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

Winter 1989, Moscow.

There are less than 24 hours left before the second transaction.

In a secret room at the Chinese Embassy in Russia, Su Zheng was discussing countermeasures with Lao Chen.

"Minister Su, are you sure you want to do this?"

Old Chen stared at the plan on the table, his brow furrowed. "This is too risky. If they've really set a trap, we could be wiped out."

"I know."

Su lit a cigarette, took a deep drag, and said, "But we have no choice. This trip to Moscow is a rare opportunity. If we miss it, who knows when we'll get another chance."

"But……"

"Old Chen."

Su Zheng interrupted him, "Do you remember the Dongfeng-5B missile we saw at Base 001?"

"Remember."

"That's our sword."

Su Zheng said, "But having a sword isn't enough; we also need a shield. Nuclear submarine technology is our shield."

"With it, we can truly achieve a second-strike nuclear capability. Only then will those who want to attack us think twice about the consequences."

"I see."

Old Chen sighed. "Then we'll proceed according to your plan."

"good."

Su Zheng stubbed out his cigarette. "Remember, I'm going to the deal alone tomorrow."

"What?"

Old Chen was shocked. "Minister Su, this is too dangerous!"

"It's precisely because it's dangerous that I'm going alone."

Su Zheng said, "If something really goes wrong, it's better for me to be arrested alone than for us all to be implicated."

"and……"

He paused, then said, "I need you to be outside to meet me. If I don't come out by the agreed time, you immediately initiate the evacuation plan and bring the data back to China."

"Minister Su..."

"It's settled then."

Su Zheng stood up. "Go and prepare."

……

The following evening, it snowed again in Moscow.

Su Zheng, wearing a heavy overcoat and carrying a black briefcase, walked alone into the abandoned factory.

This time, he didn't bring Lao Chen, nor did he bring any guards.

He only brought one thing with him—

A small self-defense pistol.

Although he knew that if he really encountered danger, the gun would be of no use at all.

But at least it can give him some psychological comfort.

"Mr. Su, you're on time."

Victor was already waiting in the office. Beside him were the same two bodyguards, but this time, Su Zheng noticed that there was a noticeable bulge at their waists.

It's a gun.

"General Victor."

Su Zheng smiled slightly, "I've brought what you requested."

He opened his briefcase, inside which were neatly stacked stacks of US dollars.

"Five hundred thousand dollars, not a penny less."

"very good."

Victor walked over, carefully examined the banknotes, and after confirming they were correct, nodded. "Then, the deal is done."

He took a larger brown paper bag from under the table and handed it to Su Zheng.

"Here is the complete set of technical data for the VVER-1000 nuclear reactor, as well as some design drawings of miniaturized nuclear warheads."

"I hope these things will be helpful to you."

"Thanks."

Su Zheng took the paper bag; it was heavy, much heavier than last time.

But instead of opening it for inspection immediately, he put it directly into his briefcase.

"Well then... it's a pleasure working with you."

Victor reached out his hand again.

Su Zheng shook hands, then turned to leave.

But at that moment—

"etc."

Victor suddenly called out to him.

Su Zheng's heart tightened, but he remained calm on the surface. "Is there anything else?"

"Mr. Su."

Victor smiled. "I'm curious, what does your country, China... intend to do with these technologies?"

"This is our internal matter."

Su Zheng said calmly, "I'm sorry, I cannot tell you."

"Hehe, that's true."

Victor nodded. "Then I wish you...good luck."

Su Zheng didn't say anything more, turned around and walked out of the office.

But just as he stepped into the corridor—

Suddenly, a deep command came from behind.

"Do it!"

Instantly, more than a dozen armed men in black uniforms rushed out from all corners of the factory and surrounded Su Zheng.

All the AK-47 rifles in their hands were pointed at Su Zheng.

"Don't move! Hands up!"

The leader was a middle-aged man with a deep scar on his face.

It was "Wolf," the KGB's operations chief.

