Chapter 3, The New Empire of Japan
The girl playfully said: "Well, I don't know about other countries, but there were indeed many such people in ancient China... Hehe, don't take it seriously, just a joke, just a joke..."
Suddenly, a commanding voice came from beside: "Ling Xue, stop and return to your post." Ling Xue was taken aback, quickly turned around, saluted with a standard military gesture, and said loudly: "Yes, Father, uh, I mean, General Ling." She immediately put down her hands and whispered: "I have completed my shift."
March 12, 2505
Long Feng rubbed his chin and asked in a low voice, "Which organization can obtain low-yield nuclear warheads?"
A female voice echoed in Longfeng's ear, and a three-dimensional image of a small island appeared before him
March 12, 2505, 15:17
Suddenly, a piercing sound of a high-energy laser being fired echoed from the passage behind, accompanied by a woman's scream: "Nuwa, it's me, Ling Xue, please don't fire recklessly." A dozen patrol soldiers rushed over, aiming their two-centimeter diameter individual particle cannons at the passage.
Quickly putting on a pair of long pants, Long Feng coldly said: "It seems that you have illegally intruded into my bedroom. It is legal for me to dress however I want in my own bedroom, isn't it?"
It was still that gentle female voice: "Please stand still."
In this base, whenever personnel designated as Special A 1 use facilities such as elevators, the central control computer of the base will automatically lock these facilities, allowing only Special A 1 personnel to use them. This is a privilege, as well as a consideration for ordinary base members who cannot endure the high speeds that Longfeng and others are accustomed to. Therefore, whenever someone using a light purple crystal card appears in the entire base, facilities such as elevators, escalators, and automatic transport tracks will generally clear out automatically.
Nuwa said decisively: "No, your rank is insufficient; only those at the rank of one-star marshal or above are qualified to review it. Once you achieve the rank of one-star marshal or a higher rank of three-star marshal, you may make your request. Additionally, your personal equipment has been completely organized, and you can collect it from the storeroom at any time. You are scheduled to depart tomorrow at 21:30."
Long Feng murmured: "Dead warriors, dead warriors, which country on the old Earth would have such people?"
Long Fengxin understood clearly that the Nuwa, designed to serve hundreds of millions of individual terminals simultaneously, would find it challenging to divide her attention and converse with two people at once. Moreover, she merely stated that she had no information regarding the collapse of the old empire; computers are not permitted to lie. Therefore, she must possess information about the rapid expansion of the new Sun Empire.
Nüwa chuckled and said, "You have already read the same material for the eighth time within a year. Do you have any questions?"
Longfeng donned the 3D helmet, and the gentle voice of Nuwa began to resonate: "Major Longfeng, what information would you like to read about?" At the same time, a vivid and charming holographic image of a girl appeared before Longfeng, with bright eyes and a radiant smile, occasionally playfully transforming into a little bird or a puppy.
A combat robot, constructed from ultra-high hardness alloy and resembling a human skeleton, suddenly materialized three meters ahead, radiating a ghastly white light. It swiftly approached Long Nu and skillfully took the inkstone, its eyes flashing with a red glow, reducing the inkstone to mere fragments. A cold, deep voice emanated from the robot's mouth: "Normal, no hazardous materials"
The elevator descends rapidly with an acceleration that is twice the normal speed.
Long Feng nodded lightly, having reached a personal reading terminal. Behind him, Ling Xue was once again embarrassingly stopped by the library staff from entering, and she walked out in a huff
General Long still spoke in an extremely cold tone: "Your first official mission is to cooperate with a special search team from the 19th Heavy Space Assault Corps on the 9th planet of the Orion Arm. You are to search for an unmanned spacecraft on a planet that has undergone terraforming for less than ten years and retrieve the data contained within it"
March 13, 2505, 7:30 AM
General Longfeng said loudly: "I have understood the details of the mission. First, retrieve the missing spaceship. Second, eliminate that cargo ship if necessary. It belongs to the New Sun Empire." The twenty-three young members of Team A1 simultaneously displayed a glimmer of determination in their eyes. General Long nodded in satisfaction and said softly: "In two days, you will depart. Two space attack ships have already set out, and they will establish temporal coordinates for you to jump directly. That asteroid is near the spheres of influence of the Russian Federation, the United States of America, and the South American Alliance, so be cautious. If a battle occurs, you must return to base immediately." Longfeng and the others nodded silently.
