Special forces soldier demobilization: Starting from the county government compound, a meteoric rise

In the city, at the Magnolia Hall.

Because the outcome of this negotiation will directly determine the global geopolitical landscape for the next half-century, the security level inside the hall has reached its highest level ever.

The tight, dry air, caused by intense tension, made everyone who breathed feel like their throats were on fire.

On one side of the long, mahogany conference table stood the enemy delegation, their faces grim and their eyes revealing a desperate, crazed madness. On the other side was the Kyushu negotiation team, led by Liu Ming.

Liu Ming sat in the center, still holding the half-painted enamel mug in his hand. The combat uniform that had been soaked with gunpowder and bloodstains had been replaced with a crisp, dark Zhongshan suit.

But this outfit still couldn't suppress the ferocity he exuded, a ferocity born from mountains of corpses and seas of blood.

Around the hall, a dozen or so Dragon Shield members, dressed in black suits and wearing invisible earpieces, stood like stone statues in the shadows. Tank's tall frame blocked the entrance, his tiger-like eyes fixed intently on the foreigners opposite.

If anyone dares to make any unnecessary movements, the fists behind his back will definitely twist their heads off immediately.

……

"Mr. Liu."

Anderson, the enemy's chief negotiator, spoke first. He was a seasoned "fox" who had been navigating the international diplomatic arena for thirty years, known for his sharp tongue and thick skin. But at this moment, his hands, holding the pen, were trembling slightly.

He didn't even dare to look Liu Ming in the eye.

"Regarding that 'accidental friction' at sea, our head of state has expressed his deepest regret, and we are willing to pay a 'reasonable' amount for lost wages and medical expenses. We hope that both sides can turn the page as soon as possible and resume normal trade relations."

Anderson gently pushed a printed document in front of Liu Ming, his tone carrying a habitual, condescending sense of condescension.

"This is our sincerity, a total of five billion US dollars, which is enough to cover the repair costs of all your damaged ships. It can even allow your soldiers to take a long vacation in Hawaii."

Five billion US dollars—in the past, this would have been a fortune that would have made officials in a small place like Ningzhou ecstatic. But at this moment, in Liu Ming's eyes, it wasn't even enough to feed a beggar.

Liu Ming didn't even glance at the document. He slowly blew away the foam from the teacup, took a sip of tea, and then slowly raised his head.

Those eyes, as calm as an abyss, stared straight at Anderson.

"Mr. Anderson."

Liu Ming spoke, her voice clear and cold, yet possessing a penetrating power capable of freezing the soul.

"Do you think I'm sitting here today to ask you for money back for those two liters of gas?"

Anderson was taken aback.

"Mr. Liu, five billion US dollars is already a very generous offer..."

"Shut up."

Liu Ming interrupted him calmly, but those two simple words made Anderson swallow the words that were about to come out.

Liu Ming slowly put down the teacup.

"when--"

The sound of enamel hitting the mahogany tabletop was particularly jarring in the deathly silent hall.

"Since you can't understand human language, I'll use a way you can understand to settle accounts with you."

Liu Ming snapped his fingers, and the large screen behind him lit up instantly. There were no complicated reports on it, only a long list of names flashing with blood-red light.

"First."

Liu Ming extended a finger and tapped the table.

"Regarding war reparations, your 5 billion won isn't even enough to cover our fuel costs. Kyushu used space-based weapons in this incident. The cost of maintaining the orbit every second is astronomical, not to mention the loss of civilian lives due to our nation's state of emergency and the stock market volatility."

A cruel smile curled at the corners of Liu Ming's lips.

"A total of 180 billion US dollars."

"Cash payment."

"We will not accept any form of debt settlement."

"This is impossible!!!"

A military attaché from the opposing delegation screamed and stood up, his face flushed, and roared hysterically.

"180 billion? This is robbery! This is extortion! This is blatant blackmail against a great sovereign nation!"

Liu Ming tilted his head slightly, his cold eyes instantly locking onto the shouting military officer.

In that instant, the military officer felt as if he were in a frozen wasteland, being targeted by an Arctic wolf that had been starving for half a month. The sheer exhaustion caused by extreme fear made his knees buckle, and he slumped back into his chair with a thud.

"blackmail?"

Liu Ming chuckled softly.

"You can choose not to give it."

