118: Nuclear Race: Land-Based Nuclear Submarines!

October 19th.

Early morning.

A bombshell news story appeared in Long Country's newspapers.

It was a special report jointly written by Xinhua News Agency and People's Daily.

Additionally, Long Country Military News, Guangming Daily, Long Country Youth Daily, Workers' Daily, Southern Daily, Industrial Daily, Market Daily, and over 200 local newspapers all reprinted this special report:

[Xinhua News Agency • People's Daily Joint Special Report]

"Crimson Heart Forges the Maritime Frontier — A Remembrance of Martyr Chen Hai, Captain of the Yinchuan Destroyer"

[On October 18th, Chen Hai, captain of Long Country's Type 051 destroyer Yinchuan, bravely faced the high-pressure water cannons of a Kangaroo Country warship in the South Pacific exclusion zone to defend the data module of the Dongfeng-6 intercontinental missile!

Amidst towering waves, he roared, "Mission is paramount to life," refused rescue, and used his body to buy crucial time for his comrades, ultimately dying a heroic death at the age of 38!

His unyielding spirit has become an immortal monument between sea and sky!

Long Country Government solemnly declares:

Kangaroo Country must immediately hand over the implicated captain and officers to Long Country for trial, compensate 10 million US dollars for the martyr's pension, 20 million US dollars for warship repair costs, and issue a public apology globally!

If it refuses to comply, Long Country will exercise all rights granted by "International Law," including sinking the "Anzac" ship! Blood for blood, mission accomplished!]

This special report occupied the front pages of all major newspapers in Long Country!

Even the news of the successful test launch of the Dongfeng-6 intercontinental missile was relegated to the second page of various newspapers!

In front of newsstands in the early morning, workers clutching newspapers gathered.

In the campus radio station, the announcer read the newspaper content to all teachers and students with deep sorrow, announcing the news.

Even in the wet market, aunties had red eyes, muttering, "The child was only 38!"

Domestically, all workers, students, and citizens were enraged upon hearing this news!

In Yanjing, crowds demonstrating with banners surrounded the Kangaroo Country Embassy in Long Country!

...

On the morning of October 19th, Peng Lin had returned from Jiuquan to the Aerospace Missile Manufacturing Branch in Yanjing.

The first thing he did upon arriving at his office was to read today's newspaper.

"Now, we'll see how Western countries and Beautiful Country react."

"But no matter what, Long Country must pursue accountability to the end in this matter!"

"All countries worldwide must understand that Long Country's bottom line and interests cannot be touched!"

Peng Lin murmured to himself.

This matter seemed to be a confrontation between Long Country and Kangaroo Country.

But in reality, it was a confrontation between Long Country and Beautiful Country, as well as the entire Western world.

When Long Country designated an international exclusion zone in parts of the South Pacific, the warships of Kangaroo Country, Island Country, Informationland, and other nations forcefully intruded, all because Beautiful Country and the Pentagon were backing them.

Now that something had happened, Beautiful Country, as the planner and instigator, naturally had to protect the interests of its younger brother.

It was even possible that this unexpected incident was within the design of the White House and the Pentagon.

Its purpose was to suppress Long Country's international prestige after the missile test launch.

To prevent Long Country from ever truly standing up globally and internationally and gaining a certain degree of discourse power.

"This is not a personal grudge; it is a national vendetta!"

"All countries worldwide want to know Long Country's actions, so just watch!"

Peng Lin's eyes gradually sharpened.

Whether a nation and country are truly strong depends not only on advanced weaponry but also on whether the people of that country and nation are united and tough!

If Long Country's military and its entire people tolerated this unexpected incident.

Then all countries worldwide would know that this was far from Long Country's bottom line, because their intercontinental missiles hadn't even posed a threat!

Including in the future, they would repeatedly probe and break through Long Country's bottom line, step by step!

Even in the economic sphere of Long Country's reform and opening-up grand strategy, they would gradually test Long Country's bottom line internationally!

Peng Lin always firmly believed that peace is not deterred but fought for!

If one beating isn't enough to subdue, then beat them a few more times!

When the enemy knows that every provocation will inevitably result in a severe beating!

Then before the next provocation, he will know whether he can do so!

The bottom line of a nation and country is not retreated from step by step, but fought for with every punch!

After finishing reading several important newspapers and accumulated documents on his desk, Peng Lin immediately immersed himself in work.

