354: Chapter 354 We must not follow the old path

The song of ice and fire on the internet intensified.

Those who had stared at the gray "Did Not Win" text, utterly dejected for a full half hour, miraculously began to self-heal after the initial intense heartache.

"Sigh, forget it, it's just a few days late."

"The first batch is already one hundred million units, which shows that God Lin and the state never intended to engage in any hunger marketing; subsequent production capacity will surely catch up quickly."

"That's right! Look on the bright side; at least we are still in the lottery pool."

"Look at those people abroad—they don't even have the qualifications to participate. That is true despair!"

This comment instantly awakened countless dejected people.

They turned to look at the foreign internet, which was filled with posts of wailing, cursing, and impotent rage from overseas netizens.

Looking at the sour comments from the usually high-and-mighty foreign media accounts, the corners of the Xia Country netizens' mouths curled up uncontrollably, and they even struck their keyboards a bit harder.

"Brothers, my mindset has calmed down. Watching these foreigners break down, I suddenly feel that this gray screenshot in my hand has become quite pleasing to the eye."

"Hahaha, indeed! We just didn't manage to squeeze onto the bus for now, but they can't even reach the threshold of the station!"

"Human smiles truly don't disappear; they just transfer. Forgive me for letting out a bell-like laugh!"

A "misery competition" greatly relieved the stifling, pent-up frustration in the chests of those who hadn't won the lottery.

Countless people regained hope and turned to flood the comment section of Lin Yuan's personal account, starting a new round of daily requests for updates.

"God Lin, when will the next batch be arranged?"

"Yes, yes, yes! I beg God Lin to reveal the quantity for the second batch, so us unlucky ones can have some peace of mind!"

On the other hand, those one hundred million lucky winners, after experiencing their initial ecstasy, began to follow the instructions on the mini-program, trembling fingers filling in their shipping addresses.

When they pressed the submit button, a new prompt box popped up.

"Holy crap, the brain-computer device is only 1688? That's the price of a smartphone?"

"I thought such epoch-making black technology would cost at least tens of thousands, something you'd have to grit your teeth to afford, but it's just this?! The state is really treating this as national infrastructure this time!"

"The most amazing part is the face-to-face real-name activation mechanism!"

"Hahaha! I just saw on Tieba that some scalpers hired others to snatch spots and were preparing to resell them at ten times the price. With this announcement out, those resellers must be feeling their throats tighten right now, probably spraying blood onto their screens!"

"The most terrifying part is 'door-to-door delivery within the next three days'! One hundred million orders! Door-to-door delivery within three days?! My god, I can't wait to enter the second world!"

The shockingly affordable price, the hardcore and watertight real-name mechanism, and the unimaginably fast shipping speed completely ignited a second wave of public opinion frenzy.

Just as the whole internet was immersed in this upcoming, unprecedented carnival.

The next day, early morning.

Jingzhou, Xishan Base, Yang Tongan's office.

Morning light filtered through the gaps in the blinds, casting mottled light and shadows on the large mahogany tea table.

The room was filled with the aroma of tea, but the atmosphere was permeated with a solemnity and tension akin to the eve of a great battle.

On the sofa, Yang Tongan and Elder Zhang sat side by side.

Opposite them, besides Lin Yuan, whose posture was as relaxed as ever, sat a middle-aged man with a determined face and slightly frosted temples.

The man's hands were placed flat on his knees, his back straight. Although he was trying his best to suppress his breathing, his slightly heaving chest still revealed his inner turmoil.

"Lin Yuan, let me introduce you."

Elder Zhang revealed a gentle smile, his gaze turning to the middle-aged man beside him.

"This is Li Kang, the general dispatcher in charge of our country's Ministry of Transport and logistics system."

"He is personally leading the nationwide distribution of those one hundred million connection devices this time."

After hearing the introduction, Lin Yuan shifted his gaze slightly to look at Li Kang, the corners of his lips curling into a gentle arc as he nodded slightly:

"Director Li, it will be hard work for you to mobilize the country's transport capacity this time."

Upon hearing this, Li Kang's knuckles tightened subconsciously. He bowed slightly, his gaze fixed on the young man in front of him with undisguised admiration.

"Academician Lin, you are too kind; this is my duty."

"It is my honor to be able to participate in such a magnificent plan that is enough to change the course of human civilization and to personally pave the way for a new era!"

Seeing this, Elder Zhang clasped his hands together, leaned forward slightly, and added:

"The first batch of one hundred million orders must be delivered accurately and without error to every corner of the country within three days."

"From bustling city centers to remote snowy plateaus and island towns."

"Behind this involves warehouse allocation, trunk line transportation, and last-mile delivery..."

"The difficulty of coordinating this task is by no means inferior to a nationwide, ultra-limit Spring Festival travel rush exam."

Li Kang took a deep breath, his chest heaving slightly, and then stated firmly.

"Academician Lin, Elder Zhang, Elder Yang, please rest assured."

"The national postal system, including all subordinate land transport trunk lines, air freight formations, and express railway trains, entered the highest level of dispatch response status at midnight last night."

"We have established a special command headquarters, with me personally serving as the commander-in-chief, monitoring the situation on 24-hour shifts."

"Personnel, vehicles, cargo planes... all transport resources have been assembled and routes planned; we have even activated backup combat-ready road networks."

Li Kang's gaze was as firm as iron, without the slightest hesitation:

"Within three days, I guarantee that all one hundred million sets of equipment will be delivered!"

"If even one is missing, you can hold me accountable!"

These words were not exaggerated in the slightest, yet they conveyed the terrifying power of a great nation's machinery running at full speed, capable of moving mountains and filling seas.

Lin Yuan looked at him, a satisfied smile appearing in his eyes.

"I am naturally confident in the state's execution capabilities."

"However, I need to emphasize one point: these devices are the keys to the 'second world' and are the premise for us to build a new form of civilization."

"Once these keys are handed over to the citizens, the gates to the second world will officially open."

"This not only concerns social stability during the transition period but also concerns the future evolutionary direction of the entire Xia Country."

Yang Tongan and Elder Zhang exchanged a glance, both nodding slightly with solemn expressions.

"It is precisely because of this that I specifically set a strict real-name threshold."

Lin Yuan crossed his fingers and rested them on his knees, continuing unhurriedly.

"In the past era of the traditional internet, the virtual world was a lawless land; anonymity brought about the collapse of order, the breeding of cyberbullying, and the proliferation of various gray industries."

"But the second world must never follow the old path of the traditional internet world."

"It must be an orderly and controlled social model."