Break out of the courtyard

After Zhang Heping repeated the precautions for the armory virtual dream, he then asked about everyone's physical condition.

"Tell us about any symptoms you may be experiencing, such as dizziness, headache, difficulty concentrating, or fatigue. This will help the medical staff nearby make a proper diagnosis and determine whether you need glucose or intravenous fluids," Zhang Heping said seriously, looking at those who had just been distracted by looking at their helmets.
"The rules and regulations posted on the wall are very clear: anyone who conceals their physical condition or collapses while using a brain-computer interface will be banned from using a brain-computer interface for a year!"

"If this brain-computer interface device isn't managed according to regulations here, I'll confiscate it and transfer it to another school! So, those who violate the rules shouldn't expect anyone to plead for them!"

After Zhang Heping said that, the older experts who originally wanted to put up a fight and not want to admit their age in front of the younger generation raised their hands one after another and went to the side to tell the medical staff about their situation.

Zhang Heping, seeing that most of the elderly experts had left, continued, "Given your advanced average age, the duration of each session of this brain-computer interface will be reduced to 20 minutes, which corresponds to about 3 hours in the virtual dream world, equivalent to half a day's work."

“When the time is up, these helmets will automatically rise up. Then you will have a 20-minute break.”

"Finally, a reminder: it's normal to experience physical symptoms after using brain-computer interfaces; if you're no longer fit to enter the virtual dream world, please rest to the side and don't let yourself fall into a coma. Falling into a coma indicates mental exhaustion, and excessive mental exhaustion can lead to brain death!"

After Zhang Heping finished speaking, he told everyone to disperse and find something to eat and drink, and then sit down and rest.

Like the brain-computer interface devices in libraries in Shenzhen and Hong Kong, there are no chairs or stools under the gaming helmets here.

The purpose of this is to cause those who are mentally exhausted to faint directly, quickly disconnecting the brain-computer interface, while making it easier for nearby medical staff to discover and treat them immediately.

Of course, a thick carpet was also laid on the floor to prevent brain-computer interface users from falling and getting injured.

"Dean Zhang, you've worked so hard! Please take a rest here!" The dean of Dalian Naval Academy, who was standing in the front row experiencing the virtual dream, stepped forward and invited Zhang Heping to sit down next to him with a smile.

"Dean Wu, you're too kind, please!" Zhang Heping gestured for them to proceed, then followed Dean Wu and his group to the table and chairs on the side. "I'll demonstrate some more naval equipment later, and then the mission here will be complete. If you have any questions later, you can email me!"

"Dean Zhang, could you stay another day? Let us show you some hospitality!" Dean Wu quickly raised his hand to stop Zhang Heping when he waved his hand as if to speak.
"We had no idea you were coming, and we weren't prepared at all. We were truly ashamed of our hospitality yesterday. We worked through the night..."

"Dean Wu!" Zhang Heping said with a smile, "Your hospitality yesterday was already very lavish!"

"Don't laugh at us, but when experts from other places come to our college for exchanges, we treat them to meals from the school cafeteria. We don't even reach one-tenth of your level of hospitality!"

"Dean Zhang can't fool me!" Dean Wu said with a smile. "Professor Wu from our college came to Shenzhen last year to receive the Peace Prize. He stayed at the Peace Hotel and enjoyed five-star treatment in his meals!"

"Hehe, those are all arrangements made by Heping Investment Company, only once a year." Zhang Heping took the glucose water handed to him by Zhang Yi and handed it to Dean Wu. "Using the brain machine will rapidly consume the body's nutrients, especially when perception is accelerated by 10 times."

"For the sake of these senior experts' health, Dean Wu cannot allow them to act recklessly. Those who need rest must be forced to go back and rest."

Dean Wu took the glucose bottle and hurriedly said, "Please rest assured, Dean Zhang, these senior experts are our country's treasures. We will definitely not let them suffer any mishaps."

Zhang Heping looked at the guard standing in the corner and smiled, "Later, other weapons experts will come over to rate this weapons arsenal virtual dream and then determine the security level here."

"Regardless of their rating, our academy will definitely maintain the highest level of security and will absolutely not allow any mishaps to occur here!" After Dean Wu finished speaking, seeing that Zhang Heping was using glucose water instead of alcohol, he hurriedly opened his glucose bottle and clinked it against the other person's bottle.

"I'll leave after lunch; there are still quite a few projects to follow up on at the institute!" Zhang Heping emphasized his departure time at the end. "My nephew and his colleagues will stay a few more days; I'll trouble Dean Wu to take care of them!"

"It's what we should do!" Dean Wu nodded to Zhang Yi and the others, then said to Zhang Heping with some regret, "Please forgive us for any shortcomings in our hospitality!"

The two deans, one old and one young, exchanged pleasantries for a while before re-entering the virtual dream world.

As Zhang Heping just said, when he entered the dream this time, he didn't introduce anything else, but instead materialized a batch of naval equipment in the void outside the library.

