The in-depth integration of the innovation chain, industrial chain, capital chain and talent chain constitutes an important strategic option to advance the thorough integration of the real economy and the digital economy. From the perspective of internal logic, the innovation chain serves as the “driver” for new technological inventions; the industrial chain acts as the “carrier” for building practical platforms; the capital chain provides the “guarantee” of financial lifeline; and the talent chain offers the “support” by pooling intellectual resources. The coordinated efforts of the four chains furnish methodological support for the deep integration of the real economy and the digital economy. Nevertheless, in reality, the broken achievement-transformation chain centered on the industrial chain will directly shake the foundation for the high-quality development of the real economy. Obstacles to factor flow centered on the innovation chain prevent the digital economy from giving full play to its role as an engine. Consequently, the strengths of a major country cannot be fully leveraged, and building a real-digital integration system with Chinese characteristics remains a long-term arduous task. To break through practical bottlenecks, it is necessary to advance the in-depth empowerment via the integration of the “Four Chains”, seize the commanding heights of industrial application through the all-round “AI+” initiative; stimulate the innovation momentum generated by the integration of the “Four Chains”, and formulate supportive policies featuring “investing in early-stage projects, small-sized enterprises, long-term projects and hard-core technologies”; foster the systematic advantages brought by the integration of the “Four Chains”, so as to underpin the overall leap of “economic strength, national defense strength and composite national strength”.