Chapter 768

Chapter 768: New Hope Star

Year 6566 of the Xia calendar

The latest model of the spaceship begins construction. This showcases the highest technology of Huaxia. Lin Jiang provided Cao Wang with the highest level of technical support, with top technology in all fields dedicated to this project.

"This is the design diagram of our Founder Two spaceship. Except for the front and back of the spaceship, the rest is hidden in space. It looks like the spaceship is only sixteen meters long, but its actual length exceeds eight hundred meters…"

"The weight of Founder Two at Blue Star is twenty-five tons. It is not just a simple probe; it is a comprehensive exploration spacecraft and does not have any weapon systems…"

"My design has a maximum speed of thirty thousand Mach, and an average speed can reach two point five Mach. However, due to our flight path design, we will pass by seven celestial bodies. When we use the gravity of these celestial bodies, our speed can exceed…"

Cao Wang is introducing some scientific parameters of the new spacecraft to Lin Jiang and others. Although he uses very straightforward words, Lin Jiang and the others still only partially understand. The more advanced technology becomes, the more knowledge is required. Even cultivators cannot master everything.

Lin Jiang knows that this spacecraft is the most advanced and the fastest. In space exploration, speed is the most important. Without speed, everything is meaningless.

"Where will the spacecraft be launched?"

"Cape VII, our newest space base, can save billions of kilometers compared to launching from Blue Star."

"Has the Interstellar Teleportation Array been set up at Cape VII?"

"It was just completed a few years ago. With the teleportation array, we can reach Cape VII in one day."

"Can we continue to build further? For interstellar migration, spacecraft won’t work; traveling one way takes hundreds of years, and it doesn’t matter how many people can be carried."

Lin Jiang said that he and Cao Ying had been to Cape III many years ago, but that was a long time ago. The universe exploration named the new planet Cape VII.

"Not for now. We don’t have enough money. The distance for interstellar travel exceeds our current technology, and we need to build a platform like a space station, which will greatly increase the cost."

"I have no money left. Right now, Huaxia spends twenty-six percent of its budget every year on space projects, while military spending is only seven percent. My little savings are gone."

Lin Jiang shook his head and said that spending more than a quarter of the budget on space projects is frightening. Even military spending, which is very important, is only seven percent now.

"Grandfather, my advice is to attract foreign investment. Qingyun, Zhou Liao, and the Ying Continent are all developing space technology. The five allied nations are working together, but their technology is, let’s say, hundreds of years behind us. It would be better to bring in their funds."

"What about keeping the technology secret when working with them?"

"Grandfather, you have too much confidence in their level. I’m serious. Even if I gave them all the blueprints for Founder Two and the raw material technology for free, they still couldn’t produce it."

"Really? Is it that different?"

"Space technology covers many areas, not just one field. Let me give you a simple example: the outer coating of a spaceship. Do you know how many industries need to cooperate for that? I’ll give you a rough number: at least a hundred. Just that alone would keep them busy for several years."

"Knowing this, they would be willing to cooperate and give us money for nothing."

"They certainly will. Over the years, our field has been very strong, in every way. The same goes for our promotion. Through hundreds of years of strong promotion, countries have reached a consensus: only space can be a symbol of a great nation. Simply put, if you say you are a great power, what evidence do you have? It’s not enough to have a few cultivators; you must also be able to travel into space."

"Among the strong nations now, only Qingyun and Zhou Liao can reach the moon. They have an unmanned base there, which is more than twenty times smaller than ours, and astronauts can only live there for about three years. As for Ying Continent, unless their Tao Achieving Ancestor goes to space personally, they only recently started to walk in space."

"The gap is huge."

Lin Jiang said, "The Lunar Base is technology from hundreds of years ago. Huaxia’s Space Base is close to having double digits, and there have even been astronauts living in space for over thirty years."

"Yes, so we can support them in public opinion. There are nearly two hundred countries around the world, let them experience being a great nation and feel the taste of power. Also, if needed, we can give them a little technology."

