108: Return home in triumph!

October 8th.

The cold winds of Siberia still howled in their ears, but the border of the Dragon Country was already in sight.

As 12,000 soldiers from the Heavy Combined Arms Brigade, Light Combined Arms Brigade, and Army Aviation Brigade marched across the border, the morning sun pierced through the clouds, bathing this iron-blooded army in golden light.

"We're back!"

Peng Lin stepped onto the soil of his homeland, feeling an unprecedented sense of security.

"The air back home is so much more comfortable to breathe!"

Army Commander Sun Yi walked side-by-side with Peng Lin, expressing the same sentiment.

Although this live-fire military exercise against the Bear Empire only lasted a few days, it felt like ages had passed for everyone involved.

Peng Lin did not argue with the Bear Country's Ministry of Defense about the outcome of the war; instead, after the exercise, he immediately led the 12,000 soldiers back to their home country!

The Dragon Country soldiers had already proven their combat effectiveness with their real achievements!

They could proudly stand tall and declare: they fought for their homeland until the very last moment!

Even when ultimately hit by tactical nuclear warheads, the more than 2,000 surviving soldiers still reorganized their firepower network, relying on the 79A tank cluster to wipe out the remnants of the Bear's Central Assault Group and more than half of its elite Airborne Division!

This battle had already been etched into the history of the Dragon Country's army!

It was believed that the militaries of various countries around the world would soon be re-evaluating this battle between the Dragon Country and the Bear military!

"Marshal Xu?"

Peng Lin led the returning soldiers, only to see a familiar face on the Dragon Country's side of the border.

Marshal Xu Yong'an, along with the Army Commander-in-Chief and a group of other high-ranking generals, stood solemnly in front of the border outpost, his strong hands clenched into fists, tears welling in his eyes.

"Comrades, you've worked hard!"

Marshal Xu's voice was hoarse yet resonant. He personally pinned a large red flower, symbolizing victory, onto the first soldier. The crimson ribbon fluttered in the morning breeze, like a burning torch.

Afterward, every welcoming general bent down to straighten the soldiers' uniforms, their rough fingers brushing over their chapped faces and worn-out uniforms!

The young soldiers stood tall, their chapped lips pressed into a thin line, their eyes filled with determination!

"Children, you are all heroes of the nation!"

"The nation and its people are proud of you!"

Marshal Xu Yong'an spoke to the many soldiers with deep emotion.

The entire process of the Red-Blue confrontation exercise had already been relayed back to the country by the Dragon Country's embassy in the Bear Empire.

The news of the Bear's simulated tactical nuclear strike against the Dragon Country's army, and the complete "sacrifice" of all Dragon Country troops sent to the Bear for the exercise, with every soldier fighting to the last moment, deeply shook the Dragon Country's military and high-level officials!

These children, around twenty years old, were protecting their motherland with their flesh and blood, and how could the motherland not feel for her children!

How could she not understand the grievances they suffered abroad!

Therefore, Minister Zheng personally entrusted Marshal Xu Yong'an to lead all high-ranking generals from the Army General Staff Department to welcome these soldiers home!

They were to be welcomed with the honors due to heroes and meritorious individuals!

On the train platform, the whistle blew long and loud.

The soldiers boarded the special train bound for the capital, their tired yet proud faces reflected in the windows.

As the train passed each small station, the tracksides were already crowded with people who had heard the news.

Station workers beat gongs and drums, and the sound of suona pierced the sky!

Farm women, carrying bamboo baskets, handed hot eggs and steamed buns into the soldiers' hands!

Every inch of land along the way was boiling with excitement for these sons who had forged victory with their flesh and blood.

The common people did not know that these soldiers had "fiercely battled" the powerful Bear steel torrent that attempted to intimidate the Dragon Country with force!

Nor did they know that these soldiers had already "sacrificed" once to protect all of them!

But they did know that the people's army is loved by the people, and that these were soldiers and heroes who fought for their country!

Inside the carriage, Peng Lin gazed at the continuous green mountains outside the window, the low sound of the soldiers' military songs in his ears.

Some caressed the red flowers on their chests, while others silently watched the receding border.

There, the roar of 79A tanks, the shriek of attack helicopters, and the hoarse bugle call after the nuclear explosion once echoed.

"Brothers, this was a beautiful fight!"

"I'll teach everyone a new song; let's all sing it together!"

Listening to the soldiers' low military songs, Peng Lin couldn't help but go to the back of the carriage and say.

Then, he clapped his hands, found the tune, and taught everyone to sing:

"In the vast sea of people, which one am I? In the surging waves, which one am I? In the great army conquering the universe, I am the one who silently dedicates. In the long river of a glorious cause, I am the one who forever surges!"

"You don't need to know me, I don't long for you to know me. I melt my youth, melt it into the rivers of my homeland!"

"..."

"You don't need to praise me, I don't long for your gratitude. I melt my glory, melt it into the mountains and rivers of my homeland!"

"The mountains know me, the rivers know me. The homeland will not forget, will not forget me..."

This song had a simple melody and easy-to-remember lyrics. After Peng Lin sang it once, all the soldiers softly began to sing along with him!

Just as the lyrics described, these were soldiers who melted their youth into the mountains and rivers of their homeland!

Although they were nameless, the rivers and mountains of the homeland knew everything, and the homeland would not forget anyone!

Marshal Xu Yong'an and the high-ranking generals of the army appeared in the carriage at some point. Listening to this simple yet stirring melody, their eyes couldn't help but turn red!

