Recaps

Eagle Country agents traced Flame Nation’s new weapons to the 077 Machinery Military Factory in Linjiang Province, prompting Flame Nation to protect the factory and mislead the spies. Meanwhile, Lin Chenran welcomed Song Wen’s J-10 Fighter Jet team to discuss fitting the aircraft with imported AL-31FN engines.

• Valerie Burner told Shane Carl that Eagle Country had identified the 077 Machinery Military Factory in Linjiang Province as the maker of Flame Nation’s new weapons, though its exact location remained unknown.
• Shane Carl praised Valerie Burner and sent the intelligence to Eagle Country, which mobilized agents to search for the factory.
• Flame Nation’s authorities learned of the search, warned Lin Chenran to prepare for agents and protect weapons-project data, and used fake factory signs to misdirect Eagle Country’s spies.
• Flame Nation’s agents caught more than half of the spies, and Eagle Country let the matter drop rather than risk damaging relations.
• Lin Chenran welcomed Song Wen and the J-10 Fighter Jet’s Design and R&D Team to the 077 Machinery Military Factory, where they began discussing the aircraft’s use of AL-31FN turbofan engines.

After helping the J-10 Fighter Jet team with its engine needs, Lin Chenran planned for 077 Machinery Military Factory to develop an export-oriented third-generation fighter, the Dragon Shadow Fighter Jet. He won the military leadership’s attention and Old Wei’s support for the project, which he intended to sell abroad.

• Lin Chenran welcomed Song Wen and the J-10 Fighter Jet Design and R&D Team, and agreed to let them record data from the AL-31FN turbofan engine.
• Lin Chenran and Song Xiyun discussed developing an export-version third-generation fighter jet and shaped an initial outline for it.
• 077 Machinery Military Factory submitted the Dragon Shadow Fighter Jet proposal for approval, surprising Flame Nation’s military leadership.
• Old Wei called Lin Chenran to ask about the project, and Lin Chenran said he wanted to put aerospace talents to work.
• Old Wei teased Lin Chenran about disguising a plan to make money as a contribution to the nation, then said he supported earning US Dollars from other countries.

Lin Chenran asked Old Wei to connect 077 Machinery Military Factory with Iron Brother Country so they could jointly develop and locally produce the Dragon Shadow Fighter Jet. Iron Brother Country sent a delegation to the factory, where Meng Chunping began presenting the aircraft’s design.

• Lin Chenran explained that the Dragon Shadow Fighter Jet was a Generation Two-and-a-Half fighter with performance approaching a Third-Generation Fighter Jet.
• Lin Chenran proposed sharing the fighter’s technical documentation with Iron Brother Country and helping it establish local production, and Old Wei agreed to contact them.
• Iron Brother Country’s leaders showed strong interest, and a delegation secretly traveled to Flame Nation to discuss cooperation.
• Lin Chenran and 077 Machinery Military Factory executives welcomed the delegation, including Shabtai Warren, at the factory.
• Meng Chunping introduced the Dragon Shadow Fighter Jet, and its design blueprints caught the delegation’s attention.

Lin Chenran persuaded Old Wei to contact Iron Brother Country about jointly developing and locally producing the Dragon Shadow Fighter Jet. Iron Brother Country sent a delegation to 077 Machinery Military Factory, where Meng Chunping began presenting the aircraft’s designs.

• Lin Chenran described the Dragon Shadow Fighter Jet as a Generation 2.5 fighter and proposed sharing its technical documentation with Iron Brother Country.
• Old Wei agreed to contact Iron Brother Country, which responded with strong interest and quickly assembled a delegation.
• Lin Chenran and the senior executives of 077 Machinery Military Factory welcomed the Iron Brother Country delegation, including Shabtai Warren.
• At the meeting, Lin Chenran asked Meng Chunping to introduce the Dragon Shadow Fighter Jet, and the delegation was impressed by its design blueprints.

Meng Chunping presented the Dragon Shadow Fighter Jet to the Iron Brother Country delegation, describing its capabilities, design, and planned engine. The delegation showed strong interest, but negotiations over investment, aircraft prices, and a future production plant stalled, so Lin Chenran paused talks while they sought instructions from home.

