Chapter 2667
A Boiling World
Chapter 2667 A Boiling World
Edo, the island of Wa (Japan).
Dressed in a suit, Ichiro Morita knelt respectfully on the tatami mat, his expression solemn.
Ahead, three elderly women in kimonos knelt with their hands on their knees, occasionally glancing at each other.
There were seven or eight people kneeling on either side of Morita Ichiro.
They were all dressed the same and looked serious.
"Morita, how's our satellite development going? When can we send it up?"
After the three elderly men at the head of the table exchanged glances, the man on the left spoke first.
Upon hearing this, Morita Ichiro immediately turned around and respectfully looked at the old man on his left, saying, "Hi."
"We redesigned the satellite, making it six times larger than the original, basically exceeding the size of Dongfanghong."
"Moreover, it has received technical support from the United States, and its working time will reach sixty days, which is twice that of Dongfanghong."
"Therefore, the world can hear of our great Kimi-dai for a longer period of time!"
Ichiro Morita said with a proud look that this was not only their achievement, but also the beginning of the Great River People's exploration of the universe, and the beginning of their stepping into the ranks of space powers.
Those around him showed excitement when they heard Ichiro Morita say that.
Especially when compared to China, they are stronger, which makes their vanity explode.
Ichiro Morita continued, "Based on our cooperation with the United States, they have agreed to launch a rocket around Christmas to send our 'Osumi' into low Earth orbit!"
"well!"
Upon hearing the exact time, the elderly man on the left nodded in satisfaction, then asked, "Is our aviation center ready?"
"With such a long distance, will it be easy to control?"
Ichiro Morita quickly spoke again, "Sir, we have assembled the best technical team in the country, and the simulations over this period of time have yielded excellent results!"
The old man nodded again, then put on a stern face and admonished, "Never let your guard down, especially before you succeed. You must remain vigilant and attentive."
Hi! Thanks for the advice!
After speaking, Ichiro Morita bowed his head in greeting.
At this point, the old man on the right spoke up, "This is good, but we still need to do better!"
"Yes, I understand!"
Ichiro Morita immediately shifted his focus to the elderly man on his right.
Compared to the old man on the left, the old man on the right looked slightly gloomy. "The Ōsumi arrived too late!"
"If we can launch successfully before China, it will not only improve our scientific research capabilities, but also boost public morale."
"pity…"
"Damn Chinese! They've gotten ahead again."
"This is an unforgivable mistake, a disgrace to the great river people..."
The more the old man spoke, the more somber his face became, and his eyes were filled with murderous intent.
Ichiro Morita lowered his head, beads of sweat appearing on his back.
The reason they failed to launch was due to their lack of foresight and their misjudgment of China's scientific research capabilities.
As for the increasingly sluggish domestic economic situation, they did not expect it to be so serious.
Especially after China continued to achieve success, its growing strength caused the fear that was ingrained in their bones to gradually sprout and grow stronger.
Some people have even been unable to withstand the immense pressure from the other party, fearing that one day they would be struck to death by a "palm strike" falling from the sky, and have begun to choose extreme and radical ways to seek relief.
The social atmosphere on the Japanese island is currently very tense, and efforts are being made to find suitable ways to alleviate this pressure.
And their Ōsumi is the best option right now.
only…
"Hi!"
After the old man finished speaking, Ichiro Morita immediately lowered his head to admit his mistake, and everyone around him also lowered their heads in unison, remaining silent.
Upon hearing this, the old man on the right spoke again, "China has announced a new round of plans: satellites, space, and the moon!"
"It is foreseeable that their future strategic layout will inevitably be a competition in space."
"This is very disadvantageous for us!"
"What are your countermeasures?"
While Morita Ichiro was still thinking, he heard the old man on his right ask a question.
Immediately, I sighed inwardly, feeling both regret and resentment.
From the very beginning of satellite research, the two sides have been in a competitive relationship.
Or rather, they always try to outdo each other.
Unfortunately, they failed.
Recently, the other party specifically announced its manned spaceflight plan and stated that the ultimate goal is to land on the moon.
Although it is obvious to everyone in the world that it is modeled after the United States and the Union.
They didn't take them seriously at all.
However, it was this disdain that severely damaged the self-esteem of the people on the Japanese islands.
Isn't this disregard a sign of strength?
Upon hearing the old man's question on his right, Ichiro Morita quickly bowed his head and replied earnestly, "Sir, we have already begun to formulate a targeted lunar landing plan."
"However, given the current situation, we need to rely on the power of the United States to develop the aviation industry and complete the lunar landing program."
