Courtyard House: A Major Power's Heavy Industry, Hand-Crafted Nuclear Fusion

In the summer of 1989, Zhu Rihe.

The grass here is growing more lush than in previous years, but the desolate smell in the air is even stronger.

A top-secret exercise codenamed "Stride-1989" is about to begin.

This time, the Red Force was no longer an ordinary infantry division, but the "Iron Army" recognized by the entire army—a heavy mechanized division of the X Group Army. They were equipped with the newly commissioned Type 80 main battle tanks, possessing the strongest firepower and the toughest armor.

Division Commander Zhao Tiezhu, true to his name, was a tough guy. Standing on the command vehicle, looking at the steel torrent stretching for kilometers behind him, he was brimming with confidence.

"That kid Su Zheng, he won a game last year by sneak attack, does he really think he's invincible?"

Division Commander Zhao said to the Chief of Staff, "This time we've come prepared. Radio silence! All radars shut down! Don't give him a chance for electronic reconnaissance! I don't believe that with just a few hundred tanks, we can crush his 'Red Star Brigade' into mincemeat!"

Meanwhile, the Blue Army's position was dozens of kilometers away.

Su Zheng did not rush to set up defenses as Commander Zhao had expected.

He was sitting in an air-conditioned room (yes, the Blue Team command post had air conditioning), drinking an iced cola while watching the large screen on the wall.

Instead of a map, the screen displayed densely packed code and waveforms.

"Xinyi, is the 'Skynet' system online yet?"

"It's online."

Ye Xinyi sat next to him, her fingers tapping lightly on the keyboard. "Electronic warfare aircraft (modified from Y-8) has arrived at the designated airspace. Full-band jamming is ready."

"What about the drone swarm?"

"We are on standby at an altitude of 3000 meters. We can 'make it rain' at any time."

Su Zheng smiled.

He stood up, walked to the window, and looked out at the Gobi Desert under the scorching sun.

"Old Zhao, do you think I can't hear you just because you're not talking?"

"In modern warfare, as long as you have electricity, you are a torch in the darkness."

……

Two o'clock in the afternoon.

The Red Army launched an attack.

At Commander Zhao's order, hundreds of tanks roared to life, kicking up clouds of yellow dust. Their sheer force was enough to terrify any enemy.

However, only ten minutes later...

A strange thing happened.

"Feed? Feed? A ball? Please respond if you hear me!"

"Second Regiment? Third Regiment? Artillery Regiment?"

Commander Zhao held the walkie-talkie, but all that came through was a harsh static sound.

"What happened? Is the radio broken?"

"Commander! All frequencies are being jammed!" The communications staff officer rushed over, sweating profusely. "Shortwave, VHF, and microwave—it's all just noise! ​​Our communications... are down!"

"What?!"

Commander Zhao's heart skipped a beat.

A force of over 10,000 men is in complete disarray if it loses communication!

"Fire signal flares! Use flag signals! Continue the attack!"

Commander Zhao gritted his teeth, "Even if he's deaf, I'll run him over!"

However, something even more terrifying was yet to come.

While the Red Army tank groups were still blindly charging forward.

A chilling buzzing sound suddenly came from the sky.

"What is that?"

A tank commander opened the hatch and looked up.

From the clouds overhead, countless black dots fell like locusts.

It's not a bomb.

They were small, model airplanes made of foam and balsa wood...?

"Air raid! Air raid!"

The train conductor shouted.

But the Red Army's accompanying anti-aircraft fire (twin 37mm anti-aircraft guns) simply couldn't react in time. These small planes were too fast, too small targets, and... there were just too many of them!

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Explosions echoed throughout the tank formation.

Although these "suicide drones" carry a small amount of explosives, insufficient to penetrate the main armor of a tank, they specifically target the tank's "eyes"—the sights, antennas, and engine cooling vents.

After one round of attacks.

The Red Army's offensive momentum was forced to a halt.

Dozens of tanks lay motionless, billowing black smoke. Although the people inside were still alive, the tanks were now blind, deaf, and unable to move.

"What the hell is this fighting style?!"

Commander Zhao's eyes reddened as he looked at the carnage ahead. "Using toy airplanes to fight tanks? Su Zheng! You have no martial ethics!"

"Report!"

Just then, a scout stumbled into the command vehicle, shouting, "Commander! The artillery positions in the rear are under attack!"

"Who did it? Did the Blues' main force flank them?"

No...no.

The scout looked terrified. "It's...it's our own plane!"

"What?!"

Commander Zhao felt that his brain wasn't working properly.

"The Air Force just sent a telegram (via landline) saying they received your order to bombard Hill XX. The result... they bombed our own artillery regiment!"

"Bullshit! When did I ever give that order?!"

Division Commander Zhao flew into a rage.

Suddenly, he realized something.

He abruptly turned his head to look at the only landline phone.

The phone rang.

Commander Zhao picked up the receiver with trembling hands.

Instead of instructions from superiors, a familiar, smiling voice came from inside:

"Old Zhao, are you surprised? Unexpected?"

It's Su Zheng.

"You...you hacked into our communications network?!"

"It's not just about communication networks."

Su Zheng said calmly, "Your command chain, IFF system, and even your newly installed fire control computers are all under my control."

"Old Zhao, you're not commanding an army now."

