Love in the Courtyard: Starting with Engineers

In the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, the President of Country M looked at the Prime Minister of Japan with an unfriendly expression and said, "This conflict in the South China Sea has caused enormous losses to our country!"

"Two frigates were damaged, and some fighter jets were scrapped due to emergency landings. Including casualties and equipment repair costs, the total is $100 billion!"

"The accident occurred in Japanese territorial waters, and your country must fully compensate for this!"

The Japanese prime minister on the other side of the screen instantly turned a deep purplish-red, his fingers gripping the edge of the table tightly.

He suppressed his anger and said in a deep voice, "Mr. President, this operation was a joint military exercise proposed by your country. Your country requested us to launch a probing attack. Now that something has gone wrong, how can you expect us to pay full compensation?"

"Why not?" the President of Country M immediately retorted. "Our fleet was participating in exercises to maintain regional peace. It was your fleet's reckless charge, ignoring China's warnings, that triggered the conflict!"

"Furthermore, the explosion occurred in your country's territorial waters, and your country bears an undeniable responsibility!"

"Baka!" The Japanese Prime Minister could no longer contain himself and burst out with a curse, "You're clearly trying to divert attention from your domestic problems and using us as cannon fodder!"

"Now that you've lost the war, you're shifting the blame to us and demanding $100 billion in compensation. You're utterly shameless!"

"Your Excellency Prime Minister, please watch your words!" The President of Country M's face darkened. "If your country refuses to pay compensation, we will suspend military aid and arms sales to your country, and disarm you at the same time."

"In addition, our country has issued a statement publicly condemning your country's rash behavior, while also criticizing China's reaction as too aggressive and disregarding the global peace situation."

The Japanese prime minister was so angry that he trembled, but he was powerless to refute her.

He knew that Japan could not do without the military protection of the United States, and even if he knew that the other party was extorting him, he could only grit his teeth and accept it.

"I need to consult with the cabinet," he said through gritted teeth.

"You have 24 hours to consider!" The President of Country M hung up the video call.

Inside the Japanese Prime Minister's official residence, the Prime Minister abruptly swept the documents off the table and roared:

"A bunch of robbers! Shameless robbers! They started this trouble, they made us charge in, and now they're making us take the blame and pay the compensation! I'll remember this!"

The Defense Minister lowered his head and dared not utter a sound.

He knew that the Prime Minister's anger at this moment was not only because of the $100 billion in reparations, but also because of the United States' breach of faith.

"Your Excellency Prime Minister, are we really going to pay compensation? $100 billion would be adding insult to injury for our current economy."

"Otherwise what?"

"We are currently militarily dependent on the United States. Once they withdraw their troops and stop selling weapons, China may launch a counterattack at any time."

"Japan now has no other choice."

The following day, the Japanese government publicly announced that it had agreed to pay $100 billion in compensation to the United States to make up for the losses caused by the South China Sea conflict.

The news caused an uproar in Japan.

Meanwhile, the United States seized the opportunity to hold a press conference, where the Secretary of State addressed the global media:

"This joint military exercise in the South China Sea was intended to maintain regional peace and stability; however, the reckless behavior of the Japanese fleet has triggered an unnecessary conflict."

"We strongly condemn Japan's actions and are also concerned about China's aggressive response to Huawei."

"China's actions have seriously undermined global peace. We urge China to exercise restraint and resolve the dispute through diplomatic channels."

This statement, which distorted the truth, completely ignited the anger within Japan.

Inside the Longxing Factory command center, Li Yu looked at the news reports from the United States and Japan, a cold smile appearing on his lips.

He said into the phone, "Notify our contacts in Japan to immediately create momentum online and in the media, thoroughly expose the US's coercion for reparations and their breach of faith, and add fuel to the fire."

"Understood, Chief Engineer Li!" The person on the other end of the phone immediately arranged the operation.

Within a single day, Japan's internet, television, and newspapers were filled with negative news about Country M.

"The US is a robber! They're forcing our country to pay $100 billion in compensation!"

"The US was the instigator of the South China Sea conflict, yet they're making us take the blame!"

Comments such as "The US is treating us like ATMs and cannon fodder!" are everywhere.

In the streets of Tokyo, thousands of people took to the streets, holding signs that read "Expel US troops."

"Refuse to pay reparations to Country M"

The banner read "M Country, get out of Japan!" and they shouted angrily.

A middle-aged man roared at the camera: "Our electronics industry has collapsed, people are suffering terribly, and now the US is demanding $100 billion in compensation from us! They're trying to kill us!"

"It's all the fault of Country M! They started the conflict, and now we're the ones paying the price!"

An elderly woman, holding her husband's portrait, cried out, "My son was a crew member on the Liangyue ship and died in the explosion. Now the US is demanding compensation from us. Don't they have any conscience?"

The protests escalated and spread from Tokyo to multiple cities including Osaka and Nagoya.

The public not only protested against the extortion by the United States, but also demanded that the government terminate military cooperation with the United States and withdraw its diplomatic personnel stationed in the United States.

The Japanese government attempted to suppress public opinion by sending police to disperse the protesters, but this backfired, fueling public anger.

At the cabinet meeting, the Minister of Justice said with great concern, "Your Excellency, anti-M sentiment in the country has spiraled out of control. If we do not take measures, it may trigger even greater unrest."

The Japanese prime minister asked impatiently, "What measures should we take?"

"Now we can neither offend the United States nor fail to quell the anger of the people, so we can only take it one step at a time."

What he didn't know was that Li Yu was behind all of this, fueling the flames.

Inside the financial command center of Longxing Factory, a middle-aged man wearing glasses reported to Li Yu: "Chief Engineer Li, our liaison in Japan has successfully stirred up public resentment. Anti-M sentiment in Japan is growing stronger, and the government's approval rating has dropped to an all-time low."

Li Yu said, "Continue to intensify our efforts to keep them fighting amongst themselves. At the same time, closely monitor Japan's economic developments, especially its real estate market."

Japan's economy has been gradually heading towards collapse amidst recent turmoil.

The semiconductor industry has been completely paralyzed, with giants such as Sony and Panasonic declaring bankruptcy and a large number of workers losing their jobs.

The real estate market, however, is experiencing a bizarre boom. A large number of unemployed people are investing their remaining savings in real estate, hoping to turn their fortunes around through property speculation.

Businesses are also shifting their funds to the real estate market, hoping to make a fortune.

In addition, the Japanese government has been continuously releasing credit to stimulate the economy, causing housing prices to soar. The average housing price in Tokyo has exceeded 200 million yen per square meter, setting a new historical record.

A real estate agency in Tokyo was packed with frantic homebuyers.

"I'll buy it no matter the price!" roared an unemployed electronics factory worker as he signed the purchase contract, pinning all his hopes on the house.