Recaps

The Flame Nation Navy leadership discussed 704 Shipyard’s White Shark Frigate proposal and selected it unanimously, awarding the frigate order to the shipyard. Elder Zhang ordered the result kept secret for three days before the Navy moved on to evaluate cruiser designs.

• Lin Chenran reassured 704 Shipyard staff that Sha Country might buy the White Shark Frigate if the Navy did not select it.
• Elder Zhang asked the Navy leaders to assess the White Shark Frigate, and they praised its performance while noting the advantage of its domestically made Hurricane diesel engine.
• The Navy leaders voted down Proposals No. 1 and No. 2, then unanimously approved 704 Shipyard’s White Shark Frigate proposal.
• Elder Zhang ordered the Navy to announce the winning proposal in three days and keep its important specifications confidential.
• Elder Zhang sent the Navy leaders to lunch before their afternoon evaluation of cruiser designs.

Elder Zhang withheld the Navy’s frigate-order decision pending approval and moved the meeting on to cruiser proposals. Pan Xueming drew the first presentation slot for 704 Shipyard and confidently promised the Navy would be impressed by its design.

• Elder Zhang announced that the Navy had reached a frigate-design decision but could not reveal the winning shipyard until the result received final approval.
• Elder Zhang ordered the shipyards to draw numbers and present their cruiser proposals in sequence.
• Lin Chenran signaled Pan Xueming, who went to draw a presentation slot for 704 Shipyard.
• Pan Xueming drew Number 1, prompting rival shipyards to worry that 704 Shipyard had an advantage.
• Elder Zhang praised the first draw, and Pan Xueming said 704 Shipyard’s cruiser proposal would impress the Navy regardless of its presentation order.

Pan Xueming presented 704 Shipyard’s Four Emperors Cruiser proposal to senior Flame Nation Navy officials, who were impressed by its size, speed, range, weapons, and helicopter deck. The presentation left them eager to have the cruiser built and added to the fleet.

• Elder Zhang signaled Pan Xueming to begin, and Pan exchanged an approving glance with Lin Chenran before the 704 Shipyard staff distributed the design proposals.
• The senior Flame Nation Navy officials admired the cruiser’s rendering and reacted with amazement to its 12,300-ton full-load displacement.
• Pan Xueming introduced the cruiser’s specifications, including its dimensions, four GTZA-674 steam turbines, 32-knot top speed, and 7,000-nautical-mile range.
• Pan Xueming described its air-defense, anti-missile, anti-ship, and anti-submarine weapons, along with a stern deck for multiple helicopters.
• After more than forty minutes, the officials judged the proposal stronger than the Aegis missile destroyer design and wanted the cruiser built for the fleet.

704 Shipyard presented its White Shark Frigate and Four Emperors Cruiser proposals to the Flame Nation Navy, impressing its leaders with their design and performance. The navy favored both designs but remained undecided because their construction costs exceeded its limited budget.

• Elder Zhang praised Lin Chenran and Pan Xueming after Pan answered questions about the Four Emperors Cruiser, and said the navy would announce its decision in three days.
• 704 Shipyard's staff left the conference room and congratulated each other on their proposals before returning to work on their warship designs.
• After the bidding conference, the Flame Nation Navy leaders praised 704 Shipyard's frigate and cruiser designs but were alarmed by their high construction costs.
• The navy leaders debated which proposals to adopt for over an hour but reached no decision, since their budget could not cover the planned ships at 704 Shipyard's prices.

Flame Nation navy leaders revised their procurement plan, approving orders for 704 Shipyard’s upgraded White Shark Frigates and Four Emperors Cruisers while also selecting Jiangnan Shipyard’s medium-sized frigate. Lin Chenran learned that 704 Shipyard’s order totals had been reduced because the navy was splitting its purchases and managing costs, then called a meeting of the ship design teams.

