Chapter 49 Continuing the Advance

The meeting lasted for several days, and eventually, an agreement was reached.

The German Association of the Automotive Industry, together with Western alliances, the United States, Japan, Canada, Australia, and other nations, imposed restrictions on critical components and raw materials related to the automotive industry.

Their goal was singular: to delay the pace of China's electromagnetic levitation vehicle industry, or even to stifle it in its cradle.

"Raw materials such as iron ore, as well as crucial components like automobile engine axles, have all increased in price." China's top leadership was not surprised by this at all.

"Let them raise the prices. It's not the first time."

"We have our corresponding measures."

"Announce our new infrastructure plan."

...

A few days later, the Chinese government announced a new initiative. Financed by state capital and jointly undertaken by the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, and multiple other departments, all regions across the country united to launch a five-year project to renovate national highways and pave them with magnetic materials. Additionally, the State Grid Corporation of China, in collaboration with local authorities, would deploy a nationwide wireless power transmission network.

This plan was expected to cost over ten trillion yuan. All funds would be strictly controlled and forbidden from flowing into other capital markets.

As soon as this news broke, the world was shaken.

First, within China, citizens engaged in heated discussions.

"Nationwide magnetic roads? Does this mean within five years, we'll be able to drive electromagnetic levitation cars across the entire country?"

"This is fantastic! Electromagnetic levitation cars are faster than passenger planes. Domestic travel and logistics will become ten times faster in the future!"

"With so much investment, I hope this money doesn't end up in the real estate market!"

"This is a boon for the construction industry; building materials stocks in the A-share market are going to surge! Better get on board quickly!"

"Such a massive project is bound to create countless jobs. Students majoring in architecture, design, and engineering won't have to worry about finding employment!"

...

Following the announcement, domestic stocks related to construction and automobiles skyrocketed, with a considerable portion of the capital originating from international sources.

Foreign capitalists understood the situation clearly. Although the global automotive industry was trying to blockade China, electromagnetic levitation vehicles represented a cross-era technology that could not be stopped.

It was better to make an investment and perhaps reap profits.

This was precisely what China was willing to see. The top leaders were now even more convinced of the impending Zerg disaster; perhaps the world order would collapse in a few decades.

Once foreign resources entered China, the other nations would not be able to take them back when the apocalypse arrived!

...

Internationally, China's move also sparked widespread speculation among other countries.

In the United States, the newly elected President was discussing the matter with his advisors.

"China has suddenly announced a nationwide mega-infrastructure project. What are your thoughts?" the President asked.

An expert stated, "Mr. President, this is their way of stimulating the economy. China has a long-standing tradition of using infrastructure to stimulate economic growth."

"This time, they have achieved a breakthrough with a new technology. Their announcement of nationwide road and power grid renovations will provide their citizens with a massive number of job opportunities and economic benefits. At the same time, they can leverage this to develop related industries such as electromagnetic levitation vehicles and wireless power, thereby enhancing their competitiveness!"

Another advisor chimed in, "We should unite with other countries to impose restrictions, and furthermore, I believe the United States should also launch an infrastructure plan."

"America's highways, railways, power grids, and communication networks were mostly built in the last century, and many are now dilapidated. Infrastructure can stimulate our economy and strengthen national power!"

"America indeed needs an infrastructure plan!" The President agreed wholeheartedly. "We must balance confrontation, competition, and cooperation."

"Mr. President, China's recent moves are highly suspicious," an economist noted. "They seem intent on recalling their assets and investments from around the world, while procuring large quantities of supplies internationally—such as ores, petroleum, and grain—and shipping them back home."

Another advisor dismissed the concern, saying, "This is precisely the result of our efforts. Restricted internationally, they are forced to do this!"

"Their stockpiling of supplies is simply out of fear of our restrictions!"

The President carefully read the relevant reports and remarked, "Their actions are indeed highly suspicious. China's recent technological breakthroughs have been progressing at an extraordinarily fast pace. Have the intelligence agencies investigate this thoroughly at once!"

"Yes, sir!"

...

At the Watchtower Research Institute, He Xingzhou was presiding over a research meeting to map out the next stage of the research plan.

He looked out at the audience. Compared to their previous anxieties and worries, after achieving successful developments in several technologies, the researchers' confidence had grown significantly.

He Xingzhou said, "Ladies and gentlemen, over the past few months, through everyone's relentless efforts, we have achieved a small portion of our goals."

"But this is merely the beginning! I presume everyone has already read our current research reports on the Zerg. The Zerg crisis is by no means an empty threat! There is still so much we need to do!"

"In the next phase, aside from the necessary research into Zerg genetics, our primary product for development will be ultra-precision machining machine tools!"

Machine tools are also known as the "mother machines of industry"! All industrial manufacturing is inseparable from machine tools. While China possessed the capability to manufacture general machine tools, its technology for ultra-precision machining machine tools was still severely lacking.

The various advanced devices He Xingzhou planned to build were inseparable from ultra-precision machining technology.

Foreign restrictions against them lately were nothing more than curbs on certain components related to ultra-precision machining. Once he developed ultra-precision machining machine tools, these restrictive tactics would shatter on their own!

"Today, we also welcome new members to our team—experts from the Beijing Machine Tool Research Institute and the Northeast National Machine Tool Plant. Let's invite them to briefly introduce the work we are about to undertake."

The roster of members at the Watchtower Research Institute was continuously expanding. Not only here with He Xingzhou, but other Xuanwu Executive Officers were also expanding their teams, and the number of people participating in the Xuanwu Project increased daily.

Perhaps one day in the future, the entire nation's population would be involved in this plan!

"Hello everyone, I am Lu Jianye from the Beijing Machine Tool Research Institute." An eighty-year-old veteran expert took the stage to speak, who was also an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering.

Next came the discussion session. He Xingzhou obtained data on current domestic machine tool technologies from the experts and integrated it into the quantum brain's information database.

"The gap between current domestic machine tools and the world's top machine tools primarily lies in six aspects: product level, machining accuracy, processing technology, manufacturing technology, numerical control systems, and stability." It was already clear in He Xingzhou's mind.

He looked at the technology tree, where ultra-precision machining technology had multiple prerequisite technologies, such as numerical control technology, metal smelting, mechanical design, blade manufacturing, drill bit manufacturing, and so on.

Unlocking all prerequisite technologies required at least 3,000 units of energy.

Currently, the quantum brain had already stored 4,000 units of energy, thanks to the completion of the small nanocystalline photovoltaic power station outside the Watchtower Research Institute, which had accumulated a substantial amount of energy.

"Unlock the prerequisite technologies for ultra-precision machining!" He Xingzhou unlocked these foundational technologies as a torrent of information surged into his brain, imprinting itself upon his memory cells while he strove to digest and absorb it.