As Marshal had guessed, the good news brought by Lieutenant General Tommy certainly came with a price.
However, it made sense.
For a mere five million US dollars worth of red wine, to gain an annual profit of one hundred billion US dollars.
If no commensurate price was paid.
Why would such a tremendous stroke of luck fall upon him, Marshal, like pie from the sky.
Facing Lieutenant General Tommy's slightly jocular taunt.
Marshal chuckled.
Putting on an act of feigned ignorance.
"What are you saying."
"These few bottles of wine are just a small gift for you."
"I understand the rules. Tell me, what price do we need to pay? As long as it's within my capabilities, I will absolutely do it 100%."
Lieutenant General Tommy narrowed his eyes.
He nodded with a smile.
Giving the impression of someone seeing a teachable student.
"An annual return of one hundred billion US dollars, that's not a small sum."
"I heard you're working on the Starlink project, right?"
This was a question he already knew the answer to.
Marshal had two grand visions in his life.
The first was to land on Mars within his lifetime and complete the first step of Martian colonization.
This vision was Marshal's ultimate life goal.
It could be said that almost all the profits from his business activities were poured into this bottomless pit.
Currently,
Reusable rocket technology.
Had initially matured.
The X rocket recovery plan, which could serve as a "space bus" within the solar system, alone had cost trillions of US dollars.
The second vision was the Starlink project, which would cover Earth's near-Earth orbit.
The Starlink project was one of the grand plans known worldwide.
The byproduct of the X rocket recovery plan was a significant reduction in the cost of the Starlink project.
Currently,
Marshal's Starlink project's initial phase had basically concluded.
Seeing Lieutenant General Tommy suddenly mention the Starlink project,
Marshal became somewhat nervous.
Could it be that he intended to demand Marshal's Starlink project in exchange for this annual profit of one hundred billion US dollars?
This would be a massive loss for Marshal.
"Do you mean to nationalize the Starlink project?"
Marshal asked cautiously.
If Lieutenant General Tommy merely nodded, or said "yes,"
Marshal would immediately refuse with the strongest possible stance.
However.
Lieutenant General Tommy's response caused Marshal to breathe a slight sigh of relief.
"Don't be so nervous."
"The whole world knows that the Starlink project is part of and preparatory work for your Mars colonization plan."
"So, we cannot nationalize your Starlink project... after all, it's one of your life's endeavors."
Of course.
Lieutenant General Tommy was being somewhat conservative.
How could the US government not be interested in the Starlink satellites soaring above?
It was just that.
If they forcefully nationalized the Starlink project, Marshal might defect to China or another country as soon as the request was made.
The Starlink project was one of Marshal's lifelong achievements.
There was no way to forcibly take it away.
As for purchasing it at a high price... even if Marshal agreed, it would likely cost trillions of US dollars.
The United States was indeed wealthy.
Its annual military spending reached trillions.
But.
The Starlink project was just a single project.
If they spent one or even multiple years of military spending on this single project.
Putting aside whether the public would agree,
It would be impossible to pass the annual budget review in Congress.
Seeing that Lieutenant General Tommy had no intention of "snatching it away,"
Marshal, who had slightly relaxed his tone, took a sip of red wine to calm his nerves.
"Then, Your Excellency, what is the price you are asking for?"
Lieutenant General Tommy continued with a smile.
"Your Starlink technology, although a byproduct of Mars colonization, is currently, before the appearance of Meng Hao, one of the world's top technological achievements..."
"Your original intention was to establish global communication, a truly admirable ambition..."
"But, we in the US military hope that you will sign a secret agreement, which allows our military to utilize your Starlink project, and prohibits you from transferring the information and communication technology of Starlink to other countries..."
Simply put.
This was another move in the US's information warfare.
As long as Marshal signed this agreement.
Then, any other country, whether its citizens, government, or military, would be subject to monitoring by the US military when using Starlink for communication.
Of course.
Even more terrifying was.
The Starlink phase one, with its thousands of small satellites, and phase two, with satellites ten times more powerful and hundreds more numerous,
Could monitor any part of the Earth's crust in real-time using optical molding technology.
This level of access.
If it fell into the hands of any country's government or military, it would be a powerful weapon.
An annual profit of one hundred billion US dollars.
In exchange for signing a secret agreement and gaining access to the Starlink project.
This did not seem like a losing deal.
And by fostering a good relationship with Lieutenant General Tommy.
He could also have Meng Hao help develop the latest technological products at any time for a relatively small price.
By all accounts, this was not a losing proposition.
The only thing that would be compromised was commercial ethics.
This would make countries covered by Starlink satellites, to a certain extent, completely transparent to the US government and military.
However.
For a businessman like Marshal.
He barely had any conscience, let alone so-called commercial ethics.
In the face of annual profits of hundreds of billions, conscience and commercial ethics were simply a joke.
"Okay."
"Then it's settled."
"This is a win-win situation."
Marshal agreed to Lieutenant General Tommy's proposal without hesitation.
"You are a wise man."
Lieutenant General Tommy squinted, smiling like a cunning old fox who had achieved his goal.
For them,
It was indeed a win-win situation.
Marshal gained annual profits of one hundred billion US dollars.
While Lieutenant General Tommy secured the utilization rights of the Starlink project for the US government and military, and also strengthened his position within the military and even the US government.
After all.
Meng Hao was brought to the United States through his machinations, and any future work assignments for Meng Hao would naturally be under Lieutenant General Tommy's direction.
And by "selling out" Meng Hao's research and development capabilities, he gained access to the Starlink project, so the specific operational commands for Starlink would surely have to go through him, Lieutenant General Tommy.
This was a brilliant plan that killed two birds with one stone.
After several rounds of drinks.
And after the dishes were served.
The two foxes, having obtained their respective benefits, laughed heartily.
"By the way."
"Let's return to our original discussion."
"Now, Meng Hao is an important scientific research pillar of our United States, you cannot make things difficult for him for your own private gain!"
Under the influence of alcohol.
Lieutenant General Tommy's words were extremely direct.