Hong Kong Island: From a small stall to a global supplier

This aircraft carrier is extremely famous throughout Southeast Asia.

Although it's a basic version, and the Russians and Americans look down on it, and perhaps even the Japanese don't think much of it, with most of its technology lagging far behind their World War II aircraft carriers, it's still considered a super weapon of mass destruction by people from other Southeast Asian countries. Everyone who comes here wants to be shown around.

On the one hand, we welcome guests; on the other hand, we want to demonstrate our strength.

These days, whether it's negotiating business or planning certain actions, strength is the key to power. Moreover, among the people who came this time, there was not only Peng Jiasheng, an acquaintance, but also Lin Mingxian, Li Ziru, Wei Chaoren, Jiang Zhiming, Luo Changbao, and several others whom we had never met before.

Hmm, I've never heard of the name Wang Yaotang before.

They were all Chinese. Li, Wei, Jiang, and Luo were educated youth from their hometown, but they had joined the Burmese labor movement a long time ago and held relatively important positions.

The four military regions of the Myanmar Workers' Party are:

Northeast Military Region (G): Political Commissar Zhao Nilai (Wa ethnic group), Commander Zhao Ming (Burmese ethnic group), Deputy Commander Peng Jiasheng (actual leader).

Central Military Region (Wa State): Political Director Zhao Nilai (Wa ethnic group), Director Li Ziru, Deputy Director Bao Youxiang (Wa ethnic group, de facto leader).

101st Military Region (Kachin State): Political Commander: Chiang Chih-ming; Commander: Ting Ying (Kachin, de facto leader); Deputy Commander: Chao Ni-lai
815 Military Region (Shan State): Political Director Luo Changbao, Commander Lin Mingxian (father is from Hainan, mother is from the Dai ethnic group, actual leader).
Although these people had all heard of Wang Yaotang's name, they had never actually met him. It was difficult to convince these military leaders with just his name; he had to truly demonstrate his overwhelming strength.

When visiting the Y-5 and Y-12 transport aircraft in the aircraft carrier hangar, Wang Yaotang mentioned the incident a few days ago when the Y-5 was attacked by a SAM-7. This time, without Wang Yaotang saying anything, Luo Xinghan gave the group a thorough explanation, which was quite a show of bravado and very satisfying.

Upon hearing that propeller planes had such advantages, the group marveled and understood why Wang Yaotang's aircraft carrier was equipped with these outdated aircraft.

It turned out to be premeditated.

"Hehe, there's no such thing as equipment that's necessarily good or bad. It depends more on the application scenario," Wang Yaotang said as he led them up from the aircraft carrier hangar.

It was as if he really thought that way back then.

"For major powers like China, the US, and the Soviet Union, jet fighters are certainly more useful, while propeller planes can only be used for training. However, for the vast majority of third-world countries, propeller planes are actually more useful."

Wang Yaotang spoke eloquently: "But when it comes to ground attack and reconnaissance, propeller planes are the best. Take the Y-5 as an example, it can maintain a speed of at least 80 kilometers per hour in the air, which gives it enough time to observe ground targets and strike them with machine guns or carry out relatively precise bombing with aerial bombs."

“Jet aircraft are no good. They’re too fast; they’ll be gone in a flash. They’re better suited for aerial combat and launching beyond-visual-range strikes. Besides, jet aircraft are too expensive, the technology is too advanced, and they’re extremely difficult to maintain. They have very high requirements for airports, maintenance equipment, and technical personnel. They’re too delicate. Given the situation in Myanmar, we simply can’t use them.”

"Because of these shortcomings, after World War II, from 1954 to 1962, France pioneered the concept of attack helicopters in the Algerian theater. They adapted weapon systems specifically for the CH-21 transport helicopter, which proved to be very effective in actual combat and was hailed as a ground nemesis. Often, a single attack helicopter could wipe out an entire company. It could hit from high altitudes and make people look stupid. After that, major powers began to develop attack helicopters."

"The world's first truly dedicated attack helicopter was the AH-1G 'Cobra', which entered service in the United States in 1967. It was designed with combat as its core function from the very beginning and did not have the inherent shortcomings of being a modified model."

"The Vietnam War that followed can be called the 'armed helicopter war.' In the early stages, the United States used a large number of transport-converted-to-attack helicopters, and in the later stages, it deployed nearly 7000 UH-1s to the battlefield. Their total flight time was close to 1000 million hours. They not only undertook more than 90% of the wounded soldier transport missions, but also participated in various missions such as airborne assaults and fire escorts. They are one of the most iconic pieces of equipment in the Vietnam War."

