Recaps

After the Flame Nation military selected 617 Machinery Military Factory’s tank design for its Type 80, Lin Chenran accepted that 077 Machinery Military Factory had little chance of winning a large military order without access to a foreign engine. After seeing Old Zhu off, Lin Chenran put Song Xiyun in charge of the factory for a month and a half while he prepared to leave on a business trip.

• The Flame Nation military chose 617 Machinery Military Factory’s proposal as the Type 80, while 077 Machinery Military Factory’s modified Super Type 59 would not receive large-scale orders without the Bear Nation’s V-46 engine technology and production line.
• Lin Chenran received Song Xiyun and Old Zhu, congratulated Old Zhu, and explained that 077 Machinery Military Factory would focus on the international export market.
• Lin Chenran, Song Xiyun, and Old Zhu inspected the factory for a day, exchanging technical ideas and discussing its operations.
• The next day, Lin Chenran and Song Xiyun saw Old Zhu off, and Lin Chenran assigned Song Xiyun responsibility for factory affairs for the next month and a half.
• Lin Chenran told Song Xiyun he was going on a business trip, leaving Song Xiyun puzzled.

Lin Chenran planned a trip to Mao Xiong, aiming to launch an international trading venture for the 077 Machinery Military Factory while also pursuing the V-46 engine technology. Song Xiyun helped him find a potential source of clothing stock, and the chapter ended with him arranging a dinner with the Second Textile Factory’s director.

• Lin Chenran told Song Xiyun he planned to travel to Mao Xiong to discuss the V-46 engine, but revealed that his main goal was to become an international speculator.
• Lin Chenran proposed selling daily necessities, clothing, and high-proof liquor in Mao Xiong, where light industrial goods were scarce.
• Song Xiyun told Lin Chenran that the struggling Second Textile Factory had warehouses full of unsold clothes and offered to contact its director.
• Lin Chenran proposed buying the stock with a thirty-percent deposit and paying the rest after returning from Mao Xiong.
• The next day, Song Xiyun contacted the Second Textile Factory’s director and invited him to dinner.

Lin Chenran and Song Xiyun met with Wu Changqing, director of the struggling Second Textile Factory, and offered to help him sell its surplus goods through a risky, profitable connection in Mao Bear. Wu Changqing realized Lin Chenran had set his sights on the factory’s warehouse stock.

• Wu Changqing accepted Song Xiyun’s dinner invitation, hoping to learn how the 077 Machinery Military Factory had turned itself around.
• Lin Chenran and Song Xiyun met Wu Changqing at a restaurant, where Lin Chenran delayed explaining why they had invited him.
• Wu Changqing described the Second Textile Factory’s unsold goods, mounting debt, and failed attempts to find buyers.
• Lin Chenran said he would help the factory and proposed using his connection in Mao Bear to sell its stock.
• Wu Changqing suspected Lin Chenran had invited him because he wanted the goods piled up in the Second Textile Factory’s warehouse.

Lin Chenran persuaded Wu Changqing to cooperate with 077 Machinery Military Factory, promising to handle an international goods-trading route and pay thirty percent upfront for the Second Textile Factory’s surplus stock. The next day, Lin and Song Xiyun toured the factory, and the two sides prepared to discuss the partnership contract.

• Lin Chenran proposed exporting the Second Textile Factory’s light industrial goods to Mao Xiong Country and offered thirty percent of the payment upfront.
• Wu Changqing accepted the proposal, and he, Lin Chenran, and Song Xiyun discussed the cooperation in detail.
• After leaving, Lin Chenran revealed that he had only pretended to be drunk and told Song Xiyun that he intended to acquire the Second Textile Factory.
• The next day, Lin Chenran and Song Xiyun arrived at the Second Textile Factory, where Wu Changqing welcomed them and showed them around.
• A senior executive from 077 Machinery Military Factory handed Lin Chenran a document as the two sides prepared to discuss their cooperation.

Lin Chenran finalized a mutually beneficial cooperation contract between the 077 Machinery Military Factory and the Second Textile Factory, then traveled to the capital to visit Old Master Lin before continuing north to the Bear Nation. After welcoming him home, Old Master Lin praised his work at the factory and prepared to discuss what Lin Chenran had come to ask him about.

• Wu Changqing and the Second Textile Factory executives approved the contract, and Wu Changqing signed and stamped it before he and Lin Chenran agreed on future cooperation.
• Lin Chenran declined a celebratory dinner because the 077 Machinery Military Factory had urgent matters to handle, including planning how to open a path for international speculation.
• After three days of rest and preparation, Lin Chenran flew to the capital to visit Old Master Lin and discuss the international speculator matter.
• He Yi met Lin Chenran at the airport in an official car, explaining that Old Master Lin had sent him to bring Lin Chenran home.
• Lin Chenran reunited with Old Master Lin, who praised his work at the 077 Machinery Military Factory after they entered the study.

