Chapter 219: The Cloud Bomb That Made a Great Noise

Li Yunlong listened quietly to all the reports, then stood up and looked around at everyone in the conference room.

"Comrades, I know the situation is grim, but this is precisely the time to test us. The enemy thinks they have the victory in their grasp, but they are wrong."

He walked to the map and pointed to several key locations: "We must contract our defensive lines, abandon these peripheral strongholds, and concentrate our forces to hold the Hexin positions. All Cloud Bombs and Feilong-1 Rockets are to be used only at the most critical moments."

"What about the civilians?" a Long Country officer asked. "There are quite a few Taiyang civilians in those peripheral strongholds."

Li Yunlong was silent for a moment, then said firmly: "Evacuate as many as possible, but the primary mission is to preserve our strength. We cannot afford to lose this war, do you understand?"

After the meeting ended, Li Yunlong stood alone outside the temporary command post, looking at the scattered enemy campfires in the distance.

"It seems I am forced to play defense, damn it." He muttered to himself, a flash of unwillingness and anxiety in his eyes, "Li Mingyuan, oh Li Mingyuan, I hope you can provide some good news on your end, otherwise we are really going to be beaten back to before the Yan Jiefang."

At the headquarters of the Di Guo CIA, a special secret meeting was underway.

"It's brilliant, simply a perfect reversal!" CIA Director Olivier Dulles slammed the table and stood up, looking around at the other members in the conference room.

"A week ago we were still agonizing over the collapse of the front line, and now we have seized the initiative."

"This is mainly due to the high-altitude reconnaissance system," the Intelligence Department Head tapped the table lightly.

"The intelligence provided by the U-2 is invaluable. We now have almost complete information on the Long Country frontline troops, including their weapon systems, anti-aircraft layouts, and we can even see clearly what kind of tea the soldiers are drinking."

A Military Representative added: "The point is that we have confirmed their anti-aircraft system cannot deal with flight targets above 6,000 meters. This discovery has completely changed the war situation."

Dulles nodded with satisfaction: "Keep telling me about that... new bomb. What the hell is it?"

A thin scientist stood up and pushed up the glasses on the bridge of his nose:

"According to our analysis, it is a high-efficiency aerosol explosive device that utilizes a two-stage explosion principle. The first stage releases a special fuel to form a combustion cloud; the second stage detonates this combustion cloud, producing ultra-high temperatures and a powerful shockwave."

"Sounds complicated, can we replicate it?"

The scientist shook his head: "It is difficult to achieve in the short term. This requires cutting-edge chemical synthesis technology and precise detonation control systems. But what is even more puzzling is..."

"What?"

"The industrial base of Long Country could not possibly support the research and production of such a weapon. Even for us, it would take several years to develop a similar weapon. It's like... like technology from the future has suddenly appeared in the present."

There was a silence in the conference room, with everyone pondering this strange phenomenon.

"There are rumors that the Beijixiong Guo is helping them," the Intelligence Department Head broke the silence, "but as far as I know, even the Beijixiong Guo themselves do not have this technology."

Dulles thought for a moment and waved for the scientist to sit down:

"Regardless of where this technology came from, our top priority is to continue weakening the enemy's advantage. According to the latest intelligence, the Long Country military has begun to shrink its defensive lines, which shows that our strategy is working."

"That's right," the Military Representative nodded, "We have cut off 70% of their supply lines, and the inventory of Cloud Bombs and anti-aircraft rockets is being depleted rapidly. Li Yunlong has been forced to abandon several important strongholds and concentrate his forces to guard the Hexin positions."

……

In the cold Mocheng, deep inside the Kremlin in a secret conference room.

Several high-ranking officers of the Beijixiong Guo and the SS commander sat around a huge oak table, with shock and unease written on every face.

Several photos were scattered on the table, the most striking being a set of Mushroom Cloud images—orange-red fire clouds shooting straight into the sky, with the twisted and deformed wreckage of enemy tanks below.

"These photos were brought back by our agents in Taiyang three days ago at great risk," a tall, thin man from the intelligence department said softly.

"According to our analysis, this is not a nuclear explosion, but some kind of brand-new conventional weapon."

"Impossible!" A general with a face full of jowls slammed the table, "Only a Mushroom Weapon could achieve this kind of destructive power! The Long Country people are lying, they must have secretly developed a Mushroom Weapon!"

Presiding over the meeting was Beijixiong Guo Defense Minister Bulganin, who raised his hand to signal for silence, his gaze sweeping over everyone:

"Our scientists have confirmed that there are no characteristic radiation rings of a nuclear explosion in these photos. Although it is hard to believe, all evidence indicates that Long Country has indeed invented a conventional weapon with power comparable to a small Mushroom Egg."

There was a Silence in the conference room as everyone digested this shocking news.

"In addition to this 'Cloud Bomb', Long Country has also developed portable anti-aircraft rockets capable of shooting down the enemy's most Advanced fighter jets, as well as All-Terrain Tracked Vehicles capable of rapid movement in mountainous terrain," the Intelligence Officer continued to report.

"The technical level of these weapons... if I may be so bold, even exceeds our current level of research and development."

"Absurd!" Another officer sneered, "Long Country doesn't even have a decent heavy industrial base, how could they possibly surpass us? These so-called 'miracle weapons' must have been provided to them by us."

Bulganin shook his head: "No, we have never provided these technologies to Long Country. In fact, many of the technologies in these weapon systems are still in the experimental stage for us."

The conference room fell into silence again, and the atmosphere became even more heavy.

"According to intelligence, the designer of these weapons is a man named Li Mingyuan," the Intelligence Officer opened a thin file, "He previously studied here, but he did not show any particularly great talent during his studies."

Military Industry Commission Chairman Malenkov pondered for a moment and spoke: "We need more information about this Li Mingyuan. If Long Country really has mastered these advanced technologies, then the balance of power will change completely."

"I suggest immediately dispatching an Advanced technical delegation to Long Country under the guise of 'aid'," a scientist proposed, "to observe these weapons up close and figure out their principles."

"At the same time, strengthen intelligence gathering," the Intelligence Department Head added, "Our network in Long Country must be reinforced, focusing on their military industrial production and all activities of this Li Mingyuan."

Bulganin nodded, but his brow remained furrowed: "There is one more question no one has mentioned. If Long Country's technology is truly this advanced... will they become a potential threat? Even to us?"

This question made the atmosphere in the conference room suddenly tense.

Beijixiong Guo and Long Country are allies on the surface, but everyone knows there are no permanent friends.

"I think we should increase our technical infiltration and intelligence gathering on Long Country," a high-ranking official in a black uniform said coldly, "If necessary, consider 'special operations' to ensure these technologies do not pose a threat to us."