Great Power Reclamation

East African Republic, seven days after the celebrations, early morning.

The command center at Kilimanjaro Fortress remains brightly lit, but the tension in the air has subtly shifted.

Yang San stood in front of the holographic sand table, looking at the light strips that represented the "root system" network connections—they were denser and brighter than they had been a week ago.

In last night's encrypted communications, Ye Fei sent a 300-page document from Russia entitled "Preliminary Cooperation Framework for Uranium Mine Battery Swap Technology," while Marshal Ye's message from Russia was even more concise and powerful:
"The second batch of seed samples has been shipped, with the number of accompanying experts increasing to nine, including two plant geneticists who have been nominated for the Nobel Prize."

"General." The chief of staff approached, holding the latest intelligence summary in his hands:
"The Mauritian ambassador to our country delivered a formal note last night, proposing 'cooperation on the peaceful use of nuclear energy technology on the basis of equality and mutual benefit.' The wording of the note... is quite subtle."

Yang San took the document. He quickly skimmed through the diplomatic language, his gaze lingering on the key paragraphs:
"Mauritius Atomic Energy Corporation is willing to transfer third-generation light water reactor technology to the East African Republic on preferential terms and assist in the construction of uranium refining facilities."

In exchange, East Africa must grant Mauritius joint research and development rights for solid-state battery technology and guarantee Mauritius priority in the supply of battery raw materials for the next ten years.

“They want our lithium, cobalt, graphite, and our newly developed solid-state battery technology.”

The chief of staff said in a low voice, "What we're being given is nuclear technology that could solve the basic electricity shortage, but could also lead to international sanctions."

Yang San did not answer immediately. He walked to the window and looked at the wind turbine blades slowly rotating in the morning light.

East Africa has no shortage of renewable energy sources—solar, wind, and geothermal—all of which have world-class potential.

However, energy storage technology remains a bottleneck. The Russian proposal is essentially an attempt to use the much-needed baseload power technology to gain a core bargaining chip in the future new energy industry chain.

"General Ye Fei's analysis has arrived," the intelligence officer suddenly reported.

The screen lit up, and Ye Fei's image appeared, the background being the familiar secure conference room of the General Staff Headquarters of the Russian Federation. His face looked somewhat tired, but his eyes remained sharp as ever.

"Third Brother, have you finished reading the documents?" Ye Fei got straight to the point.
“I have confirmed a few things through internal channels: First, the Russian Atomic Energy Corporation is indeed eager to find new overseas markets because the EU sanctions have caused them to lose two major orders from Finland and Hungary.”

"Secondly, what they really value is not our mineral resources, but the solid-state battery research institute that Brother Ye Feng acquired through the Brothers Group—it has seven core patents that can solve the problem of battery performance degradation in low-temperature environments, which is crucial for Russia's Arctic development."

Yang San nodded: "So this is a deal where everyone gets what they need."

“But the risk is extremely high.” Ye Fei pulled up a map that marked the traditional sphere of influence of the Russian Empire in Africa.

"If you accept the transfer of nuclear technology, the Omega and the US will definitely react strongly. At best, they will strengthen sanctions; at worst, they may push the UN Security Council to pass a new resolution restricting nuclear technology."

"Moreover, there will be opposition within the country—five years ago when we merged, we promised to 'build a clean energy Africa'."

"Your suggestion?"

Ye Fei paused for a few seconds: "My suggestion is—talk, but slowly. Extend the negotiation period to more than a year, and do three things during this time:"

"First, have Brother Ye Feng spread the word on Wall Street that East Africa is 'carefully evaluating multiple baseload power solutions,' bringing in nuclear power companies from Russia, China, and even South Korea to create competition."

"Second, have Ye Mao coordinate with domestic authorities to see if they can provide us with a batch of large-scale energy storage equipment as a transitional measure under the guise of the 'Belt and Road' green energy project."

Thirdly, and most importantly—

He emphasized, "During this period, we must spare no effort to accelerate the industrialization of our own solid-state batteries. As long as we can achieve a breakthrough in battery technology first, the initiative in negotiations will be in our hands."

The communication ended. Yang San turned to the Chief of Staff and ordered: "Notify the Ministry of Energy and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to establish a 'Baseload Power Scheme Evaluation Committee,' with myself as chairman. The committee's first resolution is:"

“Invite nuclear power companies from Russia, China, South Korea, and other countries to submit preliminary proposals in three months. The evaluation period will be no less than ten months.”

