Chapter 700: We'll Participate Too

"President Zheng, how many cars do we need today?"

Zhang Hao, the staff member sent by Tequila to assist Zheng Qian, said with a flattering look.

In just half a month, Zheng Qian had already wrecked over two thousand cars.

Of course, these weren't provided for free to train his AI!

Every single one cost money!

It was just that the price was relatively cheaper, and they were all factory-direct vehicles without interiors and such.

However!

Even so, each one cost around 150,000.

As the experiments progressed to the later stages, ordinary cars could no longer meet Zheng Qian's basic requirements.

This Zhang Hao was quite well-connected and familiar with many car manufacturers, so he simply had him source professional rally cars.

Of course, the price rose accordingly, with each one costing around 1.5 million.

He didn't know how many kickbacks he had taken from this; his mouth was practically crooked from grinning.

Zheng Qian couldn't be bothered to care; as long as the cars provided were good, it was no problem.

"Let's start with 50."

Zheng Qian flicked the ash from his cigarette, pointing out the landscape, "Tell the assembly plant to hurry up. We're reaching the final stage of the experiment and are about to produce results; don't delay my grand plan. And don't just focus on taking kickbacks, you bastard—make them increase the speed."

After speaking, he gave him a kick in the butt.

Zhang Hao didn't shy away.

Even seeing Zheng Qian raising his leg, he actually leaned in and presented himself.

Are you kidding!

He's a big financier!

He was taking millions in kickbacks every single day!

What's the big deal about getting kicked?

Zhang Hao now understood those female streamers who served "old men"; they received huge tips every day, let alone just getting kicked.

Even if he had to give it to Zheng Qian! He would grit his teeth and lie down! He had practically achieved financial freedom in these last two weeks!

"No problem, President Zheng, rest assured! Just watch!"

Zhang Hao hurriedly made calls to arrange it.

The people at the research institute had really become inflated these past few days.

When Microsoft acquired OpenAI, they immediately threw in ten billion USD and even brought in a supercomputer.

But our President Zheng wasn't intimidated either!

In addition to investing in the research institute and the industrial base.

He directly threw in one billion euros to build a supercomputer!

It was built at the same time as the production and research base.

This extraordinary computing power fascinated Professor Ji Muxi.

Moreover, she was no longer satisfied with computer simulations; she wanted to directly experience the cars speeding in reality. Of course, this also indicated that the experiment was at the end, reaching the point where results needed to be verified.

Song Yaxian, on the other hand, had her brows tightly locked.

After looking at her phone for a long time, she finally couldn't help it.

"It makes me so angry! Why are the Americans so arrogant?"

"What's wrong, my little sweetheart?"

"Look! The famous American driver Sion Stanley, who has swept all the major world rally races, is going to participate in the Shanghu Rally! He even explicitly clamored that the people of Kyushu are no good, and that since the prize money here is the highest, we are basically just sending him money!"

Song Yaxian angrily held out her phone.

Zheng Qian glanced at it and couldn't help but laugh, "It's like someone brought a pillow just as I was getting sleepy. This Sion Stanley is perfect to serve as our litmus test. See who the organizer of this Shanghu Rally is, and find a way to make arrangements."

Zheng Qian was very confident in this Autonomous Driving System model.

The total value of the technologies purchased added up to over one hundred trillion.

Fortunately, he had spent money like crazy on equipment like lithography machines before, otherwise he wouldn't have been able to withstand the consumption of R&D.

Products from the Mysterious Shop are certainly top-notch.

"The organizer... it was originally sponsored by a gasoline company, but now it is Shanghe International! It's... Shang Yanxiong and the others!"

The sharp Song Yaxian smelled a hint of conspiracy.

Could it be that Shanghe International is about to produce results?

But they aren't a technology company!

How could it be so fast?

Zheng Qian took the phone and looked at it, grinning from ear to ear.

