Chapter 102 Fang Lin's Report
By the time Fang Lin's car drove into the base, it was already four in the afternoon.
The sun over the Gobi Desert began to tilt westward, dyeing the sand dunes a golden red. When she got out of the car, Lin Mo was already waiting at the door of the Prefabricated Building.
"Director Fang," Lin Mo greeted her, "What brings you here in person?"
Fang Lin took off her sunglasses, her expression more solemn than usual.
"Let's talk inside."
Inside the Prefabricated Building, Chen Xueming, Li Xiao, and Zhang Zhe were all present. Zhao Gang was also standing by the door, with no intention of leaving.
Fang Lin sat down, took a document out of her briefcase, and placed it on the table.
"Three days ago, in Washington," she said, "Twelve countries and thirty-seven tech giants jointly announced the establishment of the 'International Science and Technology Alliance'."
Lin Mo picked up the document and scanned it quickly.
Chen Xueming leaned over to look, his brow furrowing tighter and tighter.
"The stated purpose is to 'maintain Western technological superiority and promote technological cooperation in the free world'," Fang Lin said. "It sounds high-minded, but the actual goal is just one—to contain the rise of Chinese technology."
Li Xiao whispered, "Then Smith..."
"Smith is serving as the Chief Scientist," Fang Lin nodded. "He gave a speech at the founding ceremony, saying they want to 'ensure that key technologies are not used to threaten the free world'."
Chen Xueming sneered, "'Not used to threaten the free world'? In other words, only they are allowed to have it, and we aren't?"
Fang Lin didn't respond, looking instead at Lin Mo.
Lin Mo put down the document and remained silent for a few seconds.
"What are the specific measures?" he asked.
"There are three that have been made public," Fang Lin said. "First, establish a key technology export control list; Alliance member states are forbidden from exporting any technology on that list to China."
"Second, establish a 'Technology Security Fund' to finance internal research projects within the Alliance, with the goal of 'maintaining a leading edge over China'."
"Third, establish joint laboratories to share data and results, accelerating technological breakthroughs."
After listening, Lin Mo nodded.
"It sounds quite intimidating," he said, "but if you think about it carefully, it's all the same old tricks."
Fang Lin looked at him, a hint of surprise in her eyes.
"You're not worried?"
Lin Mo stood up and walked to the window.
"What use is worrying?" He looked at the operating apparatus outside the window. "It's not like their blockade started yesterday. When we did Room-Temperature Superconductivity, did they not blockade us? When we did Lithium-Sulfur Batteries, did they not blockade us? When we did Lithium Extraction from Seawater, did they not blockade us?"
He turned around.
"They blockaded us. But we achieved it all anyway."
Chen Xueming nodded beside him.
"Lin Mo is right," he said. "The more these people blockade us, the more it proves we're on the right path. If we weren't a threat, they wouldn't go to all this trouble."
Fang Lin was silent for a few seconds, then slowly smiled.
"Before I came, I was worried you all would be demoralized by this news," she said. "Now it seems I was overthinking it."
Lin Mo shook his head.
"It's not enough to demoralize us, but there is pressure." He walked back to the table. "Director Fang, which specific fields is this Alliance targeting?"
Fang Lin opened another document.
"Semiconductors, Artificial Intelligence, Quantum Computing, New Energy, and New Materials," she said. "The ones you're working on are all in there."
Li Xiao took a sharp breath.
Zhang Zhe scratched his head, "So we're being given 'special attention'?"
Chen Xueming snorted, "Let them give us attention, what's there to fear?"
Lin Mo didn't speak, staring at the words on the document.
New Energy. New Materials.
Lithium Extraction from Seawater. Tritium Extraction. Controlled Nuclear Fusion.
They were all on the list.
He looked up at Fang Lin.
"Director Fang, what's the attitude from above?"
Fang Lin looked at him and said slowly,
"The higher-ups say: let them have their alliance, we will walk our own path. Do what needs to be done; there's no need for fear."