"Yes, General."

“Furthermore,” Yang San added, “send a encrypted message to Ye Feng in my name: We need to see a pilot production line for solid-state batteries established within six months. Funding is not a problem, policy is not a problem—the problem is time.”

The order was executed swiftly. Yang San remained alone in the command center, looking at the new connecting line extending from the Russian Empire on the sand table.

It's currently a dotted line, representing cooperation that hasn't yet materialized. But soon, it will become a solid line, joining dozens of other solid lines to weave a more robust network.

At the heart of this network is East Africa. This country, which didn't exist five years ago, is now becoming a fulcrum in the power struggle between three continents.
-
At the same time, in the country of Ermao, Kirovgrad Oblast.

Marshal Ye stood in the center of the newly expanded "Golden Wheat Ear" demonstration area, surrounded by nine agricultural experts from all over the world.

Early autumn in Ermao Country was already chilly, but the new crop of corn in the experimental field was growing exceptionally well—this was a variety improved with drought-resistant genes provided by East Africa, and its leaves shimmered with a deep green luster in the morning dew.

“Governor Ye,” the chief expert, the plant geneticist who had been nominated for the Nobel Prize, pointed to the control field in the distance:

"The same seeds yielded 23% less in the control group without gene editing. However, after using the soil microbial conditioner you brought from East Africa, the experimental group's resistance to pests and diseases increased by 41%."

Marshal Ye nodded, but his brow remained furrowed. He held in his hand a newly received coded telegram from his elder brother, Ye Feng:

"The EU may launch a new round of 'green barrier' investigations into agricultural exports from Mauritius within the next three months, citing 'the lack of long-term safety data on gene-edited crops.' It is recommended that alternative market solutions be activated immediately."

“Professor,” Ye Shuai turned to the geneticist, “if we start preparing a ‘non-gene-edited’ version of traditional high-quality seeds now, how long would it take?”

The old professor pushed up his glasses: "To achieve the same yield and resistance, at least three years of hybridization and breeding are needed."

"But if we have enough funding and manpower, we can try the 'rapid backcrossing' approach—to re-fix the introduced superior genes through traditional hybridization. This may take eighteen months, but the 'political correctness' of the variety will be much higher."

“Then let’s get started.” Marshal Ye said without hesitation. “I’ll take care of the funding, and we can transfer manpower from the Military Reclamation City Warriors Group. I need two parallel systems: one to continue advancing the most cutting-edge gene-editing technology, and the other to prepare a set of ‘traditional high-quality seeds’ that can shut the EU up.”

He paused, then lowered his voice: "Moreover, this traditional seed should be prioritized for supply to East Africa."

The old professor nodded knowingly. In this world, technology is never just technology; it's also an extension of politics. And what the Ye family excels at most is growing real crops in the space between these two forces.

In the afternoon, Marshal Ye returned to his state government office and connected with Ye Feng via video conference. On the other end of the screen, it was early morning in New York. Ye Feng was wearing sportswear, with the Central Park trail in the background—he had clearly just finished his morning run.

"Brother, how's the situation on your end?" Marshal Ye asked.

"The EU's 'green barriers' are just a facade," Ye Feng said calmly, taking a sip of water.

“I confirmed through my contacts at Brothers Group in Brussels that the real driving force behind this is the agricultural lobbying groups in France and Germany. They are worried that agricultural cooperation between Mauritius and East Africa will create a ‘Eurasian-African food corridor’ that bypasses the EU, impacting their agricultural product markets in Africa.”

"So this is an economic war."

“It always has been,” Ye Feng smiled. “But the good news is that the war isn’t fought on just one front. The organic food chain supermarket I acquired last month officially submitted an application to the European Commission yesterday, requesting that Russia’s ‘traditionally selected high-quality wheat’ be included in the EU’s organic food certification list. The application documents included three independent laboratory test reports proving that your seeds ‘fully meet the EU’s most stringent non-GMO standards.’”

Marshal Ye's eyes lit up: "This is..."

"This is using EU rules to slap the EU in the face." Ye Feng's smile turned sharp. "Those three laboratories are independent on the surface, but in reality, they all have secret shareholdings from the Brother Group."