• A Flame Nation navy leader proposed buying Jiangnan Shipyard’s roughly 2,500-ton frigate by cutting the planned White Shark Frigate and Four Emperors Cruiser quantities, and the leaders approved the proposal after calling for upgrades to the frigate.
• Elder Zhang and the other leaders reported their recommendations to higher-ups, who approved the procurement and issued orders to 704 Shipyard and Jiangnan Shipyard.
• Pan Xueming told Lin Chenran that 704 Shipyard had received orders for six White Shark Frigates and three Four Emperors Cruisers, with some ships requiring upgrades.
• Lin Chenran questioned why the quantities had fallen from the earlier plan, and Pan Xueming explained that Jiangnan Shipyard had also won orders for six frigates and that 704 Shipyard’s ships cost more.
• Lin Chenran understood the revised plan and asked Pan Xueming to arrange a meeting for the two warship design and research teams.

Lin Chenran announced that the 704 Shipyard had won Flame Nation Navy orders for six White Shark Frigates and three Four Emperors Cruisers, with some ships requiring upgrades. The shipyard faced pressure to begin building five warships at once, while limited manpower and other vessel projects threatened to constrain production.

• Lin Chenran and Pan Xueming gathered the White Shark Frigate and Four Emperors Cruiser teams for an important meeting.
• Pan Xueming revealed that the Navy had approved the shipyard's designs and awarded it orders for six White Shark Frigates and three Four Emperors Cruisers.
• Lin Chenran assigned four frigates and one cruiser to the original designs, while requiring upgrades to the other two frigates and two cruisers.
• The Navy requested that construction on five warships begin simultaneously once preparations were complete.
• Pan Xueming worried that the shipyard would struggle to build so many warships at once because its facilities also served other vessel projects and manpower was limited.

Lin Chenran resolved 704 Shipyard’s staffing shortage by outsourcing two frigates while keeping his engineers in charge of the work. He returned to 077 Machinery Military Factory and promised Song Xiyun he would stay focused on factory affairs until the new year.

• Pan Xueming warned Lin Chenran that 704 Shipyard lacked the engineers and skilled workers needed to build all the ordered warships.
• Lin Chenran proposed that 704 Shipyard build one Four Emperors Cruiser and two White Shark Frigates, while outsourcing the remaining two frigates to other domestic shipyards.
• Pan Xueming and the other attendees approved the plan, and Lin Chenran tasked Pan Xueming with finding partners while ensuring 704 Shipyard engineers led construction.
• Lin Chenran returned to 077 Machinery Military Factory and began reviewing its affairs, but Song Xiyun brought him another stack of documents.
• Lin Chenran told Song Xiyun he would make no more extended business trips before the new year and would inspect other factories without being away for several days.

Lin Chenran announced a 45-million-Yan-currency bonus for 077 Machinery Military Factory, sparking celebrations across the 077 Group. After the annual meeting, he returned home for Spring Festival and was surprised to find his older brother Lin Xuan there.

• Lin Chenran announced that 077 Machinery Military Factory's annual bonus pool had risen to 45 million Yan currency, and the executives celebrated.
• News of the bonus spread across the 077 Group, where employees rejoiced and engineers from other companies considered seeking jobs there.
• Lin Chenran held the company's annual meeting, where outstanding employees received recognition and rewards.
• Lin Chenran flew to the Imperial Capital for Spring Festival and was summoned to Old Master Lin's study as soon as he arrived home.
• Lin Chenran found his older brother Lin Xuan at the study and greeted him with a joyful hug.

Lin Xuan and Lin Chenran traded teasing remarks before Old Master Lin called them over to discuss the 077 Machinery Military Factory and its military production. Lin Chenran explained the group’s growth and overseas trade, then described how the 704 Shipyard was sharing naval construction orders with other shipyards.

