53: The spotlight

Upon hearing this, David's determined expression gradually faded, replaced by a somber look as he understood Josh's meaning.

The conflict in Iraq had not yet subsided, and the domestic political and legal environment made it impossible for such news to see the light of day.

Even sensitive topics like the stealth fighter incident only circulated privately within journalist circles; no one dared to make it public.

Not to mention the incident this time.

This was undoubtedly a great humiliation for the United States.

Once exposed, the Central Intelligence Agency would likely come knocking.

By then, he might meet an unfortunate end without knowing why.

Thinking of this, his previously clenched fists slowly relaxed.

Amidst the bustling crowd, representatives from the four major military industrial enterprises were also present.

They wore traditional Chinese tunic suits, standing out among the Western-suited foreign journalists.

But their eyes, like everyone else's, were filled with surprise and disbelief.

Chairman He Biwei still habitually clasped his hands behind his back, his expression serious.

Although he tried to remain calm, his slightly trembling hands betrayed his inner turmoil.

"Wang Qiancheng, with Longhai Military Industrial's current strength, if Xu Ning is truly willing to merge with you..." He paused, "Do you dare to accept?"

Wang Qiancheng licked his dry lips, remaining silent.

The air seemed to freeze, and time in the entire space appeared to slow down.

"Do I... have the qualifications for this..."

The four men lowered their heads in thought.

As leaders in the national defense industry, they understood the importance of this exoskeleton technology to the country better than anyone.

It could not only transform hundreds of thousands of Army soldiers into an unstoppable force, but more importantly, it could solve a long-standing problem.

In the 1990s, India across the Tibetan Plateau had always been a troublesome opponent.

At that time, the transportation conditions in Tibet were backward, and facing India's provocations, logistics became the biggest obstacle.

Marching on the complex terrain of the plateau.

For a soldier carrying thirty kilograms of equipment, even a small hill with a thirty-degree slope could take an hour to climb over.

However, every inch of the country's land is sacred and inviolable, and facing India's challenge, we must overcome difficulties and move forward.

The four major military industrial enterprises were well aware of this but had been unable to find a solution.

And now, the exoskeleton technology developed by Xu Ning will change all of this!

What this means is self-evident.

No high-level official would overlook its value.

With it, we can create a balance of power against India on the plateau.

Xu Ning's technology is undoubtedly a trump card.

"Let's go, there's nothing more to see."

Chairman He Biwei sighed deeply, shook his head, and said, "Impossible, he's definitely faking it. How could he solve a secret that even the Eagle Country couldn't solve so quickly!"

Wang Qiancheng's eyes widened, and he kept muttering to himself. Chairman He Biwei grabbed his collar and asked word by word, "Look at those armed helicopters in the sky, are they fake? Was the anti-aircraft missile that just shot down the Zhi-5 fake?

Did you know about their existence before? That soldier running on the treadmill, even if he was carrying foam, should have collapsed from exhaustion long ago!"

Every word of Chairman He Biwei was like a sharp knife, piercing Wang Qiancheng's heart. Seeing Wang Qiancheng's face turn pale, Chairman He Biwei patted his shoulder and shook his head helplessly, "Stop deceiving yourself, we've completely lost this time."

"But, I still feel fortunate," Chairman He Biwei turned to look at the person on the stage and added, "Because the Rabbit Country has someone like Xu Ning."

The other two military industrial leaders also involuntarily turned to Xu Ning upon hearing this, their faces showing complex expressions.

On the other side, in a conference room in Beijing, the atmosphere was heavy. Everyone's expression was serious, and no one spoke, all waiting silently. Everyone looked at the old man sitting in the main seat, resting with his eyes closed, from time to time.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door, attracting everyone's attention. The door was pushed open, and it was Chen Dongchao, who should have been suspended.

"Xu Lao, what's the matter that you're looking for me in such a hurry?" Chen Dongchao wore his familiar Chinese tunic suit, his expression serious, with a hint of confusion.

The old man called Xu Lao opened his eyes, his gaze deep. His military uniform had golden yellow shoulder boards with red trim and four stars. This was a great general!

"There's no other way. If I don't invite you back, Longhai Military Industrial will make our Rabbit Country the world's number one. By then, I'm afraid the Dog Bear and the Eagle Country will join forces against us."

Just half a day after the exhibition began, Beijing had already grasped all the information about the exhibition. The speed of action was astonishing. However, after hearing this, Xu Lao showed a wry smile.

"What, what?"

Chen Dongchao looked bewildered. He had been resting at home these past few days and had no idea what Xu Ning had done. The person next to him quickly told him what had happened today.

"What, what!"

Chen Dongchao's tone and expression changed significantly. This young man, he told him to be high-profile, but he didn't expect him to be this high-profile! Chen Dongchao couldn't help but complain in his heart, this kid really doesn't give people a moment of peace!

Xu Lao saw all of Chen Dongchao's expression changes and couldn't help but chuckle, "Dongchao, you've really found a treasure this time."

"Tsk tsk, he even managed to come up with high-tech stuff like powered exoskeletons. Guess what? Those old gentlemen from the Academy of Sciences almost got into a fight over him."

Chen Dongchao's face changed unpredictably, like a chameleon.

He was filled with regret. Why did he say that to Xu Ning back then? His original intention was just to hope that Xu Ning could attract the attention of the superiors, but now he had made the entire Longhai Military Industrial the focus of attention.

Considering the complex current international environment, with powerful enemies surrounding them in the north and huge external pressure, if the higher-ups held him accountable, he really didn't know how to protect Xu Ning.

After a long period of contemplation, he finally mustered the courage to ask, "Xu Lao, what do you mean..."

Xu Lao laughed heartily, "Haha, don't worry, Dongchao. How could I let go of such a precious talent? He alone is worth three armored divisions!

Even if I wanted to push him out to take the bullet, those old men from the Academy of Sciences wouldn't agree. I called you here to discuss how to protect him."

Upon hearing this, a weight was lifted from Chen Dongchao's heart. "Then, does Xu Lao have any plans?" he asked cautiously.

"Well, I do have a plan, but it might require you to make some sacrifices..."

Hearing this, Chen Dongchao's heart tightened. This kid, he really screwed me over this time! The next time I see him, I must teach him a good lesson. Of course, he also knew that this was just talk, and when the time came, he really couldn't do it.

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