Iraq was probably the most troubled country in the world. Even some regions in Africa had begun developing their infrastructure and economy with China's help. Yet this tiny country, plagued by religion, war, and power struggles between great nations, seemed destined to never know peace.
In these chaotic times, human life was truly cheaper than a dog's. That wasn't a joke here—it was the sound of gunfire heard every day and the sight of death seen at every turn.
China had never sent troops to this war-torn land before; doing so would have touched a nerve with the United States. Even the slightest friction between the world's two superpowers could throw the entire civilization into turmoil.
But today seemed to be an exception.
A nuclear-powered submarine appeared outside Iraqi waters, quietly launched three torpedoes, then quickly turned back.
The torpedoes had no specific target. They simply sped toward Iraq's coastal waters. They seemed to have been specially modified, with a range far greater than that of ordinary torpedoes. They reached a reef on the seabed less than ten kilometers from shore.
When the torpedoes struck the reef, they didn't explode, as if they had no detonators. A dull rumble sounded, and several hatches suddenly opened on the enormous torpedoes. Nine strange, bulky figures crawled out.
At the same time, thousands of kilometers away in China, someone in a top-secret base cried out, "We're really connected! No relay station, no satellite access—how did you do it?"
Nine separate feeds appeared on the huge screen, each showing the deep sea from a different angle. The one who had shouted was Zhang Xian, and everyone present shared his astonishment.
"Section Chief Zhang, you've brought back something remarkable this time. This long-range communication technology alone is worth researching," said an elderly man in uniform