Great Power Reclamation

Chapter 2861 This is hardly worthy of being called a barrier.
The photovoltaic panels in Junken City gleamed coldly in the December wind.

Just as Ye Yuze locked the patent certificate for Ivan's team's new agricultural machinery hydrogen fuel cell system into the safe, Li Lindong burst in carrying a laptop, the screen scrolling with the Wall Street Journal's headline—

"The Threat of Monopoly in Eastern New Energy: Who Controls Global Energy Pricing?"

"The U.S. Department of Energy, together with ExxonMobil and Chevron, formed a 'Clean Energy Security Alliance'," Li Lindong pointed to the signature page in the report:
"Fifteen oil giants have jointly requested the WTO to impose additional anti-dumping duties on our 'dual-energy vehicles,' arguing that 'the photovoltaic hydrogen production technology is subject to government subsidies.'"

The snow outside the window suddenly started falling heavily. Ye Yuze looked at the winding ice patterns on the glass and recalled the scene three years ago when Ye Feng debated with a group of scholars in the Congressional forum in Washington.

At that time, the Future Progressive Party had just won 47 seats in the House of Representatives and managed to withstand the first wave of "technical barriers" proposals.

But this time it's different. The accompanying photos show hundreds of oil wells in Texas resuming operation overnight, with black crude oil flowing through pipes and reflecting an eerie luster in the snow.

"They're not afraid of subsidies, they're afraid of the water in the hydrogen storage tanks."

Ye Yuze tapped the hydrogen fuel molecular formula on the screen. "When the water discharged by tractors can irrigate the land, and drilling platforms no longer emit black smoke, those who are lying on petrodollars will not be able to sit still."

Before he could finish speaking, Ye Feng received an overseas call, with the background noise of parliamentary debates mixed in.

"I just received news that the U.S. Department of Commerce is going to launch a Section 337 investigation into our hydrogen storage tanks, alleging patent infringement."

His voice came through the electricity, carrying a metallic coldness.

"General Motors is leading the charge. They hold an old fuel cell patent from twenty years ago and claim that our low-temperature start-up technology cannot bypass their protection."

Ye Yuze suddenly remembered the patent map hanging on the wall of Ivan's office, with dense red lines marking the barriers to global hydrogen fuel technology.

"Have the Ministry of Justice send over the -50°C startup data that Ivan's team did in Mohe."

He paused, then added, “Attach the dust storm test reports for those 300 vehicles from Qatar as well, and tell them that real technology is developed in the desert, not drawn in the patent office.”

After hanging up the phone, Li Lindong handed over an encrypted file.

It was a warning letter from the German Bosch Group, stating that if they continued to cooperate with Qatar to modify drilling equipment, they would terminate the supply of hydrogen fuel valves.

"Schneider was talking about jointly building a research and development center yesterday, and today they've turned their backs on it."

He sneered, "The EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism will come into effect next month. They're trying to force us to take sides."

Ye Yuze opened the file, inside which was a photograph.

Outside Saudi Aramco's refinery, dozens of "dual-energy vehicles" are loading and unloading equipment, their solar panels gleaming blue under the desert sun.

"Tell Schneider that Ivan's newly developed hydrogen fuel valve has achieved a precision of 0.03 millimeters."

He ran his fingertip across the sweat on the worker's forehead in the photo. "Starting tomorrow, Bosch's orders will be suspended, and our own production line will go into operation in three days."

As night deepened, the research and development center in Junken City remained brightly lit.

Ivan and his team were disassembling a Bosch fuel valve. Under a magnifying glass, a fine wear mark could be seen at the meshing of the precision gears.

"Look, this is their backup plan."

He picked up a part with tweezers and said, "If it works continuously for more than 100 hours under high temperature and pressure, it will break here. They never intended to actually implement the technology."

On the monitoring screen, on the grasslands of Mongolia, a modified "dual-purpose vehicle" is towing a yurt across the snow. The water pipe at the rear of the vehicle is pouring warm water onto the frozen ground, and the melted snow water mixed with grass seeds seeps into the soil.

"On the day Bosch cut off supplies, Deputy Prime Minister Batbold sent a message saying that he was willing to exchange the photovoltaic development rights of 500,000 mu of grassland for our technical support."

Agula pointed to the battery life data displayed on the screen, "Their herders said that even without Bosch, the car can still run on the grassland."

At 3 a.m., Ye Feng made another video call. The background showed the New York Stock Exchange's large screen, where crude oil futures prices were plummeting.

“General Motors’ stock price has fallen seven points,” he said, as Future Progressive Party lawmakers behind him debated a bill.
"We, together with environmental organizations in California, have just submitted the Clean Energy Freedom Act, which requires all federally purchased vehicles to use zero-emission energy, including hydrogen."

