Recaps

Elder Huang presented the Second-generation Strategic Nuclear Submarine design to Flame Nation’s naval leaders, who praised its improved stealth and performance. Elder Zhang approved funding for a new Hydraulic Reactor, and Lin Chenran was relieved that the navy would pay for its development.

• At Elder Zhang’s request, Elder Huang explained the submarine design, including its slimmed-down turtleback, preserved missile launch area, and quieter hull.
• Elder Huang outlined the submarine’s specifications, including its displacement, dimensions, two Hydraulic Reactors, estimated speed, and maximum diving depth.
• Elder Zhang praised the design as meeting the navy’s combat requirements and thanked Lin Chenran and the design team for their work.
• Elder Huang raised the need to develop a new Hydraulic Reactor, while the 077 Machinery Military Factory would supply Special Composite Material.
• Lin Chenran explained that the Type 091’s 135-decibel underwater noise made it easy for enemy sonar to detect.
• Elder Zhang agreed that the navy would fund the new Hydraulic Reactor’s development, relieving Lin Chenran.

Elder Huang described the Second-generation Strategic Nuclear Submarine, but Elder Zhang learned that its Julang Ballistic Missile was far behind schedule and proposed moving the missile team to Lin Chenran’s 077 Machinery Military Factory. Lin Chenran hesitated until Elder Zhang promised Navy funding, leaving the proposed collaboration ready to proceed.

• Elder Zhang asked Lin Chenran to develop a Special Composite Material for the submarine’s Hydraulic Reactor, and Lin Chenran agreed.
• Elder Huang outlined the submarine’s six torpedo tubes, capacity for fourteen Yu-3 torpedoes, and twelve Julang Ballistic Missile launch systems.
• Elder Zhang asked about the Julang Ballistic Missile’s progress, and Elder Huang admitted it remained immature after repeated setbacks, including a failed 1985 test.
• Elder Zhang proposed merging the Julang Ballistic Missile Design Team into the 077 Machinery Military Factory and having it work with the Sky Punishment Automatic Tracking Rocket Launcher R&D team.
• Lin Chenran looked conflicted, so Elder Zhang promised that the Navy would cover the Julang Ballistic Missile’s R&D Funding.

Lin Chenran persuaded the Flame Nation Navy to fund the Julang Ballistic Missile’s design and R&D, with the team to join 077 Machinery Military Factory. The Navy approved further development of the Second-generation Strategic Nuclear Submarine, and Lin Chenran later welcomed the Julang team’s leader to the factory.

• Lin Chenran persuaded Elder Zhang that the Navy should cover the Julang Ballistic Missile’s R&D costs, and Elder Zhang assigned the project to 077 Machinery Military Factory.
• Elder Huang explained the Second-generation Strategic Nuclear Submarine’s design to the Navy’s senior leaders.
• Elder Zhang approved the submarine design and authorized more comprehensive R&D, prompting the engineers to celebrate.
• Lin Chenran left the submarine team and returned to 077 Machinery Military Factory to prepare for the Julang team’s arrival.
• Three days later, Lin Chenran welcomed the Julang Ballistic Missile Design and R&D Team’s person in charge at the factory.

Lin Chenran welcomed Elder Lu and the Julang Ballistic Missile Design Team to the 077 Machinery Military Factory, where they reviewed the missile’s troubled development. They identified the pressure of an underwater launch at 300 meters as the likely cause of the missile’s 1985 loss of control and explosion.

• Lin Chenran and Yang Peidong welcomed Elder Lu and the Julang Ballistic Missile Design Team to the 077 Machinery Military Factory.
• Lin Chenran and Elder Lu addressed the team at a meeting, and Elder Lu described the missile program’s seven years of difficulties and its failed 1985 test.
• An engineer from Elder Lu’s team distributed the Julang Ballistic Missile’s design documents, and the attendees studied them.
• The factory’s engineers learned that launching from a submarine at 300 meters would subject the missile to thirty atmospheres of pressure, causing it to lose control as it broke the surface.

