What the hell is a private enterprise?

Chapter 462 The Ladder Project
"No, I don't think so."

Halsey stood up and drew a circle on an open map of Antarctic exploration:

"Are you saying that we should build a Maginot Line on a continuous, flat plain with no rivers or natural barriers?"
This would cost more than maintaining 100 carrier strike groups, and any fortified position can be breached. But if we control a mobile fleet, its very existence creates unease—that's what makes a truly unsinkable position!

Yamamoto Takano, standing to the side, nodded vigorously:
"This time, we don't even have a base camp. Flexibility is the primary goal. The land should be a trap for the enemy, not a hindrance to our hands and feet."

The two reached a complete consensus on opposing Lütjens, and Saxony and the ship girl also nodded slightly, clearly agreeing with prioritizing the fleet.

The conservative approach was rejected.

Tang Wen recognized the limitations of land warfare, but immediately engaging in unrestricted naval warfare also contradicted his objectives. Ultimately, he devised his own solution:
"The facilities on shore will be built, but it's just a pretense."

He cleared his throat, and his first words revealed his different nature:

"The main force guarding Antarctica should still be the air force. We already have one aircraft spawn point, and we should expand it to about 20 next."

All aircraft spawn points are activated in multiples, using pseudo-random numbers. These spawn points gradually expand outwards from the South Pole, establishing layered patrol zones to achieve an air defense perimeter covering a 1000-kilometer radius, driving away any aircraft attempting to enter!

The aircraft currently patrolling Antarctica actually rely on two bugs. In East Antarctica, about 600 kilometers from the South Pole, Tang Wen used the first bug to force a small port into a deep abyss of a glacial crevasse, and then stuffed a low-level aircraft carrier into it.

The second bug is that the aircraft can avoid all obstacles during the takeoff phase from the warship, performing incredible super-maneuverability until it reaches level flight, and the same applies to landing.

The underground port is hidden between two super-large glacial plates, extending hundreds of meters deep into the ground and only 5 to 20 meters wide. Every aircraft takes off from a low-level aircraft carrier and then emerges from the ground through the narrow gap.

When setting up buildings like ports, glaciers are considered water as well, so theoretically, it can be used as a spawn point for aircraft in any place in Antarctica, in any corner, or even tens or hundreds of meters underground, including ports and low-level aircraft carriers.

As long as a passage is left that allows the aircraft to emerge, the exterior can be easily disguised, making it difficult to be detected by surveillance.

Establishing an air patrol mechanism and defense perimeter is naturally to protect the "territory" of the lost empire; otherwise, it would be too fake to not care about this.

This is easy to understand, and everyone agrees.

Tang Wen: "After the air defense circle is established, the outer perimeter generally only takes the action of expulsion. The closer to the inside, the stricter the action. I call the 600-kilometer radius an absolute defense zone. We need to intercept it at all costs to create the illusion of protecting important targets inside."

On this basis, we will carefully arrange some surface camouflage buildings, such as anti-aircraft towers, and disguise them as important targets like airports and industrial areas. However, these should not be too obvious; they should be so subtle that the Empire has to work hard and painstakingly to detect even the slightest clue. Then…

"Encircle and attack reinforcements."

These words were spoken by Jean Bart. The ship girl was now fully in a state of war; her skin had somehow turned into a white naval uniform, and she gracefully crossed her legs, holding a pointer, leaning against the map table and pointing.
"To break through the inescapable net of disguised manned and unmanned combat aircraft, we must establish a base on the outskirts of Antarctica. During this period, our fleet can harass and provoke the enemy's escort forces."

Even if they eventually build their Antarctic base, as long as we still have a powerful mobile fleet, the initiative will always be in our hands, and the loss of some aircraft will be insignificant.

Is that so, Commander?

"Yes...that's what I mean. Jean Bart spoke very well."

Although Tang Wen was speaking, his eyes were fixed on the pair of slender chopstick legs leaning against the table.

Something seems off about today's uniform; it looks like I'm only wearing a shirt.
His upper body was formal and serious, with a full head of blond hair peeking out from the gap in his wide-brimmed hat and draped over his shoulders.

Then the long, form-fitting hemline just barely covered half of her thighs, followed by white stockings and high-heeled boots that barely covered her calves. Looking up, it was both elegant and... well, not as sexy as the default skin, but it truly showed what a uniform fetish is.

When he came to his senses, he realized that the ship girl was looking at him with questioning eyes. Meanwhile, the other four captains at the conference table sat upright, heads down, intently studying the map.

Although he knew he was dealing with a group of clones, Tang Wen was still a little embarrassed and asked directly:
"Do you have any further suggestions?"

"Commander's foresight puts us to shame. We only need to add a few details, and we would never dare to offer any guidance."

"We are merely considering tactics and strategies; your perspective is already at a higher and farther level, guiding us like the sun."

Halsey and Yamamoto Takano's flattery was endless, and the honest Lütjens, after holding back for a few seconds, simply said:

"I think so."

Saxony, who joined halfway through, also wanted to speak, but Tang Wen stopped him.

He realized that his orders always had the highest priority, and it was really difficult for these captains to think about the overall situation, so he decided to just leave it at that for now.

Even if his considerations have flaws, it doesn't matter. Lao Xi's mistake could destroy an empire, but as long as he still has a ship, he can always sit firmly at the table.

Did I accidentally become a poker player?
"The Second Fleet and the Antarctic strategy are based on deception. The layers of deployment are like a staircase, leading the enemy deeper and deeper into the abyss. Let's call it the Staircase Project."

The interim general staff will refine this in the coming days and discuss it again in 24 hours!

As Tang Wen finished speaking, the four legendary captains on both sides of the table stood up abruptly, and the ship girls also turned around, stood with their legs together, and bowed, shouting in unison:

"Project Ladder, a resounding success!"

The figures of the four captains disappeared in the echo, while the solemnly standing ship girl slowly sat on the table, crossed her legs, held a pointer in one hand, and pushed up her glasses that had appeared on her nose at some point in time with the other.

"Should we continue to analyze the battle plan?"

……

Hong Kong
The doctor's final advice to Li Ka-shing was to rest and recuperate. After lying in bed for a day, he was discharged smoothly and immediately began to take stock of his current condition.

But Li Xiaochao immediately told him bad news:

“Father, someone is trying to short our stock, and the amount of money involved is probably in the billions of dollars.”

"Billions of US dollars?!"

This was far beyond Li Ka-shing's expectations. He knew that someone might want to short the stock when it rose against the trend, but based on his assessment of Tang Wen, the amount of funds should not be large enough to drive the price down.

Tang Wen wasn't a financial expert; without leverage of 100 times, he wouldn't achieve much and would instead lose a lot of money.

But billions of dollars?

Even if the Tang family were to drill for oil, they wouldn't be able to find this much!

(End of this chapter)