"What did you say?"

After a moment, Zhang Zhen put down the teacup and asked.

"What I mean is, I am willing to take over the 8702 project, but I need you to set up a special chemical laboratory for me in Shanghai." Xu Qiang said seriously.

"Nonsense!" Zhang Zhen's face suddenly turned serious. He said, "Do you know what Project 8702 is? It is a research and development project for our country's new generation of military high-energy explosives! The technical difficulty and risk are very high. You have never participated in the research and development of similar projects before. How can you engage in the research of high-end explosives!"

Zhang Zhen is rarely so strict. He is actually a gentle and wise person by nature. But this time, he was really a little angry.

Because in his opinion, Xu Qiang was completely playing with his own life. Although explosives are also chemical products, in fact, chemical industry is divided into many categories. Different categories of chemical products have completely different R&D and production systems. Even if Xu Qiang has developed high-end chemical materials such as aramid paper, he may still not be able to reach the threshold of high-end military explosives research and development.

Besides, Zhang Zhen loves talents, and Xu Qiang will still be needed to lead the research and development of long-fiber aramid in the future. If something happens to him, it will be a major loss of talent for the Fifth Ministry of Machine Building.

"Minister Zhang, I have never participated in any R&D of aramid before, but I can still make it. The chemical industry has something in common. As long as the method is right, there is nothing that cannot be made." Xu Qiang paused and continued, "In fact, when it comes to explosives, when I was working at Shengli Machinery Factory, the workshop I worked in produced engineering explosives. I have also studied the characteristics and principles of modern explosives, so I am confident that I can complete this project."

"Industrial explosives are ammonium nitrate explosives, which are different from new explosives. Any chemical practitioner knows the basic principles of ammonium nitrate explosives..." Zhang Zhen said with a frown.

"The basic principle of explosives is the release of density energy per unit volume. I think I can find explosives with higher energy than TNT." Xu Qiang said confidently.

In his previous life, Xu Qiang did study explosives for a period of time. After several generations of efforts, the country at that time finally succeeded in synthesizing a new explosive, which is now internationally recognized as the fourth-generation "king of explosives." Its full name is "hexanitrohexaazaisowurtzitane," or CL-20 for short.

Compared with conventional explosives, its explosive power is very large, enough to reach three times that of TNT, and the detonation speed is 3 meters per second. It is currently the most advanced and powerful chemical explosive in the world. In terms of power, CL-9500 may even replace tactical nuclear weapons to strike targets. It can be seen that the emergence of CL-20 has important epoch-making significance.

It is worth mentioning that the United States started developing CL-20 explosives quite early, dating back to the 20s. However, it believes that the manufacturing industry of CL-80 is very complicated. If it is deployed on a large scale, it will cost almost $20 per kilogram. Therefore, to this day, the United States' CL-1 explosives are still in the laboratory database stage and have not been finally used like China.

As for the cost issue that the United States was initially concerned about, domestic experts had actually encountered it before, but fortunately it was finally resolved perfectly.

In order to solve the cost problem of CL-20D at that time, domestic experts finally broke through the technical bottleneck after several years of hard work and developed a CL-20 synthesis process route with practical value, which directly reduced the cost to almost only 1 yuan per gram.

Because of this, China later had absolute say in the supply of CL-20 materials and became the world's major supplier of explosive raw materials.

Xu Qiang not only mastered the principles and production processes of CL-20, but also mastered the technologies of two other high explosives, namely CL-01 and CL-02. These two explosives are actually the early transitional products developed from the research and development of CL-20. Although they are not as powerful as CL-20, their production processes and costs are relatively simpler and cheaper, and they are fully capable of meeting the product requirements of the current 8702 project.

"Xu Qiang, frankly speaking, you are still very young, and I don't want you to take such a big risk..." Zhang Zhen thought for a moment, and then said, "You applied for this project just to let the ministry build a chemical research institute for you in Shanghai?"

"Yes, this is my only request." Xu Qiang nodded.

If Xu Qiang was just after the honor, it would be best for him to be transferred to BJ, but in addition to honor and social status, he also wanted more material wealth.

If he could serve as director of a research institute in Shanghai, Xu Qiang could leverage the power of the Fifth Ministry of Machine Building to mobilize more resources, including his own laboratory, a large number of professional assistants, the purchase of scarce chemical raw materials, and a high social status, which would facilitate the establishment of his future network of contacts and prepare him for starting his own business.

