Rebirth of Hong Kong Island, leading the technology war

Chapter 273 Go to the Imperial Capital and Talk to the National Space Administration
"Ah? Boss Hu, what did you say? I didn't hear you clearly."

Hu Jiangshan asked again clearly, and this time Director Wang Yuling heard it clearly.

"The Space Administration, Boss Hu, we do have connections with the Space Administration, but if they want to purchase chips, they basically consume them internally."

In fact, what Wang Yuling meant was that the Space Administration and its subordinate Space Research Institute also need chips, but generally speaking they are not purchased from outside. Instead, they are directly manufactured by state-owned manufacturing institutions.

These institutions include military manufacturing institutions, which can generally manufacture something at any cost, including chips with special functions.

So in theory, procurement led by the space agency does not need to be external, it only needs to place orders with relevant national agencies.

Of course, we will also purchase some semiconductor components from private companies, but they are only general-purpose and do not involve core functions.

Hu Jiangshan smiled and said, "Director Wang, you misunderstood. I want to contact the space agency not to sell chips, but to discuss other matters."

Wang Yuling was a little surprised: "Boss Hu, can you please tell us what the matter is?"

Hu Jiangshan certainly would not hide it from Wang Yuling: "I have an idea here, which is to build a rocket launch site. I don't know if it is feasible. If it is feasible, what procedures are required? I would like to consult the leaders of the Space Administration."

"Ah, this..."

Wang Yuling was silent, probably because she was confused by Hu Jiangshan's idea.

"Boss Hu, did I hear you correctly? You plan to build a rocket launch site? Is that right?"

"Yes, that's right. I wonder if the relevant departments will approve it. Is it possible for a private company to build such a launch site?"

Wang Yuling thought for a moment: "This... I have to ask, Boss Hu, how about this, I'll ask for you, and then I'll call you. If private operation of rocket launch sites is allowed, we can discuss the follow-up matters then."

Hu Jiangshan readily accepted: "Okay, no problem, then I'll trouble Director Wang."

"It's okay, it's okay, just a small favor."

Wang Yuling is from the Semiconductor Association and theoretically has some say over the National Space Administration.

Hu Jiangshan was not in a hurry and just waited for the news.

Unexpectedly, Wang Yuling's reply came much faster than Hu Jiangshan had imagined.

The next afternoon, Hu Jiangshan was eating when he received a call from Wang Yuling.

Wang Yuling said to Hu Jiangshan, "Boss Hu, this matter is really too important, so I want to confirm with you again, are you sure you are planning to build a rocket launch site?"

"Yes, Director Wang, I am sure and certain."

"not kidding?"

"I'm definitely not joking. I'm serious, Director Wang."

Wang Yuling said, "Well, Boss Hu, I have already talked to the people at the National Space Administration. They told me that in principle they can approve private companies to build and operate rocket launch sites, but the standards are very high. If the construction standards of the launch site do not meet the requirements and cannot pass the acceptance and review, then the funds you invested in the construction will probably be wasted. Boss Hu, to be honest, such a project is very risky. I advise you to consider it carefully."

Hu Jiangshan was quite moved by Wang Yuling's words. It was obvious that Wang Yuling cared about him very much and didn't want him to fall into the trap.

Wang Yuling was right to remind Hu Jiangshan.

Building a rocket launch site is no joke, nor is it something that can be done by simply spending some money.

Millions or tens of millions are simply not enough.

Even for a small rocket launch site, the construction cost is almost the same as that of a semiconductor production line, at least tens of billions of yuan.

The high construction cost is not a big deal, as companies with backgrounds can get financing to solve the problem. The key is that the equipment is also incredibly expensive, and many of them are special equipment that are almost impossible to buy on the market.

If you are a rational businessman, you would not invest in a rocket launch site. The risk is too great and not proportional to the return.

If you are not careful, you may invest a large amount of money and not even hear a response.

Hu Jiangshan said: "Director Wang, please put your heart at ease. I have thought it through very clearly. This is definitely not a whim or impulse. If I can do this, I will definitely do it and I will never regret it."

