Chapter 1169
Su Dingping Spits Blood to Break the Photolithography Mechanism
"The celebration banquet is still waiting for all the heroes, so I won't bother you any longer. I still have a few urgent telegrams to deal with, so I'll take my leave now!"
He didn't even have time for a few more pleasantries. Grabbing his coat hanging on the back of his chair, he led his two equally nervous attendants out of the conference room without even glancing in the direction of the celebration banquet. He went straight through the back courtyard passage, got into the waiting car, and sped away.
Under the bright lights of the celebration banquet, everything was dazzling and colorful.
Su Dingping led Qin Baichuan and Qin Mingzhu to the main guest seat.
He gently supported Qin Baichuan, who seemed somewhat reserved and flattered, with one hand, and gestured for everyone to be quiet with the other.
"Fellow colleagues!"
Su Dingping's voice was not loud, but it clearly drowned out the noise in the banquet hall.
"Longguangke-1 is not a miracle that one or two people could accomplish."
It is the culmination of teamwork! Here, I must solemnly introduce two unsung heroes—Mr. Qin Baichuan, Chairman of Zhongchuang Technology, and his daughter, Ms. Qin Mingzhu, Chairman of Mingzhu Group!
The spotlight shone on the Qin father and daughter, both of whose faces were flushed with excitement.
Qin Baichuan waved his hands repeatedly, his voice choked with emotion.
"Chief Engineer Su, you flatter us! We only did what we could, it was our duty..."
"Chairman Qin is too modest!"
Su Dingping raised his voice, his tone resolute.
"Without the most valuable early-stage financial support from Zhongchuang, and without Zhongchuang's arduous efforts to overcome difficulties in developing spare parts, the breakthrough of Longguangke-1 would have been delayed by at least a year!"
Mingzhu Group has solved a major bottleneck for us in high-end materials; President Qin's international vision and efficient operation are indispensable! The Qin family, father and daughter, are truly deserving heroes in the success of Longguangke-1! I propose a toast to our comrades-in-arms, Chairman Qin Baichuan and Chairman Qin Mingzhu!
"Respect to the meritorious officials!"
"pay tribute!"
"cheers!"
The entire banquet hall erupted in cheers and applause that nearly lifted the roof off.
Countless glasses were raised high, forming a sea of respect.
Qin Mingzhu's eyes welled up with tears, and she held tightly to her father's arm.
At the same time, Tang Ping returned to the heavily guarded liaison point, locked the door, and connected to the highest-security encrypted channel. On the screen appeared the ever-composed face of the Eagle Tribe's chieftain, a face now tinged with urgency.
"Su, what's going on?"
The chieftain went straight to the point.
"Great Chief."
Tang Ping's voice still carried a hint of urgency from his escape, and his tone was heavy and chilling.
"The previous news... has been completely confirmed! The Longxin Laboratory and Su Dingping's team have not only successfully developed the Longxin Lithography-1 EUV lithography machine, but also achieved complete localization of the entire chain, from the light source to the lens, and from the vacuum chamber to the precision control system!"
They are now capable of stably mass-producing 7-nanometer chips, and...and they claim a yield rate as high as 92%!
He struggled to utter that almost despairing number.
"what?!"
The chieftain's pupils constricted sharply, and the knuckles of his fingers gripping the armrest of the seat bulged and turned white instantly.
He leaned forward, as if trying to see through the screen to confirm this devastating news.
"92%?! 7nm?! Entirely domestically produced?! Are you sure they've mastered every single step?"
"It's confirmed, absolutely true!"
Tang Ping's voice was filled with frustration and fear.
"I witnessed the production line with my own eyes!"
The quality control system shows it all clearly!
They even used this equipment to conduct preliminary experiments on 5-nanometer technology!
They're ahead of us... not just a little, but a decade! Our breakthrough in 193nm immersive technology has barely gained traction, and compared to them... it's practically an antique from the last era!
"cough……"
The Great Chieftain on the screen seemed to have been struck hard in the chest by an invisible hammer, coughing violently, his face instantly turning flushed, then a terrifyingly pale.
He covered his mouth with one hand, and his whole body leaned forward uncontrollably, a bright red line of blood seeping out from between his fingers.
"Great Chief!"
Tang Ping and his advisors off-screen exclaimed in surprise at the same time.
The chieftain waved his hand emphatically, indicating that he was alright, but the glaring crimson and the surging anger, disbelief, and deep humiliation in his eyes revealed the turmoil within him.
He took the handkerchief handed to him by his deputy and wiped his mouth and lower lip hard, his Adam's apple bobbing violently.
A decade-long gap! Longxia! And that young man named Su Dingping razed it all in a single year!
