Go to Beijing.

At the Institute of Orbital Design of the Pan-Asian Academy of Sciences, a group of researchers in white coats are standing in front of a map in distress, pointing at several red circles drawn on the map.

"What about point 104? I remember in the alternative ..."

"No, it was discussed when the last seminar was held. Although there is no strong geological activity in 50 years, this area is still on the volcanic belt!"

"The 86th point--"

At this moment, the sound of footsteps from outside the door interrupted the discussion among the scientific researchers around the holographic map.

Looking towards the door, when the people who walked into the office could be seen clearly, the scholar with a white-horned face immediately showed a surprised expression, and stepped forward to say.

"Chairman ... and Secretary General? Academician Lu? Why did you ... suddenly come?"

Two big figures in pan-Asian cooperation!

And academician Lu, academic leader!

Although the speech at the Ignition Day celebration had made him foresee that the space elevator project is becoming a national key project of pan-Asian cooperation, he never thought that his small temple had attracted so many big brothers to visit.

"Uninvited, disturbed," Li Guangya looked down at the old scholar who greeted him, gave a friendly greeting, and then looked at Lu Zhou who was standing beside him and said.

"This is Academician Ge Huaizhi, the director of the Institute of Orbital Design, and the actual director of the current space elevator project. About 5 years ago, the research team he led has been tackling the technical problems in the space elevator field. The top bull in a field. "

When it came to the first half of the sentence, it was okay. After hearing about the second half of Chairman Li Guangya's introduction, Academician Ge's face suddenly showed an awkward expression, and said it subtlely.

"Dare to dare, dare not to dare. After studying in this field for so many years, it is really ashamed that a decent result cannot be achieved."

"There is no need to be ashamed of this kind of thing. Scientific research is not farming. It is not that the seeds will be sprinkled and then watered, and there will be results." And said, "So, what problems did you encounter?"

Academician Ge has not spoken yet, Li Guangya coughed softly and spoke for him.

"I've run into problems from the beginning ..."

"Site selection?"

Unbelievably glanced at Academician Ge, and after getting a positive expression from his face, Lu Zhou's face showed a speechless expression, and he couldn't help but say something.

"... where you have encountered problems is really beyond my expectations."

"Cough, as the saying goes, everything is difficult at the beginning ..." Li Gaoliang coughed, hurriedly shifted the topic to the right track, and continued with a serious expression, "Professor Ge, you talk to Academician Lu, you end What is the situation. "

Several researchers met each other and eventually Academician Ge sighed and said.

"Let me do it, it's like this ..."

It took about three minutes for Academician Ge to explain the whole story to Lu Zhou in simple words.

It turned out that about five or six years ago, when the entire space elevator project just started, they had actually selected the anchor of the space elevator.

It is an island close to Malay, located on the equator. Although it is close to the Pacific Rim volcanic belt, in theory, this island is not a seismically active area.

Unfortunately, an earthquake three years ago completely ruined their plans.

However, no one paid attention at that time. After all, until a few days ago, the research on space elevators in the Pan-Asian cooperation was a relatively fringe research project. It is applied science as a theoretical study.

Anyway, the location of the site is not so critical. When the whole project started, there is no letter of approval, so it is not very meaningful to rush to find a place to anchor the space elevator?

However, no one thought that this day came so suddenly that all the issues that were not considered or seriously considered at the time were all exposed.

After listening to Academician Ge's description, Lu Zhou didn't hesitate, and said politely.

"Look at the map."

"Here it is." Academician Ge nodded his head, and immediately took Lu Zhou to the map suspended in the holographic window, pointing at the red dots on the screen. Each of them asked an marine geologist to make an assessment ... points 104 and 86 were previously in our options, but for various reasons, we eliminated them. "

He didn't even hear what Academician Ge was talking about. He stared at the map for about 5 minutes and suddenly stretched out his index finger and clicked on the Pacific high seas on the east side of the Malay Islands.

"Finding an anchor for a space elevator on the Pacific Rim volcanic belt is simply a joke! The safest way to build it directly on the Pacific Ocean."

Almost all territorial waters of the Pan-Asian cooperation on the equator are located at the junction of the Indian Ocean plate and the Pacific plate, or they are next to each other, and it is almost impossible to find a suitable anchorage.

Not to mention those points located in the monsoon zone, in a sense, typhoons are more terrible than earthquakes and volcanoes.

