What the hell is a private enterprise?

Chapter 147 We Are Just That Capable

Tang Wen, Lao Zhang, Yang Shengli and Lin Qi sat around the table, looking at each other in silence.

Finally, the three of them looked at Tang Wen. The latter could not bear the pressure of the three gazes, so he slowly spoke:
"First, it's possible that the battleship is the Yamato, but it's unlikely that it is the Yamato."

Old Zhang glanced at me with a look that said, "Are you taking me for a fool?"

Tang Wen continued calmly:
"Half a century ago, the Yamato sank and broke into three parts. Due to civil unrest in Japan, the US military did not salvage it. This created an opportunity for it to be secretly salvaged a year after the sinking and secretly sent to Southeast Asia by cargo ship.

At the same time, a group of ship engineers who were unwilling to face defeat also left. After receiving funding, they dismantled and mapped the sunken Yamato, and re-melted the armor steel and gun steel. It took them many years to secretly build a new Yamato, and the old Yamato was recycled as material.

So this battleship is both Yamato and not Yamato. Its overall technical level remains stuck in the 40s, but many new technologies were applied. It was built in dry dock for nearly 10 years and then stored for more than a decade, so the entire ship is in very good condition.

Before the three of them could interrupt him, Tang Wen quickly added:
"The location where the Yamato sank is no secret. You can explore the area where the incident occurred. Aside from a few scraps, the wreckage of the Yamato has long since disappeared."

This sentence silenced Yang Shengli, who was about to scold Tang Wen. The former was so sure in his words that it was unlikely that he was lying.

"But that's impossible!"

Lin Qi couldn't help but say:
"Every few years, many organizations and individuals go to the sinking site to commemorate it, and there are also divers going down there. What you said is not true."

"They're just some civilian organizations. It's not difficult to get rid of them. Confirming my claim only requires a few divers and a small boat. It's not difficult."

Tang Wen was not in a hurry.

"Incredible."

Old Zhang had already confirmed in his heart that Tang Wen was not lying, but this fact still overturned his cognition.

If the wreckage of the Yamato has not been found, it at least means that it has been secretly salvaged a long time ago, which has almost deceived all naval experts and enthusiasts.

Before Japan's defeat, a large number of elite talents did flee. If Yujiro Taguchi was one of the descendants of those people, it would make sense.

He did not doubt the influence of the Chinese in Southeast Asia. Half a century ago, there were not so many countries there, so it was not an exaggeration to say that they were local tyrants. It was also normal for them to accept the industrial heritage left by the British and Japanese.

Moreover, the situation at that time was chaotic and the specific history could not be investigated at all.

The three of them were silent for a while, and finally reluctantly accepted this bizarre statement.

However, Lynch suddenly asked:
"why?"

Why do this? Why do these super battleships that have been kept secret for many years have to be returned to the country.

Tang Wen leaned back, squinted his eyes and said:
"Of course we need help. These warships are already outdated and have no use left in the area. Only the mainland can potentially turn them into treasure. The organization hopes that, considering these supplies, you will be able to lend a hand."

Lao Zhang: "What kind of help?"

"I can only tell you this."

Tang Wen shut up. A few seconds later, Yang Shengli and Lin Qi stood up and left the room. Only then did he speak again, and his words were shocking:

"Western capital groups plan to take advantage of Hong Kong's return next year to launch a financial harvest across East Asia, attacking local currencies and crippling financial systems. Currently, their primary target is Siam, and the order of the others is unknown.

We believe a global financial crisis will erupt, severely damaging the entire Southeast Asian economy and causing a social depression. Countless businesses and factories will close down, and mainland China will not be immune."

These plain words sounded frightening to Old Zhang, as if he had already seen the terrible scene of large-scale unemployment of workers and currency devaluation.

What’s even more terrifying is that this is not groundless.

The return of one of the Four Asian Tigers signifies a transfer of power within an international financial hub, bringing turmoil and stock market instability – an opportunity for financial giants to seize the spoils. How prosperous is Hong Kong's economy now? Who wouldn't want to grab a piece of the action while it's stable?
Visionaries in the country had long warned of this, but it was still unclear how it would happen.

What Tang Wen said was so real, as if it was about to happen.

Lao Zhang: "'Dragon Group' has huge capital and enormous hidden technological capabilities. Why not join them?"

"Non-my family, its heart must be different."

After Tang Wen finished these eight words, he added:
"When the Nanyang economy was in turmoil, Chinese businessmen without backing were just a bunch of fat meat."

Old Zhang understood immediately.

He knew what the ending would be without Tang Wen saying anything more.

However, if one wants to support overseas Chinese thousands of miles away, eloquence is useless. Only the navy, only the fleet, and only if the navy's hand can be extended one day can those restless villains be deterred.

Just like the warship evacuation operation more than a decade later, as long as the warship docked, local compatriots could be safely escorted out of the country.

Got it, got it all.

A trace of guilt flashed through Old Zhang's heart. From a hundred years ago to now, Nanyang has given great support to the Central Plains, but he has been unable to give anything in return and still needs their help.

So many warships were secretly transported back from Southeast Asia so that they could return to their homeland openly one day.

Old Zhang stood up quickly, took off his hat and said:

"We are the ones who have let down the patriots. Please express my humble apologies on my behalf."

Tang Wen quickly stood up and bowed his head in greeting.

The knot in Lao Zhang's heart was completely untied, and he finally understood how to treat Gai Jin.

We must help you with this! We can't just sit back and do nothing!
When Yang Shengli and Lin Qi entered the room again, they heard Lao Zhang take the initiative to mention:

"I think Director Yang should help us a little longer. If you have any questions, you can report them to your superiors immediately. But I really trouble you now."

Yang Shengli didn't know what Tang Wen said to him, and pointed at himself and said with a look of confusion:
"Look at my shipyard, it's in the middle of the river. Where did they suddenly get a battleship like this, a World War II antique at that?"

Lao Zhang shook his hand sincerely:

"You've already built a small aircraft carrier, so what if you have one more battleship? Doesn't that show off your ability?"

Tang Wen also spoke at the right time:

"To express our apology, Gaijin is willing to enter into friendly cooperation with your company. We will do our best to help you. Just ask and we will not refuse."

Yang Shengli: "This, this..."

Lao Zhang: "For future warship orders, Huangpu Shipyard's bidding weight will also be given priority."

"That's no problem."

Yang Shengli's expression changed, and he patted his chest and said:
"Our Huangpu Shipyard... is just that capable!"

(End of this chapter)