• Lin Chenran teased Lin Xuan about his rank and asked him to look after him when he was promoted.
• Lin Xuan teased Lin Chenran in return, and Old Master Lin interrupted their exchange and called them to sit beside him.
• Old Master Lin reproached Lin Chenran for relaxing his posture, then asked about the 077 Machinery Military Factory’s operations and equipment production.
• Lin Chenran reported that the factory’s work was proceeding as planned, that the 077 Group had 180,000 employees, and that its light industrial goods were selling rapidly through trade with the Bear Nation.
• Old Master Lin asked how the 704 Shipyard would handle its many frigate orders alongside other naval construction.
• Lin Chenran said the 704 Shipyard had handed some orders to other shipyards so they could build the ships and share in the work.

Lin Chenran explained 704 Shipyard’s staffing limits and why it was outsourcing some warship construction while protecting its civilian projects, earning Old Master Lin’s approval. Later, Lin Xuan revealed that he had returned to register his marriage with Zhang Wanjun, and Lin Chenran warmly congratulated him.

• Lin Chenran explained that 704 Shipyard lacked enough skilled workers to expand quickly and needed to preserve capacity for civilian vessels.
• Lin Chenran described outsourcing some warship orders, and Old Master Lin praised the plan for balancing warship construction with the shipyard’s other projects.
• Lin Xuan listened as Lin Chenran reported on 077 Machinery Military Factory and was astonished by how far it had developed.
• Lin Chenran asked why Lin Xuan had come home for the Spring Festival, and Lin Xuan quietly told him he planned to register his marriage with Zhang Wanjun.
• Lin Chenran congratulated Lin Xuan and wished him and Zhang Wanjun a happy life together and a child.

After the war, the Lin and Zhang families agreed that Lin Xuan and Zhang Wanjun would marry after the new year and keep the wedding simple. Lin Chenran welcomed them to the Lin home with extravagant gifts prepared, while Zhang Wanjun nervously greeted her future relatives.

• The Lin and Zhang families agreed to resume marriage plans and have Lin Xuan and Zhang Wanjun register after the new year.
• Lin Chenran chose a courtyard house, a car, gold jewelry, and traditional household gifts for the couple, startling Lin Xuan with their cost.
• Lin Xuan brought Zhang Wanjun to the Lin home, where Lin Chenran greeted her warmly and teased his brother.
• Lin Chenran led the couple into the family hall, where Zhang Wanjun nervously greeted Lin family elders and Liang Caixia welcomed her.

Liang Caixia welcomed Zhang Wanjun into the Lin family and gave her the family heirloom bracelet as Lin Xuan and Zhang Wanjun prepared to register their marriage. After they returned to their room, Lin Xuan told Zhang Wanjun about Lin Chenran's costly wedding gift, leaving her insisting they could not accept it.

• Lin Chenran prompted Lin Xuan to help ease Zhang Wanjun's nerves as she met his family.
• Liang Caixia urged Zhang Wanjun to call her Mom, and Zhang Wanjun said she and Lin Xuan would get their marriage certificate the next day.
• Old Master Lin apologized that the wedding would be simple, while Zhang Wanjun said she did not mind.
• Liang Caixia gave Zhang Wanjun the family heirloom bracelet, and Lin Xuan and Lin Chenran encouraged her to accept it.
• Back in their room, Zhang Wanjun complained that Lin Xuan had not helped her, then put the bracelet away for safekeeping.
• Lin Xuan told Zhang Wanjun about Lin Chenran's expensive gift, and Zhang Wanjun said they could not accept it.

Lin Xuan explained the source of Lin Chenran’s wealth, then married Zhang Wanjun with the Lin Family’s blessing. The wedding ended with a senior leader and high-ranking military officials attending, drawing attention to the Lin Family’s growing influence.

