The agenda for today's enlarged Military Commission meeting of the Great Dragon Country was how to respond to potential wars with Japan, Taiwan, or even the US, possibly with third-party intervention, within the next two years. Next year, coinciding with the World Games in Kyoto, Japan, Taiwan, and the US would surely not allow the Great Dragon Country to host the Games uninterrupted. They would undoubtedly seize the opportunity when the Great Dragon Country was hesitant to initiate conflict during the Games to provoke and invade its territory.

This enlarged Military Commission meeting had a large attendance; it included not only the Commission members but also the commanders of all military regions, the Chief of the General Staff, the Minister of the General Logistics Department, the Minister of the General Armament Department, the Director of the General Political Department, the commanders of the three main forces, the commander of the Second Artillery Corps, the armed police forces, and the presidents of various military academies.

Chairman Li Zhenyu stated, "Comrades, we have received new intelligence from Japan. Their military expenditure for the coming year will again reach a new high. What is their strategic objective for maintaining such high military spending? What is the goal behind them raising an army for a thousand days? What are the favorable conditions for them to provoke a new dispute in the East China Sea within the next two years? Everyone is welcome to offer their opinions."

The Chief of the General Staff spoke first. "The collusion between the separatist elements on the island and Japan is becoming increasingly rampant. Although the Pan-Green camp is experiencing internal division and strife, we cannot rule out the possibility that they might make a desperate gamble before next year's general election to fish in troubled waters and seize power. Once the Pan-Green camp gains control of the island, it will undoubtedly increase the difficulty of peaceful reunification across the Strait, which is precisely what Japan desires. Japanese-funded enterprises on the island have historically spared no expense in financially supporting the separatists. The nexus between the island separatists and Japanese right-wing elements has deep political roots, and we are currently too far away to exert effective deterrence, which would serve as a warning to these audacious separatists."

The issue of Ming Island is an old song. If Japan and the United States weren't entangled in it, they might have simply bombarded it into submission long ago. As a mere isolated speck, simply blockading its sea access routes would starve it into surrender!

But now, maritime control rests in the hands of the Americans, and air superiority also belongs to them. Although the US withdrew a significant number of troops following the recent Kikukou Sea Battle, the military bases on the Japanese islands remain formidable.

The Chief of the General Staff continued, "Let me offer one more perspective on the East China Sea conflict. Firstly, because we are preparing for the World Games, we have significant reservations about increasing confrontation in the East China Sea. Any military action against the island separatists or Japan would invite international controversy and criticism, jeopardizing the success of the Games. This has already become a bargaining chip in the hands of the island separatists and Japanese right-wing elements. In fact, regardless of the outcome of the current East China Sea conflict, the Great Dragon Country stands to lose more than it gains. Our nation has invested more than a decade in surveying, drilling, and constructing offshore facilities for the East China Sea oil and gas fields. Any war would see them utterly incinerated, and the oil and gas supply we currently receive and anticipate receiving annually would vanish. Japan's development in the East China Sea is only just beginning; at most, they would lose a few coast guard vessels, exploration ships, or even parts of their fleet. Therefore, even a victory for us in the East China Sea conflict would result in a devastating loss."

Everyone agreed with the Chief of the General Staff's assessment, and Japan was surely aware of this point. They have a historical tradition of military adventurism—wars against the Qing Dynasty and Russia, engaging Germany in the First World War, and taking the gamble against the US in the Second World War—all achieved through surprise. Who can guarantee they won't play the adventure card in the East China Sea now? The last conflict incident in the East China Sea already revealed their insidious intentions.

Everyone spoke actively, and they possessed a profound understanding of the threat posed by Japan’s First Island Chain blockade. Should a conflict erupt, Japan could rely on the First Island Chain to easily implement an economic blockade against the Great Dragon Country. Iron ore, copper, aluminum, and oil from the Americas would be shut out beyond the East China Sea, and all export trade eastwards from the Great Dragon Country would be prohibited.

In truth, the Military Commission had discussed these matters countless times, so Chairman Li Zhenyu waved his hand, signaling everyone to quiet down. "Comrades, we must be fully prepared for a fight against two, or even three adversaries, regarding the East China Sea issue, and we must accelerate the pace of our preparation. Only through the capacity to fight can we speak of peace; only through the assurance of victory can we speak of tranquility. Without a powerful military backing, 'peaceful rise' is just a pipe dream. Let's discuss military armament now; that is the absolute priority."

