Chapter 37: AT906 Nuclear Submarine

Just a few days after the smoke of the trade war cleared, Qin Hao had only enjoyed two days of leisure when an unexpected guest came to his door.

The visitor wore a crisp dark‑blue naval uniform, a shining star of rank on his shoulder, and appeared to be in his fifties.

He was the Yanhuang Guo Navy Commander, Admiral Deng Yuchang.

"Commander Deng, why did you come in person?"

Cheng Haitang clearly recognized him, rose quickly to greet him, his expression tinged with surprise.

Deng Yuchang first shook hands with Cheng Haitang, then his gaze fell on Qin Hao, who had also risen from the sofa.

His eagle‑sharp eyes scanned Qin Hao from head to toe, and a hint of a smile appeared on his otherwise stern face.

"You are comrade Qin Hao, right? Indeed, a hero is born young."

Deng Yuchang strode over, extending his broad, strong hand.

"I must, on behalf of our nation, thank you properly. When the Shenglong fighter flew over the carrier formation, it really gave us a good dose of contempt!"

His voice was booming and carried the characteristic cheer of a soldier, easing Qin Hao's somewhat restrained mood.

After they were seated, Deng Yuchang did not beat around the bush and got straight to the point:

"Comrade Xiao Qin, I'm here because I have a matter to ask you to help with."

He glanced at Cheng Haitang beside him and, half‑joking, said, "Those Air Force guys, ever since they got a hundred Shenglongs, they stride with the wind and flaunt themselves before our navy every day. Director Cheng, shouldn't it be our navy's turn this time?"

Cheng Haitang heard this and a knowing smile appeared on his face.

Qin Hao probably had an idea in mind; it seemed the "order" had returned.

"Commander Deng, as you said, as long as I can do it, I won't be vague."

"Good! Looks like Comrade Xiao Qin is still a straightforward person!" Deng Yuchang nodded approvingly.

"You probably guessed it already: we're going to replicate a nuclear submarine."

Qin Hao heard this and thought it was just as he expected.

"Commander Deng, then let's set out now; time waits for no one."

……

A few hours later, Qin Hao and Cheng Haitang followed Deng Yuchang aboard a military helicopter to a secret port that did not appear on any map.

It was less than five hundred meters from the beach, surrounded by mountains; from the outside it looked like nothing was there, everything seemed normal.

Because the port was built inside the mountain.

As the massive alloy doors, as heavy as a city gate, slowly opened, an immensely spacious underground world unfolded before Qin Hao's eyes.

Clearly the mountain's interior had been hollowed out, revealing a huge underground dock, brightly lit, with massive gantry cranes and robotic arms criss‑crossing.

In the water‑filled pool at the dock's center, a black steel behemoth lay quietly in ambush.

Its entire body was jet‑black, with sleek, powerful lines, like a gigantic whale from the deep sea.

Its massive frame exuded a silent pressure; even when still, it radiated a heart‑pounding majesty.

Next to it, several maintenance workers performed routine upkeep.

"This is our latest generation strategic‑class nuclear submarine, the AT906 model."

Deng Yuchang stood at the railing, gazing at the submarine below; his tone was full of pride, but soon that pride was replaced by a hint of heaviness.

He turned his head and introduced to Qin Hao:

"Its performance is quite good, employing the latest pump‑jet propulsion and an integrated natural‑circulation nuclear reactor; its maximum diving depth reaches 450 meters, and its noise level is kept around 100 decibels, which is advanced worldwide."

At this point he shifted tone: "However, compared with Eagle, we still have some gaps."

"Eagle's newest Yannimiz‑class attack nuclear submarine has a maximum depth exceeding 500 meters, and their Surprise‑class can even reach 600 meters.

More crucially the noise: our AT906 still registers 100 decibels even at full silent cruise, whereas the Yannimiz‑class is said to have been pushed below 95 decibels."

Deng Yuchang's expression grew serious:

"A five‑decibel gap in underwater acoustic combat is a matter of life and death."

It means that when they can detect us, we know nothing about them, like a blind man fighting a sighted one.

"Besides performance, there's quantity: Eagle has over fifty attack nuclear submarines in service and twelve strategic‑class ones. As for us... we could count ours on two hands."

He lifted a finger, gesturing, and the helpless urgency in his words resonated with Qin Hao and Cheng Haitang.

The underwater world is far more perilous and silent than the sky's games. A powerful underwater fleet is the true national strategic deterrent.

"So, we would like to ask for your help."

Deng Yuchang's gaze returned to the black behemoth,

"One AT906, from laying the first steel plate to final sea‑trial delivery, takes at least four years and costs over 20 billion Yanhuang Guo currency; that pace is far too slow!"

Four years, 20 billion.

The figure made Qin Hao gasp sharply.

He had previously replicated the Shenglong, and while he knew it was costly, it was nowhere near as shocking as this submarine. This is the true great‑power heavyweight, a gold‑swallowing behemoth.

Cheng Haitang listened beside him, his face equally solemn.

He understood better than Qin Hao that behind those numbers lay a yearly strained defense budget and countless researchers' tireless effort.

Qin Hao did not hesitate; he nodded and walked straight toward the ladder leading to the submarine.

He reached the submarine, extended his hand, and gently pressed it against the cold, smooth black hull.

Unlike the previous fighter replication, his palm met a heftier, firmer sensation; he could feel the boundless power hidden within the steel body.

【Target detected: AT906 Attack Nuclear Submarine (including full internal equipment and nuclear fuel), scanning…】

【Scanning complete, consume 260 million Energy Points to replicate?】

Qin Hao lifted his head, looking at the equally tense Deng Yuchang and Cheng Haitang.

"Commander Deng, Director Cheng, I currently have 1.8 billion Energy Points left; replicating one requires 260 million points."

"260 million…"

Cheng Haitang muttered to herself, and immediately her eyes lit up.

Compared to the construction cost of over twenty billion, this is practically free, and the time cost can be ignored!

Deng Yuchang's breathing also instantly became rapid, and on his usually calm face, an uncontrollable excitement surfaced for the first time.

He stared fixedly at Qin Hao, making sure he hadn't misheard.

Qin Hao met his gaze and asked seriously, "Commander, how many should we copy?"

Deng Yuchang thought for a moment, then combined the system's energy reserves.

Finally, he uttered a few words with firm resolve.

"Five ships! Give me five first!"