199: Chapter 199 Global Strategy: The US Uses Underhanded Tactics

White House, Supreme Briefing Room.

Lights cast down vertically from the ceiling.

The wooden surface of the oval conference table reflected one solemn face after another.

The President sat at the head of the table, fingers interlaced, chin resting on his hands, silent.

To his left, the Secretary of State's graying hair appeared somewhat disheveled.

To his right, the Secretary of Commerce's expression was terrifyingly grim.

Standing in the shadows of the room was CIA Director Burns.

The large screen was lit up, with Chen Xu's young face occupying the entire frame.

Below the photo, a line of crimson characters scrolled at a steady pace.

[Threat Level: Alpha-Prime (Highest)]

“The situation is worse than anything we've faced before.”

The Secretary of Commerce stood up and walked to the screen.

He brought up a distribution map of the global semiconductor supply chain.

The red area representing American technological hegemony was once the center of the map.

Now, half of this red area had been seized by a rapidly expanding blue zone.

The blue zone was codenamed Xingchen.

“Gentlemen, the emergence of the ‘Chongming’ chip means only one thing.”

There was a heavy gravity in the Secretary of Commerce's voice.

“We have already lost half the battle.”

“Not just a single battle, but the entire global semiconductor market.”

“Our technological barriers and all our sanctions have become relics of the past.”

“China was not defeated; instead, they created an opponent we cannot resolve.”

His finger swiped across the screen, switching to the next chart.

It was a future trend forecast for the global energy market.

The red curve representing the petrodollar system declined rapidly after a critical tipping point.

Meanwhile, another blue curve representing new energy rose sharply.

“Energy.”

The Secretary of State spoke with difficulty.

“This is the true doomsday.”

“Once Star Technology's solid-state batteries are fully deployed, oil will no longer be the lifeblood of industry.”

“And these green pieces of paper we print will be abandoned by countries all over the world.”

A deathly silence filled the briefing room.

The only sound in the air was the low hum of the central air conditioning.

Everyone felt the red pressure coming from across the Pacific, a pressure that threatened to overturn the capital empire.

This is a war over national destiny.

The loser will have nothing; only the victor will be remembered.

“Therefore, he is no longer just a businessman.”

The President finally spoke, his voice deep.

He looked up at Burns.

“From this moment on, Star Technology and Chen Xu himself are removed from the list of ‘commercial competitors.’”

“Classified as a ‘Primary National Security Threat.’”

“Activate the highest-level contingency plan.”

CIA Director Burns stepped out from the shadows.

He walked to the conference table and placed a black folder in the center.

“We have two plans.”

Burns spoke in a shrill voice that made everyone present uncomfortable.

“Plan A: Acquisition.”

He opened the folder; the first page bore the Goldman Sachs logo.

“Wall Street has been eyeing this prize for a long time.”

Burns' finger tapped lightly on the folder.

“No one can refuse the temptation of two hundred billion dollars.”

The Secretary of Commerce frowned.

“His previous behavior doesn't suggest he's someone who can be swayed by money.”

“Then we activate Plan B.”

Burns flipped to the second page of the folder.

“Dismemberment.”

An African map popped up on the screen.

A coordinate point within the DRC was marked by a flashing red circle.

“China's largest lithium mine in Africa. It provides over thirty percent of the raw materials for mainland China.”

“There are over a dozen local militias there, fighting every day for a loaf of bread or a gallon of gasoline.”

Burns' gaze swept across everyone present.

“Engineer a mining accident or an armed conflict to test China's reaction, and cut off their raw material supply in the process.”

“When commercial means fail, primitive violence is always effective.”

“We need to plant eyes inside Star Technology and create enough trouble on the outside.”

“When he is besieged by internal and external crises and overwhelmed...”

“...we will present Plan A again. He will make the right choice.”

Capital bribery.

Violent threats.

A two-pronged approach.

The President looked at Burns, then at the others, and finally nodded firmly.

“Execute it.”

“Patrick, contact Wall Street and have them send their best team.”

“The attitude can be arrogant; I want him to feel the pressure from the civilized world.”

“Burns, I authorize you to take full charge of Project Cobra. I only want results.”

“Yes, Mr. President.”

Burns bowed slightly.

He pulled the last file from the folder and handed it to the President.

The file showed a Chinese man in his forties, wearing gold-rimmed glasses and possessing a refined air.

“Zhao Bowen, codename ‘Messenger.’”

Burns continued the introduction.

“Our most authoritative expert in the field of materials science, with impressive achievements in computer science as well.”

“With a dual-PhD from MIT, his resume is perfect. I believe he will complete the mission.”

“Because he is the most faithful believer in our United States.”

“Furthermore, he is the only son for three generations. He still has immediate family in China, so he won't arouse any suspicion.”

“It's time for him to return to his home country.”

The President looked at the photo, a smile appearing on his face for the first time.

The meeting ended.

Encrypted commands were sent to various parts of the globe.

A gulfstream g650 private jet took off from New York in the night, its flight path set directly for Fei City, China.

Inside the cabin, William Stern, a global partner at Goldman Sachs, was wiping his million-dollar Patek Philippe.

Beside his seat lay a letter of intent for a two-hundred-billion-dollar investment.

At the same moment.

Africa, the rainforests of eastern DRC.

A dusty armed camp.

A thin leader hung up a satellite phone.

He grinned at his men—villagers wiping AK47s with oiled rags—revealing teeth yellowed by tobacco.

“Brothers, we've got work.”

“The client is very generous this time. If we pull this off, we won't have to work for the rest of the year.”

He slapped a map onto the table, his finger stabbing heavily at a coordinate point.

“The target is that Chinese mining area to the east.”

He pulled a cigar from his pocket, lit it, and took a deep drag.

“The client's request is simple.”

“Create chaos and take a few engineers hostage.”

He blew a smoke ring.

“As for the rest...”

“Leave no one alive.”