Chapter Ninety-Seven: Space Force

“Old Wang, when did you bring him in?”

Wang Bowen replied, “Almost a month ago. I originally meant to wait until he graduated before bringing him in, but with that man stirring again lately, I still couldn’t feel at ease.”

“That man?”

Nie Zihao looked at Wang Bowen. “That brat has been making moves again?”

Wang Bowen nodded. “And not just making moves. They’ve already infiltrated every level. I suspect the one who sabotaged the Moon Launch Tower was one of his people.”

Nie Zihao sighed helplessly. “He was a genius back then. How did he end up like this?”

Wang Bowen replied, “Wasn’t it all because of Wang Huairen? The two of them could have coexisted. If it weren’t for Wang Huairen’s personality, we wouldn’t be fretting over this mess now.”

“Yes.”

Nie Zihao stared at the ceiling and said with a sigh, “The original twin stars—one whose fate is unknown, the other worse than dead. Fate really does toy with people.”

“Director Wang, our Ministry of Science and Technology agrees to your request.”

After their discussion, the other side finally accepted Wang Bowen’s proposal.

“Good. Then, Minister Mi, can we draft the resolution and submit it to the Premier?”

Minister Mi nodded. “No problem. I’ll have my assistant take part as well.”

“Good.”

Wang Bowen instructed the assistants behind him to begin drafting the plan.

With the problem of the Energy resolved, both sides finally let out a breath.

Bang.

At that moment, the door suddenly swung open. An elderly man in black military uniform walked in, and the three gold stars on his shoulder made it clear at a glance that he was a general.

The moment the others saw him, they all rose to their feet, and Zhang Mingyang quickly stood as well.

“Senior Brother Peng, who is that?”

Peng Dongli tilted his head, glanced over in surprise, and said, “Why has someone from the Space Force come here?”

“Space Force?”

Zhang Mingyang had only ever seen that name on television. This was the first time he had seen it in real life.

“Senior Brother, there’s something I’ve never understood. Why do the people in the Space Force wear black uniforms?”

Peng Dongli smiled and replied, “What color is outer space? Black, of course.”

“Oh, I see.”

As soon as the general entered, he swept his gaze across the room as if searching for someone. Only when he saw Xiao Wancai did he hurry over. “Hello, Minister Xiao.”

Xiao Wancai looked at him in surprise and shook his hand. “Commander Liu? What brings you here?”

Commander Liu smiled. “What do you mean, what brings me here? At a time like this, could I afford not to come?”

“Of course you can come! Of course you can come!”

After letting go, Xiao Wancai introduced him to everyone. “Everyone, let me introduce you. This is General Liu Jiangcheng, commander of the Space Force.”

“Hello, Commander Liu...”

The others all nodded greetings.

Liu Jiangcheng raised a hand and motioned for everyone to sit.

Xiao Wancai looked at Liu Jiangcheng and asked, “Commander Liu, did you come on the nation’s instructions?”

Liu Jiangcheng nodded and said to everyone, “I came under a Central Military Commission order to send a group of experts from the Academy of Military Sciences here to participate in this project with you. At the same time, our Space Force has also been authorized by the Military Commission to take over the defense of this base. All troops and security departments originally stationed here are to be withdrawn immediately, and the Space Force will assume management at once.”

Hearing Liu Jiangcheng’s order, everyone was stunned. No one had expected the Space Force to suddenly appear at a time like this.

After hearing the order, Peng Dongli smiled and said to Zhang Mingyang, “Junior Brother, after all, the people above are thinking ahead. Sending in a military force at a time like this is precisely to stop the two sides from continuing to fight. Now that the military is in charge, if either side wants to make a scene again, they’ll have to think twice.”

“What?” Zhang Mingyang was a little puzzled. “Senior Brother, wasn’t the defense here handled by the military before too? It’s all the military—what difference does it make?”

Peng Dongli replied, “If you’re only talking about the military, then there’s no problem. But the Space Force is no ordinary branch. Its level of secrecy is on par with our base’s, and within it there are specialists dedicated to space research and space warfare. Although their scientific capability may not match the genius here at our base, their overall strength is still extremely formidable. And reportedly, they’re currently conducting a secret study that could very well alter the world order.”

After hearing his senior brother’s explanation, Zhang Mingyang looked again at Liu Jiangcheng. No wonder he spoke with such confidence.

After hearing Liu Jiangcheng’s order, Minister Mi asked him, “Commander Liu, since this is the nation’s instruction, we will certainly comply. But there is something I would like to ask: does the arrival of the experts from the Academy of Military Sciences mean the nation intends to continue this project? Will the research on Pollux also continue?”

Hearing Minister Mi’s question, Liu Jiangcheng nodded. “Minister Mi, I can answer that. The nation supports the continued development of the Pollux project, and construction of the Energy will also continue.”

At Liu Jiangcheng’s words, the people from the Ministry of Science and Technology grew excited, while those from the aerospace department looked disappointed.

“However!”

It seemed things were about to turn again. Liu Jiangcheng turned back to Xiao Wancai. “Minister Xiao, I heard your discussion just now from outside the door. I think your department’s opinion is not wrong either.”

As soon as he said that, the mood on both sides shifted once more.

Minister Mi heard the way Liu Jiangcheng was speaking and felt he was merely smoothing things over. She could not help asking, “Commander Liu, the nation supports the project continuing, while you support the aerospace bureau. So in the end, is this project going ahead, or is it being postponed?”

Minister Mi pushed the ball back to Xiao Wancai, and Xiao Wancai replied, “Minister Mi, my meaning is the same as what your two sides just discussed: build the spacecraft first to rescue the Ocean Voyager, then halt its advance and wait for the specific findings on Pollux.”

Hearing that the outcome was still the same as before, Minister Mi thought that as long as the Energy could continue to be built and launched successfully, there would be plenty of opportunities to maneuver later.

Minister Mi replied, “Since Commander Liu has said so, then our Ministry of Science and Technology has no objections.”

Xiao Wancai also said, “Our aerospace bureau has no objections either.”

“Good.”

Liu Jiangcheng stood up. “Since there are no objections, the two of you should hurry and draft a proposal to submit to the Premier.”

“Oh, right.”

Xiao Wancai looked around at the people present. “Which of you are Zhang Mingyang and Peng Dongli?”

At the mention of those two names, everyone began looking around and asking one another, but only Wang Bowen and Nie Zihao turned toward the two men in the corner.

“Old Peng! Junior Brother! Commander Liu is calling for you two!” Tian Wenyuan shook the two drowsy men beside him.

“Huh? Who?”

Zhang Mingyang opened his eyes and looked at Tian Wenyuan. “Who’s calling me?”

Seeing how dazed Zhang Mingyang looked, Tian Wenyuan gritted his teeth and said, “Commander Liu is calling you! Get up now!”