• Zhang Wanjun questioned Lin Xuan about Lin Chenran’s lavish gifts, and Lin Xuan explained that Chenran had multiple legal sources of great wealth.
• Liang Caixia scolded Lin Chenran for not finding a wife and yanked his ear while Lin Xuan and Zhang Wanjun went to register their marriage.
• Lin Xuan and Zhang Wanjun returned with their marriage certificates, and Lin Xuan teased Lin Chenran about being married.
• The Lin Family prepared a wedding banquet, and Old Master Lin sent Lin Chenran, Lin Xuan, and Zhang Wanjun to welcome arriving guests.
• A senior leader and several high-ranking military officials attended the wedding, where Lin Xuan and Zhang Wanjun officially became husband and wife.

After returning to Linjiang Province, Lin Chenran set the 077 Machinery Military Factory’s plans for the new year in motion. Meanwhile, Abdul prepared to visit Flame Nation to investigate its warships, and Lin Chenran decided to offer Sha Country in the Camel Region a light aircraft carrier.

• Lin Chenran returned to Linjiang Province after his mother’s daily matchmaking arrangements cut his Spring Festival holiday short.
• Lin Chenran convened a senior management meeting, assigned the factory’s yearly tasks, and the employees quickly refocused on work.
• Abdul received orders to inspect Flame Nation’s Aegis missile destroyers and investigate whether Sha Country in the Camel Region could buy frigates.
• Abdul questioned how Flame Nation had developed its shipbuilding capabilities and contacted Lin Chenran by telegram.
• Lin Chenran invited Abdul to Flame Nation and planned to make Sha Country in the Camel Region a test customer for a light aircraft carrier built by the 704 Shipyard.

Lin Chenran learned that the Flame Nation Navy wanted the 704 Shipyard to help design a new warship, but the Navy kept the vessel’s specifications secret until a meeting. When the Navy’s delegation arrived, Lin Chenran recognized someone unexpected among them.

• Elder Zhang called Lin Chenran and asked him to come to the 704 Shipyard to discuss designing a new Navy warship.
• Lin Chenran asked Song Xiyun to oversee the 077 Machinery Military Factory while he traveled to the shipyard, and told him that Abdul from Sha Country would soon arrive to buy warships.
• Lin Chenran told the 704 Shipyard executives that the Navy would discuss a new vessel with them, though he did not know what kind it would be.
• The next day, Lin Chenran welcomed Elder Zhang and the Navy delegation at the 704 Shipyard, then recognized a familiar-looking person among them.

Elder Huang and Elder Zhang asked 704 Shipyard to design and build a deep-sea rescue submersible so the Navy could safely test its nuclear submarines at extreme depths. Lin Chenran understood the reason and raised concerns about the project's difficulty and cost, while the Navy's likely order remained uncertain.

• Lin Chenran recognized Elder Huang, the chief designer of Flame Nation's first-generation nuclear submarine, and welcomed him to 704 Shipyard.
• Elder Huang asked the shipyard to develop a Deep-sea Exploration and Rescue Submersible, and Lin Chenran inferred that the Navy planned deep-sea testing of its nuclear submarine.
• Elder Huang explained that the submarines had only operated in shallower northern waters and now needed to be tested for service across all waters, with a rescue craft ready in case of an accident.
• The executives understood the rescue submersible's role in protecting submarine crews, and Lin Chenran asked how many the Navy would buy given the project's technical challenges and expense.
• Elder Zhang could not give a firm answer, estimating that the Navy might purchase only one to three submersibles.

704 Shipyard agreed to design and build the Navy’s Jiaolong deep-sea rescue submersible within a year and a half, with the Navy covering the costs. The shipyard began planning the project and opened a design competition among its young engineers.

• Lin Chenran argued that the Navy’s small order would leave 704 Shipyard unable to recover its development costs, and Elder Zhang agreed that the Navy would cover the expense.
• Elder Huang said the Navy’s nuclear submarine was scheduled for an extreme deep-diving test in the second half of the following year, and that the test could be moved forward if the rescue submersible was completed sooner.
• Lin Chenran committed 704 Shipyard to deliver the submersible within a year and a half, and the Navy’s leaders outlined their requirements.
• After the Navy convoy departed, Lin Chenran led a meeting where 704 Shipyard executives discussed pressure resistance, capacity, power, communications, and navigation needs.
• Lin Chenran and Pan Xueming announced an internal competition in which young engineers would form teams and submit designs for the Jiaolong submersible.