Wang Yuling sighed: "Okay, Boss Hu, since you said so, I will help you contact the people from the Space Administration and let you meet and talk face to face. This way it will be clearer."

Hu Jiangshan responded: "Then I'll trouble Director Wang."

Director Wang Yuling is absolutely excellent and efficient. She contacted Hu Jiangshan in just one day.

Hu Jiangshan is going to fly to the capital to meet with people from the National Space Administration and consult them in person about relevant matters.

Hu Jiangshan explained the matter to Zhang Rui, Yu Sheng and others without saying a word.

Especially Yu Sheng and Awang, I asked them to be careful during this period and not let too many people go to Tenglong Island for no reason.

The space launch site project should be finalized as soon as possible to avoid unnecessary complications.

In fact, Hu Jiangshan also thought about starting construction first, but gave up.

Firstly, I haven’t got the permit yet, so it would be too rash to get on the bus first and buy the ticket later.

Secondly, Hu Jiangshan’s funds were too tight and the conditions for construction were not yet in place.

Anyway, the space launch site can be built in 20 days, so there is no need to rush.

A few days later, in the imperial capital, Dawang Road, Hilton Hotel.

This Hilton hotel is located in one of the most prosperous areas of the imperial capital.

In fact, many of China’s national administrative departments are located on this road. For example, the office of the China Space Administration is only two hundred meters away from here.

The land on Dawang Road in the imperial capital is absolutely extremely valuable. The hotel occupies a small area, but the floors are very high.

The lobby on the first floor of the hotel is also very luxurious, and there is also a cafe.

In addition to coffee, tea is also available, which is very local.

At this time, there were not many people in the coffee shop on the first floor, with only a few customers scattered here and there.

There were more people at one table, four in total, three of whom were foreigners.

The three foreigners are two men and one woman.

One of the two men was white and his name was Eugene.

The other was dark-skinned and named James.

Eugene and James are probably in their thirties, and may actually be younger than they look. Anyway, that's the gene that foreigners have, and they look older than East Asians.

The foreign woman was very beautiful and very young, about twenty years old, and her name was Amanda.

Another person had the face of a Chinese woman, but her makeup was a bit strange, and her eyes were droopy, which was a bit like the typical features of Asian women in the Lighthouse Country.

In fact, this woman's name is Xu Qian. She did move from China to the Lighthouse Country when she was very young. She grew up there and was assimilated long ago. She also had a foreign name, Kelly Xu.

However, Xu Qian has come to China to work again in the past two years. Eugene took a sip of coffee and asked, "Xu, when can we meet them?"

Xu Qian checked the time: "Mr. Eugene, it may take another hour."

Eugene frowned: "This is too long. You Chinese people really have no sense of time."

Xu Qian was speechless for a moment. She is now a citizen of the Lighthouse Country and can no longer be considered a Chinese at all.

But no matter how many times Xu Qian explained and reminded them, Eugene and others pretended not to hear them and always said that Xu Qian was Chinese.

This made Xu Qian very unhappy, but no matter what she thought in her heart, she didn't dare to show her unhappiness on the surface. After all, she couldn't afford to offend Eugene.

In fact, Eugene is not a native of the United States. As you can tell from his name, he is of Ukrainian descent.

Eugene was originally an excellent scientific researcher and has now entered the company's core management.

The company these people work for is not ordinary, it is the famous SpaceX, and the boss is the equally famous Aaron Malak.

Eugene is very trusted by Aaron Malak and is always in charge of some very important tasks.

For example, now I am sent on a business trip to the capital of China.

The four of them met with people from the China Space Administration today to discuss a cooperation plan.

Due to various reasons, it is impossible for the Lighthouse Country to have aerospace cooperation with China now, but SpaceX is a private enterprise and theoretically can use many methods to circumvent restrictions, at least temporarily.

Of course, it is not so easy for SpaceX to negotiate cooperation with the China National Space Administration. Malak's intention is to try his best to get an advantage.

As the saying goes, if you don't take advantage of an opportunity, you are a bastard.

The people of Lighthouse Country also have this tradition, and they are much better at it than the Chinese.

