Technology invades the modern world

Chapter 463 The Difference Between Biography and Legend

"So, as foreign media have suggested, are we going to pursue control of the moon? Will we decide who gets to go to the moon and who doesn't?"
Is it possible to regulate lunar management through legislation, given that the moon has been an inseparable part of China since ancient times?

After all, this can be traced back to the ancient story of Wu Gang landing on the moon. Since then, the moon has belonged to the Chinese people. I am actually very interested in this topic.

I believe our viewers are also very interested in this topic.

Tim asked with a wicked grin. He knew Lin Ran was a hardliner, and most young people were hardliners.

Lin Ran asked, "How will you maintain it? By force? Or do you really intend to arm the lunar base?"

Tim was a little stunned by the question. After thinking for a moment, he said, "From a rational point of view, I don't think we can do that."

From an emotional standpoint, I hope we can do that.

Lin Ran said, "First of all, I need to emphasize a premise: I am the founder and chairman of Apollo Technology, and I have no way to interfere with how national-level strategies are implemented."

Of course, Tim wouldn't believe it, and neither would the audience.

It is well known that experts and scholars have a certain influence on Yenching University in their respective professional fields.

They will exert their influence through seminars, closed-door meetings, and even one-on-one exchanges.

If experts and scholars think this way, then Lin Ran is even more so.

There's a saying on Zhihu that the combined influence of Chinese experts and scholars is not as great as that of Lin Ran alone.

But in interview programs, it's definitely something that has to be done.

Tim nodded repeatedly: "Of course, this is just a discussion."

Lin Ran then said quietly, "We are a peace-loving country, so of course we would not weaponize the moon."

But isn't it normal for us to do infrastructure work on the moon? We're a country that loves infrastructure.

For example, issuing an advance notice stating the specific coordinates on the moon where we will launch a terrain-changing device.

Tim understood immediately: what terrain-changing device? It's just a missile, isn't it?

“I understand. We’re doing infrastructure work. We’re using explosives to alter the terrain to facilitate future construction. As for why the missiles are so close to my base, it’s because it’s necessary for our construction, and the moon doesn’t have any borders,” Tim added.

What Lin Ran is good at saying but Yan Jing is not good at saying, Tim is just right to say what Lin Ran is not good at saying.

It's inappropriate for Lin Ran to talk about things like ammunition or the area around your base.

Lin Ran laughed and said, "I didn't mean that. If IA is here to investigate someone, please look at the person next to you."

He then added, "So one thing is true: if you have the ability to deter, then you can achieve the purpose of deterrence."

The moon may not belong to China, but we are the most important force in determining the moon's fate.

This will remain true for a long time to come.

Tim applauded Lin Ran's statement, feeling deeply moved.

We have the final say on what happens on the moon, and a sense of profound change is growing stronger.

"Burning God, back to this space rescue, could you tell us the story behind it?" Tim continued the conversation.

Lin Ran said, "When I saw Blue Origin's collaboration with Tata in the company briefing, I had a vague feeling that something was going to go wrong."

That's just how Indian companies work; they always seem to have issues with the details.

The devil is in the details, especially in aerospace. A single screw could cost an astronaut's life and cause a costly mission to fail.

Manufacturing errors in mobile phones are limited to issues like poor usability, large gaps, or even battery explosions.

However, for something like spacecraft, seeking cooperation with India at this time is clearly inappropriate.

Indian companies' quality management has not yet reached the requirements of the aerospace industry.

But I need to emphasize that it's not that Indians are incapable, nor is it due to race. I believe there is no fundamental difference between different races, but they exhibit different characteristics due to factors such as economy, politics, culture, and geography.

In short, I had a bad feeling at the time, and when I received a call from Bezos, something unexpected really happened.

As for what happened next, everyone knows from the news: Blue Origin contacted us for help, and we successfully completed the rescue using the lunar lander, Magpie Bridge, and all three astronauts returned safely to Earth.

Tim asked curiously, "So this leads to two questions. First, Bezos said at the press conference that he knows you and that you once wanted to ask him for investment. Is that true?"

"That's true. Back then, I was still in America, thinking of making my first fortune from Blue Origin. But Bezos didn't even consider me. He thought, how could someone who studied artificial intelligence possibly handle a moon landing?" Lin Ran explained.

Tim said with deep emotion, "This also marked the beginning of a great legend. An unprecedented re-employment of NASA seniors, paying to work, landing on the moon in a year, and Aldrin landing on the moon at the age of 85."

It all started with Bezos's refusal, which makes the whole story so legendary.

When I found out, I found it incredible. It felt like a real-life replica of the decades of hard work and success described in a biography, condensed into just one year.

The difference between a biography and a legend may be just a fleeting moment.

Lin Ran said, "I mentioned the essence earlier. The essence of the moon landing is matter and algorithms. It's not as difficult as everyone thinks."