With the successful test launch of the Dongfeng-6 intercontinental missile, the next step was to expedite data verification work after the data module returned to the country, and then proceed to the actual combat deployment phase.

Additionally, the Dongfeng-6 also had two launch methods for intercontinental missiles.

Besides the conventional silos used by Beautiful Country and the Hairy Bear Empire, Peng Lin also designed an "Intercontinental Missile Train" for it!

Long Country's current number of nuclear warheads and national strength are simply incomparable to these two superpower countries, and it cannot engage in an unrestricted nuclear arms race with them!

Therefore, to ensure that Long Country's intercontinental missiles maintain absolute deterrent capability, Beautiful Country and the Hairy Bear Empire must not know the missile's deployment locations.

However, both countries possess advanced satellite systems and ultra-high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft.

It is actually very difficult for Long Country to secretly build intercontinental missile silos while avoiding the reconnaissance systems of these two countries.

Therefore, after careful consideration, Peng Lin specifically developed the "Intercontinental Missile Train" for the Dongfeng-6.

The core advantage of the missile train is its rapid mobility through the nationwide railway network, capable of transferring thousands of kilometers in a single day and night, making it impossible for the enemy to detect!

Moreover, due to the complex terrain, including tunnels, within Long Country's national railway network, it is difficult for even Beautiful Country's satellites to lock onto it!

According to Peng Lin's calculations, in the context of the Cold War, the survival probability of fixed launch silos for strategic nuclear powers was only about 5% - 6.5%.

Based on the number of Long Country's nuclear arsenal, it would be almost impossible to withstand the first round of nuclear strikes from other countries.

However, the survival probability of railway mobile missiles is as high as over 50%.

Other countries would need to expend at least 150 ballistic missiles to destroy a single Dongfeng-6 intercontinental missile train, conducting a comprehensive coverage strike on all suspicious targets.

And Long Country only needs to deploy 36 railway intercontinental missile trains to theoretically withstand the first round of nuclear strikes from the United States and the Hairy Bear Empire!

And still retain sufficient retaliatory capability!

Long Country's "phantom-like" "Intercontinental Missile Train" will become a nightmare for all countries in a nuclear war!

This would completely compensate for Long Country's deficiency in the number of nuclear arsenals!

And possess powerful nuclear deterrence capabilities!

Moreover, each intercontinental missile train is itself an independent combat unit, including command and communication cars, power cars, measurement and control cars, and life support carriages, capable of independently completing launch missions without external support!

The intercontinental missile train will be a perfect combination of mobility, stealth, strike effectiveness, and strategic deterrence!

It will even form Long Country's unique "land-based nuclear submarine" deterrence logic, competing with the Hairy Bear Empire and Beautiful Country as a major power!

Furthermore, during the trial production of the Dongfeng-6 intercontinental missile, the corresponding train had already been developed by Peng Lin.

Now, he began to officially plan the railway mobile network for the "Intercontinental Missile Train," preparing for actual combat deployment!

...

October 29th.

After ten days of navigation, the four Type 051 destroyers responsible for escorting the "data module" back to the country successfully entered Long Country's South Sea region.

And upon entering the South Sea region, they were immediately met by Z-8 helicopters from the Army Aviation Brigade and escorted by WZ-10 attack helicopters, rapidly transporting the "data module" back to the Yanjing Aerospace Missile Manufacturing Branch.

Peng Lin immediately organized relevant scientific researchers to analyze the core parameters recorded in the "data module" and expedited improvements and upgrades to the Dongfeng-6 based on these parameters.

At the same time, after ten days of silence, Kangaroo Country also briefly responded to the Long Country military's strong demands.

Kangaroo Country only agreed to pay 34,567.89 US dollars, emphasizing that this was compensation based on humanitarian spirit, not accident compensation.

If Long Country was not satisfied, it could be negotiated by the diplomatic department!

This amount was immediately deemed "insulting" by Peng Lin and Marshal Xu Yong'an, and the Long Country military immediately issued a stern refusal!

And announced that all channels for consultation and negotiation would be closed until Kangaroo Country apologized and compensated according to Long Country's demands!

The Long Country military will retain the right to pursue accountability indefinitely!

At the same time, the Long Country military officially announced a new round of military exercises, with the code name: Mission Accomplished!