Chapter 1277
The First Mars in North America, The Siege of Peanut Village, Little Mei's Family
The communications corps did not expect the armored division to approve the mass production plan so quickly.
However, there was no panic.
That's how it is these days: if you have the conditions, you should go for it; if you don't have the conditions, you should create them and go for it even more.
"Inform Comrade Li Aiguo that the production scheduling of the transistor radio station is now entirely under his authority."
The leaders of the Communications Corps now have genuine trust in Li Aiguo.
This kid is not only quick-witted, but also a decisive and capable leader.
That's how it is.
Li Aiguo had just arrived at the Telecommunications Technology Research Institute in the morning when he saw Deputy Director Qin running in excitedly, his forehead covered in sweat and panting heavily.
"Great news! Aiguo, it's been approved from above! We can officially start mass production!"
Li Aiguo took the approval document and, while reading it, said, "Old Qin, there's no time to lose. Please go and notify Factory 312 immediately, and make sure they start the production line as originally planned. As for the matching tank helmets, I'll personally go to the Qianmen Locomotive Depot to find a helmet factory to supply them."
The mass production process is now complete.
With researchers from the telecommunications technology research institute overseeing things at the factory, there shouldn't be any major problems.
"Okay, okay! I'll take care of it right away!" Deputy Director Qin replied repeatedly, then turned and hurried out.
As soon as Li Aiguo returned to the workshop at the Qianmen Locomotive Depot, he asked Zong Xianfeng to invite the director of the helmet workshop over.
The workshop foreman had already obtained the blueprints for the tank helmet.
Upon hearing that it was a military order, he was so excited that he patted his chest repeatedly and immediately pledged to complete the task.
In contrast to the smooth progress at the locomotive depot, the mass production at Factory 312 encountered considerable obstacles.
"Director Qin, it's not that we're dawdling, but we have all the other materials ready in the factory. The only problem is that we're short of transistors. How am I supposed to cook without rice?" The director of Factory 312 spread his hands, looking distressed.
Deputy Director Qin scratched his head anxiously: "This... at present, the only facility in China capable of large-scale production of transistors is the base under the Red Star Computing Institute."
The requirements over there are too high; we have no say in the matter. It seems we can only ask Comrade Aiguo to personally intervene and coordinate.”
Li Aiguo had just finished inspecting the helmet factory and hadn't even had a sip of water when he received a call for help from Lao Qin.
On the phone, Deputy Director Qin hesitantly recounted the situation.
"Patriotism has run into a problem. The Armored Division needs two thousand transistor radios in the first batch, which translates to at least twenty thousand transistors, but the Red Star Computing Institute has only allocated less than five thousand so far..."
Upon hearing this, Li Aiguo said, "Hey, it's no big deal, I'll take care of it."
"Thank you for your help."
After agreeing on the matter, Li Aiguo went to the Red Star Computer Research Institute.
I told Professor Xia Zhongsu about the transistor shortage at Factory 312.
Since the Southwest No. 2 processor base is still under construction and preparation, all the country's transistor production capacity is currently concentrated on the base in the suburbs of Beijing, and the components produced are then uniformly distributed by the Red Star Computing Institute.
“I’ve heard about the situation at Factory 312, but we’re not without our difficulties. Our transistor allocation quota for this month is already exhausted,” Professor Xia sighed.
"Old Xia, this is a special case. Since it's military production, it must be given the highest priority."
I suggest immediately suspending all export orders for Red Star Computer and allocating all the saved transistors to Factory 312.
Professor Xia also had this idea, but Red Star Computer could earn a lot of foreign exchange through exports, so he couldn't make up his mind.
Hearing Li Aiguo say this, Professor Xia immediately nodded in agreement and instructed the transistors to be deployed.
After the production capacity issue is resolved.
Li Aiguo immediately contacted Yang Jizong, who was far away in the port city, through a secure line.
"Old Yang, you should hold off on taking on too many overseas export orders for Red Star Computer during this period."
"Understood, understood, just reject those orders for now."
Yang Jizong readily agreed, but after thinking for a moment, he lowered his voice.
"Patriot, I have some funny news to share. I heard from Xiaomei's family that the big farmer named Hawkins has suffered an unprecedented reduction in his corn harvest this year!"
"Hawkins?"
