"Ah..." Lin Fan took a sharp breath.

"Could it be that these guys have really changed their ways?"

For a moment, the stone hanging in Lin Fan's heart finally dropped. After all, no matter what, the steel resources Great Xia needed were secured.

But this immense joy didn't cloud Lin Fan's mind.

He always felt something was off.

"No, something's wrong..." Lin Fan suddenly shook his head.

He still remembered.

In his previous life, after the first Descent of the Gods.

Although Great Xia barely managed to defend itself, because a God of the Ocean descended there, it paid a heavy price.

At that time.

Not only did other countries not think of resisting the next invasion of the deities, they didn't even consider supporting Great Xia.

Instead, they eyed Great Xia covetously, sending troops to conduct so-called military exercises near Great Xia's borders while it was overwhelmed with internal repairs!

If it weren't for the sudden visit of the next batch of deities, plunging all countries into crisis.

Great Xia might have already been carved up by them!

These guys, in their eyes, there's only ever profit.

How could they possibly sell their precious steel resources to us just as the deities are about to descend?

"There must be another motive behind this." Lin Fan suddenly looked at Shang Weitian: "Did they have any demands?"

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"Demands?" Shang Weitian thought for a moment: "There weren't any demands. But in their reply, there was a sentence asking us to pay the international market price on the spot when the steel resources enter the country, or to provide equivalent military products."

"Hmm?"

Lin Fan frowned.

That sentence sounded normal.

But.

Why emphasize it so much?

"Heh, I understand now." Lin Fan suddenly laughed, "These guys really do harbor malicious intentions."

"Such a huge amount of steel, even if Great Xia can purchase it, it might deplete our national strength."

"And once Great Xia can't pay, they'll use it as an excuse to join forces and wage war against us."

"Or, even if Great Xia can pay, it will fall into a period of weakness because it takes time for steel resources to be put into production."

"And they will seize the opportunity to wage war against us!"

Lin Fan understood their intention.

They just wanted to see if Great Xia could swallow this batch of steel resources!

You want steel resources, we'll give them to you.

But if you can't handle it, don't blame us!

This so-called help in times of need is actually a hidden trap!

The value of twenty billion in steel is simply too great.

If exchanged for military products, it might take away half of Great Xia's existing military products!

By then, without hot weapons and heavy weapons, would Great Xia's soldiers have to fight with knives?

And this is the move hidden behind their "kind gesture"!

Indeed.

Wolves will always be wolves.

Some things may change, but some people never will.

"This..." Hearing Lin Fan's explanation, even Chen Yan, who was solely focused on research, reacted: "Can we afford it?"

"We can... but if we do, our treasury will be empty." Shang Weitian looked complicated, "After that, we can't expect the workers to build the Iron Great Wall for free."

Saying this, Shang Weitian rubbed his chin: "I was thinking, pay half in cash and half in military products..."

"Or we could print more currency, but that would impact our monetary system."

"No need!" Lin Fan suddenly shook his head: "Military products are just as important as steel in the upcoming battles with the deities."

"Great Xia can't spare a single gun!"

"Now that we're massively conscripting, it's already a time of overproduction of military products, how can we send our weapons away? How will we fight next?"

"As for printing more currency."

"I'm telling you now, Great Xia's money will become the only stable and globally circulated currency in the future!"

"If you print more currency to pay now, wouldn't you be collapsing yourself first?"

Shang Weitian's expression instantly became difficult: "Then..."

"Don't worry, I have a way." Lin Fan said, leaning over to whisper a few words in Shang Weitian's ear.

Shang Weitian froze, his pupils shrinking: "This... is this possible?"

"Why not? They just want Great Xia to pay, right?" Lin Fan sneered, "Isn't that money?"

"They think Great Xia can't handle this batch of steel."

"They think Great Xia is still the poor state with few wealthy people."

"Heh."

"Now let's show them whether Great Xia can handle this batch of steel!"

"The foundation Great Xia has built over the years should be revealed!"

Hearing this, a glimmer of light appeared in Shang Weitian's eyes.

Those countries always thought Great Xia was the same as before.

Even if some countries knew Great Xia was getting stronger, they still thought it wasn't strong enough.

But in reality.

Great Xia had quietly risen over the years.

And the speed of its rise was beyond their imagination!

The foundation built by thirteen billion people is not something those countries can imagine!

But then, Shang Weitian was still a bit worried: "But if we do this, Great Xia's foreign reserves won't be enough, and those Western countries might attack us financially... they might even collectively impose a trade embargo."

"Heh." Lin Fan sneered, "Let them attack. We used to pay a high price to be their manufacturing hub."

"And now."

"Even without them, Great Xia can live well!"

"Great Xia is vast and resource-rich. What can their trade embargo affect? Food? Minerals? If they really embargo us, would they give up their biggest buyers?"

Great Xia.

Is no longer just the world's factory.

But has become the world's largest consumer nation!

Embargo?

Heh, then we'll just produce and sell domestically.

The most crucial thing is.

Lin Fan patted Shang Weitian's shoulder, smiling: "Three months from now, who knows who will survive, we don't have time for internal strife with them, by then, they might be begging us."

"Just go ahead and do it."

"The rest, the thirteen billion people of Great Xia, have your back!"

Thirteen billion people have your back!

This is Lin Fan's confidence!

Shang Weitian took a deep breath, standing tall, a surge of unprecedented strength rising within him.

Behind him.

Were the diverse thirteen billion people of Great Xia!

"Alright." Lin Fan smiled: "Now that the steel resources are gathered, part of them have been transferred to Ludong, and the national construction team is also moving to Ludong."

"Mr. Chen."

"Come with me to Ludong."

"There, I'll need you to personally oversee the construction of the Iron Great Wall."

Mr. Chen nodded.

Lin Fan turned back to the meeting room, looking at the heirs of ancient martial arts still practicing, clapping his hands: "Alright, pause for now, continue in the car."

"Everyone, head downstairs immediately."

Wang Hu, exiting his practice state, stretched, feeling the power within him, and asked curiously: "Commander, what are we doing?"

Lin Fan pointed to the map behind him: "We're heading to the eastern coast!"

"There, we will build the Iron Great Wall!"

"Huh?" Wang Hu was even more puzzled: "Construction is the job of the construction team, what's it got to do with us?"

"Heh." Lin Fan laughed.

If he remembered correctly, in this unprecedented construction project, some things buried underground would awaken.

"You, kid, better eat well these days, there's a tough battle ahead." Lin Fan nodded at Wang Hu.