• Meng Chunping introduced the Dragon Shadow Fighter Jet, and both the Iron Brother Country delegation and Flame Nation military representatives became interested in its capabilities.
• Meng Chunping described the jet’s planned turbofan engine, and Shabtai Warren questioned whether 077 Machinery Military Factory could produce it.
• Lin Chenran offered the delegation a choice of engines and recommended buying 077 Machinery Military Factory’s engine technology and production line.
• Meng Chunping presented the jet’s specifications, and the Iron Brother Country delegation showed eagerness to acquire it.
• Lin Chenran and Shabtai Warren failed to agree on investment, aircraft prices, and production-factory costs, so they paused negotiations while the delegation sought instructions from home.

Lin Chenran finalized a joint Dragon Shadow Fighter Jet development deal with Iron Brother Country, then learned that Flame Nation’s Air Force was interested in the aircraft because it was affordable and could complement the J-10. The chapter left Lin Chenran aware that the military’s budget limits made the fighter’s low cost especially valuable.

• Lin Chenran reassured Meng Chunping that Iron Brother Country would return to negotiate, and Shabtai Warren’s delegation came back three days later.
• 077 Machinery Military Factory and Iron Brother Country agreed to invest 40 million and 35 million US Dollars respectively, split future sales 70–30, and establish a company to sell the Dragon Shadow Fighter Jet.
• Lin Chenran told Shabtai Warren that 077 Machinery Military Factory would seek additional partners, and Shabtai agreed because Iron Brother Country lacked funds.
• Old Wei called Lin Chenran after the agreement and told him that the Air Force was interested in the Dragon Shadow Fighter Jet.
• Old Wei explained that the aircraft’s low price and strong performance could complement the J-10, while limited military spending prevented Flame Nation from replacing its aging J-7s with Third-Generation Fighter Jets.

Lin Chenran told Elder Zhang that 077 Machinery Military Factory’s Aegis missile destroyer was ready, and a week later the navy gathered at 704 Shipyard for its launch. The destroyer was named Linjiang, code 077, and the leaders began discussing launch schedules for later ships.

• Lin Chenran asked Old Wei to tell Elder Zhang that the Aegis missile destroyer was ready to launch, but Old Wei refused and said he would attend the ceremony with Lin Chenran.
• Lin Chenran called Elder Zhang, who gave him a date for the launch.
• A week later, Lin Chenran and 077 Machinery Military Factory executives welcomed Flame Nation navy leaders to 704 Shipyard for the destroyer’s launch ceremony.
• Lin Chenran explained the destroyer’s design, weapons, and electronic systems to the navy leaders, who thanked him and 077 Machinery Military Factory.
• The navy leaders unveiled the ship and revealed its name as Linjiang, code 077, honoring the factory’s contribution.
• After the launch, the leaders discussed schedules for launching subsequent warships.

After the Flame Nation Navy ordered three more Aegis missile destroyers, Lin Chenran met with 704 Shipyard’s executives to plan how to build them alongside civilian vessels. Faced with a shortage of skilled workers, he decided to pursue the acquisition of struggling shipyards to bring their personnel into 704 Shipyard.

• The Flame Nation Navy ordered three more Aegis missile destroyers, bringing its planned total to four alongside the Linjiang.
• News of the first Aegis missile destroyer spread, prompting foreign countries to investigate its capabilities and propulsion system.
• Lin Chenran praised 704 Shipyard’s staff, announced the Navy’s new order, and said he had proposed increasing their bonuses.
• Pan Xueming warned Lin Chenran that 704 Shipyard lacked enough skilled technical workers to build three destroyers at once while handling other orders.
• Lin Chenran said he would acquire shipyards nearing bankruptcy to bring their experienced workers into 704 Shipyard.

Lin Chenran asked the 704 Shipyard’s senior management to present their plans, and Pan Xueming proposed developing three sizes of cutter suction dredger. The discussion ended with Pan defending leasing large dredgers after a 077 Machinery Military Factory executive questioned their commercial viability.

