Returning to his senior year of high school, he went all in and made billions by buying at the botto

Yizhuang, Kyoto.

LandSpace's temporary R&D and manufacturing base.

This site was originally the location of a heavy precision machine tool factory. After the first phase of funding from Star Technology was completed, Blue Arrow swiftly leased two entire heavy-duty span factory buildings and a four-story office building.

The dilapidated production line has been cleared out overnight, replaced by a continuous stream of cryogenic gas cylinders, engine test ground control consoles, and heavy gantry crane frames being hoisted into place.

Deep inside the factory area, in a steel-structured assembly hall where the foundation has just been reinforced for seismic resistance, the air still carries the scorched metallic smell left by welding arcs.

When Chen Mo entered the conference room, Zhang Wu, the founder of Blue Arrow, and more than 30 core engineers had been waiting for a long time.

The team has changed significantly since when Starry Sky first completed its investment.

Over the past few months, Xingchen Technology's industrial investment department has been simultaneously searching for talent with three headhunting firms.

Propulsion, fluid dynamics, structure, control, materials, cryogenic engineering, and experimental safety are all listed separately.

That night on the Florida beach, Musk did not violate the ITAR regulations by leaking half a blueprint to Chen Mo, but the industrial blind spots and key university expert lineages he pointed out became the most fatal navigation map.

Headhunting firms search through published papers, patents, industry conferences, and project resumes.

Overseas engineers must undergo intellectual property rights review.

Aerospace system personnel need to complete the resignation, declassification, and permission from their original unit.

As of today, 27 leading chief designers have officially started their jobs, and more than 40 structural and fluid experts are going through the signing process.

The expert group coordinated by Lu Changming was also in the conference room.

Two retired general experts.

A veteran engineer who has long been responsible for the safety of engine ground testing.

There are also two professors from universities specializing in advancement and structure.

They will not provide Blue Arrow with any blueprints or classified parameters for current models.

What it can provide is the quality system, testing procedures, and accident boundaries that are most easily overlooked by startups in large-scale aerospace engineering.

After the meeting began, Zhang Wu first opened three sets of technical solutions.

"The first system will use mature solid propulsion, which will allow us to quickly develop the first rocket."

"The second set is liquid oxygen and kerosene."

"The industrial base is more mature, and we can find more equipment and talent domestically."

"The third set, liquid oxygen and methane."

Zhang Wu paused for a moment.

"It has the best long-term potential, but it's also the most difficult right now."

A comparison of different propellant routes is displayed on the projection screen.

Solid-fuel engines can produce products much faster.

Liquid oxygen and kerosene have a mature supply chain and more engineering experience.

Liquid oxygen methane has advantages in terms of combustion cleanliness, reusability, and long-term cost, but there are very few mature models that can be directly adopted in China.

A retired general expert looked at Chen Mo.

"Mr. Chen, the target you gave Blue Arrow is a reusable rocket."

"From a long-term perspective, liquid oxygen methane is indeed worth investing in."

"But if the company is required to complete its first rocket as soon as possible, liquid oxygen and kerosene are a safer option."

"What if we advance along two routes simultaneously?" Zhang Wu asked.

"Blue Arrow currently does not have the capacity to maintain two main engine teams simultaneously."

The old expert shook his head.

"Personnel, testing equipment, suppliers, and control systems will all be separated."

"In the end, it's very likely that neither path will be fast."

The meeting room gradually quieted down.

Everyone looked at Chen Mo.

This is not a simple technical choice.

By using liquid oxygen and kerosene, Blue Arrow can build a visible rocket much faster.

Choosing liquid oxygen and methane means taking the first step into an area where domestic commercial spaceflight is still in its infancy.

Chen Mo went through all the documents.

His memories from his past life had already given him the answer.

Once methane truly moves towards high-frequency reuse and heavy-duty transportation, it will become one of the most important power sources.

But he also knew that he couldn't just hand over the most complex future solutions to a newly formed team.

"Main route: liquid oxygen and methane."

Chen Mo made a decision.

Zhang Wu's eyes narrowed slightly.

Several young engineers instinctively sat up straight.

"The first generation of engines did not pursue full-flow staged combustion."

Chen Mo continued.

"Start with a loop scheme that is easier to verify."

"First, we need to develop the injection, ignition, combustion stabilization, cryogenic sealing, and turbo pump."

"Each generation solves one layer of problems."

Whether the future will enter a cycle of higher complexity will be determined by the data.

An engine engineer asked, "What are the specifications for the first rocket?"

"Engineering verification".

"We don't pursue commercial payload records, nor do we create a non-functional shell for the press conference."

Chen Mo walked to the wall and wrote a line of text at the top of the progress chart.

Twelve months.

