I was surprised to find my future father-in-law and mother-in-law so amiable; they were nothing like the stern Yi Tianfeng. The couple warmly invited me to sit. "Young man, you are truly outstanding," Father Yi said. "My father briefly mentioned your affairs; you won't find another young person in the entire Great Dragon Country who has achieved what you have."

My future father-in-law's **blatant praise made me blush a little. Yi Xiaorou probed from the side, "Dad, then do you think my judgment is accurate?"

Father Yi grew angry. "You still have the nerve to show your face here? You are not leaving this house tonight. I haven't settled accounts with you for running away from home yet!"

Yi Xiaorou, startled, hid behind me and whispered, "Husband, you must take me away, or I'm doomed."

I gently patted Yi Xiaorou's palm. If Father Yi truly intended to discipline her, I wouldn't stand by, despite her 'running off' with me initially. However, I willingly let her '**' me every night afterward, so I certainly couldn't shirk responsibility now that Father Yi was bringing it up.

Mother Yi pulled her daughter over to her side, and the two shared the tenderness of a mother and daughter reunited after parting. Though they spoke often on the phone, nothing compared to the warmth of meeting in person.

Father Yi ignored his daughter and turned to me. "I hear from my father that you hold quite a few significant positions now: National Security Advisor, National Economic Advisor, Director of the National Rectification Office, Deputy Director of the State Security Bureau, and Vice Minister of Public Security. Haha, most people work their entire lives and never attain a single one of these posts, yet you hold several concurrently."

Yi Xiaorou turned to her father. "Dad, what you know is just the surface. Our Zhao family is far beyond what meets your eyes. If I told you everything, it might shock you and Grandpa. Hehe, but without Zhao Qian's permission, I dare not speak carelessly. Just know that I have selected a truly qualified son-in-law for you."

Father Yi didn't address his daughter's last remark. "Oh, so Young Zhao is a man who doesn't show his true colors. I really should get to know you better sometime."

While I was speaking with Father Yi, General Yi Tianfeng, having finished his immediate tasks, sat down on the sofa. He spoke in a tone noticeably softer than usual. "Comrade Zhao, we invited you here today not only to have you return our granddaughter but primarily to discuss the current world situation with you. Although you are not formally registered in the State Council or the Military Commission, your capabilities already influence the nation's future development, so your opinions are vital."

General Yi Tianfeng’s speech sounded quite formal. Father Yi reminded him, "Dad, let's move to the study; it’s quieter there. We don't need to rush dinner anyway."

General Yi Tianfeng nodded and led the way toward the study. Father Yi warmly ushered me along. I asked quietly, "Uncle, are we going to discuss official matters?"

Father Yi nodded. I continued, "Then you should let Xiaorou come along. She is my super secretary; there are many matters she understands better than I do myself. Many of the Zhao family’s decisions are made by her and the others."

"Dad," Father Yi called out to Yi Tianfeng, whispering a few words in his ear. General Yi Tianfeng turned back to look at his granddaughter, a hint of approval entering his eyes. Father Yi beckoned to us both, and the group entered the study, one after the other.

Yi Tianfeng sat in the large sofa at the center of the study. "This room has advanced anti-eavesdropping and soundproofing, so you don't need to worry about outsiders hearing our conversation."

I chuckled. "Hehe, it seems Grandpa has something very important to tell us."

Yi Tianfeng said, "The situation in L Province and the Chengdu Military Region has sent shockwaves through the higher echelons of the Military Commission. Even if others don't fully grasp what happened, we old folks understand perfectly. You are the only person in the entire Great Dragon Country with such power. However, Chairman Li was too autocratic this time; he didn't seek the Commission's consent beforehand for such a major event. If it weren't for those two fellows, everyone would already be displeased. Coupled with the fact that the matter was handled successfully without causing any external uproar, he would certainly have received a severe reprimand."

I laughed again. "Would anyone dare criticize the Chairman given his status? Sometimes things are clearly right, but if they are brought up for discussion, they might not pass. Yet, once successfully executed, everyone might praise it. So, I believe autocracy is not always a bad thing sometimes."

Yi Tianfeng waved his hand. "Let's not discuss that; the matter is resolved perfectly, and the two military regions are under your control now. Tell us about your future plans. You wouldn't have acted this way without some underlying objective, surely?"