"They're a bunch of blind men whose eyes I've blindfolded and ears I've plugged, who're slashing at each other with knives..."

"I don't believe it!"

Commander Zhao roared and slammed down the phone, "I still have the guard battalion! I'll personally lead the charge!"

He drew his pistol and jumped off the command vehicle.

however.

The instant his feet touched the ground.

call out--!

A red signal flare exploded above his head.

Immediately afterwards, countless Blue Army special forces soldiers dressed in ghillie suits and carrying Type 95 assault rifles (prototype rifles) suddenly emerged from the surrounding bushes.

They seemed to have emerged from underground, their gun barrels pointed menacingly at everyone in the Red Army command post.

And it was on Commander Zhao's forehead.

A tiny red dot is trembling slightly.

That's the spotlight from the laser pointer.

All it takes is for the sniper hiding in the distance to gently pull the trigger, or for a drone in the sky to drop a micro missile...

The exercise has ended.

You lost.

Su Zheng stepped out of an off-road vehicle disguised as a haystack.

He was still wearing that camouflage uniform, and his clothes were spotless, without a speck of dirt on them.

Commander Zhao looked at him, then at his dejected subordinates around him.

This battle was incredibly frustrating.

From beginning to end, he didn't even see where the main force of the Blue Army was. His tanks, artillery, and human wave tactics were like hitting cotton.

"What... what kind of skill is this?"

Commander Zhao ripped off his hat and slammed it to the ground, tears welling in his eyes. "Sneaky tricks! Sabotage! This battle is unwinnable! If we really go to war, I'll..."

"If it were a real war, you would have died three times already."

Su Zheng interrupted him, his voice icy.

"First, your command post was already exposed when my electronic reconnaissance aircraft cracked your radio silence. I have ten ways to take you down with long-range missiles."

"Second, when your tank formation is paralyzed during a drone swarm attack, if my attack helicopters enter the field at that time, it will be like shooting at a target."

"Third, which is what just happened."

Su Zheng pointed to Commander Zhao's forehead, "You think I'm playing games with you? I'm saving your life."

Division Commander Zhao was stunned.

Looking into Su Zheng's calm and expressionless eyes, he suddenly felt a chill run down his spine.

Yes.

If it's a real war...

If it's dealing with Americans...

He didn't even dare to think about that outcome.

"Old Zhao."

Su Zheng walked over, picked up the hat from the ground, dusted it off, and handed it back to him.

Don't feel wronged.

Su Zheng's voice softened a bit, "It's better to lose face in Zhurihe today than to lose your life on the battlefield tomorrow."

"This is what I want to tell the entire army: times have changed."

"Future wars will not be about who shouts the loudest or who has more tanks. They will be about who can see further, calculate faster, and hide the best."

"Electronic warfare, cyber warfare, drone warfare... these invisible and intangible 'dirty tricks' are the main players on the battlefield of the future."

"What we need to do is become the one who... creates nightmares for the enemy."

Commander Zhao took the hat and remained silent for a long time.

Finally, he solemnly gave Su Zheng a military salute.

"Been taught a lesson."

This salute marks the end of the mechanized era for the Chinese army and also represents the awakening of the information age.

……

At the exercise debriefing meeting.

Su Zheng did not become arrogant or complacent.

He stood on the podium, with images of US troops gathering in the Gulf region playing on a large screen behind him.

Comrades.

Su Zheng's expression was grim. "The same tactics we used in Zhurihe today are what the Americans are preparing for in the Gulf."

"Their electronic warfare aircraft are more advanced than ours, their Tomahawk missiles are more accurate, and their GPS has a wider coverage than our BeiDou (which is still under testing)."

"We only beat our own people on the field, but that doesn't mean we can beat the Americans."

The audience remained completely silent.

The generals' faces no longer held the relaxed demeanor they had before the exercise; instead, they wore a deep sense of crisis.

"So what should we do?" someone asked.

"Chase."

Su was writing a large character on the blackboard.

"Chase after them desperately."

"He poured all the money he made from selling pants and game consoles into scientific research."

"Develop early warning aircraft, satellites, chips, and large aircraft."

"We have already planted a seed of the 'Blue Army' in Zhurihe. Next, we will let this seed sprout, grow into a towering tree, and become a...steel forest that protects China."

……

After the meeting.

Su Zheng walked out of the auditorium and looked at the setting sun on the horizon.

"Is it over?" Ye Xinyi walked over.

"No, this is just the beginning."

Su Zheng took a deep breath. "The 'sharpening stone' in the country has been set up. Next, it's time to get down to that big task."

"Have you booked your plane tickets?"

"It's booked."

Ye Xinyi handed him a plane ticket. "Tomorrow morning, direct flight to Moscow."

"How's the situation over there?"

"It's a mess."

Ye Xinyi lowered her voice, "Gorbachev's reforms have spiraled out of control. The Baltic states are seeking independence, their economies are on the verge of collapse, the ruble is depreciating, and morale is crumbling."

That's the perfect time.

A complex light flashed in Su Zheng's eyes.

That former elder brother, that red giant that once inspired both awe and fear in China, is finally about to fall.

This is a tragedy, but also... an opportunity.

"Let's go."

Su Zheng pulled his suitcase. "I'm going to witness history. And while I'm at it... I'll bring their 'legacy' home."