Lin Chenran and Yang Peidong identified special composite materials at the 077 Machinery Military Factory that could address the Julang Ballistic Missile’s launch failures, and Elder Lu’s team began searching for the best fit. Lin Chenran then told Elder Zhang that they had a promising lead, while the navy’s urgency to develop the missile and extend its range remained unresolved.

• Lin Chenran identified water pressure damage and extreme launch temperatures as causes of the Julang Ballistic Missile’s loss of control and explosion, and Elder Lu confirmed the team had struggled to find suitable materials.
• Yang Peidong revealed that the 077 Machinery Military Factory had several special composite materials that might meet the missile’s requirements, then presented samples and explained their properties.
• Elder Lu and the design team struggled to choose among the materials, and Yang Peidong explained that the factory had lacked such capabilities when it was near bankruptcy in 1985.
• Lin Chenran had Yang Peidong lead the design team to inspect materials, while the navy also sought to increase the Julang Ballistic Missile’s range beyond 2,700 kilometers.
• Elder Zhang called Lin Chenran to ask about the project, and Lin Chenran reported that Elder Lu was selecting suitable materials at the factory.

Lin Chenran agreed to prepare a longer-range Julang-2 Ballistic Missile after Elder Zhang promised the navy would fund its development. At the 077 Machinery Military Factory, Song Xiyun reported that Da Mu Country wanted a large new weapons order as tensions with Lion Country grew, and Lin Chenran welcomed the chance to sell it military equipment.

• Elder Zhang told Lin Chenran that the Julang Ballistic Missile needed sea trials and that its successor should reach 8,000 to 10,000 kilometers.
• Lin Chenran agreed to prepare the Julang-2 Ballistic Missile after Elder Zhang promised the navy would pay its research and design costs.
• Song Xiyun told Lin Chenran that Da Mu Country wanted to buy another large batch of weapons and equipment from the 077 Machinery Military Factory.
• Song Xiyun said Da Mu Country was preparing for a possible war with Lion Country as tensions between them intensified.
• Lin Chenran welcomed Da Mu Country's order and reassured Song Xiyun that Eagle Country would not block the sale.

Lin Chenran learned that Lion Country also wanted to buy weapons from 077 Machinery Military Factory, just after he had agreed to Da Mu Country's request. He told Old Wei to welcome both delegations and proposed using Iron Brother Country as a third-party supplier if the factory could not serve both at once.

• Lin Chenran instructed Song Xiyun to arrange a secret visit for Da Mu Country's representatives and prioritize recommending light weapons.
• Old Wei called Lin Chenran and told him that Lion Country planned to send representatives to buy weapons from 077 Machinery Military Factory.
• Lin Chenran explained that Da Mu Country had also requested weapons, surprising Old Wei because the two countries were near war.
• Lin Chenran told Old Wei to let Lion Country's delegation visit and said the factory should not turn away either customer.
• Lin Chenran suggested using Iron Brother Country as a third party to supply one country if the factory could not meet both orders.

Lin Chenran welcomed the Da Mu Country delegation to 077 Machinery Military Factory and arranged a presentation of its weapons. The delegation saw equipment it urgently needed, while the factory and Da Mu Country had a potential weapons-for-oil trade in view.

• Lin Chenran told Old Wei that 077 Machinery Military Factory would sell weapons to Da Mu Country despite its war with Lion Country, and promised to keep the delegations from meeting.
• Daniel Harper and the Da Mu Country delegation arrived at 077 Machinery Military Factory, where Lin Chenran greeted them warmly.
• Lin Chenran joked that his employees might shoot him if he offended the delegation and lost their weapons orders, prompting the guests to laugh.
• A senior factory executive presented the factory’s light and heavy weapons to the Da Mu Country delegation.
• The delegation examined weapons it needed, as Da Mu Country’s limited funds and Flame Nation’s need for oil offered grounds for a weapons-for-oil deal.