I glanced at Yi Xiaorou, signaling for her to answer. Letting her speak now would help elevate her standing within the Zhao family.

Yi Xiaorou spoke. "Grandpa, controlling those two military regions was a measure of last resort. Don't assume we are plotting a coup; frankly, we don't pay much attention to the Great Dragon Country's military power. You must have seen the investigation reports regarding the crimes of certain individuals in those two regions. Their actions severely compromised the Great Wall under the Western Defense Zone—the massive engineering project we invested heavily in. If it were exposed to the enemy because of our own people, the Red Dragon forces suddenly appearing on the Xijin battlefield would be confirmed to be operating under the Great Dragon Country. And given the Great Dragon Country's current military strength, we cannot afford to be an enemy to multiple nations simultaneously. Therefore, controlling the surface defenses in the west is actually for the security of the underground defense zone. When the time is right and the Great Dragon Country's rise is unstoppable, we can launch a full offensive and reclaim all the lost territories in the west. By then, we won't fear accusations from other countries, nor will we worry about the underground defense zone being exposed, because the Underground Great Wall will then serve as a second line of defense, or perhaps a supply and transport route."

Yi Tianfeng asked, "Are you truly not doing this for the supreme leadership of the Great Dragon Country?"

Yi Xiaorou pouted playfully. "Grandpa, why do you always think the worst of us? I am your granddaughter! Regarding the supreme leadership of the Great Dragon Country, Zhao Qian has no interest whatsoever. Our goal is to unify Earth, establish the Earth Federation, and then break out of the solar system to advance humanity into the entire cosmos."

Father Yi said, "Don't you think this plan is a bit unrealistic and too far-fetched? The Great Dragon Country hasn't even succeeded in its lunar program, yet you are already contemplating leaving the solar system."

Yi Xiaorou countered, "Dad, do you think it's far? If we unify Earth within two years, we can immediately begin interstellar travel because we have already produced the design blueprints for interstellar warships. If it weren't for Little Raindrop and Little Hui being away on assignment, two models of these warships should already be on the production line."

Even Yi Tianfeng was shocked this time. He exclaimed, "It seems you have concealed an immense amount of power. What we see is merely the surface. Even the Chairman might not be aware of this matter. If your technology can already produce interstellar warships, then unifying Earth should not be difficult."

I said, "It’s not that we intentionally hid things, but some things are impractical to reveal now. With our current military strength, we are adequately matched against the forces of world nations. Defeating them is easy, but governing them is difficult. Thus, it's a complex process that must be approached step-by-step. As for interstellar travel, I do not plan to execute it in the next year or two."

Yi Tianfeng nodded. "Often, conquering a nation is easier than governing it. It’s commendable that you thought this far ahead. As long as we old fellows are still alive, we will help you realize this goal. Let's discuss your capabilities next. I am very eager to know. Rest assured, I will keep it secret for you, and if you prefer, the Chairman can also be kept in the dark for now."

It seemed Yi Tianfeng was finally accepting me as one of his own—a good start. It pays to be capable; even after I 'stole' their child, they still treat me as a prospective son-in-law.

I stated, "My primary forces currently include the Amphibious Corps and the Machine Soldiers, in addition to a contingent of one hundred Super Soldiers. The members of the Amphibious Corps are drawn from the ranks of the PLA. Our current heavy weaponry for the Army includes the improved model of the Cheetah Attack Helicopter—the LB II. The Type II increases ordnance capacity, capable of carrying 50 mini high-explosive multi-purpose bombs at once, allowing simultaneous anti-air, anti-tank, and anti-infantry engagement. Moreover, the new model significantly boosts cruising speed and endurance, and its flight capability in various harsh climates has been greatly enhanced."

"The Army's other weapon is a heavy armored tank named the Tiger-class. Currently, all anti-tank rounds are ineffective against it. Its armor protection capabilities are world-leading, and its mobility is also extremely swift; when necessary, it can be airlifted by Cheetah helicopters. For individual soldiers, we use the submachine gun codenamed QI—Q standing for 'Gun.' This submachine gun isn't inherently special, but compared to standard submachine guns, its magazine capacity, rate of fire, and range are significantly increased, placing it at the forefront of conventional world weaponry. Actually, all of this is due to your granddaughter and the others; I haven't been of much help."

