Rebirth in the Dragon Kingdom: The Strongest Blade

The plane flew through the clouds; the cabin was quiet except for the low rumble of the engines.

The twelve members of the Submarine Corps who accompanied them closed their eyes to rest, but each of them remained highly vigilant—even though the war was over and even though the United States had surrendered, they would not relax in the slightest.

Lin Zhe held an encrypted document in his hand, a post-war assessment report that had just arrived from China. He carefully read through every piece of data:

"The amount of compensation from Country J has been confirmed: 80 billion US dollars, to be paid in ten installments. The first tranche of 8 billion US dollars has already been received."

"Country X has opened three military bases for our army to be permanently stationed, and the troop stationing agreement has been signed."

"Progress of the disbandment of the R country's military: the army is 80% complete, the navy is 90% complete, and the air force is 85% complete. Our country's garrison has reached 150,000 personnel, and we have taken over all important military facilities."

"The withdrawal of US overseas bases is progressing as follows: Asia is complete, Europe is 60% complete, and the Middle East is 40% complete. The nuclear weapons destruction monitoring team will remain in the country for another three months to ensure the completeness of the destruction process."

The report concluded with a confidential appendix—the progress of the second phase of "Project Star":

"The main structure of the space carrier 'Kunpeng' has been completed, and it will conduct its first orbital test next month."

"Preliminary exploration work for the lunar base has begun, and the first batch of unmanned probes has been launched."

"The quantum communication network has achieved global coverage, and its information security level has reached 'Top Secret+'."

Lin Zhe closed the file, leaned back in his chair, and closed his eyes.

Three months later, everything settled down.

During those three months, he personally oversaw the reshuffling of the United States, watching as this former world superpower gradually shed its fangs. He witnessed the humiliation and resentment of the US leadership, the fear and confusion of ordinary people, and the reflection and clarity of a few insightful individuals.

But he remained calm and steadfast throughout.

Because he knew that mercy was not leniency towards the enemy, but cruelty towards one's own people. This battle had to be fought thoroughly and completely, so that the enemy would not dare to have any disloyal thoughts for fifty years.

"Sir, we'll arrive in Beijing in two hours," the accompanying staff officer reported softly.

Lin Zhe opened his eyes and nodded: "Notify the ground to prepare for the briefing meeting."

"Yes."

Two hours later, the special plane landed smoothly at Jinghua International Airport.

When the cabin door opened and Lin Zhe stepped out of the cabin, the scene before him made him slightly stunned.

The airport runway was lined with people.

It wasn't an honor guard, nor a welcoming party, but... ordinary people.

They stood there quietly, holding flowers in their hands. When Lin Zhe appeared at the top of the gangway, thunderous applause and cheers erupted from the crowd.

Welcome home!

"General Lin, you've worked hard!"

"Long live the Dragon Kingdom!"

At the front of the crowd, Liu Zhenguo, Zhao Tiesheng, and others personally greeted them. Behind them were the commanders of the major war zones, leaders of various ministries and commissions, and almost all of the top military and political figures of the Dragon Kingdom were present.

Lin Zhe stepped down the gangway, stood at attention, and saluted.

Liu Zhenguo stepped forward and firmly grasped his hand: "Lin Zhe, welcome home! The whole nation is waiting for you!"

"Commander, this is too grand..." Lin Zhe said with some emotion.

"Solemn? Not at all!" Zhao Tiesheng patted his shoulder. "Do you know what the situation was like back home while you were in the US for those three months? The news was reporting on your schedule every day, and the entire nation was concerned about your safety. You are not only our general, but a hero of the entire nation!"

The welcoming ceremony at the airport was brief but warm. Lin Zhe shook hands with each of the welcoming leaders, and then left the airport under the escort of a security vehicle.

Along the way, the streets of Jinghua were lined with people who had come spontaneously to welcome him. They waved national flags, shouted Lin Zhe's name, and their faces were filled with pride and excitement.

"Look! It's General Lin's convoy!"

"General Lin is back!"

"Heroes! Our heroes!"

A mother, holding her young child, pointed to the convoy and said, "Baby, remember that man. It was him who made our country no longer afraid of being bullied."

The child seemed to understand, but still nodded vigorously.

Sitting in the car, Lin Zhe looked at the enthusiastic faces outside the window, and a mix of emotions welled up in his heart.

