Chapter 127 Investigation Conclusions
One week later, a red-headed document was placed in front of Lin Mo.
File name: "Report on the Progress and Technical Route Assessment of the 'Artificial Sun' Project."
Issued by: Ministry of Science and Technology Major Project Investigation Team.
Lin Mo sat in the Prefabricated Building, with the thin sheet of paper in front of him. Outside the window, the wind howled, but inside, it was so quiet he could hear his own heartbeat.
Li Xiao leaned in beside him, stretching her neck to get a look, but was too shy to get too close. Chen Xueming leaned against the doorway, holding an unlit cigarette in his hand, his eyes also fixed on the document.
"Read it out." Zhao Gang, being impatient, stood at the doorway stomping his feet. "What exactly does it say? Are we cleared or what?"
Lin Mo took a deep breath and turned to the first page.
"Report on the Progress and Technical Route Assessment of the 'Artificial Sun' Project"
I. Basic Situation
The investigation team was stationed at the "Artificial Sun" project base from November 15 to 22, 2036. Through document review, on-site inspections, individual interviews, and special symposiums, they conducted a comprehensive investigation into the project's progress, technical route, and management mechanism. During this period, they heard the special technical presentation by the project leader, Comrade Lin Mo, verified relevant experimental data, and interviewed key project members and administrative staff.
II. Regarding Project Progress
After verification, since the project's inception, all work has been progressing in an orderly manner:
The overall design scheme for the tokamak-3 has been completed and passed the expert group review;
The First Wall Material has completed preliminary screening and is currently being optimized for fatigue life issues; simulation data shows the optimization scheme is feasible;
The tritium circulation system extraction efficiency has reached 99.3%, the Pilot-scale production device is running stably, and research on recycling has started;
The digital twin system has completed its initial development, and over 700,000 sets of operating condition simulation verifications have been completed;
Core components such as the Magnet System, Vacuum Chamber, and heating system have completed blueprint design and entered the procurement and customization stage.
The investigation team believes: The overall project progress meets expectations, and there is no situation of "passive sabotage." The so-called "delayed progress" is a normal phenomenon in the process of technical breakthroughs, and the project team has taken effective measures to actively resolve it.
III. Regarding Technical Route
The investigation team heard the special presentation by the project leader, Comrade Lin Mo, verified relevant simulation data and experimental records, and communicated with Academician Mingyuan, an authoritative expert in the field of domestic Nuclear Fusion.
The investigation team believes:
The technical route adopted by the project is scientific and reasonable, consistent with the laws of Nuclear Fusion R&D;
The project team's adherence to the principle of "simulation verification first, engineering implementation later" is a responsible manifestation toward major national scientific and technological projects;
The simulation verification experience accumulated by the project team in previous projects such as Room-Temperature Superconductivity and Lithium Extraction from Seawater has proven to be highly reliable;
If one were to forcibly skip necessary verification steps and proceed directly to ignition, the risk of failure would increase significantly, potentially causing irreversible losses.
IV. Regarding Administrative Coordination
The investigation team noted that during the project's advancement, there were issues such as poor communication and conceptual differences between the administrative head and the project leader. Upon investigation, the main problems are:
The administrative head does not have a deep enough understanding of the laws of Nuclear Fusion technology and has insufficient understanding of the necessary technical verification cycle;
While adhering to technical principles, the project leader's communication style with administrative leadership needs improvement;
Both parties lack an effective regular communication mechanism.
The investigation team suggests: Strengthen normalized communication between the project team and the administrative department, establish a technical briefing system to ensure that administrative leadership is timely informed of project progress and technical difficulties. At the same time, administrative departments should fully respect scientific laws and not interfere with specific technical decisions.
V. Investigation Conclusion
Based on the above, the investigation team's conclusion is as follows:
The project team's work is conscientious and responsible, the technical route is correct, and the progress meets expectations;
The project leader, Comrade Lin Mo, has adhered to principles in technical decision-making and should be affirmed;
The issues raised by the administrative head, Comrade Zhang, are inconsistent with the facts, and it is suggested that higher-level departments strengthen his training in scientific decision-making awareness;
It is suggested that the ministry continue to support the project, guarantee resource input, and ensure smooth progress according to scientific laws.
