Chapter 590: Project Approval

General Wang's teacup trembled slightly in his hand, tea spilling onto the table, yet he remained completely unaware.

"The weapon systems include: high-energy plasma cutting cannons mounted on both arms, with a range of 5 kilometers, capable of instantly melting through the armor of modern main battle tanks; twin-linked electromagnetic railguns on the shoulders, with a range of 50 kilometers and a projectile muzzle velocity of Mach 8; and a back-mounted payload capacity for tactical nuclear warheads, allowing for strategic strike missions as needed."

The entire conference room was deathly silent; everyone stared at the screen, dumbfounded, as if they were witnessing a scene from a science fiction movie.

"The sensor systems include early warning radar, infrared/optical multispectral detectors, and an AI-assisted combat system based on Longxin-III. Regarding mobility, the land travel speed is 120 kilometers per hour, utilizing magnetic levitation auxiliary technology; it also possesses short-range flight capability, relying on a plasma vector propulsion system."

As Li Mingyuan explained, the screen played test footage of "Chiyou" walking, running, and even briefly flying in an underground test facility. The massive steel body displayed a level of agility inconsistent with its size, the ground trembling slightly with every step it took.

"Is... is this real?" Minister Zhang asked in a hoarse voice, "Have we truly built such a... weapon?"

Li Mingyuan scanned the room, a resolute light flickering in his eyes: "'Chiyou' is not just a weapon; it is the ultimate guardian and technical verification platform for the 'Yanlong' project. Its power core—a small fusion reactor—is the core technology of the 'Yanlong' Phase II. Its existence proves that we not only have the capability but also the determination to complete the 'Yanlong' Phase II project."

His voice gradually rose: "At the same time, it is also our final line of defense against external threats. Any force attempting to obstruct Long Country's technological development, any enemy daring to challenge our core interests, will be thoroughly crushed by it!"

This final statement was delivered with such force that it echoed in the conference room for a long time.

The teacup in General Wang's hand finally gave way, falling to the ground with a "clatter" and shattering into dozens of pieces. Yet no one paid any attention to the teacup; everyone's focus was captured by the steel giant on the screen.

Academician Chen opened his mouth wide, wanting to say something but unable to speak. His rationality as a scientist told him that such technology was impossible to achieve in the current era; but as a scholar with decades of research experience, he could also see from the technical details that everything displayed on the screen was real.

This massive cognitive dissonance caused his brain to nearly crash.

"Chief Engineer... Chief Engineer Li," Director Wu of the Ministry of Finance spoke with difficulty, his voice trembling, "How much did this 'Chiyou'... cost?"

Li Mingyuan was confident: "The entire project cost 870 million Long Yuan, including infrastructure construction, material research and development, and manufacturing costs. Most of the funding came from Longxin-III technology transfer revenue and foreign exchange reserves."

This relatively "reasonable" figure actually eased the tense atmosphere in the room slightly. At the very least, it proved that Li Mingyuan was not completely detached from reality, but was operating within the limits of the nation's financial capacity.

The leader took a deep breath, breaking the silence: "Chief Engineer Li, could you explain in detail the technical connection between 'Yanlong' Phase II and this... 'Chiyou'?"

Li Mingyuan nodded: "'Chiyou's' core power system is actually a miniaturized and engineered application of 'Yanlong' Phase I technology. Through it, we have verified the feasibility of fusion technology in practical applications. What 'Yanlong' Phase II needs to do is to further scale up this technology while optimizing energy conversion efficiency and safety control systems."

He pressed the remote control, and two comparison charts appeared on the screen: "On the left is 'Chiyou's' fusion power core, and on the right is the preliminary design for 'Yanlong' Phase II. Essentially, they use the same physical principles and engineering implementation paths; only the scale and application scenarios differ."

Academician Chen finally found his voice: "From a scientific perspective... this is indeed a reasonable path of technological evolution. If 'Chiyou's' fusion engine can truly run stably, then expanding it to an industrial scale is indeed... theoretically feasible."

The atmosphere in the room began to shift subtly, the initial shock gradually replaced by an indescribable excitement.

"But what about the international impact?" the representative from the Military Industry Commission still had concerns, "Once the West discovers we are developing such advanced technology, will it trigger more severe confrontation?"

Li Mingyuan sneered: "That is why we built 'Chiyou'. It is not just a technical verification platform; it is our strategic deterrent. The West can mock a research paper, but they cannot ignore a steel giant standing right in front of them. When spies from the Star-Spangled Country and Beijixiong Guo capture photos of 'Chiyou' and send them back home, they will understand the price of provoking Long Country."

The leader folded his hands, his gaze profound: "Chief Engineer Li, if I understand you correctly, are you suggesting we adopt a... technological deterrence strategy?"

"Exactly," Li Mingyuan said firmly, "The rise of Long Country will inevitably cause resistance and suppression from existing major powers. But if we master core technologies they cannot reach, especially energy technology, then we have the capital to contend with them. 'Chiyou' is the concrete embodiment of this strategy, while 'Yanlong' Phase II is the long-term foundation of this strategy."

General Wang was silent for a long time before finally speaking: "I must admit, from a military perspective, the existence of 'Chiyou' can indeed form an effective deterrent. Its combat capability... exceeds our existing weapon systems by at least three generations."

Minister Zhang was thoughtful: "If 'Yanlong' Phase II can succeed, Long Country will master the most important energy technology of the next fifty years. This has decisive significance for our international status and economic development."

"The question is, can we build it?" Director Wu of the Ministry of Finance still had doubts, "Even with the funding, is our industrial base and reserve of technical talent sufficient to support such a super-project?"

Li Mingyuan was confident: "'Chiyou's' successful construction has already proven this. In fact, to build it, we have already cultivated a high-quality team of researchers and engineers and established multiple specialized laboratories and production lines. These can all be directly utilized for 'Yanlong' Phase II. We are not starting from scratch, but moving forward on an existing foundation."

The atmosphere in the room became increasingly heated; the initial questioning and opposition were gradually replaced by excitement and anticipation.

"I propose," the leader finally broke the discussion, his voice solemn, "that we hold a vote on the 'Yanlong' Phase II project. Comrades in favor, please raise your hands."

Almost simultaneously, everyone's hands were raised.