Sakura Country did not continue to attack Yi Wenliu, nor did they pay attention to the giant mecha that had just thwarted their plot. Instead, their attention turned to the lithography machine.
They were well aware that with their own strength, obtaining the medicinal agents would not allow them to preserve them. While the mechas were powerful, they lacked military autonomy, making their acquisition of little significance.
Only the lithography machine. This item not only enhanced their country's high-tech industry strength and brought substantial income but also would not elicit too much hostility from other countries. After all, if the Korean country could serve as a chip foundry for Western countries, then Sakura Country, as a dog raised by the Beautiful Country, would be more than capable of swallowing this if its master was sufficiently fed.
Thus, during the interval when the Dragon Country's officials were communicating with the Korean country, Sakura Country activated a group of their deepest embedded individuals in the Dragon Country and raided the Dragon Country's chip research institute.
After killing and injuring over twenty security personnel, they set a large fire. Taking advantage of the chaos, they stole three lithography machines along with a significant amount of research data.
By the time the Dragon Country reacted and began its investigation, they had already hidden with the assistance of internal traitors.
The highest leader, upon hearing this, flew into a rage. Immense manpower and resources were expended in a sweeping investigation, but they only managed to recover two lithography machines and some research data.
One lithography machine and most of the research data were secretly transported back to Sakura Country's mainland through illegal means.
One month later, at the Dragon Country's underground L2 secret laboratory.
Jing Mingqiu was leading a group of people in assembling an oversized skyrocket when an uninvited guest arrived.
"Hey," Jing Mingqiu put down his wrench and greeted the highest leader, who looked even more haggard, "Big Leader, why are you here? The skyrocket won't be fully assembled until tomorrow. If you want to see fireworks, you'll have to wait another day."
"Mingqiu, I'm not here to watch fireworks. I'm looking for you because there's a major problem at the chip research institute. The lithography machine we just developed has been stolen..."
The highest leader quickly recounted the entire affair, worry etched on his face. "The West has always been a significant step ahead of us in chip research. Now that they have obtained this data, they will likely be able to complete its analysis soon. Then, combining it with their existing data, they can launch even higher precision lithography machines. Mingqiu, did you leave any backdoors in it!"
"No, it's just a rudimentary piece of equipment. Why would I leave a backdoor?" Jing Mingqiu continued his work without looking up, his tone very relaxed. "Big Leader, don't worry. The lithography machine I've modified, while capable of engraving chips like the traditional Western lithography machines, is fundamentally different, like using oxen to plow a field versus using machinery. They are two entirely different modes of operation."
"Traditional chip engraving is too complex and requires a dust-free environment. If they cling to the original approach, they will only make laughable mistakes like pulling a train with oxen."
The highest leader remained concerned: "But what if they abandon the original approach and simply follow your research direction? The West is not short of talent or resources; they can try every possibility and then select the strongest one."
"That's easy to handle," Jing Mingqiu tightened the last screw, stretched, accepted the milk tea personally brewed by Yi Wenliu, and drank it in one gulp. "I'll modify it again then and provide an even higher precision lithography machine. However, to be honest, silicon-based chips are already nearing their limit. To continue improving precision, biological chips, spiritual chips, and mental chips are the future research directions."
Upon hearing this, the highest leader's eyes lit up: "Mingqiu! Can you produce those three types of chips you mentioned?"
"Not yet, the system level is not enough!"
After the system's automatic censoring, Jing Mingqiu's words became: "Not yet, my abilities are not sufficient."
The psychological expert team specially assigned to Jing Mingqiu immediately interpreted the true meaning of Jing Mingqiu's words and conveyed it to the highest leader.
The highest leader frowned, thought carefully for a moment, and then slowly said: "Mingqiu, besides building nuclear power plants, are there any other ways to improve your abilities?"
"I don't know. After the nuclear power plant is built, I'll see..." Jing Mingqiu answered subconsciously, then his body stiffened. Relying on his years of reading web novels, he immediately realized that the country had discovered his system.
"What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell? You've been too busy lately, perhaps you should rest for a while?"
Hearing the highest leader's concerned words, Jing Mingqiu relaxed his body.
If they found out, they found out. He hadn't done anything wrong. With his current status, would they arrest and dissect him for research?
Besides, the system was with him, and no one could take it away. The principle of eating today and worrying about tomorrow versus eating today and eating tomorrow was simple. The higher-ups in the country, being shrewd as they were, had no reason not to understand this!
"No need, I'm feeling perfectly fine. I've just been in the underground laboratory for too long, and it's a bit suffocating. Big Leader, when can I go outside?"
The highest leader paused: "In three days at the latest, you can go out. Mingqiu, the idea you provided is excellent. Many Western forces have already fallen into our trap. As long as we activate it, they will be stuck with at least over a hundred billion in funds, enough to make them extremely flustered and no longer have the mind to deal with you."
"Hey, hey, hey, don't say it like that," Jing Mingqiu waved his hands repeatedly. "I just provided a few prescriptions; all the calculations and strategies are your doing. By the way, how exactly did you scheme against them? Those Western forces aren't that foolish, are they?"
The highest leader, having received Jing Mingqiu's affirmative reply, was in a good mood and explained with a smile.
"This is thanks to your prescriptions, Mingqiu. Initially, when we changed our direction and started acquiring Dongming Grass, Qinglan Leaf, and Liegu Flower, they suspected we were deliberately diverting attention and did not exert full effort in competing with us. It wasn't until we, through the internal traitors we had already identified, deliberately sent out a ligament repair agent made from these herbs for them to personally test that they believed these herbs were what we needed. They then put in a large sum of capital to compete with us, preparing to blockade our products at all costs."
"While pretending to resist, we simultaneously arranged for people to secretly acquire other herbs, creating the impression that the overall price of herbs was rising and that they intended to hoard for profit."
"The West did have suspicions and acquired some other types of herbs. However, the sheer number of replaceable herbs in the prescription you provided, Mingqiu, was too large for them to acquire all of them."
"Seeing our dispersed efforts, the Dongming Grass, Qinglan Leaf, and Liegu Flower were gradually acquired by us. They had no choice but to abandon other herbs and focus on these three."
"Now the time is very ripe. The prices of these three herbs have already increased nearly a hundredfold. The joint military exercises are about to begin, and it's the perfect time to give them a welcome gift."
"Mingqiu, you carry on with your work. The third phase of the plan is about to start, and I need to personally direct it."
Jing Mingqiu waved his hand. "Big Leader, you go ahead. Since I can't leave the laboratory for now, and I have nothing else to do, I plan to modify these rockets again. That way, I can give the Western countries a surprise!"
After the highest leader left, at the White House of the Beautiful Country, leaders of various Western countries were holding a video conference to discuss how to completely suppress the Dragon Country and prevent their resurgence. At that moment, Smith Lunen, the head of intelligence for the Beautiful Country, suddenly received a mysterious phone call.
"I have a batch of goods here, I wonder if you're interested..."