95: Chapter 95 The Glory of the Hongqi H9

The early autumn chill had already arrived in Changchun in September, but inside the modern exhibition hall next to the Red Flag History Museum, the temperature was rising rapidly.

At 1:30 PM, half an hour before the start, the exhibition hall was already packed.

The three hundred-plus seats were carefully divided into sections: the left was the automotive media zone, where reporters from mainstream platforms like Dongchedi, Autohome, and Yiche had already set up their cameras and microphones; the center was the industry observation zone, where representatives from competitors like Geely, Great Wall, and Changan sat with varying expressions; the right was the supplier and special guest zone, featuring the team from Spark Power, executives from Fuyao Glass, and twenty grey-haired veteran Red Flag employees.

The design of the exhibition hall was full of clever touches that blended time and space.

At the entrance, under a spotlight, sat a 1958 Red Flag CA72 sedan.

This classic model, hailed as the "First Car of the Republic," had undergone three months of meticulous restoration, and every chrome trim piece shimmered with a gentle luster under the lights.

The classic "waving Red Flag" waistline on the side of the car seemed to tell the story of the glory from over half a century ago.

"Master Ma, have you worked on this car before?" a young reporter asked the old man beside him.

Sixty-five-year-old Ma Guodong, a former level-eight technician at the Red Flag assembly workshop, had forty-two years of service.

He adjusted his reading glasses, leaned in to inspect the door seam, and nodded. "It was overhauled once in 1965. Back then, there were no machines; the sheet metal work was all done by hand hammers. Look at this curved surface—" He traced the curve of the hood with his hand. "The three of us hammered for three days, using wooden mallets and anvils, fixing it millimeter by millimeter. Young people today can't imagine that kind of craftsmanship."

His voice wasn't loud, but several reporters gathered around, holding their voice recorders high.

"So, do you think the Red Flag of today is still the same Red Flag?"

Master Ma fell silent.

He looked at the bright little Red Flag emblem on the nose of the CA72, then gazed toward the silhouette of the new car covered by a red curtain in the depths of the hall. After a long while, he said, "Red Flag isn't just a car; it's a dream. Our generation truly believed in the saying, 'Build a good car for the Chinese people.' Later... later the factory struggled, and everyone dispersed. I came today just to see if that dream is still alive."

His eyes were slightly moist as he turned and walked toward the veteran employee section.

Nineteen of his old colleagues sat there, just like him; the youngest was fifty-eight.

They wore neat but clearly outdated Zhongshan suits or work uniforms, sitting straight as soldiers awaiting inspection.

The corridor connected the past with the future—from the CA72 to the new car under the curtain, it was a thirty-meter-long corridor of time.

The walls on both sides were hung with important moments in Red Flag's history: the first prototype rolled off the line in 1958; it became the National Day parade vehicle in 1964; the Chief Designer rode in a Red Flag to inspect the troops in 1984; the 1999 50th National Day celebration; and then... a fifteen-year gap until today in 2017.

"Distinguished guests, the press conference is about to begin. Please take your seats," the broadcast announced.

The live streaming team was making final adjustments.

Eight camera angles covered the entire venue, with live streams on Douyin, Bilibili, and Dongchedi simultaneously active.

Only ten minutes into the broadcast, the number of online viewers had already exceeded 500,000, and the chat screen began to scroll rapidly:

"Is Red Flag still alive?"

"Heard it was acquired by Spark Technology, here to watch."

"150,000? Really?"

"A nostalgia car, probably just a rebadged model."

"Selling melon seeds and drinks in the front row."

At 2:00 PM sharp, the exhibition hall lights dimmed, leaving only a single spotlight shining at the end of the corridor.

The background music began—not a stirring march, but a melodic violin variation of "My People, My Country."

The big screen began playing a fast-cut video: in black and white footage, workers hammered car bodies; in color, a fleet of Red Flag cars drove down Chang'an Avenue; then the footage accelerated, the factory gradually became deserted, production lines stopped, and weeds grew in the workshop...

It finally froze on a notice from May 2017: "Spark Technology Fully Acquires Hongqi Automobile."

The music stopped abruptly.

