When I went home for Chinese New Year, I spent a million times more money on my foreign wife.

Chapter 180 A Net of Heaven and Earth, Guardians of the Nation

Beijing, Zhongbeihai.

The conference room door opened from the inside, and Director Li walked out carrying a thermos cup, his expression three times more somber than when he went in.

The secretary came forward.

"Minister Li, what do you mean?"

Li Bu didn't reply and walked straight towards the elevator.

"Notify the military region to activate the 'Northern Sword' exercise contingency plan."

The secretary paused for a moment.

"Now?"

"Yes, now."

Director Li pressed the elevator button and glanced back at the tightly closed conference room door.

"That person just made the decision: the security level for Comrade Chen Yang's wedding will be raised to the highest level."

The secretary swallowed hard.

"Guest list..."

"See for yourself."

Li handed over the tablet.

The secretary took it, swiped her finger across the screen twice, and her pupils suddenly contracted.

The heads of the world's top 30 conglomerates, representatives of major countries, current or former heads of state of seven small and medium-sized countries, heirs of the three major royal families in the Middle East, and de facto controllers of five centuries-old European families.

There's also a special note—the "Great Emperor" from Russia has been confirmed to attend.

The secretary's hands began to tremble.

"Minister Li, what if something goes wrong..."

"I can't afford it."

Li interrupted him.

"If this wedding goes wrong, the global economy will regress by at least twenty years. China's international credibility will drop to zero."

The elevator doors opened.

Li walked in and pressed the button for the basement level.

"So, as someone said, Comrade Chen Yang handed over the controlled nuclear fusion technology free of charge, making him an absolute hero of China's rejuvenation. The security for this wedding must be absolutely foolproof."

The elevator doors closed.

The secretary stood there, staring at the tablet in her hands, sweat beading on her forehead.

---

Three hours later.

Northern Military Region Command Center.

A huge electronic sand table occupied an entire wall, magnifying the terrain of Kaoshantun so that every mountain ridge was clearly visible.

The chief of staff stood in front of the sand table, using a laser pointer to draw a circle with a radius of one hundred kilometers on the map.

"The no-fly zone begins here."

The laser pointer was moved to the outside.

"Air defense missile regiment, deployed at these three locations. HQ series, latest model."

The dozen or so people sitting in the conference room all had at least two bars and three stars on their shoulder insignia.

The lieutenant general in the front row spoke.

"What about the early warning aircraft?"

"It's all been coordinated. Three KJ-500 airborne early warning and control aircraft will be on duty in shifts 24 hours a day."

The Chief of Staff switched to another image.

"On the ground, the Black Kite Group will cooperate with our operation. They have forty stealth drones, and the data links have already been established."

The lieutenant general nodded.

What about security inside the Snow Palace?

"The Central North Sea Guard dispatched two small teams, plus 80 people in the core area of Black Kite, and 500 people in the outer area."

The chief of staff paused.

"In addition, Comrade Chen Yang himself requested that the Black Kite be responsible for the perimeter cleanup work, while we are only responsible for aerial and long-range fire support."

The lieutenant general frowned.

"He doesn't trust us?"

"no."

The chief of staff shook his head.

"He was afraid of getting the soldiers' hands dirty."

The meeting room was silent for two seconds.

The lieutenant general leaned back in his chair.

"Then let's do as he says. We'll only provide intelligence support to the Black Kite people."

"Yes."

The chief of staff turned off the projector.

"There's one more thing. We received news from Director Li that foreign intelligence agencies have been frequently active near the border recently. Preliminary assessments suggest that agents from at least three countries are testing our reaction."

The lieutenant general's eyes turned cold.

"Instruct border guards to increase patrols and, upon discovering suspicious targets, to detain them immediately."

"clear."

---

Snow Palace Territory, Villa in the Back Mountain.

Chen Yang stood on the terrace, holding a glass of red wine in his hand.

On the distant mountain ridge, the edges of several camouflage nets can be vaguely seen.

Lei Zi walked up from behind.

"Boss, there are a few cunning foreign vipers trying to infiltrate and scout the area."

Chen Yang didn't turn around, but gently swirled his wine glass.

"Has it been dealt with?"

"Not yet, we're waiting for your instructions."

Chen Yang took a sip of wine.

"Have the Black Kite Action Group cooperate with the Internal Security to clean up the area thoroughly, and don't let a single drop of blood taint the path to the Snow Palace."

Lei Zi nodded.

"clear."

He turned to leave, but Chen Yang spoke again.

"Lei Zi."

"exist."

"On the wedding day, you and your men will guard the perimeter of the villa. No one is allowed to approach without an invitation."

Lei Zi straightened his back even more.

"Yes."

He went inside, took out his encrypted phone, and dialed a number.

"Action team, target confirmed, coordinates sent to you. Remember, be clean and efficient, leave no trace."

A brief response came from the other end of the phone.

"receive."

---

Inside the villa.

Katyusha stood in front of a three-meter-high mirror in front of the floor-to-ceiling window.

She wore a wedding dress adorned with three thousand diamonds and aurora pearls, the skirt of which spread out on the ground like an icy blue sea.

A dozen designers surrounded her, some adjusting the pleats of the skirt, others checking the embroidery on the shoulders.

The chief designer squatted on the ground, measuring the distance between the hem of the skirt and the ground with a ruler.

"If it were half a centimeter shorter, I wouldn't step on it while walking."

The assistant immediately picked up the needle and thread.

Katyusha didn't move, her gaze passing through the floor-to-ceiling window to Chen Yang on the terrace.

He had his back to her, and the lines of his shoulders were particularly clear in the setting sun.

A faint smile curved the corners of her lips.

Chen Yue came down the stairs, holding a tablet in her hand.

"Sister-in-law, the final adjustments to the wedding dress will be completed today. It will be stored away starting tomorrow and will only be taken out on the wedding day."

Katyusha looked away.

"Where's the invitation?"

"They've all been sent out; the guests will arrive in a few days."

Chen Yue swiped open a picture on the tablet.

She walked to the French windows, pushed open the door, and stepped onto the terrace.

Chen Yang heard footsteps and turned around.

Katyusha stood beside him, her hand resting on his slightly protruding belly.

"How are things going with things outside?"

Chen Yang placed the wine glass on the railing.

"The military region has already activated its exercise plan, and the air defense missile regiment will be deployed to the outer mountain range tonight."

He paused.

"Black Kite's men are also clearing out the smaller fry on the periphery."

Katyusha didn't speak, her gaze fixed on the distant mountain ridge.

The camouflage nets were almost invisible in the setting sun, but she knew that beneath them lay firepower powerful enough to tear the sky apart.

She turned her head and looked at Chen Yang.

Do you think anyone would be so blind?

A faint smile appeared on Chen Yang's lips.

"have."

He reached out and put his arm around her waist.

"But they won't have a chance to get close to you."

Katyusha didn't say anything more and rested her head on his shoulder.

Inside the floor-to-ceiling window, Chen Yue stood in front of the mirror, looking at the two people outside.