57: Chapter 57 Currency Subcontracting Agreement

Having handled the urgent diplomatic matters, Lin Zhou could finally turn his attention back to the internal affairs of national construction.

He called Chen Yuan and the newly appointed Chief Currency Designer of the Central Bank, A Niu, to his office.

"A Niu, I've seen the design drafts, and they are stunning," Lin Zhou praised unreservedly. "Especially the set of stamps titled 'genesis'; they are practically a microcosm of our nation's founding history. You deserve immense credit for this."

Receiving praise directly from the Head of State, A Niu appeared somewhat restrained, a hint of red appearing on his dark-skinned face.

"The Head of State overpraises me. I... I just drew what I thought of."

"Your talent is worthy of this honor." Lin Zhou turned to Chen Yuan. "Old Chen, regarding A Niu's peerage, as I mentioned before, 'Founding County Earl'. Get the conferment documents processed as soon as possible."

"No problem." Chen Yuan nodded, then took a thick set of drawings and a report from his briefcase and pushed them toward Lin Zhou.

"Head of State, these are the complete currency anti-counterfeiting solutions and engraving blueprints A Niu created based on the design drafts. One could say that at the design level, our 'Liberty Dollar' is already a world-class work of art."

Lin Zhou picked up the blueprints and studied them closely. The anti-counterfeiting details were even more complex than he had imagined. Windowed security threads, optically variable ink, intaglio printing, micro-text, colorless fluorescent patterns... it encompassed almost all top-tier anti-counterfeiting technologies used in modern banknotes.

"A Niu, thank you for your hard work," Lin Zhou remarked sincerely.

"It wasn't hard. Being able to design a set of real currency belonging to us has been my lifelong dream." A Niu's voice was filled with excitement.

Chen Yuan took over the conversation, his expression becoming serious. "Design is the first step. The second step is the real test—printing."

He pointed to the data in the report. "I've consulted several top banknote printing plants domestically, including several units under the China Banknote Printing and Minting Corporation. Purchasing a full set of equipment—from intaglio presses to cutting machines—would cost an astronomical sum, and we don't have any skilled technical workers. Therefore, the only option is to commission them for outsourced printing."

"What are their quotes like?" Lin Zhou asked.

"Very high." Chen Yuan's brow furrowed. "Because our order volume is too small. According to the plan, our first batch will only be ten thousand sets to be sold as souvenirs. For them, that amount doesn't even cover the setup costs. So, the preliminary quote they gave was as high as three hundred RMB per set."

"Three hundred per set?" Lin Zhou was also taken aback. A set of Liberty Dollar, from one yuan to one hundred yuan, totaling seven banknotes, costing three hundred just for printing—this was practically faster than robbing a bank.

"That's just the preliminary quote," Chen Yuan added. "More importantly, they are very cautious about accepting an outsourcing order for 'sovereign currency.' They need to report to and get approval from their superior unit, which is the People's Bank of China. This is no longer a simple commercial act; it has escalated to the national level."

Lin Zhou fell silent.

He realized he had once again touched that invisible but omnipresent red line.

Currency is a symbol of a nation's sovereignty. Printing currency for another 'sovereign state' is something unprecedented in Chinese history. How would the Central Bank view this? Would they treat it as an ordinary printing business or a sensitive political issue?

"I understand," Lin Zhou said slowly. "This matter cannot be discussed solely through commercial channels. Old Chen, please help me arrange a meeting with the relevant person in charge at the People's Bank of China. I want to talk to them personally."

Chen Yuan had been waiting for those words.

"I've already used my old connections to arrange it for you. The other party is a Deputy Director of the Currency, Gold, and Silver Bureau. The meeting is set for tomorrow morning."

The next day, accompanied by Chen Yuan, Lin Zhou walked into the solemn building located in Xicheng District.

They were received by a refined Deputy Director in his fifties, wearing gold-rimmed glasses, surnamed Liu.

Without excessive pleasantries, Director Liu got straight to the point.

"Mr. Lin, we have heard of your affairs. Old Chen has also introduced your situation to us. In principle, we do not object to outsourcing the printing of sovereign currency for the 'Cyber Freedom Republic'."

