139: Chapter 139 Settling Accounts After the Autumn Harvest

Chu Ge planned to return to Yanjing today. Li Gang and his team had basically finished the equipment testing. The electromagnetic pulse railgun had passed inspection and would be sent directly to the arsenal, where they would be used as samples to calibrate products of the same type.

The critical technical data needed to be submitted to the Equipment Department after Li Gang returned. Then, the Equipment Department would coordinate, research, and formulate plans based on actual needs, before issuing technical documents and production tasks.

After all, some technologies could be transplanted; for example, this railgun could be directly transplanted onto naval warships.

Chu Ge didn't pay much attention to these procedures and left everything entirely to Li Gang and his team to handle.

At Li Gang's strong request, Chu Ge and the others stayed an extra hour, the purpose being to let Li Gang and his team rekindle their old flame with the "Soul Blade."

They had been here for several days but hadn't had the time to go and properly visit this old friend, especially after learning about the "Soul Blade"'s heroic feat yesterday, which made them feel even more "deeply affectionate" toward it.

Chu Ge didn't stop them. It was a small, reasonable request, so he just let them go. In fact, even if they stayed another day, he wouldn't have refused. Li Gang and his team had been under a lot of tension recently and needed this opportunity to relax.

While Chu Ge and his team were still in flight, a brief official news report from China aroused the interest of many professionals.

"During our country's recent aerial exercises with Russia and G Istanbul, an air-to-ground missile on a certain model of fighter jet from G suddenly went out of control. After much effort, no major losses were caused. Subsequent professional testing by the G side indicated that the incident was caused by a combination of factors, including a malfunction in the fighter's main computer system and the sudden loss of the missile's GPS signal. After the danger was averted, the exercise was successfully concluded!"

"GPS is truly trash. A missile can lose its signal too? Damn, does that mean in future wars, both sides will have to test if the signal is stable first? Haha."

"Sorry, Brother ***, the signal is bad today. Let's pause throwing missiles at each other for a day and switch to bayonet charges instead, okay? Brother ***: Yoshi."

"Fortunately, fortunately, we in Russia have our own satellite navigation system, GLONASS."

"Fortunately, fortunately, we in Europe also have our own satellite navigation system, the Galileo satellite navigation system."

"Fortunately, fortunately, we in China also have our own satellite navigation system, the Beidou satellite navigation system."

"Wow, I'm officially envious, yet we in the island nation still have to use this unreliable GPS navigation."

"By the way, it seems like something is missing from the comments today? Where did the Universe's Number One Kimchi Country and the World's Number One Curry Country go?"

"Haha, they probably can't brag about this, so they went to brag somewhere else!"

"Makes sense."

"At this time, could this out-of-control air-to-ground missile be the same one that the Mecha Warrior withstood yesterday?"

Some observant netizens compared the timelines and raised their questions.

"It really is. If you think about it carefully, it's actually possible. Yesterday, a netizen even said that wasn't special effects, but looked more like real footage."

"This is really hard to judge. Nowadays, CG special effects production is already very powerful in terms of background rendering and character rendering. Unless you use a live broadcast format—that kind of real-time rendering technology is far from reaching the level of this kind of post-production—only then would it shut those people's mouths."

"Haha, I'm just afraid they wouldn't dare to live stream it, because once they do, the truth will come out."

"If I remember correctly, the G country's F-16 is an early C/D version, right? It's indeed old enough, and system failures are also related to daily maintenance."

Just as netizens from various countries were heatedly discussing this short news item, major world news media outlets also successively reposted the news. For a time, news was flying everywhere on new media sites and portals of all sizes.

The front pages of the next day's newspapers were also filled with reports about the out-of-control missile. However, these reports, as always, carried their own biases—some were conspiracy theories, some were echoing the narrative, and of course, there were also neutral reports.

John Wilson only saw this report the next day. As he was drinking coffee, his eyes suddenly froze. He didn't expect this news to be exposed just like that, and for a moment, he didn't know how to analyze China's intentions.

The phone on his desk rang at the right moment. John hurriedly picked it up. He could guess who it was with his toes at this hour.

In Rodriguez's office, the Director was looking at the newspaper. He put it down after a long while, staring at John Wilson.

"Have you read this morning's newspaper?"

"Yes, Director."

"What do you think?"

Rodriguez stood up, lit a cigarette, turned, and walked to the window, looking at the bridge on the riverbank outside.

"Using this as an excuse to make a fuss, suppressing the F-16 and our navigation system, and seizing the arms market and satellite navigation market?"

John said tentatively.

"That's just superficial talk. Our main profit point for fighter jets at this stage is the F-35. As for the navigation system, they won't be able to shake this big tree for a while."

"Then, what does this mean?"

John Wilson actually knew the Director was right, but his thoughts were in chaos right now, and he couldn't clear his head at all.

"Have you ever thought about what role G Istanbul played in this?"

"Director, you mean..." John Wilson suddenly realized something.

"In the past, I wouldn't say they were on our side, but at least they remained neutral. But now, I'm afraid they have completely defected to the other side, right?"

"Also, intelligence from G Istanbul has already been transmitted. The so-called military exercise was just a front. They and Russia are actually just promoting their own fighter jets. What's even more hateful is that they used our F-16 as a stepping stone!"

Rodriguez said this and stubbed out his cigarette butt fiercely.

"Then, Director, should we take this opportunity to sanction and warn G Istanbul?"

"We must definitely warn them, otherwise other countries will follow G's example and treat our words as wind in their ears. Where would our authority be? However, not now. This matter will only get messier if we address it now. It won't be too late to settle scores with them after the storm passes."

"Yes, Director."

Rodriguez nodded, then picked up a folder from the table and handed it to John Wilson.

"Put the matter of their exercise aside for now. There is something more important waiting for you to do. This is a list we have compiled. The countries on it are currently in contact with China, and their goal is the same: nuclear fusion reactors."

"I want you to find out as quickly as possible the progress of these countries regarding this contract. We need to formulate some targeted strategies."

"Okay, Director. Regarding this nuclear fusion reactor, we..."

"We? John, you don't think we would accept those absurd conditions of theirs, do you? If we did, the United States would truly become the laughingstock of the whole world."

"No, no. If there's nothing else, I'll head back."

"Hmm."

Rodriguez looked at John Wilson's back with disdain, thinking to himself: Did this old fox not take his medicine before leaving the house today? Or has he been dizzy from China's several rounds of combo punches?

It seems it's time to consider a new person for the head of this East Asia intelligence system.