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

No wonder the higher-ups hesitated; those Russians really have something special!

Although the Far East Fleet hasn't updated its equipment in a very long time, some of its current equipment is still highly desirable.

The Minsk and Novorossiysk are Kiev-class aircraft-carrying cruisers deployed at the Golden Horn Bay base near Vladivostok and belonging to the 173rd Naval Brigade.

满载排水41000吨，长273米，武器配备8枚 P-500玄武岩反舰导弹、2座双联 9K33 SA-N-4防空导弹（40枚）、2座五联 533mm鱼雷发射管、1座双联 RBU-6000反潜火箭、2座 AK-726型 76mm舰炮、8座 AK-630M近防炮、

分别是1978和1982年服役，同时能搭载14架垂直起降战机雅克- 38、18架卡- 27反潜直升机。

One nuclear-powered guided-missile cruiser is also deployed in Vladivostok and belongs to the 100th Guided-Missile Cruiser Division.

Frunze: 25860 tons full load, 250.1 meters long, carrying 20 P-700 Granit anti-ship missiles, 12 SA-N-6 long-range air defense missiles (96 missiles), 2 SA-N-4 short-range air defense missiles (40 missiles), 6 CADS-N-1 close-in weapon systems (including 30mm guns + SA-N-11 missiles), 1 twin AK-130 130mm naval gun, 1 five-tube 533mm torpedo launcher, 2 RBU-1000 anti-submarine rockets, and 3 Ka-27 helicopters.

The conventionally powered missile cruiser (Slava-class), Varyag, displaces 11490 tons fully loaded and is 186.4 meters long. It carries 16 P-500 Basalt anti-ship missiles, 8 SA-N-6 long-range air defense missile launchers (64 missiles), 2 twin-mounted SA-N-4 short-range air defense missile launchers (40 missiles), 1 twin-mounted AK-130 130mm naval gun, 6 AK-630M close-in weapon systems, 2 five-cell 533mm torpedo tubes, 2 RBU-6000 anti-submarine rocket launchers, and 1 Ka-27 helicopter.

The Varyag has already arrived in Dalian. It was the first ship to escort important equipment across the Korean Strait. With this level of firepower, the US really doesn't dare to take any real action.

Others include:

大型反潜舰：1134A型、1134B型，共计6艘，满载7700/9700，搭载玄武岩反舰导弹、SA-N-3防空导弹、SA-N-4防空导弹等……

Two Type 956 modern guided-missile destroyers, each with a full load displacement of 7940 tons and a length of 156.5 meters.

The Udaloy-class large anti-submarine destroyers, Type 1155, consist of four ships, each with a full load displacement of 8500 tons and a length of 163.5 meters.

Strategic missile nuclear submarines (SSBN): Delta III and IV class, a total of 4 ships, carrying 16 R-29R submarine-launched ballistic missiles with a range of 6500 km.

28 attack nuclear submarines.

There are 16 conventional submarines.

Other types of ships, including missile frigates, tank landing ships, and large supply ships, number as many as 47.

After all, it's a Far East Fleet with a full complement of 15 men, and its assets are just too damn rich!

Even back in my hometown, I felt I couldn't afford to raise them properly, so I could only pick and choose the good stuff to bring back; I didn't want the ordinary stuff at all.

Of course, Wang Yaotang didn't know whether the various fleets below thought the same way.

Considering the warships' maintenance, dismantling and training, deployment, and... future feelings towards Russia, while also containing the US and Japan, after some discussion, the warships ultimately decided to be acquired were:

The Novorossiysk, a Kiev-class aircraft-carrying cruiser launched in 1982.

Let's leave the other ship, the Minsk, aside.

On the one hand, there is no immediate plan to develop vertical takeoff and landing fighter jets, and on the other hand, there is no need for external combat operations; the current mission is simply to ensure maritime security.

The nuclear-powered missile cruiser 'Frunze', the largest and most heavily armed cruiser, is definitely a must-have.

The Varyag has already arrived in Dalian; there's no reason to return it under any circumstances.

Considering the frequent harassment from US warships and underwater detectors, large anti-submarine ships are definitely needed; two Type 1134B ships would be sufficient.

One Type 956 modern guided-missile destroyer, primarily used for research.

Two large anti-submarine destroyers of the Type 1155 class are shared equally with Russia. Anti-submarine warfare is very important.

