How A Ride-Hailing Driver Comes To Dominate The World? [EN]: Chapter 717

The excited Chinese netizens flooded Yang Chen’s Weibo with messages, eager to confirm the chief engineer’s claims.

“Boss Yang, is it true that you’re really building a private space station and a lunar base?”

“I knew there was more to Interstellar Express than just a gimmick! This long-term plan is amazing. Boss Yang, please lower the price so ordinary people can have a chance to experience space. If the round-trip cost could be under a million, I’d be the first in line!”

“The national team’s rocket launch costs around 30,000 yuan per kilogram. I’m hoping Boss Yang can get it below 10,000 yuan per kilogram. I’ll lose weight and spend hundreds of thousands to go see the stars!”

“Honey, remember that dark and stormy night when I used your ride-hailing service? We had that little fender-bender, and… well, I’m pregnant with your child. I don’t want alimony, just take our mother and daughter with you when you go to the moon, okay?”

“Dad, it’s your long-lost son! You’ve ignored me for years, but I don’t hate you. Just please, take me with you when you go to the moon. I’ll take care of you.”

The internet users were full of creativity and flattering words.

Since Hu Ming revealed the space station and lunar base plans, Yang Chen decided not to keep it a secret anymore.

Yang Chen made an official post on Weibo.

“Thank you for your interest. The Star Chen 1 space station is fully constructed and currently undergoing assembly and launch simulations. We anticipate launching it into space by spring of next year at the latest. For safety, Starlink must complete its orbital deployment beforehand to protect the space station from space debris. Space tourism is a possibility, and we’ll announce specific costs later. As for the lunar base, we’re preparing for a lunar exploration project, also slated to begin launching next spring. If Chang’e 6 [China’s lunar exploration program, named after the moon goddess] brings back some exciting discoveries, our progress might accelerate. We’ll share more details before next summer. The moon colonization plan isn’t open to the public yet; we need sufficient experimental data and extensive testing to determine the feasibility of large-scale immigration. Thank you again for your support.”

After posting on Weibo, Yang Chen went to see Ying Zheng again.

As soon as Yang Chen’s car arrived, Ying Zheng rushed out, visibly excited.

Ying Zheng looked noticeably older.

“Sir, you’ve finally returned! I have pacified the six kingdoms and have been waiting for you to witness my ascension as the First Emperor,” Ying Zheng exclaimed.

Yang Chen smiled, hugged Ying Zheng, and said, “I apologize for the delay. I was busy preparing for a baby in another world. Brother Zheng, how old are you this year?”

“Forty-five,” Ying Zheng replied, smiling.

Ying Zheng, born in 259 BC, was indeed 45 years old, making the current year 214 BC. He died in 210 BC, meaning he had less than four years left.

*No wonder he looks so old. His health issues must be severe.*

Meng Tian approached them.

“Oh, Prime Minister, you’re back! The King has been eagerly awaiting your return,” Meng Tian said, his voice filled with relief.

Yang Chen smiled and said, “General Meng, it’s good to see you. I apologize for the delay. Let’s proceed with Brother Zheng’s enthronement ceremony immediately.”

Historically, Ying Zheng unified the six kingdoms and became emperor in 221 BC, the 26th year of his reign as King Zheng.

*It’s already 214 BC, seven years overdue. We can’t postpone it any longer.*

Ying Zheng immediately commanded, “Meng Tian, make the preparations!”

“Yes, Your Majesty!” Meng Tian replied, hurrying off.

Yang Chen examined Ying Zheng. While not on the verge of death, he was close.

*He must be taking the ‘Elixir of Immortality,’ the signs of poisoning are evident.*

Ying Zheng needed a complete blood transfusion and organ replacements to potentially extend his life by a few years.

*Theoretically feasible, but practically impossible. No normal human could endure such a procedure.*

The next morning, Ying Zheng’s enthronement ceremony commenced.

It should have been a joyous occasion, but after Ying Zheng officially ascended the throne, the military generals proposed a disturbing idea: they wanted to be made into terracotta figurines and placed in the imperial tomb to accompany Ying Zheng forever, continuing to fight alongside him in the afterlife.

Ying Zheng immediately responded, “I appreciate your loyalty, but I cannot allow this. How would future generations perceive me? Prime Minister, what are your thoughts?”

Yang Chen nodded and said, “Brother Zheng’s legacy is already highly debated. Some will call you a tyrant, others an emperor of the ages. We can’t please everyone. We must be true to ourselves. However, I agree that burying living people, especially soldiers who have served Great Qin so valiantly, is unacceptable.”

