Great Xia's True Global Layout! Lu Ze: Teacher, I've Got It!

Chapter 44: Great Xia's True World Strategy! Lu Ze: Teacher, I've Got It! (Seeking Subscriptions!)

Great Xia Academy of Sciences.

In the Dean's office.

"The news should have reached Eagle Country by now, right?"

Zheng Lixing took a puff of his pipe and said cheerfully, "I wonder what their reaction will be? Did they ever imagine we could also build a fifth-generation fighter jet!"

The J-20 project had been kept under wraps for a full two to three years, and now they finally had a chance to stand up for Great Xia's entire air force.

Even though it was still some time before the maiden flight, he believed it wouldn't be too far off.

"Cough, cough. Old Man Zheng, how many times have I told you not to smoke in my office?" Zhang Yuli coughed twice, waving away the smoke, "Besides, if you're going to smoke, at least smoke something decent."

He always smoked cheap tobacco. If not for his own health, he should at least consider how others felt breathing it in.

"It's just a habit. I can't get used to good tobacco either," Zheng Lixing quickly put out his cigarette.

"Let's get back to the main topic. Eagle Country is probably having a headache right now."

Zhang Yuli took a sip of tea, his brows filled with amusement, "Now we just have to wait for their reaction. It'll be quite entertaining."

At this juncture, Great Xia revealing the J-20 fighter jet's development plan was far more than just a display of military might.

He didn't believe that with Eagle Country's intelligence analysis capabilities, they wouldn't have noticed Great Xia developing a fifth-generation fighter over the past few years.

Even the 'wall climbers' outside Institute 611 had heard rumors. If the CIA had no information at all, they should all be fired.

The reason for not saying anything was simply to pretend they hadn't seen it, or perhaps even disbelieve that Great Xia could develop it so quickly.

One of the most critical issues involved whether to shut down the F-22 fighter jet production line, which was the most serious point of contention among Eagle Country's military-industrial complex, Congress, and the Department of Defense.

With them in such a heated dispute, Great Xia announcing the successful taxiing test of the J-20 at this time could be imagined to cause how much internal chaos in Eagle Country.

"This is good. The more chaotic Eagle Country is, the more beneficial it is for us. We have this mysterious organization to thank," Zheng Lixing sighed.

This was not only for the mysterious organization to better 'fish in troubled waters' but also for Great Xia to develop its economy and accumulate strength.

It could be said that without this 'mysterious organization,' they would likely have to continue to endure for many more years before achieving a breakthrough.

But times had changed. In the developing Middle East situation that was to come, he wondered if Eagle Country would dare to get involved.

Being the world's number one for too long, it was time for a change of ownership.

Just then.

"Academician Zheng Lixing, Dean Zhang Yuli, good day to you both."

"Notification: You are requested to attend an emergency meeting at 7 PM tonight."

At the same time, this message, as the two expected, was drifting through the air.

Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, stationed in Japan.

This was Eagle Country's largest air base in the Asia-Pacific region, housing over 30,000 soldiers and possessing hundreds of fighter jets, bombers, and several air wings.

It was also the closest military base to Great Xia, like a thorn in their side. It could be said that Great Xia viewed it as a sore spot, and one could not tolerate others sleeping soundly next to their bed.

At this moment.

The new Commander, Brigadier General Prey Jamiel, lay back in his office chair, leisurely smoking a cigar.

Although he was not the highest-ranking commander stationed in Japan, far from the five-star emperor MacArthur who often judged others, he held absolute authority in Okinawa.

Back in Eagle Country, he was just an ordinary senior officer, not even looked at properly by the politicians, business families, and Wall Street sharks.

But here, Prey Jamiel was the supreme ruler.

As he squinted, enjoying this rare moment of leisure, a messenger rushed in with a panicked expression, "General Jamiel, something big has happened."

"What is it? Did some of those troublemakers from the base violate local Japanese women again?"

Prey Jamiel frowned, "Or did someone get drunk and kill some Japanese people again? Just throw him in the brig for a few days first."

This was the eighth time such an incident had occurred since he took office a month ago; it was practically commonplace.

Just as he thought it was just another minor incident, "No, Mr. General, it's news from Great Xia."

"Continue," his expression darkened.

"According to the latest news from Great Xia, their newest fighter jet has undergone taxiing tests and even completed high-speed testing. It's highly likely to be a fifth-generation fighter jet," the messenger quickly summarized the intelligence.

"Fifth-generation? Great Xia is developing a fifth-generation fighter?"

Prey Jamiel was full of disbelief.

He had only one feeling: Great Xia had gone mad!

Did they really think they could build a fifth-generation fighter? With their technological level, which took 14 years to develop a fourth-generation fighter like the J-10? And in their all-around backwardness in materials, engines, avionics, and other aspects?

Prey Jamiel just wanted to ask, on what grounds, Great Xia?

The messenger pondered for a moment, "Mr. General, do you think this is a smokescreen they deliberately created? Their purpose is related to the closure of our F-22 production line?"

Brigadier General Prey Jamiel shook his head, "Whether it is or not, these matters are not for us to decide. Just submit the intelligence to Washington."

"Everything else is beyond the scope of what you and I should consider."

