Chapter 588: If You Can't Beat Them, Slander Them

"I believe this is a meticulously orchestrated scientific hoax," a Star-Spangled Country physicist said excitedly during a panel discussion, "The people of Long Country are adept at propaganda; they have simply packaged some theoretical possibilities into established facts."

"But what about those photos and data?" a French colleague retorted, "Our laboratory's analysis shows that they do not appear to be faked."

"Photos can be faked, and data can be fabricated," the Star-Spangled Country physicist insisted, "The key is that they refuse to accept international peer review and refuse to let foreign scientists visit their facilities. This in itself is highly suspicious."

Just as the discussion was becoming increasingly heated, a young researcher with an Asian face raised their hand: "I have just received news that the Long Country Academy of Sciences has officially invited an international delegation of scientists to visit the 'Flame Dragon' project and the Longxin R&D Center."

The venue fell into instant Silence, and everyone turned toward this researcher.

"Is the source of the news reliable?" someone asked eagerly.

The young researcher nodded: "Very reliable. The invitation has been sent through diplomatic channels to the academies of sciences of multiple countries. My mentor is one of the candidate members of the French delegation."

This news was like a bomb, detonating within the venue. The scientists discussed it one after another; some were excited, some worried, some suspicious, but no one could remain calm.

"If they truly let an international delegation visit, then..." a senior professor said thoughtfully, "then they must have enough confidence, convinced that their achievements can withstand direct verification by international peers."

"Or it is a meticulously designed hoax," another skeptic said, "They might display some equipment that is impressive on the surface, but hide the truth."

"In any case," a German physicist concluded, "this will be a turning point. If the international delegation confirms the authenticity of the 'Flame Dragon' project, then we will have to accept a new reality—in the field of nuclear fusion, Long Country has already surpassed us."

This statement triggered more discussion, but beneath the clamor, a common emotion surged in the heart of every scientist: unease. Because they knew that once Long Country's nuclear fusion technology was confirmed, the authority structure of the entire physics community would be reshuffled. And more importantly, the sense of Western scientific superiority they relied on to sustain themselves might forever become history.

Star-Spangled Country, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Computer Science.

In the office of the department chair, Professor William Robbins, the atmosphere was heavy. Spread out on the desk was the translation of that paper on "Longxin-III" from *Cangjie*, along with a pile of analysis reports and calculation results.

"This is absurd," Robbins said, rubbing his Taiyang, "The quantum tunneling Transistor Technology they claim is at least ten years ahead of us, perhaps more. And what is even more unsettling is that our theoretical model verification shows that this technical route is physically feasible."

"The most frustrating thing," a young teaching assistant said, "is that we cannot even fully understand their Chinese programming paradigm. It is not just a programming language, but an entirely new way of computational thinking."

Robbins nodded, his expression complex: "Do you know what the most ironic part is? For decades, we have always believed that science and technology were the patent of the West, believing that other countries could only follow in our footsteps. Now, we find ourselves locked out of a language and way of thinking we do not understand."

"What should we do, Professor?" the assistant asked.

Robbins let out a long sigh: "We have no choice but to learn. Yes, we need to learn Chinese, not just to read *Cangjie*, but to understand a way of thinking we once ignored. This will be a long pursuit, but we must begin."

He stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the students hurrying across campus: "Notify everyone in the department; starting next week, we will offer Chinese courses specifically for students in the Computer Science major. This is no longer a choice, but a necessity."

Within one month after the inaugural issue of *Cangjie* was published, the global scientific community experienced the entire process from ridicule and suspicion to shock and panic. The initial public mockery had decreased, replaced by a complex mixture of emotions: tough questioning in public, and deep anxiety in private.

Reports from Western mainstream media also began to shift subtly. From the initial biting sarcasm to the current cautious questioning. The front page was no longer "Long Country Scientific Farce," but "Western Scientists Assess the Credibility of Long Country's Nuclear Fusion Statement."

At international academic conferences, the papers in *Cangjie* became the hottest topic of discussion. Those senior professors who once looked down on them now had to face young-generation researchers citing theories from *Cangjie* to challenge their authority.

"According to the equation on page 12 of *Cangjie*, there is a fundamental flaw in the magnetic field structure of traditional Tokamak designs," a young physicist pointed out at the conference, "and the new topological structure proposed by Long Country can effectively solve this problem."

The senior professor was speechless, because he knew that the equation was self-consistent in physics, and that type of topological structure could indeed solve the problem that had long plagued nuclear fusion research.

Even more shocking was that some Western laboratories had already begun trying to build small experimental devices based on the theories in *Cangjie*. Although key details were lacking, their preliminary results showed that Long Country's direction was indeed correct.

The earthquake in the scientific community continued, and at the epicenter—Penglai Base, Li Mingyuan was observing all of this calmly, as if he had long foreseen every detail of this storm.

Penglai Base, Li Mingyuan's office.

"Lao Li, look at this," Minister Zhang walked in excitedly, holding an international telegram, "The Star-Spangled Country's Academy of Sciences has officially requested to send a delegation to visit the 'Flame Dragon' project! Not just them, Beijixiong Guo, the United Kingdom, France, and even Japan have sent similar requests."

Li Mingyuan put down the work in his hands, a faint smile appearing on his face: "Faster than I expected. It seems the Western scientists are already convinced that our breakthrough is not a hoax."

"How do you intend to respond?" Minister Zhang asked, "If we let them come to visit, will it leak our technical secrets?"

Li Mingyuan stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the new experimental facilities under construction in the distance: "Of course we must let them come. In fact, we will host a grand international scientific exchange meeting, inviting top scientists from around the world to witness the operation of the 'Flame Dragon' project with their own eyes."

"Is this... safe?" Minister Zhang asked worriedly.