Amanda said, "Kelly, I really want to know what the people at the China Space Agency think. Will they give us the green light?"

Xu Qian shook her head. "It's hard to say right now. We talked about it once before, and they said that if the construction standards are met, we will be allowed to operate the rocket launch site, but it must be under the supervision of the Space Administration."

James curled his lips. "Supervision? How are they going to supervise? Are they going to install surveillance cameras to surround us? I don't want that."

Eugene glanced at James and said, "James, don't make such jokes. They are too meaningless."

"NONONO, I'm not kidding. We all know that this is not the Chinese way."

Amanda said, "James, you should say less. It is important to keep a good attitude. We came here with sincerity, not to argue with them."

"Oh, okay, but I'm not arguing."

Although reluctant, James still shut his mouth.

This time they came to China to discuss the construction of the rocket launch site with people from the China Space Administration.

As mentioned earlier, Malak is a person with a very keen business sense.

Malak knows very well which country will develop and flourish the space industry in the future.

Apart from the Lighthouse Man, only China has this potential.

So, how can we utilize China's space industry to gain the greatest benefits?
Malak is a genius, of course he has many ways to do it.

The most direct and simplest way is to set up a branch of SPACEX in China to carry out aerospace business.

But Malak cannot do this, because to those in power in the Lighthouse Country, Malak's doing so would be tantamount to aiding the enemy and would be a serious act of crossing the line.

Because in the minds of most people in the Lighthouse Country, and even the Chinese, China's space technology is far behind that of the Lighthouse Country.

So Malak could make some low-tech investments in China, such as building a rocket launch site to operate launch missions for China's private aerospace companies.

Of course, the equipment at the rocket launch site is very high-end and has high technological content, but as long as it is well protected, the Chinese will not be able to access the core technology of these machines.

This way, we can earn money from the Chinese and avoid the leakage of aerospace technology.

That's the clever idea Malak came up with.

Ever since Malak built the Tesla Gigafactory in China, Tesla has come back to life, with more and more cars being sold and the performance getting better and better.

Such a great achievement strengthened Malak's belief, and he set up a special group against all odds to negotiate with the China Space Administration.

So this meeting is very crucial.

Malak not only wants to obtain permission from the China Space Administration, but also intends to ask China for policy funding support.

In this way, Malak doesn't need to invest too much money to get the job done and enjoy the pleasure of getting something for nothing.

Wan Jin said: "I heard that China's current launch sites are not enough and the launch missions are saturated. We have a great chance."

Amanda nodded as well. "I heard that China is planning to build several rocket launch sites. If we join, it will save a lot of trouble. I think the French will definitely agree. What do you think, Kelly?"

Xu Qian said: "I think there is hope, but we have to be cautiously optimistic. Oh, and I heard another piece of news."

Amanda asked curiously, "What news?"

"I heard someone else wants to build a private rocket launch site."

The other three showed surprised expressions.

"Ah? Who is it? A Chinese?"

"He is from Hong Kong Island, China. I heard he is a rich young man."

James laughed: "Oh, the young master of Hong Kong Island is so stupid, does he have money but nowhere to spend it?"

Eugene thought for a moment and said, "If it's someone from Hong Kong Island, they probably don't have the ability. They may have a lot of money, but they don't have the skills."

James said: "That's right, do they really think that building a rocket launch site is just about building a launch pad? That's so naive, so childish."

Xu Qian smiled and took a sip of coffee. She also agreed with the opinions of several people.

It is extremely difficult for private companies to build rocket launch sites. China can only build one or two rocket launch sites with the help of national resources. It is impossible for private companies to do it at all.

Just as they said just now, the technical threshold is too high and ordinary companies simply do not have the conditions to build it.

SpaceX is different. They already have two launch sites in the Lighthouse Country, both of which can launch reusable rockets and have extensive experience.

This is their biggest reliance in the negotiations, and I believe that China's Space Agency will definitely take this into consideration.

Just then, someone came in.

He was a young Oriental man, tall and straight. It was Hu Jiangshan.

(End of this chapter)