Lin Chenran revealed to Abdul’s delegation that 704 Shipyard had built the Aegis missile destroyer and agreed to sell export versions to Sha Country. The deal required downgraded ships and sharing part of the profits with the Flame Nation Navy.

• Lin Chenran welcomed Abdul’s delegation to 704 Shipyard and revealed that the shipyard was a subsidiary of 077 Machinery Military Factory.
• Lin Chenran confirmed that 704 Shipyard had independently designed, developed, and built the Aegis missile destroyer.
• Abdul asked to buy Aegis missile destroyers for Sha Country, and Lin Chenran invited the delegation to discuss the matter in the conference room.
• Lin Chenran told Abdul that the destroyers could be sold to Sha Country, but only in a downgraded export version with reduced weapons and propulsion capabilities.
• Lin Chenran explained that the Flame Nation Navy required a share of the profits from the sale.

Pan Xueming introduced the Aegis missile destroyer to Abdul and the Sha Country delegation, who then asked Lin Chenran to arrange a visit aboard the Linjiang. After Lin Chenran agreed to pursue permission, he surprised them by offering a light aircraft carrier built by 704 Shipyard.

• Pan Xueming explained the export Aegis missile destroyer’s design and capabilities to the Sha Country delegation, impressing them with its performance.
• Abdul asked Lin Chenran to arrange a visit and possible demonstration aboard the navy’s Linjiang Aegis missile destroyer.
• Lin Chenran said he would report the request to his superiors, while explaining that the Linjiang was urgently needed for coastal patrols.
• Lin Chenran asked Abdul whether Sha Country wanted a light aircraft carrier, astonishing the delegation.
• Abdul questioned whether 704 Shipyard could build an aircraft carrier, and Lin Chenran assured him that it could build a light one.

Lin Chenran revealed that the 704 Shipyard could build large warships, then Pan Xueming presented the Star Carrier Light Aircraft Carrier proposal to the Sha Country delegation. The delegation was captivated by its design and specifications, and the chapter left them eager to acquire one.

• Lin Chenran announced that the navy had ordered three ten-thousand-ton cruisers from the 704 Shipyard and said the shipyard could build a light aircraft carrier.
• Abdul asked Lin Chenran whether he had a light aircraft carrier design plan.
• Lin Chenran signaled Pan Xueming, who had an assistant distribute the Star Carrier design drawings and showed its rendering on the projector.
• Pan Xueming introduced the Star Carrier's dimensions, displacement, speed, range, propulsion, armament, and capacity for 28 to 30 aircraft.
• The Sha Country delegation admired the carrier and desired to bring it into their country's military forces.

Lin Chenran outlined the Star Carrier Light Aircraft Carrier’s aircraft and escort-ship configurations to Abdul and the Sha Country delegation. Abdul left to consult his country’s leaders and promised a decision within three days, while Lin Chenran expected Sha Country to buy the carrier and other warships.

• Lin Chenran recommended thirty carrier-based aircraft for the Star Carrier, including early-warning and anti-submarine helicopters and fighter jets.
• Lin Chenran described the destroyers, frigates, submarines, supply ships, and auxiliary vessels needed for a light carrier group, and the delegation realized Sha Country would need to buy most of them.
• Abdul told Lin Chenran that the delegation would report to Sha Country’s leaders and give him an answer in three days.
• Lin Chenran offered to arrange for the delegation to inspect the Linjiang Aegis missile destroyer, and Abdul thanked him before departing with his delegation.
• Pan Xueming asked whether Sha Country would buy the carrier, and Lin Chenran reassured him that it would likely purchase the carrier and other warships.
• The Sha Country delegation met at its residence and sent the meeting’s contents to their country by telegram.