• Lin Chenran told Pan Xueming to arrange for incoming skilled workers and asked the shipyard’s senior management to discuss their responsibilities and plans.
• Pan Xueming described the 704 Shipyard’s growing orders and proposed developing a cutter suction dredger.
• Pan Xueming explained how cutter suction dredgers worked and outlined their uses in dredging, construction, and reclamation.
• Pan Xueming presented plans for small, medium, and large dredgers, with the smaller models intended for inland rivers and the largest for marine operations.
• A 077 Machinery Military Factory executive doubted that buyers would purchase the costly 140-meter large dredger, and Pan Xueming suggested leasing it instead.

Lin Chenran approved 704 Shipyard's development of three cutter suction dredger models, limiting construction of the large model to one for leasing and display. He then proposed a large icebreaker to help open the Arctic Shipping Lane, leaving the executives intrigued by the potential benefits.

• Lin Chenran approved Pan Xueming's plan to design three cutter suction dredger models, with only one large dredger to be built initially.
• Pan Xueming promised to organize the team and complete the dredger designs within a month and a half.
• Lin Chenran asked 704 Shipyard's executives to design and build a large icebreaker, prompting Pan Xueming to question the project's purpose and cost.
• Lin Chenran explained that the icebreaker would keep the Arctic Shipping Lane open, not fulfill a government order.
• Lin Chenran told Pan Xueming to promote the dredgers to countries controlling major canals and shipping routes, and argued that the icebreaker could support 704 Shipyard's growth if the Arctic plan succeeded.

Lin Chenran proposed using large icebreakers from 704 Shipyard to keep the Arctic Shipping Lane open during spring and winter, bringing profits to the shipyard and the Bear. After returning to 077 Machinery Military Factory, he discussed the plan with Song Xiyun, who saw its potential but stressed that cooperation with the Bear would be essential.

• Lin Chenran convinced 704 Shipyard’s executives that large icebreakers could help open the Arctic Shipping Lane and generate profits, and Pan Xueming agreed to start developing them.
• Lin Chenran returned to 077 Machinery Military Factory exhausted, overslept, and arrived late to the morning meeting, where the executives accepted his apology.
• After the meeting, Lin Chenran explained his Arctic Shipping Lane proposal to Song Xiyun, including using icebreakers to keep the route open in winter.
• Song Xiyun acknowledged the plan’s potential but warned that it required cooperation from the Bear, and Lin Chenran said the Bear would agree once it saw the benefits.

Lin Chenran proposed that Flame Nation help Mao Xiong Country develop the Arctic Shipping Lane, and Old Master Lin agreed to present the plan to national leaders. Later, Ma Fengshan brought the Yun-10 design team to the 077 Machinery Military Factory to seek a restart of large-aircraft research.

• Lin Chenran told Old Master Lin that he planned to negotiate with Mao Xiong Country about sharing Arctic Shipping Lane profits after the Large Icebreaker was completed.
• Old Master Lin supported the proposal and said he would take the Arctic Shipping Lane Plan to the leaders for discussion.
• Song Xiyun realized that Lin Chenran's plan had received approval at the national level.
• Ma Fengshan and the Yun-10 Large Aircraft Design and R&D Team visited the 077 Machinery Military Factory to seek a merger and restart large-aircraft research.
• Ma Fengshan explained that the MD-82 project with McDonnell Douglas Company provided no access to core technology, and that the military had directed him to Lin Chenran's factory.

Lin Chenran agreed to bring Ma Fengshan’s Yun-10 Large Aircraft Design and R&D Team into the 077 Machinery Military Factory and promised to restore the abandoned project. He required the Yun-10 to be ready for delivery within half a year and tasked the team with developing larger passenger aircraft and an airborne early warning aircraft.

