Rebirth in the Dragon Kingdom: The Strongest Blade

Chapter 105 The New Order

At 3 a.m. Washington time, the Situation Room was brightly lit, like daytime.

The president slumped in his high-backed chair, before him lay the "Post-War Settlement Plan" delivered by the Chinese Empire through its embassy. The document was short, only three pages, but every line felt like a knife piercing his heart:

Article 1: Country M must destroy all its nuclear weapons within ninety days, and the destruction process shall be subject to full supervision by the China National Nuclear Corporation's inspection team.

Article 2: Country M must disband all overseas military bases and withdraw all its troops stationed abroad within one year.

Article 3: The size of the armed forces of Country M shall be reduced to 10% of the current level, and it shall no longer possess offensive weapon systems.

Article 4: Country M shall compensate for all losses caused by this war, the specific amount of which shall be calculated by Country Dragon.

Article 5: The government of Country M must publicly acknowledge its mistake and formally apologize to Country Dragon.

The last line of the document is printed in bold:

Response deadline: 48 hours. Failure to respond within the deadline will be considered a refusal, and the consequences will be borne by the respondent.

"They...they're trying to emasculate us..." Defense Secretary James's voice trembled. "Once they sign, the United States will no longer be a superpower..."

"What can we do if we don't sign?" the Secretary of State said bitterly. "All our satellites have been shot down, our aircraft carriers have been captured, our missiles can't reach them, our planes can't find their targets... Now we're like a giant with our eyes blindfolded and our hands and feet tied. What good is strength if we're so strong?"

The president slammed his fist on the table: "We still have nuclear weapons! Thousands of nuclear warheads! If pushed too far, we'll all be doomed!"

The conference room was deathly silent.

A few seconds later, the Director of Intelligence cautiously said, "Mr. President... according to our analysis, China's missile defense system may already be able to intercept most intercontinental ballistic missiles. Moreover... they possess weapons we are unaware of, such as those space lasers..."

"More importantly," the National Security Advisor added, "even if we launch a nuclear missile and flatten China, we'll be finished ourselves. And China... their government might have already moved to underground bunkers. This kind of exchange isn't worth it."

"Then what do you suggest we do?!" the president roared. "Sign? Let America become a second-rate country? Let our descendants point at our portraits and call us cowards and traitors?!"

No one answered.

The clock on the wall ticked away, its second hand moving clearer than ever in the deathly silent room.

Forty-seven hours remain.

At the same time, in the capital of the Dragon Kingdom.

Lin Zhe did not wait for a reply at the Central Military Commission, but instead went to the underground laboratory of the General Armament Department. What was being carried out here was the core project of the second phase of the "Star Project"—the space carrier.

In a vast underground space, a silver-gray ship, about 300 meters long and shaped like a shuttle, is being assembled. Its hull is made of nanocomposite materials, gleaming with a cold metallic luster under the lights. On both sides of the hull are huge foldable wings that can provide lift within the atmosphere; at the stern, four plasma thrusters have already been installed.

"Chief Engineer Lin, the main structure is 90% complete!" Academician Wang Zhenhua, the project's chief engineer, excitedly reported. "According to your design, this 'Kunpeng' can carry twenty-four spaceplanes, maintain a permanent orbital altitude of 400 kilometers, and achieve a maximum speed of cosmic velocity!"

Lin Zhe stroked the cold hull of the ship, his heart filled with emotion. In his previous life, this project remained only on paper, as the nation's resources were insufficient to support such a massive space engineering project. In this life, it was about to become a reality.

"What's the testing progress?"

"All ground tests have passed. The first orbital test can be conducted in three months," Academician Wang said. "However, Chief Designer Lin, I have a question… Do we really need this space carrier? We're already…"

"Yes, we need to," Lin Zhe interrupted him. "Old Wang, we can't just focus on Earth. In the next fifty or one hundred years, humanity's battlefield will expand to space, the moon, and even Mars. Whoever gains control of space first will control the future."

He paused, his voice lowering, "And... the US won't give up easily. They're compromising now because they can't win. Once they recover and develop ways to counter our technology, war will break out again. We must maintain a generational gap, always one, two, or three generations ahead of them."

Academician Wang replied with deep respect: "I understand. Don't worry, Chief Engineer Lin, the project team guarantees on-time completion!"

After leaving the lab, Lin Zhe received a call from Liu Zhenguo.

"Lin Zhe, we haven't received a reply from the US yet. What are your plans?"

