Chapter 91: Driven to the Sea, A New Predicament

10,000 characters every day, five chapters presented; it is very tiring, everyone please give some encouragement.

……

"Full support!" the generals said in unison, "The country needs such talent."

After the meeting ended, Yang brought the good news to the Rolling Mill, where Li Mingyuan was in the laboratory researching a new type of artillery shell.

"Chief Engineer Li, good news!" Yang said, his face full of smiles, "The Anti-aircraft System you designed has won a complete victory at the front; the enemy's air raids have all been repelled, and the front line has already begun a major counterattack!"

Li Mingyuan put down the blueprints in his hand, a faint smile appearing on his face:

"This is an expected result. The 'Heavenly Net' Anti-aircraft System has an overwhelming advantage against these Bombers."

Yang was surprised by his calm attitude: "Chief Engineer Li, are you that certain?"

Li Mingyuan was noncommittal:

"Scientific technology is the primary productive force and also the key factor determining the outcome of a war. When we possess weapon systems that the other side cannot imagine, victory is already destined."

Yang sighed with emotion: "The higher-ups have decided to award you a Special Merit; in addition, the several new weapon research and development plans you submitted have all been approved."

A glimmer of excitement finally flashed in Li Mingyuan's eyes:

"This is what is most important. Next, I have more creative ideas to realize."

Yang asked curiously: "What new weapons are they?"

Li Mingyuan smiled mysteriously: "A secret; you will know when the time comes."

……

At the same time, inside the retreating enemy command post, the atmosphere was as heavy as a graveyard.

Tang Siling looked at the latest battle reports with a grim expression; one position after another was being abandoned, one unit after another was scattering, and the army once taken pride in was now like loose sand.

"Has the retreat route been secured?" Tang Siling asked, his voice full of exhaustion.

The Chief of Staff nodded: "Currently, it appears the enemy is mainly pursuing our main force; the retreat corridor is still quite safe for now."

Tang Siling gave a bitter laugh: "Everything is over. From the moment the rocket launchers appeared, the outcome of this war was already destined."

He stood up, walked to the window, and watched the soldiers busy retreating in the distance: "Do you know where our greatest failure lies?"

The Chief of Staff remained silent.

"It is not manpower, it is not tactics, but being defeated by one person," Tang Siling laughed at himself, "An engineer named Li Mingyuan; he alone is worth ten of our divisions."

He turned around abruptly, a flash of anger in his eyes: "Their weapons inventor created two weapon systems that changed the course of the war in just a few months, but what about ours? Aside from going to buy from the Star-Spangled Country, what can we produce?"

The Chief of Staff was speechless.

He looked at the operational map on the table and traced his finger over the positions that had already been lost: "For a war that cannot be won, it is better to end it early. Order the continued retreat; whatever can be taken, take it, and whatever cannot, destroy it on the spot."

……

At the front, Li Yunlong's troops were like tigers descending a mountain, pushing forward with unstoppable force.

Every time they captured a city, the soldiers would find large amounts of equipment and supplies abandoned by the enemy, some even brand new, with the packaging not yet removed.

"It seems the enemy is truly afraid," Zhang Dabiao scratched his scalp, looking at the mountain of spoils before him, "This equipment is enough to outfit three of our divisions."

Li Yunlong laughed loudly: "That goes without saying! Ever since we had the 'Heavenly Net', the enemy's planes haven't dared to take off; what else can they do? They can only run!"

Zhao Gang walked over, holding the latest battle report: "Good news, the south has been liberated, and the enemy is retreating toward the seaside."

Li Yunlong let out a long roar toward the sky: "Good! This time we have truly vented our anger! It is all thanks to Chief Engineer Li's precious weapons!"

He turned to the troops: "Comrades, put in more effort! Drive the enemy out completely!"

The soldiers cheered and jumped for joy, their morale as high as if they had been injected with chicken blood.

The speed of the war's progress exceeded everyone's expectations.

The enemy's positions fell one after another like dominoes, and nowhere could they form an effective resistance.

……

A week later, when Li Yunlong stood at Hai Zhi Bin, watching the last batch of enemy troops board their retreat ships in a sorry state, a sense of indescribable achievement welled up in his heart.

Li Yunlong patted the "Heavenly Net" Anti-aircraft System beside him: "This thing has performed a great service! When I go back, I must thank Chief Engineer Li properly!"

He gazed at the enemy ships drifting further and further away, a victor's smile on his face: "Run, run as far as you can! If you dare to come back, our rocket launchers and Anti-aircraft Guns will still be waiting for you!"

……

The joy of the war's victory had not yet dissipated, but production at the Rolling Mill encountered an unprecedented predicament.

On a winter morning, inside the factory conference room, the atmosphere was as heavy as if a giant rock were pressing down.

"According to the current production pace, our coal reserves can last until the middle of next month at most," the production manager reported with a worried face,

"Steel is even tighter; the inventory is no longer enough to support three production lines running simultaneously."

Sitting at the head of the table, Factory Lou Changzhang sighed deeply: "The higher-ups require us to produce at full capacity, but the resources cannot keep up."

The supply section chief reported next: "Electricity is also a big problem. The last three power cuts have seriously affected the production schedule. If this continues, completing the production tasks assigned by the higher-ups is almost impossible."

For a moment, there was silence in the conference room, with only the "gurgling" sound of water flowing in the heating pipes.

"What can we do about this?" Factory Lou Changzhang grabbed his hair, "The higher-ups want us to continue expanding production, yet they don't increase resource allocations. Isn't this asking us to perform magic?"

After the meeting ended, this arduous problem was reported to the Military Industry Department.

Upon receiving the report, Yang felt his head swell like a bucket.

Just as Yang was in a dilemma, his secretary knocked and entered: "Yang, Chief Engineer Li is here to see you."

"Invite him in quickly!" Yang felt a boost in spirits; every time Li Mingyuan appeared, he could almost always bring a solution to the problem.

Li Mingyuan walked into the office, still with that elegant and composed manner, as if insulated from the tense atmosphere outside.

"Chief Engineer Li, you've come at the right time," Yang said impatiently, "We have encountered a big problem."

"I have already learned about the resource shortage problem," Li Mingyuan nodded, "However, I think this problem might have an unexpected solution."

Yang's eyes lit up: "Tell me!"

Li Mingyuan sat down in a chair unhurriedly: "Yang, have we considered selling our weapons?"

"Sell them? Sell to whom?" Yang was stunned, then gave a bitter smile, "There are too few countries that can do business with us right now; most countries haven't even recognized us yet."

Li Mingyuan smiled slightly: "It doesn't necessarily have to be sold to those major powers. There are many small countries and regional forces in the Middle East and Southeast Asia that are in urgent need of weapons, and they hold the resources we need most—oil, rubber, and non-ferrous metals."

Yang frowned deeply: "But our diplomacy..."

"This is a special period," Li Mingyuan said decisively, "Some things can be conducted through private trading companies. On the surface, it is ordinary trade, but in reality, it can achieve our goals."