This is practically a nuclear explosion in the history of science and technology!
Just then, one of his key advisors strode up to the screen and added in a hurried but clear voice.
"Chief, there is another urgent matter. We have just received a secret message from Li Hui, the leader of the Ryukyu Island faction, and it is extremely urgent."
The chieftain's bloodshot eyes immediately fixed on his advisors like those of a hawk.
"Li Hui felt an unprecedented crisis! In the past two months, Longxia has made breakthroughs in stellarators and lithography machines, and its comprehensive national strength has grown explosively. Its determination and strength to take over Ryukyu have reached their peak."
Li Hui was well aware of his fate as the party leader after unification.
In his panic, he decided to take a desperate gamble!
He's going to visit the US! A public, formal, and top-level visit!
He desperately needs a strong protective umbrella!
He hopes to receive our highest level of commitment to a meeting and security guarantees!
The staff quickly and clearly presented this unexpected bargaining chip.
"Visiting the US?"
The chieftain's eyes suddenly sharpened! His earlier shock and anger seemed to have found an outlet, instantly transforming into cold calculation.
"During his high-profile visit to the United States... if we could take some strong, even deterrent, measures..."
A cruel and cunning glint flashed in his cloudy eyes.
"understand!"
The staff immediately understood the leader's intention.
"We can promise that at critical junctures, we will deploy our strongest carrier strike group to the waters near the First Island Chain! We will conduct large-scale exercises! We may even conduct highly targeted joint exercises!"
With the highest level of military force, we declare our undisputed presence in the Western Pacific and our firm commitment to providing security guarantees to our allies—including potential powers represented by Li Hui!
"very good!"
The chieftain slammed his hand on the table, his bloodshot eyes filled with ruthlessness and determination.
"Immediately and secretly reply to Li Hui, agreeing to his request to visit the United States, and we will receive him with the highest level of hospitality."
Tell him to rest assured his journey will be safe! Our strongest fleet will be there to meet him at the most opportune moment!
He paused for a moment, recalling the nightmares he had experienced from being suppressed by electronic means, and his tone became extremely solemn.
"Absolutely! We absolutely cannot repeat the mistake of our fleet being instantly paralyzed by an unknown electromagnetic attack last time! Immediately! Notify the Ministry of Science and Technology right now! Allocate an additional 100 billion US dollars in special budget!"
I don't care if they're researching electromagnetic shields, developing countermeasures, or creating space jamming! We must spare no expense to develop effective anti-electronic paralysis measures before the fleet sets sail! Tell them this is a top priority concerning the Eagle Tribe's global deterrence! There's no limit to the funding! I want to see results!
"Yes, Great Chief! Do your utmost!"
The staff solemnly accepted the order.
The land of Longxia is completely immersed in an unprecedented atmosphere of confidence and enthusiasm for becoming a technologically advanced nation.
The "Longguangke-1" satellite, like a high-hanging technological sun, attracts the world's attention. The spotlight on the international stage is focused on the East like never before.
Public telegrams and diplomatic notes poured in like snowflakes, along with confidential letters from various tribes and major economies, bypassing official channels and reaching the desks of high-ranking officials in Longxia's ministries responsible for economy and technology. Their contents were strikingly consistent.
"We express our sincerest respect and deepest interest in your tribe's groundbreaking EUV manufacturing technology and cutting-edge chip production capabilities..."
"We hope to explore the possibility of purchasing equipment related to the Longlight Lithography-1 system..."
"We urgently need your 7nm foundry capacity support; price and cooperation terms are negotiable..."
The Ministry of Science and Technology's office was inundated with calls, and the workload of the trade negotiation team increased tenfold. In the international market, the cutting-edge chip industry chain, which had previously been monopolized by China's leading chip manufacturers, was beginning to loosen and shift irreversibly, creating a huge gap and drawing eager attention to Longxia.
This invisible wave is causing Longxia's weight on the international science and technology landscape and geopolitical scale to rise at a visible rate every day.
Time flies, and it's already the anniversary of the successful launch of "Longguangke-1". In the solemn Great Hall of the People, the national emblem hangs high, a red carpet is laid out, and the lights are dazzling.
An unprecedented, high-level commendation ceremony is being held here! The hall is packed with top figures from the entire Longxia science and technology, political, military, and economic sectors.
Accompanied by stirring and uplifting symphony, the leaders of the Longxia tribe slowly walked onto the platform. Among them, the one walking in the very center, with a gentle demeanor but an imposing presence, was none other than the tribe's chairman, who rarely appeared in public and was extremely low-key!
The ceremony for the highest honor has begun. The host announced this in an extremely solemn voice.