Ichiro Morita spoke carefully, but the room was so quiet that you could hear someone breathing.
Ugh…
Suddenly, the old man who had been speaking let out a long sigh.
Everyone felt helpless.
The situation is stronger than the person.
Now they are at the mercy of others and have to rely on the United States for everything.
Otherwise, even objects the size of a ball can't be sent up there, let alone people!
"The people need a clear goal!"
Just as Ichiro Morita was waiting for the old man on the right to speak, the old man in the middle, who had been sitting silently, suddenly raised his eyes and spoke.
Morita Ichiro felt as if he were being pricked by needles, and his forehead was covered in cold sweat.
"Your Excellency, we will do our best!"
Morita Ichiro gritted his teeth and said forcefully.
But this result clearly dissatisfied the middle-aged people.
"ten years!"
"The other party has a time plan, and we also need to have a corresponding ten-year plan."
"Do you understand?"
Ichiro Morita felt bitter inside; the other party had a basis for formulating the ten-year moon landing plan.
Three years to launch a satellite, three years to send people to land, three years to launch unmanned aircraft, and three years to land on the moon.
People dare to say such things because they really have the ability.
Satellites, rockets, computers, and so on are all developing rapidly.
On the other hand, what about them?
Besides being rich, what else do they have?
Could it be that we should buy a spot in the United States?
If he dares to suggest this, I'll have to lie in wait in Edo Bay tomorrow.
"Hey, let's immediately formulate a ten-year plan to land on the moon. And let's strive for it!"
Ichiro Morita immediately bowed his head and gave a respectful greeting.
The middle old man nodded, then turned to look at the old man on his left, "From now on, we will allocate 10 percent of the annual budget to the space program."
"Also, we can't put all our eggs in one basket. France is capable; we can try to communicate with them."
The old man on the left nodded and said, "I will arrange for someone to carry it out."
"However, investing 10% will affect other aspects of domestic development..."
"Baka! This is the most important thing right now!"
"Do you want them to keep dominating us?"
The old man in the middle reprimanded him without any politeness, and the old man on the left immediately lowered his head and admitted his mistake like a grandson.
"Hey, I get it!"
The people below were all shocked when they heard the conversation between the two.
Ten percent of the annual budget—that's a lot of money, a lot of money indeed.
Many people harbored inappropriate thoughts.
Even if these thoughts shouldn't exist in the hearts of men from the Yellow River region.
But that amount of money is too much!
"Go and prepare. I will be announcing this in the Parliament chamber in two days!"
"Hi!" Morita Ichiro didn't dare to say anything more, immediately got up, and backed away.
After Ichiro Morita left, the old man in the middle looked down at the crowd again.
Finally, his gaze fell on a bald old man.
"Yamaguchi-kun!"
"Hi, Your Excellency!"
At the very end of the left row, the bald old man immediately responded.
We must stop their research!
The bald old man immediately understood what the other person meant.
Because that's the kind of work he does.
but…
The bald old man said solemnly, "Sir, I understand what you mean!"
"However, over the years, the other party's control has exceeded our initial expectations. In addition, many people have lost contact and gone offline, so we have fewer and fewer people we can use."
"Especially in Beijing, where household registration is strictly controlled, there's not much we can do!"
"The usable ones are even fewer."
"Furthermore, the other side has already strengthened its security measures!"
As the bald old man spoke of his difficulties, the expressions of everyone present grew increasingly grim.
The three people at the top, in particular, had faces so gloomy they looked like they were about to burst with tears.
"Yamaguchi, this is an order!"
The bald old man sighed and lay down on the ground. "Sigh. Your subordinate will definitely do his best to complete the mission."
The old man in the middle snorted coldly.
Then he looked at the other person, "Mizuma, how are the preparations for next year's World Expo going?"
The person being questioned was wearing black-rimmed glasses. Upon hearing the question, he immediately straightened his back and replied, "Your Excellency, everything is ready, and all departments are progressing smoothly."
"This World Expo will surely be a great event! It will allow the world to see us in a new light!"
The bespectacled old man asserted that although the economy had been sluggish in recent years, compared to other countries, Japan's development was still among the world's best.
Although China's development is not slow, compared to other countries, they developed earlier and faster.
It's just that their development has slowed down now.
"Well, there's something you need to rest about too!"
The old man on the right spoke, and the old man with glasses immediately bowed to listen.
"We should take advantage of this World Expo to continue to promote the development of the real estate industry, as this is an opportunity to revitalize our economy!"
The middle-aged man felt a chill in his heart. The real estate market in Japan was now so overheated that many people couldn't afford a house even with a lifetime's savings.