One strategic missile nuclear submarine, the most advanced Delta IV class. Huludao can now build nuclear submarines. The Type 092 ballistic missile nuclear submarine entered service in 83. Of course, the technology is indeed somewhat inferior, so the research significance of Delta is greater than its practical significance.

The order for attack submarines includes one Type 949 cruise missile nuclear submarine and one Type 971 submarine. Huludao is capable of building the "Han" class submarine, which is also under research.

Conventional submarines don't need it at all.

However, the tank landing ship 'Ivan Rogov-class', with a full load displacement of 14060 tons, can carry 522 soldiers, 20 tanks, and 4 landing craft. I won't say who it is!

Three large supply ships, the Berezin-class... well, we got two of them. The Shanghai shipyard only got one of them, which is really embarrassing.

This is all I'm taking. I've left most of my wealth for your Far East Fleet. How about that, you Russian Emperor? Aren't you going to thank me?
Frankly speaking, even if Russia kept these, it couldn't afford to support them all; most of them ended up in the port.

……

Wang Yaotang left, leaving with instructions to keep a low profile...

They left with great ease, with great joy, with great...

Awesome!
To be honest, this operation in the Far East not only failed to make money, but also cost more than $2 million. The purchase of so many bulk materials all cost money!

This doesn't even include the numerous warships, aircraft, missiles, and so on. Khvatov and Sidorov wouldn't just send over these advanced equipment for nothing.

If it were just about emptying the factories in the Far East, it could be called 'privatization,' since everyone does it that way. Even if you just take them out of the country, having so much advanced equipment is undeniably treason.

It involves taking risks!

Wang Yaotang talked with them for a long time, and finally the price of the equipment was set at 3.5 million US dollars.

Don't be fooled by the fact that the purchase of the 'aircraft carrier' didn't cost much; that's because it was just an empty hull, sold as scrap metal. This one is completely intact, with all its missiles still inside.

Of course, while it was said to be $3.5 million, the actual amount given was not that much.

Some of the cash was given to high-ranking officers like Khvatov and Sidorov who fled with him, some to mid-level officers who remained in the Far East, and some was directly converted into supplies to support the soldiers of the Far East Fleet.

This portion accounts for as much as 4%!
The Russian army is completely out of control. If the higher-ups really refuse to provide any assistance and disregard their lives, a mutiny is truly imminent!
Forty percent is quite a lot, at least exceeding that of my Great Qing Dynasty...

Of course, this wouldn't have been possible without Wang Yaotang's insistence; otherwise, it would have been at most 3%.

Wang Yaotang never imagined that one day he would be fighting for the interests of soldiers from another country... It's just outrageous!

Those damn Russian high command members are truly ruthless; they only planned to leave 2% for those below them from the start.

Khvatov and his group felt that since they had already fled, keeping 2% ​​was already a good thing. Those who stayed felt that the responsibility could be shifted to the fleeing higher-ups, and 2% was barely enough. They could continue to follow Wang Yaotang in the oil and timber business, as long as they didn't starve.

Wang Yaotang was shocked by their attitude towards doing things. They were even more ruthless than the Qing Dynasty. None of them were innocent in the reason why the Russians fell!

They should all be shot!

Forty percent, no less. In case of a mutiny or something similar, Wang Yaotang was afraid of getting himself splattered with blood.

This isn't a one-off deal; there are many more business opportunities with Russia to pursue. We can't push things too far.

Today I'm fighting for the soldiers' interests, and later I'll have something to say to the Emperor. It wasn't me who persuaded Khvatov and the others to betray the country; they forced me to do it!
I just don't want to see people starving to death in the Far East!
What did I do wrong?!

What does it mean to embody the spirit of internationalism?
Wang Yaotang, the Sage of the Far East!
Regardless of whether it's considered sacred or not, Wang Yaotang also wants to take this opportunity to upgrade his fleet.

One Venom Spider 3 can't meet Wang Yaotang's needs. After all, this thing only has a displacement of 500 tons, so it can't carry out long-range missions, let alone operate for a long time without resupply. It's hard to meet Wang Yaotang's future needs to dominate the South China Sea.

Wang Yaotang definitely couldn't handle those 10,000-ton-class missile cruisers. This time he could find skilled sailors, but he really couldn't afford to maintain them.

Putting aside other things, the power system consists of wear parts, and once they break, there's really nowhere to replace them. The same goes for electronic equipment such as radar.

This isn't something that can be solved by simply relocating shipyards from the Far East; it's a problem with the industrial system.

But they can't afford to operate large cruisers, so they can still manage with smaller destroyers.