"Given the groundbreaking, strategically significant, and milestone achievements made by Comrade Su Dingping and his team in the field of extreme ultraviolet lithography, which are world-leading, strategically groundbreaking, and milestone-worthy, they have made irreplaceable historical contributions to Longxia's scientific and technological development, national defense modernization, and economic and social development..."
His voice trembled and rose in pitch.
"The Supreme Decision-Making Meeting has unanimously decided to award Comrade Su Dingping—"
"Longxia Tribe's Highest Science and Technology Award!"
"Wow—"
In an instant, a thunderous applause erupted in the Great Hall of Ten Thousand People, lasting for a long time and almost lifting the dome off!
This award, established just last year, represents the highest honor in the Longxia Tribe's scientific and technological hall! In its first year, it was awarded to the legendary Mr. Wu, who laid the foundation for the Longxia mathematical system, and Mr. Yuan, the "miracle rice" who solved the problem of food and clothing for more than one billion people.
Now, just one year later, the second medal has been pinned on the chest of Su Dingping, who is only in his thirties!
Su Dingping strode onto the stage amidst thunderous applause.
The Grand Elder personally hung the gleaming gold medal, with a solemn design resembling a national treasure, around his neck and shook hands with him warmly.
Su Dingping nodded slightly, his tall figure under the dazzling lights resembling a sharp sword that would astound the world once drawn.
Guo Xueyun, sitting in the audience, was already sobbing uncontrollably, her handkerchief soaked with tears.
Looking at that thin but even more determined figure, every detail of the past year flooded her mind—how many days and nights had been spent working day and night without eating or sleeping? How many times had she frowned due to technical bottlenecks, locking herself in the lab and office, even needing her to personally bring her meals and remind her to eat?
He almost fainted after working overtime for three days and three nights in a row, and his exhausted face when he was forcibly sent to the hospital for an IV drip... What he paid for far exceeded the glory he was receiving at that moment.
This is the man she loves!
That mix of heartache and immense pride brought tears streaming down her face.
In the front row of the audience, Old Li's hands, weathered by countless hardships and withered like tree branches, clenched tightly together, trembling slightly.
Old Hong took off his reading glasses and quietly wiped away the tears from the corners of his eyes. Minister Yuan Tao, sitting next to him, let out a long sigh and said in a low voice with deep emotion to the person beside him.
"One year... He said he could achieve 7nm in one year. Even though I forced myself to believe it, I was still skeptical. But he... he was simply born to create miracles!"
However, this is just the beginning!
On stage, the host continued to read out one after another awe-inspiring and unprecedented commendation decisions.
"Comrade Su Dingping is hereby awarded the title of Academician of both Longxia Academy of Sciences and Longxia Academy of Engineering Sciences, thus achieving the dual academician status!"
"Comrade Su Dingping, in recognition of his outstanding contributions, has been promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General at the level of a major military region!"
"Comrade Su Dingping is awarded the Lifetime Honorary Title of Outstanding Scientist for Tribal Contributions!"
"A one-time award of 500 million RMB to Academician Su and himself!"
"Enjoy a lifetime special allowance from the tribe and the highest level of medical and healthcare privileges!"
"Comrade Su Dingping's advanced scientific and technological achievements will be included in the national basic education science and technology textbooks!"
"The scientific and technological achievements of Comrade Su Dingping and his team will be permanently displayed in the core exhibition area of the National Museum of History and the National Defense Science and Technology Exhibition Hall!"
A personal glory, dazzling and brilliant!
The team's contributions were also vividly remembered!
"The Extreme Ultraviolet Lithography System Engineering Team of Longxin Laboratory won the Special Prize of the Tribal Technology Invention Award!"
"Winner of the Special Prize for Tribal Science and Technology Progress!"
"All core members of the team will be promoted to the first-level professional technical title, exceptionally!"
"Core team members will be heavily rewarded with cash bonuses ranging from 50 to 200 million yuan, depending on their level of contribution!"
"Provide housing security benefits to the top-tier experts in the tribe to eliminate their worries!"
Even Zhongchuang Technology, which has a close partnership with the company, has reaped enviable national rewards.
"Zhongchuang Technology Group is awarded the title of Advanced Technological Innovation Leading Enterprise Model!"
"Approval has been granted for the allocation of a substantial amount of national science and technology special funds!"
"Special tax exemption policies will be granted to key industrial projects related to Zhongchuang Technology!"
"Listed as a key high-tech industry incubation backbone enterprise of the tribe, it will enjoy priority and preferential support!"
When Qin Baichuan and Qin Mingzhu heard their company's name being solemnly read aloud and saw the weighty list of policy benefits, the father and daughter exchanged a glance in the audience, both seeing immense excitement and gratitude in each other's eyes. (End of Chapter)