257: Chapter 257 Dawn of Order: Breaking the Blockade

After hanging up the phone, Su Chen looked at the eight countries on the map.

"These eight countries must be treated with different classifications," he established the principles:

Tier 1: Core Allies (Egypt, Serbia).

Provide full-version equipment, but with a security management system installed; if the weapons leave the national borders, the system locks down.

Negotiable installment payments.

Provide technical training and after-sales service.

Allow the establishment of overhaul plants within their country.

Tier 2: Strategic Balance (Thailand, Indonesia).

Provide downgraded versions (reduced main gun caliber, simplified armor, downgraded electronic systems).

Must be cash transactions or resource exchange.

Strictly limit the quantity of ammunition supplied.

Install positioning and self-destruct devices.

Tier 3: Risk Management (Syria, Nigeria).

Only sell defensive equipment (air defense systems, infantry fighting vehicles).

Strictly forbid the sale of main battle tanks and ballistic missiles.

Must be transshipped through a third country via anonymous transactions.

The end-user agreement must be endorsed by the country's government.

Tier 4: Conflict Zones (Azerbaijan).

Suspend sales.

Must wait for the regional situation to stabilize.

Avoid escalating the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

After Lin Wan finished recording, she hesitated and said, "This will lose some orders. Syria wants tanks, and Azerbaijan wants air defense systems..."

"It's better than triggering a world war," Su Chen said calmly. "What we want is to reshape the order, not create chaos. The flow of weapons must be controllable; otherwise, the Sabertooth we sell today might turn its muzzle towards us or our allies tomorrow."

He pulled up the tianting project schedule: "The end of the military industry is space. Once our 20,000 low-orbit satellites are deployed, we can achieve global real-time monitoring. By then, we'll know exactly where every exported Sabertooth is, its status, and if it has been modified. But until then... we must be cautious."

Gu Xinghe suddenly asked, "Those three concept weapons... Heavenly Bow-3, night owl, and war mastiff, are they really just concepts?"

Su Chen smiled: "The projects for those three weapons have just been initiated. It's estimated to take 12 months to complete the prototypes, but Spark Materials has made a new breakthrough, so I expect test fires next year."

He paused: "But these won't be made public for now. Once our satellite network is built and space superiority is established, these weapons will make their debut. By then... the rules of the game will be entirely set by us."

11:45 PM, undercurrents in diplomatic channels.

Cairo, Egypt, the office of the Secretary of Defense.

Secretary Mohamed Zaki personally made a call, which was transferred through the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs to Xingchen Defense.

"CEO Gu, we need 100 Sabertooths, 200 Lynxes, and 30 Peregrine Falcon systems," Zaki said directly. "But our budget... is only 8 billion USD. And we need to pay in installments."

Gu Xinghe had already received Su Chen's classification principles and replied, "Mr. Secretary, based on the traditional friendship between our two countries, we can provide a special proposal."

He pulled up the parameters for the simplified export version:

Sabertooth Export Version: Main gun reduced to 130mm, downgraded armor, some active defense functions removed, priced at 7 million USD.

Lynx Basic Type: Modular design removed, fixed as an infantry transport type, priced at 2.2 million USD.

Peregrine Falcon Simplified Version: Non-essential electronic warfare modules removed, radar detection range reduced by 20%, unit price 15 million USD.

"Calculating it this way, 100 Sabertooths for 700 million, 200 Lynxes for 440 million, and 30 Peregrine Falcon systems for 450 million, totaling about 1.59 billion USD," Gu Xinghe said. "This is far below your budget."

There was a moment of silence on the other end: "What about missiles? The comet air-to-air missiles, we need at least 200."

"I'm sorry," Gu Xinghe politely declined. "Air combat missiles are currently only supplied to the Chinese Air Force and strategic partners."

His mention of "strategic partners" was a subtle reference to Saudi Arabia.

Zaki understood the subtext: "Then... what about Venus? We don't need many, just 10 will do."

Gu Xinghe smiled: "Mr. Secretary, for that kind of strategic weapon, even Russia can only buy the downgraded version. Egypt currently... doesn't need it for now."

These words had two meanings: first, Egypt's defense needs hadn't reached that level yet; second, Egypt's political relationship hadn't reached that level yet.