"Yes! This guy is an agricultural tycoon from the United States. He owns the largest corn farm in the country, covering hundreds of thousands of acres!"
In previous years, this old man's farm could produce up to 1350 million bushels a year. Guess what happened this year?
I heard the price plummeted to 300 million bushels; they're practically going to lose their shirts!
Upon hearing this...
Li Aiguo immediately sensed that something was wrong.
"Generally speaking, even if there is a once-in-a-millennium pest or disease, the yield would not be reduced to such an absurd degree."
Moreover, these super-farmers have extremely sophisticated methods for controlling weeds and pests... unless, of course, there's a serious problem with the seeds themselves.
"Patriot, as expected of the expert who developed the corn seeds, our colleagues at Hextech in North America have sent back a message that Hawkins has gotten his hands on the batch of corn seeds that were stolen from us."
Yang Jizong was extremely happy.
Back then, the Huang family of Hong Kong went on a massive scramble to collect patriotic corn seeds in order to pledge allegiance to the white people, and eventually resold them at a high price to the Western agricultural giant "Mengdushan".
Instead of stopping them, Hextech went along with it and made a fortune, leaving a fatal backdoor in the seed.
"Now that the fish have taken the bait, let's stir up the waters. Someone's going to be in big trouble."
After Li Aiguo understood, he smiled.
"Roger that! I'll contact our comrades in North America right away and give them a boost!"
Yang Jizong hung up the phone excitedly.
Things went as Li Aiguo had predicted.
Just as Li Aiguo was busy with the mass production of transistor radios.
The front pages of major newspapers in North America are now dominated by news of agricultural disasters.
"The largest corn farmer in Xiaomei's family suffers a major setback: Hawkins Farm experiences reduced yield and crop failure!"
Soon, more bad news followed.
It wasn't just Hawkins' farm; corn production at many large farms across North America experienced a precipitous drop.
Although a small number of farms were spared, the overall corn production loss in the United States was a staggering quarter!
In this land, corn is an extremely important core crop, playing a pivotal role whether used as livestock feed or for export to generate foreign exchange.
In an instant, corn prices in North America soared, and meat prices skyrocketed; even the suspension of exports could not suppress prices.
The US Department of Agriculture finally realized the seriousness of the problem and quickly dispatched a team of senior experts to Hawkins Farm to conduct an on-site investigation.
At this time, old Hawkins was worried about repaying his bank loan.
Upon seeing the experts arrive, they immediately held up the shriveled corncobs to complain.
"Oh! Good heavens! Gentlemen, open your eyes wide and look!"
These are the high-yield seeds I bought from 'Mighty Poison Mountain' company at a high price!
Their salesman at the time assured me with absolute certainty, "God is my witness, this stuff can produce 1200 jin per acre!"
But what about now?
As he spoke, he angrily ordered all the remaining corn seeds in the warehouse to be moved out.
Experts from the Ministry of Agriculture took the seeds and the poor-quality corn that had grown into a makeshift laboratory.
Not long after.
An authoritative conclusion was presented to old Hawkins.
“Mr. Hawkins, these seeds are very special.”
They were indeed bred through extremely precise artificial hybridization.
Unfortunately, the seeds that Venom Mountain sold to you were already the third generation.
Genetically, they have completely lost the desirable traits of their mothers…this is the culprit behind the widespread corn crop failure.”
Old Hawkins immediately flew into a rage: "Damn bastards! Those vampires from Venom Mountain are deliberately scamming us! No way, I swear I'll get them to an explanation!"
Old Hawkins immediately contacted the Venom Mountain Company.
In fact, the higher-ups at Mighty Poison Mountain had long suspected something was amiss with the corn seeds.
But do they dare to admit it?
Absolutely not!
In order to seize the largest possible market share, they released all the second-generation seeds they had cultivated using stolen "patriotic" corn seeds into the market.
With the planting area now reaching hundreds of thousands of acres, if compensation were based on the standard of total crop failure, Mighty Poison Mountain would go bankrupt on the spot even if it sold its underwear!
"Oh, dear Mr. Hawkins, please calm down."
You should know that crop yields are linked to many complex factors.
Why are the crops growing so well in our company's demonstration fields?
Shouldn't you reflect on what your Texas cowboys are doing when they're watering and fertilizing?