Lin Chenran discussed 077 Machinery Military Factory's tank program and Flame Nation's strained military budget with Old Master Lin, then proposed that his factory act as an intermediary to help military manufacturers enter the international arms market. Old Master Lin was stunned by the scale of Lin Chenran's plan.

• Old Master Lin praised Lin Chenran's leadership of 077 Machinery Military Factory and lamented that its Second Generation Main Battle Tank had lost out because of its engine issue.
• Lin Chenran said adopting 617 Machinery Military Factory's tank plan was the safest choice and argued that 077 Machinery Military Factory did not need military orders because the military lacked funds.
• Old Master Lin explained that military spending would remain tight as Flame Nation prioritized economic development.
• Lin Chenran proposed selling Flame Nation's practical, affordable weapons abroad to ease the pressure on military manufacturers.
• Lin Chenran revealed that 077 Machinery Military Factory would serve as an intermediary to open international sales channels, leaving Old Master Lin astonished.

Lin Chenran explained his plans for a trip to the Bear and warned Old Master Lin that the country could collapse amid economic troubles, corruption, and foreign pressure. Old Master Lin doubted the prediction, while Lin Chenran urged preparing to take advantage of the turmoil if it came.

• Lin Chenran told Old Master Lin that other military enterprises could seek foreign arms orders themselves, and Old Master Lin praised his growth.
• Lin Chenran explained that he planned to visit Vladivostok because its distance from Moscow would help him avoid attention from the KGB.
• Lin Chenran described the Bear’s weak light industry, slowing economy, rising prices, and growing internal disorder.
• Old Master Lin asked how long the turmoil would last, and Lin Chenran said the Bear might fall because it lacked strong leadership and suffered from corruption and foreign pressure.
• Lin Chenran advised preparing to take advantage of the Bear’s chaos, even if the preparations ultimately proved unnecessary.

Lin Chenran persuaded Old Master Lin that Flame Nation should prepare for Mao Xiong Country’s possible collapse and revealed his plan to use the International Speculator route to secure opportunities there. Three days later, Lin Chenran and He Yi arrived in Vladivostok and went to a tavern near the Far East Fleet’s garrison to make contact with its personnel.

• Lin Chenran told Old Master Lin that Mao Xiong Country might fall and that Flame Nation should prepare to take advantage of its weaknesses.
• Lin Chenran admitted he planned to use the International Speculator route to make arrangements in Mao Xiong Country, and Old Master Lin agreed to consult the military leadership.
• Old Master Lin arranged for He Yi to accompany Lin Chenran, who left the Imperial Capital three days later with transaction documents prepared.
• After a week of travel, Lin Chenran, He Yi, and their group arrived in Vladivostok and settled near the Far East Fleet’s garrison.
• Lin Chenran led the group to the Red Romance Tavern, where he ordered a bottle of vodka for each of them to draw in Fleet personnel.
• A middle-aged man with a soldier’s bearing entered the tavern.

Lin Chenran used a drinking contest to attract Kovalevitch, deputy chief of staff of the Far East Fleet, and presented himself as a legitimate trader with documented light industrial goods. Kovalevitch was excited by the prospect of doing business through official channels.

• Lin Chenran and Kovalevitch caught each other's attention by drinking bottles of vodka at the bar.
• Kovalevitch asked to sit with Lin Chenran, and they drank and chatted like old friends.
• Kovalevitch asked why Lin Chenran had come to Mao Xiong, and Lin Chenran said he planned to trade goods between the countries.
• Lin Chenran explained that he was a legitimate businessman with customs documents and a large stock of light industrial goods.
• Kovalevitch realized Lin Chenran's goods could be sold openly and welcomed the opportunity to increase his income.

Lin Chenran offered Kovalevitch a large shipment of goods, then proposed taking collateral so Kovalevitch could pay thirty percent upfront and settle the rest after resale. After learning Lin Chenran ran Yan Kingdom's 077 Machinery Military Factory, Kovalevitch agreed to cooperate, believing he could profit without crossing the line of leaking state secrets.

