chsdbacks Chapter 111 The Sea of Stars
Chapter 111 The Sea of Stars
Three days later, at the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Beijing.
The opening ceremony of the "Ten Years of Achievements in Human Deep Space Exploration" exhibition is being held here. Politicians, scientists, and business leaders from around the world have gathered here.
Lin Zhe, as a special guest, delivered the closing speech.
When he walked onto the stage, the entire audience stood up and applauded. The applause lasted for a full three minutes.
"Ten years ago, we celebrated victory here," Lin Zhe said calmly. "Ten years later, we are celebrating not the victory of a single country, but the progress of all humanity."
The large screen began playing footage from the past ten years:
The lunar base has grown from its first module to its current city-like size.
The first high-resolution photo sent back by the Mars probe;
Rare minerals brought back by the asteroid mining ship;
Antimatter fuel rods produced by the space factory...
"In the past decade, we have built a permanent lunar base, launched a Mars colonization program, established mining stations in the asteroid belt, and constructed a space dock at a Lagrange point."
"More importantly, we have established a completely new international cooperation system—no more hegemony, no more plunder, but resource sharing, technology sharing, and results sharing."
He pulled up a chart:
"Ten years ago, 800 million people around the world lived in extreme poverty. Today, that number is eight million—and we are committed to eradicating extreme poverty within five years."
"Ten years ago, hundreds of thousands of people died in wars every year around the world. In the past ten years, that number has been zero—yes, zero. Humanity has finally learned to replace guns with dialogue."
"Ten years ago, we were still worried about the energy crisis. Today, space-based solar power plants provide 40% of the world's electricity, and nuclear fusion power plants provide another 40%, and fossil fuels are about to become history."
In the audience, a representative from Africa wiped away tears. His country, just ten years ago, was one of the poorest in the world. Now, every child can go to school, and everyone has clean water and electricity.
"How did you manage all this?" Lin Zhe paused. "It's not because the Dragon Kingdom is so powerful—although we have indeed become powerful. It's because we chose to use our power to help, rather than conquer; to share, rather than monopolize."
"This is what civilization should look like."
The speech ended with thunderous applause.
A blonde little girl ran onto the stage and presented a bouquet of flowers. She was the granddaughter of the chief scientist of the European Space Agency, and said in her childish Mandarin, "General Lin, thank you for taking us to see the stars."
Lin Zhe knelt down and took the flowers: "I'm not taking you there; you chose to go yourself. The future belongs to you."
The exhibition lasted for a week.
On the weekend, Lin Zhe, who rarely had free time, brought his family to the "City of the Future" on the outskirts of Beijing.
This is a new urban area that began construction ten years ago, designed entirely according to the concept of a smart city. It features autonomous public transportation, a multi-level greening system, and intelligent service robots throughout the city.
But the most striking feature is the massive monument in the city center.
It's not about commemorating a particular person, but about commemorating an era.
Two lines of text are engraved on the stele:
To all those who have contributed to the progress of humanity
"The journey to the stars and the sea will never stop."
Many people were laying flowers in front of the monument. There were children, the elderly, couples, and foreign tourists.
Siguo ran to the monument and looked carefully at the words.
"Dad, will I also have my name engraved in history someday?" he asked.
"It doesn't necessarily have to be engraved on a monument." Lin Zhe patted his son's head. "As long as what you do is beneficial to humanity, history will remember you—even if you don't have a name."
Zhang Xueying took her husband's arm and whispered, "Sometimes I think about it, it feels like a dream. Ten years ago, we were worried about whether war would come again. Now..."
Now, the world has changed.
China has become the center of the world, but not the center of hegemony; rather, it is a beacon of civilization.
All countries in the world are following the lead of the Dragon Kingdom—not forced, but voluntarily. Because everyone has seen that following the Dragon Kingdom will lead to a better life and a bright future.
This is not conquest; it is the will of the people.
In the evening, the family climbed the observation tower of "City of the Future".
From here, you can see the entire night view of Beijing. Further away, you can see the foundation for the space elevator under construction—that towering "Tower of Babel" that will connect Earth and space.
"Dad, what do you think the world will be like a hundred years from now?" Siguo asked.
Lin Zhe thought for a moment: "A hundred years from now... there should be cities with millions of people on the moon and Mars. There might be research stations on Jupiter's moons. Humanity may have already sent its first interstellar spaceship to Proxima Centauri."
"Then I absolutely have to go up!"
"You will," Lin Zhe smiled. "But right now, you need to focus on your studies. Aerospace University isn't easy to get into."
"I'm sure I'll pass the exam!"
As night deepened, the sky was filled with countless stars.
Zhang Xueying leaned on her husband's shoulder, humming a song softly. It was an old song, popular many years ago.
As Lin Zhe listened, he suddenly remembered his past life.
That version of myself, working silently in the laboratory; that version of myself, watching helplessly as my country suffered; that version of myself, leaving this world with regrets.
If that version of myself could see today...
He'll laugh.
Will.
"What are you thinking about?" Zhang Xueying asked.
"Thinking about it... it hasn't been easy along the way." Lin Zhe held his wife's hand tightly. "But it was worth it."
"Of course it's worth it," Zhang Xueying said, looking at her husband. "You've changed the world."
"No," Lin Zhe shook his head, "the world chose to change. I just... gave it a push."
But this move opened the door to a new era.
From this day forward, humanity's journey will truly be to the stars and the sea.
And he, Lin Zhe, had completed his mission.
The regrets of the past life will be made up for in this life.
The road ahead is still long.
But I'm not afraid.
Because we have hundreds of millions of compatriots with us, and the whole civilization as our companion.
This road will surely become wider and brighter as we go along it.
Because this is an era led by the Dragon Kingdom.
An era of peace, development, and progress.
A true one belonging to all mankind—
The era of stars and the sea.