156: Chapter 156 The Final Chapter of the Tale of Four Cities

Late night, December 25th, Spark Technology headquarters building in Shenzhen.

Su Chen stood before the panoramic floor-to-ceiling windows, the city's night view beneath his feet shimmering like a galaxy.

This city never sleeps, just like his brain, which was running at high speed at this moment.

Behind him, four screens on the wall were lit.

They were not real-time footage, but the core data streams of the four cities:

The Xi'an block: Real-time monitoring data from the Xidian University materials laboratory was scrolling—temperature, pressure, phase transition curves; every number represented the cutting edge of China's military industrial materials.

The Wuhan block: Dynamic maps of Yangtze River shipping were flashing—thousands of light points moving along the golden waterway, the main artery of China's economy.

The Chengdu block: Data on the operation of the China-Europe Railway Express was updating—schedules, cargo volumes, customs clearance times; this iron camel caravan was transporting 'Made in China' deep into the Eurasian continent.

The Zhengzhou block: Heat maps of population flow were changing—hundreds of millions of people migrate during the Spring Festival every year, and many of them are looking for a hometown that doesn't require traveling far.

"President Su, Manager Wu's encrypted line is connected," the assistant reminded him softly.

Su Chen returned to the huge curved desk. The screen lit up, and Wu Yi appeared in the picture, the background seemingly a suite in a Chengdu hotel, the table covered with drawings and data sheets.

"President Su, the investigation of the four cities is complete." Wu Yi's voice was a bit tired but filled with excitement. "The conclusion is clearer than I expected—we shouldn't choose; we should have them all. But this isn't just an investment layout, it's..."

"It's a revolution in industrial geography," Su Chen continued, his fingers sliding across the touchscreen to pull up his prepared analysis chart. "I've run simulations on my end, too. Look."

A map of China appeared on the screen with four glowing points—Xi'an, Wuhan, Chengdu, and Zhengzhou. Su Chen began connecting them:

"Xi'an to Wuhan, connecting military and civilian, this is the 'Technology Transformation Axis'."

"Wuhan to Chengdu, connecting the Yangtze River and the Silk Road, this is the 'Market Connectivity Axis'."

"Chengdu to Zhengzhou, connecting the Southwest and the Central Plains, this is the 'Production Synergy Axis'."

"Zhengzhou to Xi'an, connecting manufacturing and R&D, this is the 'Innovation Cycle Axis'."

The four lines formed a solid rhombus.

"China is too big; any single-point layout would be limited by regional markets or supply chains." Su Chen zoomed in on each node. "But if we link these four points, we can build an industrial ecosystem network with extremely strong anti-risk capabilities, the most comprehensive market coverage, and continuous innovation capabilities."

He pulled up the detailed plan: City — Investment Amount — Core Positioning — Strategic Significance

Xi'an: 10 billion investment — Core positioning: Spark Technology Military Materials Research Institute and small-batch production lines — Occupying the technological high ground to guarantee national security needs

Wuhan: 10 billion investment — Core positioning: Spark Technology Civilian Materials Mass Production Base — Positioning in the Yangtze River Economic Belt to radiate to the national consumer market

Chengdu: 8 billion investment — Core positioning: Red Flag-Spark Technology Joint Innovation Base — Opening up the Belt and Road, entering the global high-end market

Zhengzhou: 12 billion investment — Creating the Xingyao Precision Manufacturing Industrial Park, responsible for the assembly of Spark Technology consumer electronics — Undertaking industrial relocation to activate the Central Plains' demographic dividend

Wu Yi noticed the change in the numbers: "The investment in Zhengzhou has increased?"

"Because what Zhengzhou has to carry is not just Spark Technology's terminal assembly, but the 'backup hub' for the entire ecosystem." Su Chen pulled up the planning map of the Zhengzhou Airport Economy Zone. "We are going to build the country's largest intelligent warehousing and logistics center here, a vocational education and training base, and—most importantly—the industrial data brain."

He paused. "All production data, R&D data, and market data from the four locations must be summarized in real-time to the Zhengzhou data center. We will use AI analysis to dynamically optimize the production capacity allocation, logistics scheduling, and R&D direction of the entire network. This is the true 'national chess game'—not coordination under administrative orders, but self-optimization driven by data."

"But the investment is too large..." Wu Yi calculated. "Total investment is 40 billion, plus supporting facilities, it might exceed 60 billion. Spark Technology's current cash flow..."