Cao Wang said, "There are still many countries on Blue Star, but most of them have little presence. In many people’s ears, they can only hear about a dozen country names."

"How are the returns from the space project?"

"Less than a thousand billion Huaxia coins a year, which is not very useful."

"Didn’t we say we developed dozens of rare minerals, and we are pulling them back ship by ship?"

"Ancestor, that was just to fool the outside world. How could you believe it? The minerals are brought back, but they must be usable. The market of Blue Star is too small. For example, a certain metal used in electronic components only needs one or two grams. We bring back tens of thousands of tons, which we can’t use up at all. We can’t sell them off cheaply, or we would harm our own interests."

"I understand. The farmer prefers to pour out milk rather than lower the price, right?"

"Yes, but we are not the ones drinking the milk; we are the ones pouring it out."

Cao Wang said with a laugh, he had no intention of denying that high-tech products allowed Huaxia to harvest wealth from around the world. Why lower the price when there are no competitors? Earning money without effort is great. When other countries develop, they can lower the price then.

"Alright, if you have someone in charge of handling the funding, the principle is simple: Huaxia is the strongest. Within this principle, you can handle things flexibly."

Lin Jiang nodded and stopped interfering. He truly had no money left. He had received Lu Xuan’s assets in the Penglai Continent and quickly invested them, so they would have to find a way.

The aerospace project had also been commercialized before, but the benefits were too low. It might generate a few hundred billion Huaxia coins in a year, but that amount of money is very little compared to the investment, making it quite meaningless, mostly for publicity.

········

"Liang Long"

"Yes, Director."

Inside the Huaxia Spiritual Energy Research Institute, Yun River Branch, a young man stood up from his seat.

"Come to my office for a moment."

"Yes, Director."

Liang Long walked to the Director’s office, where the Director took out a form for Liang Long.

"Please fill out this form; you will go to Haigang City for further training next month. Right now, our Spiritual Energy Research Institute is strongest at the Haigang City branch. You will train there for a year, and when you return, I can apply for a deputy director position for you."

"Director, I feel like my qualifications might not be enough for this. Is that okay?"

Liang Long rubbed his hands and said, though his eyes were focused on the form.

"The question of qualifications is very complicated. Although you are young, you are the best researcher our Yun River Branch has had in these years. Your papers are just as good as mine, the director."

"Most importantly, your Liang family has four generations of martyrs. This honor is rare in Huaxia…"

The director spoke slowly, saying that Liang Long was a star researcher at their branch. He graduated from Huaxia Jingdu University, one of the best schools in Huaxia, and was also one of its outstanding graduates.

With his achievements, he could go to any research institution in Huaxia. Even the main office of the Spiritual Energy Research Institute offered him a chance, but Liang Long returned to Yun River because he wanted to give back to his hometown.

In the years since he returned, Liang Long has performed exceptionally well, consistently publishing several influential papers each year, outshining others in academic research.

In terms of political background, Liang Long’s family is even more remarkable. His ancestors were among the first cultivators in Huaxia, with Building Foundation Stage skills. They later died at the hands of evil forces, and three generations have sacrificed themselves in various fields. Four generations of martyrs make for a very strong background.

"Thank you, director. I know what to do. I won’t bring shame to the Yun River Branch."

"Go ahead, get busy. Remember, when you are in Haigang City, studying is important, but making connections with people is even more important. Our Yun River Branch is too weak, and we need people like you to work hard."

"Yes, director."

Liang Long looked grateful and quickly left the office.

Back at his desk, several colleagues congratulated him in the group chat, showing they already knew the news. Liang Long humbly replied to the messages.

"Lu Xuan became Liang Long, feeling the life of an ordinary person; it seems to be quite interesting."

Liang Long looked around and thought to himself, he was currently immersed in this feeling, as if he were playing a role-playing game, and he was undoubtedly the main character.