Banks began lending heavily, and private usury rates rose even higher.
The public is burdened with a large amount of debt, and young people are becoming mortgage slaves in droves. With the country's economy doing well, this pressure is still bearable.
But now they want to stimulate the real estate market and continue to squeeze it, which will only make social contradictions more acute.
But he also understood that his voice carried little weight, and he could only offer his approval here.
The middle-aged man lowered his head and said forcefully, "Yes, I understand."
france.
The Champs-Élysées is adorned in the golden attire of autumn, with plane tree leaves gradually turning golden, swaying gently in the breeze and scattering golden fragments on the ground.
This street, hailed as "the most beautiful street in the world," retains its French romantic charm under the autumn sun, while also gaining a touch of seasonal poetry.
At this moment, a young couple was walking under the sycamore-lined corridor. The tree-lined avenue was shaded by the sycamore trees, and the golden fallen leaves covered the path. The two walked arm in arm, making a rustling sound as they stepped on the leaves.
"Jenny, I may not be able to spend as much time with you as I used to."
The man looked at the freckled woman in front of him and said affectionately.
The woman gripped the man's arm tightly, her ample bosom almost completely engulfing his arm, while her protruding belly added a touch of maternal glow.
After the two used the "Imperial Jade Liquor" from China, an angel descended upon their home.
Now that the little life is about to be born, the woman's senses are becoming increasingly sensitive.
Just now, the woman asked anxiously, "Albert, why?"
Are you going to leave me?
"No, no, that's too cruel, you can't do that."
Jenny looked agitated, and her words were filled with pleading.
"Oh, oh, damn it, I misspoke, darling."
Albert realized he had misspoke and quickly explained, "Darling, I will always be with you and watch our little angel grow up together."
Jenny was still gripping her arm tightly, looking nervous.
Albert reached out to comfort his wife, then said softly, "I was talking about work, darling."
"I'll be very busy from now on, very busy, and I might not have time to spend with you."
"Work?"
Jenny was even more skeptical.
She knew exactly what her man did for a living. To put it bluntly, it was a job that paid well but didn't require much work, and he was able to get this job only because his elders in the family had connections.
Now the other party is saying they're busy with work?
This sounds more and more like an excuse.
"Correct."
Albert nodded seriously in response to Jenny's questioning.
Then, with a sigh, he added, "The Civil Aviation Administration recently approved a new research program."
"In the next ten years, France will achieve manned spaceflight and a lunar landing. Our director said it's a very romantic thing."
"So, you know, since I work there, I have to follow the rules."
As Albert spoke, Jenny looked on with longing, "That's wonderful."
"My hero, can you really participate in something so romantic?"
"Oh, I need to go back and call my aunt to tell them how happy I am now."
Jenny covered her face with her hands, then gently stroked her belly.
Albert smiled broadly, his vanity satisfied by the adoration shining in his wife's eyes.
It's just like drinking the Imperial Jade Liquor.
But that thing is really amazing.
It's amazing that his wife, who hadn't conceived in years, got pregnant.
“Honey, you go ahead and do your thing. I’ll take good care of myself and the baby.”
Jenny said with a happy expression.
At the same time, other thoughts began to arise in her mind.
Britain.
"Gentlemen, we cannot rely on the United States for everything; we need to have our own voice in space."
"Even former semi-colonies have begun space exploration. Are we, the great empire on which the sun never sets, just going to watch?"
"Gentlemen, we can no longer remain silent; we need to become strong."
"Otherwise, we will also lose our interests in the Far East."
On the stage, a middle-aged man in a suit waved his arms and shouted, "We possess the world's earliest industrial base, the strongest industrial capabilities, and the world's smartest team!"
"But now, there isn't a single satellite bearing Britain's name in our skies—this is a disgrace to us."
Below, rows of seats were filled with people.
At this moment, the middle-aged man stirred up everyone's emotions, and their faces showed a sense of nostalgia.
"Gentlemen, the world needs peace, and peace needs to be maintained by our great Britain."
"As a significant force in the world, we have an obligation and a responsibility to maintain this balance."
"Therefore, we need rockets, satellites, and the moon above our heads."
"Only in this way can we obtain the power of balance."
"Gentlemen, let us join together! Let us rebuild the glory of the British Empire!"
After the middle-aged man finished his speech, he waved his arms vigorously in the air.
The crowd below stood up and applauded enthusiastically.
"For the sake of an unending world."
Suddenly, someone shouted, and then the entire venue was filled with the sound of "Sun Never Sets".
At that moment, the whole world, like water in a steam engine, gradually began to boil.
(End of this chapter)