Meng Tian quickly interjected, “But Prime Minister, we volunteer!”

Zhang Han echoed, “That’s right! We are volunteering, His Majesty isn’t forcing us.”

Yang Chen clarified, “Future generations won’t care whether it was voluntary or forced. History is written by the victors. If future historians want to portray Brother Zheng as a tyrant, they’ll claim he forced you. If they want to paint him as a wise ruler, they might acknowledge your willingness. But even if it’s voluntary, it’s still wrong for Brother Zheng to allow it. Don’t tarnish Brother Zheng’s name for eternity just to show your loyalty.”

The court fell silent.

After a moment, Ying Zheng asked, “Prime Minister, don’t you possess an elixir of immortality? I often gaze at the globe you brought, and there’s still so much land I haven’t conquered. I don’t want to die. But I know my body is failing, and I don’t have many years left.”

Yang Chen produced a vial of life-extending medicine and handed it to Ying Zheng, saying with a smile, “I don’t have an elixir of immortality, but this can prolong your life. It’s extracted from human blood. If it works, we can have people donate blood for more. As for the imperial tomb, we can’t use living people. It would ruin your historical reputation. But I understand the generals’ intentions. So, I suggest we have craftsmen create terracotta figurines in your likenesses to place in the tomb.”

Ying Zheng smiled, “An excellent idea, Prime Minister. Meng Tian, oversee this matter.”

Meng Tian accepted the order.

“Detected that the host has saved the lives of the soldiers of the Great Qin, completed the time-travel mission, and obtained 100,000 years of disposable lifespan.”

*Damn it! 100,000 years! If I could time-travel to a world of cultivating immortals, I’d be set! Even as a coward, I could live forever. Now, I just need to build the lunar base so Yang Chen can take his wife and kids up there for 10,000 years.*

Ying Zheng examined the small bottle in his hand and asked, “Sir, you said this medicine is made from human blood?”

Yang Chen nodded, “That’s right. Without harming anyone’s health, this small bottle requires blood donations from over a hundred people.”

Meng Tian immediately declared, “Your Majesty, that’s no problem! Your ministers are willing to donate blood to make medicine for you. We’ll gladly bleed a little every day to prolong your life.”

Ying Zheng smiled, “I appreciate your loyalty. As long as I can live, I will conquer all the lands on the globe the Prime Minister brought!”

He drank the medicine in one gulp.

Ying Zheng usually had others test his medicine first, but this time, he didn’t, showing his trust in Yang Chen.

“May Your Majesty live forever and enjoy boundless blessings!”

The ministers shouted.

Ying Zheng laughed, “Haha… What are the six kingdoms? I will lead you all to conquer a great country! All that the sun and moon shine upon shall be the territory of my Great Qin. Everyone on the globe must speak the Xianyang dialect! Haha…”

*I really want to help him realize his wish.*

After the court session, Yang Chen and Ying Zheng strolled through the back garden.

Yang Chen advised, “Brother Zheng, if you want to conquer the world, you must recuperate, let the people prosper, and build a strong nation before you wage war.”

“I feel much better after drinking your medicine, but I’m almost forty. If I rest for too long, I might miss my chance to expand our empire,” Ying Zheng replied.

Yang Chen smiled, “Have you forgotten that I’m a reincarnation of a god? My powers are limited, but I can grant you 2,300 years of life. With that much time, there’s no rush. Wait for the next two generations to grow up before resuming your conquests.”

Ying Zheng was stunned, his face twitching.

He grabbed Yang Chen’s hands and asked, “Sir, are you serious? Can you really give me 2,300 years of life?”

“Have you ever known me to joke about such things? Focus on governing well, live a long life, and we might meet again in over 2,200 years. My mission is complete, and I might not return after this departure. Let’s make a two-thousand-year agreement to see if it can be fulfilled,” Yang Chen said, smiling.

Ying Zheng hugged Yang Chen, tears welling up in his eyes, “Sir, can you truly not come back after this?”

“Hey, hey, hey, you’re a grown man, don’t be so sentimental,” Yang Chen chuckled.

Ying Zheng awkwardly released Yang Chen and wiped his tears.

“It’s uncertain. I came here because I had a mission to help you unify the country and save hundreds of thousands of soldiers. Now that it’s done, I might not be able to return. Before I leave, I’ll grant you 2,300 years of life, and I hope you can see me more than 2,200 years from now,” Yang Chen said with a smile.