"The report is true, the data is accurate, and the seeds are 'traditional'—except that this 'traditional' one was created by us in eighteen months and hundreds of millions of dollars."

The two laughed simultaneously. This was the Ye family's way: always prepare two sets of cards, one set revealed to comply with all rules, and one set concealed to break all restrictions. And the true player knows when to reveal which card.

"What do you think of Russia's nuclear power proposal in East Africa?" Ye Feng changed the subject.

Marshal Ye pondered for a moment: "From a technical point of view, solving the baseload power problem is a good thing. But from a political point of view... the risks are too great." "I prefer the solution proposed by my second brother—to use China's large-scale energy storage equipment as a transitional measure, while simultaneously focusing on breaking through our own solid-state battery technology. As long as we lead in battery technology, we will have the right to set the rules, instead of following others' rules."

“Just as I thought.” Ye Feng nodded. “So I’ve coordinated with the new energy fund of the Brother Group to invest an additional $500 million in the battery research institute in East Africa. The condition is that mass production must be achieved within eighteen months.”

“Eighteen months…” Marshal Ye calculated the time, “which happens to be the window of opportunity for the next round of EU agricultural negotiations. If East Africa’s batteries and our seeds both make breakthroughs by then…”

“Then,” Ye Feng continued, “the EU will have to sit down at the negotiating table and talk to a complete ‘energy-food’ supply chain, instead of putting pressure on individual countries.”

The communication ended. Marshal Ye walked to the window, looking at the endless wheat fields of the Kirovgrad region. Five years ago, this was just an ordinary agricultural region in Russia; five years later, it has become a key node in the food network connecting the three continents of Europe, Asia, and Africa.

And he, the third son of the Ye family, a mixed-race child with a Russian mother and a Chinese father, stands at the center of this juncture.

My phone vibrated. It was a message from my mother, Ivana, written in Russian: "Your father is coming to Kyiv next month. He says he wants to see the wheat you planted."

Marshal Ye replied: "Tell him that this time he will not only see wheat, but also how seeds can change the world."

As he pressed the send button, he suddenly remembered the scene a few years ago when his father, Ye Yuze, sent him to Er Mao Kingdom.

At that time, he was still a boy, both familiar and unfamiliar with this land. His father pointed to the fertile fields on both banks of the Dnieper River and said:

“Shuai Shuai, look at this land. It has been hurt so many times, but it can always grow crops again. Why? Because the land doesn’t take sides. It only recognizes one principle—whoever treats it well, it will repay them.”

Years have passed; his father has grown old, and he has grown up. And only today does he truly understand that truth:

In this divided world, the most powerful force is not taking sides, but becoming the "land" that all parties have no choice but to rely on.
-
The capital city, evening.

Ye Maogang had just finished an internal seminar on "green energy cooperation" when he returned to his office and saw three messages on his encrypted terminal.

The first point comes from Ye Feng: "The EU agricultural lobbying group has begun to take action, and the project in Mauritius needs policy cover. Can we coordinate with domestic grain companies to sign a long-term procurement agreement with Mauritius under the guise of 'diversifying import sources'? The quantity doesn't need to be large, but it must have the symbolic significance of 'strategic cooperation'."

The second message came from Ye Rou: "The risk assessment for the Russian nuclear power project has been completed, and the preference is to postpone it. Large-scale energy storage equipment is urgently needed for transition. Could you, Second Brother, coordinate with domestic companies to implement this project as an aid initiative?"

The third message came from the father, Ye Yuze, and consisted of only one sentence: "Come back for the family dinner next month. There are things I need to tell you."

Ye Mao rubbed his temples. He was thirty-five years old and had worked in a national ministry for ten years, rising from a clerk to a section chief and then to a department head, taking each step steadily and cautiously.

But since the unification of East Africa five years ago and the Ye family's global expansion began, he has found himself increasingly needing to operate on two fronts:

One line represents the duties of a national civil servant, and the other represents the obligations of family members.

These two lines are quietly overlapping at certain points.

He first replied to Ye Feng: "I have communicated with China Grain Group, and they are willing to sign a five-year procurement agreement with Mauritania under the name of the 'China-Ukraine Agricultural Cooperation Demonstration Project.' The first batch of 100,000 tons of wheat will be priced at a 5% premium over the international market price—this 5% is a political premium, and also a protection fee."

