Sometimes, telemarketing calls aren't just about getting you to spend money; they might actually be about giving you money.
That night, Lin Ju and the factory office received numerous calls, each with a different origin, but with a generally similar message.
The basic process could be summed up as follows:
"Hello? New Yuan Tractor Factory (this is Lin Ju)."
"Boss, swimming fitness... no, investment, angel round, IPO, interested in learning more?"
Both domestically and internationally, the callers were primarily professional investment firms.
These investment firms, clutching bundles of capital, would inject money into any project they saw, unconcerned about the cost.
After all, when it comes to investment, many times the financiers are sought after precisely for their money.
They would sprinkle cash on any promising project, and space projects with long payback periods were no exception; financiers have plenty of ways to seek benefits for themselves.
However, Lin Ju regarded anyone who called late at night as lacking propriety and blacklisted them all before promptly changing his SIM card.
The reason his phone number was leaked was because some "genius" had put the factory director's phone number on the official website, leading to Lin Ju being bombarded with calls.
And as far as financing was concerned, Lin Ju didn't even consider it, at least not for New Yuan Tractor Factory, as it was a base certified by the System, and even the slightest risk was unacceptable.
Of course, this didn't mean he was completely against cooperation; share exchange was a common practice in modern business, and at most, it just meant setting up a few shell companies.
What he was contemplating now was the System's next task: to send a person to near-Earth orbit for at least an hour within a year.
This was essentially a reenactment of sending humans to space. The New Yuan One rocket was definitely not going to be sufficient, meaning a new rocket had to be developed.
At the same time, there was an even bigger problem: the crew capsule and other life support facilities.
The latter was the focus, as these were the real technological challenges, ones that even the space-faring superpowers did not dare take lightly.
China's manned carrier rocket CZ-2F, which sent its first astronaut to space in '03, had its technological status frozen right after.
That is to say, regardless of technological advancements, CZ-2F would always use the mature technology of that time, not even a single screw could be changed, all to avoid any additional risks.
Russia's Union series of rockets did the same, sticking to old technology without upgrading to new, better technology.
Even America refrained from developing its own manned rockets, instead using Russia's Union rockets, all in consideration of safety.
To send a person to near-Earth orbit and bring them back requires overcoming several technologies:
First, the return capsule has to withstand the high-temperature ablation of several thousand degrees during landing to ensure the astronaut's safety.
Orbital cabin: typically used for cargo or to house scientific instruments as well as for astronauts' activities, it could be dispensed with.
Propulsion cabin: generates electricity and maneuvers the manned spacecraft, essential for changing orbits.
Escape Tower: placed on top of the manned spacecraft during rocket launch, it allows the astronaut to escape the rocket in the event of a failure, and its biggest task is to ensure it's never needed, but it must be equipped nonetheless.
With everything considered, one year simply isn't enough time? Even with the rewards from completing the task, it's almost impossible, given the many complex technologies involved.
No matter how it's viewed, this seems like an impossible task, which is why Lin Ju found himself worried once more.
However, the following day brought several pieces of good news that revitalized his spirits.
First, New Yuan One was featured on CCTV and received encouragement from official channels; it gained fame and became the de facto leader in private space flight (though it was the only one for the time being).
It was said that the nation was seriously considering establishing a fund to support private aerospace similar to subsidies for renewable energy and solar power, which could potentially provide substantial financial support in the future.
The second piece of good news was that the Sixth Academy sent a formal business request, hoping to purchase three K120 engines along with the complete manufacturing technology and production license.
Then there was a piece of news that Lin Ju did not consider to be positive: several investment firms had approached him, hoping to acquire shares in the company.
These pieces of good news mostly offered solid financial support, though they were of no use technologically.
Lin Ju was not interested in investments; he felt it was better to focus on how to accomplish the System's second task.
Arriving at his office, Lin Ju used three System Engineer cards.
The office phone immediately rang, and the guard said three people had come from outside the factory and wanted to enter. Lin Ju immediately instructed them to let them through.
A few minutes later, all three Asian faces stood in his office.
They were two Chinese engineers, both having studied abroad and worked for the European Space Agency, and one engineer from the Rusia Space Agency, a Tatar who had already acquired Chinese nationality.
They each specialized in materials, electrical control, and overall design; the system's arrangement was quite comprehensive.
Their names were Chen Xuan, Ke Yun, and Androff.
As soon as the three of them had each accepted Lin Ju's contract, the system immediately prompted:
[Now possessing 4 system engineers of equal level, one engineer can be upgraded to form a research unit: Rocket Research Institute.
Rocket Research Institute: Capable of developing rockets and engines; increasing investment or technology can accelerate progress; and it's possible to recruit apprentices who are not system people, who after maturing, can become system engineers.]
Lin Ju hadn't expected the system to provide a new surprise and immediately called for Guo Shen, using the only C-level skill card on him.
This was due to the system's limitations, which stated that skills cards lower than an individual's current level couldn't be used on system-certified personnel; otherwise, they would be ineffective.
After Guo Shen's upgrade, he did not become a B-level engineer but instead was elevated to a C+ level.
Lin Ju then requested the four of them to establish a research and development department, and promptly a new section appeared in the system, accrediting the R&D department as an institute.
[Institute: New Yuan Tractor Factory R&D Department
Current pending research tasks: None
Research Progress: None for the time being
Completed tasks: None
Now has 1 C+ level engineer, 3 C level engineers, 0 apprentices]
Once Lin Ju had finished discussing the R&D department, Guo Shen immediately proposed a suggestion he had been longing to talk about:
"Boss, to improve efficiency, I suggest that the tractor factory should immediately be renamed and reorganized into a company and start recruiting talent straight away.
We are understaffed, and we'll need to expand to meet the standards of a small-scale aerospace enterprise."
Lin Ju nodded in agreement; the tractor factory was indeed short on manpower, and it certainly needed a new designation.
"New Yuan Aeronautics Power, how does that name sound?"
"Aerospace power? Abbreviated as XAP, it's a good name."
Guo Shen had no objections to the name, as long as it wasn't as glaring as 'tractor factory', he was in agreement.
The significance of the name lay in Lin Ju's main idea: power is the cornerstone of aerospace.
Without high-thrust engines, large spacecraft are just a fantasy, and the aerospace industry's demand for power is far more critical than other sectors.
After the renaming had been decided, Lin Ju immediately issued a new task to the R&D department:
"The next phase for New Yuan Aeronautics is to send a person into space and return them safely. The approach is free; I hope the R&D department can come up with a design as soon as possible.
If possible, I demand that it be completed within a year."
Guo Shen and the other three engineers had no objections after hearing this, and the former assured Lin Ju:
"Although a year is a bit short, if we refer to other countries' plans, designing a small manned spacecraft is not a problem. Rest assured, boss."
Lin Ju thought, 'You've misunderstood,' and cleared his throat, "Cough, I mean to send someone into space within a year."
"..."
The four engineers looked at Lin Ju as if he were an idiot, and after a long pause, Guo Shen spoke slowly:
"With that timeframe, indeed we can only send someone up there. I hope, boss, when you go in, you'll take the opportunity to transform and study up on safety regulations."