With three superpowers at his fingertips, he could dominate the 1970s.

The highest conference room in China was brightly lit.

The long conference table was filled with people on both sides; those seated here were all personnel with the highest level of security clearance. Elder Gao and Elder Li were prominently among them, seated in the middle of the table, thick folders in front of them.

Several unfamiliar faces sat on either side of the table; they were all temporarily transferred from various places. Geological experts, navigation experts, shipbuilding and military industry experts—all national-level figures. Several of them had white hair, and when they entered the conference room, they were still clutching blueprints in their hands, and they hadn't let go of them since they sat down.

Wang, who was chairing the meeting, tapped on the table, and the noisy discussion gradually quieted down.

"Alright, let's talk about a few things. Today, everyone here is discussing a core issue: where should the aircraft carrier be located?"

He glanced at the materials on the table, his gaze sweeping over the experts present.

"Based on the assessment reports from geological and maritime experts, there is currently only one ideal site. Now, let's have the comrades from the Geological Institute report first."

A middle-aged man wearing glasses, sitting on the left, stood up and opened the report in his hand. His hands trembled slightly, and he only steadied himself after turning two pages.

"Distinguished experts, after a comprehensive evaluation of all natural harbors along the coast, the optimal site is the Sandu'ao Port Area in Fujian Province."

He spread a hand-drawn map on the table, and several people immediately gathered around to look at it.

"Sandu'ao is a gourd-shaped, enclosed bay, about the size of its mouth and belly. Its only outlet to the sea, Dongchongkou, is only 2.6 kilometers wide. High cliffs on both sides completely block the entrance. No ship, reconnaissance aircraft, or spy fishing boat in the open sea can directly observe the entire bay."

He took a pen and marked several points on the map.

"The internal water area is 714 square kilometers, with a stable depth between 30 and 115 meters, making it a natural deep-water port. A 100,000-ton aircraft carrier can be safely moored there without the need for manual dredging, and the waterway remains ice-free and silt-free year-round."

A navigation expert standing nearby couldn't help but chime in, his voice trembling slightly.

"Moreover, the area is sparsely populated, with no large civilian ships traveling there. Nineteen uninhabited islets are scattered throughout the bay, forming multiple layers of visual barriers. The aircraft carrier is anchored in a blind spot on the inner side of the islands, making its outline completely invisible from the open sea."

He paused here, his eyes already reddening. He'd dedicated his entire life to nautical research, never even touching a decent destroyer, and now someone was telling them a 100,000-ton aircraft carrier was sitting there waiting for them to study. He tried to control his voice, but the last syllable trembled.

Mr. Li turned a page of the material and looked up to add to it.

"There's one more point. The western side of the bay borders the deep mountains of eastern Fujian, where there are existing military factories left over from the Third Front construction period, and underground cave fortifications are readily available. Research personnel and military equipment can all be housed in these concealed cave research institutes, eliminating the need for constructing large-scale above-ground buildings and greatly reducing the risk of exposure."

He put down the materials and looked at the people present.

"There are only a few remote fishing villages there, no large docks, no passenger routes, and only small fishing boats traveling by sea. We can designate it as a military-controlled zone and relocate most of the fishermen if necessary. Ordinary people rarely enter the inner bay, making it a natural fit for a top-secret military research base."

A shipbuilding expert sitting at the back adjusted his glasses and said, "We can designate this area as a maritime nuclear waste monitoring and control zone. Once this is announced, no one will dare to approach."

Old Gao nodded.

"Of course, this is the most suitable one at the moment. There are a few other options as well; let's hear about those as well."

Another geologist stood up and pointed to another spot on the map.

"One alternative is Sanmen Bay in Zhejiang Province. It is surrounded by mountains on three sides, with numerous islands and reefs within the bay. The water is deep enough to dock an aircraft carrier, and it is far from major cities. The disadvantage is that it has many entrances and exits, making it difficult to blockade."

Another navigation expert took over.

"The second option is the area around Ganquan Island in the Xisha Islands of Qiongzhou Island. It is far from the mainland, extremely difficult for outsiders to reach, and has vast, deep waters. The disadvantage is that resupply is difficult and the transportation cost of scientific research materials is too high."

Finally, someone suggested a third option: Liaodong Bay, a semi-enclosed inner bay that is difficult for foreign vessels to enter. However, the low temperatures of the northern seawater in winter would affect equipment maintenance and personnel operations.

After the candidates finished speaking, the meeting room was quiet for a few seconds.

Then an old shipbuilding expert sitting in the corner suddenly spoke up, his voice hoarse.

"Professor Gao, I've been engaged in shipbuilding research for forty years, from imitation to independent design, the furthest step of which was the destroyer. The word 'aircraft carrier' was something I never even dared to dream of before. Now you're telling us there's a 100,000-ton class ship right there for us to study, I'd give my life for it."

The elderly geologist next to him lowered his head, wiped the corner of his eye, and said nothing.

Old Gao glanced at Old Li, and neither of them said a word, but they both understood what the other meant. This life has been worthwhile.

He was silent for a few seconds, then nodded.

"Actually, after all this talk, everyone knows the best location. Our goal today is to finalize this address as quickly as possible. Time waits for no one, and since we have something to study, we can't waste a single second."

The scientists below nodded vigorously, and some of them already had tears in their eyes.

"Since everyone agrees, let's settle on Sandu'ao."

Old Gao closed the folder, his voice becoming somber.

"The aircraft carrier will be in place within three days. Submit a list of the students and researchers you will be taking with you. Each person on the list must undergo in-depth background checks; no spies are allowed on the list. Anyone whose identity is questionable will not be used."

He paused, then swept his gaze sternly around the room.

"Please be extremely careful with the names on your recommendation lists."

"Roger!" the people below responded in unison, their voices more than twice as loud as before.

"Meeting adjourned. Get back to work. The list will be sent over tonight, but the background checks will take some time. You old guys go and stabilize the situation."

The sound of chairs being moved rose and fell. When Old Gao stood up, he exchanged a glance with Old Li beside him. Neither of them spoke, but the tension in their eyes was impossible to hide.

Several senior scientists couldn't wait to start tidying up the blueprints. The white-haired old man who had said he would "give his life" rolled up the map and tucked it under his arm. He walked more than twice as fast as he had when he arrived, and his hands were trembling when he reached the door.

A young staff member nearby quickly went to help him up, but the old man waved his hand away and strode out.