164: Guanghan City was established

Inside the Central Command Center of Guanghan City, a middle-aged man in a deep blue Eastern Federation military uniform stood before a holographic sand table, his sharp gaze sweeping over every construction node on the lunar surface. The three general stars on his epaulets shimmered under the lights.

This was Major General Qin Dan, the highest military officer and administrative head dispatched by the Eastern Federation to Guanghan City.

"General Qin, the ecological circulation system of the industrial zone has been debugged and is ready," the Engineer respectfully handed over a data pad. "According to the current progress, we can start receiving the second batch of 500,000 immigrants next Wednesday."

Qin Dan took the data pad, his finger lightly tapping on key data: "Is the material transport keeping up?"

"No problem at all!" the Engineer pointed to a report on the other side. "'Kua Fu III' and 'Kua Fu V' are shuttling back and forth, and the actual transport volume is five times the initial plan. And—"

Just as he was speaking, the automatic doors of the Command Center slid open, and Chu He burst in, followed by a young Engineer wearing black-rimmed glasses. The young man looked to be only twenty-seven or twenty-eight, but his eyes held a maturity beyond his age.

"General Qin! Director Lin!" Chu He excitedly waved. "Let me introduce you to our new Engineer, Shen Da, who just returned from the Interstellar Peace Corporation's Technology Research and Development Department."

Lin Mo's eyes lit up: "Interstellar Peace Corporation?"

Shen Da nodded shyly: "Yes, I worked there for six years. Last month I decided to return to my home country for development."

Qin Dan's sharp gaze lingered on the young man for a moment: "Why did you come back?"

"Because I saw Engineer Chu's ion thruster paper and the call from the country," Shen Da's tone suddenly became fervent. "I suddenly thought of an optimization plan, so..." He scratched his head sheepishly, "I resigned and came back."

Chu He laughed heartily and clapped Shen Da on the shoulder: "This kid gave me a run for my money as soon as he arrived! His improved thruster has increased thrust by 60% and reduced energy consumption by 30%!"

Lin Mo looked at Shen Da in surprise: "How did you do that?"

Shen Da pulled a data chip from his pocket and inserted it into the projector, and a set of complex three-dimensional formulas unfolded in the air: "Actually, the principle is very simple; I just adjusted the topological structure of the plasma confinement field..."

The Command Center instantly fell silent. Everyone stared at the mathematical model rotating in the air—it looked simple and elegant, yet contained a breathtaking power.

Shen Da pushed up his glasses: "This is a formula I found in the company's Technology Research and Development Department database. I spent three years and finally found the first solution."

Chu He gasped: "You actually cracked a solution to the 'Devil's Formula'? Good heavens, I spent a whole month on that back then and didn't get anywhere!"

"Devil's Formula?" Qin Dan looked puzzled. "What is that?"

Chu He and Shen Da exchanged a glance. They both knew that the Interstellar Peace Corporation's Technology Research and Development Department had a legendary ultimate problem, known as the "Devil's Formula," which was said to contain the mathematical essence of all the company's core technologies.

Ever since a scientist who joined the company discovered this 'Great Treasure,' the formula quickly spread throughout the scientific community. Countless top scientists attempted to crack it, all ending in failure.

"So..." Lin Mo asked tentatively, "you brought this solution back to the country, and the company didn't stop you?"

Shen Da shook his head: "No. I asked my leader at the time, and his exact words were, 'If you can find two solutions, I will do everything I can to keep you.'"

Chu He suddenly burst out laughing: "What a company! A genius who can find one solution isn't even enough for an entry ticket!" He turned to his assistant, "Immediately organize technical verification and mass production plans; our 'Guanghan Project' can be advanced!"

A week later, at a special meeting of the Eastern Federation's Supreme Science and Technology Committee, the Premier looked at the test data of the new ion thruster, his eyes gleaming with an unusual light.

"Thrust increased by 60%, energy consumption reduced by 30%..." the Premier repeated the key data softly. "What does this mean, Engineer Chu?"

Chu He stood up excitedly: "It means our 'Kua Fu' series spacecraft can halve the time for Guanghan immigration, and the new generation of 'Yinghuo' interstellar spacecraft will be able to reach Mars directly within a week!"

The conference room erupted in an uproar. The Minister of Science and Technology eagerly asked: "Is this Shen Da... reliable?"

"One hundred percent," Zhou Zhenguo said unequivocally. "I personally investigated his background. Six years ago, he graduated with excellent grades from the Eastern Federation University of Science and Technology, then joined the Interstellar Peace Corporation. His parents are retired researchers from the Eastern Federation Academy of Sciences; his family background is clean."

The Premier nodded thoughtfully: "If that's the case, we can consider the matter of technology dissemination. How are the preparations coming along?"