Several years ago, he led the Qianlong Squadron on a top-secret mission overseas. At that time, he was protecting national secrets.

Now, he is a general who has gained national attention and is a household name as a hero.

The responsibility has become even heavier.

But he wasn't afraid.

Because he knew that behind him was this country, and these people.

The convoy entered the Central Military Commission compound and headed directly to Conference Room No. 1.

A post-war debriefing and future planning meeting is being held here.

When Lin Zhe entered the conference room, all the attendees stood up and gave him a long round of applause.

At the head of the conference table, the commander smiled and gestured for him to sit down: "Comrade Lin Zhe, you've worked hard. Please rest for a bit before we begin."

"Commander, I'm not tired." Lin Zhe sat up straight. "Let's begin."

The meeting lasted three hours.

Each department reported on the progress of its post-war work:

The Foreign Minister reported on the international response: "Currently, 165 out of 187 countries worldwide have sent congratulatory messages, recognizing China's leading role in international affairs. Of the remaining 22 countries, apart from the United States and a few of its staunch allies, the rest have indicated that they will adjust their foreign policies in the near future."

The Minister of National Defense reported on military development: "Based on the new situation after the war, we plan to complete the modernization of the entire military's equipment within five years. Projects such as the new generation 'Mighty Dragon-30' stealth fighter, the 'Longyuan-2' nuclear submarine, and the 'Sky Sword-2' aerospace fighter have all been launched."

The Minister of Science and Technology reported on the research progress: "The second phase of the 'Starry Sky Project' is progressing smoothly. In addition to the space-based carrier, we have also launched ten major projects, including the Mars exploration program, the construction of a deep-sea base, and the research and development of quantum computers."

The Minister of Economic Affairs reported on the post-war economy: "Although the war was short, it had a significant stimulating effect on our economy. The military industry has undergone a comprehensive upgrade, driving the development of industries such as high-end manufacturing, new materials, and artificial intelligence. The GDP growth rate is expected to reach 15% this year."

Every report was inspiring.

Finally, it was Lin Zhe's turn.

"Comrade Lin Zhe," the commander-in-chief looked at him, "you are the overall commander of this war and also the person in charge of post-war management. What are your thoughts? What are your plans for the future?"

The meeting room fell silent, and everyone looked at Lin Zhe.

Lin Zhe stood up and walked to the large screen at the front of the conference room. He pulled up a world map, but not a current map; instead, it was a map from fifty years in the future.

On the map, the territory of the Dragon Kingdom remains unchanged, but its influence extends globally. In space, there are the Dragon Kingdom's space stations, lunar bases, and Martian outposts. In the oceans, there are the Dragon Kingdom's deep-sea research stations and floating cities. On land, the Dragon Kingdom's railways, highways, and power grids connect the entire globe.

"Comrades and comrades," Lin Zhe's voice was calm and firm, "the war is over, but our cause has just begun."

"In this battle, we won peace, we won dignity, and we won space for development. But that's not enough."

He switched screens to display a panoramic view of "Project Star":

"We need to accomplish three major goals in the next fifty years."

"First, establish the foundation for a space civilization. By 2035, build a permanent lunar base; by 2050, build a Mars colonization outpost; and by the end of this century, achieve routine travel within the solar system."

"Second, we must build a global community with a shared future. This is not about hegemony or colonization, but about leading all of humanity to common development through technology sharing, economic cooperation, and cultural exchange. We want every country and every nation to enjoy the benefits of technological progress."

"Third, to achieve the upgrade of human civilization. From the current industrial civilization to an intelligent civilization and a space civilization. To solve energy problems, environmental problems, disease problems, life expectancy problems... and truly allow humanity to enter the 'post-scarcity era'."

He paused, his gaze sweeping across the entire room:

"I know these goals sound ambitious, even somewhat unrealistic. But think about it: a few years ago, could anyone have imagined we'd be sitting here today, discussing how to deal with Country M? Could anyone have imagined we could end a four-nation war in an hour?"

"Times have changed. The era of technological explosion has arrived. And our Dragon Kingdom is standing at the forefront of this era."

"This is not pride, it's responsibility. We have the best technology, the most united people, and the most brilliant leadership. If we don't lead humanity forward, who will?"