They walked into the carriage, handing cups of hot water to each soldier!

Seeing the soldiers' hands full of frostbite from the severe cold within a few days, their hearts ached!

"Comrades, you have not only returned victorious, but you have also helped a nation finally stand tall!"

"From the ice plains to the warm land, from despair to glory, you are an iron-blooded army that the world respects, soldiers of the Dragon Country that shake nations globally!"

Marshal Xu spoke from the heart, giving a thumbs-up to everyone!

With one against three hundred thousand, 12,000 soldiers not only annihilated the enemy's most elite Central Assault Group but also took out their operational command center!

This achievement was unprecedented globally!

If the Bear Empire had not ultimately resorted to tactical nuclear strikes, the Bear Army would probably have been completely crushed by the Heavy Combined Arms Brigade!

...After about two hours of celebration, the soldiers all fell into a deep sleep!

They were all exhausted from this great battle!

Only now, having stepped onto the soil of their homeland, could they sleep so peacefully.

"Chief Engineer Peng, this was a beautiful fight!"

"On the way here, the comrades from the army all expressed their opinions, unanimously agreeing to the 'division-to-brigade' reform, converting Type A divisions into heavy combined arms brigades!"

Marshal Xu Yong'an personally handed Peng Lin a cup of hot tea and then said.

"Chief, if the nation agrees to fully reform 'Type A divisions' into 'Heavy Combined Arms Brigades' and develop the military towards full integration, then there is one more weapon system we must build!"

Peng Lin pondered for a moment, then said with a solemn expression.

"Oh?"

"What other weapon system needs to be built?"

Marshal Xu Yong'an asked with some curiosity.

At the same time, the other high-ranking generals of the Army General Staff Department were also a bit puzzled.

Currently, the Dragon Country possessed all third-generation heavy tanks and long-range precision firepower weapon systems. What else was lacking?

"A satellite navigation system!"

"If we want the Heavy Combined Arms Brigades to exert their maximum combat power, we must build a global satellite navigation system to truly bring the military into the era of information warfare!"

Peng Lin replied.

"Are you referring to the GPS satellite navigation system that the Beautiful Country is building?"

"Can our satellite launch technology meet the standards?"

Marshal Xu Yong'an pondered for a moment, then continued to ask Peng Lin.

"That's right, it's a satellite navigation system similar to GPS. I will name it 'Beidou Satellite Navigation System'!"

"The Dongfeng-6 was designed from the outset with both intercontinental strike and satellite launch capabilities in mind, so we do have a certain foundation!"

"Moreover, if our military wants to achieve modernization, the Beidou Satellite Navigation System must be built!"

"Beidou can not only solve the error problem of traditional inertial navigation, enabling weapons like missiles and fighter jets to achieve 'meter-level precision' strikes, but it can also directly change the rules of modern warfare!"

"For example, Beidou can enable tank formations to maneuver precisely without relying on landmarks, and logistics supply vehicles can quickly locate combat units!"

"It can even allow drones to achieve remote control and autonomous navigation through Beidou, transmitting reconnaissance data back to the command center in real-time, supporting the 'reconnaissance-strike integration' combat model!"

"Furthermore, Beidou can enable the entire military to build a tactical data link, sharing battlefield situational awareness, covering almost all dimensions including precision strike, troop maneuver, intelligence reconnaissance, and more..."

Peng Lin explained.

"To build the 'Beidou Satellite Navigation System,' it will likely require enormous financial support, won't it?"

Marshal Xu Yong'an continued to ask.

The Beautiful Country was building the GPS global satellite navigation system, and the Bear Empire was building the regional GLONASS satellite navigation system, which highlighted the importance of satellite navigation systems.

However, the Dragon Country's national strength simply could not compare to these two superpowers.

Even if the initial investment could be supported, the subsequent maintenance and operating costs, which would be the largest portion, would still be a challenge!

"For initial funding, the Changhe Ordnance Industry General Factory can take the lead, and in the early stages of construction, we can aim for a dual military-civilian use direction!"

"Currently, both the Beautiful Country and the Bear Empire are building and developing for military use, and only serve their allies!"

"However, our Beidou Satellite Navigation System will not only reserve civilian interfaces but can also generate profit through military equipment and licensing!"

"Currently, our Dragon Country has already sold a large amount of advanced weaponry abroad. Once the Beidou satellite system matures, we can offer other countries the option of 'Beidou terminal equipment' module upgrades!"

"Whether it's for equipment module purchases or technical service fees, we can recover the construction costs of Beidou!"

"Additionally, we can first provide other countries with a free trial of high-precision military signals for a certain period, and then offer paid options and collect 'authorization usage fees'!"

"This will not only recover construction costs but also make many countries technologically dependent on our Beidou Satellite Navigation System, leading them to purchase our other weapon systems as a complete package..."

Peng Lin meticulously listed the various benefits of the Beidou Satellite Navigation System.

As long as this system was successfully built, cost recovery would not be an issue at all.

As the saying goes, the free things are the most expensive!

In his previous life, the Beautiful Country, relying on the GPS satellite navigation system, directly earned trillions of dollars through military equipment sales, civilian industry chain control, and international cooperation!

Now, if the Dragon Country completed the construction of the Beidou Satellite Navigation System, upholding an inclusive and open attitude, and providing various technical services to countries worldwide, it could certainly seize the initiative!