Lin Mo felt a slight warmth in his heart.
"But there is one thing," Fang Lin continued, "Core technology must be guarded strictly. The process parameters for Lithium Extraction from Seawater and the preliminary research data for Tritium Extraction must absolutely not be leaked."
Lin Mo nodded.
Zhao Gang spoke up from the side, "Rest assured, Director Fang, the base's security has been upgraded again. Entering and leaving requires passing through three checkpoints, all data is stored with encryption, and internal communication is handled entirely through dedicated lines."
Fang Lin looked at him and nodded.
"I know you've done a great job," she said. "But going forward, George and his lot will become even more desperate. Since they lost in the open, they'll resort to underhanded tactics."
Zhao Gang's eyes sharpened.
"Let them come."
Fang Lin stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the apparatus outside.
The setting sun hit the metal casing, reflecting a dazzling light.
"When I was young, I visited Silicon Valley once," she said suddenly. "At that time, I felt that was the center of technology. All the most cutting-edge things were born there."
She turned around and looked at the people in the room.
"I don't think that way anymore."
Chen Xueming asked, "Why?"
Fang Lin smiled.
"Because the most cutting-edge things are right here."
The room was quiet for a few seconds.
Li Xiao's eyes grew a little red.
Zhang Zhe nodded vigorously.
Chen Xueming didn't speak, but the corners of his mouth were curled up.
Lin Mo looked at Fang Lin, remained silent for a moment, and then said,
"Director Fang, stay for dinner tonight. Captain Zhou is stewing mutton."
Fang Lin was startled for a moment, then smiled.
"Alright."
That evening, the Prefabricated Building was filled with steam and warmth.
Captain Zhou brought out not just mutton, but also a large plate of hand-grabbed rice and several side dishes. The soldiers also squeezed in, filling the Prefabricated Building to capacity.
Fang Lin sat next to Lin Mo, holding her bowl and eating with gusto.
"Eating on the Gobi Desert tastes better than in the city," she said.
Li Xiao leaned over, "Director Fang, where did you work before?"
Fang Lin thought for a moment, "Beijing, Shanghai, New York, Geneva—I've stayed in all of them."
"Then which one did you like the most?"
Fang Lin glanced out the window.
"Here."
Li Xiao was stunned for a moment, then smiled.
Chen Xueming walked over with his bowl and sat opposite Fang Lin.
"Director Fang, so Smith is the Chief Scientist of that Alliance?"
Fang Lin nodded.
"I've met him before," Chen Xueming said. "He does have some real academic ability, but he's narrow-minded and can't stand seeing others do better than him."
Fang Lin looked at him.
"Are you worried about him?"
Chen Xueming shook his head.
"Not worried. No matter how formidable he is, he's just one person. Here, we are a group of people."
Fang Lin smiled.
Lin Mo held his bowl and listened to them chat, suddenly feeling very at peace.
Outside, there was the Alliance, the blockade, and George watching like a hawk.
But inside, there was this group of people.
It was enough.
At ten o'clock at night, Fang Lin's car left the base.
Lin Mo stood at the door, watching the taillights disappear into the depths of the Gobi Desert.
Chen Xueming walked over and stood beside him.
"What are you thinking about?"
Lin Mo shook his head.
"Nothing much. Just feeling that the road is still long."
Chen Xueming nodded.
"If it's long, then it's long. We'll take it step by step."
Lin Mo turned to look at him.
"Teacher Chen, are you really not afraid of that Alliance?"
Chen Xueming smiled.
"What's there to fear? Thirty years ago, I was alone; now I have all of you. They form an alliance, we build a team. Let's see who goes further."
Lin Mo smiled too.
In the distance, the apparatus was still running, its indicator lights flashing like an untiring eye.
The Gobi wind blew over, carrying grains of sand that stung their faces.
But neither of them moved.
They just stood there, looking in that direction.
Looking at the thing they had built together.