Lin Chenran learned that Lion Country’s delegation would arrive while Da Mu Country’s delegation was still visiting 077 Machinery Military Factory, creating a risk of a diplomatic incident. He arranged for the delegations to avoid meeting, and both groups left satisfied after their visits and weapons purchases.

• Lin Chenran left Daniel Harper and Da Mu Country’s delegation with Old Song to handle an urgent matter.
• Lin Chenran called Old Wei and protested that the military had scheduled Lion Country’s delegation to arrive before Da Mu Country’s visit ended.
• Old Wei apologized and suggested refusing Lion Country’s visit, but Lin Chenran decided to keep it and carefully separate the delegations.
• Da Mu Country’s delegation left after three days, and Lion Country’s delegation arrived shortly afterward.
• Lion Country’s delegation spent three days at 077 Machinery Military Factory, ordered weapons and equipment, and departed satisfied.

Lion Country bought weapons from Flame Nation at Eagle Country’s urging, but Lin Chenran recognized the espionage scheme and let the profitable sale proceed. Da Mu Country and Lion Country later fought a fierce, evenly matched localized war using Flame-made arms, while Lin Chenran met Old Lin at an air force base to hear why he had been summoned.

• Eagle Country instructed Lion Country to buy weapons from 077 Machinery Military Factory and gather intelligence about its operations and technology.
• Lin Chenran saw through Eagle Country and Lion Country’s scheme but allowed the arms sale to go ahead, trusting the factory’s export versions to protect its core technology.
• Less than a month and a half after Da Mu Country and Lion Country bought weapons from Flame Nation, their tensions escalated into a localized war fought largely with Flame-made arms.
• Da Mu Country and Lion Country fought on nearly equal terms, unlike their previous war, when Da Mu Country had reclaimed the territory Lion Country occupied.
• Lin Chenran and several 077 Machinery Military Factory members arrived at a Flame Nation air force base, where Old Lin welcomed him and invited him to talk in a car.

Lin Chenran learned that the Flame Nation Air Force wanted the 077 Machinery Military Factory to upgrade the outdated H-6 Bomber because the Air Force lacked funds for a new aircraft. He agreed to take on the project and then asked Old Lin to grant him a request, though Old Lin warned him it could not be too difficult.

• Old Lin told Lin Chenran that the Air Force wanted the 077 Machinery Military Factory to modernize the H-6 Bomber, surprising Lin Chenran.
• Old Lin explained that the H-6 no longer met strategic needs and that funding shortages made upgrading it cheaper than developing a new bomber.
• Lin Chenran agreed to do everything possible to improve the H-6 Bomber, and Old Lin expressed confidence in him.
• Lin Chenran asked Old Lin for a small favor, and Old Lin invited him to explain but cautioned that he might not be able to help with anything too difficult.

Lin Chenran pressed Old Lin for a commitment that 077 Machinery Military Factory would build Flame Nation’s next strategic bomber, but received only a promise of priority. At the Air Force base, Lin Chenran and his group inspected an H-6 Bomber and heard its specifications, including its outdated performance.

• Lin Chenran asked Old Lin to assign any future strategic bomber project to 077 Machinery Military Factory, and Old Lin promised the factory would be his first choice.
• Old Lin reassured Lin Chenran that the factory’s strong development capabilities made it likely to handle the project, though he offered no ironclad guarantee.
• Lin Chenran and the others arrived at the Air Force base and saw several H-6 Bombers lined up.
• Old Lin agreed to let the group inspect an H-6 Bomber so they could better understand it for future upgrades and modifications.
• Air Force soldiers led Lin Chenran and his group inside, where a technical specialist described the bomber’s size, weight, and two WP-8 engines.

Lin Chenran agreed to lead the 077 Machinery Military Factory’s comprehensive H-6 Bomber upgrade project and asked Old Lin to send over the aircraft’s design blueprints. After returning to the factory, he gathered the aerospace staff to begin the project.

