Dragon Country

Biodata

Geography and Important Locations

History

Loss of the Great Snow Mountain Territory

More than thirty years before Li Zhi’s special mission, Peacock Country seized territory on the far side of the Great Snow Mountain. Peacock had Eagle Country’s backing, while Dragon Country was weaker and facing other challenges. The mountain barrier made access and resupply difficult, preventing Dragon Country from reversing the seizure at the time 43.

As its national strength increased, Dragon Country began preparing to reclaim the land. Planning started a year before the operation. Peacock detected the preparations and reinforced the border, leading to recurring minor clashes 43.

Hijacking and Military Security

The hijacking survived by Li Zhi is identified as Dragon Country’s first. After he brought the aircraft to a stop, police, security personnel, and soldiers boarded to inspect it. Rescued passengers were kept in a VIP lounge while authorities checked for possible accomplices 8.

A later security breach involved Liu Lei and Liu Xin, who used a buyer-supplied armed drone to locate and film a military base. Li Zhi shot it down after it fired at him, and Xu Feng reported the intrusion to Lei Hu for support. The buyer’s identity was not established in the supplied account 21 22.

Escalating Border Encounters

Shortly before Li Zhi’s frontline assignment, a Dragon Country fighter and a Peacock fighter collided during an aerial standoff. Both pilots ejected, but Dragon Country’s pilot was shot in the leg during the recovery confrontation and could no longer fly. The Peacock pilot was taken into Dragon Country’s custody. Losing one pilot left the four-pilot Bird’s Nest struggling to maintain readiness 16.

Li Zhi’s subsequent low-altitude maneuvers repeatedly unsettled Peacock’s air defenses. One disappearance from radar caused both countries to scramble fighters. Tensions eased when he returned to the designated altitude and both sides confirmed that he remained inside Dragon Country’s airspace 35 36.

During that incident, Peacock pilot Sangji Ayi struck treetops, lost control, and suffered an ejection-system failure. Peacock shot down his aircraft before it reached Muhante City. Dragon Country withdrew its fighters after Peacock stood down; its commanders declined to exploit the incident without adequate preparation 36 38.

Reclamation Operation

Dragon Country’s stated objective was to recover its territory without starting an outright war. Fighter units remained ready in case Peacock escalated, while Li Zhi received a diversionary mission: occupy Peacock’s fighters and buy time for ground forces without opening fire first 43 44.

Li Zhi’s provocations and the loss of Sanjay’s fighter drew attention toward the aerial confrontation. Lei Hu then ordered the ground operation to begin. A second Peacock fighter, abandoned by Xiaerdi after its controls stopped responding, crossed into Dragon Country. Li Zhi brought it down largely intact, preserving an Eagle-built aircraft of technological interest 46 47 48 49.

Dragon Country’s ground forces advanced rapidly against the unprepared Peacock troops. When two Peacock fighters attacked the ground, Li Zhi engaged them until Steppe Wolf arrived. Their intervention allowed the troops below to clear remaining opposition and establish makeshift air defenses. Peacock could not send further aerial support because its other available fighters were facing Dragon Country’s formation near the border 49 50.

Military

Organization and Readiness

• Southwest 1st Aircrew Division — Commanded by Lei Hu; its subordinate units serve on the frontline. Li Zhi reports there after graduation before being assigned to the Bird’s Nest 16.
• Border patrols — Routine duties include flying along the Peacock frontier. Peacock initially responds by scrambling an equal number of fighters 18.
• Force distribution — Dragon Country’s main forces are stationed elsewhere, not on the Peacock front. Early in Li Zhi’s posting, Peacock’s local fighters slightly outperform the Dragon Country aircraft deployed there 18.
• Reinforcement capacity — During the Sangji Ayi incident, Dragon Country assembles more fighters in the border region than Peacock has deployed there in total 38.
• Pilot endurance — The military deliberately reduces patrol pressure and gives exhausted pilots time to recover before the reclamation operation 40.

Pilot Training

Aircraft and Technology

• Modernization — Growing national strength accelerates equipment replacement, with the Eighth Master expected to leave service during Li Zhi’s generation 18.
• Training expenditure — Rapid economic growth makes live-fire training more affordable; previously, such opportunities occurred only a few times a year 20.
• Remaining technology gap — Despite its strength, Dragon Country still trails Eagle Country in some areas, motivating efforts to recover an Eagle-built fighter intact 48.

Foreign Relations

• Peacock Country — A neighboring territorial rival whose relations with Dragon Country are described as poor for over a thousand years. Both sides initially exercise restraint around the border, but the reclamation operation develops into armed fighting over disputed territory 18 49 50.
• Eagle Country — Backed Peacock during the original territorial seizure and supplies technology on which Peacock depends. Unlike Peacock, Dragon Country operates its own satellite positioning system 36 43.
• Aseya — A customer for Dragon Country’s fighter exports. It has already purchased ten Jiaolong 10s when representative Wu Qineier visits to procure aircraft 32.

Customs and Aviation Practices

• Meals as social occasions — Sharing a meal is presented as a common way for people in Dragon Country to build friendships; Li Zhi and his academy roommates bond this way 8.
• Numerical airfield call signs — Using numbers as call signs is an established national tradition, exemplified by 201 Airport 23.
• International recognition training — Qualified air force personnel are expected to recognize every country’s flag because of Dragon Country’s extensive international dealings 32.