"Wait," Lin Zhe said. "Wait until the very last moment. If they're smart, they'll sign. If they're not... we'll teach them another lesson."

"Go to class? How will you go to class?"

Lin Zhe looked towards the western sky: "Sir, have you ever heard of the 'Rod of God'?"

There was a few seconds of silence on the other end of the phone: "You mean... space-based kinetic energy weapons?"

"Yes. Dropping a tungsten rod from space, its kinetic energy upon impact with the ground is equivalent to a small nuclear bomb, but without radioactive contamination," Lin Zhe said calmly. "We've already deployed three sets. If the US refuses to sign, I don't mind doing a demonstration on some uninhabited island in the Pacific."

Liu Zhenguo gasped: "This will scare the whole world."

"We need to scare them," Lin Zhe said coldly. "This battle must secure fifty years of peace. Everyone must know—the consequences of provoking the Dragon Kingdom are unbearable."

Forty-eight hours to go, just one hour left.

In Country M, the president finally made a decision. He summoned all cabinet members, top military officials, and congressional leaders to the Oval Office for a final vote.

"Ladies and gentlemen, now it's time to vote," the president said in a hoarse voice. "Those who agree to accept the Dragon Kingdom's terms, raise your hands."

One hand, two hands, three hands...

In the end, eighteen people raised their hands in the meeting room of twenty-one.

Three votes against, from the most hawkish generals and members of Congress.

"Alright." The president closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and said, "Then... sign it."

He picked up the pen, his hand trembling. This pen had signed countless important documents—declarations of war, peace agreements, international treaties. But this time, it signed the decline of an empire.

The moment the pen touched the paper, the president suddenly remembered his grandfather's words. "My child, remember," his grandfather said on his deathbed, "there are no eternally powerful nations in this world. They will decline, they will disintegrate, and one day, the United States will too. But this is not the end, it is just... reincarnation."

He didn't understand at the time.

Now he understands.

After signing, the president seemed to age ten years instantly. He handed the document to the Secretary of State: "Send it out. Tell the Dragon Nation...we accept."

"Mr. President," the Secretary of State asked cautiously, "how will you explain this to the people?"

The president gave a wry smile: "Just say... to avoid greater casualties and to protect the lives of the people of Country M, we made a difficult but wise choice. Whether they believe it or not... is no longer important."

The file was sent to the Dragon Kingdom via an encrypted channel.

Ten minutes later, the Dragon Kingdom's national television station released a brief announcement:

"Through negotiations, Country M has accepted all the conditions put forward by us. Effective immediately, both sides will enter the post-war settlement phase."

The announcement consisted of only one sentence, but it was enough to shake the world.

When the news spread, reactions around the world varied.

European countries breathed a sigh of relief—war was no longer possible.

African, Latin American, and Southeast Asian countries are beginning to re-evaluate their relationship with China—this new world superpower seems to be more…rule-abiding than the previous one? At least, they don't engage in colonization or plunder; they simply ask that people not provoke them.

Within the Dragon Kingdom, there was an atmosphere of jubilation.

But Lin Zhe knew that the real challenge had only just begun.

Three days later, the Military Commission held an enlarged meeting.

"Post-war relief work has begun." Liu Zhenguo chaired the meeting. "Compensation for countries J and X is being calculated, and the troops stationed there have arrived. The disbandment of the army in country R has begun, and the advance force of our 200,000 troops has arrived."

"Over in the US," Zhao Tiesheng said, "they've already started dismantling their overseas bases. Who should we send as part of the nuclear weapons destruction oversight team?"

All eyes turned to Lin Zhe.

Lin Zhe stood up: "I'll go."

"You?" Liu Zhenguo frowned. "It's too dangerous. Although the US has surrendered, anti-China sentiment is very high there. If you go..."

"It's precisely because it's dangerous that I'm going," Lin Zhe said calmly. "I want them to see with their own eyes what the person who defeated them looks like. I want them to remember this face, remember the country behind this person—from now on, they will never dare to have any disloyal thoughts."

"Moreover," he added, "I want to personally oversee the destruction of nuclear weapons. This is a matter of utmost importance concerning the safety of all humanity, and there can be no carelessness whatsoever."

After discussion, the meeting ultimately approved Lin Zhe's request.

However, the conditions were strict: Lin Zhe had to bring a complete Qianlong squadron to accompany him and provide full protection. At the same time, the Dragon Kingdom would deploy three carrier battle groups around the United States, ready to provide support at any time.