• Lin Chenran told Old Lin that the H-6 Bomber was outdated but said he had a preliminary plan for upgrading it.
• Lin Chenran promised to assemble an expert team at the 077 Machinery Military Factory to work on the upgrade.
• Lin Chenran asked Old Lin to arrange for the H-6 Bomber’s design and development blueprints to be delivered to the factory, and Old Lin agreed.
• Lin Chenran promised Old Lin that the factory would work quickly to produce a complete upgrade plan.
• Lin Chenran returned to the 077 Machinery Military Factory, gathered the aerospace personnel, and opened the H-6 Bomber upgrade meeting.

Lin Chenran convened 077 Machinery Military Factory’s leaders and aerospace engineers to assess plans for upgrading the H-6 Bomber. The group acknowledged the project’s enormous challenges but rallied behind the effort, and Lin began presenting his proposed modifications, starting with the airframe.

• Lin Chenran gave the attendees fifteen minutes to study the H-6 Bomber blueprints before sharing their views.
• Meng Chunping judged the bomber’s performance outdated, and factory leaders and engineers agreed that modernizing it would be nearly as difficult as developing a new medium bomber.
• Some factory leaders suggested abandoning the upgrade in favor of developing a new strategic bomber from scratch.
• Lin Chenran praised the H-6’s original designers and reassured them that the discussion was not meant to target anyone.
• Former H-6 engineers expressed their desire to help, and Lin called on everyone to work together to modernize the bomber.
• Lin Chenran began outlining his upgrade proposals, starting with modifications to the airframe.

Lin Chenran and the engineers at the 077 Machinery Military Factory planned a comprehensive redesign of the H-6 Bomber and considered replacing its weak WP-8 engines. The group favored installing the more powerful, expensive engine used on the Yun-10 Airborne Early Warning Aircraft, leaving the modified bomber’s airframe designs awaiting further refinement.

• Lin Chenran presented airframe-improvement ideas, prompting the engineers to propose and debate new designs for the H-6 Modified Bomber.
• After half an hour, the engineers tentatively settled on several airframe designs for further refinement and discussion.
• Meng Chunping proposed using the Yun-10 Airborne Early Warning Aircraft’s engine on the H-6 Modified Bomber.
• At Lin Chenran’s request, Meng Chunping explained the engine’s specifications, and the engineers agreed its performance justified its higher cost.

The 077 Machinery Military Factory focused on upgrading the H-6 Bomber for performance, with the Divine Bird Aero Engine raising its speed and payload capacity. After Lin Chenran reported the preliminary upgrade plan to Old Lin, Old Lin welcomed the proposal, though Air Force leaders still had to confirm the final design.

• The 077 Machinery Military Factory prioritized making the H-6 Modified Bomber a high-performance aircraft rather than deciding how many the Air Force would buy.
• The Divine Bird Aero Engine helped raise the H-6 Modified Bomber's maximum speed to Mach 1.2 and its maximum payload from 12 tons to 20 tons.
• After a three-hour meeting, Lin Chenran and the factory's staff settled on several preliminary upgrade plans for Air Force leadership to review.
• Lin Chenran called Old Lin and reported the meeting's results and the proposed H-6 Bomber improvements.
• Lin Chenran told Old Lin that the H-6 Modified Bomber needed the Divine Bird Aero Engine, and Old Lin recognized it as the engine used by the Yun-10 Airborne Early Warning Aircraft.

Lin Chenran secured Old Lin’s approval to equip the H-6 Modified Bomber with the expensive Divine Bird Aero Engine. After a morning of work at the 077 Machinery Military Factory, he met with Ma Fengshan, Meng Chunping, and Song Xiyun and showed them a set of blueprints that shocked them.