"Money is not a problem." Su Chen pulled up a scanned copy of a confidential letter he had just received. "The China Development Bank, the Export-Import Bank of China, and the Silk Road Fund have jointly established a 'National Strategic Industry Investment Fund' with an initial scale of 200 billion. This 'Four-City Layout' by Spark Technology has been listed as a flagship project. Spark Technology currently has over 200 billion in book funds, so we are fully capable of starting simultaneously."

Wu Yi was shocked. This meant that Spark Technology's industrial layout had already risen to the level of national strategy.

"But there are conditions." Su Chen's expression became serious. "First, 'Xingyao Precision Manufacturing' must allow the Henan SASAC to hold a 30% stake, and the joint ventures in the other three locations must also leave equity space for local governments—we want deep binding, not simple investment attraction."

"Second, the four locations must achieve free flow of talent. An engineer can do military R&D in Xi'an for three years, then go to Wuhan for civilian conversion for two years, and then go to Chengdu to participate in international projects—their personnel file, social security, and professional title assessment must be recognized nationwide."

"Third, core technologies must be autonomous and controllable. The factories in the four locations can introduce high-end foreign equipment, but numerical control machining centers, control software, process parameters, and core algorithms must be in our own hands. What we are building is a Chinese version of 'Industry 4.0', not an assembly plant piled up with imported equipment."

Wu Yi recorded quickly, his heart beating faster. This was no longer a business decision; this was a grand experiment concerning the future of Spark Technology's manufacturing industry.

"One last point." Su Chen looked at Wu Yi on the screen. "This layout must be fast. The US technology blockade will only get stricter; we may only have a window of 18-24 months. Signing on the 28th, construction starts next January, and all four locations must achieve trial production by the end of 2018. Can it be done?"

Wu Yi was silent for three seconds. Four giant industrial parks, from signing to trial production in just one year, was an almost impossible task.

But he thought of the expectant eyes of the old engineers in those third-line factories he saw in Xi'an, the collective trust of the leaders of eleven provinces and cities along the Yangtze River in Wuhan, the words of Commander Li in the snowy night in Zhengzhou about "building a hometown worth staying in for the next generation", and the warmth of the handshake between the two Presidents Zhou in the twilight of Chengdu.

"Yes." Wu Yi raised his head, his eyes firm. "If Spark Technology can go from the laboratory to mass production in two years, it can make four industrial parks rise from the ground in one year. This is not a question of whether we can, but that we must."

Su Chen nodded, revealing an almost invisible smile. "Then get ready. On the 28th, let the world see what happens when the Chinese people make up their minds to do something."

The screen went dark.

Su Chen walked back to the window. The eastern horizon was already turning white; a new day was about to begin.

Outside the window in Shenzhen, the morning light was piercing through the clouds.

A new era, without needing anyone's permission, had arrived.

9:50 AM, December 28th, four cities, four venues.

Xi'an: Shaanxi Great Hall

The venue was decorated solemnly and simply, with a huge aerial photo of the Qinling Mountains as the background. On the podium, between Wu Yi and the Governor of Shaanxi Province, was a special display cabinet—inside was not a document, but a yellowed steel plate engraved with "1978 · Project 714 Completion Commemoration".

The Governor pointed to the steel plate: "This was taken from the ruins of the Qinling Third-Line Factory. 48 years ago, our fathers' generation in these mountains, using abacuses and hand-cranked computers, built the first generation of strategic equipment for the Republic. 48 years later, we are here, using Spark Technology's new materials, to start a new journey."

Wu Yi touched the cold surface of the steel plate, able to feel the warmth that had long since faded. He looked up: "Please rest assured, what Spark Technology is doing in Xi'an will be no less than what our fathers' generation did."

Wuhan: Yangtze River Civilization Museum

The venue was set in a transparent glass building by the Yangtze River, with the rolling river water beneath their feet. Representatives from eleven provinces and cities sat around a circular table, each with a bottle of water taken from their province's section of the Yangtze River in front of them.

The Governor of Hubei Province held up the water bottle in front of him: "Yangtze River water, same source, same flow. Today, eleven provinces and cities drink from the same river and build the same chain together. What we are signing is not just a simple procurement contract, but a declaration of industrial synergy in the Yangtze River Economic Belt."

The Vice President of Spark Materials stood up and slowly poured the eleven bottles of water into a huge crystal container: "Spark Technology promises that every gram of material we produce will make the industries of the Yangtze River Economic Belt lighter, stronger, and greener."

Chengdu: Tianfu International Convention Center

The venue was designed in a futuristic style, with holographic projections outlining a concept map of a car-aircraft fusion in the air. Beside the Governor of Sichuan Province sat Zhou Qingyu and Zhou Weiguo, and the three of them pressed the start button together.