The screen suddenly shook, and several protesters holding signs burst into the frame, with red banners that read "Protect Local Industries".

"Texas oil tycoons hired lobbying groups."

Ye Feng's voice was drowned out by the clamor of the crowd. "They are spreading rumors on Capitol Hill that our hydrogen fuel cell vehicles will cause gas stations to close down and millions of workers to lose their jobs."

Looking out the window at the snow-covered cotton fields, Ye Yuze suddenly remembered the herdsmen who used to gather hay in the snow during the spring.

"Have Yang Geyong send over the video of the photovoltaic hydrogen production base in Africa."

He said softly, “Tell those congressmen that when Kenyan farmers can transport coffee beans in hydrogen-powered vehicles, and when Texas oilfield workers switch to maintaining hydrogen refueling stations, they will understand that the energy revolution is not about unemployment, but about changing the way of life.”

The next morning, the airport in Junken City welcomed special guests.

An inspection team from the International Energy Agency entered the photovoltaic industrial park with their equipment. The lead inspector stared at the screen in the central control room, which displayed the power generation data of each photovoltaic panel, accurate to the kilowatt-hour.

“We need to verify the flow of every government subsidy.” He pushed up his glasses, his tone carrying an unquestionable arrogance.

Li Lindong handed over a thick ledger, which contained purchase invoices for photovoltaic panels, employment records for herders, and even irrigation water usage for cotton fields.

"From 2018 to now, we have spent 1.7 billion yuan on desertification control."

He turned to the last page, which displayed the "Champions of the Earth" award certificate issued by the United Nations.

“Not a single penny of this money comes from government subsidies; it comes from the profits of selling cars. While your companies are discussing how to distribute dividends, our money is turning into straw checkerboards in the desert.”

When the inspection team left, the snow in Junken City had stopped.

A group of children were building a snowman next to a hydrogen refueling station. They froze the water discharged from the "dual-energy vehicle" into ice blocks and embedded them in the snowman's face as eyes.

As Ye Yuze watched this scene, he suddenly received a message from Ye Feng:
The Future Progressive Party, in alliance with the Democratic Party, passed the Hydrogen Infrastructure Act in the House of Representatives, allocating $50 billion to build hydrogen refueling stations.

"They think they can trap us?"

Ye Yuze relayed the message to Ivan. On the screen, Ivan's team was testing a new fuel valve. The pressure gauge pointed to 30 MPa, but the parts remained as solid as a rock. "But forget that when a technology can make grass grow in the desert and make herders laugh, it becomes unstoppable."

In the evening, Al Thani from Qatar sent a video showing him standing next to his modified "dual-purpose vehicle," with a sandstorm filter installed on the vehicle body working to keep out the yellow sand particles.

“Three hundred vehicles are already in use,” he said, pointing to the drilling platform in the distance.
"The hydrogen storage tank's impact resistance is 30% better than expected. The water circulation system invented by your engineers means that drilling teams no longer have to drag water tanks around."

Suddenly, a familiar figure appeared in the video—Schneider was holding up the contract, waiting for Al Thani to sign it under the drilling platform.

“Bosch is willing to supply fuel valves at a 50% discount,” Al Thani’s laughter was rough and carried by the wind and sand.
“I said it wasn’t necessary. The young men from Junken City have already delivered the technology.”

As night fell, good news came from Wang Lina's team:
The removable battery module of "Lightning 7" passed the Arctic Circle test, maintaining a range of 580 kilometers even in an environment with temperatures as low as -40 degrees Celsius.

"Volkswagen just called and wants to import this technology."

Wang Nannan's voice was filled with excitement: "They said that this is the only electric car that can actually run in the European winter."

Ye Yuze stood on the top floor of the office building, watching the lights of the military reclamation city light up one by one.

The blue light from the photovoltaic industrial park, the white snow from the cotton fields, and the warm yellow light from the hydrogen refueling station intertwine in the snow to create a gentle halo.

On the distant highway, a "dual-purpose vehicle" is hauling a full load of cottonseeds toward the processing plant. The meltwater in the ruts reflects the starlight, like a flowing Milky Way.

Ye Feng's message popped up again, this time a photo showing Future Progressive Party members assembling a hydrogen-powered car on the lawn of Capitol Hill, together with environmental organizations.

The vehicle bears the inscription: "Energy knows no borders, but the future offers choices."

"I just received an email from the U.S. Department of Energy."

Ye Feng's words were tinged with amusement: "They withdrew the 337 investigation and said they would send a delegation to the Military Reclamation City for inspection."