• Director Lin approved the 077 Machinery Military Factory’s proposal to fit the H-6 Modified Bomber with the Divine Bird Aero Engine.
• Lin Chenran explained to Old Lin that the engine would greatly improve the bomber’s speed, combat radius, and bomb load, and Old Lin agreed to send a professional team to review the upgrade plan within a week.
• Lin Chenran woke after a rare restful night, ate breakfast, and returned to his office to handle the factory’s heavy workload.
• Ma Fengshan, Meng Chunping, and Song Xiyun visited Lin Chenran’s office and shared tea with him.
• Lin Chenran took a set of design blueprints from the safe, and Ma Fengshan, Meng Chunping, and Song Xiyun reacted in shock when they opened them.

Lin Chenran proposed developing a stealth bomber alongside a stealth fighter, assuring 077 Machinery Military Factory's experts that Eagle Country's stealth technology was real but achievable. The team committed to the projects, and Lin provided design sketches while materials research continued.

• Song Xiyun, Meng Chunping, and Ma Fengshan questioned whether 077 Machinery Military Factory could afford or manage a stealth bomber project.
• Lin Chenran explained that Eagle Country's F-117 Nighthawk was real and described how stealth aircraft used their shape and special materials to evade radar.
• Ma Fengshan and Meng Chunping agreed to pursue stealth aircraft development, and Lin assigned Ma Fengshan as stealth bomber chief designer and Meng Chunping as its deputy and the stealth fighter's chief designer.
• Song Xiyun promised to handle logistics as Lin planned to develop the stealth bomber and fighter in parallel.
• Lin gave the team rough stealth fighter design sketches for reference and said work was underway to find suitable stealth materials.

Lin Chenran hosted senior Flame Nation Air Force leaders at the 077 Machinery Military Factory to review several H-6 Modified bomber upgrade plans. After choosing one proposal, Old Lin stayed at the factory and asked about its rumored Stealth Bomber.

• Lin Chenran welcomed Old Lin and the other Flame Nation Air Force leaders to the factory for a detailed review of its H-6 Modified bomber upgrade plans.
• Project representatives presented their proposals, each featuring the factory-developed Divine Bird Aero Engine and different improvements to the bomber.
• The Air Force leaders praised the proposals but struggled to choose among them, then left Lin Chenran and the project teams to deliberate.
• After half an hour, Old Lin and the leaders selected an upgrade plan and went to meet its project team.
• Old Lin stayed at the factory after hearing that it had designed an outstanding bomber, then reacted with surprise when he learned it was a Stealth Bomber.

Lin Chenran revealed that 077 Machinery Military Factory had begun researching stealth aircraft, prompting the senior Flame Nation Air Force leaders to offer their support. He began listing the resources he wanted, starting with top aerospace and materials-science experts.

• Old Lin and the other Flame Nation Air Force leaders visited Lin Chenran and learned that 077 Machinery Military Factory had begun work on stealth aircraft.
• The leaders reacted with excitement at the prospect of developing stealth fighters and bombers, but Lin Chenran said he could not guarantee the project would succeed.
• Lin Chenran explained that stealth aircraft were exceptionally difficult to develop and that even Bear Nation had not produced one.
• Old Lin offered to meet Lin Chenran's specific conditions, and Lin Chenran acknowledged that he had been seeking support through negotiation.
• Lin Chenran requested strong Air Force backing for 077 Machinery Military Factory, including top aerospace talent and leading materials-science experts.

Lin Chenran asked the Flame Nation Air Force to provide talent and funding for 077 Machinery Military Factory’s Stealth Fighter Jet project, then proposed selling the jet and seeking Sha Country’s investment. The Air Force leaders remained uncertain about the risks, while Lin Chenran insisted Sha Country would agree to cooperate.

• Lin Chenran asked the Flame Nation Air Force to assign top military talents to 077 Machinery Military Factory, and its leaders agreed.
• Lin Chenran requested Air Force funding for the Stealth Fighter Jet project, and Old Lin approved the investment.
• Lin Chenran proposed exporting the finished jet and bringing Sha Country into the project early to help fund development, leaving the Air Force leaders concerned about the risks.
• Old Lin questioned whether Sha Country would invest in an undeveloped aircraft, and Lin Chenran argued that Sha Country trusted professionals and already wanted closer cooperation with 077 Machinery Military Factory.
• The Air Force leaders asked Lin Chenran for a definite answer, and he confidently said Sha Country would jointly develop the Stealth Fighter Jet.

