What the hell is a private enterprise?

Chapter 241 Burning
Zhao Yaohua gave a thumbs up; it was the first time he had ever seen someone who could speak of the misuse of public resources in such a refreshing and unconventional way.

"So how many jets do you ultimately plan to use?"

"Including spare parts, we need at least forty aircraft, otherwise the tickets will be too few and tourists won't be satisfied."

Zhao Yaohua was speechless for a moment, but then realized that this number was exactly the maximum number that Super Yorktown could accommodate.

一架二手的A4天鹰国际价格也要150到180万美元，F11指定更贵，也就是说至少投入6000万美元，算上备件很可能高达8000万美元左右？！

Rounding it up or down, it's six or seven hundred million RMB?
Zhao Yaohua became excited and wished he could immediately hug Tang Wen's leg.

The latter subconsciously leaned back when he saw the sudden enthusiasm in the other person's eyes. "Such a beautiful ship girl is right next to me, why are you staring at me?"
"Mr. Tang, you're getting too attached to appearances!"

"what?"

"Second-hand aircraft are unsafe. The A4 and F11 are ancient and dilapidated. How can they be worthy of your noble status? High-intensity use in scenic areas is also unsafe!"

"no……"

"You're being ripped off by buying this junk. Those bright green dollars are just being given to foreigners like that—it's a disgrace!"

"I happen to have a really good project here, comparable to a small F14, the same price, newer and more powerful, absolutely crushing those two old relics."

Immediately afterwards, a high-definition, exquisitely detailed portrait of a single-engine, variable-sweep wing fighter with an ventral air intake appeared before Tang Wen, almost as if it were missing the 'ding-ding~ ding↑ding↓' sound effect.

Tang Wen glanced at it and said, feigning ignorance:

"Isn't that a MiG-23?"

Zhao Yaohua immediately became anxious: "This is not a MiG-23, it's a Q-6, an advanced variable-sweep wing multi-role fighter independently developed by our Hongdu Institute. It has excellent high and low speed performance, making it particularly suitable for flight demonstrations and aircraft carrier take-off and landing. It also takes up little space. Now, with just a small amount of funding, it can be delivered to you very soon!"

Tang Wen's eyelids twitched. He didn't want to step into this huge pit. In the time it would take to wait for the Q6, he might have already gotten his hands on the F-14.

Even if we really had to invest, it would be better to give it to Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group to accelerate the development of the J-10 carrier-based version, or even subsidize Shenyang Aircraft Corporation to produce the Su-27 domestically.

Seeing that Tang Wen wouldn't fall for the trick, Zhao Yaohua had no choice but to accept the task of modifying the A4, and also asked how to send the prototype to Hongdu Institute.

Tang Wen thought for a moment and said, "I don't have any pilots here who can fly. You can come to Dawan for surveying."

"No, no, this is a systematic project that requires a lot of specialized equipment and personnel. It would be best to send it to Hongdu Institute. Let's go by water or rail. Let's go by rail. We should be able to coordinate a wagon that can fit it after it's been disassembled."

……

After seeing Zhao Yaohua off, Tang Wen stared at the map and slowly pondered his recent arrangements. His gaze shifted between Antarctica and the Pacific Ocean before finally settling back on the Spratly Islands.

I almost forgot, there's also a group of monkeys on Ren'ai Reef.

While leaving them there to slowly work on it would be a good option, the landing ship would be somewhat in the way of the soon-to-be-built Gongzhen Port.

Tang Wen turned on the TV and searched for the international channel for a long time, intending to see what kind of trouble Luzon had been causing lately.

Nowadays, television is the most cutting-edge and fastest channel for obtaining information.

Seeing that he was engrossed in watching, the ship girl decided to make him something to drink and curiously opened a can of malted milk powder.

She dipped a little on her fingertip and put it in her mouth; it had a slight milky taste.

A few minutes later, Tang Wen naturally took the cup, took a sip, and realized that it was actually milk tea.
Although it tastes a bit like instant milk tea, it is indeed milk tea.

Tang Wen looked at her in surprise and asked, "Isn't it just black tea? Where did this come from... is it malted milk powder?"

The ship girl nodded:
"There's no fresh milk available right now, Commander. It's 1 p.m., so you can take a break." Tang Wen hadn't expected that malted milk powder could be developed into this channel, but he gained a new understanding of Jane. Only a legendary captain could have such a high degree of freedom.

"Thank you. Why don't you sit down and watch some TV too?"

So the ship girl also held a cup of malted milk tea and obediently accompanied him as he flipped through TV programs.

About half an hour later, Tang Wen found the information he wanted:

"...The person in charge, Suha, responded to the issue of the withdrawal of the Sierra Madre, stating that the relevant personnel would not be withdrawn, and claimed that Gekin Company had disrupted the safe operations of local fishermen, and that the four de facto warships posed a serious security threat, which was an intolerable provocation..."

The ship girl suddenly couldn't hear anything, and looked at Tang Wen with the spoon in her mouth.

He pressed the mute button, not wanting to listen anymore.

……

"Put the water here, the food here... Hey, who put the oil drum here? Do you guys want to die?!"

Another half month has passed, and Marino looks a little rounder than before.

It wasn't that the food had improved, but rather that no more boats were coming to spray water at them every day.

Although the four destroyers would take turns monitoring the area from time to time, they would occasionally feed the ships instant noodles or sausages, and the two sides seemed to have become tolerant friends.

Although Suha knew these guys were not loyal at all, he still used the combination of force and dollars, and at least in the satellite phone calls they resumed their normal superior-subordinate relationship.

My former boss announced back home yesterday that the Sierra Madre had once again held its ground, marking another great victory for Luzon.

Less than an hour after hearing the news on the radio, Tang Wen called his cell phone.

After a period of relative calm for more than half a month, it's time to get back to work.

Compared to feigning illness last time, this time it was much more dangerous. Marino kept a close eye on the actions of each sailor, fearing that some fool might not value his life.

Geigin was getting tired of them and was ready to let the Sierra Madre make the most of its remaining life.

Literally, residual heat.

They intend to burn down the gains that Commissioner Smith had obtained through the hook with a raging fire.

Arson and leaks are extremely dangerous for ships, and Marino didn't really want to do them.

But if he didn't do it, he believed the fire would still happen "accidentally" as usual, so it was more reliable to do it himself.

The Sierra Madre is, after all, a military-grade landing ship, so it has protective measures in place. Perhaps it should be able to control the fire?

Tang Wen said he had already found a way out for them, and they would still be able to live a life of luxury for the rest of their lives. Marino had no choice but to believe it, as it was much better than playing the role of a fortress defender here.

The fire was started at the upper bow, avoiding the important stern engine room and bottom oil tanks. Marino checked every fire door and finally brought the remaining valuable supplies and crew to the deck, where they were transferred to the lifeboats hanging on the side.

It's afternoon now, there are no flight paths nearby, and no planes will be passing by.

The deck reeked of tung oil and kerosene, enough to start a fierce fire.

Marino nudged his subordinate, who was somewhat reluctant, but then turned to see the late-arriving New Wind, which was silently watching everything aboard the Madrei Mountain from a distance.

The designated sailor gritted his teeth, mustered his courage, lit a section of rope with a lighter, and then threw it forcefully into the cabin.

(End of this chapter)