As the financial manager at Eco$-$Food, a successful food company, your responsibility is to raise $$30$ million for a significant expansion project. The strategy involves issuing $15-$year zero$-$coupon bonds, each with a $$1,000$ face value. These bonds will be sold at a discount and are expected to yield $8\%$ upon maturity, with interest compounding semi$-$annually.$($a$)$ Calculate the total number of zero$-$coupon bonds Eco$-$Food must issue to secure the necessary funds. Round your answer to the nearest whole number.