• Ma Fengshan asked Lin Chenran to take in the disbanded Yun-10 Large Aircraft Design and R&D Team and rescue the project’s aircraft, materials, and molds.
• Lin Chenran confirmed that the team and project assets were still intact, welcomed them to the 077 Machinery Military Factory, and promised to arrange factory space and new buildings.
• Lin Chenran offered ample funding on the condition that the Yun-10 be ready for delivery within half a year and that the team develop larger aircraft for long-haul routes.
• Ma Fengshan pledged to meet the delivery deadline, and Lin Chenran explained that he wanted to compete with McDonnell Douglas, Boeing, and Airbus.
• Lin Chenran asked the team to develop an airborne early warning aircraft based on the Yun-10, and Ma Fengshan agreed while requesting additional personnel.

Ma Fengshan and the Yun-10 Large Aircraft Design and R&D Team joined 077 Machinery Military Factory, which agreed to continue the Yun-10 and develop Flame Nation’s first Airborne Early Warning Aircraft. Lin Chenran negotiated with Old Wei over military funding and export rights, then offered to forgo the funding if the military allowed 077 to sell the aircraft.

• Lin Chenran welcomed Ma Fengshan’s team, promised resources and freedom from excessive interference, and arranged their accommodation and transfer.
• Lin Chenran called Old Wei and challenged the military for assigning the Yun-10 project to 077 without consultation.
• Old Wei explained that the military’s agreement with McDonnell Douglas Company had denied Flame Nation access to core technologies and that Chengfei and Shenfei lacked resources for the project.
• Lin Chenran demanded military R&D funding for the Airborne Early Warning Aircraft or the right to export it if 077 developed it without military support.
• Old Wei agreed to provide R&D funding, but Lin Chenran then said 077 would not need the funding if the military let it sell the aircraft.

The Flame Nation military transferred the Yun-10 Large Aircraft project and its research team to 077 Machinery Military Factory, where Lin Chenran welcomed them and inspected the aircraft. McDonnell Douglas executives assumed the project was finished and did not realize it had been revived.

• Old Wei rejected Lin Chenran's request to sell the Airborne Early Warning Aircraft and urged 077 Machinery Military Factory to develop it with new funding.
• The Flame Nation military moved the Yun-10 Large Aircraft Design and R&D Team to 077 Machinery Military Factory, and Ma Fengshan's team packed up three aircraft, parts, molds, and documents.
• Monte Brook learned that the Yun-10 aircraft had been moved, but Lucio Deco reassured him that Flame Nation lacked the funding and market to restart the project.
• Three days later, Ma Fengshan and his team brought the three Yun-10 aircraft to 077 Machinery Military Factory, where Lin Chenran welcomed them as factory members.
• Ma Fengshan invited Lin Chenran aboard a Yun-10, and Lin Chenran entered its cabin for the first time.

Lin Chenran toured the Yun-10 Large Aircraft and told Ma Fengshan to develop a long-range version, while Song Xiyun offered 077 Machinery Military Factory’s turbofan engines to help. By August, the Dragon Shadow Fighter Jet’s design was complete, and 077 Machinery Military Factory prepared a press conference as Shabtai Warren and Flame Nation’s military headed to attend.

• Lin Chenran toured the Yun-10 Large Aircraft with Ma Fengshan, praised its spacious cabin, and promised that 077 Machinery Military Factory would purchase several aircraft.
• Lin Chenran told Ma Fengshan to complete testing and production while developing a long-range aircraft, and Song Xiyun reassured him that 077 Machinery Military Factory had multiple turbofan engines available.
• In August, 077 Machinery Military Factory informed Shabtai Warren that the Dragon Shadow Fighter Jet’s design was complete, and he traveled from Iron Brother Country to Flame Nation after confirming the news.
• Flame Nation’s military received news of the completed design and sent senior officers to attend the fighter jet’s press conference with Old Wei.
• State media sent reporters and camera crews to Linjiang Province for the weapons exhibition conference, which was organized to promote the Dragon Shadow Fighter Jet and expand its sales.

Lin Chenran, Shabtai Warren, and Flame Nation’s military unveiled the jointly developed Dragon Shadow Fighter Jet and signed procurement agreements, drawing international attention. As rival countries reacted with alarm or skepticism, White Elephant Country announced its own independent Third-Generation Fighter Jet project.