Ye Yuze suddenly recalled the expressions on the faces of the inspection team when they left during the day. Their tense lips softened considerably when they saw the herdsmen feeding the "dual-energy vehicle".

He picked up his phone and sent a message to Ye Feng: "Tell them to bring snow tires when they come. Spring in Junken City begins in the snow."

The snow outside the window started falling again, landing softly on the solar panels.

Ye Yuze knew that this game over energy was far from over. The oil fields in Texas were still pumping oil, the futures on Wall Street were still fluctuating, and those documents full of conspiracies would be sent to different email addresses tomorrow.

But when he saw on the screen that new hydrogen storage tanks were being assembled at solar power bases in Africa, that hydrogen-powered agricultural machinery was sowing seeds on the grasslands of Mongolia, and that water from drilling trucks was nourishing newly planted saplings in the desert of Qatar, he suddenly felt that all the calculations and obstacles seemed so insignificant in the face of this growing greenery.

In the distance, at the research and development center, Ivan's team's lights were still on. They were drawing up new blueprints for hydrogen-powered agricultural machinery. The sound of pens slicing across paper mingled with the sound of snow falling outside the window, like a prelude to spring.

Ye Yuze knew that as long as the light didn't go out and the wheels kept turning, the wisdom flowing in the ruts would eventually grow into answers for the future on more lands.

The spring snow in Junken City had just melted when Ye Feng appeared on Capitol Hill with a delegation from the Future Progressive Party.

At a Senate Energy Committee hearing, Texas Representative Bronson held up a disassembled diagram of the "dual-energy vehicle," spitting as he spoke, which landed on the glass of the hearing box.
"These vehicles use steel specially supplied by China for their hydrogen storage tanks, which has a compressive strength 40% higher than international standards. This is technology dumping!"

Ye Feng pushed a test report in front of the microphone; the cover bore the certification mark of Det Norske Veritas (DNV).

"This type of steel was tested last year on glaciers in Svalbard and was able to withstand impacts from polar bears."

He suddenly smirked. “Congressman Bronson’s nephew works in procurement at ExxonMobil. He just contacted us last week, wanting to use this steel on deep-sea drilling platforms—should I play the recording of that call?”

The hearing room fell silent instantly, with only the hum of the air conditioner echoing in the air.

Looking at Bronson's flushed face, Ye Feng suddenly remembered what his father had said:

"The best way to deal with a conspiracy is to let the sunlight in."

He turned on the projector, and images of African mining areas appeared on the screen:
"The dual-purpose vehicle has been running in Zambia's copper mines for two years without a single breakdown. Those who say the technology is unsafe should ask the local miners whether they believe the oil tycoons' lobbying more or the steering wheel they've personally handled."

After the meeting, a group of reporters suddenly rushed out of the corridor, their flashes blindingly bright. A CNN reporter, microphone in hand, pressed them for answers:

"There are reports that the Future Progressive Party accepted political donations from the Warriors Group. Did this affect your vote on the energy bill?"

Ye Feng turned away from the camera and pointed to the protesters not far away—those people were holding signs that read "Protect oil workers" but were wearing jackets with the Saudi Aramco logo.

"Three refineries in Texas announced layoffs last week."

His voice rang out clearly through the noise: “But the hydrogen refueling station in Houston is hiring two hundred technicians at 30% higher hourly wages than the oil field. The real threat to jobs is not new energy, but those who refuse to adapt.”

At this moment, in Junken City, Wang Lina was staring at the stock price curve on the screen.

General Motors, together with Ford and Chrysler, formed the "North American New Energy Alliance" and announced that they would jointly develop solid-state batteries, causing the stock price to rise.

“They poached three of our battery engineers.”

Wang Nannan slammed a headhunting firm's quote on the table. "The offer is three times the original price, and they're even offering a green card."

Wang Lina's fingertip slid across the battery life data of "Lightning-7" when a news article suddenly popped up on the screen:
The European Union has announced an anti-subsidy investigation into Chinese electric vehicles, with tariffs potentially reaching as high as 21%.

"We will bring forward the plan to build a factory in Germany."

She suddenly stood up: "Let Schneider explain to the European Commission why Bosch parts used in our cars are considered 'non-market economy products'."

Outside the window, Ivan was directing workers to hoist a new hydrogen storage tank production line.

This batch of equipment was obtained in exchange for rare earth minerals from Mongolia, and the nano-coating on the tank walls can reduce hydrogen loss by 30%.

"I just received a message from Ye Feng that General Motors says our low-temperature start technology infringes on their patents."

He picked up a wrench and tapped the can. "But their patent drawings don't even include sealing test data for -20°C—what kind of theoretical thing is this, worthy of being called a barrier?"

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