Nuwa shrugged her shoulders: "Take your time to look. General Long is over there looking for me. It's quite difficult for me to talk to two people at the same time. Hmm, I don't have any information about the collapse of the Japanese Empire in my database. You can take a look yourself."
The three of Longfeng turned around and saw Lingxue awkwardly pulling out a dozen packages of snacks such as chocolate and jam-filled biscuits from her body. On the metallic ground in front of her, a fiery red spot was slowly fading away. A gentle female voice, that of the base's main control computer, Nuwa, gradually came through: "Identity confirmed, Lieutenant Lingxue. Please refrain from running in the inspection passage before identity verification next time"
Nine hundred and ninety-nine, one thousand. Long Feng suddenly jumped up, leaping onto the high-speed treadmill, running at a speed of one hundred and fifty meters per second. His legs had become a blurred mass of gray shadows. After running a distance equivalent to one hundred and fifty kilometers in place, Long Feng jumped off the treadmill, slowly turned off the tenfold gravity system, opened the door to the training room, and walked into his bedroom and library
Ling Xue suddenly slumped down, lazily saying: "Alright, alright, I suppose these things I bought are all in vain. Hmph, why are items transported from Earth so expensive? The fruits produced here all taste the same, don't they? My half a month's salary just vanished like that"
Long Feng chose to fast forward, and after the screen flickered for three to four seconds, a female voice continued: "Everything changed in the early years of the 21st century. According to the compiled information, the former Japanese Empire invested in two enterprises in Shanghai, within the current administrative region of the People's Republic of China, both of which were attacked overnight by unknown individuals, resulting in the disappearance of all employees. Six months later, a large-scale terrorist incident occurred in Japan, delivering a fatal blow to the country's socio-economic landscape." According to the compiled information, the former Japanese Empire invested in two enterprises in Shanghai, within the current administrative region of the People's Republic of China, both of which were attacked overnight by unknown individuals, resulting in the disappearance of all employees. Six months later, a large-scale terrorist incident occurred in Japan, delivering a fatal blow to the country's socio-economic landscape.
In the circular conference hall, General Long sits in the central chair of the presidium, flanked by thirteen senior generals and twenty-seven mid-ranking generals
A young general with a fair complexion and two long eyebrows slanting into his temples said gently: "This is the thirteenth spacecraft we have launched to explore the depths of the galaxy. According to reports from several monitoring stations on the Orion Arm, it has gathered information about a star region 2.7 million light-years away that holds significant military value. However, during the jump back to the Orion star region, it was suddenly disrupted, and spatial turbulence swept it to an asteroid located 17 light-years and 3,800 light-seconds from the ninth planet of the Orion star region. Fortunately, we have been conducting environmental modifications on that planet for nine and a half years, so you will have no issues operating there."
General Ling stated: "As far as my personal feelings are concerned, you have exterminated all the beings on that cargo ship, and I can report that the ship was lost after being caught in a black hole. Do you understand?" All the senior officers nodded in unison, adding heavy annotations to General Ling's words
A passage has opened, and countless soldiers are anxiously moving through it. Four-wheeled base vehicles whiz past the three individuals. Over a hundred soldiers, each standing more than two meters tall and exuding immense strength, are clad in individual combat armor, carrying heavy individual particle cannons. In groups of three or five, they are slowly patrolling this vast space, which exceeds two hundred meters in both length and width.
Several colorful optical fibers enveloped Long Nu, and after a thorough scan, a gentle female voice, tinged with amusement, said: "Major Long Nu, please refrain from bringing non-standard items exceeding five hundred grams into the passage next time"
Long Feng was only wearing a pair of tight-fitting underwear, activating the tenfold gravity system in his training room, breathlessly performing push-ups. His body, drenched in sweat, displayed nearly perfect muscle lines.
Long Feng coldly asked, "More detailed information." The female voice carried a hint of grievance as she replied, "Major Long Feng, I do not have any more detailed information. The only thing that can be confirmed is that no terrorist group from any ancient Earth nation has claimed responsibility for the aforementioned incidents. Moreover, those who attacked the former Japanese Empire had their bodies blown to pieces by the high-energy explosives they carried, making it impossible to conduct genetic testing to verify their identities with the technology available at that time.
