Chapter 20: The Unity of Two Ships

Old Jia finally relaxed and exhaled deeply. After organizing the key points from the meeting, he dialed Dr. Yu Ying’s number.

Dr. Yu asked with concern, “How did the communication go, Mr. Jia? Was everything smooth?”

Jia replied, “Uh, everything went as expected. The core issue now is the market for the drone project. The valuation is bound to be controversial, but based on investor feedback, they recognize the project’s potential. The investment amount shouldn’t be a problem; it’s just a matter of price. Our technology is an advantage, and we still have ample time. We’ll negotiate the price with them slowly. Also, we need to keep a close eye on the procedures with Zhanghe Aviation Investment.”

“That’s great!” Dr. Yu exclaimed excitedly over the phone. “Hey, I have to tell you, the team from Laoshan has already arrived. They’ve been closely inspecting our prototype and said they’re extremely interested.”

“Hold on, hold on!” Old Jia quickly interrupted, “Dr. Yu, don’t say any more! I haven’t signed the military confidentiality agreement with you yet, so please don’t mention any military-related content about this project. Just keep it to yourself. I’ll ask you some market-related questions—answer if you can, and don’t if you can’t.”

Dr. Yu asked in surprise, “Why? I’m your financial advisor; shouldn’t I be fully briefed?”

Old Jia smiled wryly, “I can only know what I’m supposed to know. I’m aware this project involves military aspects, but don’t tell me the details. When your company undergoes the military confidentiality certification, I’ll participate too. After that, you can tell me more.”

Then, Old Jia inquired, “How’s the Eastern Airshow coming along?”

Dr. Yu responded, both excited and proud, “Everything’s ready. This time, we’re doing a static display at the Eastern Airshow. It was tough to secure a spot, but the team from Laoshan helped us get a good booth. This time, we’re going to steal the spotlight, haha!”

“Will you be able to do test flights?” Old Jia asked urgently.

“No, there’s no time or airspace for that. We’re only participating in the low-altitude economic zone’s static display. They said some big players will be showcasing this year, and all the time slots have been given to them,” Dr. Yu sighed helplessly.

“That’s fine. A static display is a good first step into both domestic and international markets,” Old Jia said with enthusiasm. “You focus fully on preparing for the Eastern Airshow. Don’t worry about the investment talks; I’ll keep communicating with them. If we do well at the show, it will open the market. If the market response at the Eastern Airshow is excellent, it will also help us negotiate prices better with investors.” He chuckled, “If you fight well on the front lines, I’ll do well at the negotiation table. Don’t expect me to win battles for you that you can’t win on the battlefield.”

“Got it,” Dr. Yu said confidently on the other end. “Don’t worry. We’ll make sure to debut center stage at the Eastern Airshow and be the most dazzling! We may not be a major military power, but we have our unique skills!”

“Oh, by the way,” Old Jia suddenly remembered something. “Talk to the Military Integration Office and ask them to help your research team start training and certification for confidentiality qualifications. Also, if anything involving military products shows up at the Eastern Airshow, make sure to comply with all confidentiality requirements.”

“Ah! There’s that too? So troublesome!” Dr. Yu sounded confused. “Alright, I’ll do as you say. Can I have Long Wuyang handle this?”

“Sure,” Old Jia agreed immediately. “It’s good for the young ones to get some experience.”

The arrival of the delegation from Laoshan was something Old Jia had anticipated. This year’s Eastern Airshow was destined to be extraordinary. China’s drone market had already caused a global sensation. High-end manufacturing industries, led by new energy vehicles and drones, stood proudly in the world with an unmatched aura. Hotspots around the world were eagerly purchasing even just components of Chinese civilian drones to assemble various military-use drones. Hence, China had begun strictly controlling drone exports.

Old Jia predicted that Dr. Yu’s drone would shine brightly at this year’s Eastern Airshow. A steady stream of military and overseas orders, both overt and covert, would undoubtedly follow. From this point on, strict military confidentiality measures must be implemented. Any breach involving military matters could doom the entire project.

Meanwhile, the international stage was turbulent and fraught with undercurrents. The United States was tangled in joint military exercises with multiple countries in the Pacific, with record numbers of ships and aircraft deployed recently. NATO countries increasingly interfered in East Asian affairs, frequently sending warships near China’s coastal waters under the guise of innocent passage.

Faced with such complex confrontations, China would surely respond with skill and showcase its ability to anchor stability in the Eastern Pacific.

Indeed, CCTV broadcast a video in mid-October showing China’s dual aircraft carrier fleet conducting joint exercises in the Pacific. J-15T catapult-launched fighter jets performed low passes over the carriers—these were the new carrier-based aircraft recently announced on the Liaoning carrier. Currently, only the U.S. and China have the massive scale to conduct fully crewed, full-strength joint drills with two aircraft carriers simultaneously.

Though the combined tonnage of China’s two carriers barely matched a single U.S. Ford-class nuclear carrier, their presence near China’s doorstep sent a powerful message that reverberated worldwide. The decks of both carriers were filled with various aircraft ready for launch. China’s carrier air wing included not only the J-15 but also the catapult version J-15T, Z-8 anti-submarine helicopters, and soon the debut of the J-35 and KJ-600 early warning aircraft.

What China’s carriers still lacked was a large, tilt-rotor vertical takeoff and landing transport aircraft capable of both vertical lift and high-speed flight. Therefore, it was no surprise that Dr. Yu’s drone would draw intense interest from all parties at this airshow.