Chapter 406: Explosive Order Volume

In the video, the 107 Rocket Launcher demonstrated its battlefield value with astonishing mobility and firepower, especially its lightweight and flexible characteristics, which caught the eyes of many representatives from regions where guerrilla warfare is frequent.

"What about the ammunition cost?" a representative from a Latin American country asked straightforwardly, a calculating glint flashing in their eyes.

Li Mingyuan was confident: "The cost of each ordinary high-explosive shell is about 4 Star-Spangled Currency, far lower than similar products. More importantly, we provide complete ammunition production technology transfer, allowing your country to produce it yourself, no longer relying on foreign supplies."

This statement triggered a burst of whispering; for countries long controlled by weapon-supplying nations, the ability to produce their own ammunition was simply a massive temptation.

"What about the price?" Jin Tieshu of the Taiji Tiger country asked impatiently.

Li Mingyuan smiled and pointed to the large screen: "The Series Light Weapons are priced at 60% of similar Star-Spangled Country products, and the 107 Rocket Launcher system is priced at 50% of similar Beijixiong Guo products, while providing a full set of training and long-term technical support."

After this price was announced, the venue was almost boiling. Representatives from African and Latin American countries stood up, scrambling to ask about ordering details. Long Country foreign trade personnel shuttled through the crowd, recording the preliminary intentions of various countries.

"Not only that," Li Mingyuan raised his voice, "we also provide weapon usage training and tactical guidance to help your troops maximize the performance of these weapons."

When the tour ended, the exhibition site was already in a frenzy. The triple impact of Long Country steel products, Numerical Control Machine Tools, and weapon systems completely overturned the representatives' perceptions of Long Country. Western experts who had come with skeptical or even contemptuous attitudes now left in a hurry with ashen faces; meanwhile, representatives from Yafelai Guo countries excitedly gathered in front of the booths, scrambling to pre-order products.

Li Mingyuan stood at the entrance of the exhibition hall, watching the delegations from various countries leave, a meaningful smile hanging on the corner of his mouth.

"It has begun," he whispered to himself, "the rise of Long Country officially starts from today."

Three days later, the global media seemed to have exploded.

"Long Country steel sweeps the globe at 70% of the price!"

"The world's first fully automatic Numerical Control Machine Tool, Western technology surpassed!"

"Third World countries scramble to buy Long Country products, trade landscape undergoes a massive change!"

The front-page headlines of all major newspapers focused on the Yangcheng Zhanxiaohui, and international public opinion exploded overnight. Even the most conservative Western media had to admit the astonishing breakthrough in Long Country's technical strength.

The first statistical data after the exhibition ended was even more astonishing: orders for steel products exceeded 2 million tons, with a total value of nearly 300 million Star-Spangled Currency; pre-orders for Numerical Control Machine Tools reached 273 units, almost equivalent to half of the global annual production of precision machine tools; weapon systems were an even greater success, with orders for the Series Light Weapons exceeding 500,000 units and orders for the 107 Rocket Launcher system exceeding 300 sets.

Most astonishingly, 90% of these orders came from Yafelai Guo countries, which meant that the international trade landscape would undergo profound changes.

In the capital of Beijixiong Guo, the Kremlin was brightly lit. The leader had not closed his eyes for 48 consecutive hours, and his desk was piled high with reports and photos about the Long Country exhibition.

"This is not a simple trade activity," the Intelligence Department Head said solemnly, "this is a geopolitical revolution. Long Country is using economic and technical means to reshape the entire Third World alliance system."

Academy of Sciences President Dobrov added: "What is even more worrying is their technical strength. That Numerical Control Machine Tool demonstrates not only mechanical manufacturing capability but also a breakthrough in digital control technology. If this technology is applied to the military field..."

The leader pounded the table: "Adjust the strategy toward Long Country immediately! I need a comprehensive assessment report analyzing Long Country's possible technical routes and industrial layout. At the same time, accelerate our own technical research and development, especially in the fields of numerical control and precision manufacturing; we must not let the gap widen!"

At the same time, inside the Black Palace of the Star-Spangled Country, the atmosphere was as if facing a formidable enemy. The leader was furious and slammed a stack of reports to the ground.

"Trash! All trash!" he roared, "Our intelligence department actually failed to foresee all of this! Long Country's numerical control technology is at least five years ahead of us! Their steel price policy has already caused our export market to suffer heavy losses!"

The Vice Commander tried to appease him: "Sir, we can use diplomatic means to pressure those..."

"It's already too late!" the leader interrupted him, "Look at these order figures! Long Country has captured the Yafelai Guo market in one fell swoop! Worse, even our allies, Sakura and Taiji Tiger, are queuing up to buy their equipment!"

Central Intelligence Agency Director Allen looked grave: "What is even more worrying is that this is just the beginning. If Long Country continues this pace of technical breakthroughs and industrial expansion, within five years, the global industrial landscape will be completely changed."

The leader took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down: "Accelerate the 'Sky Eye' and 'Thor's Hammer' projects with full force. I don't care what method you use; within one month, I want to see the rocket on the launch pad! At the same time, conduct a comprehensive review of our industrial and technical policies; we must find a solution to meet the Long Country challenge!"

The reaction of the international market was even more dramatic. The European Steel Federation held an emergency crisis meeting to discuss how to deal with the "price shock" of Long Country steel; precision machine tool manufacturers scrambled to adjust their product strategies and pricing systems; military giants discovered with horror that the Third World market they had monopolized for years was rapidly slipping away.

What infuriated the Star-Spangled Country most was the sudden shift in the attitudes of Sakura and Taiji Tiger. These two allies, originally regarded as "Asian outposts," sent high-level delegations to the Long Country capital less than a week after the exhibition to express their willingness to "deepen cooperation."

Sakura Prime Minister Yamamoto publicly stated during a speech in the Diet: "In the past, our understanding of Long Country was biased and misunderstood; this was a historical mistake. As close neighbors, we should face up to Long Country's development achievements and establish a more equal and friendly bilateral relationship."

What annoyed the Star-Spangled Country even more was that Taiji Tiger President Li Chengye spoke bluntly in an interview with reporters: "Our country's path to industrialization needs reliable partners, and Long Country's numerical control technology and steel industry are exactly what we need. Why buy at high prices from across the ocean instead of getting better terms from a neighbor? This is economic logic and an inevitable choice for regional cooperation."

The Star-Spangled Country embassy in Taiji Tiger immediately issued a statement accusing Taiji Tiger of "betraying allies and defecting to a potential enemy," even using provocative vocabulary like "ungrateful dogs," triggering a diplomatic crisis.

However, these diplomatic crises seemed to have no impact on the decisions of Sakura and Taiji Tiger. Sakura had already signed a steel import agreement worth 50 million Star-Spangled Currency, and Taiji Tiger had ordered its first batch of 20 Numerical Control Machine Tools for its newly built precision manufacturing factory.