This opening was much smoother than Lin Zhou had anticipated.

"However," Director Liu's tone shifted, "we have one condition."

"Please, go ahead."

Director Liu stood up and walked to a world map hanging on the office wall, his gaze falling on the blank area in the northeast corner of Africa.

"Although your country was born in Africa, your citizens, your core team, and your technical origins are all in China. I believe Mr. Lin acknowledges this."

Lin Zhou nodded.

"Therefore, we hope that your currency can reflect this special connection." Director Liu tapped a finger lightly on the drawings. "We are not asking you to print any Chinese symbols, but we hope that the design, printing, and even the anti-counterfeiting technology of this currency set will bear a distinct 'Chinese mark'."

"What do you mean?" Lin Zhou was somewhat puzzled.

"I mean, we want to build it into a 'Made in China' calling card." A strategist's light shone in Director Liu's eyes. "We want the whole world to know that China can not only manufacture high-quality, low-priced goods but can also print the most exquisite and secure banknotes in the world. Your 'Liberty Dollar' will be our first model project. We will use the best technology, the best equipment, and the best team to complete this printing."

Lin Zhou instantly understood the other party's intention.

They weren't just doing business; they were playing a grand game of chess.

They wanted to turn the 'Liberty Dollar' into a living advertisement for China's banknote printing industry as it goes global. By printing currency for a nascent nation, they would showcase their technical strength and manufacturing standards to the world.

"As for the price," Director Liu smiled, "we can give it to you at cost. But in exchange, we need to obtain the 'exhibition rights' and 'promotional rights' for this currency set. We will display the 'Liberty Dollar' as our representative work at various international currency exhibitions in the future."

This was practically a windfall!

Not only did it solve the approval problem, but he also got an internal price far below the market rate, and they were even willing to invest top-tier resources to make the product perfect.

And all he had to give up was agreeing to let them use his product for advertising.

"I have no reason to refuse." Lin Zhou stood up and proactively extended his hand. "Director Liu, it's a pleasure doing business with you."

"A pleasure." Director Liu shook his hand. "Mr. Lin, welcome to adding a brilliant stroke to China's banknote printing enterprise."

Walking out of the Central Bank's gates, Lin Zhou felt like he was walking on air.

The smoothness of the matter had exceeded his imagination.

He had originally thought it would be a difficult negotiation, but he didn't expect it to result in a win-win cooperation.

"Old Chen, did you expect this result all along?" Lin Zhou looked at Chen Yuan beside him.

Chen Yuan smiled slightly, looking profound and inscrutable.

"The nation's game of chess is far larger than you imagine. You think you are using the rules, but in fact, you yourself are just a part of the rules."

Lin Zhou nodded thoughtfully.

Just then, his phone rang; it was Wang Tao calling.

As soon as the call connected, Wang Tao's signature loud voice came through, filled with uncontrollable excitement.

"Brother Lin! Great news! Incredible news!"

"Brother Wang, what's got you so excited?"

"The money! The money has arrived!" Wang Tao was practically shouting. "The first batch of 'Solar Water Collectors' we produced in cooperation with Egypt—ten units! They have all come off the line and were officially loaded onto a ship today, bound for Egypt!"

Lin Zhou's heart skipped a beat.

"Egypt... they paid?"

"Paid! In full! Ten million USD per unit, ten units, a full one hundred million USD! It was just transferred to our joint venture's account moments ago!"

Wang Tao's voice trembled with excitement. "According to our original agreement, the technical patent licensing fee for each device is 6.4 million USD. From this revenue, your Cyber Freedom Republic holds a 10% share!"

Lin Zhou's breathing hitched.

He quickly did the math in his head.

10% of 6.4 million USD is 640,000 USD.

For ten units, that was... 6.4 million USD!

"Brother Wang," Lin Zhou's voice became a bit dry, "are you saying our country... now has an income of 6.4 million USD?"

"Exactly!" Wang Tao laughed wildly on the other end of the phone. "Brother Lin, I'm heading to the finance department right now to handle the paperwork! Get your national bank account ready; your buddy is personally sending the money to you!"