Chapter 3: Seizing the Opportunity to Thrive—Conceptualizing a Multiverse China
“Clatter, clatter, clatter—”
The roar of helicopter blades grew steadily louder as a military-green helicopter slowly approached the armed forces training ground on the outskirts of Yu Province.
After the aircraft landed—
“Shhhh—”
The sliding door of the helicopter was yanked open, and a slightly stooped, elderly figure hurriedly stepped out.
Chen Limin, who had been waiting at the training ground, immediately rushed forward to support the old man.
“Old Zhu, why did you come here in person?”
“I had to come see for myself. Some things must be witnessed with my own eyes,” Zhu Jincheng said in a loud voice, glancing around amid the noise of the rotors.
“Limin, where’s Fang? Where is he?”
“He’s in the office, Old Zhu. I’ll show you the way!” Chen Limin, sensing the old man’s urgency, wasted no time and helped him toward the armed forces building.
“Limin, how’s Fang Jingren?”
On the way, the highly respected elder surprisingly felt a rare trace of nervousness stirring in his heart.
“Don’t worry, Old Zhu. Fang Jingren is a conscientious young man. If you just show a fraction of your charisma, he’ll definitely follow you loyally,” Chen Limin said confidently, certain of his judgment.
“Really?”
Zhu Jincheng exhaled slowly, calming his excitement.
The two had now arrived at the door of the armed forces office.
Inside, Fang Jing was writing something on paper when he suddenly heard footsteps outside and looked up.
Seeing the visitor startled him so much he jumped up, then stood respectfully and asked the man entering with Chen Limin,
“You are… Zhu Jincheng, Old Zhu!”
Fang Jing was shocked.
He had expected the military to send a high-ranking figure upon hearing the news.
But he never imagined it would be such a legendary figure.
Zhu Jincheng, eighty-eight years old, a veteran of three major battles—the Korean War and the Zhenbao Island conflict—was an undisputed founding father of the Republic, one of the nation’s creators.
He actually came in person!
“That’s right, I am Zhu Jincheng. Ha ha ha, I didn’t expect any young men today to still remember me,” Zhu Jincheng said with a hearty laugh after giving Fang Jing a quick once-over and nodding faintly.
“Old Zhu, with all due respect, who doesn’t know you?” Fang Jing admitted, feeling nervous in the presence of his idol.
He rubbed his hands to steady the excitement of meeting his hero and forced a smile.
“I just didn’t expect that it would be you who came!”
“This matter of yours is no small affair. It deserves to be written in history, so how could I not pay attention?” Zhu Jincheng, having roughly gauged Fang Jing’s character, spoke more amicably.
He sat beside Fang Jing, patted his shoulder like a kindly village elder, and asked gently,
“The more we talk about this, the more mistakes we might make. To avoid misunderstandings, why don’t you tell me yourself?”
“Little Fang, tell me, what are your thoughts?”
Zhu Jincheng did not immediately seize control of the situation.
On the way here, he had heard professional analyses that Fang Jing was a conscientious young man.
Since this was so, and whatever Fang did would benefit Huaguo, it was better to let him speak openly.
“My thoughts…”
Fang Jing closed his eyes briefly, then opened them resolutely to look at Old Zhu.
“Old Zhu, to be honest, you are my idol.”
“You and others from the older generation shouldered the burden that secured the peaceful life we now enjoy.”
“But after a century of weakness, we still have so much to catch up on. To truly defeat the United States head-on will take decades.”
“Decades? Are we really going to let the US bully us for decades more?”
Fang Jing’s voice was earnest, trembling as he spoke.
“I was born in 2001. After elementary school, I became obsessed with military equipment.”
“Do you know? When I first learned of the number of US aircraft carriers, their military technology, and the overwhelming Gulf War, I felt nothing but suffocation and despair.”
“At one time, even the Liben 88 Fleet was something we could only look up to.”
“…”
He thought of the embassy mistakenly bombed by two US precision-guided missiles; of the crew of the Galaxy ship trapped and starving under US naval blockade; of the brave air and sea defenders in the collision incident.
His heart burned with rage.
This is a world where the strong devour the weak.
The enemy is a ruthless, cunning vulture.
It has been watching you all along!
Waiting for you to falter, ready to strike a fatal blow.
Fang Jing’s resolve was unprecedented, his voice nearly a growl from deep within his throat:
“This is our chance.”
“If we seize it, the future will be ours!”
“Using this machine to actively communicate with Huaguo in the multiverse, exchanging technology and seeking development—that is my plan!”
He was determined to crush this vulture utterly so no one would dare covet his homeland again!
When Fang Jing finished speaking, Zhu Jincheng and Chen Limin remained silent.
After a long moment, Old Zhu looked at Fang Jing with an admiring gaze, nodded slightly, and smiled softly.
“Hearing your heartfelt words moves me deeply.”
“However, exploring the other side means you must be the vanguard. Do you understand the dangers involved?”
Old Zhu stared quietly at Fang Jing, not rejecting his proposal but raising a concern.
“I understand, but I will have to go eventually. I cannot suppress my curiosity,” Fang Jing said with a wry smile, knowing his limits.
Since he must go sooner or later, it’s better to go bearing the goodwill of Huaguo’s universe, which would provide some protection.
Besides, it’s easier to find shade under a big tree.
With the military involved, he needn’t worry about logistics anymore.
“Hmm, I understand your meaning,” Zhu Jincheng nodded slightly.
The office fell into a heavy silence, almost eerie.
Fang Jing sat patiently on the sofa, waiting for Old Zhu’s decision.
After a while, Old Zhu chuckled softly.
“Heh, I underestimated the resolve of your generation.”
“We old men only dreamed of humbling ourselves and cleansing the country’s humiliation.”
“Unconsciously, we have grown old, and now you young ones are ready to take over.”
Looking up at the sky, he murmured a few reflective words before suddenly turning to Fang Jing and Chen Limin with firm determination.
“I agree with Little Fang’s proposal.”
“I will compile the opinions into a document and report it to Number One.”
“Today is July, 2023. Regarding Little Fang’s anomaly and the parallel universe study plan, we will keep this confidential under the codename—the 237 Project!”
The older generation acted decisively.
Once resolved, Zhu Jincheng gave Chen Limin a few final instructions.
After bidding farewell, he immediately headed to the capital to consult with Number One in person.
Thus, in the early hours of the next day in the capital, a top-secret plan with perpetual confidentiality was officially launched.
The 237 Project had begun.
On that same day, intelligence systems of the United States, the Five Eyes alliance, and Liben within Huaguo’s territory all went dark.
The Western tentacles in this country were completely severed.
The United States: WTF, what’s gotten into this rabbit? What the hell is going on?