The Flame Nation Air Force agreed to partner with Sha Country in the Camel Region on the Stealth Fighter Jet, while keeping the Stealth Bomber project secret. Lin Chenran persuaded the senior leaders to consider exporting discarded H-6 Modified bomber designs, then demanded most of the profits for 077 Machinery Military Factory.

• The Flame Nation Air Force decided that Sha Country would fund the Stealth Fighter Jet project, while 077 Machinery Military Factory handled development and the Air Force supplied specialists and funding.
• Old Lin told Lin Chenran that Sha Country's fighters must remain inferior to Flame Nation's models and that the Stealth Bomber's development must stay secret; Lin Chenran agreed.
• Lin Chenran proposed selling Sha Country H-6 Modified bombers based on upgrade proposals the Air Force had rejected, but the senior leaders initially objected over security risks.
• Lin Chenran explained that the export designs would not reveal the Air Force's chosen models and could bring in funds; the senior leaders approved letting Sha Country choose from the discarded proposals.
• Lin Chenran demanded that 077 Machinery Military Factory receive eighty percent of the profits, prompting another uproar among the Air Force leaders.

Lin Chenran negotiated a profit split with the Flame Nation Air Force for exporting H-6 Modified bombers to Sha Country, settling on sixty percent for his 077 Machinery Military Factory and forty percent for the air force. He contacted Sha Country’s representative, and Abdul’s delegation set off for Flame Nation to inspect the bomber.

• The Flame Nation Air Force leaders protested Lin Chenran’s demand for eighty percent of the profits and threatened to block the H-6 Modified bomber export.
• Old Lin proposed a seventy-thirty split in the air force’s favor, but Lin Chenran countered with a sixty-forty split and offered to handle negotiations and the bomber upgrades.
• Old Lin accepted Lin Chenran’s terms on behalf of the air force.
• Lin Chenran sent Abdul a telegram asking whether Sha Country wanted a medium bomber.
• Abdul consulted his superior, received orders to inspect the bomber in Flame Nation, and organized a delegation that flew there.

Abdul led a delegation from Sha Country to the 077 Machinery Military Factory to inspect its proposed medium bomber. Lin Chenran revealed the H-6 Modified Bomber’s preliminary designs, leaving the delegation impressed and eager to learn more.

• Abdul arrived at the 077 Machinery Military Factory with a delegation from Sha Country after receiving Lin Chenran’s invitation.
• Abdul asked Lin Chenran to show them the bomber proposal, explaining that Sha Country wanted to buy bombers and possibly acquire blueprints and a production line.
• Lin Chenran introduced the H-6 Modified Bomber, prompting the delegation to doubt that an upgraded H-6 could offer much improvement.
• Lin Chenran assured the delegation that the bomber had been comprehensively redesigned, and its preliminary drawings showed an aircraft that looked entirely different from the original H-6.
• Abdul and the delegation fell silent at the designs and felt embarrassed about their earlier doubts.

Lin Chenran reconciled with Abdul and presented three H-6 Modified bomber upgrade plans to the Sha Country delegation. Abdul chose the first and third plans for Sha Country, and the chapter ended with Lin Chenran introducing the factory’s Stealth Fighter Jet concept.

• Abdul apologized to Lin Chenran, who accepted and reassured him that they were close friends and business partners.
• An engineer explained the first H-6 Modified bomber upgrade plan, which impressed the Sha Country representatives.
• Lin Chenran revealed two more upgrade plans, and the delegation heard all three before asking him which to choose.
• Lin Chenran recommended the first plan for Sha Country’s air force and the third for its navy, and Abdul selected both.
• After the procurement contract was signed, Lin Chenran asked Meng Chunping to present the Stealth Fighter Jet concept, astonishing Abdul and the delegation.