143: Chapter 143 Taking the Initiative

Su Mingyuan returned to the office building and went up to the third floor.

Pushing open the office door, Su Mingyuan had just sat down—before his backside was even warm—when the encrypted phone on the desk rang.

Glancing at the number, it turned out to be a call from Elder Qin.

He put out his cigarette and answered it.

"Elder Qin."

"Little Su, how is the mecha project progressing?" Elder Qin's voice sounded a bit tired, as if he hadn't slept all night. "Did you encounter any difficulties? Just say the word if you need any Materials."

Su Mingyuan leaned back against his chair, and through the window, he could see that silver-gray figure on the distant apron.

"The progress is very smooth. The first prototype has already been built. We just finished testing it, and all indicators met the standards, with a few even exceeding them."

The other end of the phone was silent for two seconds.

"What did you say? It's built?"

"Yes, Machine No. 1 just finished flight testing, and its condition is perfect." Su Mingyuan leaned against the back of his chair. "At this speed, Machines No. 2, 3... all the way to No. 10 will roll off the production line in another two days."

"Good... Good!"

Elder Qin's voice suddenly rose, and it was easy to tell he was genuinely happy.

"You brat are capable; I thought it would take at least a month."

"With ready-made blueprints and complete Materials, it's just a matter of building according to the plans," Su Mingyuan said. "With the country's top engineers all here, it would be strange if it weren't fast."

"Alright, then I can rest assured."

Elder Qin paused, and his voice sank again.

"However, Little Su, I need to tell you something."

"Please speak, sir."

"Over on the USA's side... they've intensified their blockade against us again." Elder Qin sighed. "This time it's even harsher than last. Not only high-end technical equipment, but even civilian goods are starting to be restricted. They're also dragging their gang of allies into it; countries like Monkey Country, the sticks, and European Young Master are all joining in the chorus."

Su Mingyuan didn't speak.

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is under a lot of pressure," Elder Qin continued. "International public opinion is also not very good. Many countries are sitting on the fence, watching how we will respond. Therefore..."

"So you want me to speed up the progress?"

"Right." Elder Qin sighed. "Our current international situation is not good. The earlier we bring out the mecha, the more confidence we will have. Little Su, can you go any faster?"

Su Mingyuan was silent for two seconds.

"Elder Qin, rest assured about the progress; I will do it as quickly as possible. However..."

"However, what?"

"I think we can take the initiative now."

The other end of the phone fell quiet again.

Su Mingyuan could hear Elder Qin's breathing.

"Take the initiative?" Elder Qin's voice was very cautious. "Little Su, what do you specifically mean?"

"Exactly what it sounds like."

Su Mingyuan stood up and walked to the window.

"Elder Qin, we've bided our time and built up our capabilities for so many years. We've endured what should be endured, and made concessions where we should. But look at how the USA treats us? Each time is harsher than the last, and more outrageous than the last."

"This..."

"The more we back down, the more they think we're easy to bully." Su Mingyuan looked at the mecha outside the window. "But now it's different. We have mechas, and our strength has increased by several Ranks. We can pause our previous low profile appropriately."

Elder Qin didn't speak.

Su Mingyuan continued: "A great man once said—strike one punch to avoid a hundred punches."

"I understand what you mean." Elder Qin pondered for a moment. "But Little Su, the impact of this matter is too huge. The current international situation is complex, and a single misstep..."

"Elder Qin, think about it." Su Mingyuan interrupted him. "Why does the USA dare to blockade us so unscrupulously? Because they think we don't dare to fight back. They think we need their technology and their market, so we can only endure it."

"Isn't that a fact?"

"It used to be." Su Mingyuan turned around. "But not anymore. We have mechas, crystal core energy, and skyfall steel. They don't have a single one of these things. The ones who should be afraid now are them."

There was another silence on the other end of the phone.

Su Mingyuan could imagine Elder Qin's current appearance—sitting behind his desk, brows tightly furrowed, fingers tapping on the tabletop.

"What do you want to do?"

Elder Qin finally spoke.

"We won't actually fight, but we must bare our swords," Su Mingyuan said. "Let them know that our mecha can go wherever it pleases. Let them understand that the current Daxia is no longer the old Daxia that could only take a beating."

"Speak specifically."

"I want Zhang Dabiao to pilot Machine No. 1 and take a stroll outside."

"Where to?"

"Several bases in Japan." Su Mingyuan paused. "It would be best if we could also make a trip to the USA."

The sound of drawing in a sharp breath came from the other end of the phone.

"Little Su, have you lost your mind?"

"I haven't lost my mind, Elder Qin." Su Mingyuan's voice was very calm. "We're just going for a walk, not opening fire, not attacking, just letting them take a look. Let them know that their air defense System is a joke in front of us."

"This..."

"Elder Qin, think about it," Su Mingyuan said. "If our mecha can land on the lawn of the White House, would the USA's president still dare to be this arrogant? Would those countries following the USA's lead still dare to be this unscrupulous?"

Elder Qin was silent for a very long time.

Su Mingyuan could hear the faint sound of page-turning from the other end of the phone; it should be Elder Qin flipping through some documents.

"Little Su."

Elder Qin finally spoke, his voice very low.

"Are you confident?"

"I am."

"What about the mecha's stealth performance? Can it evade their radar?"

"Yes." Su Mingyuan looked at the mecha outside the window. "When the anti-gravity System is activated, it will produce strong electromagnetic interference, and electronic equipment within a ten-kilometer radius will fail. Their radar simply cannot see us."

"What about the flight speed?"

"The highest measured so far is 1500 kilometers per hour, and it can make sudden stops and sharp turns in the air. Even if their fighter jets take off, they won't be able to catch up."

Elder Qin fell silent again.

This silence lasted for a full minute.

Su Mingyuan didn't rush him either, just waiting quietly.

He knew that Elder Qin was weighing the pros and cons.

This decision was too momentous; it concerned the entire country's foreign policy and might even trigger drastic changes in the international situation.

Finally, Elder Qin's voice sounded once more.

"Little Su."

"Please speak."

"I approve it."

Su Mingyuan clenched his fists.

"However—" Elder Qin's voice turned serious, "There are a few conditions."

"State them, I'm listening."

"First, no opening fire, no active attacks, only defensive counterattacks."

"Understood."

"Second, if you encounter an emergency, you must evacuate immediately and not linger in battle."

"Understood."

"Third, this matter must be done brilliantly."

Elder Qin's voice was very solemn.

"Since we are baring our swords, we must let the whole world see. Not only must we go, but we must go clearly and openly, letting them know that we are doing it on purpose, not by mistake or accident."

Su Mingyuan was slightly stunned.

"Elder Qin, you mean..."

"I mean, there's no need to sneak around," Elder Qin said. "Go openly and grandly, return openly and grandly. Let their satellites take as many pictures as they want, and let their media report as much as they want."

"Understood."

"Also." Elder Qin paused. "If possible, bring me back some souvenirs."

Su Mingyuan laughed: "What kind of souvenirs?"

"Whatever." Elder Qin also laughed. "You figure it out yourselves."

"Alright, I understand."

The call hung up.

Su Mingyuan put down the phone and looked at that steel giant outside the window.

Show it to the whole world.

The corners of his mouth curled up.

Alright then, let them look their fill.

He picked up the internal telephone on his desk.

"Send Zhang Dabiao to my office."