Chapter 454: Navy: It's Our Turn Now

In stark contrast to the vibration and chaos of the outside world, the atmosphere inside the 404 Military Base was surprisingly calm.

The celebrations for the successful first test launch ended quickly; Li Mingyuan did not immerse himself in the joy of victory, but immediately organized his team to enter the next phase of work. In his view, the success of "Changfeng" was only a beginning, far from the end.

Inside the large conference room of the command center, the core team members sat around a long table, each with a steaming cup of tea in front of them. Li Mingyuan stood before the projection screen, with several brand-new design blueprints behind him.

"Everyone," his voice was calm and firm, "the success of 'Changfeng' has won us a precious strategic buffer period. But we cannot stop our steps; we must continue to move forward."

He pressed the remote control, and the projection screen displayed a design blueprint for a new type of missile. Compared to "Changfeng," this missile was more compact, and its exterior had subtle changes.

"This is 'Changfeng-M,' an improved model designed specifically for launch from submarines or surface warships. Compared to the land-based version, its size is reduced by 20%, but its range and precision remain basically unchanged."

The chief engine designer, Professor Zheng, could not help but ask, "Does this mean we need to further miniaturize the 'Storm Heart' engine? That is quite a challenge."

Li Mingyuan nodded, "Indeed. But we have already mastered the core technology; what we need now is engineering optimization, not a breakthrough in fundamentals."

He switched to the next blueprint, which was a completely different system—a complex network structure diagram marked with several satellites and ground stations.

"More importantly, there is this project—the 'Beidou' navigation system."

The conference room was suddenly in an uproar. Several Military Representatives exchanged puzzled looks.

"A navigation system?" the person in charge of the guidance system, Doctor Wang, asked curiously, "What is the principle behind this?"

Li Mingyuan smiled, a mysterious light flickering in his eyes, "Simply put, it is to deploy a series of special satellites in space, and through precise time signal transmission, allow ground receivers to calculate their own precise position. This will completely revolutionize our navigation and guidance technology."

"Sounds like science fiction," an elderly Military Representative frowned, "A navigation system in space? Is this feasible?"

"Not only feasible, it will change the world," Li Mingyuan said firmly, "Imagine, when our missiles, aircraft, and ships can all know their precise position at any time, with accuracy reaching a few meters or even less... what kind of military advantage will this bring?"

People in the room began to whisper, gradually understanding the revolutionary significance of this concept.

"'Changfeng' has already shocked the Star-Spangled Country and Beijixiong Guo," Li Mingyuan continued, "but it still relies on terrain-matching navigation, which has its limitations. With the 'Beidou' system, our missiles can strike targets precisely in any terrain and any weather conditions, with errors controllable within a few meters."

He paused, looking around at everyone in the room, "More importantly, this is not just military technology, but also civilian technology. It will completely change numerous fields such as transportation, communications, and surveying."

Following Li Mingyuan's explanation, sparks of excitement gradually ignited in the eyes of the team members. "Changfeng" had already proven their capabilities, while the "Beidou" system represented a broader future.

"Of course, this is a long-term project," Li Mingyuan added, "We need to launch multiple satellites, establish a ground station network, develop receivers... this may take ten years or even longer. But we must start now."

Minister Zhang asked thoughtfully, "How will the Star-Spangled Country and Beijixiong Guo react? They are already so shocked by 'Changfeng'; if they learn that we are still developing such a system..."

"They will be even crazier," Li Mingyuan shrugged lightly, "But so what? They are already doing their best to stop us. Our only path is to keep moving forward, never stopping."

The meeting lasted for three hours, and the team members discussed every aspect of the new project—technical challenges, manpower requirements, security measures... When Li Mingyuan finally announced the end of the meeting, everyone had a new sense of determination on their faces.

The success of "Changfeng" was only a starting point, not an end. The path of technology for Long Country had only just begun.

After the meeting ended, Li Mingyuan remained in the conference room alone, looking at the "Beidou" system blueprints on the projection screen, a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. As a transmigrator, he knew that this system would not be realized until decades later in the original history, but now, it would descend upon this world ahead of time.

Just as he was immersed in his thoughts, the office door was knocked upon.

"Please come in," he said without turning his head.

Minister Zhang walked in, his expression somewhat strange, "Chief Engineer Li, there are a few guests who want to see you."

Li Mingyuan turned around, raised an eyebrow and asked, "Guests? Who?"

"Comrades from the Navy," Minister Zhang lowered his voice, "Deputy Commander Liu came in person, saying there are important matters to discuss."

Li Mingyuan was stunned for a moment, then revealed a knowing smile. He knew what the success of "Changfeng" would bring—every branch of the military would vie to obtain this game-changing weapon.

"Interesting," he muttered to himself, then said to Minister Zhang, "Please let them in. It seems 'Changfeng-M' is on the agenda sooner than I imagined."

……

"Commander Liu, you cannot just walk in like this, Chief Engineer Li is currently—" the voice of the secretary, Kobayashi, carried urgency and helplessness.

"What Chief Engineer Li! We are old acquaintances! Besides, I am here on national business; what would a little girl like you know!" a loud male voice responded unceremoniously.

