Chapter 504 - 494: Unspeakable_2

"What do you think?"

Conna turned his head to ask, unable to understand any of the information on the document.

Stevenson said, "There are some problems. Although I don’t understand the actual conditions of a hydrogen bomb exploding on the Moon, the explosion model they refer to is problematic. It definitely lacks guidance from experts who are familiar with atomic and hydrogen bombs."

On the other side, Academician Yu’s analysis yielded a similar conclusion. United Mining’s plan was mainly derived from their base, which nonetheless suffered from a lack of practical experience, resulting in a sizeable discrepancy between their ideal models and reality.

About half an hour later, Stevenson was the first to voice his concerns:

"Mr. Wu, may I know if your company’s simulation plan is based on actual blasting data from the Moon?"

Wu Yi replied, "Certainly, you can compare with the materials we have provided."

Stevenson said, "Then I must say, the actual effect of a hydrogen bomb is entirely different from conventional explosives. Your data has very little reference value;

The estimate of 15 to 20 hydrogen bombs, each with a yield of ten megatons, is not very accurate. I believe my colleague across the table would come to the same conclusion."

All eyes turned to Yu Min, who nodded gently:

"Yes, there are some discrepancies, but in my opinion, they’re not overly significant. With the data you’ve provided, we can re-simulate using supercomputers, and the results would be much more accurate."

Stevenson: "I agree. It won’t take long, just a day or two should suffice."

Several people from United Mining looked at each other and, after a brief exchange, all agreed to this.

Wu Yi said, "We authorise you to use this information for model verification, which also needs to comply with the confidentiality agreement. United Mining hopes to receive a response within 72 hours. Is that possible?"

"Of course."

Conna was the one who responded this time, but then he followed up with:

"Now let’s talk about the price. Luo Luo’s quotation is 10 US dollars per ton of yield, and we hope that our prices will not differ too much."

The subject suddenly switched to pricing, and the atmosphere of negotiation was finally established, leaving the other two parties a bit delayed.

Academician Yu wondered if he should quote a price too, but after some thought, he decided to remain silent.

United Mining was discussing the feasibility of this price.

According to Luo Luo’s quote, one fifteen-megaton yield hydrogen bomb would cost 150 million US dollars, approximately 1.1 billion RMB;

Objectively speaking, the price wasn’t expensive. As hydrogen bombs were being traded, they were beyond any usual market value, and other countries would be eager to buy them.

But insiders knew the actual situation. Not to mention that domestically, producing one would cost about twenty to thirty million RMB. Luo Luo’s pricing model, based on yield, was quite unscrupulous.

The cost of hydrogen bombs within a certain range had little to do with their yield; it was just a matter of adding more lithium deuteride. In ’76, during a domestic nuclear test intended to detonate a five-megaton yield hydrogen bomb, the actual power exceeded ten megatons, demonstrating that its power mainly depended on the deployment method and understanding of the hydrogen bomb.

Moreover, 1.1 billion per bomb was too expensive. Even at that price, the total cost would be twenty billion. Both Lin Ju and others shook their heads furiously.

In the end, Wu Yi could only respond:

"Our side has some objections to your company’s pricing method. It has far exceeded the cost range we hope to control. United Mining hopes that the price for a single fifteen-megaton yield hydrogen bomb stays within one billion RMB."

Now it was the turn of Luo Luo’s negotiation team to shake their heads. Cutting the price directly to one-seventh was an inconceivable way to do business.

Conna immediately exhibited a "negotiation failed" expression and looked around at the others. After the negotiation team conversed for a while, he finally said:

"Fifteen megatons yield, eighty million US dollars per bomb, with a minimum purchase of five. This is the lowest price."

Wu Yi didn’t even need to consult with the others; a quick calculation was enough for him to indicate non-acceptance.

The gap between the two parties was simply too large. United Mining hoped to limit total expenditures to within two billion RMB, with a maximum of 1.5 billion allocated for purchasing nuclear bombs. The quotes from both sides seemed to leave no room for negotiation.

After a standoff, they all turned their gaze towards Academician Yu, who could only reluctantly answer:

"Nuclear science... Huaxia Nuclear believes that nuclear devices used on the Moon might differ from those in the atmosphere and require judgments based on the actual environment before a specific quote can be provided. Therefore, we will not quote at this time."

Academician Yu’s intention was to avoid throwing a random quote and complicating things for United Mining, so he gave an improvised excuse to fend off the matter.

Wu Yi, of course, grasped the underlying meaning. Everyone outside also knew of United Mining’s domestic relations. The actual amount quoted hardly mattered, and he already regretted the missed opportunity of gaining the British people’s cooperation, which had fallen through.

However, to everyone’s surprise, after Academician Yu finished speaking, Hopkins, the space expert from Luo Luo’s team, suddenly chimed in agreement:

"Yes, that’s right. We based our quotes on nuclear device structures within the atmosphere. The costs on the Moon will definitely differ. Our initial estimate may have been incorrect."

Hopkins’s sudden interjection caught everyone off-guard, but even more bewildering was that the two people beside him were nodding along.

Stevenson: "It does appear to be so. Academician Yu is truly a great scientist of China; he has considered far more than we have."

Conna: "We have made a mistake, and I regret the earlier unpleasantness. I apologize for it."

The drastic change in Luo Luo’s delegation caught United Mining off guard, even the usually cool-headed Big Shot muttered in confusion, trying to figure out what the British were up to.