"In August 1967, the U.S. military began deploying AH-1G 'Cobra' aircraft into the battlefield. By 1973, a total of 1100 aircraft had been procured, with a total flight time of over 1 million hours during the Vietnam War. They were mainly used to strike ground armored vehicles, fortifications, and enemy infantry."

"In the spring of 1972, during the Easter Offensive, the SA-7 was secretly transported to the Annam battlefield for the first time. This was the second time the SA-7 had been used in actual combat. In the three months before it was put into use, it shot down 27 US helicopters and 24 fixed-wing aircraft, with a hit rate of 33%. During the entire Vietnam War, a total of 204 aircraft were destroyed."

"After that, everyone suddenly realized that passive infrared-guided man-portable air defense missiles were a nightmare for armed helicopters, but at that time they did not discover their extremely low hit rate against old-fashioned piston-engine propeller aircraft, because the United States did not have such outdated technology." Wang Yaotang laughed as he spoke, "Their fixed-wing propeller aircraft were turboprops."

"This was discovered later in my hometown. It's like an electromagnetic bomb, specifically designed to target high-tech electronic equipment."

Everyone laughed when they heard that.

"Getting back to the point, in third-world countries, it is impossible to deploy radar facilities on a large scale, let alone equip them with air defense systems. Most of them use SA-7, which is less of a threat to old propeller aircraft than a quadruple anti-aircraft gun."

While discussing his insights on weapon selection in wars in Third World countries, Wang Yaotang led them on a tour of his Type 05 frigate, missile ship, and enhanced artillery version, leaving these country bumpkins utterly astonished.

No wonder they were able to block the entrance to Yangon and force Su to bow his head and admit his mistake. Amazing, incredibly amazing!

The tour lasted two hours, and a meal was prepared for us, so we ate and chatted on the aircraft carrier deck.

After a few drinks, the atmosphere was just right, and Wang Yaotang then explained why he had invited everyone over.

"Brother Luo talked to me about the current situation of Burmese workers. Please don't think I'm being harsh, but the Burmese workers' situation feels like a replica of my Qing Dynasty."

"In my opinion, Brother Peng's idea is correct. The Myanmar industry is now a broken ship. It's not just a problem in Myanmar. This is an inevitable trend."

These words made the men's faces darken. After all, they were members of the Burmese laborers, initially full of ambition and eager to make a name for themselves, but...

Luo Changbao frowned deeply, and because of the issue of position, he asked in a deep voice, "What does Mr. Wang mean by 'the general trend'?"

"You're in Myanmar, so news is scarce. After Tito's death, Yugoslavia began to experience a full-blown economic crisis. In 85, Johann Adam Schall von Bell began his 'New Thinking' reforms. In 86, Serbia started pursuing independence and separatism. This year, the US promised Poland a $10 billion loan, demanding that Poland legalize Solidarity, while also imposing trade embargoes on countries that refuse to reform. Poland is holding a roundtable meeting this month, and things are already set in stone. The next step is elections and a change of government. Hungary is dismantling barbed wire and allowing its citizens to travel freely to Western countries. East Germany has seen continuous large-scale demonstrations demanding democracy and freedom."

“Isn’t Myanmar also experiencing large-scale protests and demonstrations right now, with people demanding democracy and freedom?”

"All of this indicates that the problems of the socialist system are beginning to be exposed on a large scale, and the support from the Russians and their families for the Burmese workers has also been cut off."

They genuinely didn't know this information, but just from Wang Yaotang's simple explanation, they could sense just how serious the situation was in Eastern Europe; just imagine what it was like in Myanmar.

That's the whole of Eastern Europe!
The birthplace of Marxism!

"What about your hometown?" Luo Changbao, Li Ziru, and Jiang Zhiming asked all at once.

“Of course we’re different,” Wang Yaotang laughed, raising his eyebrows. “We have our own cultural heritage, not just a copy of the Russians. We have something uniquely Chinese. Just look at me and you’ll see how well our hometown is developing now.”

"It's precisely because we don't copy their methods and develop our own that the relationship is still frozen."

These words brought smiles to the faces of the group.

"So you mean you support my independence?" Peng Jiasheng put down his chopsticks and asked in a deep voice.

Wang Yaotang smiled and looked around. "Quite the opposite."

"you……"

Not to mention Peng Jiasheng, everyone was a little confused for a moment.

You keep saying that the Burmese industry is failing, international law is failing, and the ships are wrecked, but then you turn around and say we can't get off the ships. Isn't that contradictory?

