Chapter 162 Entrusted Request

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Any even number (natural number) can be expressed as $2n$, where $n$ is a natural number, and $2n$ can be represented as the sum of $n$ pairs of natural numbers in different forms.

$2n = 1 + (2n-1) = 2 + (2n-2) = 3 + (2n-3) = dots = n + n$, screening out unsuitable pairs of natural numbers...

Sitting behind her desk with her thoughts expanding, Wu Tong jotted down the derivation process on her draft paper. Step by step, the mathematical symbols fluttered in her mind, forming equations of unique mathematical aesthetics that flowed from the tip of her pen onto the paper.

......

Having spent three days, Wu Tong had advanced to the $3+4$ derivation stage. Through self-derivation, she gained a deeper understanding of the Goldbach conjecture and the sieve method.

Although she had not yet touched upon any ideas for proving $1+1$, with her current accumulation and a little more incremental progress, it should be entirely feasible. If her train of thought remained smooth, perhaps she could achieve some phased results?

Wondering if the project would require regular progress reports after its official establishment?

This fleeting thought was quickly dismissed by Wu Tong, and she immersed herself once again in the derivations.

Wu Tong never minded slow progress; moving forward step by step, no matter how slowly a tortoise crawled, it would eventually reach the finish line. It was merely a matter of time. She carried out the derivations methodically, without a trace of impatience.

Just as she was writing down the next step of the derivation, the telephone rang.

It was the ringtone of the secure phone. Pulling out her mobile device, Wu Tong frowned slightly upon seeing the caller ID. Had something gone wrong with the Mighty Dragon project?

"Professor Lu!" Without hesitation, Wu Tong immediately pressed the answer button. "Is there anything the project team needs my assistance with?"

"Wu Tong, are you currently at Beijing University? Is this a convenient time for you?" Lu Xiao's voice came through the receiver. Judging by his tone, it did not sound like an emergency burning his eyebrows.

The tight knot in Wu Tong's chest relaxed slightly. "Yes, I am at the Mathematical Research Center, Professor Lu."

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"We are about to arrive at Beijing University, and there are some matters we need to discuss with you in person. It's not convenient to talk over the phone. Would meeting at Elder Cheng's research institute be alright?" In a nondescript car driving along the streets outside Beijing University, Lu Xiao looked ahead at the outlines of the campus coming into view.

Beside him sat a serious-looking middle-aged woman. Inside the seven-seater business vehicle—the driver and front passenger, along with three people in the back—their straight postures and distinct demeanor clearly indicated they were no ordinary individuals.

Elder Cheng's research office was also the closest, safest, and most convenient location nearby.

"Alright, I'll head over right now!" Wu Tong did not hesitate. After hanging up the phone, she headed straight toward the Materials Research Institute. There was some distance between the School of Mathematical Sciences and the School of Materials Science and Engineering. By the time she arrived, a car had just pulled up and halted in front of the Materials Research Institute, where Elder Cheng was already waiting outside.

"Teacher!" Elder Cheng nodded and looked toward the car that had come to a steady stop.

"Elder Cheng, Wu Tong!" Lu Xiao pushed open the door and stepped out, greeting them with a smile. "Sorry to disturb you!"

On the other side, another door opened simultaneously. Elder Cheng nodded and smiled at the person stepping out. "Director Hua, welcome to the Beijing University Materials Research Institute! Wu Tong, this is Hua Hangxing, Director Hua, currently serving as the Chief Designer of the PL Air-to-Air Missile!"

Elder Cheng turned his head slightly to quietly introduce her to his young disciple. Lu Xiao had also given him advance notice about borrowing his research office for a discussion.

"Hello, Director Hua!" Was this the legendary Iron Lady? Filled with admiration and positioning herself as a junior, Wu Tong respectfully took two steps forward to shake hands and greet Hua Hangxing. While they were exchanging greetings, the other officers responsible for security quickly exited the vehicle and silently deployed a perimeter defense around the area.

