164: Chapter 164 Steel Descends from the Sky! A Defense Line Built in Three Hours!

Night fell, and the temperature in the Bir Tawil desert plummeted.

However, in the temporary camp at the "Ironforge" gold mine, the scene was one of bustling activity.

Dozens of high-powered searchlights illuminated the drop zone as if it were daytime, and the soldiers of the First Company of the National Defense Force, under the command of He Jun, were busily and methodically processing the "gift packages" that had fallen from the sky.

The spectacular airdrop at dusk had completely stunned everyone present.

A formation of five Y-20 transport aircraft swept over the camp at an extremely low altitude, their massive cargo bay doors opening in sequence to precision-drop engineering vehicles and heavy reinforced concrete modules—each bundled with special reinforcement frames and multiple heavy-duty parachutes—like dice thrown by God into the designated area.

The ground shook violently, as if a minor earthquake had occurred.

Just when everyone thought the airdrop was over, they noticed one Y-20 still circling in the sky.

After confirming that all supplies had landed safely, a dozen smaller parachute canopies drifted out of that transport plane's cabin.

"It's the engineering experts!" The voice of Colonel Zhou Zheng came through He Jun's walkie-talkie. "We've arrived, get ready to work!"

The engineering experts from the Chinese military advisory group, led by Colonel Zhou Zheng, had parachuted in along with these "big guys." They didn't even have time to unbuckle their parachute gear after landing before they quickly assembled.

Zhou Zheng walked briskly to He Jun and offered a military salute: "Engineering detachment of the Chinese military advisory group, Colonel Zhou Zheng, reporting for support! This is the overall construction blueprint and material list for the 'Great Wall' system. We will be responsible for technical guidance from here on out. We will conduct mixed operations and strive to complete the main project before dawn!"

He Jun returned the salute firmly, his eyes full of excitement: "Company Commander of the First Company of the National Defense Force, He Jun! Welcome, Comrade Colonel! All personnel are awaiting your command!"

Led by Colonel Zhou Zheng and the engineering experts, all soldiers and experts immediately formed mixed groups and headed to the position area, ready to assemble the real "Great Wall"!

"This is the 'Great Wall' system," Colonel Zhou Zheng said, pointing to the reinforced concrete prefabricated parts, which were half a meter thick and featured pre-reserved firing ports and tenon joints, as he introduced them to He Jun and his soldiers. "Modular field permanent fortifications, integrating living, command, medical, and storage functions. As long as there is hoisting equipment, a one-kilometer-long defense line capable of withstanding a direct hit from 152mm howitzers can be built in three hours."

The soldiers drove the engineering vehicles that had been airdropped along with them, hoisting the heavy modules and piecing them together as precisely as a mortise and tenon structure.

For the underground command post and tunnels that needed to be constructed, the engineers brought out directional blasting devices—specialized equipment prepared for Gobi terrain.

With a few muffled explosions, the hard ground was precisely blasted into several foundation pits that met the required depth and shape, creating the conditions for the rapid embedding of the underground structures. The entire construction site was filled with the sound of metal colliding, the roar of engines, and the shouts of the soldiers.

In just a few hours, a field camp containing dormitories, a canteen, a command room, a medical station, and an ammunition depot sprang up from the ground; and on its periphery, a winding steel defense line featuring multiple bunkers, machine-gun nests, anti-tank missile launch positions, and underground tunnels had fully taken shape in the darkness before dawn.

It looked like a gray giant dragon, crouching on the perimeter of the "Ironforge" gold mine, the cold concrete gleaming with a grim light under the searchlights. Every soldier who participated in the construction looked at the masterpiece before them with an almost pilgrimage-like gaze.

"With this, even if a regiment comes, they won't be able to easily cross here!" Mark Smith muttered to himself, stroking the cold wall.

Meanwhile, thousands of kilometers away in Langley, USA, the CIA's satellite imagery analysis center was also brightly lit.

Analysts stared intently at the before-and-after satellite images on their screens, their faces filled with shock.

A few hours ago, this place was still a barren wasteland, but now, a fully structured, modern military fortress had appeared.

"God... is this the industrial strength of the East today?"

"Signal source confirmed, it's the Chinese 'Y-20' fleet. They airdropped at least 1,500 tons of supplies and equipment in one go. This is a saturation exercise of the strategic transport force."

The group looked at the report and fell into silence.

After a while, an analyst broke the silence.

"What do we do now? Should we tell the Sudanese who are eating sand at the border? They might not have a good end if they run into this head-on."

After a long time, a senior official slowly spoke: "We need to stay quiet for now. Whether the Sudanese succeed or not, we have something to gain. If they fail, we can take advantage of the situation to intervene in Sudan's oil interests; if they succeed, not only can we disgust the Chinese, but we might even have a chance to get our hands on that gold mine."

"Besides, the East (China) has already expressed 'concern' about this matter through diplomatic channels. We don't need to stimulate their nerves for such a small matter for the time being. Just stay silent and watch these two small countries tear each other apart."

"Moreover, the Sudanese still have their own advantages. Their firepower projection distance is far stronger than the opponent's. The other side doesn't have any artillery groups; right now, it's just some individual equipment. No matter how sophisticated, it cannot survive under artillery coverage."

Just as the construction miracle at "Ironforge" caused undercurrents to surge in the world, a communications soldier ran into the newly built underground command post with a nervous expression.

"Report, Grand Marshal! Urgent telegram from the Lord!"

The video communication connected, and the slightly tired but extremely serious faces of Qin Yue and Lin Zhou appeared on the screen.

"He Jun, just received news." Qin Yue's voice carried a hint of urgency. "The Sudanese parliament has just passed a bill on the sovereignty of Bir Tawil by an overwhelming majority. They... have issued an ultimatum to us."

"What is the content of the ultimatum?" Lin Zhou's voice came from the office in Beijing, exceptionally calm.

Qin Yue took a deep breath and read: "...demanding that the Cyber Freedom Republic withdraw all personnel from the 'inseparable territory of the Republic of Sudan' within 72 hours. Otherwise, the Sudan People's Liberation Army will take all necessary measures to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity."

The command post fell into a deathly silence.

Everyone knew that this meant the countdown to war had officially begun.