"Did you slack off and go drink whiskey?"
"What are you saying, you son of a bitch?!"
"Listen to me, my friend. If you insist that it is our responsibility, you can sue us in federal court!" The representative of Venom Mountain Corporation sneered smugly.
The people at Mengdushan Company have a history of committing heinous acts that could lead to the extinction of one's lineage, so they're quite adept at dealing with these kinds of disputes.
In short, it can be summed up in four words: refusing to admit anything.
Anyway, they have a top-notch legal team that's known as the "North American Pizza Hut".
Even if it really goes to court, it could drag on for three to five years without any problem, and it could bankrupt these farmers.
After hanging up the phone, the top executives of Mighty Poison Mountain immediately contacted financial giants on Wall Street.
"Hey, Mr. Syndra! Old Hawkins' farm is one of the most fertile places in the whole country."
"If your bank can take advantage of this opportunity to buy back the debt at a low price and acquire that land, don't forget to give us, the Venomous Mountain, a share!"
The Wall Street capitalist on the other end of the phone, cigar in hand, said, "Ha! Don't worry, my friend. Do these mud-covered country bumpkins really think our Wall Street banks are charity soup kitchens?!"
The capitalists showed no mercy, baring their sharp fangs as a barrage of payment requests rained down on old Hawkins' farm.
But despite all their careful planning, the elites at Poison Mountain and Wall Street overlooked one extremely fatal detail.
Old Hawkins was a classic redneck, and with an extremely strong fighting spirit!
Seeing that Venom Mountain was acting like a rogue and the bank was coming to collect debts, old Hawkins' eyes turned red with anger.
Without saying a word, he kicked open the armory door, grabbed a double-barreled shotgun, and roared as he was about to drive the heavy tractor, intending to head straight for the headquarters of the Venomous Mountain and perish together with them.
Just then.
A black sedan slowly drove into the farm.
The car door opened, and a refined-looking young Asian man stepped out. He was Chen Long, the tutor who had been teaching the Hawkins family Chinese.
Of course, this is also his public identity in North America.
"Oh my God, Mr. Hawkins, are you going hunting with that gun?"
Chen Long looked at his murderous employer and asked, feigning surprise.
Chen Long not only possesses exceptional Chinese and computer skills, but he is also incredibly kind and approachable. The Hawkins family adores this polite young man from the East.
"Chen! You've come at the perfect time."
Old Hawkins saw him, sighed, reached into his pocket for his checkbook, and paused.
Realizing that the check was probably worthless now, he turned around, went back into the house, and took out a thick wad of cash, stuffing it into the wad.
“Take it, son. This is your remaining salary. My farm is about to go bankrupt, and I won’t be able to afford you anymore.”
Chen Long didn't stand on ceremony, generously accepting the banknotes and putting them away. He smiled and asked, "Mr. Hawkins, thank you for your generosity. But judging from your posture, are you going to settle accounts with the Venom Mountain Company?"
"What, you're advising me not to go?"
"To tell you the truth, the farm went bankrupt. My life's work is all gone. I'm going to fight Venom Mountain to the death."
"No, I just want to ask you one question: do you think you can outmaneuver those fully armed private mercenaries from the Venom Mountain headquarters with your old hunting rifle?"
These words were spoken.
Stephen Hawking froze on the spot, unable to utter a single word.
"Furthermore, you should know better than I do who the big shots are behind Mighty Poison Mountain."
Otherwise, how could they have committed so many heinous crimes without ever receiving a single ticket?
"Then what can I do? Am I just going to wait here to die? Chen, you're a smart man, you have a plan, right?"
"As for solutions, I don't have any here. We have an old proverb in the East that says, 'Many hands make light work.'"
A single branch is easily broken, but what if ten thousand branches were bundled together?
Chen Long said.
Old Hawkins was stunned, muttering to himself, "Many hands make light work... many people... yes! I'm not the only one who's been victimized!"
He suddenly raised his head, his blue eyes blazing with renewed fervor, and excitedly hugged Chen Long tightly: "Chen! You're simply an angel sent by God to save me!"
Having abandoned the idea of going in alone and risking his life, old Hawkins immediately went back inside, grabbed his phone book, and began frantically contacting affected farmers across North America.
