122: The paint is on fire!

How much does one of your drones cost? Even if it's expensive, it can't be 20,000, right?

20,000 is overestimating it; cut that in half.

What? My massive armored cluster was completely wiped out by your 10,000-yuan cheap drones?

Colonel Man could hardly believe it; the Red Side's cost-effectiveness was simply crushing him.

The Blue Side started with three rounds of nuclear carpet bombing, yet the Red Side, relying only on longmao agricultural vehicle and drones, plus a few 59 tanks produced in the last century by the rough men of the grasslands, fought the Blue Side—which possessed zenith-level technology—to a draw.

Forming an armored cluster costs an astronomical sum, while the Red Side's swarm drones cost next to nothing.

Chen Guang, stop keeping us in suspense; tell us where you got this equipment.

Compared to the swarm drones, I'm more concerned about the coating on the 59 tanks. Preventing infrared detection isn't rare, but absorbing multi-band radar is extremely uncommon.

I have the same thought. You brat, you didn't treat the Zhuri Exercise as a testing ground for new weapon equipment, did you?

Since it's a superweapon from the Western Theater Command, how could they easily tell you old guys? Little Chen, that Totoro IFV of yours is quite useful; where did it come from? This surely isn't a classified matter too, right?

The leaders and experts in the command center chattered away, eager to surround Chen Guang.

Colonel Man, standing to the side, realized what was happening. This was no longer a tactical analysis discussion for the exercise; it was clearly a poaching session.

There's nothing I can't say, but I must state in advance that the Western Theater Command has priority usage and allocation rights for this equipment.

To avoid a scramble, Chen Guang gave a preemptive warning.

Everyone wants good equipment, but Julong Steel's production capacity is limited.

Don't stall, kid, hurry up and speak!

Exactly, hiding things isn't the style of your Western Theater Command.

Just as Chen Guang was about to speak, the Great Leader of the Western Theater Command suddenly entered.

Chen Guang, come out for a moment.

Chen Guang quickly turned around and, seeing it was the Old Leader, followed him out immediately.

What are you doing? You came up with three new pieces of equipment and didn't report them to the theater headquarters? The old man with four stars on his shoulder looked stern.

Chen Guang explained in a low voice, The new equipment hadn't been tested in real combat, so I just brought it to the battlefield to try it out.

And how did that test go? All five theater commands know now, and many leaders have been asking me about it. You've really stolen the spotlight, kid. The four-star elder feigned a stern face.

Chen Guang hurriedly apologized, If I'm in the spotlight, doesn't that bring glory to you too?

It does bring glory, but unfortunately, the light is too bright; it's blinding.

Hearing the leader say this, Chen Guang put away his playful expression, The Totoro IFV was modified by us from a longmao agricultural vehicle.

A longmao agricultural vehicle? Are you sure?

A longmao agricultural vehicle actually possessing such excellent mobility? The four-star elder raised an eyebrow, What about those drones filling the sky? They can't be modified from civilian equipment too, right?

You guessed right. The swarm drones were also modified from civilian drones, just with significant changes, adding military-grade anti-interference technology.

Hiss—

Even though the Old Leader was knowledgeable and experienced, he was shocked by Chen Guang's civil-to-military operation.

Which company has such strong civilian technology?

Qinchuan Julong Steel. By the way, the radar-absorbing coating was also developed by them; internally, they call it Liuguang Coating anti-rust paint.

Anti-rust paint? What do you mean? This radar-absorbing coating was modified from anti-rust paint?

Pretty much. The Liuguang Coating was originally intended to solve the rusting problem of the longmao agricultural vehicle.

The four-star elder took a deep breath, Julong Steel, it seems they were sanctioned by the Eagle Sauce Defense Department before, right?

They were sanctioned. Their chairman has some interesting ideas; would you like to meet him? Chen Guang asked.

Is he here too?

He's in the lounge; I'll call him over.

Chen Guang turned to find Lu Shenwei, but Lu Shenwei was bored out of his mind and had run out to the wilderness to get some fresh air.

He might have gone out for a walk.

Julong Steel is not bad. If there's a chance, I'll go see it myself.

Let's do this: don't rush to procure the Totoro IFV and the swarm drones yet. Get 100 barrels of Liuguang Coating first. It's so effective on the 59s; if used on our most advanced 99G, the strength of our Army Group will be greatly enhanced.

If the 99G tank could have stealth capabilities, then Leopard 2s, Challengers, and M1A2s—all of them would have to bow down to me!

100 barrels of paint is no problem. When do you need them? I'll call Lu Shenwei, and we'll send a vehicle to pick them up directly.

Chen Guang patted his chest, and the four-star elder nodded, Send a transport plane now; I'm afraid that long delays will lead to trouble.

Yes!

Chen Guang stood at attention and saluted, then immediately dialed Lu Shenwei's number.

Little Lu, it's me. The theater command needs 100 barrels of Liuguang Coating. Notify Director Ma; I expect the special plane to land by evening.

100 barrels? There might not be that many. How about 60 barrels?

Gu Ming wanted 100 barrels, and there was no way to tell Chen Guang about this yet.

Sorry, Director Gu, I'll have to scrape some out of your share.

Are there only 60 barrels left in the warehouse? I remember there were quite a lot before.

Ahem, there's a situation.

Fine, 60 it is.

Liuguang Coating is so popular; I must make Uncle Wang produce some more.

As Lu Shenwei said this, he dialed Ma Quanlin's number, but it showed no answer.

Helpless, he had to call the steel factory's front gate guard and told Grandpa Liu to pass the message to Ma Quanlin.

50 barrels for the Navy, 60 barrels for the Army.

At the Zhuri Exercise base, the setting sun fell behind the distant hills.

Bonfires were lit on the training ground, succulent roasted lamb turned on the grills, and all kinds of liquid bombs were being passed around.

Lu Shenwei was pulled by Chen Guang and Gu Ming to toast, one after another. He met many big shots and drank plenty of alcohol.

Poor Director Lu, whose tolerance was already poor, was already disoriented after three or five drinks.

Dizzy and confused, Lu Shenwei was carried by guards back to the base guesthouse, while the phone in his pocket rang repeatedly.

Thousands of miles away, in front of the gate of the Julong Steel Factory.

Four military trucks, respectively painted with Army, Air Force, Navy, and Two Artillery markings, were parked on the road.

Hello, acting on orders from superiors, my vehicle unit needs to enter the factory area to load a batch of military coating. The Army truck soldier saluted the gate guard.

The personnel from the other three military branches were not to be outdone and similarly expressed their intention to enter the factory.

Grandpa Liu was in a dilemma. Director Lu had only mentioned that trucks from the Navy and the Army Theater Command would come, but what was the meaning of these Air Force and Two Artillery trucks outside?

Could it be that my memory is failing? Did I miss something Director Lu said?

Grandpa Liu respectfully returned the salute, Please wait a moment; I'll ask the Chairman.

Little Yang, hurry up and pour water for these soldier comrades; they've come a long way and worked hard.

Poor newcomer Little Yang had never seen such a scene and was trembling as he started looking for paper cups.

Strange, why isn't Director Lu answering his phone? Director Ma's phone isn't getting through either.

What should I do? I can't just leave four trucks waiting outside, right?