Someone stated, "Haven't we already strengthened our military procurement from Europe, and our purchases from Russia are also progressing? Kilo-class missile submarines have begun commissioning, and we already possess a force of ten of our own Type 096 submarines. This alone gives us parity with Japan."

Someone objected, "The Type 096 submarine lags far behind the Mercury-class submarine, which is already openly sold globally. It is rumored that nearly 100 Mercury-class submarines have been sold. Are you certain Japan hasn't acquired ten Mercury-class submarines? Is it not a joke to pit our ten Type 096s against ten Mercurys? I fear just two Mercurys could destroy all ten of our Type 096s!"

Another person argued, "Since we are purchasing from abroad anyway, why don't we procure the Mercury-class submarine? Although its price tag is shocking, first, we can reverse-engineer it for study, and second, it can bring our military capabilities in line with the outside world, maintaining sufficient deterrence against neighboring countries."

Li Zhenyu knew the situation well, but this matter could not be discussed openly. "Comrades, I agree to temporarily procure two Mercury-class submarines for research purposes. However, this will consume a quarter of our total annual military budget. I wonder if everyone's opinion is unified on this?"

Since they could acquire such advanced submarines, naturally, no one objected. Developing and researching these systems themselves would cost time and money, with success not even guaranteed.

Someone suggested, "I personally believe submarines are one aspect, but shouldn't we also expedite the construction of our aircraft carriers? The slogan has been shouted for several years, yet we haven't even seen a hull. Has our carrier construction stopped?"

A comrade from the Navy replied, "Who says carrier construction has stopped? Last year, we overcame the challenge of the catapult system, and the data link has been integrated into the computers of existing fleets. Research into radar, sonar, anti-submarine warfare, and carrier-borne aircraft is proceeding sequentially. An aircraft carrier isn't conjured into existence by a mere declaration; the process is immensely complex and arduous."

The person who proposed the suggestion retorted, "You in the Navy receive enormous research funds. After so many years, shouldn't you give us a concrete timeline? If this drags on, the nation will be bankrupted by you!"

"Indeed," someone said, throwing out a photograph. "Look at this. This is an underwater craft photographed by the US and the Red Dragon during the Kikukou Sea Battle. Its appearance is indistinguishable from modern submarines, with enormous displacement. It can submerge like a submarine, yet surface to deploy fighter jets and bombers hidden inside its bay. Its stealth and offensive capabilities are incredibly potent. With one such device, dubbed an underwater aircraft carrier, escorted by ten Mercury-class submarines, I believe it would be unrivaled in the world!"

Someone sneered, "Heh heh, unrivaled? Do you know who manufactures these weapons? Do you truly believe that one submersible carrier and ten Mercury submarines can defeat him? If he can build one submersible carrier and ten Mercury-class submarines, why couldn't he build ten more submersible carriers and one hundred Mercury submarines and sell them to others? If developing military strength relies solely on foreign procurement, it will eventually drag all nations into endless, massive military expenditures, and the ultimate beneficiary will be this malicious arms dealer."

Everyone nodded in agreement. Li Zhenyu and those familiar with the situation exchanged wry smiles. However, precisely at such a moment, they could not reveal the truth, lest they cause chaos abroad and internal disorder at home. The existence of such a powerful force hidden within the country was something most Military Commission members would not easily accept.

Regardless of the arguments, the procurement of two Mercury-class submarines was settled. As for the Great Dragon Country's aircraft carriers, although action was taken years ago, too many technical hurdles were involved. Even buying a complete carrier from overseas, operating it normally would be problematic, let alone the subsequent complex maintenance. Thus, the carrier issue had to be deferred; it certainly couldn't be relied upon for the conflicts in the next two years.

Deng Sifang, Commander of the L-Province Military Region, coughed lightly. "Naval strength needs enhancement to handle sudden events in the East China Sea, and the Air Force's strength must also be boosted to ensure absolute air superiority in wartime. But what about the readiness of our Plateau Military Region? Even our internationally renowned Flying Dragon attack helicopter cannot operate normally above 3,000 meters in the high-altitude snowy regions. Our Plateau Army faces too many difficulties in rapid troop deployment and strategic resupply. I suggest we continue strengthening negotiations with Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation of the US, hoping they can urge the US government to approve further military sales of the Black Hawk helicopter to us."

The Black Hawk helicopter is a star weapon favored by armies worldwide. Its performance vastly surpasses the Great Dragon Country's Flying Dragon attack helicopter, and as the best utility helicopter for plateau operations, its dominant position has never been replaced.

