The next morning.
Somewhere in a Military Factory in Ludong.
One fully loaded military truck after another, carrying all kinds of costly experimental instruments, formed a long line at the security checkpoint and drove into the empty grounds.
More than a thousand soldiers hurried about the grounds, hauling military cables, steel frames, experimental equipment, and all manner of other supplies.
It wasn’t long before
the soldiers had efficiently assembled the framework of a large temporary laboratory. All it needed was the specialized experimental equipment set up inside, and it would be ready for normal use.
“Yanbing, why do you think the higher-ups suddenly issued an emergency order for us to build a large laboratory? Isn’t there already a Military Factory right next to us?”
“You’re asking me? If I knew, I’d be sitting in an office as a commander by now. Why would I still be out here working with you?!”
“Just look—they’ve even brought in military cables. Seems like the higher-ups are planning a major project!”
“I’ll let you in on a little secret. I heard this order didn’t come from the military district, but straight from Purple-Gold City. Think about that, and think carefully...”
Seeing that the laboratory was nearly assembled, several soldiers sat on the open ground and chatted.
But when a man dressed like an officer walked over and they saw his face, the soldiers sprang to their feet in fright.
“Time is short and the task is urgent. Everyone, get back to work. This mission has a very high security classification. Don’t discuss anything you shouldn’t!”
Instructor Li Bingfeng shot them a cold glance. They immediately lowered their heads and hurried away, afraid they would be confined to quarters when they got back.
Li Bingfeng didn’t linger either.
He went straight into the Military Factory and summoned all the researchers in charge of development.
“Comrades, I’m the instructor assigned here by the military district, and I’ll be coordinating with you on this work.”
“I assume you all received notice early this morning, but you may not know the details of the mission. I’ll keep it brief.”
After a brief pause, Li Bingfeng swept his gaze across the room and said solemnly:
“For the next nine days, I need everyone to suspend all research and development projects currently underway and give my work your full cooperation!”
“And barring any unforeseen circumstances, you won’t need to work on those projects again. New assignments will be waiting for you...”
“This is absurd! Absolutely absurd!”
Before Li Bingfeng could finish, Wang Zhengguo, one of the technical experts present, frowned and said:
“Instructor, you may have your reasons for giving this order, but do you understand how important the projects we’re working on are?”
“The enemy-locking technology for the robotic dog I’m developing has reached a critical stage. Once completed, it’ll be able to enter combat and kill the enemy without human control. It’ll be of great significance to Great Xia’s unmanned warfare capabilities.”
“As far as I know, the other comrades also have important projects underway. If you insist on making us suspend all our research to assist you, I’ll consider going to the Capital to appeal!”
Hearing Wang Zhengguo’s words, the other researchers nodded in agreement.
They all had military projects in progress. Some were nearing completion, while others were still in the thick of a tough battle.
Even if some projects seemed to have little impact, all of them together would still be a considerable help to Great Xia.
But this newly arrived instructor had demanded they suspend every research project as soon as he showed up. How could they accept that?
Just then,
a voice full of authority came from the doorway.
“Who was it that wanted to go to the Capital and complain?”
A middle-aged man in military uniform strode in from outside, a lieutenant general’s insignia on his shoulders.
“Damn, look! Isn’t that Lieutenant General Lin, the one who called out the parade formation during the military parade?”
Seeing that the newcomer was indeed Lieutenant General Lin, the researchers were astonished.
Amid the crowd’s surprised exclamations,
Lieutenant General Lin pressed both hands down, signaling for everyone to quiet down.
“I know you may have a lot of questions, but I can tell you with full confidence that the project you’re about to take part in is extremely important. It may even determine Great Xia’s national fortune!”
As soon as he said this,
the entire room fell silent. Even Wang Zhengguo, who had just been clamoring about appealing to the Capital, couldn’t help growing solemn.
“I can tell you this much for now: over the course of these nine days, your task will be to extract a brand-new metallic element that doesn’t exist on the periodic table!”
“This element is extremely difficult to extract. It may take several tons of iron-copper alloy, and even then, you might not manage to extract more than a few grams. Specialists will coordinate with you on the extraction method later.”
“Your assignment from the higher-ups is to extract at least fifty grams of this new metal within these nine days. It’s an extremely demanding task, and you may need to work through the night...”
As Lieutenant General Lin explained,
the researchers began breathing faster, bright light gleaming in their eyes.
They didn’t care whether they had to work through the night.
The chance to extract an entirely new metallic element was what mattered. To a group of researchers, it was like a striptease dancer standing before a wild west gunslinger—a temptation that was impossible to resist.
“Of course, before we begin this mission, I need to make something clear.”
Lieutenant General Lin’s gaze passed over each researcher in turn, and he said gravely:
“This mission involves Great Xia’s most sensitive state secrets and concerns its national fortune. Everyone taking part must sign a confidentiality agreement of the highest level. For the next several years, perhaps even decades, you may have to live under assumed names and be unable to see your families...”
“If anyone doesn’t want to take part in this mission, withdraw now. There’s still time!”
Faced with Lieutenant General Lin’s emphatic declaration,
not a single researcher chose to back down. Instead, their eyes burned with a feverish light called “excitement.”
A confidentiality agreement of the highest level, combined with decades of living under assumed names...
That was practically the perfect recipe for starting a new family lineage!
The famous figures of every dynasty had spent their lives pursuing one thing above all: a name that would be remembered throughout history. And now, that opportunity was right before them.
It was no exaggeration to say
that once they completed this mission, when they returned to the ancestral hall, they wouldn’t be the ones offering incense to their ancestors. Those Ancestors would have to bow down to them instead!
To take part in a great undertaking that concerned Great Xia’s national fortune, they’d be willing to live on the Gobi Desert every day, let alone under assumed names!
“Count me in!”
“I’m in too!”
“Same here!”
“...”
The researchers eagerly volunteered one after another. Even Wang Zhengguo was no exception, afraid there might be a limited number of spots and that he’d miss out if he was too late.
After signing the confidentiality agreements,
they quickly coordinated with the specialists who had arrived and learned how to extract the new element, then threw themselves into the work in a feverish rush.
..................
This was merely a small glimpse of the bigger picture.
After receiving orders from above, every branch of Great Xia’s government moved like precision-engineered parts, setting the entire national apparatus into high-speed motion.
“The steel mills in northern Henan are ready. The first batch of refined iron is expected to reach destinations across the country before eight tonight!”
“Construction of seventy-six large experimental bases in Ludong is complete. All high-tech experimental equipment is in place, and experiments can begin at any time!”
“The Magic City research team has made a breakthrough, successfully synthesizing eight new metallic elements. Verification is expected to be completed by noon tomorrow!”
“The Capital Physics Institute is ready. Testing has found no abnormalities in the national Ion Collider, and it can support collision experiments!”
“...”
“The dedicated experimental power grids in every province of Great Xia have been upgraded. They’re now connected to the main power lines from the power plants and can supply high-voltage current at any time!”
One decisive report after another was relayed from every corner of Great Xia to the Command Center.
Watching the icons light up one by one on the screen, each labeled “ready,” Lu Yang felt his heart stir with excitement.
In less than half a day,
more than thirty provinces across Great Xia had mobilized together, completed preparations at an unimaginable speed, and swiftly begun operating at full capacity.
At that moment, the ancient nation known to the world as Industrial Cthulhu had awakened!