novelsite Chapter 69: Foundation Laying Plan
Chapter 69: Foundation Laying Plan
"Zhou, if I had known you allowed private capital to participate in your electromagnetic sled project, I wouldn't have returned to China so quickly..."
After hanging up David's call, as was expected, Fahad also contacted Zhou Luming.
As expected, Fahad also wanted a piece of the electromagnetic sled project's pie.
Unlike David, after hearing Zhou Luming's requirements and quote, Fahad agreed without hesitation, and asked worriedly, "Zhou, are you sure the electromagnetic skid launch site only requires 9700 billion!?"
"certainly."
"OK."
Fahd responded, then changed the subject, revealing his true purpose: "Zhou, we're offering two trillion international dollars for the complete electromagnetic skid technology. Will you sell it?"
Applying mecha technology to other places is extremely difficult, and there aren't many mecha technologies that can be applied elsewhere.
However, electromagnetic skid technology is different.
It can be applied not only to weapons and equipment, such as electromagnetic catapults for aircraft carriers, shipborne linear guns, linear gun tanks, and shore-based linear guns, but also to civilian facilities such as maglev trains and power transmission networks.
This is why Fahd would pay such a high price for the complete electromagnetic sled technology, which is far superior to the cockpit technology.
Therefore, Zhou Luming refused without hesitation: "Sorry, I will not sell the complete electromagnetic skid technology."
"All right."
Fahd didn't press the issue further, but instead asked, "Zhou, how much money would it take for you to build an electromagnetic sled launch site here?"
"Sorry, Fahd, we only build on our own territory."
"All right."
Fahd stopped pressuring again, and then asked as a second choice, "Zhou, could you help us build a city on the moon?"
Before Zhou Luming could speak, Fahad continued, "Zhou, you've already rejected me twice."
Also, the moon isn't small; one lunar city that can accommodate a million people would be enough, is that alright?
"Ugh, you and David are both putting me in a difficult position."
Zhou Luming pretended to have a headache and said something, then reluctantly agreed, "Fine, I agree to this."
"Zhou, thank you so much!"
"Don't rush to thank me."
Zhou Luming quickly stopped him, then explained, "It's no problem to help you build a lunar city, but you can only have a certain number of security forces, not military forces."
Furthermore, we are only responsible for city construction, not for providing lunar vehicles or space shuttles for travel between Earth and the Moon.
"Can I buy vehicles and airplanes?"
"certainly."
"No problem, I agree."
"..."
"Phew~"
After hanging up Fahd's call, Zhou Luming rubbed his temples and let out a slight sigh of relief, then couldn't help but burst into laughter.
9700 billion international currency units, which is equivalent to 66001 trillion yuan, while the actual cost of an electromagnetic sled launch site is only about 5 billion yuan.
This means that his two electricity connections earned his family nearly 13 trillion yuan.
Although he has no connection with this money and it will not end up in his hands, he is absolutely certain to receive a second-class merit award.
Even a first-class merit award is possible.
After all, the country's annual defense budget is only around 16655 trillion yuan.
"Sharing happiness is worse than keeping it to myself; I must find someone to share this good news with."
After laughing, Zhou Luming went off to show off to Lao Wang.
The following day, the all-night online battle between the keyboard warriors at Dongwai University suddenly came to an end.
Because the foundational plan that lays the groundwork for the development of the universe has begun!
To develop the universe, three core foundational conditions are necessary: technology, population, and talent.
In terms of technology, it boils down to this: without the corresponding technology, we can't even leave Earth, let alone explore the universe.
However, this problem is no longer an issue after Guo Yi joined the team, so it can be ignored.
In terms of population, the universe is vast and boundless. From the operation and maintenance of space cities in near-Earth orbit and the transfer and sorting of interstellar materials, to the resource mining of deep-space planets and the construction and garrisoning of interstellar outposts, every link requires a large amount of manpower.
Therefore, without a large enough population, even the most advanced technology is just a castle in the air, and even the most outstanding talents will find it difficult to achieve economies of scale, making it impossible to support large-scale space development projects.
Therefore, the higher-ups decided to push for its birth!
However, unlike the elders who use words to urge people to have children, this time the authorities intend to address the root causes of the problem: people are afraid to have children, they can't afford to raise them, there's no one to take care of them, and they can't afford to educate them.
First, the threshold for starting a family is significantly lowered: families with newborns can directly receive a cash reward of 100,000 yuan after tax, with more rewards for more children and no upper limit, effectively filling the financial gap in the early stages of raising children and encouraging ordinary families to take the first step in having children.
Secondly, it completely eliminates families' concerns about "being able to afford to have children but not to afford to get sick": including high school students, before the age of 18, the state will cover all expenses, including pre-pregnancy check-ups, prenatal check-ups, childbirth rehabilitation, as well as children's daily medical care, medicine purchases, hospitalization, and surgery, without the family having to spend a single penny!
Next, we need to address the problem of "being able to afford to raise children but not to afford to educate them": abandon the original twelve-year compulsory education system and fully implement fifteen-year compulsory education, ensuring that all children can successfully complete their high school studies and build a solid foundation for the basic cultural and scientific literacy of the entire population.
At the same time, all public schools are strictly prohibited from charging school selection fees or mandatory extracurricular fees. The number of teachers and school buildings in urban and rural public schools will be expanded so that every child can enjoy quality education equally, so that parents do not have to spend money and travel around for their children's education, and do not have to be overly anxious about their children's future education.
Next, the focus is on solving the dilemma of "not being able to afford to get married or support a family": in terms of marriage and starting a family, the down payment ratio for first-time homebuyers will be lowered, exclusive low-interest long-term housing loans will be introduced, a large number of affordable first-time homebuyers' housing and talent apartments will be built, and the increase in housing prices and rents in urban areas will be strictly controlled.
At the same time, the government will regulate traditional wedding expenses such as betrothal gifts and wedding banquets, lowering the threshold for starting a relationship.
At the workplace level, it is mandatory to implement extended paid maternity leave and paternity leave that are equal for men and women, and companies are strictly prohibited from dismissing employees, reducing salaries or changing positions on the grounds of preparing for pregnancy, pregnancy, or childbirth. Flexible work systems and work-from-home systems should be promoted to dispel the concerns of working women that "childbirth will lead to job loss and career setbacks."
In terms of daily expenses, newly formed families can apply for basic living allowances within three years, and price limits will be implemented on essential goods such as water, electricity, gas, rice, flour, and cooking oil to reduce the economic burden of supporting a family after marriage.
Finally, there is the problem of "no one to take care of children": the construction of public, affordable childcare centers and infant care centers across the country to solve the problem of "no one to take care of children" for young parents;
At the same time, a fast-track medical treatment channel specifically for minors will be established to prioritize children's access to medical care;
Families with multiple children will be given priority in travel, public services, and the allocation of social resources, such as priority in hiring married and childbearing-age individuals for public service positions and state-owned enterprises.
In addition, a dedicated supervisory department has been established to oversee the implementation of all benefits throughout the process and prevent any deductions of subsidies or reductions in benefits.
As for talent, it is one of the core foundational conditions built on a sufficient population base: only with a sufficient population can a large number of talents be selected and cultivated, such as aerospace engineers, interplanetary resource analysts, space city maintenance personnel, deep space explorers, mecha pilots, and so on.
Therefore, the government not only encouraged various colleges and universities to add related majors, but also began to establish related vocational colleges and adult education schools.
Technology paves the way, population forms the foundation, and talent empowers. Only by bringing together and perfecting these three conditions can we truly take the first step in large-scale space exploration, set foot in the vast sea of stars, and open up a new interstellar home.