CHAPTER 617: CHAPTER 296: ENLIGHTENMENT AND THE SPARK THAT IGNITES THE PRAIRIE

"Rapid military expansion."

"Let’s take a look at what happened in 1971."

"First, the intervention in the India-Pakistan War."

"Speaking of the India-Pakistan War, we have to talk about the British Commonwealth, the troublemaker."

"It all starts when the British Commonwealth withdrew from India."

"When the British Commonwealth withdrew, its territory was far larger than that of India."

"And after the withdrawal, the British Commonwealth estimated to have fragmented the forces in the region and left some disputed areas."

"So after the British Commonwealth withdrew."

"This region saw the formation of West Pakistan Federation, India, East Pakistan Federation, and the disputed Kashmir region."

Yu Feng hung a map in the livestream, and the Blue Star users inside clearly saw the divided situation.

Yu Feng continued:

"The so-called India-Pakistan War."

"Was a war between India and the two Pakistan Federations."

"Four months before the war."

"To curb the Republic, the Soviet Union chose to support India to bolster its encirclement and containment of the Republic in the southern region."

"It was also to gain access to the Indian Ocean ports, expanding its influence."

"This led to the birth of the Indo-Soviet Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation."

"After the treaty, the Soviet Union supported India, re-equipping the Indian army."

"Through sea and air transport, they provided India with a large amount of advanced tanks, armored vehicles, artillery, fighter jets (such as MiG-21s), and warships."

"This greatly enhanced the combat capability of the Indian military."

"And with increased combat capability, ambition naturally grows."

"The conflict between India and Pakistan is well known."

"But let’s talk about this period."

"At this time, there were two Pakistan Federations, East and West."

"Separated in between by India."

"With the Soviet Union’s military support, the extensively re-equipped India launched a war on the Eastern Front, achieving complete victory."

"This led to the dismemberment of the original East Pakistan Federation."

"Subsequently, East Pakistan became independent, turning into Bangladesh."

"Fulfilling India’s strategic goals."

"Meanwhile, it also expanded the Soviet Union’s influence in Southeast Asia."

"West Pakistan Federation turned into Pakistan Federation, starting to align with the United States and the Republic."

"While the newly established Bangladesh also aligned with India and the Soviet Union."

"This was not a simple aid."

"But rather a carefully orchestrated Great Power Struggle."

"As for the outcome, everyone has seen it."

"With the help of the Soviet Union, India successfully dismembered its main adversary, turning the resulting Bangladesh into its and the Soviet Union’s underling."

"While Pakistan Federation sought protection by aligning with both the United States and the Republic."

"This showed the complex strategic situation in the South Asia region."

"Meanwhile, in that same year."

"The Soviet Union’s missile deployment reached over 1,200."

"Surpassing the United States for the first time in strategic nuclear weapon deployment."

"But shortly thereafter."

"Problems arose domestically."

Yu Feng looked at the data and said:

"In 1972."

"Due to agricultural decline, the Soviet Union faced a food crisis."

"It also strained relations with the Republic."

"Forcing them to import large quantities of food from Europe and the West."

"Depleting a significant amount of its gold reserves."

"This also exposed the economic imbalance of the Soviet Union amid its years of frenzied expansion."

"However, there was no large-scale adjustment."

"Instead, that year’s military expenditure soared once again."

"Accounting for 20% of the national GDP, with the number of nuclear submarines also skyrocketing to 120."

"But fortunately, in 1973."

"Thanks to the energy dividend and rising oil prices, the Soviet Union’s export income soared by 70%."

"With the extra money, more weapons were produced."

"Seizing the opportunity to expand military aid and arms sales to the Middle East Region and Africa."

"However...."

"These are national-level issues."

"The core, at the base level, the agricultural economy had not recovered."

"The continuous poor harvests in agriculture led to increased food imports, economic hardships for Eastern European countries, and a burgeoning public discontent with opposition sentiments rising."

"This situation, as per the Huaxia historical series, there’s a term for it, what is it called?"

"Militarism."

"That’s essentially what it means."

"Frantic military expansion."

"Causing the populace at the base level to grumble."

"But given the size of the Soviet Union, it could still sustain itself at this time."

"Next came 1974."

"The Soviet Union supported Ethiopia’s military government in Africa, thus gaining a military base in the Red Sea."

"The strategic chain deployment from the Indian Ocean to the Red Sea was nearly completed."

"Meanwhile, they also tested their first multiple independently targetable reentry vehicle missile, with military technology advancing at a rapid pace once more."

"And in that year."

"The Soviet Union’s strategic nuclear warheads increased from 1,200 in 1972 to over 2,400."

"Equivalent to about 600 additional nuclear warheads a year."

"Almost two nuclear warheads produced per day on average."

"They certainly are ’Earthlings,’ aren’t they?"

"Stockpiling everything...."

As Yu Feng spoke, he shook his head.

The current situation is that no one dares to act since everyone has nuclear weapons, but they’re stockpiling like the one with the most wins, though in reality, no one dares to make the first move.

Yu Feng continued reading the data:

"Then it was 1975."

"In that year."

"The Soviet Union’s military expenditure percentage reached 23% of the national GDP, launching a proxy war in Africa in Angola, achieving a great victory."

"The first showcase of long-range force projection was very successful."

"Effectively intimidating the United States at the time, as well as countries worldwide."

"But the hidden risks had not been resolved."

"The 1972 food crisis persisted into 1975, unresolved, with an increasing reliance on imported food."

"Agriculture deteriorated."

"Around 40% of domestic food was purchased through imports."

"This is certainly not a long-term solution."

"Yet, given the Soviet Union’s situation, it seems nothing has changed."

The Blue Star users inside the livestream were also dumbfounded.

This....

Food is the lifeline of a nation.

The Soviet Union, with such a vast area, astonishingly relies on imports for nearly half of its food, which is tolerable in peace.

If a war broke out....

They’d be instantly paralyzed.

Importing food is indeed convenient, but for those accustomed to playing the Huaxia historical series games, the Blue Star players feel uneasy.

Because even in the Huaxia historical series.

They never dare to let food supply rely on external imports.

Only conquer as much territory as your power allows.

This is a lesson learned through countless plays in the Huaxia historical series games.

Don’t these foreigners know it?

In reality.

There is nothing new under the sun.

The reason Blue Star players know so much is because the Huaxia historical series has always persisted, and they can start freely.

Therefore, they have experienced many schemes and tactics unknown to others.

But looking at the entire ’Earth’.

From ancient times to the present, the continuously enduring civilization is only found here on the Huaxia land.

This was evident from the time of resisting the ’Great Flood.’

While other civilizations prayed to deities, only the ancestors of Huaxia began resisting the floods, continuing to this day.

Thus, many things recorded in the Huaxia history books are enough to warn the world.

And the founding times and history of these foreign federations are far less ancient than Huaxia.

To some extent, they even retain a certain innocence....

Many tactics and strategies that seem extremely outrageous to Blue Star players or ’Republic NPCs’ can be easily executed outside.

Watching foreigners being duped and still counting money, Blue Star players are baffled, and the ’Republic NPCs’ are even more so....

Yu Feng continued to speak:

"In these five years, the Soviet Union maintained its expansion trend."

"But hidden dangers have already surfaced, and these are very serious risks."