The office door was pushed open violently, and a burly, middle-aged man with a face full of flesh strode in, with Kobayashi behind him looking at Li Mingyuan with an apologetic expression.

Li Mingyuan looked up and couldn't help but laugh: "Brother Liu, what wind blew you here? You're in such a rush, you look like you're about to burst into flames."

Deputy Commander Liu didn't say a word, sitting directly on the chair opposite Li Mingyuan's desk; the movement was so large that the chair let out an unbearable creak.

"Comrade Li Mingyuan!" he began with a form of address that ignored the boundary between public and private, "I am here today specifically to demand an explanation from you!"

Li Mingyuan waved his hand to signal Kobayashi to leave, then looked at the Navy Deputy Commander before him with composure: "Brother Liu, what explanation?"

"What explanation?" the expression on Deputy Commander Liu's face was as exaggerated as if borrowed from a folk theater troupe; he slapped his thigh hard, "You kid are too unloyal! Too biased!"

Li Mingyuan was amused by his appearance: "How am I biased? Tell me about it."

"Count it on your fingers yourself!" Deputy Commander Liu really stretched out his thick fingers covered in calluses, "The Army, with their new tanks and rocket launchers, they are performing so impressively, those little bastards from the Star-Spangled Country are shivering just looking at them; whose handiwork is this? It's you, Master Li!" He bent down one finger.

"The Air Force goes without saying; that 'Changfeng' missile slapped the faces of the Star-Spangled Country and Beijixiong Guo until they were swollen, and now the whole world knows that our Long Country is not to be trifled with; whose credit is this again? It's still you, Master Li!" Another finger was bent down.

Li Mingyuan smiled and shook his head: "How is this my credit alone? It is the result of everyone working together..."

"Spare me that!" Deputy Commander Liu interrupted him impatiently, "Everyone knows that without you, these things would have been delayed by at least twenty years!"

He suddenly changed his tone, his face full of grievance like a young wife who had been bullied: "But what about our Navy? Where do we in the Navy stand? We don't even have a decent 'big ship'! Do you know what our main force is now? Just those decrepit frigates; we are terrified every time we go on a long voyage, fearing they might fall apart any day!"

Li Mingyuan was left between laughter and tears by his way of complaining like a wet-market auntie: "Brother Liu, I have always kept the Navy's affairs in mind, it's just..."

"Kept in mind?" Deputy Commander Liu looked disbelieving, "Keeping it in mind doesn't produce anything! You've already 'birthed' several 'fat boys' for the Army and Air Force; look at us in the Navy, this 'old bachelor' is still waiting eagerly!"

This metaphor was so vivid that even Li Mingyuan couldn't help but laugh out loud: "Brother Liu, your metaphor is really..."

"What are you laughing at!" Deputy Commander Liu was anxious, "Our Navy is an important armed force of the Long Country! Without a powerful Navy, how can we defend our maritime territory? How can we safeguard our maritime rights and interests? You scientists only know how to study those things that fly around; if you're so capable, make the ships fly too!"

These words were like a bolt of lightning, flashing through Li Mingyuan's mind. Ships, flying?

"Brother Liu, don't be anxious," Li Mingyuan said seriously, "I am definitely not favoring one over the other. To tell you the truth, I have already been considering Navy equipment, it's just that things at sea are more complex and require more careful planning."

Deputy Commander Liu was skeptical: "Really?"

"Of course it's true," Li Mingyuan patted his chest in assurance, "Don't worry, very soon, you will have a surprise."

"Be specific! When can I see the blueprints? When can we start construction?" Deputy Commander Liu pressed on, "We need destroyers, at least destroyers to start with! Those frigates are too small, they look like toys on the big ocean!"

Li Mingyuan stood up, walked to Deputy Commander Liu's side, and patted his shoulder: "Brother Liu, you go back first, let me ponder this some more. Very soon, really very soon, you will have news."

"I'll hold you to that!" Deputy Commander Liu stood up, half-believing, "Don't think that just because you've brushed me off once, it's over; I'll come back in a few days to urge you!" He walked toward the door, looking back every few steps, muttering to himself: "Destroyers... at least destroyers to start with... it would be best if there were cruisers... the kind that can fight and take a hit..."

Watching Deputy Commander Liu leave, Li Mingyuan shook his head and smiled, but that phrase "if you're so capable, make the ships fly" lingered in his mind.

"Make the ships fly..." Li Mingyuan muttered to himself, suddenly thinking of something, his eyes lighting up.

He quickly locked the office door and headed straight for his most secret data room. No one could enter this room except for him, and it contained various data he had brought back from the future world—although most of it consisted of fragmented information and conceptual hints, for him, every single term could spark a flash of inspiration.

Li Mingyuan took a thin notebook out of the safe; this was the "Summary of Future Military Technology Development" he had compiled before transmigrating. The content was not detailed, serving more as a catalog or a collection of keywords, but for him, it was already enough.

He flipped through it quickly, his gaze suddenly resting on one term—"Ground Effect Vehicle."

Next to it was a small note: "Beijixiong Guo 'Caspian Sea Monster', surface effect, ultra-low altitude high speed."

This is it!