Go back in time and be a chaebol

Chapter 827: Starting a New National Track (Second Update, Please Subscribe)

I have to say that genius is sometimes wasted.

Von Braun came to the United States as a "brain treasure", but because of his Nazi identity, the United States did not trust him at all, and countless Americans demanded that the Nazis be repatriated to Germany, so there was no space program for him to carry out. At present, he spends more time appearing with "Mickey Mouse" and "Donald Duck", shooting space shorts for Disney studios, and explaining rocket knowledge to children.

Although the Soviet Union's intercontinental missile test launch shocked the United States, the Americans still had no intention of using the missile master von Braun.

Just as the United States was ready to take on the challenge and regain the top spot on the Blue Star, in the auditorium of Nanyang University, facing more than 2800 freshmen, Li Yian's voice was echoing in the auditorium.

"…We are in a time of change and challenge, an era where hope and the future are intertwined. At this moment, the vast space is calling out to mankind…Although the Soviet Union's intercontinental missiles are a threat to the Western world, they also bring new hope - the hope of mankind entering space and exploring the universe…The scope of the unknown, unsolved mysteries and unfinished things in the universe is still far beyond the understanding of all of us…Humanity is unwavering and unstoppable in the pursuit of knowledge and progress…"

Facing the freshmen of Class 54 who had just enrolled in the audience, Li Yian showed Nanyang’s ambition to the outside world for the first time!

To be more precise, it is to send the voice of Nanyang to the whole world. This voice is to challenge the space.

"ICBMs may threaten world peace, but they will also bring human civilization to a new future. Whether we participate or not, space exploration will continue. It is always a great adventure, and no country that hopes to make progress will stop in this adventure."

Every time there was a gap in Li Yian's speech, the auditorium would burst into warm applause. For young people, is there anything more exciting than conquering space and exploring the universe?
"Our ancestors once created the most brilliant civilization in the world, but during the modern industrial revolution, due to the enslavement of foreign races, the national civilization declined, causing our nation to hand in a blank paper in the modern industrial revolution... And our generation will never be willing to fall in the wave of the upcoming space age, so we must join it - we must lead the world."

Thunderous applause echoed in the auditorium; the excited students even stood up and clapped with all their might.

"Hegel said: "A nation needs a group of people who look up at the stars, not just their feet. There is no doubt that such a group of people is extremely important for an era and a country. In order to look up at the space today, we swear that we will definitely go into space,"

"We set sail in this new field to acquire new knowledge and win new rights. We must acquire and exercise rights. We set sail for the progress of all mankind. ... It is possible to achieve it while you are still in high school, this college or university... I am very happy that this university can be part of the space program and part of the Nanyang national cause."

There was warm applause in the auditorium again.

People's applause was exciting. At this moment, almost everyone found their life goals. After all, the Tang people once had an extremely brilliant history and had also suffered the most humiliating past. But now, after experiencing all kinds of hardships, they will hand in an answer sheet that will attract the attention of the world in the new era.

Amid the students' enthusiastic applause, Li Yian continued.

“Many years ago, the great British explorer George Mallary died while climbing Mount Everest. Someone once asked him why he climbed Mount Everest, and he replied, ‘Because it’s there. "

Okay, space is there!
And we will explore. The Moon and the other planets are out there, and new hopes for knowledge and peace are out there... Thank you all!"

From beginning to end, the students stood there, clapping their hands vigorously. At that moment, amid the warm applause, almost everyone realized one thing - Nanyang is really going to space!
That evening, Li Yian's speech was broadcast on Nanyang's TV station and the full text of his speech was published in newspapers, as people were discussing Nanyang's grand dream of conquering space.

The official residence has drawn up a special draft, which includes the allocation of 200 million South Korean dollars to establish an aerospace development fund. Thirteen universities and colleges, including Nanyang University, Kuching University, Yongning University, Taiping University, Yongan University, Zhongxing University, and Dongning University, have become part of the Nanyang space program.

This is the first time that Nanyang has made its space program public.

From developing high-thrust rockets to launching satellites, and even mentioning sending humans into space, the detailed space plan makes people wonder whether Nanyang has been prepared for it for a long time.

For a time, newspapers all over the world were discussing the issue, and Li Yian’s “Marching into Space” speech was seen as a signal that Nanyang was launching a challenge.

The signal sent by Nanyang also attracted the attention of Washington, and Eisenhower and Dulles discussed it.

"Do you understand, Li, what you are going to do?"

Eisenhower was really confused, he even spoke with puzzlement.

"Can intercontinental missiles send satellites into space? Or do they just want to use this as a gimmick to prove that they are stronger than others and get intercontinental missiles at the same time?"

"Maybe it's both."

Secretary of State Dulles remained noncommittal.

"In the past few years, the economic achievements of Nanyang have been astonishing. The same is true compared to other European countries. Of course, a large part of their scientific achievements are due to the Germans, but the Tang people are conceited to a certain extent. After all, they have a glorious past, but in the past hundred years, they have suffered many humiliations, so they are eager to prove themselves through something. While striving for glory, obtaining intercontinental missiles is also an option for them to build atomic bomb strike capabilities. After all, they also have atomic bombs."

Dulles' analysis made Eisenhower nod in agreement and then say.

"Space, what's the point of going into space?"

Although he said this, Eisenhower said again.

"No matter what, we have to follow. If Nanyang can face the Soviet Union's advantage head-on and we can't, others will think we are cowards. Although they have changed to a new track, we must follow."

Eisenhower made the final decision.

Just three days later, both houses of the U.S. Congress began to seriously discuss entering space and launching satellites. After opening a new track in the South Pacific, the United States also used this as a response to the Soviet Union's test of intercontinental ballistic missiles.

(End of this chapter)