Chapter 1257: Guanghan Special Zone

The last day of the week-long National Day holiday.

The silver-white cargo cabin finally entered the atmosphere for the third time after constant orbit changes. It used air resistance to slow down, and it finally landed safely on the open space at the Jinling launch site.

This cargo cabin was the manifestation of materials science and engineering technology at the Jinling Institute for Advanced Study. Other than the loss of surface coating during the return section, the main structure was totally intact and could be reused after a little repair.

On the other hand, the most important thing was that the cargo stored in this cabin was also intact.

After hearing the news, it was like there was a festival going on at the Institute of Aeronautics for the Jinling Institute for Advanced Study. The same was true for several other aerospace units in China. The burdens on the project team leaders were finally released, and they were all ecstatic.

Just before the end of the seven-day holiday.

The Lunar Orbit Committee used its own way to present a gift to the people of the whole country.

This gift consisted of 4.27 tons of lunar ore, 50 kilograms of wheat, corn, potatoes, some biological reagents, and scientific research specimens produced on the moon.

When the old academicians and experts of the China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation saw this gift, they were in tears of excitement.

It had been too long.

It had almost been two generations since the beginning of the aerospace project.

They had never received such a huge gift from the moon, from outer space!

During the 1970s honeymoon period of China-US relations, a lunar rock sample was given to the Chinese by President Carter’s security adviser as a gift.

However, the sample was only 1 gram.

It wasn’t until Chang’e 5 did China finally master the technology of collecting lunar ore samples.

Only four years had passed from Chang’e 5 to now.

Over the past four years, under the guidance of Academician Lu, the Chinese aerospace industry had undergone earth-shattering changes. After the establishment of the Lunar Orbit Committee, everything was going so smoothly it was as if reality were a dream.

In addition to the scientific research specimens and rare lunar ores, there was another gift.

During noon on the last day of the National Day holiday, the state suddenly held a press conference to announce that, after a high-level meeting discussion, the “Guanghan Special Administrative Region” was formally established!

According to this document approving the establishment of the “Guanghan Special Administrative Region”, the area of 50 kilometers near the lunar scientific research station would be set as the public facilities development zone.

The public facilities development zone was a new concept proposed by the Lunar Orbit Committee. Any spacecraft deployed in this area, as long as the ownership belonged to a Chinese citizen or organization, would be governed by Chinese law. It was also protected by the laws of China.

In addition, China planned to send 2,000 people to the Guanghan zone, in six batches within three years. They would also build larger and more reliable life-support facilities near the lunar scientific research station.

As soon as the news came out, it immediately caused an uproar around the world.

People were amazed and terrified at the ambition of the Chinese in aerospace and their successful execution.

Sending 2,000 people to the moon?

Are they planning on building a city there?!

People began to panic after hearing the news.

On Twitter.

“I’d be willing to bet it won’t be long before they put the moon on their country map!”

“The Chinese are taking over the moon! Can’t the White House do something?”

“They can’t do this! The moon belongs to everyone!”

“Wait a minute! I mean… Is this a scam? I bet they don’t have the ability to send 2,000 people to the moon at all. They just want to drag us into this race, and then break our economy!”

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“Before, the premise was that the development of lunar resources is unprofitable. But now, it is obviously not the case. Anyone that follows the futures market knows that dysprosium, terbium, scandium… These materials that appeared on the Magpie Bridge, have all dropped in value…”

“We should send Mexicans to the moon.”

The fish would know the temperature of the water the best. Although the reaction of the futures market didn’t entirely represent the changes in the economic situation, it was a rough estimation of the market’s expectations for future conditions.

The Magpie Bridge 3 was not only going to have one cargo trip. China might even deploy more Magpie Bridges. After the completion of the lunar mass driver and the establishment of the Guanghan Zone, the development of lunar resources would enter the next stage. The impact on the rare materials market would be earth-shattering.

Of course, what frightened the Americans even more was that China had caught up from behind and made the first step in colonizing aerospace.

Goddamn it!

We were supposed to be the ones dominating the moon!

However, these trivial comments online did not have any impact on this plan. China’s plan to explore and develop outer space was going full force ahead.

A public company named “Guanghan City Development” was soon established. It raised 50 billion yuan in funds on the Shanghai Stock Exchange through an IPO, private shares, and other funding means. It also issued corporate bonds with an annual yield of 7%.

This offer was hugely attractive to the public.

Given the huge reserves of titanium and rare earth minerals that had been proven to exist on the moon, even if the short-term profitability of Guanghan City Development was not as good as that of East Asia Energy, it had the potential for future growth.

Not only did the big players like the Social Security Fund buy some shares, but even Star Sky Technology took out some money and bought a piece of the pie.

There was even a saying in the financial circle that as long as someone won the shares lottery, they would earn a guaranteed profit. Even if they couldn’t buy Guanghan City shares, corporate bonds with an annual yield of 7% were still quite good. This was almost twice the interest rate of fixed deposits.

In contrast to the rising enthusiasm of the Chinese people in regard to space exploration, the international public opinion was the complete opposite.

Most Western countries, led by the United States, expressed worries and anxiety on this issue. They were almost like people that missed out on buying train tickets and could only watch people sitting in the first-class cabin with envious looks in their eyes.

But there was nothing they could do.

This statement on the establishment of the “Guanghan Special Administrative Region” did not specifically target land on the moon. It only targeted the spacecraft and fixed facilities deployed on the moon.

And what counted as facilities?

The planting unit was a facility, so was the lunar mass driver. Even a floor tile or a flag could be counted as facilities. The interpretation rights all belonged to the Lunar Orbit Committee.

Someone disagreed?

No problem.

Come to the Moon and negotiate with us!

People really didn’t have good solutions to this.

Director Carson, who landed at the Beijing airport, felt that visiting China at this point in time might make his trip a little bit awkward.

However, he couldn’t cancel his itinerary either.

First of all, he couldn’t delay this trip any longer as canceling this trip would mean he couldn’t develop a friendly cooperation in the future. He had to take advantage of this opportunity…

Director Carson was baffled.

It wasn’t like this 10 years ago.

No, even five years ago, things were different…

The assistant saw that his boss was acting weird, so he quietly asked, “Sir?”

“Nothing.” Director Carson had a heavy look on his face. He looked at his assistant and said, “Let’s go, let’s meet the Chinese.”

Carson prayed in his heart.

He hoped they could reach a pleasant agreement with the Chinese.

He just didn’t want to be embarrassed or disappointed…