Love in the Courtyard: Starting with Engineers

With the addition of thermobaric weapons, the situation on the battlefield was instantly reversed. The mortar positions hidden in the dense forest were overturned by the shock wave of the thermobaric weapons, the gun barrels were twisted like pretzel, and the ammunition depots were directly detonated, with flames shooting into the sky.

The Chinese soldiers sounded the charge, trampling over the enemy's corpses, and pursued them all the way, driving the Monkey Kingdom's army back to the border. They even managed to destroy several of their border outposts.

Anderson, far away in the US advisory group's office, was stunned when he saw the devastating battle reports from the front lines. He stared intently at the photos of the collapsed bunkers and the words "new thermobaric weapon" on the report, his fingers trembling as he traced the lines across the paper: "Impossible! This is impossible! How could China possibly have manufactured such a weapon?"

He contacted Wall Street tycoons overnight, hoping to get another batch of equipment to support the monkey country, but received news that plunged him into an ice cave: the power of the thermobaric bomb had already been spread around the world through the lenses of war correspondents.

European arms dealers frantically inquired about the weapon's specifications, Soviet military experts held seminars overnight, and even the US Congress was in an uproar, with members questioning the Ministry of Defense about why China could develop such a revolutionary weapon.

The name of Longxing Factory, along with the fame of thermobaric bombs, resounded in every corner of the world.

Anderson slumped into his chair, the wine glass in his hand crashing to the floor and shattering. Looking out the window at the lights of the Monkey Kingdom's capital, he felt a surge of anger rush to his head. The war he had instigated with his capital had not only failed to destroy Li Yu's alliance, but had instead given the other side an opportunity to make a name for themselves.

"puff--"

A mouthful of blood spurted from Anderson's mouth. He clutched his chest, his eyes wide open, and fell straight backward.

Meanwhile, at Longxing Machinery Factory, Li Yu was looking at the good news coming from the south, a confident smile playing on his lips. He looked up at the distant sky, where an even more vast universe awaited him.

News of the bomb's triumph in southern Xinjiang, accompanied by film and radio waves from war correspondents, swept the globe in just three days.

The gate of Longxing Machinery Factory was almost worn down by the constant footsteps.

The first to approach them was a Soviet military delegation.

The general leading the team, dressed in a crisp military uniform, stared intently at the quietly displayed thermobaric bomb model through the barbed wire fence of the testing ground, his Adam's apple bobbing several times.

"Chief Engineer Li, we are willing to offer three sets of the most advanced heavy-duty machine tools, plus fifty top metallurgical experts, in exchange for the license to use this technology!"

Li Yu, holding an enamel mug, took a sip of hot tea and smiled nonchalantly: "General, we can discuss the technology, but we have one condition: during the cooperation period, your country's Siberian iron ore must be given priority to supply to China, and we want the lowest price."

The Soviet general frowned, then gritted his teeth and nodded. He knew that this thermobaric bomb was virtually ineffective against enemies hiding in fortifications. With it, the Soviet Union's deterrent power in Europe could be raised to a new level, and this price was worth it!

As the news spread, representatives from even more countries flocked to the event.

A neutral European country sent an envoy with a full suitcase of gold and foreign exchange, stating that they were willing to pay an exorbitant price to buy out the technology.

The oil-rich Middle Eastern countries were even more generous, promising that once the technology was acquired, China would have priority in oil supply for the next ten years, and they also brought a large amount of US dollars.

Even some Asian, African and Latin American countries that are on good terms with China sent representatives, their eyes red with tears, to plead for technical support. They had had enough of the weapons blackmail by Western powers and desperately needed such equipment that would allow them to stand tall.

In the reception room of the machinery factory, Li Yu sat in the main seat, with a report of victory from the southern battlefield hanging on the wall behind him. Every word on it became the basis for his negotiations.

"Technology licensing is possible, but there are three principles against it." Li Yu put down the enamel mug, his voice firm and resolute.

"We will not sell to aggressive countries, to forces that interfere in other countries' internal affairs, or to any organization targeting China!"

Upon hearing this, the faces of the several M country agents who had secretly infiltrated the area froze for a moment, and they slunk away with their briefcases in hand.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the ocean, in the White House of the United States, chaos reigns.

Members of Congress slammed their fists on the table and roared, questioning the Department of Defense, "Why did China get the first move? Why are thermobaric weapons still in the lab despite all the military spending we have every year?!"

The Wall Street tycoons were furious. They had spent a fortune to get the military to throw away the weapons and equipment from the monkey country, and Li Yu had even managed to tear open a huge hole in their previously monopolized international arms market.

Anderson was urgently recalled to the United States and sat in the hearing seat, trembling uncontrollably.

On the large screen in front of him, footage of thermobaric bombs destroying a bunker was playing. The host's voice was icy cold: "Mr. Anderson, you colluded with capital to instigate war, threatening to destroy the Longxing Machinery Factory, but now their technology has caused a global sensation. How do you explain this?"

The flashbulbs from the audience were so bright that Anderson couldn't open his eyes.

As he thought of his ambition, the real money he had invested, and Li Yu's confident face, a metallic taste suddenly welled up in his throat.

"puff--"

A mouthful of blood splattered onto the testimony in front of him, Anderson's eyes rolled back, and he collapsed to the ground.

Reporters present swarmed around Anderson, frantically snapping photos as if afraid to miss the moment he breathed his last. Anderson was barely managed to be lifted into an ambulance after being pushed and shoved by several FBI agents, but due to the delay in receiving medical attention, he could not be saved.

Meanwhile, in the warehouse of Beilongxing Machinery Factory, Li Yu was watching a new batch of thermobaric bombs being loaded onto trucks and transported to all parts of the country.

"Chief Engineer! The letters of intent for cooperation from various countries are piled up like a mountain!" The secretary ran over excitedly, the documents in his hands as thick as bricks.

Li Yu looked up through the window at the sky, the sunlight shining on his face, making the light in his eyes particularly dazzling.

Then he said calmly, "Tell them that cooperation is possible, but the technology must be rooted in Chinese soil."

With the outbreak of events in the south, the military threat from the north dissipated, and the frequency of border clashes gradually decreased.

Even when there were minor skirmishes, the harassment on the sea surface continued unabated. With Li Yu's repeated technological breakthroughs, the navy also took notice of his skills.

They planned to go to Longxing Machinery Factory to ask Li Yu if he had the ability to develop a naval fleet.