Chapter Eighty-One: Choosing the Location for the War Club

The sheer amount of land required just for the War Club was already a concern. Adding in hotels, leisure centers, entertainment halls, and the like, it was akin to constructing a small city. Looking across the entirety of China, there was not a single plot large enough for such a venture—unless you leveled a mountain to create one.

Huang Shang and the others nodded. If that was the case, the investment would be astronomical.

Though Zhu Lan was not deeply involved in this circle and did not fully grasp the intricacies, Kong Yan had still conveyed the relevant materials to her. After reading through them, Zhu Lan was astonished—she had no idea there were such places in the country’s wealthy districts. It was a veritable paradise for the rich!

“This is a massive challenge. I don’t think any of us here could build something like this,” she said.

“Should we bring in more partners?” Zhu Changming suggested, but Gu Xiaobei and Ding Jiacheng immediately objected.

Though Huang Shang said nothing, he was clearly opposed as well.

Zhu Changming realized he had been rash. The War Club was already an excellent project—bringing in others would be tantamount to helping them establish their own connections. The fewer people involved, the better.

“Forget it. Let’s just focus on getting the War Club off the ground first,” Zhu Lan declared.

“But...” Zhu Changming hesitated.

“What else can you do? Even if the five of you pool your resources, you could only come up with a few dozen billion at most. If this project really takes off, that amount wouldn't even be enough for the first phase!” Zhu Lan shook her head, helpless, as she spoke to Zhu Changming.

To create a small city, the land cost alone would exceed twenty billion. Even with certain concessions, the lease would still be over ten billion.

And land was just the beginning. You’d need to prepare it for construction—seaside plots large enough for this purpose were rarely vacant; most were mountainous. You’d have to level the mountains.

Even a modest mountain might rise a hundred or two hundred meters. Clearing one would be incredibly costly. To carve out enough space, a colossal engineering effort was needed, not to mention the construction of hotels and leisure centers. Without two or three dozen billion, it would be impossible—and that was just for the first phase. The second phase would be even more immense, not including the expenses unique to the War Club itself.

If they truly wanted to build a paradise for the wealthy, the first phase alone would cost over sixty billion.

Huang Shang and the others exchanged glances and finally shook their heads in resignation.

Seeing this, Zhu Lan nodded in satisfaction. “Let’s leave it at that. Now, let’s address another issue,” she said, beckoning Kong Yan over.

Kong Yan walked to the window, drew the curtains, and switched off the lights. The room was instantly plunged into darkness.

When the lights came on again, a three-dimensional hologram appeared before them—a map of China.

“What’s this?” Huang Shang asked, puzzled.

Zhu Lan stepped up to the holographic map. “Since you’ve all agreed on the War Club, let’s decide where we should build it.”

At her words, the five pairs of eyes brightened. The location of the War Club was a crucial decision.

“Do you have any ideas, Zhu Lan?” Shangguan Qiaoning suddenly asked, her intuition sharp.

Zhu Lan looked at her approvingly—this woman’s instincts were truly impressive. Without answering, she picked up a pointer and tapped several places on the virtual map. Soon, six virtual panels appeared in front of the group.

“These six locations are the ones I’ve shortlisted as the best options.”

One was in Q, another in N, one in S, another in Q, and the last in S.

The group fell into thought, considering Zhu Lan’s choices.

“Q, N, and S—these four can all be eliminated,” someone said.

“Why?” Ding Jiacheng was puzzled. These locations were all first-rate, with excellent conditions.

“Because areas like these already have similar venues nearby. If we build the War Club there, who among you will handle the local powers?”

The group fell silent. This was indeed a real problem. While they had considerable influence, and were affiliated with the capital, some locals could still pose serious obstacles.

“That leaves only two options. Q can be ruled out—it’s deep in the country’s interior. Surely no one wants to admire the desert scenery there. That leaves S.”

“You all know that with Shengtang Group’s backing, building in the province wouldn’t pose any problems. Plus, Fantasy Technology is already based here. More importantly, it’s near the South Sea with ample maritime space. If technology allows, we could even build large aircraft carriers and battleships—for some naval warfare games!”

Naval warfare? Zhu Lan’s proposal intrigued Huang Shang and Gu Xiaobei.

“Why not choose the other S?” someone asked.

“The land there is too expensive, and the local powerbrokers are unlikely to cooperate. Fantasy Technology has already crossed them—do any of you want those people involved?”

