Chapter 154: Ji Ruxiang's Invitation
Zhu Lan did not mention that the figures were only the ones made public, and that they covered only Soviet- and American-made equipment.
He had left many other pieces of equipment out of the tally altogether: Rafale and Typhoon fighters, the Japanese Shinshin, Type 90 tanks, Challenger 2s, and so on.
More importantly, he had also excluded China’s Type 99 tanks, Flying Shark carrier-based fighters, J-20s, and other equipment.
As for the navy, there were aircraft carriers, cruisers, destroyers, battleships, and even submarines. A great many production facilities stood ready to build them.
Red Queen had already begun refitting the Azure Shipyard. The entire process would be carried out by robots, making it extremely efficient, but the refit would still take until at least the end of February.
“Are these all fourth-generation fighters?”
Qin Fang gazed at the fighters under construction. They looked both familiar and strange.
Zhu Lan shook his head. “These are F-15s. They’re the main fighters in the War Club, built on the F-15 design.”
“Silent Eagles?”
Zhu Lan nodded, acknowledging it outright.
Qin Fang stepped forward to inspect a Silent Eagle that was more than halfway complete.
“Zhu Lan, haven’t you gone a little too far this time?” Luo Guoqiang murmured.
Zhu Lan smiled and shook his head. “Perhaps there’s something here that will suit you perfectly, Commander Luo.”
“What is it?”
Zhu Lan said nothing. He pointed to the side.
Luo Guoqiang considered this for a moment, then nodded.
They walked to the other side. One of the rooms was filled with models—real, physical models. They represented every kind of equipment used by the army, navy, and air force.
More than five hundred models filled the room: planes, tanks, warships, aircraft of every sort.
Zhu Lan went to one side, picked up a model ship more than a meter long, turned, and handed it to Luo Guoqiang.
“This is something special. I’ve already obtained approval. In about two years, it should be ready to take to the water. This isn’t a toy. It’s real.”
Luo Guoqiang frowned as he took it, then stared at the battleship in silence.
The ship Zhu Lan had handed him was the Azure-class battleship, redesigned by Red Queen from Germany’s hypothetical-class battleship.
It was a colossal super-battleship of nearly one hundred thousand tons.
“You mean you’re actually going to build it?”
Zhu Lan nodded. “You may not hear about it for another six months, perhaps even a year.”
“Some time ago, I went to Yanjing and met with General Xu. It was about filming the movie. I asked to use more than ten thousand active-duty soldiers, along with a great deal of military equipment, to help with the production.”
“That’s impossible. Elder Xu would never agree to it!”
Zhu Lan nodded. “You’re right. At first, he refused. But then I offered him something he couldn’t turn down.”
“This?”
Zhu Lan nodded, then shook his head. “Yes and no.”
“You know I’m making a movie, right?”
Luo Guoqiang nodded. “A five-hundred-million-dollar production. It’s made headlines here and abroad. Of course I know!”
“Then what if I told you that one-third of the film’s budget would go toward renting equipment from the military?”
“What are you getting at?”
“The second film will be a joint production between China and the United States. China’s advanced warships and an American carrier strike group will join forces to take on the enemy.”
Luo Guoqiang fell silent, beginning to understand what Zhu Lan was offering.
China and the United States putting their most advanced equipment on screen together? That would be tremendous news for China. Now he understood what Zhu Lan meant.
“In the second film, China’s Zhonghua aircraft carrier and an American Ford-class carrier will fight side by side, accompanied by China’s most advanced Azure-class battleships.”
“This…”
Zhu Lan nodded. “That’s right—the ship you’re holding. The Azure Shipyard is being refitted now, and we expect to finish in March. By May at the latest, the keels of two Azure-class battleships will be laid. They’re expected to be completed in June 2017. By then…”
Zhu Lan did not finish, but Luo Guoqiang understood.
Luo Guoqiang looked down at the battleship in his hands, lost in thought.
He left without pressing Zhu Lan for an explanation.
No one knew what Zhu Lan had told Luo Guoqiang.
“Uncle Luo’s gone?”
As Luo Guoqiang’s helicopter took off, Tang Xuejian emerged from the side.
“You haven’t left yet?”
“Do you really want me gone that badly?” Tang Xuejian shot Zhu Lan an indignant look.
He could only smile helplessly.
“My dear young lady, is there anything else you need?”
“Am I not allowed to come see you if I don’t need anything?”
“All right, all right!” What else could Zhu Lan say?
“It’s already so late, Miss Tang. Would I be honored if you let me take you to dinner?”
Tang Xuejian gave him a cool stare.
“Hmph!” She gave him no chance to say another word, turning and walking away.
Zhu Lan rubbed his nose and shook his head with a wry smile.
Bleep, bleep, bleep—
His wristwatch rang.
Zhu Lan pressed the button.
“Boss, a Japanese woman is here to see you!”
“A Japanese woman? Senbonzakura?”
“No. A woman named Ji Ruxiang.”
“Ji Ruxiang?”
Zhu Lan was puzzled and headed for the entrance.