• Lin Chenran, Shabtai Warren, and Old Wei attended the Dragon Shadow Fighter Jet unveiling, where the 077 Machinery Military Factory and Iron Brother Country signed a show contract and Flame Nation’s military signed a procurement contract for a first batch of one hundred jets.
• Meng Chunping introduced the Dragon Shadow Fighter Jet as a multirole, all-weather Third-Generation Fighter Jet, exciting reporters from both countries.
• Old Wei explained that the Dragon Shadow Fighter Jet and the J-10 Fighter Jet had different roles, while Lin Chenran claimed the development had taken a year and a half and praised Iron Brother Country’s support.
• Eagle Country ordered officials to investigate the Dragon Shadow Fighter Jet and the J-10, while Bear Country and Foot Plate Chicken Country reacted with concern and skepticism.
• White Elephant Country rejected joint development and activated its Radiant Fighter Jet project, while wealthy figures in Sha Country began stirring after hearing the news.

Sha Country secretly sought medium-range ballistic missiles and nuclear warheads, using its interest in the Dragon Shadow Fighter Jet as a pretext to approach Flame Nation. After Abdul revealed his request to Lin Chenran, Lin agreed to connect him with the Flame Nation military and called Old Wei.

• Sha Country sought medium-range ballistic missiles from Eagle Country and the Bear, but Eagle Country refused and negotiations with the Bear failed over harsh conditions.
• Abdul's superior sent him to Flame Nation to negotiate weapons of mass destruction, and Abdul telegraphed Lin Chenran that Sha Country wanted to cooperate on a Third-Generation Fighter Jet.
• Lin Chenran welcomed Abdul and the Sha Country delegation to the 077 Machinery Military Factory, where Abdul admitted Sha Country did not need the Dragon Shadow Fighter Jet.
• Abdul asked Lin to help Sha Country obtain medium-range ballistic missiles and nuclear warheads from the Flame Nation military, and Lin agreed to act as an intermediary.
• After Abdul left, Lin called Old Wei and said he had good news for the Flame Nation military.

Lin Chenran and Old Wei discussed Sha Country’s request to buy DF-3 medium-range ballistic missiles with nuclear warheads, weighing the enormous profits against Flame Nation’s treaty obligations and the dangers of selling nuclear weapons. While Old Wei sought the military’s decision, Lin Chenran considered adding thermobaric bombs to the arms deal and decided to manufacture them first.

• Old Wei learned from Lin Chenran that Sha Country wanted medium-range ballistic missiles equipped with nuclear warheads.
• Old Wei initially rejected selling nuclear warheads, but Lin Yu argued that a secret sale of one warhead and at least thirty DF-3 missiles could bring in more than three billion US Dollars.
• Old Wei agreed to discuss the proposal with military higher-ups and promised Lin Chenran a decision within three days.
• Lin Chenran thought of promoting thermobaric bombs to Sha Country and decided to manufacture them before confirming whether they could be exported.

After Flame Nation's military agreed to negotiate selling medium-range ballistic missiles to Sha Country, Lin Chenran supported the deal and revealed that 077 Machinery Military Factory could supply Thermobaric Bombs. The negotiations began, with Lin Chenran telling Abdul that the military would sell the missiles—but adding a condition he had not yet revealed.

• Flame Nation's military leadership sent Old Wei to 077 Machinery Military Factory after three days of discussion about negotiating with Sha Country's representatives.
• Lin Chenran told Old Wei he supported selling Sha Country medium-range ballistic missiles to earn money and expand Flame Nation's influence and military industry.
• Lin Chenran revealed that 077 Machinery Military Factory could produce Thermobaric Bombs, but explained they could not replace nuclear warheads as a source of deterrence.
• Abdul and the Sha Country delegation arrived at the factory, where Lin Chenran welcomed them and coordinated the negotiations.
• Lin Chenran told Abdul that the military had agreed to sell Sha Country medium-range ballistic missiles, then began to introduce a condition.

