Chapter 95: Gaining Some Confidence

Naturally, the Banpo Site in Xi'an has never unearthed any brass; there is only naturally formed red copper.

However, the earliest brass fragments unearthed in China do indeed date back 4,700 years, and they are indeed in Xi'an: a bit further than the Banpo Site, at the Jiangzhai Site in Lintong District.

Yet those few pieces of brass are housed in the Banpo Site Museum.

The key is that it is not just one or two institutions eyeing these copper pieces; there is no lack of provincial or even higher-level research institutions. For instance, the Shaanxi History Museum and the National Museum of China have requested them several times, but the provincial cultural department has never let go.

The main reason is that the influence is too small: these institutions are all preparing to use the brass fragments as evidence based on the existence of Upward Firing Culture and Longshan Culture at the Jiangzhai Site.

With a site area of a full 13,000 square meters and nearly 20,000 various Cultural Relics, isn't that enough for them to prove it?

But if, all of a sudden, an institution prepares to use these few pieces of brass as specimens to study the "China Metallurgy Origin," or even wants to prove that "world copper metallurgy originated in China," do you guess anyone would fight for it?

What, Northwest University?

Go queue up wherever it's cooler...

To avoid being intercepted halfway, Lin Sicheng could only use a bait-and-switch tactic, which is why the bid and Project Plan Report were designed so crudely. Other institutions look at it and think: Oh, Banpo Bronze?

It must be those red copper fragments unearthed at the Banpo Site, but those were naturally formed and later polished into tools; what is there to research?

By the time they react, Lin Sicheng will have already published who knows how many Thesis papers.

Thinking of this, Zhu Kaiping suddenly realized: no wonder this report felt a bit convoluted; it was clearly about red copper Craft Restoration, yet it involved alloy copper research, feeling quite like a mismatch.

Now that he thought about it, Lin Sicheng did it on purpose. Even the school helped him provide cover; otherwise, this report would never have passed the bid.

Looking at the technical approach again, it was like the clouds parting to reveal the sun, and his mind suddenly cleared: Lin Sicheng had included almost all possibilities and feasibility experiments; one only needed to follow the Project Plan Report step by step, doing one experiment after another and verifying one set of data after another.

Precisely because the amount of Information was so large, it was impossible to write it in such detail. So at first glance: the plan looks so crude.

The main reason, in fact, is still to prevent the "technical approach" from leaking during the bidding process.

But Zhu Kaiping could be absolutely certain that as long as one followed Lin Sicheng's approach, proving that "the world's metal copper metallurgy technology originated in China" might be a bit shaky, but proving "Copper Metallurgy Independent Origin Theory" was basically no problem.

As long as there are some results, the project level will "whoosh" upward, and it might even end up as a joint research project with some National Level institution.

Just like the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Professor Wang Changsui.

In other words: National Level Project!

Suddenly, light shone in Zhu Kaiping's eyes, and his voice dropped extremely low, almost inaudible: "Where are the items?"

Lin Sicheng did not speak; he lifted his chin slightly and smiled.

With Professor Wang's style of acting as soon as he decides, was there even a need to ask?

Submitting the bid simultaneously, and simultaneously working on the school leadership's mindset. Immediately after, he took the project plan and application report to report to the leaders of the provincial cultural department with the school leadership.

Then, the two of them stood in the leader's office, patting their chests to sign a military order.

Therefore, if he hadn't gotten the items back, how would Lin Sicheng have dared to let anything slip?

Looking at the safe in the corner, Zhu Kaiping felt his heart surging, his lips twitching uncontrollably. Suddenly, he turned his head, his two eyes staring straight at Lin Sicheng, without a hint of concealment.

Lin Sicheng understood as soon as he saw it: Junior Brother Lin, give it to me, you must give this project to me.

I can definitely handle it well; I don't even need to be listed on the Thesis.

But how could he not be listed?

There are only so many people in the laboratory; starting from the second author, there is plenty of room to add everyone's name.

Lin Sicheng nodded gently: "According to the plan, it was originally intended to be handed over to Senior Brother Zhu to be in charge of..."

With a "swish," Zhu Kaiping's face turned red.