In the early 1980s, Sino-US relations entered an unprecedented honeymoon period, with extensive cooperation in the military field. The government of the Great Dragon Country not only invited Grumman to improve the J-8 fighter but also began procuring American-made equipment.

In July 1984, the Great Dragon Country government signed a contract with Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation of the US to purchase 24 S-70 civilian Black Hawk helicopters, priced at $7 million each. By December 1985, the last one was successfully delivered. All these helicopters were manufactured by Sikorsky, making them one of the few American-made pieces of equipment widely known in the PLA's inventory, and still the best high-altitude utility helicopter possessed by the PLA to this day.

According to the intentions discussed between the two parties at the time, Sikorsky had hoped to sell 100 Black Hawks to the Great Dragon Country, but due to well-known reasons, all these plans fell through after 1989. The Great Dragon Country also attempted to survey and replicate the Black Hawk, hoping to achieve complete domestic production like the Flying Dragon attack helicopter, but this plan never materialized due to an insufficiently strong industrial base.

Due to their superior performance, Black Hawk helicopters are widely used by countries globally. South Korea began ordering over $\text{XX}$ UH-60P Black Hawks from the late 1980s. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries of Japan purchased a production license from Sikorsky and locally manufactured a considerable number of UH-60$\text{XX}$ Black Hawks to replace the Kawasaki-produced Sea Knight.

Besides these two major powers, Australia, Israel, Greece, Turkey, Spain, and the Great Dragon Country's Ming Island have all ordered substantial numbers of Black Hawk helicopters from Sikorsky. This demonstrates the powerful performance of the Black Hawk and its subsequent derivatives, especially its far superior advantage over similar products in harsh environments.

The initial 24 Black Hawk helicopters acquired by the Great Dragon Country were reduced to very few after numerous incidents; even the finest products are not guaranteed against accidents. The most severe accident involving a Black Hawk in the Great Dragon Country occurred in June 1991 when one crashed in Tibet, killing all 12 PLA personnel on board, including several high-ranking generals. However, this did not diminish the PLA's longing for the Black Hawk; compared to the Flying Dragon helicopter and the Russian Mi-8 and Mi-17 helicopters, the Black Hawk held an overwhelming advantage in plateau performance, corrosion resistance, and automatic de-icing systems.

Deng Sifang’s suggestion to procure the Black Hawk at this moment was what everyone desired, but someone raised an objection, and this objector was Zhu Ergui from the Chengdu Military Region. "I do not recommend purchasing the Black Hawk. Firstly, the US would never agree to this procurement. Moreover, the Black Hawk's performance is already significantly surpassed by newly emerging armed helicopters."

As he spoke, Zhu Ergui tossed a stack of documents onto the conference table. As others passed them around, they saw it was intelligence on the Gepard attack helicopter that had appeared in the Xijin battlefield, complete with assessments from various foreign media outlets on its performance. Its technical parameters all far exceeded those of the Black Hawk.

Because the Gepard helicopter abandoned conventional fuel engines, it achieved a pioneering lead in stealth and noise reduction. Furthermore, using high-energy batteries for electric propulsion eliminates the need for oxygen combustion, meaning the engine does not suffer the 40% power loss due to oxygen deprivation even at altitudes above 3,000 meters in the snowy plateau.

Regarding the airframe, the Gepard utilized the same material as the Mercury-class submarine—3X Super-Hard Alloy. This new alloy, which no one has yet been able to replicate, significantly enhances the Gepard's resistance to attack and performance in harsh environments, arguably surpassing the Black Hawk by several dozen times.

In terms of weaponry, the Gepard helicopter can carry nearly 20 various missiles and two on-board cannons, making its firepower extremely fierce. Its external cargo hook can lift 10 tons of cargo, which is extremely convenient for transporting armored tanks and troop carriers. Due to the high-energy batteries used not being common low-end models, the Gepard boasts a ferry range exceeding 1,500 kilometers, placing it at the forefront among the world's helicopters.

Zhu Ergui's proposal was indeed very practical. Since they were purchasing from abroad anyway, choosing the superior option, even at a higher price, was worthwhile. However, someone raised a new objection: "According to our intelligence, the world's arms maniac has only publicly sold the Mercury-class submarine. Other unknown submarines and aircraft have not yet been acquired by anyone. It is questionable whether we can secure an order for these from him."