After the show aired, Lin Ran quickly earned the nickname "Professor Lin, who says landing on the moon is not difficult," and his popularity rivaled that of the "100 million small goal."

"Then Blue Origin said when questioned by investors that they only paid $50 million in bailout costs."

I think this fee is a bit too low. Domestic netizens also think it's too little.

I'm not saying that we don't consider life or have no humanity, but that rescue operations in extreme situations are inherently very expensive.

On Earth, seeking rescue in the desert, ocean, or forest is very expensive, charged by the hour.

Needless to say, space is even more dangerous, especially since the accident occurred around the moon, which is deep space. In that situation, only China could save the day. Isn't 50 million a bit too cheap?

"Burning God, I'd like to ask your opinion? What were your considerations at the time?"

Lin Ran said, "Didn't Blue Origin announce anything else? They will sign a ten-year procurement contract with us, with a minimum of two billion US dollars per year."

That adds up to two hundred billion US dollars.

Lin Ran's words were a major announcement of good news for Blue Origin.

This disrupted Bezos and Natalya's plans, resulting in Natalya earning less than expected.

"So expensive?" Tim was somewhat shocked, two hundred billion US dollars.

Lin Ran said, "Actually, Blue Origin benefited."

Think about it, Apple originally only had JD.com as a distributor on domestic e-commerce platforms, but now Pinduoduo has joined, and Pinduoduo is going to sign a two billion dollar procurement contract for a year.

Do you think Pinduoduo lost money or made a profit?

Tim: "I made a profit."

Lin Ran: "That's right, it's a win-win situation. In the past, we only had General Aerospace as a partner in America, but now we have Blue Origin, which is a good thing for them."

In the aerospace field, our position is truly unique.

So this fee is not expensive at all.

"That's true. They definitely didn't lose out. This is actually a good thing."

The interview was fleeting.

Tim glanced at his watch; an hour had passed. He concluded, "Alright, our interview is coming to an end here. We've gained a lot of valuable insights from Burning God."

As the most influential figure our channel could interview, Burning God, what advice do you have for the young people watching?

Lin Ran stared at Tim for a few seconds and then said, "There really is one."

When I first returned to China, I told everyone to keep moving forward and not to look back, and that life is a wilderness.

Now, I'd like to share some more practical insights based on my experiences over the past few years.

Tim was completely focused, waiting for Lin Ran's answer.

That is to make effective use of resources to maximize personal value.

The most important thing in life is not a single goal, such as money or happiness, but the strategic identification, acquisition and application of leverage.

Leverage here can be understood as any resource that can achieve the greatest output or influence with the least input.

Tim, for example, is known to everyone as the son of Yuantong, with a very good family background. His success in his career is the result of making good use of structural leverage.

Family and environment are the most powerful initial levers, determining your starting point and platform.

If you come from a wealthy family, like Tim, your leverage comes from capital, your network, and the cost of trial and error.

You can undertake high-risk, high-reward innovative attempts.

Your advantage lies in time and the tolerance for failure.

I'm not saying Tim's personal efforts aren't important; I mean he made good use of all his resources.

Of course, most people don't have a good family background, so wisdom can become the second option.

This is the fairest form of leverage, but it also requires the most continuous investment.

Your leverage is learning efficiency, insight, and expertise.

By leveraging your intellectual advantages to enter highly knowledge-intensive and monopolistic fields, your advantage lies in scarcity and irreplaceability.

To be someone who defines the rules and solves the core problems in a specific field—that's the kind of role I am. I think I've reached the pinnacle in this field, right?
However, it is also necessary to identify the leverage you can utilize.

I chose to return to China because I am Chinese. China's huge engineering team, stable environment, good infrastructure, and Cthulhu-like industrial manufacturing capabilities, combined with my intellectual advantages, have led to Apollo Technology today.

My success stems from both my personal efforts and the nation's efforts, a double amplification of both.

Of course, you may not have either of these: a privileged family background and sufficient intelligence.

This isn't meant to be derogatory; after all, the rich rely on being born into wealth, and high intelligence relies on genetic lottery results—both are rare.

Finally, for most ordinary people, your leverage lies in influence, empathy, and trust.

If I had to sum it up in one word, it would be "expression".

The essence of expression is connection, persuasion, and organization.

The most direct example is self-media bloggers, who have changed their lives by expressing themselves in front of the camera.

Expression is essential in the workplace, interpersonal communication, and family relationships.

Ordinary people can focus on developing this ability.

The most important thing in life is to start your positive cycle, identify your strengths, find the corresponding leverage, apply the leverage to amplify value, and use the amplified value to acquire new and more powerful leverage.

In the very end, the most important thing is to take action.

A lever only works when it is pushed.

(End of this chapter)