March 12, 2505, 9:00 AM
Long Nu was somewhat irritated as he said: "Seventy-nine thousand yuan, I will charge the bill to the base." Following that, Long Feng strode forward. The female voice laughed and said: "Sorry, your public account only has a balance of sixty thousand yuan, so the remaining nineteen thousand yuan will be deducted from your personal account." The battle robot had already slowly sunk into the floor.
Long Feng directly called out to Nuwa: "I want to review the materials on the rise of the New Sun Empire"
At the other end of the base, in Marshal Long's office, Marshal Long furrowed his brow tightly and murmured, "It's not just you who wants to know the reason; I want to know as well. The more I look at those documents, the more confused I become. Perhaps only the heavens know what exactly happened five hundred years ago."
General Long said in a low voice: "What you need to pay attention to is that the spaceship's spatial jump was artificially interfered with. At the moment when the spatial state transitioned from instability to stability, a high-energy particle beam shot towards its jump exit. And at that time, within three hundred light-seconds of the treaty point, there was only a large cargo ship from the New Sun Empire present. You understand what I mean. The Supreme Military Council has authorized you to take any necessary measures to ensure the security of the data"
The girl also expressed her distress and helplessly said: "During the time of the former Soviet Union, military control was very lax, and anyone could obtain weapons. After that terrorist incident, residents of the former Japanese Empire faced a large number of deaths due to malicious hoarding of essential supplies. The islands of the former Japanese Empire became uninhabitable due to the destruction of several nuclear power plants. The former United Nations organization discovered that they were researching genetic weapons and imposed sanctions on the entire nation. Therefore, they began immigration activities to Africa."
Long Feng coldly recited, as if reading from a book: "Article 18 of the Military Confidentiality Regulations: It is strictly prohibited to inquire about any military plans that do not concern oneself. Article 19: It is strictly prohibited to leak any military plans that concern oneself. Article 20: Any person or organization inquiring about military plans related to oneself must be reported promptly."
Long Feng appeared in the library of the base, specifically in the reading room designated for Special A1. There were already four or five members scattered throughout the over three hundred square meter reading room, quietly engrossed in reading old printed books. Upon seeing Long Feng approach, they all stood up and saluted him, yet the words they uttered were those that should never be heard in the military: "Boss, good morning"
Ling Xue stuck out her tongue, picked up the scattered packaging bags from the ground, rushed out in one breath, and let out a fierce hum at the ten patrolling soldiers. She caught up with Long Feng and hurriedly asked, "Hey, little brother, what happened that made my big sister come out to bring you back? If there's anything fun, make sure to take me out with you."
The Dragon Wind commands: "Continue"
Long Feng was the first to enter the elevator. Long Bao and Long Nu nodded at Long Feng and stepped in with large strides
The female voice continued in a series: "Subsequently, for reasons unknown, the terrorism that had previously disappeared re-emerged in the old Japanese Empire on a larger scale. At that time, the Earth was experiencing intense activity in the Pacific Plate, and the symbol of the old Japanese Empire, Mount Fuji, was on the verge of a massive eruption. Terrorists launched two low-yield nuclear warheads into the crater of Mount Fuji, and the energy accumulated in the Pacific Plate erupted violently near Mount Fuji. Within a week, only three of the four main islands of the old Japanese Empire remained."
Long Feng paused for a moment before saying: "The New Sun Empire"
Long Feng walked over and reached out to grab Ling Xue's shoulder. Ling Xue suddenly shouted, "What are you doing? Are you a rogue..." She struck Long Feng's hand forcefully. Long Feng coldly replied, "You are sitting on my military uniform." Ling Xue opened her mouth wide, allowing Long Feng to pull his military jacket from beneath her. After a long pause, she slowly closed her mouth and murmured, "Exactly, how old are you all? Especially you, so cold and indifferent, you wouldn't even know how to act like a rogue." Long Feng coldly said, "You are sitting on my military uniform." Ling Xue opened her mouth wide, allowing Long Feng to pull his military jacket from beneath her. After a long pause, she slowly closed her mouth and murmured, "Exactly, how old are you all? Especially you, so cold and indifferent, you wouldn't even know how to act like a rogue."