Investigation Team Leader: Liu
Technical Consultant: Mingyuan
November 30, 2026
After reading the last word, Lin Mo remained silent for a long time.
"How is it?" Zhao Gang was anxious. "Read it out!"
Li Xiao snatched the document, scanned it quickly, and then let out a "Wow": "We're cleared! The investigation team says we have no problems! They even said the issues raised by Director Zhang were inconsistent with the facts!"
The cigarette in Chen Xueming's hand was finally lit. He took a deep drag and exhaled a long cloud of smoke: "I told you, with the data in our hands, what is there to fear?"
Zhao Gang leaned over to look at the document, grinning as he read: "'Should be affirmed'—see that? Should be affirmed! Lin Mo, this kid, even the superiors have affirmed him!"
A crowd had gathered at the door before anyone knew it—young people from the laboratory, security guards, and logistics staff, all stretching their necks to look inside. The news spread like the wind, and soon the inside and outside of the Prefabricated Building were packed with people.
"Director Lin, read a part of it!"
"What did the investigation team say? Are we alright?"
Lin Mo stood up and walked to the door. Everyone quieted down, looking at him.
He held up the document, his voice not loud, but everyone heard him clearly:
"Investigation conclusion: The project team's work is conscientious and responsible, the technical route is correct, and the progress meets expectations."
After a second of silence, a burst of cheers erupted.
Some whistled, some clapped, and some jumped up directly. Zhao Gang's soldiers shouted the loudest, as if they had won a great battle.
Lin Mo waited until they had shouted enough before continuing: "There is one more sentence—the project leader, Comrade Lin Mo, has adhered to principles in technical decision-making and should be affirmed."
The cheers grew even louder.
Li Xiao's eyes were a bit red, and she secretly wiped the corners of her eyes. Chen Xueming kept his head down, smoking, his shoulders trembling slightly. Zhao Gang grabbed Lin Mo's shoulder and patted it hard: "Good kid! I knew you could do it!"
Meanwhile, in the town thirty kilometers away.
Director Zhang sat in the guesthouse room, with a document also placed in front of him.
It was not a red-headed investigation report, but a short internal notice:
"Notice Regarding the Adjustment of Work Arrangements for Comrade Zhang"
After research and decision:
1. Relieve Comrade Zhang of his position as the administrative head of the "Artificial Sun" project;
2. Transfer Comrade Zhang to serve as a consultant for a certain third-line project, to take office effective immediately;
3. Hope that Comrade Zhang will strengthen his studies, respect professionalism, and make scientific decisions in his new position.
This is the notice.
Director Zhang stared at the line "respect professionalism, make scientific decisions" for a long time, his face livid.
The secretary stood to the side, not daring to breathe loudly.
"Bang!"
Director Zhang slammed the table hard; the teacup jumped, and tea spilled all over the table.
"Respect professionalism?! What did I do wrong? Is it wrong to push for progress? The superiors want results, and I ask them for results; isn't that my job?!"
The secretary carefully handed over a tissue: "Director, please calm down..."
"Calm down? How can I calm down?!" Director Zhang stood up and paced back and forth in the room. "I've done administrative work for twenty years; when have I ever been slapped in the face like this? That Lin Mo, he contradicted me in front of so many people, and now he's even labeling me with 'not respecting professionalism'!"
He pointed outside the window, his voice growing louder: "That broken place, where birds don't lay eggs, and sandstorms fill the sky—what was I there for? I was there to help them coordinate resources! Without me, could their equipment have been approved so quickly? Without me, could the staffing for their people have been resolved? Now, look at this—killing the donkey after the grinding is done!"
The secretary dared not respond.
After venting for a while, Director Zhang gradually grew tired, sat back in his chair, and stared blankly at the notice.
After a long while, he smiled bitterly: "Consultant... a promotion in name but a demotion in reality, right?"