"So what if it's a wrecked ship? Even a wrecked ship has three nails!" Wang Yaotang picked up his wine glass and drank it all in one gulp. He pointed to the sea outside and said, "Have you all thought about how to survive at sea after you get a ship?"

"The ocean is not calm and peaceful. Not to mention natural disasters such as storms and rain, there are sharks and sea monsters in the sea that can eat people. Have you all thought about what you would do if you jumped into the sea?"

Peng Jiasheng and the others exchanged glances, sensing something from his words, yet it remained unclear, like looking at flowers through a fog. "Brother Wang dares to say that, so you must have a plan. Please enlighten me," Peng Jiasheng solemnly raised his wine cup in a toast and drank it all in one gulp.

“I wouldn’t say I’m teaching anything,” Wang Yaotang said with a smile, waving his hand. “I also have my own selfish motives. I’ve invested several hundred million US dollars in eastern and northern Myanmar, including two major mines, six power plants, and a newly laid communication network. I don’t want to see this promising situation go up in one day.”

This statement reflects a strong disapproval of Peng Jiasheng's actions.

Li Ziru, Wei Chaoren, Jiang Zhiming, and the others were immediately intrigued. Although they held high positions within the Burmese Workers' Union, they actually had no military power and did not want to see any division. Without the banner of the Burmese Workers' Union, they would truly be nothing.

Seeing everyone staring intently at him, Wang Yaotang continued, "This kind of thing is very common in history. Let me give you a recent example. Back then, those people who came back from Moscow also messed things up and ruined a great situation early on. It's somewhat similar to the current situation. We should learn from the wisdom of our predecessors and let things develop to the point where everyone understands that things have to be changed before we can set things right."

"Of course, I'm not familiar with this, and I'm not good at political commentary." Wang Yaotang raised his hand to the sky and declared his loyalty!

“From a business perspective, one solution to this situation is a backdoor listing,” Wang Yaotang said with a smile, raising his glass. “This glass is just a glass; it doesn’t really matter whether it’s filled with beer, red wine, or white wine, people will drink it.”

"The Burmese Workers brand is still very useful. It has a long history in Myanmar. Burmese Workers contributed to Myanmar's independence from the colonialists and shed blood. No one can deny that. With this brand, all your actions are for the country and the nation to find a way out. There have been hardships, setbacks, generosity, tragedy, achievements and mistakes in the process, but all of these are essential processes on the road to progress and can be openly and honestly said at any time."

“But without the Burmese Workers’ brand, you are an anti-government armed group, rebels, an obstacle to national unity and development, despised by the international community, and destined to be wiped out. No one will sympathize with you.”

Upon hearing this, Peng Jiasheng and the others felt as if the clouds had parted and the fog had cleared, bringing them a sudden sense of clarity.

The examples of learning had been given, and Peng Jiasheng immediately understood, saying excitedly, "You mean learning..."

"Stop!" Wang Yaotang hurriedly stopped him. "It's enough to know those words; you mustn't say them, lest you face divine punishment!"

"What you need to do now is to systematically summarize the mistakes made over the years, including the reasons, the process, and the results. Don't embellish the facts; just state the facts and reason. Win over the majority of people at the grassroots level and expel that small group of selfish and self-serving bad elements from the organization. After that, you can make the meeting process public and hold a press conference. As long as it is correct, it should be done openly and honestly so that everyone knows."

The others at the table fell into deep thought. Theoretically, it sounded fine, but they had a feeling that things wouldn't go very smoothly.

Ultimately, the four armies are from different ethnic groups with their own interests. While their leaders may not lack ideals, they are no longer pure in their ideals. How could they possibly compare to those great men?

I cannot and dare not.

Peng Jiasheng pondered for a long time, but suddenly noticed that Wang Yaotang was drinking and eating by himself, completely at ease, clearly having already made up his mind.

He chuckled to himself, realizing he was getting old and couldn't understand or see things clearly. Rather than fighting amongst themselves, he decided to seek help from the outside. "Brother Wang must know our internal situation. We don't have the guts or the qualifications to compare ourselves with our predecessors. Just tell us all your solutions at once, and we'll listen attentively."

The others nodded in agreement, and Wang Yaotang shook his head and smiled as he put down his chopsticks.

"What can I do? I'm just learning from our predecessors. They've already shown us the answer." Wang Yaotang smiled and cupped his hands towards the sky. "Let's follow a path with Burmese characteristics...ism."

“Different countries have different national conditions, and blindly copying others will certainly lead to bad results.” Wang Yaotang tapped his wine glass. “First solve the immediate problem of survival, and then consider the issues of development and expansion. Don’t be overly ambitious. The main ethnic group in eastern and northern Myanmar is not the Burmese. A Burmese-centric system would be inappropriate. The four major ethnic groups each have their own living areas, so the first thing to consider in the system design is co-governance.”