In the spotlight, a figure walked down the corridor.

Zhou Qingyu was wearing a dark grey custom suit today, well-tailored, neither flashy nor conservative.

The most special detail was the dual-logo brooch on his chest—the left side was the Spark flame emblem, the right side was the classic Red Flag standing logo, connected in the middle by a smooth line.

He was in his early forties, his hair meticulously combed, his gait steady, but if one looked closely, one could see his right hand slightly clenched, a sign of nervousness.

Standing in the center of the stage, the spotlight widened, illuminating the red curtain behind him.

"Fifty-nine years ago, on August 1, 1958, the first Red Flag sedan rolled off the line at the First Automobile Works in Changchun."

Zhou Qingyu's opening was calm, without passion or excitement, as if he were recounting an old story.

Offstage, someone in the veteran employee section began to wipe away tears.

"Over these fifty-nine years, Red Flag has experienced the glory of being the center of attention, and has also fallen into the trough of being ignored. It was once the vehicle of choice for heads of state, and also a choice for taxi companies; it was once the pride of national industry, and also an outcast of the market economy."

Photos from history flashed on the big screen: the Red Flag fleet at the National Day parade, the ceremonial cars in front of the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse, then shifting to—rusted Red Flag taxis on the street, old cars priced at 30,000 in the used car market.

"Today, we stand here, not to repeat the glories of the past, nor to deny the difficulties we once faced." Zhou Qingyu paused, his gaze sweeping across the audience. "We stand at the intersection of history and the future, for only one thing: to create new memories."

He stepped forward, and the spotlight followed.

"From today on, Red Flag's brand positioning will be redefined: it will no longer be just a 'state guest car,' but will become a 'people's car.' We want every hardworking young person, every ordinary family, to be able to drive the pride of Chinese manufacturing. This is not just a business decision; it is our answer to history—Red Flag is not dead; it has just found a new way to live."

Applause broke out, scattered at first, then quickly merging into a wave.

"The first model released today, the Hongqi H9 'Yuexing Youth Edition,' has a guide price of 150,000 yuan." Zhou Qingyu paused deliberately, waiting for the reaction triggered by this number.

A gasp of breath indeed came from the audience.

Reporters scribbled in their notebooks, representatives from competitors exchanged glances, and the live stream chat exploded:

"How much?!"

"150,000 for a Red Flag?"

"This price is crazy."

"Waiting for the specs, it's definitely going to be stripped down to the point of tears."

Zhou Qingyu had clearly anticipated this reaction.

He smiled slightly. "Yes, 150,000. This is our promise to the market: Red Flag's technology, the people's price. And the confidence in our technology comes from our partner—the 1.5L intelligent mild-hybrid system newly developed by Spark Power."

The big screen switched to a technical analysis animation: a traditional internal combustion engine working in coordination with a 48V motor, intelligently switching during starting, accelerating, coasting, and other driving conditions.

Data showed that this system reduced fuel consumption by 20% compared to joint-venture cars in the same class, and improved power by 15%.

"But that's not enough." Zhou Qingyu changed the subject. "The quality of a car must ultimately be spoken for by the product itself. So now—"

He turned to face the red curtain and made a gesture of invitation.

"I invite three special guests to join me in unveiling the first answer of the new Red Flag."

The spotlight split into three beams.

On the left, Master Ma stood up from the veteran employee section, adjusted his collar, and walked onto the stage with a slightly unsteady but firm gait.

In the center, the young engineer from Spark Power, Liu Yang—twenty-eight years old, wearing black-rimmed glasses and a polo shirt with the Spark logo, adjusted the microphone, looking slightly nervous.

On the right, a young man in a denim jacket with a bright smile trotted onto the stage. He was Zhang Ming, the first blind-order user selected through the online event, an ordinary twenty-six-year-old programmer.

The four stood in front of the curtain, and the background music started again, this time a piano piece filled with a sense of hope.

"Master Ma, you worked at Red Flag for forty-two years." Zhou Qingyu handed over a microphone. "Today, you will unveil this new car. Is there anything you would like to say?"

Master Ma's hands were trembling.