Before Wang Yaotang could even speak, Khvatov and Sidorov came to his door together.

After the usual pleasantries, Khvatov spoke first, "Comrade Wang, we all know you have a defense company with over 4000 employees, including the navy, army, and air force. Have you ever thought about upgrading your company's equipment?"

Wang Yaotang truly hadn't expected them to come to his door with this. In that instant, before he could even process what was going on in his mind, he instinctively shook his head and said, "No."

As soon as he finished speaking, Wang Yaotang tactfully sipped his tea, quickly organizing his thoughts. Although he still didn't understand what they meant by asking that question, he had already prepared his answer: "Upgrading equipment is free!"

"You asked me for $1000 million for just one Venom Spider 3? Of course, I know that price is very reasonable, but buying is one thing, maintaining is another. The annual maintenance cost is as high as $200 million, but in actual use it won't be better than the 0 we're using now. After all, my opponents in Southeast Asia are being praised as third-tier countries." "Don't look down on my aircraft carrier just because it's a bankrupt version and my planes are merely civilian conversions. But as long as my warships are the most advanced in China, that's enough. I'm going to roam the seas; I'm not going to launch amphibious landings to occupy their land."

“The state and the individual are different. The state does not need to consider revenue and expenditure when it supports the army, but I do need to.”

Wang Yaotang spoke more and more fluently.

“No, no, no, my friend, listen to me. How can you be so sure that you’ll only be active in Southeast Asia in the future? Your business will inevitably expand to all parts of the world. There are still too many places in this world where wars are going on, and for the foreseeable future, at least for the next 30 years, wars will not stop. We are absolutely certain of this, and that’s what we’re doing!” Khvatov said loudly.

"So what?" Wang Yaotang shook his head. "Anyway, my Umbrella Corporation will never do business in North America and Europe. As for Africa and South America, my current equipment is sufficient."

"Oh, I see, hahaha, you're here to sell me equipment. NO, NO, NO, that's not a good idea. It's too expensive, you know? Not just the purchase price, but also the maintenance price. I'm using the Y-5 to fight drug traffickers and anti-government organizations. It only costs $8 to build. Even if the plane is shot down, I won't feel bad."

"Not to mention that the SAM-7's ability to strike propeller-driven aircraft is far less than that of an attack helicopter. For the company, we need to consider the cost of loss. We should first make one thing clear: we are here to make money, not to quell unrest."

"This..." Khvatov and the others looked at each other, not knowing what to say for a moment.

Before coming here, they were thinking of making a fortune from Wang Yaotang to ensure their future livelihood. Of course, that wasn't their main goal. What they really wanted was to use equipment as a starting point to acquire shares in Umbrella Corporation and recruit some of their trusted Russian elites into the company.

Betrayal... cough cough, it's leaving their homeland that makes them feel very insecure, no matter how eloquently Wang Yaotang talks.

It would be great if they could set up a defense company like Wang Yaotang, but they've inquired through various channels these past few days and it seems there's no possibility of that.

Wang Yaotang has completely ruined the environment!

Southeast Asian countries are now tightening their approval processes for security and defense companies. Even those with strong local connections are struggling to obtain approval, let alone outsiders.

There was no other way, so they could only turn their attention to the protection umbrella, but it was impossible for them to directly ask for shares. They were soldiers themselves, and naturally understood the sensitivity of their fellow soldiers in this regard.

So I thought of using equipment as bait...

Unexpectedly, Wang Yaotang didn't want it at all.

“Ahem, Comrade Wang, I think you’re jumping to conclusions too soon,” Sidorov said softly. “The world is constantly changing. Take North Africa as an example. We Russians have provided Libya with aid and arms sales on several occasions. They have a large amount of advanced Soviet-style equipment.”

"This kind of deal isn't isolated; France did it too!"

"Do you understand? If you continue using your current equipment, you'll suffer when expanding your business in Africa!"

"That would severely damage Umbrella's reputation, which is unacceptable for a defense company."

Wang Yaotang gradually understood their intentions, found it somewhat amusing, and his expression softened slightly.

Sidorov was overjoyed. After exchanging glances with the other two, they began to persuade him together.

What do you mean, this is the last chance? Once the Russian Empire stabilizes the situation in Moscow, there will be no more opportunities.

Claims that the US will definitely shift its focus from Russia to China, and that China, as an overseas proxy, will face immense pressure, and so on.

Wang Yaotang was gradually persuaded, but he still insisted on his claim that the maintenance costs were too high.