It wasn't shame, but being too exhilarated.

Lin Sicheng hurriedly waved his hand: "Don't look at me, it was Professor Wang's decision!"

Of course, because Professor Wang is the Person in Charge of the laboratory.

But thinking about Professor Wang's research focus, and then thinking about that scene this morning:

Wang Qi Zhi took the Folder and handed it over casually: Basically, everyone was chosen according to your requirements...

Zhu Kaiping's face turned even redder.

Lin Sicheng, however, felt his skin crawl from being stared at.

Of course, if this were a female colleague, he certainly wouldn't be this embarrassed.

Just as he was thinking about how to ease the atmosphere, Zhu Kaiping stood up with a "thump," took the report, walked to the very corner of the laboratory, and spread out his notebook: "I'll make the research plan now and try to hand it to you before getting off work."

Lin Sicheng was stunned for a moment, then smiled: "Senior Brother Zhu, no need to rush!"

How could it not be urgent? As the old saying goes: A scholar dies for his confidant!

Zhu Kaiping was even more afraid: If he couldn't demonstrate sufficient ability and level, would it be hard for Professor Wang and Lin Sicheng to find someone with stronger ability and a higher level?

The other few opened their eyes, realizing it belatedly.

At first thought, Doctor Zhu is so exaggerated. But thinking carefully: if there wasn't a certain degree of certainty, how could the school approve the project... hiss, no, it's more than just the school?

To be able to bring the specimens back, it must have gone through the approval of the provincial cultural department, must have been applied for through reports, must have been studied in meetings, and it must have been studied in sufficient detail, with a level that is absolutely high enough.

Furthermore: the National Museum of China and the Provincial Museum couldn't get the items, yet in the end, the school leaders and Professor Wang brought them back. It couldn't be that their faces were just that big?

Of course, it is because the feasibility of the project plan is extremely high, and the success rate is also extremely high...

Thinking of this, the faces of the remaining five people also turned red: A National Level Project, how many years does it take for the school to apply for one?

The problem is, they are not Zhu Kaiping. With their current level of understanding, the more they look at this report, the more confused their brains become.

But suddenly, someone remembered the scene when Feng Lin handed out the Project Plan Report: This needs to be understood emphatically; if there are questions or things you don't understand, you must ask in time.

Suddenly, they all flipped open their notebooks in unison and picked up their pens.

Those with some ideas wrote their plans, such as Chen Huaizhi and Wei Hong. Those without ideas took notes, such as those two fresh graduates: wherever they didn't understand or couldn't see clearly, they wrote it all down on paper.

At least when they ask Lin Sicheng for advice later or tomorrow, they can at least be targeted and organized.

Like this, the laboratory became increasingly quiet, like silkworms biting mulberry leaves, with a rustling sound.

Feng Lin had already written it, so she didn't need to panic, but she was just a bit worried: That is the Chinese Academy of Sciences... can they compete for it?

Lin Sicheng gave a look of reassurance.

Scientific research cannot be accomplished in one move; it is measured at the very least in "years." In his memory, it was not until the first half of 2011 that the team led by Professor Wang Changsui produced partial results. By the time they were published in an international journal, it was already early 2012.

Lin Sicheng planned to achieve preliminary results in as long as two years or as short as one.

Of course, this kind of direct interception was indeed a bit shameless, and it was truly unfair to Professor Wang Changsui and his team, but from a higher perspective: it at least saved the country two years of time.

Besides, it was not as if they could not cooperate; the teacher and student had long discussed it: rather than fighting alone with bayonets, it would be better to be recruited.

Secondly, there was an even deeper purpose: since it had to be snatched sooner or later, he might as well pick one with enough weight to snatch first.

As long as this snatch was successful, wouldn't the possibility of securing support from the university, provincial-level departments, and even higher departments be greater the next time they snatched an iron-related project?

This was a method born of necessity, as the opponents were truly too strong: Peking University, Beijing University of Technology, National Museum of China, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, plus the Chinese Academy of Sciences... He did not know if others felt numb, but Wang Qi Zhi was the first to feel numb.

As a disciple, shouldn't he find a way to increase his teacher's confidence?