Chapter 253: Barriers of Civilization_1

There wasn't a hint of panic in the dining room, as no one had expected a military defection; they all simply thought it was a case of the "Natural Selection" crew violating regulations.

It was only after about ten minutes that the senior officers of the Asian Fleet confirmed an unbelievable fact: "Natural Selection" had defected.

Thus, the Fleet Commander immediately called an emergency meeting, and Jiang Yu walked into the meeting room sipping soup from a squeeze bag.

Although the Fleet Commander hadn't invited him to the emergency meeting, if he wanted to sit in, no one would stop him.

The Fleet Commander quickly issued orders to pursue "Natural Selection"—the chase was to be a joint operation involving six warships from the Four Great Fleets.

Just as everyone was leaving the meeting, Jiang Yu suddenly said, "What I want to remind everyone is that 'Natural Selection' has just been refueled, so the pursuing fleet needs to be fully fueled as well, and prepare an extra set of spare parts."

The Vice Fleet Commander in charge of foreign affairs thought to himself that this was trouble you brought upon us, wasn't it?

If it hadn't been fully refueled, "Natural Selection" would only be capable of accelerating to one percent of light speed at most, but now they could easily reach five percent!

If efficiency is ignored, even fifteen percent would be possible.

Complaints aside, the warships responsible for the chase did need to be fully refueled, and an additional supply ship from the Asian Fleet had to be sent to join the pursuit fleet.

In space battles, victory in a chase is only possible when the pursuer has significantly more fuel than the one fleeing!

The senior officers of the fleet left the meeting room one after another, but Jiang Yu and the Fleet Commander sat in their chairs without moving, as if by tacit agreement.

The Fleet Commander looked young, his Eastern face illuminated by the light from his shoulder ranks and cap badge.

He looked at Jiang Yu, "You knew about Zhang Beihai's defection plan in advance, didn't you?"

Jiang Yu smiled, "How would I know that?"

"Then why did you help Zhang Beihai refuel? And why provide him with extra spare parts?" The Fleet Commander asked with some frustration, "Is this part of your attempt to fragment the Asian Fleet? Do you think by sending a warship to the periphery of the Solar System, you can develop your new power, is that it?"

Jiang Yu shook his head, "You think too little of me; you will soon understand the purpose behind this."

"Your plan is doomed to fail!" the Fleet Commander stood up and said, "At most, we will catch up with 'Natural Selection' at the Kuiper Belt!

"I will take this matter to the Solar International conference to ask what the Solar System Federation is really up to!"

Jiang Yu smiled, "Go ahead!"

After all, Gu Cheng was now in charge of the Solar System State, so let him have the headache.

The Fleet Commander left briskly with a cold face, while Jiang Yu floated leisurely back to the room assigned to him.

As he had expected, a sentry followed closely behind him, and guards began to stand watch at the door to his quarters.

That the Asian Fleet had not immediately expelled Jiang Yu, who had assisted in the defection, was their last bit of courtesy toward him.

Not long after Jiang Yu returned to his room, Gu Cheng sent a video call invitation to him.

Gu Cheng let loose a torrent of anger right off the bat, berating Jiang Yu for his actions in the Asian Fleet and for putting the Solar System Federation in a very passive situation.

Even the hard-earned initiative in the operation to intercept "The Waterdrop" had been impacted.

Jiang Yu set the portable computer aside, listening and yawning.

Once Gu Cheng ran out of steam, Jiang Yu finally said, "You should focus on getting the fleet ready to depart."

He then hung up the phone; there was no point in saying more.

In the following days, Jiang Yu stayed indoors, discussing personnel moves and final preparations with Number Three in his residence.

The Asian Fleet paid no mind to him, as though they had already considered the "Commander-in-chief" as having left the fortress.

Until Ding Yi came knocking on his door.

Jiang Yu gazed at Ding Yi, whose hair was snow-white and who was very aged, yet he still possessed a sharp, spirited look; Jiang Yu almost burst into tears:

"I specifically instructed those bastards to notify me immediately when you arrived, but they took my words for nothing more than wind past the ears."

Ding Yi laughed heartily, "As soon as I arrived at the fortress, I heard about your glorious deeds. The officers and soldiers of the Asian Fleet are all hoping you leave soon."

Jiang Yu laughed, "A bunch of kids. Don't mind them.

"Oh, right, I brought you a gift from Earth's Desert North Farm."

With those words, he took out an iron box from his suitcase, "Where is your pipe?"

Ding Yi already knew what Jiang Yu was giving him, so he took out his pipe, "Tobacco from Desert North Farm isn't cheap."

As a well-known professor, his income only allowed him to occasionally buy a box to smoke. He had bought a box before leaving Earth, which he had finished long ago on the journey.

Whenever he craved a smoke during this period, Ding Yi would just hold and stroke his pipe or smell the residual tobacco oil in it as a way to alleviate the craving.

Ding Yi filled his pipe slowly, as smoking at Jupiter required a special cap to cover the tobacco so as to prevent it from drifting everywhere.

After lighting up, Ding Yi took a satisfying puff, "Bullshit beautiful times, can't even afford to smoke!"

Jiang Yu laughed, "Today's brats wouldn't agree with you—they'd talk to you about how good modern welfare is!"

Ding Yi silently took another drag, "Influenced by you, I've read many books on sociology, which have brought me many new ideas."

Jiang Yu listened attentively.

Ding Yi continued, "The reason modern society looks so glossy is all because of the benefits produced by highly efficient agriculture and industry!

"And the foundation of agriculture and industry is inseparable from the technology in various disciplines, how far those technologies can go also has a direct relationship with the basic theories.

"After the success of controlled nuclear fusion, I've been engaged in basic theoretical research.

"Unfortunately, we quickly hit the intellectual ceiling set by Sophon, and I had no choice but to go into hibernation.

"When I woke up, the new breakthroughs that everyone praised, were nothing more than extensions of the theories from back then; as long as Sophon is around, we won't have any new theories."

He pointed at his white hair, "Now that my hair has gone white, I haven't seen humanity achieve any new progress.

"Soon, when theoretical reserves are insufficient, technological progress will also halt, and the social dividends brought by technology will gradually fade away.

"What will people do then?"

Jiang Yu laughed, "Why don't you stick to studying physics? Why snatch my livelihood?"

He paused, then added, "Having this understanding shows that you have reached a higher level of accomplishment in sociology."

Ding Yi waved his hand dismissively, "I'm not finished yet. Now, many kids and even some scholars claim that human technology today is the ceiling of the universe.

"We won't worry about where the ceiling of basic theory lies just yet. But what should humanity do if the day comes when we reach that ceiling?

"What should our species do if it ceases to progress?

"Human greed will not stop, but when the standard of material life stagnates or even regresses slightly, unable to satisfy human greed, what then?"

Jiang Yu sighed, "History has already given us the answer. When such times come, people will turn against their own kind."