched."

"It's just a pity... wanting to build a Nuclear-powered Aircraft Carrier is too difficult! Currently, Long Country's scientific research teams still have many difficulties that haven't been overcome. To possess mature construction technology, it will probably take many more years."

"Sigh, time is still too tight..."

Professor Zhou Xuemin sighed softly, his face full of worry.

Whether it was Elder Long, himself, or most of the national defense personnel like Commander Ding, they all hoped that Long Country's fourth aircraft carrier would be nuclear-powered.

But thinking about it is one thing, and whether it can be successfully realized is another.

Reality is often cruel.

Although Long Country possesses mature nuclear submarine technology, the technology for a Nuclear-powered Aircraft Carrier is almost zero.

There is no experience to draw from, no technology to be taught; it all relies on our own scientific researchers to study it bit by bit.

To have a major breakthrough in a short time is too difficult!!

Xu Hao took in the expression on Professor Zhou Xuemin's face.

He thought of the blueprints he had brought, smiled gently, and then said:

"Elder Zhou, perhaps Long Country's Nuclear-powered Aircraft Carrier will be able to sail on the ocean before long."

Xu Hao's tone was neither salty nor bland, and one couldn't hear the deeper meaning within it.

Even Professor Zhou Xuemin thought that Xu Hao was just having infinite reveries about the future Navy, and he didn't think about the Nuclear-powered Aircraft Carrier blueprints at all.

After all, this was too unrealistic!!

Regardless of whether it was a Nuclear-powered Aircraft Carrier, even just a conventionally powered aircraft carrier was a huge industrial combination.

Wanting to independently design and develop an aircraft carrier was simply a fantasy.

Let alone a Nuclear-powered Aircraft Carrier.

Professor Zhou Xuemin said, "Yes, I also hope that our own Nuclear-powered Aircraft Carrier can sail on the ocean sooner."

"But this is too difficult. On the Nuclear-powered Aircraft Carrier, Long Country still has a long way to go."

He did hope that Long Country could build a Nuclear-powered Aircraft Carrier right now, immediately.

It would be best if someone could just throw the complete design blueprints of a Nuclear-powered Aircraft Carrier in front of him and tell him:

"Isn't this a Nuclear-powered Aircraft Carrier? Isn't this it?!"

If that were really the case, he would wake up laughing even in his dreams!!

But this could only be thought about...

Professor Zhou Xuemin was lost in thought, completely unaware of the confident and assured smile on Xu Hao's face.

Xu Hao did not discuss this topic further, but instead asked:

"Elder Zhou, do you still remember that I told you that when I came to Longdu, I would give you a big gift?"

Hearing this, Professor Zhou Xuemin immediately came back to his senses, a look of surprise on his face.

A big gift?

He thought about it; at that time, Xu Hao did seem to have said on the phone that when he came to Longdu, he would give him a big gift.

But he didn't take it to heart at the time.

Why was Xu Hao suddenly bringing it up now?

Professor Zhou Xuemin looked at Xu Hao blankly.