He first disassembled the naval equipment into modular units in public, and then disassembled these units into small parts.

Finally, the parts were assembled into a boat, which was then put on a large-scale demonstration at sea before the project ended.

In the afternoon, Zhang Heping bid farewell to Dalian Naval Academy, without having anyone from Heping Shipping Company see him off, and went straight to the airport to return to Shenzhen.

No sooner had Zhang Heping left than a group of weapons experts from various provinces arrived at Dalian Naval Academy by chartered plane.

Within two days, more guards carrying guns and leading black wolfhounds appeared inside and outside the library of Dalian Naval Academy.

At the same time, more infrared cameras have been installed on campus to serve as warnings.

As for what equipment was secretly installed, only the newly transferred guards knew.

With the completion of the rating work for the virtual dream of the arsenal, Hua Lao brought 5 tons of gold from the capital to Shenzhen to support Zhang Heping's brain-computer interface research.

Five tons of gold, or about 176,000 ounces, is equivalent to about 70 million US dollars in magnesium, based on the current gold price that Chen Shuting has driven down.

From a value perspective alone, it is indeed a bit lacking.

However, if all 5 tons of gold were made into miniature brain-computer interfaces, approximately 1500 million such interfaces could be produced.

Even if four-fifths of the gold were used for mental energy conductors, that would amount to 300 million gold microcomputers. Therefore, 5 tons of gold would be more than enough for brain-computer interface research.

Besides bringing gold, Hua Lao also mentioned the situation in Wucheng and Xiamen, as well as the progress of negotiations with the Americans in the capital.

"We haven't discussed the confidential technologies like the Lifespan 120 drug, regeneration and repair fluid, brain-computer interface, and levitation device with the Americans," said Professor Hua, standing outside the glass partition of the biological brain laboratory, to Zhang Heping, who was conducting experiments on the other side of the glass.
Even so, the Americans relented.

"They are now using their access to Hammer Technology and the WTO to try and get us to lift export controls on chips, high-tech equipment, rare earths, and other commodities."

"Of course, they also wanted to import Lifespan 120 medicine, regeneration and repair fluid, etc., but our representative rejected them on the spot."

Zhang Heping worked in silence for a while, then handed over the finishing touches to the biological expert and assistant next to him.

After he took off his white protective suit, left the biological brain laboratory, and got into the jeep with Elder Hua, Zhang Heping asked softly, "Does someone want to agree to lift export controls?"

"Yes!" Elder Hua said in a deep voice, "Joining the WTO will further stabilize our import and export trade."

"Some people have suggested imposing a technology blockade on us, similar to what Japan, Germany, and the United States did when they sold equipment to us. What do you think of that?"

“It’s technically possible, but you don’t need to do it!” Zhang Heping’s right hand rested on the car door, his index finger tapping the door repeatedly. “Think back to those days, the more foreigners blocked our technology, the more we wanted to break through the blockade and master their advanced technology.”

"Conversely, the same applies to foreigners."

"When we gave them free navigation before, the US stopped upgrading their GPS, and Europe didn't even mention navigation satellites." "After the previous interruption of their navigation services, you can see how big their reaction was; it immediately escalated to the level of a satellite navigation defense war."

"So, either don't sell, or if you do sell, sell generously, provide good after-sales service, and it's okay to set a higher price."

Hua frowned and said, "But some people are worried that the Americans will take this opportunity to upgrade their military equipment!"

"So what if we upgrade our military equipment?" Zhang Heping said indifferently. "The Soviet Union has enough munitions to destroy the world. No matter how much they upgrade their military equipment, they can only reach the point of destroying the world at most."

"There's only one Earth. How many times can they destroy it?"

"Besides, the things the Americans want aren't our latest products."

“During the meeting, a small number of people shared similar views with you.” Old Hua leaned back in his chair, watching the yellow lights on the tunnel ceiling disappear quickly into the distance.

Once the old man and the young man returned to the villa area, Old Man Hua asked again, "If China joins the WTO, the Peace Group's boycott of Japan might be used by Japan as a pretext at the WTO. What do you plan to do then?"

"Hmph!" Zhang Heping sneered, "Free trade means that I can decide who I want to sell my goods to and who I don't want to sell them to!"

"Besides, if they can do the first thing, they can't blame me for doing the fifteenth! This matter won't end until the Japanese government hands over those behind the scenes!"

"You!" Old Hua pointed at Zhang Heping, shook his head with a wry smile, "You don't care about important matters, but you always worry about these trivial things."

Zhang Heping retorted dismissively, "The Japanese devils have already reached my doorstep. If I don't take it seriously, who will?"

Hua Lao opened his mouth, feeling that Zhang Heping's words were a sarcastic remark about the fact that the mainland had not helped him investigate the Japanese attack on the Hong Kong Peace Academy last year, as well as the attack on the Zhang family's convoy.