Su Zheng's heart sank to the bottom.

Sure enough, they fell for the trap.

But he remained calm and slowly raised his hands.

"Who are you people?"

"KGB."

"Wolf" said coldly, "Su Zheng, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Electronics Industry of China, is that right?"

"I don't know what you're talking about."

Su remained expressionless. "I'm just an ordinary businessman, here in Moscow to discuss business."

"merchant?"

"Wolf" sneered. "Would a businessman buy nuclear technology data?"

"Guards, search them!"

Two armed men immediately rushed up, roughly snatched Su Zheng's briefcase, and opened it for inspection.

When they saw the kraft paper bag inside filled with microfiber rolls, "Wolf" grinned triumphantly.

"The evidence is conclusive."

He walked up to Su Zheng. "Mr. Su, what else do you have to say now?"

"According to the laws of the Russian Federation, you are suspected of illegally obtaining state secrets and are guilty of espionage."

"take away!"

Two armed men immediately stepped forward to handcuff Su Zheng.

But at that moment—

Su Zheng suddenly moved.

He suddenly turned around and slammed his elbow into the face of an armed man next to him.

The man screamed and staggered backward, clutching his nose.

At the same time, Su Zheng pulled out the small pistol from his waist and aimed it at "Wolf".

"Don't move!"

His voice was calm and firm: "Otherwise, I'll shoot."

The surrounding armed personnel immediately tensed up, and all the AK-47s were aimed at Su Zheng.

But the wolf laughed.

"Mr. Su, do you think you can get away with this?"

He slowly raised his hands. "There are over a dozen guns pointed at you. Even if you kill me, you won't get out."

"I know."

Su Zheng said, "But at least, I can drag you down with me."

"..."

The wolf's smile froze.

Looking into Su Zheng's determined eyes, he suddenly realized that this Chinese man was truly capable of firing a gun.

"good."

He took a deep breath. "What do you want?"

"It's very simple."

Su Zheng said, "Let me go."

"impossible."

"Then let's die together."

Su Zheng's finger was on the trigger. "I'll count to three. If you don't move aside, I'll shoot."

"one……"

"etc!"

Just then, Victor came out of his office.

"The wolf," let him go.

"What?"

"Wolf" was taken aback. "General Victor, this..."

I said, "Let him go."

Victor's tone left no room for argument: "That's an order."

"..."

The wolf gritted its teeth, but ultimately waved its hand, "Get out of the way."

The armed men hesitated for a moment, but slowly made way for them.

Su Zheng held his gun and retreated step by step.

His eyes remained fixed on the "wolf" until he reached the factory gate, at which point he suddenly turned and rushed into the snowstorm.

……

"Sir, why are you letting him go?"

After Su Zheng left, "Wolf" asked Victor, puzzled.

"because……"

Victor looked out the window at the snow-covered night sky and sighed. "I owe him a favor."

"Human favors?"

"Yes."

Victor said, "Ten years ago, I almost died from a radiation leak during a nuclear test. A technical expert from China saved me."

"That person... is Su Zheng."

"..."

The wolf fell silent.

He hadn't expected there to be such a hidden story.

"but……"

Victor turned around. "Three-tenths of the information I gave him was fake."

Even if he takes it back, he might not be able to use it.

"I guess you could say I've repaid that favor."

……

Meanwhile, inside a black sedan outside the factory.

Old Chen waited anxiously for Su Zheng.

Just when he was about to give up, a figure stumbled and ran over from the wind and snow.

"Minister Su!"

Old Chen quickly opened the car door and pulled Su Zheng inside.

"Hurry up!"

Su Zheng, panting heavily, said, "Get out of here immediately!"

"yes!"

Old Chen stepped on the gas, and the car sped away from the abandoned factory.

Ten minutes later, they returned to the Chinese embassy.

"Minister Su, are you alright?"

"I'm fine."

Su Zheng waved his hand, took out the brown paper bag from his pocket, and said, "I got the documents."