“Co-governance?” Peng Jiasheng repeated softly.

“Yes, joint governance, like the cooperation between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party, setting aside different areas and choosing the same areas to govern first.” Wang Yaotang said with a smile: “For example, transportation, communication, education, and the economy. We gradually increase our understanding of each other and work together little by little. We can’t rush it.”

“Establish transportation departments within their respective controlled areas, open up transportation lines, and also jointly establish an airline. The Y-5 and Y-12 can be modified into good regional passenger planes with low operating costs. The same goes for communication. First, establish telephone communication to accelerate communication and exchange within the controlled areas. Then, economic, cultural, and educational exchanges will naturally follow.”

"Let's set aside the controversial topics of joint external cooperation and mutual support for now, and focus on these few areas of exchange. We can discuss other things later."

"The Burmese Workers' Association should still be retained. We should select someone who has no connection with the four parties to take the position. In terms of political structure, my opinion is that each party should act independently, reduce mutual political interference, and conduct more exchanges through economics and culture. As for the person sitting on the Burmese Workers' Association's throne, basic financial support should still be provided. The rest is up to him. If he still can't get things going and can't win over the four parties after being given the title and money, then he is hopeless and should be replaced in the next term."

"Let's develop for 20 or 30 years first and then see. With the integration of transportation, communication, economy and culture, we will eventually become inseparable."

"Development can solve all problems; all problems are caused by stagnation in development."

"Let time solve the problem. The world is developing so fast these days. If you look back in ten or eight years, the problems that are troubling you now will seem ridiculous."

"Ten years ago, my hometown was like a place where many people struggled to make ends meet and couldn't even eat a bite of meat all year round. Now, food is no longer a problem."

In short: Set aside disputes and pursue common development!

"Great, that's very well said!" Peng Jiasheng clapped his hands vigorously, his eyes sparkling with excitement.

The others felt the same way; Wang Yaotang's words stirred their emotions, and they suddenly felt that their future was bright again.

“But specifically, let me raise a question, such as transportation. Eastern and northern Myanmar are vast mountainous and plateau areas. There’s no money to build roads!” Luo Xinghan suddenly said.

He is not a member of the Burmese Workers' Party; he betrayed Peng Jiasheng and surrendered to the Burmese military government. Now he is simply a local armed force.

“Old Luo, the entanglement between you and me is too deep. The military government won’t give you any room for advancement,” Wang Yaotang suddenly said.

"Ah, this..."

"No need to rush, just wait and see. If the Burmese workers replace the generators, you can go back too. Nobody will mind." Wang Yaotang smiled and gestured with his lips. "As for what you said about not having money..."

Wang Yaotang glanced at him with a hint of disdain. Jing Dong was now successful, and he was afraid that his poor relatives would come and take advantage of him.

"Eat only what you can handle. If you can't afford asphalt, build cement. If you can't afford cement, build sand. If all else fails, build a dirt road. Explosives only cost a few dollars, and manpower is cheap. If you can't move vehicles at first, use horses and mules. Take it one step at a time. What's the rush?"

"I already said that each of you should do your own thing, and I didn't ask you all to build to the same specifications."

"There's no need to worry about who will suffer losses or who will gain advantages. The people aren't stupid. There will be a clear difference in the economy when the officials in a region govern diligently. The natural siphon effect will attract a large number of people from backward areas to develop areas. If you don't want to become someone else's foil, you must seek development. Otherwise, in ten or twenty years, you'll be overthrown by your own people."

"Brother Lin Mingxian, a lot of people have been flocking to his Jingdong area from your controlled zone these past two years, haven't they?"

“That’s right!” Lin Mingxian nodded emphatically.

This complaint only made Peng Jiasheng and Luo Xinghan very pleased.

"Development is the only way forward!" Wang Yaotang declared decisively.

"Thank you so much, Brother Wang. You are the guiding light for us Burmese workers. If it weren't for your efforts in turning the tide, the Burmese workers would have been finished. I think this meeting can definitely be called an aircraft carrier meeting!" Peng Jiasheng said with a smile.

"No, no, you flatter me too much." Wang Yaotang pursed his lips, but finally couldn't help but burst into laughter.

What does it mean to have foresight?
The others also felt a weight lifted from their hearts, and they showered Wang Yaotang with praise, raising their glasses to toast him. For a moment, the aircraft carrier deck was filled with a joyful atmosphere… (End of Chapter)