Zaki was silent for a long time: "Understood. We will send a delegation to China as soon as possible to discuss the details. The payment method..."

"Installments are possible: 30% upon signing, 40% when half is delivered, and 30% after full delivery," Gu Xinghe gave the conditions. "But it must be settled in rmb or Euros; USD is not acceptable."

"Why?"

"To avoid unnecessary trouble," Gu Xinghe said meaningfully. "You understand."

Zaki certainly understood—U.S. sanctions.

If settled in USD, the U.S. could freeze the transaction at any time. Using rmb or Euros provides at least one more layer of protection.

"Fine," Zaki finally agreed. "We will prepare rmb reserves."

The call ended.

Similar calls continued to happen tonight.

Thailand wanted Lynx combat vehicles to protect its southern border.

Indonesia wanted Peregrine Falcon systems to protect the Natuna Islands.

Serbia wanted Sabertooth tanks to balance the situation in Kosovo.

Nigeria wanted air defense systems to combat Boko Haram's drones...

Every country had needs, and every country was testing the waters.

And Xingchen Defense's responses all followed the principles established by Su Chen: tiered treatment and risk management.

1:00 AM, Su Chen's office.

Gu Xinghe and Lin Wan were both there, with the summarized data laid out before the three of them.

"Today is just the beginning." Su Chen looked at the lights of Shenzhen outside the window. "60 billion USD in domestic orders, 52 billion USD in international intentions... this means that at least one-third of the global military industry's profits will flow to China."

"But the pressure will also be unprecedented." Lin Wan pulled up the risk assessment report. "The United States will definitely strike back. An upgrade in technical blockades is certain, and financial sanctions are already on the way. Most dangerously, they might create local conflicts to consume our production capacity and resources—such as inciting India to provoke at the border or supporting Bay Island to cause trouble."

"Then let them come." Su Chen's gaze was sharp. "Every step we take is ahead by a generational technical gap. While they spend ten years catching up, we'll have already moved on to the next decade."

He pulled up the Starlink launch schedule: "Complete the first phase of 120 satellite deployments this year to achieve full coverage of the Asia-Pacific region. Expand to 600 next year to cover major global regions. Complete the deployment of all 20,000 in seven years to establish a Space-based Internet, global real-time monitoring, and orbital interception capabilities."

"By then, the advantage of ground weapons will only be the foundation. The real battlefield will be in space, in information, and in cognition."

Gu Xinghe suddenly asked, "Will the United States sit by and watch us complete Starlink?"

"They will certainly try to obstruct us," Su Chen said calmly. "But the technical gap is right there. Our rocket launch cost is one-third of theirs, and our satellite manufacturing cost is one-fifth of theirs. If they use political means to block us, we'll use commercial means to break through—Star Rocket Company is a private enterprise providing a global internet service; who can object?"

He paused: "Furthermore, once Tianting is completed, we can provide a brand-new service: Global Security Assurance."

"What do you mean?" Lin Wan asked.

"Imagine," Su Chen said. "A small country buys our weapons and connects to our Starlink network. Then their battlefield awareness, command and communication capabilities, and precision strike capabilities are all linked with us. We can provide a 'Security Cloud Service': real-time threat warnings, intelligent allocation of defensive resources, and even remote command assistance."

Gu Xinghe's eyes lit up: "This is equivalent to embedding their national defense system into our system."

"Exactly." Su Chen nodded. "By then, they won't just be customers; they'll be part of the ecosystem. And the rules of the ecosystem... are set by the builder."

Lin Wan gasped: "This has much more influence than simple weapon sales."

"So today's orders are just the first step," Su Chen summarized. "What we want to do is not sell weapons, but establish a new order. A new security order based on technical superiority, mutual benefit, and controllability."

He looked toward the east, where the sky was already turning white.

A new day was about to begin.

A new era was also about to begin.

"Go get some rest," Su Chen said. "Starting tomorrow, we will execute the three-year delivery plan. Domestic orders take priority, and international orders will proceed in tiers. Remember our goal:"

He said word by word:

"Define security with technology, and reshape order with security."

After Gu Xinghe and Lin Wan left, Su Chen stood alone by the window.

Many people are destined to be unable to sleep tonight.