“No way. If they’re in, I’ll be the first to object!” Gu Xiaobei said, visibly agitated.

Huang Shang, Gu Xiaobei, Ding Jiacheng, and Shangguan Qiaoning were all from the capital. Zhu Changming was as well, though his roots were in the northeast. As residents of the capital, who did they dislike most? Not the other two capital factions, but the bigwigs from the southern metropolis.

When it came to regional rivalries, the fiercest was between the capital and the southern city. The capital, as the nation’s seat of power, carried its own pride, which extended to every one of its people. Meanwhile, the southern metropolis, as the economic heart and gateway to the world, was just as proud—its pride founded on wealth. The two, whether ordinary citizens or powerbrokers, rarely saw eye to eye and arguments erupted at the slightest provocation.

Although Gu Xiaobei hailed from Jiangnan Manufacturing in the southern metropolis, he was extremely averse to its powerbrokers. After returning from abroad, he opened a nightclub in the capital and integrated himself into that circle, leaving the southern metropolis scene behind. Only he knew the true reasons.

The others were well used to Gu Xiaobei’s reaction, merely smiling wryly and saying nothing.

Zhu Lan, though unfamiliar with all the details, understood that if Gu Xiaobei objected so strongly, there was no point in pursuing it.

“Very well. In that case, the War Club will be set up in S. The site is close to a naval port, which could be troublesome, but I’ll speak to Commander Luo personally. If that doesn’t work out, we’ll move it to the nearby city. There’s a plot by the port that’s just as good.”

“I think it’s better to place it in the city,” Ding Shao suggested. “I know the spot you mean. Three years ago, the city government put that land up for public tender to build a new port transport center. But then the city’s Party Secretary was dismissed, and his replacement never revived the project.”

Zhu Lan nodded. “You’re right, Ding. That plot, like the one Fantasy Technology acquired, was abandoned after plans fell through. But that one is better, being just a few kilometers from the port—highly convenient.”

The others nodded.

With the property boom of the new century, many second-tier cities launched industrial parks, manufacturing clusters, high-tech zones, and other large projects, aiming to concentrate industry and create greater value.

This collective approach greatly accelerated China’s economic ascent, as entire supply chains relocated to these parks, slashing material costs—transport was no longer as expensive as before.

Lower material costs meant lower factory prices, allowing even lower-grade products to secure a sizable market share. And with high enough quality, many companies exported their goods abroad. Thanks to centralized management, many people made fortunes, and the nation’s economy benefited enormously.

Of course, not every industrial park was a success. Most were, but some failed for various reasons. Sometimes, the official who spearheaded the park was removed just as it neared completion. The replacement, unfamiliar with the project and wary of risk, would often abandon it or call for a fresh investigation that could drag on for years.

In China’s bureaucracy, the motto was “seek no merit, only avoid mistakes.” Some local governments refused to take risks on new projects; a single failure could end a promising career. One black mark, and your prospects were finished.

Thus, many profitable large projects were abandoned as soon as the leadership changed, with the newcomers unwilling to shoulder potential risks.

The plot Fantasy Technology held was originally earmarked for an industrial park, predicated on the nearby expressway bringing economic growth. But when the expressway was rerouted due to issues elsewhere, the site lost its appeal and was simply left behind.

As for the portside plot, it was intended as a transshipment hub, inspired by the growing throughput of neighboring ports. All the groundwork was done, but then the provincial prosecutor’s office arrived and removed the city’s previous Party Secretary. With the project leader gone, those beneath him were hesitant to proceed with a multi-billion investment—especially since the funding was a bank loan. Had the hub been completed, the port’s throughput could have tripled or quintupled, hugely benefiting the city’s economy. But the new Secretary, fearing a trap, shelved the project.

Others, though aware of its potential, avoided it for the same reasons. The city hardly lacked for such projects anyway.

“Let’s check with S first. In terms of geography, S is better than the city. If we put it in the city, there will be issues—there’s no airport,” Zhu Lan said with a sigh.

The city, being second-tier, had no airport; the nearest was in S, a hundred and forty kilometers away—about an hour and a half by car.

The others sighed and nodded. Indeed, the city chosen for the War Club must have an airport. Otherwise, guests from farther afield would find it inconvenient. Ideally, it should also be a well-known city, making everything easier. Otherwise, few would be willing to come.

“That’s settled, then. I’ll discuss the land issue for the War Club with Commander Luo. The rest is up to you.” (To be continued.)