Chapter 57: We Have a Complete Industry Chain

The netting of Operation Thunder dispelled much of the oppressive atmosphere among Yanhuang Guo's senior officials.

But everyone knows that exposing the traitor is merely a defense, far from a victory.

Since Yingjiang Guo has already torn off its mask to conduct infiltration, its overt petty moves must have already begun.

"Rote Commissioner, I just received word that several of our long‑term suppliers in O Province have unilaterally halted delivery of our specialty fluorides and several rare gases, citing force majeure.

The timing is so convenient that who's behind it is obvious."

That day, Intelligence Department's Kong Jie reported the latest situation to Luo over the phone.

"Hmm! Got it, keep a close eye on this news." Hanging up, Luo stared expressionlessly at Zhang Yunfeng.

"I think this is probably a blockade order issued by President Wil, a classic cut‑the‑feet‑under‑the‑cauldron move—cliché but truly disgusting,"

"Trying to choke us? They must have forgotten that we're not short of backbone right now,"

Zhang Yunfeng gave a calm smile, not worried at all.

Because Qin Hao is now present, resources and technology are no issue, no matter how they play.

Luo rose and walked to the window, gazing at the bustling capital below, and calmly said, "They think we have only one towering ship‑building tree, so they try to starve us by controlling water and soil."

He slowly turned, his gaze sharp as a blade.

"Then we'll tell the world that what we possess is an entire forest."

…

A week later, global media had not yet fully recovered from the frenzy of snapping up lithography machines, when Yanhuang Guo, without any warning, unleashed a combo punch that left everyone gaping.

The Yanhuang Guo National Institute of Materials Science posted an announcement on its official website:

"【Our country has made a major breakthrough in high‑purity synthetic quartz glass; the new generation "Star Sand" material is now in mass production, its optical performance and stability fully surpass the current international market's mainstream JGS‑0 standard products.】"

This seemingly modest research news detonated like a deep‑water bomb, causing an industry‑wide uproar.

Bai Gong, an oval‑shaped office.

"What does this mean?" President Wil said, staring at the intelligence briefing with a bewildered expression.

A technical consultant, pale‑faced, explained:

"Mr. President, this means our export controls on specialty fluorides have become ineffective. They have discovered a brand‑new process for making premium quartz glass, no longer needing our raw materials,"

"Fuck!"

President Wil's coffee mug slammed heavily onto the floor.

But that was only the beginning.

The next day, the Yanhuang Guo Academy of Sciences' Institute of Precision Optics announced:

"【Our independently developed new "Extreme Ultraviolet Photoresist" has passed final testing, boasting excellent performance and perfect compatibility with 1‑nanometer and smaller process nodes; the related production lines are complete and will soon go into operation.】"

On the third day, Yanhuang Nuclear Industrial Group issued a statement.

"【We have employed a new generation of magnetic‑levitation centrifuge technology to efficiently separate and purify multiple rare‑gas isotopes, with capacity sufficient to meet the domestic semiconductor industry's needs for the next twenty years.】"

On the fourth day, the National Center for Precision Instrument Manufacturing announced.

"【The new generation of ultra‑precise laser interferometers and dual‑workpiece stage systems have been successfully developed, achieving picometer‑level positioning accuracy.】"

…

One heavyweight announcement after another was released through official channels.

There were no grand, impassioned press conferences; everything unfolded naturally.

Yanhuang Guo simply used the calmest, most arrogant method, laying each technical trump card on the table at its own pace.

Each card struck precisely at Yingjiang Guo's self‑congratulatory technological barrier, shattering that sigh‑filled wall into fragments.

This is no longer a slap in the face; it is the systematic dismantling, in front of the whole world, of Yingjiang Guo's carefully laid blockade, inch by inch, then using the removed bricks to build an even taller, thicker wall.

The global tech community fell utterly silent.

If the emergence of Project Qian Kun No. 1 proved Yanhuang Guo's breakthrough at a single point,

then today's series of releases declares a terrifying fact to the world—

They have built a wholly self‑sufficient, more advanced full‑industry‑chain ecosystem completely independent of Western technological systems!

Blockade? Sanctions?

What can you use to block a giant that can farm its own fields, spin its own yarn, forge its own steel, and even build spacecraft?

It is simply the biggest joke in the history of international politics.

In the capital of Yanhuang Guo, inside a coffee shop in the commercial center.

Two white old men wearing sunglasses and baseball caps sat upright, their coffees untouched.

"Bob, you saw it all?"

One lowered his voice, his tone full of relief. He was the CEO of ASM.

"Saw it, Miguel," the CS Optics chairman opposite said, taking off his sunglasses and rubbing his swollen temples.

"I'm now immensely relieved that our decision was right,"

The two exchanged a glance, each seeing in the other's eyes the relief of having survived the disaster.

Fortunately they defied Bai Gong's order and rushed over immediately; had they joined those idiots in enforcing the blockade, the company might already be preparing to file for bankruptcy now.

"When is our appointment scheduled?" Miguel asked.

"Next Wednesday."

CS chairman Bob gave a wry smile, "I only secured it by pulling every personal connection I have. You know? I just saw Han Dalin of Applied Materials in the hotel lobby,

who was being scolded by our embassy's military officer for lacking a big‑picture view. Ridiculous—who cares about a big picture now? Survival is all that matters."

In the evening, the Yingjiang Guo ambassador to Yanhuang received an urgent call from home; the Secretary of State on the other end, voice weary and hoarse, gave only one instruction.

"Find a way and talk to them."

The previously hard‑line slogans of "blockade" and "sanctions" now sounded like a feeble joke.

But at this moment, inside Luo Lao's office, the atmosphere was relaxed, as if they were holding a tea party.

"Hahaha, I reckon Weier now has a mind to die." Zhang Yunfeng looked at the aggregated global public opinion report that had come up, laughing so hard he couldn't close his mouth.

"This tactic of broadcasting widely is more effective than any diplomatic communiqué; now all the pressure is on them."

The situation is now clear; I won't quarrel with you, I won't cause trouble, I'm just telling you that all your methods are useless against me.

This kind of silent contempt is the deadliest blow.

"I think those fence-sitters need to make a choice." Zhang Yunfeng pointed at a list of visitors' applications.

The O Province Alliance sent a notice today, hoping to discuss the 'New Era Comprehensive Technology Strategic Cooperation' with us in high-level talks; I think they're just looking to cling to a new powerful patron.

Luo Lao lifted his teacup, gently blew on the steam, and summed up:

"When your fists are hard enough, every word you say becomes truth; we sell lithography machines to make them adapt to our rules."

Now we are showing them the forest, to make them understand who will call the shots in this forest from now on.