Then, in response to Ye Rou, the China Development Bank stated: "The China Development Bank has approved the 'East Africa Power Grid Stability Improvement Project,' and the first batch of thirty large-scale flow storage devices will be shipped next month. The technical team will arrive at the same time, with a training period of six months. This is a key project under the 'Belt and Road' initiative, with political significance outweighing economic benefits, and it meets the needs of both parties."

Finally, he stared at his father's brief message, remaining silent for a long time.

Next month is the family dinner. My father is over seventy years old this year. Although he is still very energetic, time waits for no one.

During the last family meeting, my father said something that I still remember vividly:
“My generation started from nothing; your generation is going from something to strength; and your next generation will determine how long this strength can last.”

The next generation. Ye Mao thought of his eighteen-year-old son, who was studying physics at Tsinghua University and dreamed of researching controlled nuclear fusion;

Thinking of their children, thinking of Ye Rou and Ye Mei's two daughters who had just turned 100 days old—they would inherit a country in the future.

The third generation of the Ye family has grown up without them even realizing it. And the world they are about to face is more complex and more dangerous than that of their parents.

The encrypted terminal vibrated again. This time it was Ye Fei sending an encrypted video from Russia.

In the video, Ye Fei stands in a remote testing ground with the snow-covered Siberian wilderness in the background.

His voice was muffled by the cold wind: "Second Brother, I just finished watching the live-fire test of Russia's latest 'Pantsir-S' air defense system. Its performance is 30% higher than the publicly available data, especially its anti-drone capabilities. I'm wondering... does East Africa need this?"

The screen then switches to a detailed performance parameter and price list.

Ye Mao's pupils contracted slightly. He understood what Ye Fei meant—

Following the failed assassination attempt, East Africa's air defense systems must be upgraded. While the equipment from Russia may draw criticism from the West, it offers advantages in both performance and price.

More importantly, this was a "special channel" provided by Ye Fei, which was faster and more secretive than normal military procurement.

He replied, “Let’s do a feasibility study first. I need to assess three aspects: 1. Technological compatibility (the existing system in East Africa is mainly equipped by Huami); 2. Political risks; 3. Sustainability of subsequent maintenance and upgrades. Give me a preliminary report within two weeks.”

After sending the message, Ye Mao stood up and walked to the floor-to-ceiling window in his office. The city lights were just coming on; this ancient yet youthful city was bustling with activity.

As the cog of the Ye family in the national machine, he had to ensure that every expansion of the family was subtly and precisely synchronized with the country's strategic direction.

My phone rang. It was my son calling.

"Dad, our lab succeeded today!" The boy's voice was full of excitement.

"We've found a new optimization scheme for that plasma confinement model! My advisor said this could potentially bring forward the commercialization timeline by five years!"

Ye Mao smiled, his first genuine smile of the day: "Good, very good. Remember to back up the data, especially the core algorithms."

“I know, I’ve memorized the confidentiality regulations.” The son paused. “Dad, Grandpa’s birthday is next month. Can I bring my girlfriend? She’s in our lab too, so her background is definitely not a problem…”

"Bring it here," Ye Mao said softly. "Let Grandpa see that the third generation of the Ye family is already creating the future."

He hung up the phone and looked out the window again. Beijing in the night resembled a sophisticated, giant machine, each light a working component.

Within this machine, there are countless people like him, searching for the most delicate balance between personal, family, and national interests.

Ye Mao knew that next month's family dinner would not be just a reunion.

That will be a handover—from the pioneering work of the father's generation, to the construction of their generation, and then to the creation of the next generation.

What they need to pass on to the next generation is not only a stronger family network, but more importantly, the wisdom to navigate this network without being devoured by it.

He returned to his desk and began drafting a new document: "Preliminary Ideas on Supporting the Construction of a Regional Energy Internet in Africa." This was another path he was paving for both his family and his country.

Night deepened. In the six time zones of the world, the other members of the Ye family continued to weave that net on their respective battlefields.

The net is becoming denser and more resilient.

As the internet begins to bear fruit, it will inevitably attract more storms.

But everyone in the Ye family knew that—having chosen to weave a net, they had to be prepared to tighten every thread in the storm. (End of Chapter)