Chapter 561: The Chinese Code

Star-Spangled Country, Langley, the secret conference room of the Central Intelligence Agency headquarters.

The core members of the "Blue Bird Project" sat around an oval conference table, with satellite photos of Penglai Base and intelligence briefings spread out on the table. The atmosphere was so heavy that one could almost hear everyone's heartbeat.

"Gentlemen," Operation Director Thompson began solemnly, "the Longxin-III incident has been elevated to the highest priority matter of national security. The President has personally approved the Blue Bird Project; we have unlimited authorization and resources, and our only mission is to acquire Long Country's core technology."

A technical expert raised a hand: "We have already purchased three Longxin-III prototypes, but they all have strict usage restrictions, and our preliminary attempts at disassembly... have failed."

"What do you mean by failed?" Thompson asked sharply.

"Literal failure," the technical expert said, face pale. "Just as we removed the casing and were preparing to analyze the motherboard, the entire core Chip suddenly heated up and melted into an unrecognizable mixture of metal within seconds. They installed some kind of self-destruct mechanism in the equipment."

There was Silence in the conference room.

"Then change the approach," Thompson said calmly. "If we cannot disassemble the prototypes, we will acquire the technology directly from the source. Penglai Base must store the complete technical data and source code."

Colonel Douglas, head of the operations group, nodded: "My team has already formulated three infiltration plans. Plan one: insert agents into Penglai Base through diplomatic or commercial channels; Plan two: flip internal personnel and buy technical blueprints and code with heavy bribes; Plan three..." He paused, his voice dropping lower, "a small-scale night infiltration operation by special forces to precisely extract key data."

"Military action is too risky," the intelligence analyst shook their head. "Once discovered, the international consequences would be unimaginable."

"But time is tight," Douglas insisted. "Beijixiong Guo has already acted; their 'Fire Phoenix' project is more aggressive than ours. Intelligence indicates they have even considered the possibility of kidnapping Long Country scientists."

Thompson thought for a moment and made a decision: "Execute Plan one and Plan two simultaneously. Keep Plan three as a last resort, but begin preparations immediately. Additionally, continue software-level analysis on the existing prototypes to see if we can find a technical breakthrough by starting with the Operating System."

Outside Moscow, inside a secret research facility guarded by heavy troops.

The command post for "Fire Phoenix Operation" was set up inside a seemingly ordinary brick building, but it was equipped with the most advanced communication and surveillance equipment of the time.

KGB Colonel Petrov was listening to a report from a technical expert, his expression growing increasingly gloomy.

"Say that again," Petrov said through gritted teeth, "our top engineers cannot even open the casing of the Longxin-III?"

The technical expert Weikeduo wiped sweat from his forehead: "It is not that we cannot open it, Comrade Colonel. It is that after opening it, the internal core components immediately self-destruct. We have already lost two priceless prototypes, and now only one intact one remains; we dare not take any more risks."

"Trash!" Petrov slammed a fist onto the table. "What about the Star-Spangled Country side? Do they have any progress?"

Intelligence Officer Makarov shook his head: "According to our moles' reports, they have encountered the same dilemma. However, they seem to be attempting a software-level breakthrough, trying to decompile the Operating System."

"Then we must do the same," Petrov stood up and walked to the map of Penglai Base hanging on the wall. "At the same time, accelerate the pace of Fire Phoenix Operation. I need more moles, more intelligence. If necessary, we can consider direct action."

"Direct action?" Makarov asked in surprise. "Do you mean..."

"I said nothing," Petrov looked at him coldly. "Just that if there is an opportunity to contact the core technical personnel or data at Penglai Base, do not hesitate. Comrade First Seat has already ordered it, at any cost."

One week later, Hong Kong, inside an inconspicuous teahouse.

A middle-aged Western man was talking in low tones with a person who looked like a Long Country merchant. The Westerner held a briefcase in his hand, looking around nervously.

"Where is the goods?" the Westerner asked in broken Long Country language.

The Long Country merchant sipped his tea unhurriedly: "Where is the money?"

The Westerner opened the briefcase slightly, revealing the neatly stacked banknotes inside: "One million US dollars, cash. Now, give me the item."

The Long Country merchant smiled slightly and pulled a small metal box from his bosom: "Inside is the complete Pangu Operating System source code memory card. It is absolutely the original version leaked from Penglai Base, without any restrictions or self-destruct mechanisms."

The Westerner impatiently took the metal box and opened it cautiously. Inside lay a thin card, printed with the Long Country national emblem and the two characters "Pangu".

"How do I prove this is real?" the Westerner asked suspiciously.

"You can verify it right now," the Long Country merchant pointed to a small device the Westerner was carrying. "Isn't that a portable verifier?"

The Westerner hesitated for a moment and inserted the card into the device. A few seconds later, the indicator light on the device turned green, showing a successful read. He quickly browsed the content, a look of pleasant surprise appearing on his face: "Deal!"

The two quickly exchanged the briefcase and the metal box, then left the teahouse separately.

The Westerner impatiently dove into a car parked at the street corner and said excitedly into the radio: "Magpie calling headquarters, I have it! Repeat, I have the source code for the Pangu System! Returning to the safe house now."

However, when he returned to the safe house and handed the memory card to the technical expert, his excitement quickly turned into confusion and disappointment.

"What... are these?" the technical expert stared at the dense square characters on the screen, looking blank.

The Westerner leaned over to look: "What's wrong? Is there a problem?"

"The problem is huge," the technical expert smiled bitterly. "This is indeed source code, but... it is all in Chinese! Not simple Chinese comments, but full-blown Chinese programming! Variable names, function names, comments, even operators and syntax structures are in Chinese!"

The Westerner's face turned pale instantly: "This... how is this possible?"

"I have never seen such a situation," the technical expert shook his head. "Normal programming languages are all based on English symbols and syntax, but this... is an entirely different system."

The Westerner slumped into his chair: "So, even if we have the source code, we cannot understand it?"

"Unless we find an expert proficient in both Chinese and computer technology," the technical expert smiled bitterly, "and such a person almost does not exist in our country."

Meanwhile, intelligence operations were in full swing all over the world.