After the aerospace company's financing was finalized, Liu Yutong didn't rush to leave the capital.
The scale of Wanlong Aerospace Technology was far more complicated than any project she had managed before. The technical barriers, high-end talent, industry qualifications, and startup capital involved—each of these, taken individually, was something that ordinary people couldn't handle.
The initial planned investment was twenty billion yuan. She contributed ten billion personally, Chu Hai's AEG Capital claimed five billion, Ji Zhe's Qixing Capital followed with five billion. As for the state-owned portion, how much they would put in depended entirely on the higher-ups' mood.
After all, relying solely on private capital to go it alone in the aerospace sector was not feasible.
Policy support, technological accumulation, and talent reserves all required the backing of national power.
Aerospace involved national security—if a purely private company wanted to obtain rocket launch permits and satellite frequency resources, it was almost impossible without state-owned capital behind it.
So Liu Yutong had figured this out from the very beginning.
The equity structure of Wanlong Aerospace had to be a mixed-ownership model. She would hold a controlling stake personally, but state-owned capital also had to take a share—one that was neither too small nor too large to affect her decision-making.
This balance was difficult to strike.
But no matter how hard it was, it had to be done.
This was the price she had to pay to enter the aerospace field.
Over the next half month, Liu Yutong spent almost every day running around various government departments in the capital.
The National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense... She went from one department to another, submitting one document after another.
If she had followed the normal procedures, getting everything done would have taken two or three years at the very least.
Rocket manufacturing permits, satellite launch licenses, radio frequency usage permits, export control qualifications—each of these required national-level approval, each needed layers of review, and the scrutiny was extremely strict.
But she was no longer who she used to be.
With her current network and connections, she could definitely take advantage of some fast tracks.
For example, Uncle Li, Uncle Zhu, and the Lin, Shen, and Jiang families, along with her relationships from the Yunshan Society.
Most importantly, she could mention it to the Madam.
With so many strong endorsements, getting the permits approved wouldn't take too long.
Apart from these connections, there was another thing that gave her confidence: Dragon Core.
The news that Dragon Core's 90-nanometer production line had successfully gone into mass production, though not yet publicly announced, had spread within the internal circles of the relevant ministries.
A twenty-year-old girl, in less than a year, had somehow managed to set up this entire operation and was about to start mass production.
This news had indeed surprised many people.
The first batch of chips was designated for supply to Shen Hao's Qiming Electrical Appliances.
Liu Yutong had already mentioned to Shen Hao that Qiming's electrical products, which were large appliances, were more than adequate with 90-nanometer chips.
In short, successfully pulling off Dragon Core carried much more weight than outsiders could imagine.
So when Liu Yutong went to the various departments to submit her materials, she still had to go through the formal procedures, but the efficiency was much faster.
A senior director from the State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense, after reading her business plan, even took half an hour out of his schedule to have an in-depth conversation with her, expressing high praise for her boldness and ability to execute.
When someone so young was tackling such large, urgently needed national projects, it was hard not to hold them in high regard.
While she was handling the various permits, she was also simultaneously looking for talent.
In the aerospace field, having money alone wouldn't get a rocket built. You needed top experts in the industry to take the lead.
Although Liu Yutong had some knowledge of aerospace from her previous life, it was limited to knowing a few names and major events. Expecting her to personally draw blueprints and build rockets was absolutely out of the question.
So she needed to find a true industry heavyweight to steer the ship.
She eventually set her sights on the Capital University of Aeronautics and Astronautics.
This university was the cradle of domestic aerospace talent, with many chief and deputy chief engineers of aerospace systems having graduated from there.
Liu Yutong asked Lin Yi to use her connections to get in touch with a vice dean at the university, and she visited the campus under the guise of an inspection tour.
This university was quite different from her alma mater, the University of Finance and Economics, especially in terms of academic atmosphere.
That day, Liu Yutong wore a white shirt with her hair tied in a high ponytail, dressed much like an ordinary college student.
Soon, under the guidance of the university staff, she met the vice dean, whose surname was Fang.
"Director Liu, our university has made quite a few achievements in the aerospace field over the years—rocket engines, aircraft design, satellite control—we've dabbled in many areas, and many projects have won National Science and Technology Progress Awards..." Dean Fang briefly introduced the university's situation in a tone full of pride.
After exchanging a few pleasantries, Liu Yutong got straight to the point of her visit: "Dean Fang, I'd like to meet with someone."
"Who?"
"Professor Zhou Yingpei."
Dean Fang stopped in his tracks slightly, his expression turning a bit subtle.
"Professor Zhou... How do you know his name?"
Liu Yutong: "I've done my homework."
Zhou Yingpei was a leading domestic expert in rocket engines. He had worked as a deputy chief engineer at the Aerospace Science and Technology Group and had led the research and development of several key national models.
However, because his personality was too straightforward, he had offended many people and was eventually transferred to teach at the university.
There was no doubt about his ability, but his temper was notoriously awful.
This kind of personality, however, wouldn't get far within the system.
But Liu Yutong needed exactly this kind of person.
Someone who truly understood technology, had high aspirations, and wouldn't easily compromise.
Dean Fang hesitated for a moment before saying, "Director Liu, Professor Zhou has a bit of a difficult personality, and he's already turned down invitations from several well-known companies, including a few subsidiaries of state-owned enterprises."
Liu Yutong: "It's all right. I want to give it a try."
Dean Fang sighed: "Alright, I'll take you there, but whether he agrees to see you or not, I can't guarantee."
The two of them walked through several modern teaching buildings and arrived in front of an unremarkable old building.
Dean Fang pointed to a room on the second floor: "Professor Zhou's lab is right up there. Go on up by yourself—I won't accompany you."
Liu Yutong thanked him and went upstairs alone.
When she reached the end of the hallway on the second floor, she saw a half-open door, from which came a loud roar of machinery.
She knocked on the door. No one answered.
She knocked a few more times. Still no response.
Finally, she simply pushed the door open and walked in.
The lab wasn't very large, filled with blueprints, parts, and various instruments she couldn't name.
An elderly man with mostly white hair was crouched in front of a piece of equipment, making adjustments, completely unaware that someone had entered.
Liu Yutong didn't disturb him. She just stood quietly to the side, watching.
About ten minutes later, the old man finally finished the work in his hands. He stood up and stretched his stiff body.
When he noticed the unfamiliar girl standing behind him, he immediately became angry.
"Who are you? Who let you in here!"
"Don't you know this is a laboratory? Barging in here without permission—who’s going to take responsibility if there’s a safety accident? Get out!"