Tan Zhong sneered coldly, "I think this matter won't trouble the Chairman. Didn't a large contingent of Gepard attack helicopters fly into the city on a mission recently? Could it be that the Chairman already acquired the Gepard helicopters but deliberately kept it from everyone? Or is there another hidden reason?"

Deng Sifang and Zhu Ergui looked surprised. "Chairman Comrade, is this true? You are not secretly building another army behind our backs, are you? That seems to violate regulations."

Li Zhenyu sighed, "There was some chaos in the public security system of Kyoto some time ago, and I contacted the Red Dragon organization for assistance, which is why that action took place. In fact, a large part of my motive was to gauge the true strength of the Red Dragon. In that last operation, they deployed these Gepard helicopters and heavy-caliber armored tanks; their firepower already vastly exceeds our current capabilities. I believe cooperating with them holds great promise."

Tan Zhong stated, "Since the Chairman has some contact with the Red Dragon, the military procurement of Mercury-class submarines and Gepard attack helicopters should not be an issue, do you all agree?"

Everyone applauded enthusiastically. "Since our Great Dragon Country has good relations with the Red Dragon, and it is clear that the arms maniac and the Red Dragon are allies—or at least have a very close relationship—if he is willing to sell Mercury-class submarines to other nations, he certainly won't refuse our purchase. As for the Gepard attack helicopter, will he deny us at least out of respect for the Chairman's face?"

Li Zhenyu felt conflicted internally. Procuring the Mercury-class submarine would certainly not be a problem, as this weapon was already publicly available. However, the Gepard attack helicopter was a classified weapon, and whether it was suitable for foreign sale was not his decision alone, even as Chairman of the Military Commission.

Yet, Chairman Li Zhenyu thought of a suitable negotiator. Assigning this task to him would not only likely yield spectacular results but could also foster better relations between the parties. Perhaps he would even be asked to act as a matchmaker when those two eventually married.

With this thought, Li Zhenyu said, "This matter can be attempted, but we cannot be overly optimistic about the success beforehand. I suggest we assign the military procurement task to General Yi Tianfeng. Firstly, he has extensive negotiation experience, and secondly, he has been relatively free lately. With his capabilities, I trust he will not disappoint and will successfully acquire the next generation of weapon systems for us, writing a new chapter in the military development of our Great Dragon Country."

Yi Tianfeng inwardly lamented. How could he not know the hidden context? This was forcing him to deal with his supposed phony grandson-in-law! Although Tan Zhong was unaware of the full details, the smug look on his face suggested he suspected something.

However, matters of national importance could not be weighed against personal grievances. Although Yi Tianfeng was reluctant, he nodded and agreed. "Rest assured, Chairman. I will do my utmost to complete this mission."

Tan Zhong smiled and said, "Old Yi, your granddaughter hasn't been home in a long time, has she? Young people can get temperamental and have small disagreements. I suggest you advise her when you have the chance; after all, I'm still waiting to become a great-grandfather."

Yi Tianfeng certainly knew his granddaughter was already someone else's wife; it wouldn't be a small matter if she had a baby for him soon. This made his old face flush with embarrassment, and he mumbled a few non-committal responses before falling silent.

The meeting finally concluded late in the evening. Tan Zhong, Deng Sifang, and Zhu Ergui walked out of the conference hall together. Deng Sifang's Chief of Staff rushed through the crowd to reach his commander. "Commander Deng, something terrible has happened! Deng Qiang is hospitalized with severe injuries!"

"What happened?" Not only Deng Sifang was shocked; Zhu Ergui and Tan Zhong were also baffled. Deng Qiang was surrounded by numerous bodyguards, and the leadership of Longteng University was aware of his special status. How could he have been severely wounded and hospitalized?

Tan Zhong said, "Let's go to the hospital first. We can discuss the details on the way."

Upon arriving at the hospital, upon learning his son had become an anonymous eunuch of the New China, Deng Sifang became enraged and smashed the monitoring equipment in the VIP ward of the PLA 101 Hospital. The hospital leadership who rushed over were terrified by the three men's military ranks and dared not utter a word, immediately arranging a new ward for Deng Qiang.

Deng Sifang roared at Qi Tian, "Who did this! Can't even you protect my son! What good are you if you can't even do that!"

Qi Tian looked extremely embarrassed; this was the first time he had been scolded like this. "I apologize, Commander Deng. The opponent was too formidable; his strength is certainly no less than mine, and he had many helpers. My Iron-Blooded Twelve Guards were instantly overwhelmed, and remember, those twelve were all elite special forces operatives—dozens of ordinary soldiers might not be a match for a single one of them."

