What the hell is a private enterprise?

Chapter 342 Accomplice (7600 monthly votes in April)

"It seems our little one has gotten into a bit of trouble."

Brest pushed open the door and found Tom with great interest:
"It's time for our West Pacific team to get to work. How can we give them a push? Should we add some fun for them?"

Because it involved military helicopters, the US received the news very quickly.

"Although Gaijin's main business is replicating artillery warships, it seems they have indeed put some real skill into it... Let's proceed according to the normal procedures."

Tom seemed a little distracted, and Brest looked dejected as well.
"Okay, okay, let's go through the normal procedure then."

The normal procedure is to refrain from substantive intervention, instead mobilizing the media and willing public figures to create chaos, using cost-effective public opinion tactics to muddy the waters and interfere with perceptions.

In their view, this was just a basic operation, something that could be left to subordinates.

Because they have more important things to worry about now:
Johnson is going crazy!

The Clover ultimately rescued only 170 survivors; the rest perished at the bottom of the sea due to the suddenness of the incident.

Although the passengers on board were mostly artists, they had connections with many high-ranking officials, which led to an extremely tough stance from Congress. Many people demanded a thorough investigation and revenge.

Meanwhile, on Florida beaches and off the coast, an increasing number of people and organizations have been holding memorial services, putting immense pressure on the authorities.

The Imperial Navy was almost frantically conducting anti-submarine warfare in all directions, and almost every short period of time, we would hear that another submarine had been sunk. Of course, the "real culprit" who sank the Clover had long been brought to justice.

Everything seemed to be going according to Johnson's wishes. Congress was rapidly increasing manpower and supplies for the Antarctic expedition, while designating the Second Fleet as an "evil organization" and elevating it to a strategic objective.

However, behind this seemingly well-controlled development, the Imperial Navy was frantically trying to cover it up:
—Heaven knows how many people were shocked by the sinking of the Seawolf.

Regardless of how one tries to excuse it with "accident," "mistake," or "sneak attack," the fact that the world's most advanced submarine, which was not yet fully in service, was taken down by a 50-year-old vessel in a fair 1v1 duel, with the latter's fate still unknown, undoubtedly raises doubts about whether the Seawolf is truly as powerful as claimed.

Johnson certainly had an explanation:

He had the black box data deciphered immediately, proving that the "C target" was not a normal U-boat and believed it to be an advanced nuclear submarine that was deliberately disguised.

However, this brings another problem:
The Seawolf is the culmination of half a century of Imperial technology. Designed during the most frenzied 80s, it is a weapon of mass destruction that combines the best of human technology and cost so much money that even the Empire itself could hardly afford it. Its performance is almost excessive.

The Second Fleet, having lurked in some corner for decades, relied on some ancient technology to create a U-shaped device by hand, yet it was still considered comparable?

The village's famous landlord spent all his wealth to carve a pair of exquisite lions; how could they be outdone by a beggar in the gutter?
If the "C Target" technology was outdated, then the fall of the Seawolf meant that the Imperial Navy had a major problem, unable to win even with advanced equipment;

If the "C target" is said to be technologically advanced, then the military-industrial complex is just wasting time and using counterfeit products to fool the budget!

Someone has to take the blame. Johnson is in a high position with a powerful background and has connections with many bigwigs.
The Seawolf was designed and manufactured by General Electric Boat, a super giant that has been around for 98 years and has powerful backers. Of course, they would never admit that there was a problem with their shipbuilding.

The sinking of the Seawolf is still being kept under tight wraps, with not a single detail leaked out, and even most people within the Federation are unaware of it.

Johnson is negotiating with General Electric Boat in hopes of "properly dividing responsibilities".

The underlying power struggles and exchanges of interests were of unimaginable magnitude, causing widespread anxiety within the Imperial Navy.

Regardless of the outcome, a group of people will inevitably be forced out, and everyone is now trying to protect themselves.

Even the wreckage of the Seawolf was only salvaged in small fragments for research, which shows that it was a complete hot potato.

Tom and Brest were also affected and had to worry about the future.

However, at this moment, some very interesting news came from the European region.

"According to precise surveys, the wreckage of the Bismarck has disappeared."

When the IAA agent relayed the message, both of them were a little surprised.

Brest:

"Uh, we confirmed this last December. Are you new here?" "No, no, I mean the real Bismarck wreckage is gone."

The agent explained:
"Not the one in the Atlantic, but... well, it's also in the Atlantic, but the one we normally understand, the wreckage of the first Bismarck."

Local enthusiasts organized a search and rescue operation at the site of the sunken ship, only to find that the item had vanished and no salvage company had attempted to retrieve it.

"..."

Brest and Tom looked at each other, and after a long while, Tom finally asked:

“I seem to recall that an expedition team went there to take photos eight or nine years ago.”

Agent: "That's right, that one. They even found the wreckage of the torpedo that hit the Bismarck, but the ship itself is gone."

Brest: "What does this have to do with the Second Fleet? Maybe those fanatics took it back as a souvenir, and you know those people have their reasons for doing so."

However, Tom fell into deep thought.

Seeing this, Brest frowned, and after a long while, he realized something.

They both looked up at the same time and saw that the other was thinking the same thing.

The wreckage of the Bismarck disappeared, and the Bismarck of the Second Fleet appeared;

The Yamato has also appeared. Are the wreckage of the Yamato still there? Is there any connection between them?
After all, the fact that the University of Tokyo suddenly acquired a battleship is itself very suspicious.

……

The day after the "Cui the Rat Smuggling Case" was solved, Gai Jin followed up with a statement published in the newspaper:
Because it violated the spirit of the lease agreement, the contract was terminated, the vessel was recovered, and fines were pursued. We firmly support cracking down on smuggling.

And then... it's gone.

The older woman was anxiously urging Tang Wen to hurry up, but he simply disappeared and left the task to his subordinates.

Hu Li nodded in agreement no matter what the other party said, but at the last minute she said that she was just a financial officer and had no right to make decisions.

The former went to Gao Yuliang for mediation, and Gao's response was:

"What does the fact that this kitchen knife injured someone have to do with the blacksmith?"

"But he was selling warships, murder weapons!"

"Don't talk nonsense. The Dongjiang type is a model of advanced fishing vessels registered locally, and it has a license!"

"This is an international dispute, and the trade delegation can't buy anything in South Korea right now!"

"You can't buy domestically developed ones... You mean color TVs? Gai Jingang bought a vacuum tube factory in Shanghai that also makes picture tubes. Let me introduce you to it."

Seeing that she couldn't get any information out of Gao Yuliang, a seasoned veteran, and that Tang Wen couldn't find anyone, the old lady could only leave in silence.

However, not long after she left, public opinion once again put Tang Wen in the spotlight.

When official accusations from South Korean media and voices from foreign media entered China, they were amplified a thousandfold.

Because Tang Wen's reputation far surpassed that of a mere "Cui the Rat," the protagonist of the incident immediately shifted from the smuggler to Gai Jin himself.

The South Korean media confidently claimed that Gaikin was selling warships to civilians, which was a real arms sale and was wantonly infringing on the maritime interests of the surrounding area.

He is not only a wealthy man, but also an accomplice who condones the harm to ordinary fishermen!

(End of this chapter)