The meeting room was completely silent.

A few seconds later, the commander-in-chief was the first to applaud.

Then, thunderous applause filled the conference room.

"Well said!" the commander exclaimed excitedly. "This is the responsibility of a great power! This is the leadership of civilization!"

Liu Zhenguo exclaimed, "Lin Zhe, you are not only a general, but also a strategist and a thinker."

"How long will these plans take?" someone asked.

"Fifty years," Lin Zhe said, "It will require the efforts of several generations. But as long as we are on the right track and remain steadfast, we will definitely achieve it."

Are you confident?

Lin Zhe looked out the window at the sky, where the stars were just beginning to appear.

"I have confidence. Because I know we are on the right path. This path was paved with the blood of our ancestors, it has been pioneered by our generation with our wisdom, and the next generation will prove it with glory."

The meeting concluded in a spirited atmosphere.

That evening, Lin Zhe returned to the Qianlong Base.

Everything remains the same here. Team members are practicing extra on the training field, and technicians are working overtime in the laboratory. The war is over, but Qianlong has not let its guard down—because they know that peace needs an even stronger force to protect it.

In Lin Zhe's office, seven core team members, including Longya, Longzhao, and Longying, had been waiting for a long time.

"Team Leader Lin!" All seven men stood at attention and saluted simultaneously.

Lin Zhe returned the greeting and gestured for everyone to sit down: "Thank you all for your hard work during this time."

"It wasn't hard work at all!" Longya said excitedly. "Captain Lin, when you were in the US, we watched the news every day. The way those Americans looked at you... hahaha, it was so satisfying!"

"By the way, Captain Lin," Dragon Claw asked, "what's our next mission?"

Lin Zhe looked at the seven people and slowly said, "The task ahead... is even more arduous."

He took out a project plan from the filing cabinet, the cover of which read: "Qianlong 2.0 - Construction Plan for Space Special Operations Forces".

"Space... special forces?" Long Ying's eyes lit up.

"Yes." Lin Zhe opened the plan. "As Project Star advances, our battlefield will expand to space, the moon, and even further. We need a force capable of adapting to various extreme environments and carrying out special missions."

"Existing members of the Qianlong crew will serve as seed instructors, selecting and training the next generation of space warriors. Training will include: zero-gravity environment operations, lunar surface operations, space vehicle piloting, and survival in extraterrestrial environments..."

The seven people were filled with excitement.

"That's awesome!" Dragon Thorn clenched his fist. "Captain Lin, I want to be in the first batch!"

"Me too!"

"Me too!"

Lin Zhe smiled: "Don't rush, everyone has to participate. But before that, you have one more task—"

He pulled up a list: "These are the 'covert agents' that need to be cleared out after the war. Although the United States surrendered, their intelligence network, which they have established around the world over the decades, is still active. Some of these extremists may take retaliatory actions."

"Your mission is to eliminate these threats within three months."

"Remember, be clean, be thorough."

The seven men stood up and said in unison, "We guarantee to complete the mission!"

Late at night.

Lin Zhe stood alone on the rooftop of the base, gazing up at the starry sky.

The Milky Way stretches like a ribbon, and the stars are as numerous as the sea.

He thought of his past life, an era when he was still struggling to catch up and constantly at the mercy of others. He thought of his comrades who sacrificed themselves for the country in obscurity, and of the scientists who poured their hearts and souls into their work but saw no results.

"My predecessors," he said softly, "you can rest in peace now. In this life, we have succeeded."

Lin Zhe knew that the real challenge had only just begun.

Safeguarding peace is harder than winning a war.

Leading civilization is more meaningful than conquering enemies.

But he was confident.

Because he is not a person.

Behind him is a powerful nation, a united people, and comrades who fight tirelessly.

And also, that heart that always faces the light.

My phone vibrated; a message popped up:

"Lin Zhe, there's a National Day military parade rehearsal tomorrow morning at 9:00 AM. As the chief instructor of the three services, you need to be present to provide guidance. — Liu Zhenguo"

Lin Zhe replied: "Received."

He put away his phone, took one last look at the starry sky, and turned to go downstairs.

Tomorrow will be another new day.

And the future of the Dragon Kingdom is like the starry sky of this summer night—

Brilliant, vast, and full of infinite possibilities.