• Lin Chenran told Kovalevitch he could supply any quantity and revealed his first shipment included thousands of trousers, coats, scarves, and canned fruits.
• Kovalevitch admitted he lacked enough capital to buy the shipment outright and proposed paying thirty percent first, then settling the balance after resale.
• Lin Chenran rejected the unsecured arrangement but offered to accept partial payment if Kovalevitch provided collateral.
• Lin Chenran reassured Kovalevitch by pointing out that the KGB would have acted if he were untrustworthy, and Kovalevitch grew more interested in the deal.
• Lin Chenran introduced himself as director of Yan Kingdom's 077 Machinery Military Factory and mentioned its Type 59 Civilian Engineering Vehicle.
• Kovalevitch recognized the factory, resolved to cooperate with Lin Chenran, and agreed to proceed.

Lin Chenran negotiated with Kovalevitch to acquire decommissioned tanks and ship steel for his machinery factory. Kovalevitch took Lin Chenran and He Yi by helicopter to inspect the scrapped tanks.

• Lin Chenran asked Kovalevitch to help obtain chassis and special steel, proposing to trade for decommissioned tanks and recycle steel from retired warships.
• Kovalevitch considered the financial benefits and risks, then decided to seek his superiors' support for the deal.
• Kovalevitch took Lin Chenran and He Yi to the Far East Fleet's camp after asking Lin to bring only one companion.
• Kovalevitch arranged a Mi-26 helicopter to fly Lin Chenran and He Yi to the tank scrapyard, and Lin praised the aircraft.

Lin Chenran and Kovalevitch traveled by Mi-26 helicopter to a tank retirement and scrapyard, where they met Lieutenant Alexander and inspected a warehouse of discarded tanks. The chapter left Lin examining newly delivered tanks whose power systems were still in fairly good condition.

• Lin Chenran praised Mao Xiong Country's industrial and military strength, making Kovalevitch more enthusiastic toward him.
• Lin Chenran, He Yi, and Kovalevitch flew to the scrapyard aboard a Mi-26 helicopter and arrived after several hours.
• Lieutenant Alexander greeted Kovalevitch and drove the group by jeep to a warehouse of retired tanks.
• Lin Chenran asked Alexander for tanks with intact chassis and power systems for civilian engineering vehicles.
• After Kovalevitch gave permission, Alexander showed Lin the recently delivered tanks with power systems in fairly good condition.

Lin Chenran inspected Russia’s scrapped tanks and secured assurances that the tanks chosen for conversion would have usable power systems and chassis. Kovalevitch won Alexander’s loyalty with promises of money and promotion, and Lin Chenran left with Kovalevitch for the next location.

• Kovalevitch had soldiers start a T-54 so Lin Chenran could see that some retired tanks still ran.
• Lin Chenran told Kovalevitch and Alexander that he needed tanks with stable power systems and chassis, and Kovalevitch promised replacement engines if problems arose.
• Lin Chenran gave Alexander money to treat the soldiers to vodka, and Alexander accepted it.
• After touring the base, Lin Chenran waited while Kovalevitch privately promised Alexander a share of the profits and a future transfer and promotion.
• Alexander pledged to support Kovalevitch, and they returned to Lin Chenran to travel to the next location.

Lin Chenran gave Alexander and the soldiers liquor and canned fruit to earn their goodwill, and Kovalevitch supported his efforts to build connections. They then flew to Mao Xiong Country’s retired warship site, where Kovalevitch showed Lin Chenran two ships he could take to Flame Nation for dismantling.

• Lin Chenran told Alexander that Kovalevitch would deliver liquor and canned fruit to him and his soldiers, and Alexander accepted the gifts with gratitude.
• Alexander’s favorability toward Lin Chenran rose from friendliness to respect as Lin Chenran bid him farewell and boarded the Mi-26 helicopter.
• Lin Chenran explained to Kovalevitch that he had given the supplies to strengthen future cooperation, and Kovalevitch said he supported the gesture.
• Lin Chenran and Kovalevitch arrived at the retired warship site, where Kovalevitch showed Lin Chenran two ships he could sail back to Flame Nation for dismantling.
• Lin Chenran began to respond to Kovalevitch’s offer.

Lin Chenran signed a deal with Kovalevitch to buy two retired Type 61 Destroyers at scrap prices and returned to Flame Nation to organize goods for their next trade. Back in the capital, he told Old Master Lin about building ties with the Far East Fleet, and his grandfather asked whether the destroyers could serve the navy.

• Lin Chenran agreed to buy Kovalevitch's two retired Type 61 Destroyers after confirming they could still sail, with their weapons and communications systems removed.
• Lin Chenran and Kovalevitch signed the contract and arranged another trade for one month later, while Kovalevitch planned to report the deal and recruit partners.
• Lin Chenran ordered the Second Textile Factory and 077 Machinery Military Factory to prepare goods for the next exchange in Mao Xiong Country.
• Lin Chenran returned to the capital and told Old Master Lin about his dealings with Kovalevitch and the Far East Fleet.
• Old Master Lin praised Lin Chenran's new connections, then asked whether the Type 61 Destroyers could be used by the navy.

