158: Qin Guoqiang

At this moment, Qin Guoqiang couldn't help but interject, his eyes burning with fervor: "Little Zhang, this Serum production technology of yours... is it complicated? See, could you... share it with the country? Of course, the country will never mistreat you! Whatever conditions you have, just name them!" As a soldier, he knew its strategic value all too well and wished he could equip the entire army immediately.

"Old Qin!" Xiao Weihua's brow furrowed slightly, his tone carrying a hint of reproach. "How can we just ask for a local area's core technology? It's against the rules!"

"Hey! Old Xiao, listen to yourself. Am I the kind of person to take advantage for free? The compensation and resources that should be given won't be lacking in the slightest!" Qin Guoqiang immediately retorted.

Zhang Lei felt as if the two were playing good cop and bad cop, but he was already prepared. He answered calmly and firmly: "Commanders, to be honest, we've only just made a breakthrough in this technology. The associated Automated Production Lines are still being calibrated and perfected, so current output is limited. However, if the country truly has an urgent need, our Lujiang Base is willing to offer it unconditionally! You can immediately select and send your most reliable team of Biologists to our base. We will teach them everything without reservation, sharing all research data and theoretical foundations!" Jiang Xin also hoped to use the Serum technology to show sincerity and exchange it for deeper cooperation and trust; moreover, sharing the technology was so more survivors could live. What he truly wanted to trade with the National Government long-term wasn't this.

"Good! Great! You are truly understanding and righteous, acting for the greater good!" Qin Guoqiang heard this and was so excited he slapped his thigh. He actually stood up and was about to bow to Zhang Lei. "On behalf of all the officers and soldiers of the Central Military Region, I thank you!"

"Old General! Please, don't! This is too much of an honor for a junior!" Zhang Lei was startled and quickly stood up to support the straightforward and upright old general.

Qin Guoqiang sat down, his face beaming with a wide smile, finding Zhang Lei more and more pleasing to the eye. He then changed the subject, his eyes gleaming with shrewdness: "Little Zhang, your Lujiang Base has given us too many surprises! Not only are the people impressive, but the equipment is even more terrifying! That big plane you came in, I saw it clearly from the command center. That's definitely no ordinary sixth-generation aircraft, right? It can stop mid-air just like that... that engine, that aerodynamic layout... and your Mechs... tsk tsk, it makes my old heart itch with desire!"

Zhang Lei smiled inwardly, knowing the main event had arrived. This was exactly Jiang Xin's plan: use cutting-edge equipment to exchange for funds and accelerate development. Furthermore, Red Alert equipment in Jiang Xin's hands had the effect of refreshing ammunition and energy, but this effect disappeared in the hands of others. Jiang Xin wanted to use Red Alert equipment to exchange for large amounts of funds from various bases. Moreover, cutting-edge Red Alert equipment all came with Red Alert intelligent AI; even if sold, reclaiming them would only take a word from Jiang Xin.

He put on an appropriately troubled expression: "To be honest, General Qin, that is our Red Alert Base's highest technology project—the apollo aerospace fighter. It uses a Gravitational Field Modulation Engine and High-energy Particle Thrusters as its power core, energized by a Micro Nuclear Fusion Reactor. Its primary weapon is the Plasma Beam Cannon, which theoretically has the capability to kill Third-Tier Mutated Beasts or zombies... however..."

He deliberately trailed off, looking troubled: "This thing's technology is too complex, and the production process requirements are extremely high, resulting in very rare output. Furthermore, the cost... is an astronomical figure... Currently, our own equipment is stretched thin, so it might be difficult to supply externally."

"Nuclear fusion?! You've even broken through controllable nuclear fusion?!" This time, even Xiao Weihua exclaimed in shock, abruptly standing up from the sofa, his face filled with disbelief. As a high-level official, he knew all too well what this meant! This was the ultimate energy technology capable of changing the course of human civilization! With nuclear fusion, humanity could head toward the sea of stars.

Zhang Lei nodded with certainty and gave a knowing smile. Only by appropriately revealing some cutting-edge technology could they whet their appetites and sell for a good price. Besides, Red Alert technology was impossible for outsiders to replicate. However, they could reverse-Engineer technology through professional scientists at the Research Center (who evolved from Engineers).