"Our 'Firefly' satellite is still watching from the sky. If you think your Pentagon is sturdier than an aircraft carrier, I wouldn't mind giving you a makeover."

The entire arena fell silent. Faced with such absolute military dominance, all dignity and pride seemed utterly ridiculous.

"second."

Liu Ming's smile vanished. He leaned forward, his imposing presence like a collapsing mountain, gripping Anderson's throat tightly.

"I need people."

Cold sweat poured down Anderson's forehead in an instant.

"A person? What person?"

"Smith."

Liu Ming pronounced the name slowly and deliberately.

"The Supreme Fleet Commander who ordered the carrier-based aircraft to break away from the formation and ordered the aircraft carrier to charge at full speed toward our red line."

"Didn't he call himself the 'God of the Ocean'?"

"Didn't he want 'freedom of navigation'?"

"Since he enjoys challenging international law so much, let's give him a stage."

Liu Ming slammed another document heavily on the table.

"We want to extradite him."

"A joint special court composed of Kyushu and victimized countries will conduct a public trial for him."

"The charges include: deliberately provoking local wars, endangering public safety, and... the casualties of thousands of soldiers due to his foolish command."

"No! Absolutely not!"

Anderson completely lost control. He slammed his fist on the table and stood up abruptly, his eyes turning bloodshot with fear.

"Smith is our four-star general! He's a national hero! If we bring him to your court, we're completely finished! This is our bottom line!"

In Western values, even if it means paying money or ceding territory, if their leader is captured and tried in an enemy country's court, it means their integrity has been trampled into the mud, never to rise again.

"Bottom line?"

Liu Ming stood up and looked down at Anderson, his eyes filled with undisguised contempt.

"Anderson".

"In this world, the bottom line is reserved for the strong."

"And the weak."

"They're only fit to talk about...survival."

Liu Ming raised her wrist and glanced at the somewhat worn military watch.

"It's 10 a.m. now, and the pilot boat from Ningzhou Port is already waiting for him."

"I'll give you three minutes."

"Either we sign this surrender document, clean Smith up, and put him in the car."

"Want it?"

Liu Ming turned her head and looked out the window at the gradually darkening sky.

"Three minutes later."

"I will make sure that all the live broadcast channels around the world see the Enterprise being torn in half by the Dongfeng-21D... in high-definition close-up."

"I think that scene will be even more exciting than your Super Bowl."

……

Three minutes felt longer to the foreigners in the Magnolia Hall than half a century had passed in their lives.

In this battle of souls, in this suffocating feeling caused by extreme fear.

Anderson's once straight spine crumbled little by little as the seconds passed.

He stared at the constantly ticking countdown on the screen, listening to the faint, deep rumble of steel machinery preparing to start outside the door.

Finally, the last line of defense in his heart completely collapsed.

"I...I'll sign."

Anderson closed his eyes, a single tear of humiliation sliding down his cheek.

His hands trembled as he addressed the humiliating treaty that would forever brand him with shame in history.

He signed his name heavily.

At that moment, the entire delegation was like a group of dried-up corpses, slumped in their chairs, unable to move.

They knew that today's deal not only secured 180 billion dollars, and not only a four-star general, but also the end of an era of global hegemony that had dominated the world for a century.

……

Liu Ming picked up the agreement, which still smelled of ink. He examined it carefully, as if he were reviewing a perfect answer sheet, and glanced at the signature at the very end.

"It's a pleasure working with you."

Liu Ming put away the agreement, and his face once again displayed that gentle and refined smile befitting Director Liu.

He turned and strode out of the room, which was filled with the stench of sweat and fear.

Behind him, the tank, with utter disdain, exhaled a plume of smoke at the trembling foreigners.

"Oh shit."

"They're really not easily scared."

……

That afternoon, Kyushu officially released its second battle report, which shocked the world.

—The enemy's two carrier strike groups have officially surrendered. —The culprit, Smith, will be handed over to a special military court. —The first installment of the compensation payment, $50 billion, has been received.

The land of China is vast, and all nations come to pay homage.

And that man who personally pinned a hegemonic nation to the curb and rubbed it against the ground.

I was sitting in the Hongqi car on my way back.

Looking out at the myriad lights of homes, she murmured a sentence.

"Walk."

"go home."

"Drink chicken soup."