"But we must leave Moscow immediately. The KGB won't let us go."

"clear."

Old Chen nodded. "I'll arrange it right away."

……

Late that night, Su Zheng and his entourage secretly left Moscow under the arrangement of the embassy.

They boarded a cargo plane, traveled through Eastern Europe, and eventually returned to China.

On the plane, Su Zheng opened the brown paper bag.

Inside were rolls upon rolls of microfilm, filled with densely packed technical drawings.

But he knew that three-tenths of the information was fake.

It must undergo rigorous verification to distinguish between genuine and fake.

"Minister Su."

Old Chen sat down beside him. "Tell me, why did Victor let us go?"

"because……"

Su Zheng was silent for a moment, then said, "Because he owes me a life."

"What?"

"That happened ten years ago."

Su Zheng didn't say much, but just stared at the night sky outside the window, lost in memories.

That was in 1979, when he was still working as a technical consultant at Base 001.

At that time, the Russian Empire invited a group of Chinese experts to visit their nuclear facilities as part of a technical exchange.

Victor was a young lieutenant at the time, in charge of reception.

However, during the visit, a leak suddenly occurred in the reactor.

Victor rushed into the radiation zone to protect the others, but ended up getting trapped inside.

It was Su Zheng who risked his life, put on protective clothing, and rescued him.

After the accident, Victor suffered severe radiation damage, but he survived.

He always remembered Su Zheng's life-saving grace.

This time, he finally repaid the favor.

"I see."

Old Chen suddenly realized, "Then the information he gave us..."

"Some are true, some are false."

Su Zheng said, "But at least, he gave us a chance."

"Now, it's up to us to see what we can do."

……

Spring 1990, Base 001.

After three months of arduous verification, the technical team finally completed the analysis of the data provided by Victor.

"Minister Su."

The senior expert, holding a thick report, said, "Our conclusion is that about 70% of this data is true, and 30% has been deliberately altered."

"But the truth is enough for us."

"good."

Su Zheng nodded. "Then we'll immediately launch the nuclear submarine reactor development program."

"yes!"

……

Right now, deep in the Pacific Ocean.

A Type 092 nuclear submarine is conducting a secret deep-sea diving test.

Its hull is painted with the words "Long March 6".

Inside the submarine's command center, the captain was staring at the sonar screen.

"Report: Depth 800 meters, all normal."

"Continue descending."

"yes!"

As the submarine continued to descend, a slight creaking sound emanated from its hull.

But the captain knew that this was normal.

Their goal is to dive to 1000 meters.

That is one of the deepest diving depths in the world.

If successful, China's nuclear submarine technology will rank among the world's best.

"Report, depth 900 meters."

"Very good, continue."

"950 meters..."

"980 meters..."

"1000 meters!"

"We did it!"

A cheer erupted in the command center.

The captain, however, remained vigilant. "Surface immediately and prepare to return to base."

"yes!"

……

A few days later, Base 001 received the test report of the Long March 6 rocket.

"Minister Su."

The old general exclaimed excitedly, "We succeeded! The deep-sea diving test of the nuclear submarine has been a perfect success!"

"good."

Su Zheng finally smiled. "Then let's prepare for the next step—the construction of a sea-based nuclear deterrent system."

"yes!"

……

Meanwhile, at the Pentagon on the other side of the ocean.

A top-secret report was delivered to the Minister of Defense's desk.

"China has achieved a major breakthrough in nuclear submarine technology..."

After reading the report, the Defense Minister's expression turned grave. "It seems we underestimated them."

"Yes, sir."

The intelligence officer stated, "According to the latest intelligence, China is building its second-generation nuclear submarines, which are expected to enter service within three years."

"Moreover, their intercontinental ballistic missiles are constantly being improved. If given enough time..."

"I know."

The defense minister interrupted him, "Immediately activate the 'Damocles' program."

"We must ensure that we gain a decisive advantage in any future conflict."

"yes!"

……