Chapter 568: Take It or Leave It

However, everyone knows that cultivating talent proficient in Chinese and knowledgeable in cutting-edge Computer science takes several years, while the advantages of Longxin-III technology are already right before our eyes and cannot be ignored.

Beijixiong Guo, Academy of Sciences special meeting.

"This is a disgrace! An absolute disgrace!" Material science professor Grigoryev was furious, "Our scientists created the world's first artificial satellite, yet we must be subject to the Long Country people's 'maintenance' clauses?"

Academy of Sciences President Kravchenko took off his glasses wearily: "Please calm down, Comrade Grigoryev. We all feel anger and unwillingness, but the fact is, Longxin-III is indeed at least ten years ahead of us, and the Chinese programming system truly constitutes an obstacle we cannot overcome in the short term."

"So we just admit defeat? Bow our heads to a country that once lagged behind us?" Grigoryev's voice was filled with a sense of humiliation.

Kravchenko shook his head: "It is not admitting defeat, it is a strategic adjustment. The Chief has decided that we will reach an agreement with Long Country through 'special material exchange'. On the surface, we will not sign that humiliating clause, but in substance, we will accept their technology and services."

"Although the phrasing has changed, it is still submission in essence," Grigoryev smiled bitterly, "What will our engineers think?"

"They will understand," Kravchenko said solemnly, "because they know the price of falling behind better than anyone. Of course, we will implement the strictest surveillance on Long Country's maintenance teams to ensure they do not obtain information beyond what is necessary."

A heavy atmosphere permeated the meeting room, and everyone's heart was filled with conflict and helplessness.

As the details of the Geneva negotiations were exposed, the emotions of the global public shifted rapidly from initial shock to anger and shame. Media from various countries vied to report, portraying Long Country's "Maintenance Hegemony" as a form of "Technical Enslavement".

Street protests spontaneously broke out in multiple countries, with people holding up signs with slogans like "Reject Technical Colonialism" and "Protect National Dignity," demanding that their governments boycott Longxin-III technology.

However, behind these intense expressions of emotion, policymakers in various countries faced cold, realistic choices.

Penglai Base, Li Mingyuan's office.

"It seems our 'take it or leave it' strategy has stirred up quite a storm," Minister Zhang said half-jokingly, handing Li Mingyuan a stack of translations of international media reports.

Li Mingyuan browsed through those hostile headlines, his expression calm: "As expected. No country is willing to admit that they rely on others for key technologies, especially those major powers accustomed to being high and mighty."

"Are you sure they will eventually accept the terms?" Minister Zhang was somewhat worried, "This storm has blown up too big, and governments everywhere are facing tremendous domestic pressure."

Li Mingyuan smiled mysteriously: "They will. Because they have no other choice."

He stood up and walked to the window: "Minister Zhang, do you know what the 'Prisoner's Dilemma' is?"

"That classic case in game theory? Two prisoners must choose between cooperation or betrayal?"

"Exactly," Li Mingyuan nodded, "The current situation is a variant—the 'Golden Prisoner's Dilemma'. Countries can choose to accept our terms to obtain technology, or refuse to preserve their dignity. But if they refuse while other countries accept, then the countries that accept will gain a huge technological advantage, while the countries that refuse will be at an absolute disadvantage in future competition."

Minister Zhang suddenly realized: "So they will all eventually choose to accept, even if they are ten thousand times unwilling in their hearts."

"That is exactly it. Furthermore," Li Mingyuan added, "I have already received intelligence that representatives from several small countries have begun privately contacting our business team, expressing their willingness to sign the agreement. Once this breach is opened..."

"The domino effect," Minister Zhang continued, "No one wants to be the first to bow their head, but no one dares to be the last to join."

Li Mingyuan smiled slightly: "Next, let us just wait and see."

Three days later, Geneva.

Inside the Long Country business delegation's office, the atmosphere was tense and subtle.

The first to stand outside the door waiting was a delegation from a small country. They were a country lacking in resources but with an important geographical location, urgently hoping to change their national destiny through a technological leap.

The Regimental Commander of the delegation, a middle-aged man, was invited into the meeting room with a grave expression.

"We... after careful consideration," his voice trembled slightly, "have decided to accept all the terms proposed by your country, including that 'Advanced Service Guarantee Clause'."

The Long Country representative nodded slightly and took the already prepared contract from a drawer: "A wise choice. Please sign here."

The small country representative picked up the pen, his hand visibly trembling. He paused before signing, seemingly struggling internally, but in the end, he gritted his teeth and pressed down the pen tip. After signing, he slumped into his chair as if all his strength had been drained away.

"Congratulations," the Long Country representative said calmly, "Your country will be among the first to enjoy Longxin-III technology. Our technical team will arrive within two weeks to begin system installation and training."

The small country representative managed a bitter smile: "I hope... I hope it is all worth it."

After he left, the meeting room door opened again, and unexpectedly, a high-level representative from Beijixiong Guo walked in.

"You won," the Beijixiong Guo representative said straight to the point, his tone cold, "but we will not sign that shameful public agreement."

The Long Country representative raised an eyebrow: "And then?"

"We propose a special material exchange agreement," the Beijixiong Guo representative handed over a document, "On the surface, we provide specific strategic materials to your country, and in exchange, your country provides us with technical equipment and 'consulting services'."

The Long Country representative browsed the document, the corners of his mouth slightly raised: "In substance, you are still accepting our terms, just changing the phrasing so it is easier for you to explain to your country?"

The Beijixiong Guo representative's expression was like he had bitten into a bitter fruit: "Let's call it a pragmatic compromise."

"Acceptable," the Long Country representative nodded, "but one point must be clear—the safety and freedom of movement of our technical team while in your country must be guaranteed."

"Of course," the Beijixiong Guo representative sneered, "they will receive the highest level of 'care'."

Both sides understood what this "care" meant—the tightest surveillance and tracking. But this was the maximum concession Beijixiong Guo could accept.

Star-Spangled Country Embassy in Switzerland, secret meeting room.

"What does Congress say?" Johnson asked anxiously.

"It's chaos," the assistant replied, "The opposition claims this is a 'treaty of national humiliation' and demands a firm boycott. But the assessment reports from the Military and intelligence departments have dealt them a heavy blow—if we abandon Longxin-III technology, we will be at an absolute disadvantage for the next decade, especially in the fields of military command and intelligence processing."

Johnson sighed deeply: "What is the President's final decision?"