Those redneck colleagues who were already seething with anger instantly erupted when they heard that it was Venom Mountain that was playing tricks on people in the seed.
"These damned capitalist bloodsuckers only know how to prey on honest people like us!"
They must pay the price!
"Guys, we must stick together!"
"Grab your weapons! Head to Peanut Village! Demand an explanation from the Commander!"
In just a few days, an unprecedented "tractor storm" swept across North America.
These farms, including the ranchers, numbered in the thousands, each armed with a gun and driving a tractor.
The tractor's trailer was also loaded with biological weapons—manure—and it drove in a grand procession toward Peanut Village.
The states were initially quite tense.
But upon hearing that the destination of this plague-ridden group was the capital, "Peanuts," the governors of each state immediately breathed a sigh of relief.
Instead of stopping them, they ordered the National Defence Force to give them the green light all the way.
Along the way, many ordinary people who had long disliked the way Poison Mountain acted or were dissatisfied with the authorities, after learning the whole story, also stood up to support old Hawkins.
Some people offered free boxed lunches by the roadside, others filled up the fuel tanks for tractors, and a mysterious tycoon even anonymously donated funds to the event.
After all, there are quite a few people in America's country who are unhappy with President Kenneth and Wall Street these days.
The first shot fired by Hawkins in North America instantly caused a sensation throughout the United States and even the world!
President Ken has been preoccupied with the issues with the three major car dealerships lately and hasn't paid much attention to the matter of Venomous Mountain.
By the time he came to his senses, old Hawkins' "tractor armored group" had already swept through the heart of Peanut Village as if it were empty!
Thousands of rednecks blocked the streets outside Whitehouse with tractors.
President Ken originally wanted to be assertive and ordered federal troops to forcibly disperse the crowd.
But when the soldiers approached with their guns, the rednecks unceremoniously started the water pump in the truck bed, and a deluge of excrement sprayed out like a torrential rain!
Faced with this combined biological and physical attack that even gas masks couldn't withstand, the Federation soldiers vomited on the spot and retreated in a panic, with no one daring to approach.
"F**k! This is an absolute disgrace to Xiao Mei's family since the family was founded!"
In Whitehouse's Oval Office, President Ken slammed his hand on the desk.
"We can't let these guys who reek of cow dung cause any more trouble!"
I've heard that our own enemies are already pulling the strings behind the scenes!
"Summon the top brass of Venom Mountain immediately!"
Before long, several senior executives of Mighty Poison Mountain were led into the Oval Office, sweating profusely.
Upon hearing the commotion outside, they knew that things had completely spiraled out of control. Before the president could even get angry, they began to cry and complain loudly.
"Your Excellency! This really isn't our fault! We are victims too, we were tricked! It was the people in the East who framed our great agricultural company!"
"What do you mean? Explain yourself!"
Upon hearing this, President Ken immediately perked up.
If this huge scapegoat can be shifted to "hostile forces" across the ocean, the matter will be easily quelled among the people.
The higher-ups at Mighty Poison Mountain had no choice but to reveal the matter of purchasing corn seeds.
"We originally planned to use their excellent technology to quickly increase our domestic corn production... Who would have thought that those people in the east were so cunning and sly!"
They actually left a backdoor in the seeds, causing them to lose their sexual characteristics in subsequent generations! We've been fooled!
After hearing this absurd confession.
President Ken felt a sudden darkness before his eyes and almost fainted on the spot.
If this gets out, wouldn't it utterly crush Xiaomei's family's proud agricultural technology?!
As the world's leading agricultural nation, not only did they steal seeds, but they also stole a bunch of counterfeit products that had been tampered with! This is an international joke!
Xiao Mei's family has never minded being a bad person, but they absolutely cannot be a fool.
"Stupid! Incompetent! Idiot! Pay up. Whatever you do, immediately make full compensation to those farmers outside!" President Ken cursed angrily.
"But... Your Excellency, that's an astronomical sum. If we have to pay it, the company will go bankrupt!" the executive cried out.
"Bankruptcy or a lifetime in a federal felony prison, you choose one!"
Upon hearing this, the higher-ups at Mighty Poison Mountain were alarmed: "We'll pay compensation immediately!"
Capitalists are always quick to make the most rational choice between money and survival.