Lin Chenran told Old Master Lin that the two Type 61 Destroyers were beyond repair and advised keeping the country’s shipyards active by building civilian vessels. He also secured approval to merge the Second Textile Factory into the 077 Machinery Military Factory, leaving Old Master Lin to consider Lin Chenran’s plan for developing shipbuilding capacity.

• Lin Chenran explained that the two Type 61 Destroyers had been stripped of their systems and their turbines ruined, so they could not be salvaged.
• Old Master Lin described the Navy’s budget cuts and accepted that Flame Nation could not rely on the destroyers to strengthen its fleet.
• Lin Chenran urged Old Master Lin to keep the country’s major shipyards operating while the economy developed.
• Lin Chenran asked to merge the Second Textile Factory into the 077 Machinery Military Factory, and Old Master Lin agreed to discuss the arrangement with Old Liang.
• Lin Chenran proposed that the shipyards build civilian vessels, including dredgers and oil tankers, to sustain production and prepare for future warship and aircraft-carrier construction.

After returning to the 077 Machinery Military Factory, Lin Chenran announced plans for future Bear Nation transactions and the merger of the Second Textile Factory into the factory. The meeting ended with news that the special steel material had produced a finished product.

• Lin Chenran returned to the 077 Machinery Military Factory, where Song Xiyun and the senior managers welcomed him.
• Lin Chenran told the managers that Bear Nation transactions would continue and that one executive would eventually be chosen to handle them.
• Lin Chenran announced that the Second Textile Factory would become a subsidiary, and he asked Song Xiyun to accompany him to coordinate with Wu Changqing.
• Song Xiyun reported that merchants from Sha Country wanted to meet Lin Chenran about the Type 59 Civilian Engineering Vehicle, and Lin Chenran asked him to arrange a meeting.
• A senior executive reported that the special steel material had a finished product, surprising Lin Chenran.

Hu Xiaofan announced that the 077 Machinery Military Factory had developed a new Special Steel Material using Lin Chenran’s formula. Tests showed an 80mm plate could withstand repeated armor-piercing shell hits, and Lin Chenran and the factory executives approached it for a closer inspection.

• Hu Xiaofan presented the new Special Steel Material and described its strength, toughness, and resistance to corrosion and extreme conditions.
• Lin Chenran ordered Hu Xiaofan to arrange a test against armor-piercing shells, and the team gathered at the testing ground beside a Type 59 Tank.
• The tank fired from two hundred meters, but its shell failed to penetrate the 80mm Special Steel Plate.
• Hu Xiaofan arranged further shots from one hundred and fifty, one hundred, fifty, and twenty meters; the plate held, with the closest shell lodging in it without passing through.
• After half an hour, Lin Chenran and the other 077 Machinery Military Factory executives walked up to inspect the plate.

077 Machinery Military Factory successfully tested its special steel, which stopped Type 59 Tank armor-piercing shells from penetrating an 80mm plate. Lin Chenran reported the results to Old Wei and hoped to arrange a test with a T-72 at 617 Machinery Military Factory.

• Lin Chenran and the executives of 077 Machinery Military Factory inspected the test plate and saw that a Type 59 Tank armor-piercing shell had embedded in it without penetrating.
• Lin Chenran proposed using the T-72 imported years earlier and sent to 617 Machinery Military Factory for a stronger test, and Song Xiyun warned that the factory might refuse and the tank might not run.
• Lin Chenran called Old Wei, the military's equipment department head, and told him that 077 Machinery Military Factory had developed special steel.
• Lin Chenran told Old Wei that shells fired from 200 and 100 meters caused no damage, while a shell fired from 20 meters stuck in the 80mm plate without penetrating it.
• Old Wei asked Lin Chenran to confirm that the test results were genuine, and Lin Chenran insisted they were true.

Lin Chenran asked Old Wei to help secure a T-72 tank for testing the Special Steel Material made at the 077 Machinery Military Factory. Old Wei agreed to contact the 617 Machinery Military Factory and said he would visit in three days.

• Old Wei praised Lin Chenran’s work and guessed that he had called for a favor.
• Lin Chenran explained that he wanted to test the Special Steel Material against a T-72 tank rather than rely on outdated Type 59 Tank test data.
• Old Wei agreed to contact the 617 Machinery Military Factory and ask them to get the T-72 tank operational, though he warned it might be unusable.
• Old Wei said he would arrange delivery of the tank to the 077 Machinery Military Factory if possible and visit in three days.
• Lin Chenran told Song Xiyun to prepare for Old Wei’s visit, and Song Xiyun left to make arrangements.