Lin Chenran persuaded the Flame Nation Navy to let the Sha Country delegation inspect the finished Linjiang Aegis missile destroyer, hoping to secure Sha Country's interest in buying the Star Carrier Light Aircraft Carrier. The delegation boarded the destroyer and began its tour, with weapons tests at sea planned next.

• Lin Chenran told Elder Zhang that Sha Country wanted to inspect the finished Linjiang Aegis missile destroyer and watch its sea trials, and argued that allowing the visit could help secure the aircraft carrier deal.
• Elder Zhang reported the request to Navy senior leadership, which approved the inspection and allowed the delegation to watch sea trials if it paid the testing costs.
• Lin Chenran told Abdul and the other delegation members that they could board the destroyer, and they arranged to fly there the next day.
• Lin Chenran secretly brought the delegation to a naval base, where they boarded a Zhi-20 heavy helicopter and flew for an hour and a half to the Linjiang Aegis missile destroyer.
• Captain Ouyang Jie welcomed Lin Chenran and the delegation, explained which areas were off-limits, and said weapons and equipment tests would follow the tour.

The Sha Country delegation toured the Linjiang Aegis missile destroyer before gathering in its command center to observe a major test. After the crew completed preparations, Ouyang Jie announced that the exercise had begun.

• Lin Chenran offered Abdul's delegation guided explanations or a self-directed tour, and they split into groups to explore the destroyer.
• Ouyang Jie announced that the test would evaluate the destroyer's strike precision and defensive capabilities, with Sha Country funding enabling a full-scale demonstration.
• Lin Chenran told Abdul to look forward to the test, and Ouyang Jie led the visitors to the ship's command center and instructed them not to interfere with operations.
• Abdul promised that the delegation would observe quietly and follow the rules.
• The crew completed its checks and preparations, and Ouyang Jie picked up the intercom and declared, "Exercise begins!"

Ouyang Jie commanded the Linjiang Aegis missile destroyer as it destroyed five targets and intercepted an incoming missile attack during its sea trials. After returning to land, Abdul and the Sha Country delegation planned to report their observations and await their country's decision about the warships.

• Ouyang Jie ordered the Linjiang to launch missiles, and the missiles destroyed all five targets.
• Abdul and the Sha Country delegation were impressed by the destroyer's radar, missiles, and strike accuracy.
• Ouyang Jie ordered the close-in defense guns to intercept multiple incoming missiles, and the guns destroyed them all.
• Lin Chenran and the others returned to land by Z-20 heavy helicopter while the Linjiang continued its mission at sea.
• Abdul and the delegation prepared to report their observations to their country before resuming warship discussions.

Sha Country in the Camel Region signed a contract with Flame Nation to buy a Star Light Aircraft Carrier and two Aegis missile destroyers, prompting worldwide doubts about Flame Nation’s shipbuilding capabilities. After Flame Nation announced its Four Emperors Cruiser had entered construction, Shane Carl received orders to investigate the deal and asked Valerie Burner to discuss a response.

• Sha Country in the Camel Region ordered a Star Light Aircraft Carrier and two Aegis missile destroyers from Flame Nation’s 704 Shipyard, and Pan Xueming and Abdul signed and publicized the contract.
• Countries around the world questioned whether Flame Nation could build an aircraft carrier, and intelligence agencies dispatched agents to investigate.
• The Flame Nation Navy announced that its first ten-thousand-ton cruiser, the Four Emperors Cruiser, was ready and had entered the construction phase, stirring further debate.
• Shane Carl received an urgent telegram ordering him to infiltrate Sha Country and investigate its cooperation with Flame Nation.
• Shane Carl summoned Valerie Burner, handed him the telegram, and asked for his opinion after he read it.