Long Feng and the two others ignored her and strode towards the entrance of a corridor, while Ling Xue persistently followed, chattering all the way
At a depth of 860 meters underground, Long Feng and his two companions stepped out of the elevator. Three beams of greenish light scanned them up and down before they continued into a metal corridor that was 200 meters long and 20 meters wide. The walls of the corridor were covered with densely packed small holes, each shaped like a regular hexagon with a side length of 1 centimeter, from which dazzling white light flickered.
Long Feng nodded: "The reasons for the sudden collapse of an empire with over one hundred million people include more than five instances of data discontinuity. Furthermore, how was it possible to establish the New Empire of the Sun, which now has a population exceeding five hundred million, relying on merely three million remaining people within five hundred years"
Long Feng stopped her, indeed, what remains is the African war, where countless soldiers met mysterious deaths, while China miraculously had only a few dozen soldiers suffer minor injuries during training. Ultimately, there are Huofeng and Qinghuo, which to this day represent the rise of the largest economic entities of Chinese conglomerates. They acquired all enterprises of the former Japanese Empire on the three remaining islands, seizing the essence of the former Japanese Empire's technology. It is precisely because of their acquisitions that over three million residents of the former Japanese Empire managed to survive, establishing a new Japanese Empire with those of Japanese descent overseas. Just like five hundred years ago, the new Japanese Empire, like a rabid dog, has begun its petty actions against China again
Long Feng took out a light purple crystal card from his body and gently swiped it on the card reader to the right of the elevator door. He casually entered the number 172 on the keypad. A soft, synthesized female voice from the computer announced: "Major Long Feng, welcome. Please note that the elevator has been locked and will descend shortly"
At the end of the 20th century and the beginning of the 21st century, the ancient Japanese Empire was one of the top three economic powers on Earth. Although its land area was small and the scarcity of resources dictated that it had to rely on foreign imports for industrial production, its unparalleled technological strength in the world meant that its products represented the most advanced level on Earth at that time
General Ling chuckled a few times: "You can try it; just rush in like that, and even if you manage to entangle yourself with Long Feng, you'll still be beaten to a pulp. You don't understand the slightest bit of decorum. In there, with your level of military confidentiality, do you think you can get in?" He shot a glare at Ling Xue and strode into the corridor, while twelve robots quickly cleared the path, their cold gun barrels firmly aimed at Ling Xue, who was fuming and frantically chewing on a piece of chocolate.
At this moment, Ling Xue finally opened her eyes, smiling as she pulled out several large red apples and a bunch of bananas from the big bag beside her. With a mischievous air, she whispered, "What exactly are you being called for? Tell me, big sister. After all, I've been looking out for you for two years, haven't I? If there's excitement, I want to join in the fun too"
Long Feng and Long Bao paused, turning their heads simultaneously to look at the forehead, chest, and lower body, where the joints were being illuminated by fine white beams of light from Long Nu. Long Nu furrowed his brows and took out a shiny object from his body, saying softly: "Antique boutique in the city center, a jade inkstone from the year 1672, weighing 1.372 kilograms"
The three of Long Feng have already entered which corridor. Twelve battle robots coldly blocked Ling Xue's path. Ling Xue pouted and complained to the middle-aged man with a red face, thick eyebrows, big eyes, and an air of righteousness standing ten meters away: "Dad, if it weren't for you blocking me, I could have sneaked in to watch the fun."
His fingers tapped a few times on the keyboard of the personal computer configured at the conference table, and a faint blue light curtain shot down from the center of the conference room ceiling, revealing a three-dimensional image of a catamaran, a small delta-winged spacecraft, twenty meters long and less than five meters wide.
A sharp scream suddenly rang out, and Ling Xue scolded, "Long Feng, you pervert, wearing so little in broad daylight?" A table lamp was violently hurled towards him. Long Feng pointed his hand, and the lamp stopped less than twenty centimeters from his head, suspended in the air. Then, with a whoosh, it disappeared and reappeared in its rightful place.
Long Feng emotionlessly removed his helmet and strode out of the reading room
When General Ling entered the conference hall, twenty-three members of Special A1 had already arrived, with nineteen present. After two minutes, the last four members arrived.