When he reached the gate, Ji Ruxiang was standing beneath a tree. A black Mercedes was parked nearby, and she held a red umbrella over herself.
“Mr. Zhu!”
When Ji Ruxiang saw him come out, she greeted him respectfully.
“Are you by yourself?”
“Ah? My cousin was supposed to come with me, but something came up at the company, so she had to leave first. I’m very sorry to trouble you, Mr. Zhu.”
Zhu Lan looked at her in surprise. She seemed like a completely different person.
“You came here to…?”
“Mr. Zhu, I sincerely hope you’ll do me the honor.” Ji Ruxiang produced an invitation and bowed almost ninety degrees as she offered it to him.
Zhu Lan accepted it, puzzled, and opened it. It was an invitation to Ji Ruxiang’s birthday celebration, fifty days from now. The venue was not Tokyo, but Hokkaido. Wasn’t that around the time of the Lantern Festival? Zhu Lan found it curious how well the date of Ji Ruxiang’s birth happened to line up.
“Would it be appropriate for me to go?” He closed the invitation and looked at her, puzzled.
“Mr. Zhu, you’re too modest. My cousin said that Fantasy Technology has brought enormous benefits to the Sakura Group. Among us Japanese, you are a highly esteemed guest. It’s only natural that we invite you.”
“Hmm. I’ll think about it.”
“Thank you, Mr. Zhu.”
Zhu Lan smiled. Ji Ruxiang still seemed a little timid.
“Mr. Zhu, that concludes my task. I’m very sorry to have disturbed you. I have other matters to attend to, so I’ll take my leave.”
Zhu Lan nodded.
Ji Ruxiang bowed to him, then turned and walked to the Mercedes. The bodyguard beside it quickly opened the car door for her.
Zhu Lan turned and smiled faintly. He had already spotted Senbonzakura inside the car. As if Ji Ruxiang would come alone!
Zhu Lan turned the invitation over and over in his hands while the computer displayed the venue.
The Hokkaido Sakura Club was one of Japan’s most exclusive clubs. It was said to be owned by the Japanese imperial family. Now this was interesting.
“Red Queen, do you think I should go?”
Red Queen did not answer at once.
“According to my calculations, if you go, the risk will be greater than eighty percent.”
Zhu Lan nodded.
If he went abroad openly, especially to Japan, of course there would be danger.
The United States and Russia were both extremely interested in him now.
And even if he wanted to go, China’s leadership would never agree—especially not to a trip to a country like Japan.
An incomplete investigation had found that, since the sinkhole incident, the CIA had been paying close attention to Fantasy Technology overseas.
Strange had already reported it.
Zhu Lan had expected as much and was not surprised.
“What if I go anyway?”
“Boss, I don’t recommend it.”
Zhu Lan shook his head. “Red Queen, you’re still not very good at weighing things.”
Red Queen said nothing.
“This is a major gathering. According to the information on Ji Ruxiang, it’s an elite gathering of the world’s aristocracy. If I attend, it could greatly benefit Fantasy Technology’s development.”
“Besides, I never said I’d go in person!”
“You mean you’ll send a lifelike robot in your place?”
Zhu Lan nodded. “That’s the best solution. Even if something unexpected happens, it won’t matter. And it’ll give Fantasy Technology a chance to show the world its teeth—and see whether they’re capable of taking us on.”
“According to my calculations, there’s a seventy percent probability of success.”
“Good. Then it’s settled. Red Queen, prepare for me. Build a new robot.”
“A new robot?”
“Do you think the robots we have now could fool anyone?”
“You mean a fully lifelike model?”
Zhu Lan nodded. “Exactly. I need a robot that even the most advanced equipment can’t identify as artificial. Build it as a real body, following human anatomy in every detail. Then I can control it remotely while it goes to Japan.”
“Estimated completion time: thirty-three days.”
“That’s enough time. We have fifty days, so take it slowly. Start with the design and use the best materials. There could be some confusion when the time comes.”
“Understood. The project has been registered. The design plans should be ready in five days.”
“Let me know if you run into any problems.”
“Understood.”
Zhu Lan waved, and Red Queen left without another word.
He had not decided on a whim to attend Ji Ruxiang’s coming-of-age ceremony.
After checking the information, Zhu Lan had discovered that many European aristocrats’ children would be attending, including members of the British royal family.
There were rumors that the British crown prince would attend in person. That was tremendous news.
The space program required an enormous reserve of talent. Relying on what he had now, it would take at least five to eight years to build that reserve.
But if he could gain a foothold in European aristocratic circles, it would be an enormous help to his plans.
There was no point trying to recruit American aerospace talent. The Americans would never let them go. China was no better; there were very few people in that field.
Europe was different. It was home to the world’s top talent, and there were plenty of people there with the skills he needed. What Zhu Lan needed was someone to make the introductions. If Shield and Tulip, his current partners, stepped forward, European countries might resist. But if aristocrats from those countries did the work, that resistance would never arise. That was one reason Zhu Lan had decided to attend.
To be continued.