"Commander Hong, to be honest, I also want China's military to directly research rocket recovery technology. However, as you've seen, the Chinese military has been researching rocket recovery technology for several years, burning through a lot of money, yet there has been no progress at all. This indicates that China's procedures for rocket recovery technology research and development are problematic. Since the Chinese military has encountered issues in rocket recovery technology R&D, giving my hard-won rocket recovery technology concept to the Chinese military could very likely lead to immense waste. Wasting money isn't the primary concern; as you've said, with China's economic development in recent years, the military budget has become astronomical, so a little waste of money is truly not a big problem. What I worry about is not wasting money, but wasting time. The United States is already on its third generation of rocket recovery technology, while we are still fumbling with the first. We truly don't have much time to waste. As I said, if we want to surpass the United States, the first thing we must do is surpass them technologically. If we cannot surpass them technologically, we will never be able to surpass them economically."
Chen Feng explained with a serious expression.
"That makes sense. I must say, Chen Feng, you understand China's political landscape and military very well. By the way, Chen Feng, R&D for rocket recovery technology is extremely costly. Do you have enough money to undertake this privately?"
Commander Hong asked instinctively.
"Definitely not enough, but it's alright, I have a way to solve it."
Chen Feng replied calmly.
"What? You have a way to resolve such a massive funding gap?"
Commander Hong was taken aback.
"Yes, as long as I establish the rocket recovery company in the provincial capital of Sanshui Province instead of Mingshan City, the funding issue will be solved effortlessly."
Chen Feng explained unhurriedly.
"Why?"
Commander Hong continued to ask instinctively.
"Commander Hong, you are from the capital of China, so you might not be very familiar with Hefei City in Sanshui Province. To be frank, Hefei's development in recent years is truly remarkable in China. From a scale of merely tens of billions, it has leaped to trillions within a few decades, which is absolutely incredible in China's economic development history. The reason Hefei has achieved such a miracle is fundamentally because Hefei places great importance on high-tech industries. Initially, Hefei was like all other cities in China, focusing on home appliances in the 1980s and 1990s, especially in southern cities. Shenzhen also grew through home appliances, producing electric fans, refrigerators, and air conditioners; Hefei introduced similar production lines. Around the mid-1990s, traditional home appliance companies were on the verge of bankruptcy, mainly due to insufficient management and innovation capabilities. It wasn't until Hefei introduced Haier, Gree, Midea, TCL, and Japanese brands that, after about ten years, Hefei became one of the world's largest home appliance production bases, earning its first pot of gold. Later, Hefei boldly upgraded its industries. Hefei's three classic cases are: cooperation with BOE for display technology; cooperation with NIO for new energy vehicles; and cooperation with Changxin Memory to build China's largest memory chip production base. The government selects projects, invests state-owned capital into the capital market, exits from the capital market, and then starts another round. BOE went from a 6.5 generation line to an 8.5 generation line, then to a 10.5 generation line. The government invested a total of 40 billion yuan and earned 50 billion yuan, then replicated this model for NIO and Changxin Memory. Hefei strongly emphasizes technological development and is a comprehensive national science center, housing the University of Science and Technology of China and 12 research institutes. Out of the 38 major scientific facilities that have been built or are under construction nationwide, 8 are located in Hefei, making it a city teeming with scientists. Fifteen years ago, Hefei was a 'railway dead end'; to access railways, one had to travel from Hefei to Bengbu to connect to the national railway. Now, Hefei has a diamond-shaped high-speed rail network. Consider how many high-speed railways Shenzhen has. Hefei is about to become a hub for 12 high-speed rail lines. In the era of high-speed rail, a city's spatial positioning is completely transformed by high-speed rail, and Hefei is a prime example. Imagine, if the rocket recovery technology company were established in the provincial capital of Sanshui Province, would there be a lack of funding? Hefei would spare no effort to meet the funding needs of the rocket recovery technology company!"
Chen Feng spoke earnestly.
"Chen Feng, it seems you have thoroughly researched the provincial capital of Sanshui Province. You see things very clearly."
Commander Hong remarked with admiration.
"Commander Hong, if I may be so bold, I haven't just thoroughly researched the provincial capital of Sanshui Province; I have also studied cities in China that have good economic development. My short-term aspiration in my official capacity is to develop Mingshan City from a county-level city into a prefecture-level city, which is a very difficult undertaking, and I must diligently learn from the development experiences of other cities."
Chen Feng replied truthfully.
"Chen Feng, I have a small question. Why not establish the rocket recovery technology company in Mingshan City? Honestly, as the Deputy Mayor of Mingshan City, funding is not an issue at all; with a stroke of your pen, funds from the municipal treasury would flow endlessly. Once the rocket recovery technology company is established in Mingshan City, Mingshan City's economic scale would absolutely double. Wouldn't that allow Mingshan City to apply for prefecture-level city status much sooner?"
Commander Hong retorted.
"Commander Hong, to be honest, I did consider that before, but I ultimately rejected the idea. Following the principle of keeping resources within one's own domain, developing such a high-tech economic growth concept in my hometown of Mingshan City is indeed an excellent idea. However, the problem is that if the rocket recovery and utilization project were truly built in Mingshan City, it would ruin the rocket recovery and utilization project."
Chen Feng explained with a serious expression.
"You don't think so? Honestly, although Mingshan City is only a county-level city, its economic environment and scale are quite suitable for economic development."
Commander Hong asked doubtfully.
"Developing chips, new energy, or even a segment of cold fusion would not be an issue for Mingshan City because it has the relevant industrial chain. To develop an industry well, the industrial chain is crucial. Unfortunately, Mingshan City has not yet established an industrial chain for rocket recovery and utilization. Forcing the rocket recovery and utilization technology project into Mingshan City could lead to its development, but it would be extremely costly with very little return. Such an outcome would contradict the original intention. The reason we want to establish the rocket recovery and utilization project is to significantly reduce the cost of rocket development technology."
Chen Feng patiently explained.
"Chen Feng, your vision is quite broad. I recall a very famous historical figure in China, Zhang Zhidong. During the Self-Strengthening Movement, Zhang Zhidong was a distinguished representative, vigorously promoting the movement in Wuhan, China, and advocating for national salvation through industry, thus establishing an ironworks in Wuhan. In reality, the geographical conditions in Wuhan at that time were truly unsuitable for building an ironworks. However, to keep resources within his domain and to showcase his prowess in Wuhan, Zhang Zhidong forcefully established the ironworks there. The final outcome, as one can imagine, was that Zhang Zhidong's ironworks plan failed. Even a capable person like Zhang Zhidong could inadvertently make such a mistake, and ordinary people truly cannot avoid it. Yet, at your young age, you immediately recognized this issue and, against immense temptation, held firm and established the rocket recovery and utilization project, an economically colossal undertaking, in its most suitable location, the provincial capital of Sanshui Province. I must say, your vision guarantees a brilliant future development for you."
Commander Hong exclaimed in admiration.
"Commander Hong, you are too kind. In fact, I am not that noble. Although the rocket recovery and utilization project is established in the provincial capital of Sanshui Province, the company is still under my control, and I can still earn some money."
Chen Feng said with a smile.
"As the main person in charge, earning some money is only right and proper. This is an economic society; it's not just you, everyone has the desire to earn money. Having the desire to earn money is nothing to be ashamed of. By the way, Chen Feng, I have another question. China's military expenditure is among the world's highest, an astronomical expense. Honestly, even without rocket recovery utilization technology, it would not affect China's military satellite launches and usage. Why do you insist on developing the rocket recovery utilization project with all your might?"
Commander Hong asked with a puzzled expression.