At this point, none of them had any intention of selling equipment.

Comrade Wang, Brother Wang, Uncle Wang, please, please have mercy and accept the equipment we brought!

Wang Yaotang sighed heavily, his face full of difficulty, "You've really put me in a terrible situation!"

"Let me think about it. I definitely don't want those large pieces of equipment. Don't even think about it."

The group breathed a heavy sigh of relief. Finally, they had accepted it!

Sovremenny-class guided-missile destroyers: Krivak-class (Type 1135), number 33.

Full load displacement: 3650 tons, speed: 32 knots, equipped with 4 SS-N-25 anti-ship missiles, 2 twin-mounted SA-N-4 anti-aircraft missiles (40 missiles), 1 AK-726 76mm naval gun, 2 AK-630M close-in weapon systems, 2 five-tube 533mm torpedo tubes, and 1 RBU-6000 anti-submarine rocket.

A multi-role warship capable of anti-ship, air defense, and anti-submarine warfare, it is the perfect replacement for the Type 05 as the core of the fleet!

With four Venom Spider 3s, you can dominate the South China Sea and find out who's the boss!

Wang Yaotang: Thank you for your support from our friends in the Far East!
蟾蜍级坦克登陆舰：满载排水4080吨，速度17.5节，搭载1座双联 SA-N-5防空导弹、1座 AK-726型 76mm舰炮。

It can carry 10 tanks and 340 soldiers.

"Island occupation and amphibious landing operations require ships! With tank landing ships, the deterrent effect will be even greater," Khvatov shouted.

Wang Yaotang: Okay, I'll give you face.

别烈津河级大型补给舰：满载排水36000吨，速度22节，2座双联 AK-726型76mm舰炮、4座 AK-630M近防炮。

Supply capacity: 16000 tons of fuel, 400 tons of ammunition, and 250 tons of supplies.

There are only 3 ships in total.

"Considering that neither destroyers nor Tarantulas have the capability for long-range operations and can only sustain themselves for a maximum of one week, supply ships are essential and can greatly increase the operational range, duration, and intensity of operations!" Sidorov said.

Wang Yaotang: You guys are trying to get me into trouble!

"submarine……"

"No!" Wang Yaotang waved his hand.

"Helicopters are really necessary. Although propeller planes have lower terrain requirements, they still have requirements. In many situations, helicopters are the only option. For example, when a city is attacked and needs support or evacuation, helicopters are essential for transportation, arming, and anti-submarine warfare."

Wang Yaotang: Too expensive, too expensive!
"Tanks, tanks, the kings of land warfare. We have a few of the best-equipped T-80s. There will definitely be a need for land warfare in the future. It's better to be prepared."

"Don't go too far!"

"Free, free."

"And infantry fighting vehicles, back in the 90s, of course it's mechanized warfare, the BMP-2 wheeled infantry fighting vehicle, the BTR-80 wheeled armored personnel carrier, the MT-LB multi-purpose tracked armored personnel carrier, the core equipment of mechanized infantry..."

"No, no, I'm a defense company, do you really think I'm the military?!"

“Here’s what we’re doing. There are a lot of T-64s in the warehouse. Let’s keep a few, how about 500? Even if you don’t like them, you can sell them to make money. If you don’t like them, Shan State might, Aceh militants might, Africans might, and South Americans might!”

“You, 500 vehicles? Are you crazy? Where am I supposed to put them? Are you going to ship them all to Hong Kong? The Governor of Hong Kong will think I’m going to rebel. What if he surrenders?” Wang Yaotang said, both amused and exasperated.

"It's alright, we'll leave it in Vladivostok for now, and find another place later. We're all family here."

"I, you, this, sigh..." Wang Yaotang sighed heavily.

“Your men might not be familiar with this equipment. Don’t worry, we have plenty of men, the most elite soldiers in the Far East, 500 men, how about that?” Khvatov said with a grin.

"Huh?" Wang Yaotang tilted his head and looked over. "Khvatov, I considered you guys friends, and you're trying to stage a coup for me, aren't you?"

"How can it be!"

"Absolutely not!"

"We are really thinking about the protection umbrella."

"You believe us!" The three of them began to swear oaths.

Wang Yaotang remained silent, simply watching the three of them, which unusually startled them.

After a long pause, Wang Yaotang said in a deep voice, "300 people, and their families must be arranged to stay in the country."

"Phew, no problem!" Khvatov shouted. (End of Chapter)