Yi Xiaorou interjected, "That's not true! We have clear divisions of labor. You manage external affairs, while the five of us handle military research, and the others manage the economy. If you tried to handle everything, what would be the point of us?"

Yi Tianfeng became very interested and asked his granddaughter, "Who else is there? How are your roles divided?"

Yi Xiaorou explained, "In our five-person Military Research Team, there are also Zhao Fen and Zhao Fang. They are actually currently serving PLA officers, though that was imposed by the Chairman; otherwise, the three of us would have resigned long ago. You probably wouldn't recognize the names of the other two, even if I told you."

Father Yi chided, "You child, still thinking of resigning? Do you think the military is a company? Have you decided you care nothing for the nation now that you've found a man you like?"

Yi Xiaorou stuck out her tongue and didn't answer. Yi Tianfeng asked, "Are the other two girls as well? They can't be too old, can they?"

Yi Xiaorou took out her phone and showed Yi Tianfeng pictures of Little Raindrop and Little Hui. "Grandpa, aren't they beautiful? Zhao Qian likes them very much. And here are Zhao Fen and Zhao Fang; look, they are practically identical, even Zhao Qian can’t tell them apart."

Yi Tianfeng mused, "Why are they all such young girls? Did you all develop the Red Dragon's weapons? Is your relationship with Zhao Qian the same with all of you? Surely there are no conflicts among you?"

Yi Xiaorou smiled. "Grandpa, do you think we fight over him? Absolutely not; we have an incredibly good relationship. Besides, Zhao Qian is very fair to all of us. As long as everyone maintains a clear perspective, what does it matter if they are rivals in love? Rivals can be the best of friends. We live together, work together, helping and encouraging each other. Otherwise, how could we possibly complete such a massive volume of research in such a short time? Don't underestimate Little Raindrop and Little Hui, even if their names are unknown; their contribution is the greatest here."

Yi Tianfeng leaned his head back against the sofa and let out a long breath. "Who is in charge of the economy? How did you all meet? Tell your grandfather everything, one by one."

Yi Xiaorou then recounted the names and statuses of all the women in the household and how she met me. However, she concealed the fact that Fang Yanmeng and Xiao Chuchu were the masterminds behind Earth Energy and Universal Communications, and she could only invent a temporary cover story for Little Raindrop and Little Hui's identities, as revealing that they were robots from ten million years in the future might be too earth-shattering.

After listening, Yi Tianfeng slowly stated, "It seems Young Zhao's current success is inseparable from your collective efforts, and there is a deep emotional foundation among you all. It would truly be difficult to separate you."

I quickly added, "Yes, Grandpa. Xiaorou and I have been through so much, and we’ve weathered some significant emotional crises, but we overcame them all. You wouldn't stop us at the family approval stage, would you?"

Yi Tianfeng smiled without speaking. Since he remained silent, his son naturally followed suit. Yi Xiaorou grew anxious. "Grandpa, Dad, give me a clear answer! Whether you agree or not, I've set my heart on Zhao Qian for this lifetime. I am already a member of the Zhao family, and no matter what rude things the Tan family says, I will never go back to that second-generation brute Tan Tian."

Yi Tianfeng ignored his granddaughter and turned to me. "We were just discussing the Army's equipment for the Amphibious Corps. What about the others?"

It seemed the old man intended to change the subject and avoid discussing my relationship with his granddaughter. "The Army's strength, perhaps, isn't the strongest. The Air Force is equipped with the Mountain Eagle-class light fighter, the Hummer-class medium fighter, the Walrus-class bomber, and the Arhat-class transport. These aircraft far exceed the performance of advanced planes from any country today. Their energy source relies entirely on high-energy battery packs, and their defense and stealth capabilities are even more advanced—even future sixth-generation fighters might not match this level."

Yi Tianfeng nodded slightly. "What about the Navy?"

"The Navy is the spearhead of the Amphibious Corps. Since I originally developed the corps from submarines, over the past year or so, several generations of submarine models have emerged: Mercury-class, Mars-class, Venus-class, leading up to the upcoming Earth-class. The Mercury-class is already known worldwide. The Mars-class has yet to make a true public appearance. The Venus-class is essentially a sub-carrier, and no one knows its true capabilities. As for the Earth-class, with a displacement of 300,000 tons, it is an underwater fortress. Furthermore, starting with this model, the submarine shape may begin to change. Due to its massive size, the traditional teardrop shape is no longer optimal; a disc-like configuration is more conducive to movement and submergence."

