Homo Sapiens

The formation of the Luzon Food Security Association was not meant to be a public affair.

Furthermore, Xu Yingming had also received a special mission: to continue leading the Xu Clan and, in concert with the Aquino Clan, uncover ABCD’s specific plans.

”Yingming, according to our intelligence, ABCD’s headquarters will be sending a representative to Xing Island to hold a secret meeting. When the time comes, you are to go there personally and coordinate with Jianxiong’s operation.”

Hearing Li Qingye’s instructions, Xu Yingming quickly nodded. Although he didn’t know what the Homo Sapiens Company was planning, he knew he was in no position to refuse.

”I will do my utmost to coordinate with Minister Chen’s operation.”

As if recalling something, Li Qingye added, ”Oh, right. While you’re at it, use the Xu Family’s name to secretly contact the Guo Clan in Malaysia. They’re in cahoots with ABCD.”

”Yes.”

Next, Li Qingye discussed with the group how to integrate the various clans.

Currently, on the surface, the Fernando Clan and the Lopez Clan were in an alliance, while the Tusun Clan and the Duterte Clan maintained more of an arm’s-length relationship.

If all these clans were to unite at once, the other clans would likely band together for survival. Even America, which secretly influenced the situation in Luzon, would be forced to intervene directly.

Therefore, the Xu Family must absolutely not form a public alliance with the Fernando and Lopez Clans. Instead, they must ally with the Duterte and Tusun Clans.

Only by keeping the major clans of Luzon in a state of balanced opposition could we prevent our enemies, both internal and external, from taking desperate measures.

”Next, we need you to use all your influence to fully support our own people within the military. Only by gaining complete control of the armed forces can we suppress opposing factions within Luzon and resist interference from America at the critical moment.”

At this, Cavendish Dute asked with some hesitation,

”Boss, although America’s two military bases in Luzon have been decommissioned, they still retain a pretext for intervention.”

Li Qingye was, of course, aware of the catch. ”That’s why we can’t be hasty. We have to wait until after your uncle steps down, then push Gafei into power. Once that’s done, we can use Gafei to repeal that cooperation treaty.”

Cavendish said worriedly,

”I have no objection to that. After all, my uncle’s daughter doesn’t have a chance of succeeding him. With our support, Gafei will most likely take power. But if we have a complete falling out with America, will Luzon be able to stand against them on its own?”

The others were also somewhat concerned. After all, this meant facing the world’s number one superpower alone.

But Li Qingye was full of confidence. ”First, we won’t stop at Luzon. The Hongsawaddy Branch is developing very quickly. We estimate we can completely secure that area within a year or two. By then, we’ll have a branch we know inside and out to serve as a backup base.”

”Second, the most likely place for America to stir up trouble is Cianlan Island. We just need to quash that threat in advance.”

Hearing the plan to purge Cianlan Island, Cavendish nodded as well. ”I agree. Even with my family’s presence there, we can only maintain control through brute force and political power. That place really is an easy pretext for America to use.”

Li Qingye turned his head. ”Jianxiong, establish a special purge team. Designate all uncontrollable clans, religious orders, and armed opposition leaders as high-priority surveillance targets. Gradually, completely replace a portion of them with our Soldiers. I want a clean Cianlan Island.”

”Yes, Boss!” Chen Jianxiong replied grimly.

Li Qingye wasn’t pinning his hopes on internal stability. Even with internal stability, an enemy could always manufacture instability.

He smiled, his gaze sharp. ”Third, and this is the most crucial point, we must possess the power to threaten America.”

Sun Yaozu’s brow furrowed as he cautioned, ”Boss, if we use biological weapons, the entire world will turn against us.”

Everyone knew the level of the Homo Sapiens Company’s biotechnology, and they had no doubt about Li Qingye’s scientific genius. They suspected that something capable of threatening all of humanity already existed in the labs.

But that kind of weapon could never see the light of day.

After all, unlike nuclear weapons, there’s no way to conduct a visual test to show the world the terrifying power of a biological weapon. You can’t just run a test detonation to prove you have it.

A biological weapon’s threat can only be demonstrated by deploying it directly onto the battlefield.

But deploying it directly isn’t a threat—it’s an outright declaration of war.

At that point, the world’s five great powers would likely join forces to turn Luzon into a mushroom farm.

Therefore, biological weapons must be kept in the shadows, to be used only as a last resort. Once deployed, it means a fight to the death.

Li Qingye shook his head. ”I know biological weapons can’t deter the five great powers.”

”Uh? Boss, are you saying we’re going to build nuclear weapons?” Cavendish asked, swallowing hard. ”Luzon has a nuclear power plant, but it’s just an empty shell. It’s never even been operational.”

Li Qingye shot him a look as if he were an idiot. ”Luzon lacks the infrastructure to develop nuclear weapons. Besides, do you think you can build that many centrifuges and the rest of the world will just be blind to it?”

”Then we’re left with conventional weapons, but it’ll be hard to deter America with those, won’t it?” Chen Jianxiong said, feeling a headache coming on.

Li Qingye didn’t expect any constructive suggestions from them and got straight to the point. ”Conventional weapons *can* deter America. The key is how you use them.”

”Conventional weapons?”

”Intercontinental ballistic missiles?”

”We don’t have a satellite navigation system. The missiles wouldn’t be able to get close to North America, right?”

”Boss, what kind of conventional weapon could do that?”

Everyone was extremely curious.

Li Qingye pulled up a file and projected it onto the large screen to one side.

[Loitering Munition...]

[A drone-style missile manufactured using civilian-grade components and standard piston engines. Capable of carrying a 50kg to 500kg warhead, with an effective range of 30km to 2,500km...]

[The cost per unit can be kept to around 2,000–50,000 US Dollars, making it ideal for mass deployment and saturation strikes against the enemy...]

”This is a low-cost, high-tech weapon. Even America’s Aegis System couldn’t withstand a saturation attack from tens of thousands of these loitering munitions.”

GULP!

Tens of thousands???

The group felt their worldview being completely warped. But when they saw the list of components on the screen, they thought, ’Well, maybe tens of thousands isn’t so far-fetched.’

Even at 50,000 US Dollars per unit, ten thousand of them would only cost 500 million US Dollars.

Meanwhile, a single one of America’s nuclear-powered aircraft carriers costs in the tens of billions of US Dollars. Trading ten thousand loitering munitions for one carrier would be an absolute steal.

For perspective, the procurement cost for a single American Tomahawk Cruise Missile is between 600,000 and 1.2 million US Dollars.

In terms of its tactical role, the loitering munition Li Qingye planned to design was similar to the Katyusha Rocket Launchers of World War II: cheap and numerous.

Even the fanciest, most hyped-up modern missile defense systems are not 100% effective against a saturation strike.

After all, these interception systems require a combination of interceptor missiles, CIWS autocannons, interceptor rockets, and anti-aircraft artillery.

The problem is that all these systems have their limitations. The cost of interceptor missiles is what it is, and other weapons either lack precision or have too short an engagement range.

A CIWS autocannon, for example, can’t fully handle even a few dozen missiles, let alone thousands or tens of thousands.

Unless someone can develop an ”Iron Curtain” defense system, no power in the world could guarantee a 100% interception rate against such an overwhelming saturation strike. Even achieving a 50% interception rate would be incredibly difficult.