Chapter 576: Enough Foundation, Ready for Relocation
Translator: Timothy Editor: GlobeGlotter
Jing City, near the China-North Korea border, still had considerable snow despite it being early spring in March. Chinese New Year had recently passed. Most city residents remained indoors, heating their homes and watching television.
Ee Mei Mountain, Jing City's tallest peak, was perpetually snow-covered, unlike its namesake in Sichuan. Except in isolated areas and at specific times, greenery was scarce.
A pregnant young woman, looking weary, struggled along a road outside a village at the mountain's foot. She appeared to seek shelter, but her weakened state caused her to slip and fall. She attempted to rise, protecting her stomach, but failed repeatedly. The snow intensified, and the road remained deserted.
"Hmm, why is someone lying in the snow?" A nun, carrying a large backpack, wondered aloud before quickly approaching the woman. After helping her up, the nun murmured in surprise, "Such a pretty girl, and she's not from here. Hmm, she's pregnant? Wait, it seems she's cultivated ancient martial arts but is heavily wounded." Without further examination, the nun swiftly carried the woman and her backpack up Ee Mei Mountain, running faster than before.
…
Cultivation was endless. After returning and attending to Xu Yuehua, Ye Mo resumed his practice. He had gleaned useful insights from the Meng family's fortune-telling art. Several months passed swiftly.
However, Ye Mo found himself restless and unable to concentrate. Checking his cultivation level, he discovered he had reached the mid-stage of level five, a satisfying achievement.
Upon emerging, he was met by Xu Yuehua, Xu Ping, Ning Qingxue, and surprisingly, Ye Zifeng and Ye Ling. Ye Mo asked Ye Zifeng, "Zifeng, why are you here? What happened to the Ye family in Beijing?"
"Big Brother, we're brothers. I know Grandpa is right, but to hide in Beijing while Luo Yue struggles, only returning after Luo Yue overcomes its difficulties—what kind of brothers would we be? Brothers share hardships, not just good times. Even Ye Ling came to help; how could I lag behind?" Ye Zifeng's words moved Ye Mo. He considered Ye Zifeng his blood brother, regardless of their blood relation.
Soon, Luo Yue's management assembled to discuss the complete relocation of Luo Yue Pharmaceuticals to Luo Yue City. Luo Yue had established some self-defense, anticipating the end of the US's patience.
Luo Yue was wealthy, attracting significant assets, yet it remained notably absent from the stock market. People could buy its products, but not its shares.
Luo Yue's wealth enabled it to seek arms deals with militarily powerful nations. These nations, primarily motivated by profit, readily engaged. However, acquiring weapons required recognition of Luo Yue's independence, a condition many nations hesitated to meet.
America, Russia, Germany, France, and England were all major military powers. The US refused to acknowledge Luo Yue's independence and withheld weapons sales, waiting for Luo Yue to mature before attempting to seize it. Germany, France, and England, aligned with the US, were hesitant despite the financial incentives.
Russia, however, was different. Despite not matching the Soviet Union's military strength, Russia's broader development allowed it to readily acknowledge Luo Yue's independence and sell weapons freely. Large sums of money flowed into Russia's reserves, while planes, nuclear submarines, and tanks were delivered to Luo Yue.
Germany's resistance eventually crumbled, witnessing Luo Yue's rapid acquisition of weapons. Acknowledging Luo Yue's independence remained difficult, however.
America criticized Russia for destabilizing the world, prompting a retort that the US, as the world's largest arms dealer, had no right to criticize.
"Martial Brother, our latest nuclear weapon, after modelling its explosion, shouldn't be weaker than any nuclear power's. Our new intercontinental missile can easily strike the US—we can deliver a nuke right to their dinner table," Ye Xing announced joyfully.
Ye Mo nodded, fully trusting Ye Xing's capabilities.
"Ye Xing is right. Our greatest achievement is the new nuclear reactor engine. Without the new computers and mechanical stations you purchased, we wouldn't have produced it," Xu Ping affirmed.
"Russia's providing average equipment, so we need our own weapons. Give me three years, and Luo Yue will be the center of world military technology," Ye Xing declared proudly.
"Weapons are a means, not the goal. While they generate money, there are other avenues. For now, Luo Yue's population is too small. With a couple million, we'll achieve true independence," Ye Mo stated.
Xu Yuehua added, "Many Luo Yue employees have relocated their families, totaling nearly 200,000. Sixty percent are Chinese, the rest from various countries. We've established free air routes from numerous countries for those wishing to relocate."
"Okay, let's move Flowing Snake's Luo Yue here as well. It's time," Ye Mo said, pleased with Luo Yue's rapid development. Any US attack would be carefully considered.
"A complete relocation will provoke a US response, perhaps an immediate attack to seize our assets. We must be prepared for battle," Xu Yuehua warned.
Luo Yue was vastly different from its inception. It possessed a new air defense system, Ye Xing's electronic interference and GPS location systems—the interference system being key to Luo Yue's confidence.
Ye Mo addressed everyone, "We will move all of Luo Yue Pharmaceuticals to Luo Yue City, including Flowing Snake's population—over 200,000 people. Simultaneously, we claim the 200 nautical miles of sea surrounding Luo Yue as Luo Yue territory!"