Lin Chenran and Old Wei negotiated with Abdul’s delegation from Sha Country over selling intermediate-range ballistic missiles and a nuclear warhead. The chapter left Abdul weighing Flame Nation’s offer of just one warhead, with no additional conditions.

• Old Wei told Abdul that Flame Nation could sell intermediate-range ballistic missiles but not nuclear warheads because of its treaty commitments and the risk of sanctions.
• Abdul argued that Sha Country needed nuclear weapons to protect its citizens and offered Flame Nation whatever price it named.
• Lin Chenran proposed a compromise: Flame Nation might arrange one nuclear warhead for a DF-3 missile, but would refuse to sell more.
• Old Wei confirmed that Flame Nation could arrange only one warhead, and Abdul considered the offer against the failed negotiations with the Bear Country.

Sha Country in the Camel Region agreed to buy only one All Beings Equal Warhead, allowing negotiations with Flame Nation to resume. The delegation requested thirty-five intermediate-range ballistic missiles, and Flame Nation’s quoted price shocked them.

• Abdul asked to consult his country, and Old Wei allowed him to report the proposal while stressing Flame Nation’s bottom line.
• Abdul and the Sha Country delegation agreed among themselves to recommend buying only one All Beings Equal Warhead, and Sha Country’s senior leadership approved the plan.
• Abdul informed Lin Chenran that his country had agreed, and Lin Chenran welcomed the delegation back to the 077 Machinery Military Factory.
• Abdul confirmed his country’s decision, and the Sha Country delegation requested thirty-five intermediate-range ballistic missiles.
• A Flame Nation military representative stated the missiles’ price, startling the Sha Country delegation.

The Flame Nation and the Sha Country delegation agreed to sell DF-3 missiles and nuclear warheads for $150 million per missile, then signed a contract worth more than $6 billion including future services. Lin Chenran received a service fee from Abdul and kept the delegation at the factory to discuss buying Thermobaric Bombs.

• The Sha Country delegation called the $150 million price for each DF-3 missile cheap, and the Flame Nation military agreed to that price.
• Old Wei and Abdul signed the contract and promised ongoing maintenance and upgrades for the missiles and nuclear warheads.
• Lin Chenran kept the Sha Country delegation at the 077 Machinery Military Factory after the military leaders departed.
• Abdul told Lin Chenran that he had deposited a service fee to thank him for helping complete the negotiations.
• Executives and the Chief Designer introduced the Thermobaric Bomb to Abdul and the delegation, who reacted with surprise.

Lin Chenran offered Sha Country thermobaric bombs and their technology for five hundred million US dollars, and Abdul accepted the deal. Lin then brought the delegation to 077 Machinery Military Factory’s testing grounds to show them a small handheld bomb.

• Lin Chenran confirmed that 077 Machinery Military Factory could manufacture thermobaric bombs and offered to sell Sha Country the technology.
• Abdul agreed to buy one hundred large thermobaric bombs and the technology for five hundred million US dollars.
• Lin said the factory could demonstrate a live-fire heavy bomb in a month and had already made small handheld bombs.
• Lin led Abdul and the Sha Country delegation to the testing grounds and showed them a handheld thermobaric bomb designed to eliminate enemies inside bunkers.

Lin Chenran demonstrated the small Thermobaric Bomb to Abdul and the Sha Country delegation, whose members witnessed its devastating effects on the test bunker and livestock. Abdul praised the bomb’s power and left eager to learn what the larger heavy Thermobaric Bomb could do.

• Lin Chenran ordered the 077 Machinery Military Factory staff to begin the small Thermobaric Bomb firing test at a bunker 150 meters away.
• The testers launched the bomb, which struck the bunker and produced a huge fireball and intense heat.
• Abdul praised the bomb’s power and wondered how much more destructive the heavy Thermobaric Bomb would be.
• After the heat dissipated, Lin Chenran led the delegation into the test area, where they saw the dead livestock and some members vomited.
• Abdul gave Lin Chenran a thumbs-up and called the factory’s Thermobaric Bombs top-notch.