Lin Chenran hosted Old Wei and military officials at the 077 Machinery Military Factory ahead of a test of its Special Steel Material, then asked to invite Sha Country guests to watch. Old Wei objected to exporting the factory’s Second Generation Main Battle Tank, but Lin Chenran argued that a more advanced steel was in development, leaving Old Wei hesitant.

• Lin Chenran showed Old Wei the upgraded factory and explained that its busy workers received proper overtime pay and benefits.
• Lin Chenran took Old Wei and the visitors to the cafeteria for a late-night meal before raising his request about the next day’s test.
• Lin Chenran revealed that he wanted guests from Sha Country to attend, and Old Wei realized he planned to promote the Second Generation Main Battle Tank to them.
• Old Wei warned that the Special Steel Material could not be exported, but Lin Chenran said a next-generation material with twice the performance was being developed.
• Old Wei considered Lin Chenran’s assurance and hesitated over whether the tank could then be exported.

Lin Chenran persuaded Old Wei to pass along his proposal to publicly announce 077 Machinery Military Factory’s advanced Special Steel Material, then prepared to host visitors and demonstrate the factory’s work. Old Zhu arrived with a T-72 tank for testing, while Lin Chenran turned to receive distinguished guests from Sha Country.

• Lin Chenran argued that openly revealing the Special Steel Material would keep hostile forces guessing, and Old Wei agreed to report the proposal to higher-ups.
• Lin Chenran showed Old Wei the factory’s laboratory, workshops, and production lines, then told him that Old Zhu and guests from Sha Country would arrive the next morning.
• Lin Chenran got up early and waited with his colleagues for Old Zhu’s convoy from 617 Machinery Military Factory.
• Old Zhu arrived with a T-72 tank, and Lin Chenran had the tarp replaced after the group saw the vehicle.
• Lin Chenran arranged for Old Zhu to go to the testing site and said the tests would take place that afternoon after he received the guests from Sha Country.

Lin Chenran hosted Abdul and Sha Country’s delegation at the 077 Machinery Military Factory, where they inspected the Type 59 Civilian Engineering Vehicle and signed a twenty-million-US-dollar order. Lin Chenran realized the engineering vehicles were a cover for Sha Country’s search for weapons and equipment, then invited Abdul to an afternoon test attended by Flame Nation’s military leaders.

• Lin Chenran and Song Xiyun welcomed Abdul and Sha Country’s delegation to the 077 Machinery Military Factory.
• Lin Chenran showed the delegation the Type 59 Civilian Engineering Vehicle production line and offered upgrades for the desert heat.
• Sha Country agreed to buy twenty million US dollars’ worth of engineering vehicles and promised further orders if they were satisfied.
• Abdul revealed through his thoughts that Sha Country hoped to negotiate with Flame Nation’s military after facing obstacles with Bear Country and Eagle Country.
• Lin Chenran guessed Abdul’s real purpose and invited him to an afternoon test attended by Flame Nation’s military leaders.

Lin Chenran brought Abdul and Flame Nation’s military leaders to watch the 077 Machinery Military Factory test its Special Steel Material against a T-72 tank. The test began when the tank fired an armor-piercing round at the 100mm steel plate.

• Lin Chenran invited Abdul to meet Old Wei and the other Flame Nation military leaders at the testing grounds.
• Lin Chenran introduced Abdul to the officials and explained that the test would pit the factory’s Special Steel Material against a T-72 tank.
• Workers uncovered the steel block, and the assembled officials questioned whether its 100mm plate could withstand the tank’s armor-piercing round.
• A professional driver from the 617 Machinery Military Factory drove the T-72 to the firing area.
• The T-72 fired an armor-piercing round at the designated target.

Lin Chenran’s 077 Machinery Military Factory proved that its Xuanwu Steel could withstand T-72 tank armor-piercing shells at 120 meters and 50 meters. He ordered the test to continue from 20 meters away, leaving the outcome unknown.

• A T-72 tank fired at a 100mm Special Steel Plate from 120 meters, but its armor-piercing shell failed to penetrate.
• The target spotter reported the result, and the 077 Machinery Military Factory staff celebrated as Flame Nation’s military officials congratulated Lin Chenran.
• Lin Chenran said Xuanwu Steel had not reached its limit and ordered a test from 50 meters.
• The T-72 tank fired at Xuanwu Steel Plate No. 2 from 50 meters, lodging its penetrator in the plate without penetrating it.
• Lin Chenran immediately ordered the next test to be conducted from 20 meters.