"Don't worry, sir," Lin Zhe smiled, "The US doesn't dare to touch me now. Because they know what the consequences would be if they did."

A week later, Lin Zhe led the team to set off.

When the special plane landed in Washington, the welcoming party sent by the United States was of extremely high caliber—the president, all cabinet members, and top military officials were all present.

But when Lin Zhe stepped off the gangway, everyone was stunned.

This Chinese general who defeated the United States is too young. Unbelievably young.

Lin Zhe wasn't wearing a military uniform, but rather a black Zhongshan suit. This was his choice—the military uniform represented force, while the Zhongshan suit represented culture. He wanted the people of the United States to know that China's victory wasn't solely due to weaponry, but also to the wisdom of its civilization.

"General Lin, welcome." The president forced a smile and extended his hand.

Lin Zhe shook hands with him, his grip neither too firm nor too loose: "Mr. President, I hope our cooperation will go smoothly in the future."

"Definitely...definitely..."

The welcoming ceremony was brief because both sides knew perfectly well that this was not a friendly visit, but an inspection by the victors to the vanquished.

That afternoon, Lin Zhe began his work. He led his technical team straight to the nuclear arsenal of Country M.

Deep in the desert, at a top-secret military base.

In the massive underground warehouse, rows of nuclear warheads were neatly arranged. These destructive weapons, which once made the world tremble, were now like lambs to the slaughter.

"This is the W88 warhead, with a yield of 47.5 kilotons. It was once mounted on Trident missiles," the base commander explained, his tone tinged with resentment.

Lin Zhe nodded and said to the technical team behind him, "Begin testing. Confirm the model, quantity, and condition. Then, supervise the destruction."

"yes!"

In the days that followed, Lin Zhe acted like the strictest supervisor, overseeing the entire destruction process of each nuclear warhead. He personally checked the data, verified the quantities, and supervised the transportation.

The US attempted some tricks—such as using training rounds to impersonate real warheads, or concealing some of its stockpiles.

But each time, Lin Zhe saw through his plan.

"Mr. President," Lin Zhe said coldly in front of all the top officials of the United States at a meeting, "I want you to understand—I want them all. Even one less, I will consider the United States to still possess nuclear weapons. You know the consequences."

The president, his face ashen, said, "We...we will investigate further..."

"You don't need to investigate." Lin Zhe pulled up a tablet, which displayed a satellite image. "This is the result of our quantum radar scan. There are also three secret storage locations. Should I read out the coordinates?"

In the conference room, all the high-ranking officials from the United States were ashen-faced.

They finally understood—they had no secrets from this Dragon Kingdom general.

Three months later, the last nuclear warhead of the United States was destroyed.

On that day, Lin Zhe delivered a brief speech at the destruction site:

"Today, we are not only destroying weapons, but also the end of an era—an era in which hegemony was maintained by nuclear deterrence."

"From now on, world peace will no longer be based on a balance of terror that leads to mutual destruction, but on mutual respect and common development."

"This is China's promise to the world, and China's gift to all mankind."

The speech was broadcast live globally.

At that moment, countless people were moved to tears.

It's not because of sadness, it's because of hope.

A world without the threat of nuclear weapons, a world where peace is maintained by the Dragon Kingdom—perhaps, it really would be better.

On the day Lin Zhe returned to China, the president of Country M personally went to the airport to see him off.

"General Lin," the president finally asked the question that had been lingering in his mind for a long time as they parted, "where did you get all that technology...?"

Lin Zhe looked at him and smiled: "Mr. President, do you know? In China, there's an old saying—'Learn from the barbarians to subdue them.' We've just... learned it better than most."

After saying that, he turned and boarded the plane.

The president was left standing there, speechless for a long time.

The plane took off and passed through the clouds.

Inside the cabin, Lin Zhe looked at the blue sky outside the window, feeling calm.

The battle is over.

But the road to safeguarding peace is still long.

But it's okay.

He has enough time, enough skills, and enough wisdom.

In this life, he will make the Dragon Kingdom truly stand at the top of the world.

It is not about conquering with force, but about leading with civilization.

Let the flag of the Dragon Kingdom fly high in space.

Let the voice of the Dragon Kingdom resonate throughout the universe.

This is the true meaning of his time travel.

This is Lin Zhe's greatest mission in this life.

The plane flew east, towards the direction where the sun rises.

Towards a brand new era.