"Hello, Wu Tong. Sorry to bother you, but it was I who asked Lu Xiao to bring me to visit you!" Hua Hangxing clasped Wu Tong's hands firmly in both of hers. Her eyes were bright and sharp; had the occasion been different, she would have wanted to pull Wu Tong aside right then and there to discuss how such an astonishingly brilliant ballistic defense-penetrating trajectory had ever been derived.

Even for the group of researchers working under her, it had taken nearly ten days just to study, learn, and fully comprehend it. She herself had spent close to five days to completely master it.

One could only imagine how shocked she was upon learning that this ballistic trajectory had been deduced by a mere young girl!

Only those who worked with missiles truly understood the immense value of this ballistic trajectory. The moment she first laid eyes on it, she knew it was extraordinary. After studying and understanding it, she was even more awestruck and shocked, restricting the study of the basic parts strictly to core personnel.

This piece of data could directly be elevated to the highest level of national top secret!

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She had initially assumed it was the work of Lu Xiao, and had impatiently hurried to the 606 Institute, planning to discuss specific implementation plans with him. However, upon chasing him to the 606 Institute, she discovered that this data had actually originated from this gifted young prodigy.

Given that it involved classified lists, had her security clearance not been sufficient, she truly would not have been able to learn of Wu Tong's existence and come to meet her in person.

"Let's go inside and sit down. It's inconvenient to talk outside!" Elder Cheng glanced around. Fortunately, it was currently class time for the students, and there were not many people about, but it was still not wise to linger.

Swiping to unlock the institute's door, Elder Cheng led the group into his office and motioned for them to take their seats. "I'll borrow flowers to offer to the Buddha. Old Pan sent Wu Tong some Qimen Black Tea, and Wu Tong kindly gifted me a box. I don't know the complicated brewing techniques, and I don't have the complete set of utensils either. Just brewing the black tea with hot water—everyone, please bear with it!"

Not letting Wu Tong lift a finger, Elder Cheng scooped the tea leaves into the pot himself, poured the hot water, and brought the cups over. Lu Xiao took them and smoothly distributed the tea into each cup. "I still retain a shred of humble craftsmanship learned in my youth. Another day when I have time, I'll brew a proper pot of tea for you!"

In his youth, he had been somewhat restless, and had been forced by the old family patriarch to study calligraphy and the art of tea. Over the years, he had never completely abandoned these pursuits; whenever he lacked inspiration or felt restless and irritable, he would use them to calm his mind.

"Elder Cheng, we're all family here, so I won't waste time on pleasantries and beating around the bush. I came here to ask Wu Tong for help!" Hua Hangxing was bold, spirited, and decisive, cutting straight to the point. "Wu Tong, the welcoming gift you gave to the Mighty Dragon is truly a massive treasure. Since the Mighty Dragon's engine parameters and materials stem from your assistance, might I ask you to help optimize things further on the basis of the PL series?"

The defense-penetrating trajectory design had already astounded her. However, when she learned of Wu Tong's extraordinary contributions to the Mighty Dragon project, she was even more shocked and overjoyed at the same time. For the PL series of air-to-air missiles, they were already conducting preliminary research on the PL-15, but progress was far from favorable, as if they had reached a dead end.

Yet, she was certain that they had not reached an absolute end. She firmly supported the project and persisted with ongoing experiments and research, but it seemed they had fallen into a mental circle of stagnation that required a powerful breakthrough to shatter.

If that ballistic simulation design had allowed her to witness the PL-15 easily pierce defenses and achieve an elusive, miraculous capability, then seeing the optimized parameters Wu Tong provided for the WS-15S—which nearly doubled its data and elevated it to a divine level—filled her with even greater astonishment and delight.

Her very first thought back then was: Could this child be invited to participate in the research and development of the PL-15, enabling their air-to-air missiles to soar straight into the clouds just like the Mighty Dragon, becoming a world-class, top-tier sharp sword of national deterrence?

(End of this chapter)