It is precisely because of this that Xu Qiang took the risk and volunteered to take over this project. This is a huge opportunity for him!
"I think this is how you do it. You can do theoretical research on the 8702 project first, and then write a related paper. I will hold a meeting in the department to evaluate your paper. If the paper passes the evaluation, I will talk to you about the specific matters of taking over the 8702 project. What do you think?" Zhang Zhen said after thinking for a moment.

Zhang Zhen would not let Xu Qiang take such a big risk to take over the project directly, so he would never arrange for him to take over the project directly before confirming whether Xu Qiang has the technical level to develop high-energy explosives.

If it is just theoretical research, it will naturally be much safer. If Xu Qiang really has accomplishments in this area, Zhang Zhen will naturally agree to his conditions and even agree to establish a chemical research institute in Shanghai for him. After all, the importance of the 8702 project is no less than that of the aramid paper project, and it is of great significance to improving the country's armaments level.

"Okay!" Xu Qiang nodded. "That's it." Zhang Zhen said, and stood up to leave.

"Minister Zhang, should I send my paper directly to you after it's finished?" Xu Qiang asked again.

"Of course, no problem. Don't worry, if you are really capable of this project, I will give you this opportunity!"

After Zhang Zhen finished speaking, he left the meeting room.

"Xu Qiang, do you really want to develop explosives?" Liu Siying asked, biting her lip on the way back to the guesthouse.

"How dare I joke in front of Minister Zhang? Of course it's true." Xu Qiang said.

"But explosives are very dangerous. You heard it just now. The teachers of those technicians were blinded by the explosion. We have never developed such a product before. What if..." Liu Siying looked worried. She was obviously worried that something unexpected might happen if Xu Qiang took over the project.

"But this is my only chance..." Xu Qiang hesitated for a moment, then said, "Don't you want to work in Shanghai? And live back in your home in the future?"

"There are some things I really miss, but I can't go back to them. I can't force it." Liu Siying gently grabbed Xu Qiang's hand and said, "In fact, we are doing very well now. We can study in college on campus and win such a high award. It's already very good. There is no need to take such a big risk..."

It is obvious that Liu Siying does not have as big ambitions as Xu Qiang. She is already very satisfied with her current life and work. As a lover, Liu Siying is naturally very worried about Xu Qiang's safety.

It can be said that the appearance of Xu Qiang has indeed greatly changed Liu Siying's life. This man has allowed her to witness many miracles, from a temporary porter to a technical expert in the factory. Now he has won the country's highest science and technology award and has also been favored by the minister. All this seems so unreal.

Since establishing a relationship with Xu Qiang, Liu Siying has admired Xu Qiang's talent and feels a great sense of security from him. Their relationship is constantly heating up.

Although Liu Siying is quite talented, she is essentially a traditional girl who likes a stable and peaceful life, pursues technological breakthroughs, and wants to become a respected expert and scholar.

Now that Xu Qiang has a new life, he must try his best to realize his dreams from his previous life. Both honor and career are his goals.

"There are no non-dangerous projects in the chemical industry. Even if it's not explosives, you may encounter toxic substances. As long as I continue to work in this industry, I will never be able to avoid these things." Xu Qiang gently shook Liu Siying's hand and said, "But don't worry, I'm a professional. I have studied explosives before. As long as you are careful during the experiment, there will be no problem."

"Yeah." Liu Siying nodded when she heard that.

"Besides, we are military workers. Our factory has been producing explosives and various shells for so many years. Has there ever been an explosion accident? Moreover, the dosage we use in the experiment is very small, so there will not be a big explosion."

"Just be careful." Hearing Xu Qiang say this, Liu Siying's expression immediately eased a little.

"In addition, I can assure you that in the future I will ask the ministry to set up a chemical research institute in Shanghai specifically for me, and I will be the director. In this way, we can work in Shanghai for a long time in the future." Xu Qiang vowed.

"You're just bragging." Liu Siying smiled and said, "There are so many experts in the department, but I've never heard of a research institute being set up specifically for anyone. Although you are indeed good, you can't compare to those old experts, right?"

In Liu Siying's opinion, Xu Qiang's request was simply a fantasy. She had never heard that the country would establish a special research institute for one person, especially in Shanghai where every inch of land is valuable!

"That's because their level is not high enough!" Xu Qiang raised his eyebrows and continued, "When your ability and contribution reach a certain level, I believe the leaders will seriously consider the conditions I proposed..." (End of this chapter)