Chu He pulled up a plan: "It's completed. We plan to openly release the basic version of ion propulsion technology within the Starsea Community so that all countries can develop their own space capabilities on this foundation."

The Minister of Foreign Affairs was a little worried: "Isn't that a bit too risky? We're only less than a generation ahead..."

"We need to give all countries in the world some hope; we can't just watch them all die in the wasteland," the Premier calmly interrupted him. "Most importantly, we must believe in the capabilities of our scientists."

The resolution was quickly passed. Three days later, the Eastern Federation released the "Civilian Orbital Vehicle Basic Technology Package" to all member states of the Starsea Community, triggering a global space craze.

At the Eastern Federation Space Center, the newly built "Jiuquan" Starport was brightly lit. Dozens of launch towers stood like a steel forest, and workers were making final preparations for the upcoming large-scale immigration mission.

Director Lin stood by the floor-to-ceiling window of the Central Control Tower, looking at this behemoth covering one hundred square kilometers, filled with emotion. He never expected that after the Eastern Federation fully activated its industrial system, its construction capabilities would be very close to the Titan that built the industrial city back then.

"Director Lin, the third batch of immigrant spacecraft has completed its final inspection," Chu He's voice came through the communicator. "At this rate, we can complete the original one-year immigration plan within three months."

Director Lin pressed the communication button: "How are the tests for Shen Da's new propulsion system going?"

"Absolutely perfect!" Chu He's voice was full of excitement. "After modifying the cargo spacecraft, the round-trip time to Guanghan has been halved. According to the current material transport capacity, the entire Guanghan project can be further accelerated."

The doors of the Control Center slid open, and Major General Qin Dan strode in, followed by several military Engineers.

"Lin Mo, the Premier has just approved the 'Guanghan Acceleration Plan,'" Qin Dan handed over an encrypted data pad. "Starting next week, the immigration rate will increase to 20,000 people per week."

Lin Mo quickly scanned the document: "No problems with logistics?"

"It's been coordinated," Qin Dan pointed to the cargo area on the other side of the Starport. "Three hundred new cargo spacecraft are on standby 24/7, and the reserve of living materials is sufficient to support five million people for half a year."

"Even with the current material reserves on the Moon, it's enough to sustain until Guanghan City's industrial system begins operation."

As the two were talking, the large screen suddenly switched to a real-time monitoring map of global space activities. Dozens of light spots flickered across various parts of Earth, representing the space projects currently underway in different countries.

"It seems our technology openness indeed worked," Lin Mo watched the light spots. "Twelve countries have already successfully launched orbital vehicles."

Qin Dan sneered: "Unfortunately, they're all just toys. Also, the latest intelligence shows that four super-enterprises in the Oceania City-States are jointly developing military spacecraft, clearly targeting our Tiangong City."

"No problem?" Lin Mo was somewhat worried. Although he knew that according to domestic habits, there must be some big life-saving weapon on Tiangong City, space was always different from the ground.

"Don't worry," Qin Dan patted Lin Mo's shoulder and laughed loudly. "While it can't compare to the company's fleet you've seen, taking down those few super-enterprises is no problem."

Meanwhile, in a high-level conference room in Pierpoint, Chen Hao stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, overlooking the brightly lit city below.

The spatial displacement device, developed eight years ago from space anchor point technology, had the opportunity to demonstrate its capabilities today.

"Energy reserve status?" he asked without turning his head, his voice so calm that no emotional fluctuations could be detected.

Jade produced the report: "Energy reserves have reached full capacity, and the Construction Materials Logistics Department began building new storage warehouses last week."

Aventurine, who was scrolling something on his personal terminal, suddenly interjected: "Chairman, do we really want to give up such a superior position in Blue Star's synchronous orbit?"

Chen Hao turned around, his eyes like torches: "We need better options." He lightly tapped the control panel, pulling up a holographic map of the Solar System. "Mars' orbit is close to the asteroid belt, and the planet itself is rich in resources." He magnified the Mars image. "Also, it's spacious enough there for the Luofu Fleet to be stationed."

The conference room door slid open silently, and Fuhuan slowly walked in.

"Apologies for being late. I just went to the Divination Commission and recalculated the jump path," Fuhuan's voice sounded. "The estimated time can be reduced by 3 seconds, and energy consumption will be 2% less than the original plan."

"You can save that much energy?" Topaz looked up in surprise. "In that case, we can add an additional permanent base in Mars' orbit, and simultaneously mine resources on the surface and in the asteroid belt."

General Jing Yuan leaned lazily back in his chair, arms crossed: "In other words, the complete Luofu Fleet can come into being earlier. Ah, less leisure time again."

Chen Hao's gaze swept over every executive present: "Since that's the case, everyone state your position."

Jade, Aventurine, Topaz, and Fuhuan all raised their right hands simultaneously. General Jing Yuan yawned and slowly raised his hand: "Might as well, since I'm idle anyway."