Yi Tianfeng said seriously, "May I know the combat performance of these four submarine types? You know that for a soldier, the desire for advanced weaponry is like the need for life itself. The strength displayed by the Red Dragon in the naval battle of Wenlai shocked the world, leaving many mysteries in everyone's minds. However, if it's inconvenient, please don't tell me; I understand the principles of confidentiality."

I smiled. "These four submarine types aren't considered top-tier weaponry, and besides, you two aren't outsiders, so why would I conceal anything? There are also the Xia-class cruisers and the Light Rain-class destroyers. Xiaorou is clearer about the specific combat performance of these weapons; let her introduce them to you in detail."

Xiaorou's aptitude for weapons research is well-known in the Yi family. Her words would be more professional and accurate. Moreover, I needed to make these two elders understand just how crucial Yi Xiaorou was to the development of the Amphibious Corps; without her, the Corps would be crippled. If they refused to marry Yi Xiaorou to me, it would be a massive loss to the Great Dragon Country's future hope—the Amphibious Corps.

Yi Xiaorou elaborated for an hour and a half, and General Yi Tianfeng finally had all his lingering questions answered. It turned out that the underwater hangar weapon system displayed by the Red Dragon was the Venus-class sub-carrier, with a displacement of 130,000 tons. The future Earth-class submarine, displacing 300,000 tons, would be a mobile underwater fortress. Combined with the Mercury-class and Mars-class submarines, plus the surface Xia-class cruisers and destroyers, the M-Country's status as the dominant naval power would cease to exist. With this strength, the Great Dragon Country could easily resolve the disputes in the East Sea and Nansha.

Although everyone appeared to be discussing official business, the distance between them subtly closed. Both the forms of address and the tone of voice sounded more like a family.

After listening to the explanation, Yi Tianfeng was silent for a long time before slowly saying, "Zhao, you are a general of talent. A good general requires many people to assist him, and you happen to have countless capable individuals by your side. Xijin and Wenlai are already under your control; you must know better than me what the next step should be. Just don't forget the blood of the Dragon flowing in your veins. As descendants of the Dragon, you shouldn't only focus on unifying Earth and breaking out of the solar system, but you must inherit and carry forward the Dragon spirit, elevating the Great Dragon Country to the ranks of world powers, allowing our Dragon nation to stand at the forefront of all nations!"

I stated firmly, "Rest assured, Grandpa. I know what must be done. The long-term goal is world unification, but that's like us aspiring to achieve communism—we are still in the primary stage for now. The most urgent task is to reclaim the territory and dignity we lost, achieving the map of the glorious era of my Huaxia Empire! Every nation that once carved pieces from my proud Rooster must disgorge the lands they swallowed, or the only option left for them will be annihilation!"

Father Yi and General Yi Tianfeng declared together, "Restoring the territory of our Huaxia Empire—that is what the descendants of the Dragon should do! We support you!"

As the conversation grew heated, they became flushed with patriotic fervor, nearly taking oaths by drinking chicken blood. The topic drifted further and further, even dragging Outer Mongolia into the reclamation plan. Outer Mongolia, after all, was a piece of rich meat off the Rooster's back! Furthermore, Yunnan, Thailand, and Myanmar were the Rooster's legs, and North and South Korea were its beak. All these former tributary states of the Huaxia Empire would eventually be reclaimed; otherwise, how could world unification be discussed?

Yi Tianfeng stopped them from further conjecture and changed the subject. "Young Zhao, our country has been increasing military procurement from Bear Country in recent years. What are your thoughts on this?"

I replied, "I understand. Besides strengthening the Great Dragon Country's own military power, the government is also pursuing political objectives. Since its fragmentation, Bear Country's economy has worsened year by year; today, they are probably only rich in weapons. At least half of their annual weapon production flows into our country. But regardless, Bear Country's strength still cannot be underestimated in the current world. Our nation spends large sums of military funds annually to covertly support them, essentially hoping they remain compliant in the East Sea disputes—if not supporting us, at least not causing trouble or making unfounded claims behind our backs. Looking at the joint military exercises in recent years, the possibility of cooperation seems greater."

Yi Tianfeng smiled. "You see the nation's intentions very clearly! You've considered all the potential outcomes."