It turned out that Shanghe International Group had provided a large temporary sponsorship, and the champion would receive a prize of one million euros. This directly elevated the competition to the world's top level; originally only thirty teams were participating, but now it has expanded to fifty!

The most highly acclaimed among them was, of course, the Thanos Racing Team led by Sion Stanley.

Not only was Sion Stanley participating, but there was also another very strong wildcard driver, Dr. Henry.

"Not bad, Shanghe International is actually rushing to send us money; how could I refuse? Hmm, and they plan to hold a press conference soon; they should be announcing their Autonomous Driving System. It seems they are trying to build momentum."

Zheng Qian lit a cigarette and began to ponder thoughtfully.

He had originally been struggling to find an opportunity to make an appearance.

In this way, this was simply the most advantageous timing.

Shanghe International must be planning to use this race to completely establish the superiority of their Autonomous Driving System.

The key is that Shanghe International has actually started playing the patriotic card.

Recruiting top drivers nationwide.

To do battle against the Americans!

And they released a bounty announcement: if anyone can defeat Sion Stanley head-on in this race, they will receive an additional one million euros in prize money. There are always brave men under heavy rewards; the heat has been fermenting on the internet.

It has been dominating the trending lists for a long time, becoming a topic of conversation for many people after meals.

"We are participating too."

Zheng Qian said while toying with the black silk stockings.

Song Yaxian hurriedly looked around, and only when she saw no one noticed did she not push Zheng Qian's hand away.

The weather was getting cooler, and in this satellite city far from Shanghu, Song Yaxian certainly couldn't wear low-denier stockings anymore, but rather thicker black stockings with a relatively higher denier, which Zheng Qian found equally irresistible, tireless, and studied throughout the night.

"We are participating too? Then... do we need a driver?"

Song Yaxian couldn't help but ask suspiciously.

That's a good question.

Zheng Qian wants to do is true [unmanned] driving, not the current mainstream auxiliary systems.

And there is another very critical issue: what if Shanghe International refuses to acknowledge it?

They certainly aren't doing it for the first-place prize money, but they cannot fall into a whirlpool of public opinion and be criticized for it.

"It's simple, just leave this matter to Huahua to arrange."

"Then what do you plan to call our model? It has to have a name, after all."

"Let's call it [Wooden Ox and Flowing Horse]."

Song Yaxian: ...Is it that casual?

[Vroom—] [Whoosh—] [Swish—]

Just then, several cars sped past them, taking corners at high speed.

Zheng Qian's eyes lit up at the sight.

These racing cars had no drivers controlling them; the system was fully integrated into the Autonomous Driving System model. After more than half a month of continuous training, they had already displayed an astonishing level of driving.

Zheng Qian had spent a huge fortune to obtain massive amounts of driving data.

After the model's overnight learning, there was no doubt that they had achieved huge success.

The 50 rally cars just purchased should be the final sacrifices; it was time to debut in front of the world.

He came to the laboratory temporarily built next to the training ground.

He heard bursts of cheers!

"We did it! My God, 0 accident rate for 3 consecutive days! We really succeeded!"

"This is a true Autonomous Driving System! We will definitely win a Nobel Prize!"

"Damn it, can this really win a Nobel Prize? A Nobel Car Repair Prize?"

"Hey! Isn't this worth celebrating? Just be happy!"

"Professor Ji Muxi! You are truly my goddess! You actually managed to pull this off!"

Through the window on the office door, he saw Professor Ji Muxi also clenching her pink fists in excitement, cheering along with them.

Zheng Qian was very gratified.

He didn't directly give all the concepts from the Mysterious Shop to Professor Ji Muxi.

Instead, he guided her slowly and explained things deeply throughout the night.

Fortunately, Professor Ji Muxi's comprehension was also quite good.

She actually understood the model creation principle of the Mysterious Shop and completed it in the shortest possible time.

"Let them be happy for a while longer; everyone has worked hard during this time. Reward each core member with a 'small goal'. Call Professor Ji Muxi to my office later; hmm... I won't be going back tonight."