"Complete the tests of the combustion chamber, injectors, and key cryogenic components within three months."

"Within six months, we will complete the ground ignition of the first fully-equipped engine system."

"Within nine months, the engine will pass long-term testing, and the rocket body and control system will enter joint testing."

"Within twelve months, the first complete engineering prototype rocket was rolled off the assembly line."

"Complete full-system verification of the rocket body structure, propulsion system, control system, and ground equipment."

Whether it will be the maiden flight will be decided based on the test results.

The meeting room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

One year.

In a typical research institute, where it takes several years to demonstrate the design, this young man, who is not yet twenty years old, actually asked a newly formed private team to turn the blueprints into a steel behemoth standing on the launch pad within 360 days!

"A year is too short; this is almost an impossible task..."

A former key member of the National Institute of Power Engineering, who had just joined the company after being declassified, couldn't help but whisper, "It took SpaceX three whole years to develop its first Merlin engine. Back then, the supply chain for special cryogenic casting and large-diameter high-pressure pipe valves in China's private aerospace sector was practically a wasteland!"

Chen Mo looked at him.

"What other difficulties are there? Tell me all at once."

"money."

"Test bench".

"Cryogenic valves and high-precision machining".

"The turbopump team is still short-staffed."

"There are no stable suppliers for some materials."

Several people in charge spoke one after another.

Chen Mo did not refute.

He had his staff write all the questions on a whiteboard, one by one.

A dozen minutes later, the entire whiteboard was filled with writing.

"The funding plan will be handled by Xingchen."

Chen Mo pointed to the first item.

"The first phase of R&D funding will arrive this week."

"Subsequent phases will be opened in batches according to the engine, rocket body, and testing milestones."

"As long as the technical review is passed, the experiment will not be stopped due to insufficient budget."

"Blue Arrow built its own test bench and applied for and used compliant national testing resources."

"Equipment procurement was handled by Xingchen Industrial Investment Department and Xingchen Family Office's overseas team."

"Legitimate equipment that can be imported shall be procured normally."

"For issues involving restrictions, we will immediately switch to joint domestic research efforts."

"The talent pool continues to expand."

"If one person is missing, the headhunter will find ten."

"If the entire team needs to be brought in, then we'll discuss it on a team basis."

As he said this, he looked at the aerospace system experts present.

"I'll provide whatever you lack: the route, funding, policy interfaces, and the first batch of talent."

"Tell me now, is a year enough?"

A fighting spirit suddenly ignited in Zhang Wu's eyes. Faced with an investor with such formidable strength, what was there to hesitate about?

He suddenly stood up straight:

"One year later, the first complete engineering prototype rocket rolled off the production line. Blue Arrow guarantees to complete this mission."

Immediately afterwards, the heads of the power system, structural mechanics, electrical flight control, and ground launch support departments stood up one after another.

Everyone signed their names on the annual task list.

Finally, the document was presented to Chen Mo.

He signed his name.

"If you want money, I'll give you money; if you want manpower, I'll give you manpower; if you want territory, I'll clear all obstacles for you."

"I only want one result."

Chen Mo pushed the task sheet back in front of Zhang Wu.

"Let me see the first rocket belonging to Blue Arrow in the final assembly plant before this time next year."

……

The convoy drove away from Yizhuang.

Chen Mo leaned back in the back seat and opened his phone's schedule.

The matter between Qingjia and Lanjian has come to a temporary end.

He has promised Lin Wan that he will return to Changhu to be with her after he finishes this busy period.

Just as he was about to signal Xu Qing in the co-pilot seat to approve the route for the Gulfstream private jet, the phone in his palm began to vibrate.

The familiar, personal number was flashing on the screen.

Chen Mo pressed the answer button, a natural smile appearing on his lips: "President Lin, are you checking up on me right on cue?"

Lin Wan's cheerful voice came from the other end of the receiver: "Dear big boss, when will you set off to cash your empty promise to return to Changhu?"

"tomorrow."

"It's too late."

Lin Wan's voice was filled with barely concealed laughter: "Chairman Chen's private jet should save its fuel; I'm almost at the Capital Airport."

Chen Mo was slightly taken aback.

"You've come to Kyoto?"

"Spring recruitment is entering its final stage."

"Starry Sky is short-staffed this year, so the HR director and I went there in person."

Lin Wan paused for a moment.

"The financing matter should also be reported to the major shareholder in person."

Chen Mo slowly and deliberately dismantled his argument: "Just based on these two seemingly official matters?"

There was a two-second silence on the other end of the phone.

A few seconds later, the faint sound of the terminal's announcement could be heard in the background, and Lin Wan's voice softened slightly:

"...The third reason."

"Chen Mo, I miss you."