The photolithography machines, each weighing a staggering 150 tons.
They were as large as two double-decker buses.
Currently, dozens of people were standing on the four photolithography machines displayed in the Huaxuan Technology factory area.
These individuals, all chief engineers, hailed from the Great Xia National Academy of Sciences.
Though many were advanced in age, their fervent patriotic hearts for scientific research burned brighter than those of many young people.
These personnel, with an average age of over fifty, even climbed onto the photolithography machines using only their hands and feet, without ladders or safety nets.
"This casing, is it some kind of special composite steel? It doesn't resemble the materials commonly used by foreign manufacturers. Could it have been recast and modified?"
"The radiation source is exceptionally well-shielded; not a trace of leakage can be detected..."
"This screen, even under direct sunlight, exhibits no blind spots. What kind of technology was used in its manufacturing..."
"The reticle module's design concept completely surpasses our years of conventional experience..."
These engineers, who made Meng Hao's heart pound with anxiety, paid no mind to their personal safety.
Like children encountering their most fascinating toys, they crawled all over the double-decker bus-sized photolithography machines.
Meng Hao glanced at Hong Quan, who was trembling and leaning on his cane, intending to join the ranks of those climbing the photolithography machines. He could no longer resist.
"General Zhang."
"These elders are the treasures of the Great Xia's scientific research community."
"Perhaps you could call out to them and ask them to come down? If they fall and break an arm or a leg, I cannot bear the responsibility!"
Zhang Weimin sighed.
He hadn't wanted to bring these senior figures from the scientific research community to Shilin.
However,
The news that Great Xia had a place called Shilin, where domestic photolithography machines were being researched and manufactured,
had long circulated among the higher echelons.
More than two hours ago,
Before Zhang Weimin had even boarded the military transport helicopter bound for the Huaxuan Technology factory to collect the machines,
these elder scholars from the scientific research community had already gathered at the airport runway.
For these elder scholars, who believed, "If one hears the Way in the morning, one can die in the evening,"
any obstruction, violent or non-violent, would have been futile.
"Perhaps we should dismantle them and load them onto the helicopters."
"This method of observation makes me extremely uneasy."
Meng Hao suggested.
Zhang Weimin nodded.
At his command,
Numerous military-grade polyethylene cloths were erected around the photolithography machines, forming a large tent.
The tent's passageway connected to the helicopters.
After undergoing special sterilization treatment,
These robust soldiers, under the guidance of Huaxuan Technology personnel, began dismantling the photolithography machines.
A military transport helicopter's maximum load capacity is around 50 tons.
The combined weight of two photolithography machines exceeded 300 tons.
Therefore,
They had to be dismantled before being loaded onto the helicopters for transport to the capital, where they would be reassembled.
However,
Many components of the photolithography machines required a dust-free environment.
Thus,
Erecting a sterile tent on-site was an indispensable step.
As the photolithography machines were progressively dismantled,
The elder scholars, who had previously seemed to be a part of the machines, were now like anchors fixed to the ground beside them.
Their eyes shone with brilliance.
Like wolves in the dark, spotting their prey, they stared intently at the nearly 100,000 parts being disassembled from the photolithography machines.
Meanwhile, Hong Quan, who had resolved to poach Meng Hao for the Great Xia National Academy of Sciences, clutched the object resembling a circular lens and refused to let go.
This smooth object, suspected to be a lens,
was precisely the wafer before it was cut into individual chips.
It was also Great Xia's first 7nm process chip wafer.
It was no wonder these elder scholars were so stubbornly refusing to leave even half a step.
These were high-precision chip manufacturing photolithography machines.
A culmination of decades of Great Xia being technologically bottlenecked by foreign countries, led by the United States, a cherished treasure in the semiconductor field.
Although,
They absolutely could not comprehend,
how Meng Hao, a mere owner of a private company with a market value of one billion, could achieve the feat of purchasing photolithography machines, something even the nation had failed to do.
However,
The uncut wafer,
and each disassembled component,
all proved to them without a doubt.
This was a true photolithography machine.
Great Xia possessed its own domestic high-precision photolithography machines with a process of 7nm or above.
In their eyes,
tears had already welled up.
Decades ago,
Great Xia had independently developed the "Two Bombs and One Satellite."
The successful research and manufacturing of domestic photolithography machines held an equally epoch-making significance for Great Xia.
It was just that,
why this outstanding young man,
was unwilling to join the National Academy of Sciences, or even the military?
The elder scholars, filled with immense regret, gazed at Meng Hao with yearning.
As the dismantling and transportation of the photolithography machines neared completion,
Zhang Weimin's gaze towards Meng Hao grew increasingly fervent.
"Meng Hao, you have truly created too many unexpected miracles."
"Since you are unwilling to join the military or the National Academy of Sciences, we respect your choice."
"Oh, and by the way, may I ask, you mentioned before that you would continue to manufacture photolithography machines. When will the next one be ready for shipment?!"
This question
struck a chord with Meng Hao.
He couldn't help but furrow his brow.
"To be honest."
"With Huaxuan Technology's current production capacity, it's not difficult to produce one photolithography machine per month."
"However, many of the raw materials for photolithography machines are extremely difficult to obtain."
Indeed.
While the photolithography machine was a masterpiece in the semiconductor field, it was also an extremely expensive luxury item.
Though platinum and indium alloys produced through rolling were expensive, they could still be purchased on the market.
As for other materials such as iridium, palladium, and rhenium, which are radioactive substances, they are not only extremely scarce strategic resources for various countries, costing tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of US dollars per gram... but they are also unavailable for purchase.
Nearly all countries producing these resources maintain strict control.
Unless it was through the Great Xia government or military.
Otherwise, Meng Hao would have no way to acquire large quantities of raw materials for photolithography machine manufacturing.
However,
If he accepted assistance from the military,
wouldn't the concept that "Huaxuan Technology is not a military enterprise," which Meng Hao had painstakingly worked to establish, be in vain?
The most serious consequence,
was that it would undoubtedly cause the system to misunderstand, believing that he had no intention of completing the mission.
This was the most critical point.
The previous four photolithography machines had already depleted all the raw materials Meng Hao could acquire.
After learning that Great Xia and Huaxuan Technology possessed independently developed high-precision chip photolithography machines,
Western countries, led by the United States, would certainly increase their control over these rare resources.
He could neither rely on the military,
nor purchase them from resource-producing countries.
This was indeed a significant problem facing Meng Hao.
"There are indeed challenges."
"However, I believe Huaxuan Technology can overcome them completely."
"For now, I won't trouble you, General Zhang."
Meng Hao said, with a hint of hesitation.