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

Meanwhile, thousands of miles away in Moscow.

Within the red walls of the Kremlin, a war without gunfire is brewing.

Gorbachev sat in his office, looking out the window at the ice floes floating on the Moscow River, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

His "new thinking" and "openness" policies, originally intended to save the vast empire, unexpectedly accelerated its disintegration.

The three Baltic states have declared independence.

Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan... one after another, the constituent republics are stirring.

Even more alarming, divisions have emerged within the military itself.

Some hardline generals are secretly plotting a coup.

Amid this chaotic situation, astute businessmen, officials, and gang leaders were frantically dividing up state-owned assets.

Oil, natural gas, metal mining, military industry enterprises...

This former superpower is being torn to shreds by a flock of vultures.

"Comrade General Secretary."

The secretary knocked and entered. "We've received a notification from China that their inspection team will arrive in Moscow in three days. The leader is..."

The secretary paused. "Su Zheng from Red Star Electronics."

"Su Zheng?"

Gorbachev frowned.

He had heard of this name before. According to the KGB report, this young man was a new generation of entrepreneurs who rose to prominence after China's reform and opening up, but his background was extremely complex—he had official support, strong technological capabilities, and control over a vast amount of capital.

"What do they want?"

"It's ostensibly a 'technical exchange' and 'investment visit,'" the secretary said, handing over a document. "But according to our intelligence, their true purpose is... to acquire our military industrial enterprises and technology patents."

"snort."

Gorbachev sneered, "The West is corrupting us with dollars and Coca-Cola, and now the Chinese want a piece of the pie too?"

"but……"

The secretary hesitated for a moment, then said, "General Secretary, our current finances... are really strained. If the Chinese people were willing to contribute, perhaps..."

"That's enough."

Gorbachev waved his hand. "Let them come. Anyway... this country is rotten to the core. It's better to let those oligarchs and mafia steal things than..."

He didn't finish speaking, but his meaning was already clear.

……

Lubyanka Building, Moscow.

KGB headquarters.

In a windowless, enclosed room, several high-ranking military officers in uniform are having a meeting.

"The Chinese are coming."

Seated at the head of the table was the KGB's First Deputy Chairman, a veteran agent codenamed "Wolf." "Their targets are clear—Tu-160s, Akula-class destroyers, RD-180s, and our scientists."

"So what do we do?"

A young major asked, "Should we stop them?"

"Prevent?"

"Wolf" gave a sarcastic smile. "What can stop us? We can't even pay salaries right now. Some of those scientists and engineers are selling their research findings for bread, while others are already preparing to flee to the United States."

"Rather than sending them to serve Westerners, it's better... to let the Chinese take them away."

"But……"

Another colonel hesitated, "These are our core technologies. If the Chinese get their hands on them, their military strength will..."

"Will they surpass us?"

"Wolf" interrupted him, "Wake up, comrade. We're finished. In another year, the name 'Russian Bear Country' will disappear from the map. By then, who will care where our technology goes?"

"but……"

He abruptly changed the subject, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes, "We can use this opportunity to create some... obstacles for the Chinese."

"What do you mean?"

"It's very simple."

"Wolf" stood up and walked to a huge map of Russia. "Many of those military industrial enterprises and research institutes are located in different republics. Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Belarus... these places are currently seeking independence."

"We just need to... give a little hint to the local nationalists. Tell them that the Chinese are coming to 'plunder' their wealth. Then..."

He drew a circle on the map with his finger.

"Let them deal with the Chinese themselves."

"clever."

The major smiled. "This way, we can both get money from the Chinese and teach them a lesson."

"Not only that."

"Wolf" sat down again, lit a cigarette, and said, "We also need to plant spies within their ranks. I need to know their every move, every transaction."

"If possible..."

He took a deep drag of his cigarette, the smoke rising slowly in the dim light. "We can even use the Chinese to eliminate some... disobedient domestic forces."

……

Meanwhile, on the other side of Moscow.

In a dilapidated warehouse, dozens of men wearing leather jackets and thick gold chains around their necks were dividing up the loot.

They are members of the Solntsevo Brotherhood, the largest criminal organization in Moscow.

"Boss, I heard the Chinese are coming."

One of the henchmen sidled up to their boss, "Scarface Ivan," and said, "They seem...very rich."

"rich?"

Scarface Ivan grinned, revealing a set of gold teeth. "That's perfect. The police are busy maintaining order right now, no one's bothering us. These foreigners... they're just easy prey."

"But boss, Chinese people are different from Americans. They... don't seem like people to mess with either."

"What are you afraid of?"

Scarface Ivan patted the gun at his waist. "In Moscow, no matter who you are, you have to follow our rules."

"Pass the word down, tell the brothers to keep a close watch. Report immediately if the Chinese convoy appears."

"We want these Easterners to know that if they want to do business in Russia, they have to... pay protection money first."

……

On a Tu-154 passenger plane.

Su was sitting by the window, resting with his eyes closed.

In his mind, he was rehearsing all the possible scenarios that might occur next.

KGB surveillance, gang extortion, local power harassment, oligarch bidding wars...

Problems can occur at any stage.

But he wasn't afraid.

Because he knew that chaos meant opportunity.

In a place where order has collapsed, as long as you have enough money, enough courage, and enough wisdom, you can dig up treasures in the ruins.

"Minister Su."

Old Chen, who was sitting next to me, suddenly spoke up, "Do you think we... can really succeed this time?"

Yes, it will.

Su Zheng opened his eyes, looking at the darkening sky outside the window. "Because we weren't there to steal, we were there to save."

"Save the scientists who are starving, save the advanced equipment that is about to be sold as scrap metal, save... the technology and knowledge that should belong to all mankind."

"and……"

He smiled. "We have another secret weapon."

"What?"

"Dollar."

Su Zheng patted the safe he carried with him. "A full fifty million US dollars in cash. In this country where you can't even buy bread, this money... is a master key."

"and……"

He lowered his voice, "I also have another sum of money prepared—two hundred million Swiss bank checks."

"This money is for dealing with the real big fish."

……

The plane broke through the clouds and began its descent.

Through the porthole, you can see the lights of Moscow.

But these lights are much dimmer than they were ten years ago.

Many neighborhoods were plunged into darkness because people couldn't afford to pay their electricity bills.

"Prepare for landing."

The captain's voice came through the loudspeaker.

Su fastened his seatbelt and took one last look at the list in his hand.

The Tu-160 bomber is the most advanced strategic bomber in Russia, NATO codenamed "Blackjack".

Akula-class nuclear submarine technology – one of the quietest nuclear submarines in the world.

The RD-180 rocket engine—powerful and highly reliable—is something even Americans want to buy.

And the list of scientists...

Aero engine experts, nuclear physicists, missile designers, materials scientists...

Each one is priceless.

"This time, we'll return with a full load."

Su Zheng muttered to himself.

The plane's tires made a screeching sound as they touched the ground.

Moscow, we've arrived.

In the VIP lounge at the airport, several men wearing heavy coats and with expressionless faces were already waiting.

On their collars, the KGB insignia could be faintly seen.

……