Therefore, from this perspective, only the Pacific Ocean is the most suitable choice.

"I'm afraid not," Secretary-General Wu Shuhua, who had not spoken, frowned slightly when she heard Lu Zhou's words, reminding him, "This violates international conventions and is inconsistent with the Pan-Asian Union's diplomatic norms for building a community of shared future for mankind. "

There was a bitter smile on Academician Ge's face, and he made a helpless expression towards the landing boat.

If he could find an island in the Pacific Ocean, he would have proposed it.

However, this is clearly unrealistic.

"Not necessarily." After hearing Wu Shuhua's words, Lu Zhou looked at her and put forward a counterargument. "Because the diplomatic norms of pan-Asian cooperation are a community that builds the destiny of mankind, we should set an example even more. , Build this space elevator on the high seas. "

Wu Shuhua frowned, preparing to say something. Li Guangya, who was standing next to him, suddenly smiled and interjected.

"Academician Lu is right that once the space elevator is completed, the whole world can benefit from it. From this perspective, there is nothing wrong with our behavior. We represent the interests of all humanity."

"... Here, this is too messy, don't you think this explanation is a bit far-fetched?"

Hearing Li Guangya's words, a bitter smile appeared on Wu Shuhua's face.

In fact, what she wants to say is that this is too hooligan, and it harms the international image of pan-Asian cooperation.

However, Li Guangya smiled heartily, as if not taking it seriously.

"It's hard to talk about far-fetching. At best, it's a bit arrogant ... but I think we are still very strong, and there should be no problem in doing such a thing. If you take a step back 10,000 steps and cause diplomatic disputes, I believe that yours Ability, it can be solved easily! "

Wu Shuhua sighed, did not continue to say anything on this issue, but persuaded from a different angle.

"Diplomatic issues are set aside for the moment ... Have you never considered the cost issue of building a space elevator on the high seas?"

Without waiting for Li Guangya to speak, Wu Shuhua continued.

"From a cost perspective, the farther the anchorage of this space elevator is from our economic zone, the higher the cost of construction and maintenance, and the diminishing economic effectiveness. Even if this is a project that works for the moment and benefits, we should consider What is left is a precious wealth for future generations, not a heavy burden. "

Academician Ge nodded and added a sentence.

"Cost is really a big problem ... The 500-kilometre-long space elevator, the logistics cost of this super-engineering construction material is an astronomical figure, let alone construction. This site is far from our transportation network The farther we go, the more pressure we have on cost. "

The discussion seemed to be stuck.

Even Li Guangya, who had previously agreed with Lu Zhou, had a distressed expression on his face.

indeed.

If the space elevator is far from the border of pan-Asian cooperation, then it would be meaningless.

In addition, he also thought of some other issues, such as national security.

Guarding an elevator with a vertical height of 500 kilometers on the high seas is obviously not as convenient as it is in China.

He looked to Lu Zhou for help, and Chairman Li Guangya said sincerely, "Is there any alternative?"

Lu Zhou thought for a while, and gave a response that seemed to him to be feasible.

"... Although I don't know much about economics, the decision of our Lunar Orbit Construction Committee at that time was to build a city on the moon."

Build a city?

Hearing this sentence, Wu Shuhua froze.

"Build a city? You mean reclamation to make land? On the high seas of the Pacific? How could it--"

"I didn't say reclaiming the land and making land," interrupted her, and Lu Zhou continued in a calm tone. "We build a big ship about the size of Guanghan, and let it float on the sea, symbolically every year. Move one or two centimeters ... No one will measure it anyway. "

"I see what you mean," Li Guangya's eyes lighted up, and he immediately came to his senses. "Like the strategy we have adopted in Guanghan, the territory of the moon belongs to all human beings by name, but the space we deploy on the moon Is the property of the Pan-Asian people! "

Lu Zhou smiled and nodded.

"That's it."

Freedom of navigation is the legitimate rights and interests of all countries, organizations, and regional alliances. Can't we let this ship go into the water just because it is going a little slow?

With the current technological strength and industrial capabilities of the Pan-Asian Cooperation, it is fully qualified to build this city floating on the sea. At the same time, this project can be carried out together with the space elevator!

Li Guangya's eyes became brighter and brighter. He fisted in his right hand and knocked **** the palm of his left hand.

"That's it!"

"This city is called Penglai!"