Meng Hao, at the military base of the research center, was on vacation.
If it weren't for the restrictions on his movements and lack of freedom to go out, it would have been quite pleasant to stay here.
He was provided with good food and drink every day. Meng Hao, of course, took advantage of this, especially with the canned goods. He would grab several at a time, claiming they were for late-night overtime.
While it was perplexing why a scientific genius like Meng Hao preferred canned food over having a dedicated chef prepare him special meals at night, no one bothered him much, except for Bruce, who was a constant annoyance due to his lack of sense.
After all.
In this world of six or seven billion people, everyone has their quirks.
Compared to those with strange appetites who liked eating peculiar things, or even those odd people who enjoyed smelling car exhaust, Meng Hao's fondness for canned food was quite normal.
Besides eating and drinking.
Meng Hao could obtain all sorts of restricted and unrestricted products within the research base.
In fact, the gambling ship arranged by William, filled with women, fine food, good wine, and gambling equipment, had become so audacious that it no longer had to leave before dawn. Instead, it would wait until mid-morning, send off a yawning Meng Hao, and then sound its horn defiantly as it departed.
One had to admit.
In the United States, a country where money reigns supreme.
With power and wealth, one could indeed do as they pleased.
Having fully experienced the "freedom of capitalism," Meng Hao momentarily wondered if he would be corrupted and led astray.
...
It was another perfect moment to slack off.
After verbally lashing out and driving Bruce away, Meng Hao resumed his usual private work.
Honestly, Meng Hao couldn't quite figure out if Bruce was inherently masochistic, deriving satisfaction from being verbally abused.
Initially, Meng Hao had maintained some semblance of politeness.
But now, whenever he saw Bruce, relying on his so-called deputy director status and ignoring the guards at the entrance to barge into Meng Hao's office, he would invariably be met with Meng Hao's curses.
Strangely.
No matter how harshly Meng Hao scolded him.
Bruce's expression would change from a blank stare to a smile.
At times, he would even take out his phone to call Lieutenant General Tommy or make a recording.
Damn it.
Was this his idea of supervising Meng Hao's work?
This was simply asking to be berated!
And after being scolded, he would smugly report his achievements, claiming he had endured significant hardship to urge Meng Hao on for the sake of work and America's development.
How utterly pathetic!
Meng Hao had no doubt.
If he were to stay at this research center military complex for another ten months or a year.
His angry scolding might escalate to outright physical assault.
It couldn't be helped.
Bruce was simply too infuriating.
After casually smashing a few ceramic bowls to interrupt Bruce's daily "supervision" and kicking him out, Meng Hao, with his legs crossed, continued his "slacking off" and private work.
On his computer.
Various graphics were constantly changing.
This computer was connected to the 'Danggui' conventional electric-powered submarine currently under construction underground.
The semi-intelligent robots, which had consumed a great deal of Meng Hao's energy in their development, worked diligently.
Once Meng Hao inputted the command code, they could work continuously without much further attention. Meng Hao had naturally destroyed all the design blueprints for these robots.
Otherwise.
If the United States were to obtain them.
Apart from design-related tasks, these semi-intelligent robots would be capable of completing almost all manual and repetitive labor.
Meng Hao, with his legs crossed.
Sat in front of the computer, scrolling through his phone.
Although his internet access was restricted within the research center military base.
As long as no information was sent outwards, the US and, under William's lead, the entire research base did not interfere with Meng Hao too much.
In fact.
From the US perspective, since Meng Hao could no longer physically return to Great Xia, allowing him to occasionally check on Great Xia's situation was acceptable. Moreover, the current attacks and smear campaigns against Meng Hao on Great Xia's internet were intensifying.
Perhaps the more Meng Hao saw of this, the more loyal he would become to the United States.
Completely disregarding the US's considerations, Meng Hao's eyes suddenly lit up.
"Hmm?"
"Great Xia is planning to establish its own financial and economic zone, with Great Xia's official currency as the settlement currency within this zone. This is a direct challenge to US financial hegemony..."
"Oh?"
"Great Xia's dual-carrier fleet has been patrolling around Australia for nearly half a year. This is an opportunity to break through the maritime blockade imposed on Great Xia by the US-led Western alliance..."
Meng Hao's spirits lifted.
He could sense.
Whether it was Great Xia beginning to build its own regional financial and economic zone or continuously breaking through the maritime blockade by the US-led Western alliance and patrolling around Australia, the triggers for these actions were all him.
Speaking of which.
He felt a little touched.
However.
Meng Hao also firmly believed.
The US would certainly not let this slide.
Whether it was challenging the US dollar's hegemonic status by establishing an economic zone, or challenging the US's military hegemony by breaking through the maritime blockade, both would undoubtedly provoke the US's fury and prompt corresponding countermeasures.
As expected.
Meng Hao soon came across the next piece of news.
The US government announced.
That it would conduct a global joint exercise next month.
The publicly disclosed information stated that this joint exercise would be fully funded by the United States, inviting dozens of US "allies," with an initial budget of 100 billion US dollars.
Meng Hao frowned, a little bewildered.
While it was true that a cannon blast meant a thousand taels of gold.
How could a military exercise in a regional sea require hundreds of billions of US dollars?
This was an immense sum of money.
However.
Upon seeing the list of dozens of allied countries, Meng Hao understood.
Most of this money was likely intended for appeasement.
After all.
As Great Xia's influence expanded globally.
Most countries were unwilling to follow the US to the bitter end and completely offend Great Xia.
Out of this hundred billion-plus fund, perhaps only a mere billion or so would be for actual military exercise expenses.
The rest of the money was definitely for "measuring America's financial strength to win over allies!"
Originally.
Meng Hao wondered if he was being overly suspicious.
After all, in this day and age.
Who would be such a fool as to spend money to invite others to a joint military exercise?
Any country where public opinion held sway would never agree to such absurd expenditure.
But, upon seeing the list for a particular country, he immediately confirmed that his judgment was not mistaken!