The secretary opened his mouth but didn't say anything.
"Alright, pack up." Director Zhang waved his hand, looking as if he had aged ten years instantly. "Go to that third-line project... let it be a consultant position. Out of sight, out of mind."
He stood up and took one last look out the window.
In the distance, it was the direction of the Gobi Desert.
The place where he had stayed for less than two months, but which left him with the deepest sense of frustration.
The next morning, an off-road vehicle stopped at the base entrance.
Director Zhang got out of the car, followed by his secretary, holding a briefcase in his hand.
Lin Mo was already waiting at the entrance. Standing behind him were Chen Xueming, Li Xiao, Zhao Gang, and several key members of the project team.
The two stood face to face, silent for a few seconds.
"Director Zhang." Lin Mo spoke first.
"Director Lin." Director Zhang nodded, his tone much calmer. "I'm here to do the handover. There are some procedures to go through and some documents to sign. I'll leave once I'm done."
Lin Mo stepped aside: "Please."
The handover procedure was very simple. There wasn't much in Director Zhang's office to begin with; after signing a few documents and returning the keys, it was over.
Before leaving, he stood at the door and looked back at this simple Prefabricated Building. On the wall was still the progress chart he had hung up initially, densely marked with time nodes for various tasks.
"That progress chart," he pointed at it, "I drew it myself. I thought I could help you keep an eye on things so you wouldn't fall behind."
Lin Mo looked in the direction of his gaze but didn't speak.
Director Zhang smiled bitterly: "I know, I don't understand technology. I pushed for progress, pushed too hard, and pushed wrongly. But I really didn't want to harm anyone; I just... got used to it. As an administrator, it's all about pushing for progress and demanding results. Otherwise, when the superiors ask, I have no way to explain."
Lin Mo was silent for a few seconds, then said: "Director Zhang, some hurdles take time to overcome. They can't be rushed by anyone's pushing."
Director Zhang nodded: "Old Zhou told me this once. He said that the 'eastern star' back then was ruined by people pushing it. I didn't believe it, but now I do."
He extended his hand: "Director Lin, I'm sorry. I've caused you trouble."
Lin Mo shook his hand: "Director Zhang, take care."
Director Zhang nodded and turned to get into the car.
The moment the car door closed, he looked through the window at the construction site. Tower cranes, Prefabricated Buildings, busy figures—the place he once wanted to "manage well" was, in the end, not something he could manage.
The off-road vehicle started, kicking up a cloud of yellow sand, and gradually disappeared at the edge of the Gobi Desert.
Zhao Gang stood next to Lin Mo, watching the receding car shadow, and suddenly said: "Actually, he didn't have it easy either."
Lin Mo turned to look at him.
"Doing administrative work, pressed from above, resisted from below, catching flak from both sides." Zhao Gang lit a cigarette. "It's just that part about not understanding technology and making blind commands—that's truly annoying."
Lin Mo didn't respond, just watched the yellow sand slowly settle.
Li Xiao leaned in and asked in a low voice: "Director Lin, will he come back?"
"No." Lin Mo shook his head. "He's been transferred."
"Then... can we work in peace now?"
Lin Mo smiled and turned back: "Let's go, back to work. The First Wall Material optimization scheme hasn't been verified yet."
In the afternoon, the base returned to normal.
In the laboratory, Chen Xueming led a few people to debug the new tritium circulation equipment; in the computer room, Li Xiao stared at the scrolling data on the screen, jotting something down in her notebook from time to time; at the construction site, Zhao Gang led security guards to patrol, checking every person entering and leaving.
Lin Mo stood in front of the Prefabricated Building, watching all this.
The wind blew, carrying the unique scent of sand and soil of the Gobi Desert. On the distant horizon, the setting sun was sinking, dyeing the entire sky orange-red.
He suddenly remembered that sentence in the system:
"The most sci-fi style of leveling up and becoming stronger is climbing the tech tree."
Climbing the tech tree has no shortcuts.
But every step counts.