The key point is that after these two incidents, most people in the country are worried that the armed forces of Umbrella Security Company are out of control.

Zhang Heping seemed to have guessed what Hua was thinking: "Hong Kong Island will be returned to China in just over a year. Will the gun licenses of the Umbrella Security Company be valid? When will you give us a definite answer?"

"If it can't be used after the return, I'll have them open a few more branches in the surrounding island nations."

Upon hearing this, Old Hua's brows furrowed. "After the handover, the Hong Kong Garrison will definitely protect..."

“Mr. Hua!” Zhang Heping interrupted the other party’s official rhetoric. “There are some things that are not easy to say directly, but I believe you should understand why I retain the armed forces of Umbrella Security Company.”

"The Japanese should be thankful that their recent plots against me and my family haven't succeeded. Otherwise, hmph..."

Old Hua stood there, stunned, watching Zhang Heping's departing figure. His thoughts were like a knotted ball of yarn, and he was extremely worried!

Based on the weapons information presented by Zhang Heping, Hua Lao, like many others, suspected that Umbrella Security Company possessed even more advanced weapons, thus labeling it as extremely dangerous.

But as Zhang Heping said, Hua Lao knew the significance of the Umbrella Security Company to Zhang Heping.

The Umbrella Security Company is not only protecting Zhang Heping and his family, but also restricting Zhang Heping from wantonly retaliating against others.

Imagine if Zhang Heping agreed to the domestic authorities' request to disband the Umbrella Security Company and have his security taken over entirely by domestic guards.

So the question is, how many domestic security personnel can be deployed to protect Zhang Heping's family?

Can they have tens of thousands of people revolving around the Zhang family every day, like the Umbrella Security Company?

The answer is obvious: impossible!
If Zhang Heping really disbands the Umbrella Security Company, what awaits him and his family is either being kept in captivity or being forced to live under an assumed name!
If it weren't for the mess at the Wucheng and Xiamen chip factories, Old Hua would have tried to persuade them, after all, Zhang Heping was quite skilled, and his whole family had mastered the use of mental power.

Hua believed that if he only persuaded the security company to abandon its armed forces and become an ordinary security company, it would still be possible to get Zhang Heping to agree.

But the scandals at Wucheng Chip Factory and Xiamen Chip Factory completely disregarded Zhang Heping's status as an advisor and the president of the World Advanced Technology Research Institute.

If the Peace Group hadn't wanted to withdraw all its investment from Wucheng and blow things out of proportion, this mess would probably still be buried in the local area.

Considering that Zhang Heping came from that era, knew the Lou Bancheng family in the capital, and was unwilling to disclose the Lifespan 120 and 160 drug technology, Hua Lao naturally understood why Zhang Heping was unwilling to give up the armed forces of Umbrella Security Company.

However, in the confrontation between individual will and national will, the individual is ultimately at a disadvantage, unless...

For no apparent reason, Hua Lao thought that if Zhang Heping, with the help of his security company, took over the new island and the surrounding countries...

Thinking of this, Old Hua shook his head, unwilling to think any further.

When that time really comes, let's not talk about how big the domestic losses or the reaction will be.

He believed that countries like the EU, the US, and the EU would inevitably swarm and sting him like a swarm of wasps!
Otherwise, Zhang Heping wouldn't have just mentioned opening a few more branch offices in the surrounding island nations!

Old Hua returned to his villa, filled with sorrow.

Under persistent questioning from Secretary Chen and Director Wang, Mr. Hua frowned and expressed his concerns about the "protective umbrella" security companies in China.

Secretary Chen thought for a moment and said, "Mr. Hua, do you think it's possible to incorporate Umbrella Security Company into our system?"

Upon hearing Secretary Chen's suggestion, Old Hua's brows furrowed even more.

Their system, existing between the military and intelligence systems, is like a gray area, very inclusive, because the person in charge is Hua Lao, and all it takes is his approval!
Director Wang, standing nearby, frowned and said, "If there are still people from our company working for Umbrella Security, that's a possibility, but now..."

Mr. Hua and Secretary Chen both understood what Director Wang hadn't finished saying, because the security company that had protected the mainland had cleared out all the people they had planted there!
Liu Yuan, the secretary who was standing to the side serving tea and water, glanced hesitantly at Director Wang and Elder Hua, as if she had something to say, but hesitated to speak.

Director Wang noticed Liu Yuan's unusual behavior, but did not ask her about it on the spot.

Only after she and Liu Yuan had said goodbye and left did she ask Liu Yuan what she thought by the artificial lake outside.

“Director Wang, I don’t know if I should say this, but you’re so close to the Heping family, you should be on Heping’s side.” Liu Yuan frowned and said a lot, as if she was making excuses for herself. “Even if I don’t say it, you will probably think of this later.”

"I think He Ping should now accept the idea of ​​sending people from China to infiltrate his protection company. Secretary Chen's suggestion is very feasible!"

...(End of this chapter)