He took the microphone, looked at those familiar old faces in the audience, then looked at the young technician and user beside him, his lips trembling slightly.

"I... I entered the factory at sixteen, apprenticed for three years, and worked as an assembly worker for thirty-nine years." His voice was hoarse. "I assembled the CA72, the 770, the Century Star... Later the factory struggled, and the apprentices all left. The day I retired, I sat on the production line alone until dark. I thought... Red Flag would end with my generation."

He wiped the corner of his eye.

"Being able to stand here today and see the new Red Flag, it was worth it. I don't know what this car is like, but I know—the soul of Red Flag hasn't dissipated."

Thunderous applause erupted, with many young reporters also clapping.

Zhou Qingyu looked at Liu Yang again. "Engineer Liu, you are the chief designer of this mild-hybrid system. From the laboratory to the production car, what do you most want to say to the users?"

Liu Yang took a deep breath and adjusted his glasses. "Our team conducted 735 tests, with a cumulative mileage of over one million kilometers. This system may not be the most advanced, but it is certainly reliable. I assure you—it will not let you down."

Finally, it was Zhang Ming.

The young man smiled a bit foolishly. "I'm just an ordinary office worker who saved money for four years to buy a car. When I saw that Red Flag was releasing a 150,000 yuan car, I blind-ordered it. Why? Because my grandfather has an old photo—in 1969, he stood in front of Tiananmen, and behind him was a Red Flag. He said that was the proudest moment of his life. Today, I want to continue that pride."

"Good." Zhou Qingyu nodded and faced the curtain. "And now—"

The four reached out simultaneously and grabbed the edge of the curtain.

The music built to a climax.

"The Hongqi H9 'Yuexing Youth Edition,' officially unveiled!"

The curtain fell.

The lights suddenly turned on fully, and eight spotlights focused on the silver-grey sedan on the stage.

Time seemed to freeze for a second.

Then, the entire venue erupted in a wave of sound mixed with gasps, applause, and camera shutter clicks.

People seeing the H9 for the first time found it hard to describe that feeling in simple words.

It was both familiar and strange—familiar was the classic "Mountain Waterfall" grille on the front face, with nine vertical chrome strips hanging down like a waterfall, and the central Red Flag standing emblem bright and eye-catching; strange was the overall styling, which looked at least twenty years younger.

The continuous LED daytime running light strip spanned the entire front face, forming a sharp "brow line" above the grille.

The headlight cluster was a brand-new design, with three lens-type LED light sources inside, looking like the eyes of a beast.

The side lines were smooth and dynamic, with a deep waistline extending from the end of the headlights to the taillights, making the not-so-long body look slender and powerful.

The wheels were a dual five-spoke 15-inch aluminum alloy design, and although not large, the styling was exquisite.

The rear of the car was the biggest surprise.

The continuous taillights used the latest light-guide technology, looking like a red rainbow bridge when lit.

The most ingenious part was the center—the luminous Red Flag logo, not just simple backlighting, but a matrix composed of 128 micro-LEDs that could light up in a gradient.

"Holy sh*t..." a reporter in the audience couldn't help but curse.

The flashes merged into one, like continuous lightning.

The live stream chat went completely crazy:

"This design is great!"

"Red Flag looks like this now?"

"The continuous taillights are so cool."

"150,000 for this exterior? I don't believe it."

In the veteran employee section, Master Ma returned to his seat, and his old friends gathered around.

"Old Ma, this car... this car is really beautiful."

"It looks like a Red Flag, yet it doesn't."

"That taillight, we couldn't have imagined that back in our day."

Master Ma didn't speak, just stared intently at the car.

His gaze swept from the front to the rear of the car, as if inspecting a work he had assembled himself.

After a long time, he nodded and whispered, "The spirit is still there. The 'righteousness' of Red Flag is still there."

On stage, Zhou Qingyu let the media take photos for three minutes before signaling for everyone to quiet down.

"This is the Hongqi H9." His voice carried a hint of imperceptible pride. "I know what you are thinking—'It looks good, but what about the inside?' '150,000, it must be stripped down, right?' 'Is the hybrid system reliable?'"

He walked to the car and opened the door.

"We will answer all your questions one by one now."