Deng Sifang cursed, "I don't care who he is! If he ends my lineage, I want his life! Have you found out his background? Send people to eliminate him immediately! Do I need to instruct you on something like this!"

"We found out. The opponent's identity is simple—just a student at Longteng University, with a clean background. We found no faction supporting him."

Tan Zhong asked, "What is his name? I am unaware of anyone in Kyoto who can withstand one of your palms, Old Man."

Qi Tian offered a wry smile. "He didn't just withstand one of my palms; he took no fewer than eighteen of my strikes. His name is Zhao Qian."

"Zhao Qian! So it's him. No wonder."

Seeing Tan Zhong say this, Deng Sifang and Zhu Ergui asked, "Does Old Tan know and associate with him favorably?"

Tan Zhong sneered, "Yes, our relationship is quite extraordinary. Not only did he put a cuckold's hat on my grandson, but he personally captured me and humiliated me in front of everyone. What do you think of our relationship?"

Deng Sifang and Zhu Ergui were astonished. "Such a thing happened? Is there anyone in the Great Dragon Country who dares to lay a hand on you, Elder Tan? He has the guts, but does he have the ability?"

Tan Zhong replied, "He is the one with both the guts and the ability. Consider that even your Chief Instructor Qi Tian is no match for him; from this, you can tell he is no ordinary figure. If that weren't the case, would your son have ended up a eunuch?"

"Mentioning this matter, Deng Sifang ground his teeth, 'I don't care if he has the guts or the ability; if I don't kill him, I'm no descendant of the Deng family!'"

"We must deliberate on this matter carefully," Tan Zhong said. "It hasn't been just a day or two that I've sought an opportunity to deal with him, but the capable people around him are numerous, and his own power is formidable. Moreover, I suspect Li Zhenyu is secretly supporting him. Although I haven't found concrete evidence, the collusion between them will eventually be exposed. Let's find a place to discuss our next move thoroughly."

"I'm taking action tonight, or I won't be able to quell the hatred in my heart!" Deng Sifang declared.

Tan Zhong persuaded him, "Even if you act tonight, how much do you truly know about him? Jingdu City is the capital of the Great Dragon Country; every move must be handled with extreme caution. If your recklessness allows those people on the Military Commission to catch hold of something, aren't you afraid they'll strip you of your position?"

Deng Sifang was speechless. Qi Tian handed over two photographs. "Young Master's conflict with that kid was because of these two women. Why don't we secretly seize them to ease the Young Master's anger?"

Tan Zhong glanced at them. "Little Deng, this is where your son went wrong. Do you know who this girl is? If I said you don't use your brain, you’d surely scold me, but this is Li Zhenyu's granddaughter. Even if your son desires women, he shouldn't target one connected to him. Li Zhenyu is still the Chairman of the Military Commission; most people heed his words. By doing this, you’ve already lost the advantage you held."

Deng Sifang hadn't expected his son to provoke Li Zhenyu's granddaughter. How could he have imagined Li Zhenyu would send his granddaughter to study at Longteng University? With his status, shouldn't he have sent his children to the US or the UK to study at Harvard or Oxford? This time, they were truly unlucky.

Deng Sifang's confidence immediately wavered. "Old Tan, what should we do then? I will listen to you."

Tan Zhong’s demeanor immediately hardened. "Let’s go. I'll treat everyone to a meal. We'll find a secluded spot where no one can disturb us. I guarantee that tonight, we will deliver a fatal blow to that kid surnamed Zhao!"

It was as if the calm before the storm had arrived. As dusk settled, the weather abruptly changed, and rain began to fall, growing heavier with no sign of stopping. Inside the secret room, Tan Zhong was briefing Deng Sifang on the strategy, urging him to strike under the cover of the strong wind and heavy rain.

Tan Zhong was cornered. His repeated attempts to assassinate the target had all failed. Furthermore, it was evident that Li Zhenyu was protecting him at every turn; otherwise, his official positions wouldn't have been steadily elevated. If he were allowed to continue developing, it was easy to surmise that the future would belong to him.

Therefore, eliminating him while his wings were not yet fully grown was the only correct course of action. Deng Sifang and Zhu Ergui had always been close and were not Tan Zhong's direct subordinates. If the two of them united to push that man to death, even if Li Zhenyu sought retribution afterward, he couldn't possibly move against two Military Region Commanders simultaneously. At most, it would result in a reprimand or disciplinary action—a highly advantageous trade-off.