A countdown appeared on the big screen: 365 days.

"Today, one year from now," the Governor announced, "the world's first 'Air-Land Cross-Boundary Innovation Base' will rise here. This is not a slogan—we have already established provincial and municipal-level special task forces, and I will serve as the team leader myself. In 365 days, we will let the world see what 'Chengdu Speed' is."

Zhou Qingyu added: "Red Flag has already established a 'Western Business Group', and I will serve concurrently as the general manager. In the next three years, Red Flag's investment in Chengdu will be increased to 20 billion, driving the investment of the entire industrial chain to over 100 billion."

Zhengzhou: Zhengzhou International Convention and Exhibition Center

This venue was the most special—sitting in the audience were not only officials and entrepreneurs, but also five hundred teacher and student representatives from vocational and technical schools across Henan. They wore neat work uniforms, their eyes full of expectation.

Liu Jian, Executive Vice Governor of Henan Province, took the microphone, not walking to the podium, but into the middle of the students: "Children, the industrial park signed today will need 50,000 technical workers and 20,000 engineers within five years. You are the future masters of this place."

A girl wearing glasses raised her hand timidly: "Governor, I study numerical control, can I join Spark Technology?"

Liu Jian smiled: "Not only can you join, but if you perform well, Spark Technology will send you to Germany for training. What we are doing is not low-end assembly, but world-class intelligent manufacturing."

He turned to Mobile Phone Product Manager on the stage: "Manager Mobile Phone Product Manager, in front of the children, can you give a promise?"

Mobile Phone Product Manager stood up and bowed deeply: "Xingyao Precision Manufacturing promises: First, salaries will not be lower than 80% of the same positions in coastal areas; second, 1,000 overseas training spots will be provided every year; third, the 'Spark Craftsman Award' will be established, with a top prize of 1 million. We want the whole country to know that the best workers are in Henan."

Applause thundered, and many students' eyes turned red.

10:00 AM sharp.

The big screens at the four venues lit up simultaneously, divided into four frames.

The camera of the CCTV News special report switched between the four venues, the host's voice excited and solemn:

"Dear viewers, what we are witnessing now is a milestone moment in the history of the Republic's industrial development. Spark Technology Group, an innovative enterprise that has been reborn from the ashes for only three years, signed contracts with the four cities of Xi'an, Wuhan, Chengdu, and Zhengzhou today, with an initial investment of 40 billion yuan, covering a complete industrial ecosystem of military, civilian, automotive, and electronics..."

"This is not just a business investment; this is an exploration of a new path for China's regional coordinated development, a vivid practice of the 'national chess game' strategy, and even more a declaration of China's manufacturing industry striving to climb up the global value chain..."

In the four venues, the four signing representatives raised their pens at the same time.

Wu Yi in Xi'an, the tip of his pen landed on the restart agreement for the Qinling Third-Line Factory.

The Spark Technology Vice President in Wuhan, the tip of his pen landed on the joint procurement agreement for the Yangtze River Economic Belt.

Zhou Qingyu in Chengdu, the tip of his pen landed on the co-construction agreement for the Air-Land Cross-Boundary Innovation Base.

Mobile Phone Product Manager in Zhengzhou, the tip of his pen landed on the joint venture agreement for Xingyao Precision Manufacturing.

Four pens, drawn simultaneously.

There were no fireworks, no champagne, but applause erupted in all four venues, lasting for a long time.

In the conference center in Shenzhen, Su Chen watched the real-time images coming from the four places, watched the excited crowds, and watched those young, old, and expectant faces.

The assistant asked softly: "President Su, would you like to make a speech?"

Su Chen shook his head, just watching quietly.

The light of the screen reflected on his face, light and shadow intertwined.

At this moment, he thought of many things. He thought of the countless sleepless nights in the Star Lab, the contemptuous eyes at international conferences, and the "impossible" asserted by "experts" during the technology blockade.

But now, four cities, four agreements, an industrial network covering half of China, was moving from blueprint to reality.

Outside the window in Shenzhen, the sun was shining brightly.

The assistant noticed that there seemed to be a trace of almost invisible moisture in the corner of Su Chen's eyes.

But he turned around quickly, his voice already returning to his usual calmness:

"Notify all departments, at 9 AM tomorrow, hold the 'Four-City Layout' launch meeting. We only have one year, we cannot delay for a single moment."

"Yes."

A new journey, from this moment, officially began.