I took Yi Xiaorou's hand. "That's because I have them! Even if I can't see these matters, they will remind me. So, I cannot do without any one of them, and they, in turn, cannot do without me."

The two Yi men continued smiling without dwelling on that point. Yi Tianfeng then said, "The equipment of the Bear Country's military is currently even less advanced than our Russian-made weaponry—this is quite a strange situation, but it shows that Bear Country's national strength is severely depleted. Constrained by this, if they truly wanted to engage in war, they probably couldn't even afford the maintenance costs for their fleet. What we need more is their verbal support. With them positioned above Japan, the Japanese mainland must dedicate half its strength to defense, which is greatly advantageous to us."

I asked, "Was the recent expanded Military Commission meeting held to discuss these matters?"

Yi Tianfeng confirmed, "Yes. You know next year is the World Games. M, R, and Island nations won't let us host the Games completely without interference. Judging by the 'Dragon Country Threat Theory' they've been spreading lately, there will be new movements between M and R. Aside from discussing that issue, the main topic of the expanded Military Commission meeting was researching the next phase of military procurement. By the way, what is your relationship with the 'Arms Maniac' who recently appeared in the arms market? He's selling Red Dragon weapons; surely you know him?"

Yi Tianfeng suddenly asked this question, and I responded with a smile, neither confirming nor denying, which indirectly admitted my close association with him. Yi Tianfeng laughed heartily. "As I suspected, you are behind this! The Military Commission has assigned me a task: to purchase two Mercury-class submarines and two Cheetah Attack Helicopters from you. Whether this mission can be accomplished is up to you."

The purpose of today was finally made clear, and this conversation held immense significance; at the very least, it allowed the Yi family to truly see me. I suspect they won't pressure Yi Xiaorou to return to Tan Tian anymore. When I finally bring down the Tan family, then I will truly be the Yi family's son-in-law, and guaranteed genuine, because although Yi Xiaorou has been married, her actual virginity was given to me.

Yi Xiaorou squeezed my hand, subtly signaling that this was the perfect moment to draw closer to her grandfather and father. She naturally hoped I would agree instantly, and for such a small matter, I certainly wouldn't refuse. I looked at the two elders and said, "Rest assured, not just two vessels, even 200 would be no problem. We are family, let alone selling them, I'll gift them to you."

Yi Tianfeng’s face broke into a radiant smile. "No need to gift them. This isn't a personal matter. Completing this task for me will also allow me to explain myself to the Military Commission."

I considered it for a moment. "Currently, the Mercury-class submarine has already been sold externally in simplified versions. We’ve already released the second generation of the Cheetah attack helicopter; the first generation can also be sold publicly after some simplification since we have an enormous surplus, and we don't need them anyway. However, if our nation's forces equip too many Red Dragon weapons, won't it attract unwanted attention from other countries?"

Yi Tianfeng replied, "That's why I only requested two of each. Firstly, to familiarize ourselves with the performance, and secondly, for some research. In truth, both the Chairman and I understand that this is merely a facade shown to outsiders."

"Agreed. We'll do as you suggest, Elder. I’ll have Zhu Da prepare two standard versions of the Mercury-class submarine and two standard versions of the Cheetah attack helicopter to be delivered to you through the proper channels."

Everything proceeded smoothly; we sat together, discussing matters as if we were one family, until Mother Yi came in to remind us that it was already eight in the evening. If we delayed any further, dinner would turn into a late-night supper.

The atmosphere during dinner was exceptionally warm. General Yi Tianfeng even shared several drinks with me. At this moment, his demeanor was entirely different from when we met at the Military Commission. I understood that I had firmly established my place within the Yi household. Even though they were aware I was a deeply romantic and perhaps overly affectionate individual, I had already subdued them with my power. Thus, romance and sentimentality became secondary factors when faced with sheer strength.

After a few drinks, the conversation inexplicably shifted to the Tan family. Just as Yi Xiaorou had mentioned before, General Yi Tianfeng held a deep sense of gratitude toward Tan Zhong. However, I sensed that his previously rigid gratitude was slowly transforming. If a direct confrontation were to occur between Tan Zhong and me, he would ultimately stand unhesitatingly by my side.

This evening at the Yi residence proved to be incredibly fruitful. Aside from helping Yi Xiaorou reconcile with her family, the crucial achievement was gaining the Yi family's recognition and support, which would greatly benefit my future endeavors.