After leaving the Fanlong racetrack, Jing Mingqiu, guided by Cang Yue, arrived at a desolate Gobi Desert.
Confirming via satellite imagery that there were no vehicles or pedestrians ahead, Jing Mingqiu no longer held back. He rolled down the window, stepped on the accelerator, and pushed it to the floor.
With the wind howling, the Longjing car, kicking up clouds of dust, tore across the endless desert like a yellow dragon.
Two hundred, three hundred, four hundred. The speed increased relentlessly, quickly surpassing the Bugatti Veyron's limit. But that was only the Veyron's limit, not the Longjing car's.
No matter how much the efficiency of traditional internal combustion engines was improved, their fundamental reliance on burning gasoline for motive power meant there was an inherent limit to their power output.
While increasing the number of cylinders could increase the amount of gasoline burned simultaneously and thus the engine's total power, there were still limitations due to the size of the engine compartment and the weight of the cylinders themselves.
However, electric engines were different. As long as there was sufficient electrical power and voltage, their power output had no upper limit.
If not for the limitations of raw materials, Longjing electric vehicles powered by crystal batteries could achieve speeds exceeding one thousand kilometers per hour, surpassing ordinary commercial aircraft and reaching near-supersonic levels.
After their humiliating defeat, the American automotive conglomerates felt too ashamed to linger. They quickly cut off the cameras. The viewers who had been in their live stream immediately flooded into Jing Mingqiu's broadcast.
At this moment, Jing Mingqiu had pushed the speed to five hundred kilometers per hour. Many viewers, watching through the live stream, had already squeezed their eyes shut in fear.
Feeling the thrill of speed, Jing Mingqiu found that the anger bottled up in his chest dissipated considerably due to America's petty actions.
Unfortunately, America wasn't willing to let Jing Mingqiu have an easy time. Just as he was enjoying the speed and passion, hundreds of negative news reports related to electric vehicles suddenly swept across the globe.
"According to a joint study by experts from multiple countries, electric vehicle batteries have a high probability of spontaneous combustion during high-speed driving."
"After an electric vehicle was involved in a car accident, its battery suddenly exploded, engulfing the vehicle in flames within moments. The entire family perished."
"If an electric vehicle is charged for too long, the probability of the battery spontaneously combusting, or even exploding, is very high. The larger the battery capacity, the greater the possibility and destructive power of an explosion."
...
Beneath these news reports, countless online trolls began posting furiously:
"It's like my neighbor's cousin, who died from an electric car spontaneously combusting."
"A very beautiful girl I know was disfigured because her electric car suddenly burst into flames."
"I'm a victim of electric vehicles. I suffered severe burns all over my body and have been given over a dozen critical condition notices..."
With the rampant manipulation by a large number of trolls, electric vehicles quickly fell into disrepute, becoming a terrifying menace.
The stock prices of all electric vehicle companies worldwide, including the four major American automotive conglomerates, began to plummet.
Sales departments of various automotive groups were inundated with return requests.
Simultaneously, a large group of trolls also flooded Jing Mingqiu's live stream, launching fierce attacks, accusing him of treating others' lives as child's play for profit by releasing immature technology.
People naturally fear death. Before the staff from Longguo, who were monitoring Jing Mingqiu's live stream, could intervene, many ordinary viewers, their emotions stirred by the trolls, began to curse along.
Seeing the screen filled with obscenities, Jing Mingqiu's suppressed anger flared up once more.
He stopped the car, had Cang Yue temporarily shut down the live stream, then pulled out his laptop and began investigating the trolls who were spreading misinformation.
Following the trail, Jing Mingqiu hacked into the trolls' leader's computer and discovered that these trolls were hired by Andrew Forte. He was instantly bewildered.
What was going on? Did someone know he was a strong hacker and deliberately set him up?
What benefit would discrediting electric vehicles bring to Andrew Forte?
Although Tesla electric vehicles produced by America would certainly not sell well after the appearance of Longjing cars, the orders he had already secured could still be delivered normally, bringing in revenue. It wasn't enough to make him flip the table!
After all, this wasn't just about harming the enemy while suffering minimal damage; this was about directly destroying the foundation of electric vehicles.
As Jing Mingqiu was still in a state of confusion, Cang Yue suddenly appeared on the computer screen, carrying a large folder.
"Brother," Cang Yue held up the folder, "this is the year-end report of the four major American automotive conglomerates. Based on logical analysis, I have a vague idea of why he did this. Please look here."
Jing Mingqiu opened the year-end report of the four major American automotive conglomerates and quickly scanned the section Cang Yue had highlighted. He discovered that electric vehicles only accounted for five percent of their total revenue, with most of their income derived from traditional fuel vehicles. Enlightenment dawned on him.
"So that's how it is. If I can't have it, I'll destroy it. Rather than let Longguo seize the original automotive market through electric vehicles, it's better to cripple electric vehicles altogether, and everyone can continue to use high-pollution, low-performance fuel vehicles."
This kind of suppression of scientific development for personal gain was all too familiar. Jing Mingqiu couldn't help but recall a rather amusing saying:
The great powers all reminisced about the Qing Dynasty, to the point that they had personally become like the Qing Dynasty.
Jing Mingqiu looked at the escalating public criticism of electric vehicle safety online and the plummeting stock prices of major electric vehicle companies, shaking his head slightly.
"A nice thought, but like that decadent dynasty, you know nothing of the power of technology!"
"Cang Yue, please contact the highest leader and ask him about his plans."
"Okay, brother."
Jing Mingqiu possessed the highest-level communication authority. As soon as he made the call, it was immediately connected.
"Mingqiu, don't rush to clarify things," the highest leader's gentle voice sounded. "Since the American automotive conglomerates have proactively played the villain, at the cost of thoroughly offending other electric vehicle companies, by forcibly spreading rumors and slandering the safety of electric vehicles, we have no reason to miss such a good opportunity."
"Apart from the four major American automotive conglomerates, other electric vehicle companies had their performance crushed by Tesla and Longjing electric vehicles first, and now the safety of electric vehicles is being questioned by the entire society. Their stock prices have already hit rock bottom."
"America's move this time is to completely abandon electric vehicles. The possibility of them acquiring other electric vehicle companies is extremely low. This is the perfect opportunity for us to acquire a batch of electric vehicle companies and fill our country's technological gaps."
At this moment, the system suddenly chimed.
"Ding, Environmental Modification mission has completed one percent. Stage reward has been issued."
"Anti-gravity flying car design blueprints x1"
Jing Mingqiu suddenly fell silent. The highest leader, mistaking his silence for anger, quickly explained, "Mingqiu, don't take it personally. I'm not saying your technology isn't good."
"I know your technology is outstanding, Mingqiu, but a car is composed of thousands of parts. We can't place all the problems on you alone. Technological progress requires everyone to work together."
"Boss, I'm not angry." Jing Mingqiu brought his thoughts back. "Don't put all your eggs in one basket. I understand that. After all, I don't know if this system that suddenly appeared inside me will disappear just as suddenly."
"I was just thinking about another issue. Tell me, should I directly manufacture flying cars?"