However, Venom Mountain is, after all, the United States' secret weapon for controlling the international agricultural market, and President Kenneth cannot simply destroy them.
Mighty Poison Mountain was forced to sell off most of the company's core assets.
Meanwhile, the Wall Street big capitalists who originally planned to take advantage of the situation had no choice but to swallow their pride and pay a huge sum of money under the strong coercion of President Kenneth, and together they raised an astronomical compensation payment to distribute to the farmers outside.
Old Hawkins had prepared for bloodshed, but he never expected the victory to come so easily.
Back at the farm, old Hawkins hosted a banquet for Chen Long, during which he toasted Chen Long.
"Chen! My good brother! If it weren't for your guidance, how could we have salvaged everything this time?"
"Come, let me toast you. Thank you for saving us all!"
"This has nothing to do with me. The main thing is that you proved your strength with the guns and tractors you have in your hands." Chen Long took the wine glass and drank it all in one gulp.
His words caused a sensation.
"Yes, those of us in agriculture not only have to pay high taxes every year, but we are also exploited by large agricultural companies and banks. We might even be killed."
"That's right! Those damned bastards on Wall Street are like leeches sucking our blood!"
"I think we need to continue to unite! Let's establish our own farmers' association! We can't let them bully us anymore!"
Hearing these words, Chen Long's lips curled up slightly.
Just as the train driver predicted, the first spark in North America has been ignited.
The banquet was halfway through.
The redneck farmers were all drunk and the atmosphere was incredibly lively.
Several farmers even grabbed Chen Long and insisted on marrying their capable daughters to him on the spot.
Chen Long felt the time was about right and began to execute the second step of Li Aiguo's plan: "Gentlemen, aren't you even a little curious? Why would the Venomous Mountain Company sell you waste seeds that were destined to reduce production?"
The farmers, who had just been tipsy, were suddenly stunned.
"That's right. Although Venom Mountain is bad, he's not stupid. He wouldn't do something that harms others without benefiting himself."
"Is there some reason we don't know about?"
"Chen, you're quick-witted! Tell us all about it!"
Chen Long first put on a thick layer of armor: "How could a teacher like me know all the inside details? I just heard a few rumors and guessed randomly."
Everyone's appetite has been whetted.
Chen Long then lowered his voice and said, "I received information that the seeds from the Fierce Poison Mountain were stolen from the distant East!"
The real name of that seed is 'Patriot No. 1 High-Yield Corn,' and it's said that in its place of origin, the yield can reach an astonishing 1510 jin per mu!
"My God! It was a stolen, unfinished product! No wonder!"
Soon, a quick-thinking farmer's eyes lit up.
"Wait a minute! So if we can find a way to buy genuine 'Patriot No. 1 High-Yield Corn' seeds, wouldn't that mean we can drastically increase production?!"
"Buy, buy, buy!"
"Yes! Let's join forces right away and place a purchase order!"
"But... will the agricultural department in Xiaomei's village agree to let us buy seeds from the East?"
"What are you afraid of! If they dare to say a word against it, then let them continue eating our farm's fresh manure!"
"Hahaha! Yes! Invite them to eat manure!"
Seeds are one of the core elements of agriculture, no matter where they are. As this news spread, hundreds of farmers soon joined together to purchase Patriot No. 1 corn seeds.
When Xiao Mei's family learned of this, the agricultural department immediately realized that something was wrong.
If the North American market is dominated by corn seeds from the East, wouldn't we be at their mercy?
but.
Considering what happened in Huashengtun a while ago, the Ministry of Agriculture could only pretend not to know.
Who told our own Poison Mountain to be so useless, creating such a huge mess!
Besides, with corn prices soaring and overall prices skyrocketing, the president's votes are dwindling dramatically.
If we were to go against these farmers now, wouldn't that just be asking for trouble?
Although Yang Jizong was mentally prepared, he was still stunned when he received the order from North America.
"50 tons of corn seeds!"
He immediately called the mainland to inform them.
In the evening, the first batch of transistor radios had been sent to the frontier, and Li Aiguo had just returned to the Qianmen Locomotive Depot on his mountain bike.
"Aiguo, something's happened! Something really bad! Xiaomei's family needs 50 tons of corn seeds!" Section Chief Xing rushed in, panting.
(End of this chapter)