Whether Great Xia's fifth-generation fighter was real or fake, and whether it was intended to influence the grounding of the F-22 fighter jet, were these issues he could discuss?

The proposal to shut down the F-22 production line, did anyone really think it was purely because they disliked the high cost and expenses of the F-22? It was because it wasn't profitable enough!

Behind this, how many military-industrial complexes were driven by profit to push this proposal? And how many royal relatives were involved? Both sides were bruised and battered, wanting to snatch a bigger piece of the pie.

He was just an ordinary 'brigadier general.' After finishing his term, he'd happily run off to a big corporation to serve as a retired executive in a leisurely position.

To dare to get involved in such matters, were you tired of living? This was a slippery slope that couldn't be touched!

Brigadier General Prey Jamiel didn't want his wife to hear news of him accidentally drowning in the toilet.

Let the Congress deal with these problems.

Time flew by, and the next day arrived.

Eagle Country, Bay Area, LLNL Laboratory.

It was Thursday, and there were still three days until the next replication count refresh.

Lu Ze and Lucy, unusually, were only one minute late clocking in, causing everyone in the lab to look their way.

Before ten o'clock, the two of them, in perfect sync, picked up some snacks and drinks and began to have their morning tea at a table.

Of course, this was mainly Lu Ze watching Lucy gorge herself while idly chatting with her.

After all, he had already eaten so much for breakfast, how could he eat more? He didn't have that special talent.

"By the way, Lu Ze, I heard there's good news about Great Xia's fifth-generation fighter development?" Lucy elegantly swallowed a piece of toast cake.

"I think so. Why are you interested in this thing?" Lu Ze looked puzzled.

Lucy, despite her mature, alluring appearance, was actually a girl with a heart full of girlish dreams.

She loved sweets, loved watching anime, and even recently pestered him to teach her 'Great Xia traditional martial arts' like 'Hua Jin!'

I only know the eighteen touches of clinging clothes. Thinking this, Lu Ze couldn't help but complain inwardly.

Now she was actually paying attention to the latest progress in Great Xia's weapon research?

Something was off about this picture. This wasn't Lucy! Demon, take off your clothes and let me verify your identity!

Lucy didn't pay him any mind and shrugged, "It's nothing, I just happened to see this piece of information."

She was just someone who wanted to slack off and live out her days eating and waiting for death. If Lu Ze wasn't from Great Xia, she wouldn't bother caring about this news at all. It would be more comfortable to just eat more delicious food.

As the two were chatting, a somewhat unfamiliar but recognizable face walked in from outside the laboratory.

"My two students, it's been a long time." Michael Hasen walked to the table and skillfully picked up an egg tart and ate it.

As their supervising professor, he was usually elusive, rarely seen even once every few days.

Even the research tasks assigned by the lab, after creating a file, had no further updates and remained stuck at 0.0001% progress.

It could be said that he was the true king of slacking off.

"Professor Hasen, the last time we met was at that Italian restaurant."

Lucy said indignantly.

One of her favorite blueberry tarts had just been snatched away? Unforgivable.

"Good morning, Professor Hasen," Lu Ze said with a smile.

"Lu, how have you been doing in the lab lately?"

Michael Hasen casually sat down, "Has your situation improved at all, or gotten worse?"

Although he looked rough on the outside, he was quite considerate on the inside.

Even if he couldn't help his disciple achieve great success, he should at least make sure he was comfortable in the lab, right?

Lu Ze pondered for a moment and shook his head, "I'm seeking change, but there hasn't been a major breakthrough yet."

In terms of slacking off and mediocrity, he had a lot to learn from this senior.

"Prejudice is always the hardest thing to change," Michael Hasen took a sip of ice water and continued to eat, "You can learn more from the people of India."

"Sometimes, properly displaying your flaws is your best strategy, while those who seem to have no flaws are the ones most guarded against."

People who were so mediocre that they had no obvious flaws would not be trusted.

Whereas those who appeared to have a lot of flaws would often gain trust very easily, because no one would feel threatened by them.

Lu Ze felt like his Dantian and Governing Vessel had been opened at that very moment.

As expected of the sage of slacking off, teacher, I have attained enlightenment!

"Teacher, why do you understand so much?" Lu Ze asked with a hint of curiosity.

"I am a Slav. My original name is actually: Tomislavski Hasen," Michael Hasen's voice carried a hint of mockery.

Hearing this, Lu Ze completely understood.

Good heavens, Professor Hasen must have been one of the scientists poached by Eagle Country when the Soviet Union dissolved, right?

No wonder he understood so well what it meant to be ostracized and what "slacking off" truly entailed.

After all, he had been spurred on by the empty promises of Eagle Country, excitedly coming over and even changing his given name to an American one. Yet, what he encountered here was extreme distrust and apathy. He wasn't even given a chance to participate in relatively important research and development projects.

Only by diligently slacking off like this could he earn his right to survive.

(PS: I'll stick to chapters of 3000-4000 words from now on. Subscriptions are still a bit short of a thousand. Esteemed readers, please click on the first chapter. I'll add an extra chapter tomorrow.)

(Four chapters today, totaling 11,000 words.)