Qin Guoqiang was even more anxious, scratching his head and losing all the composure of a general, like a child seeing a beloved toy: "Really?! The price is negotiable! We'll find a way to gather the materials! See... could you let this old man experience it once? Just one experience! Even just to satisfy the craving!" He looked at Zhang Lei expectantly.

Zhang Lei looked at this endearing old general and couldn't help but chuckle: "General Qin, please don't be anxious. An experience is certainly possible; I'll arrange it in a while. It's just that the apollo fighter jet truly cannot be provided in the short term."

"Then... what about the Mechs? The ones three or four meters tall, whether they spray fire or discharge electricity, either will do!" Qin Guoqiang settled for the next best thing and continued to press, his eyes still burning with fervor.

Zhang Lei shook his head regretfully again: "The production line for the Mechs is equally complex, and the production capacity for key components is limited. Currently, they also cannot be supplied externally."

"Oh! My dear Comrade Little Zhang! You're worrying me to death!" Qin Guoqiang beat his chest and stomped his feet. "Then you must have something you can sell, right? You can't let this old man be happy for nothing!"

Xiao Weihua watched his old friend's embarrassment from the side and couldn't help but laugh heartily: "Old Qin, oh Old Qin, look at you, so little dignity! Comrade Little Zhang, stop teasing him. If there's anything good, bring it out and let us see."

Zhang Lei then smiled slightly and took out a military tablet from his briefcase. He skillfully opened several encrypted video files and turned the screen toward the two big shots.

"Although the apollo fighter jet and Mechs cannot be provided for now, two other mainstays of our Red Alert Legion—the apocalypse tank and the tesla tank—have achieved preliminary mass production and can be partially supplied externally."

On the screen, what first appeared was a tank of unimaginable proportions! The dual-mounted 155mm Giant Cannons emitted a cold aura of death, yet the massive hull raced at high speeds that seemed to defy physical common sense. A single shot reduced a small building to ruins, and it then nimbly crushed through the debris, grinding several pouncing zombies into pulp! It was the apocalypse tank!

Immediately after, the scene shifted to a tank with an even more sci-fi design, its entire body flowing with blue-purple electric arcs! It lacked a traditional cannon barrel; instead, the top featured a massive Tesla Coil and an Electromagnetic Acceleration Rail! It locked onto a Second-Tier Butcher Zombie in the distance, the coil charged, and blinding blue-white electric arcs leaped!

"Zzzzt—!!!"

A thick Lightning Chain shot out instantly, crossing a distance of several hundred meters to accurately hit the target! That Butcher Zombie, renowned for its defensive power, didn't even let out a scream before it violently convulsed and smoked under the ultra-high voltage current, finally turning into a charred block of carbon! The power of the tesla tank required no further explanation!

Xiao Weihua and Qin Guoqiang stared wide-eyed, their breathing involuntarily becoming heavy. The firepower, mobility, and special attack capabilities displayed by these two tanks completely surpassed all active-service main battle tanks! They could completely take on a Second-Tier Zombie alone or in combination; these were rare and precious divine tools!

"Good! Good! Good! I want these!" Qin Guoqiang was so excited he cheered repeatedly and asked impatiently: "How much? How much for one? Tell me!"

Zhang Lei already had a pre-conceived plan and calmly stated the price: "The apocalypse tank is 50 kilograms of gold per unit, or an equivalent value in other Rare Metals. The tesla tank is 30 kilograms per unit." This price, when converted to System Funds, was nearly ten times the cost, but if measured by pre-apocalypse currency and actual purchasing power, buying such trans-generational technology for tens of millions of Huabi was practically dirt cheap.

"50 kilograms of gold..." Qin Guoqiang quickly calculated Kyoto's reserves and collection capabilities in his mind. The price was completely acceptable, even a fair price! But the problem was... "The price is fine! It's just... in the current situation, collecting so much gold and Rare Metals will take some time..."

Zhang Lei gave an understanding smile and reassured him: "General Qin, there's no need to worry. Our production also has a cycle. You can collect it slowly and trade whenever you're ready. We will prioritize supplying the Kyoto Base."

"Good! It's a deal! I'll have people inventory the warehouses right away and mobilize all forces to collect it!" Qin Guoqiang stood up abruptly and said resolutely.