What the hell is a private enterprise?

Chapter 641 Two Aircraft Carriers Under Construction Simultaneously

Secretary Chen's question was quite necessary. Since it had nothing to do with Southeast Asia, the domestic authorities would handle it according to normal procedures.

Although the Lost Empire has not yet demonstrated a particularly strong ground force, it certainly does not want to form an alliance with India.

However, Tang Wen noticed that Zhao Hande was not there; theoretically, he would come to him personally for this matter.

"Director Zhao went to an economic work conference... You have no idea how much fiscal pressure we are under right now."

At this point, Secretary Chen couldn't help but show a resentful expression. Buying a boat is a momentary pleasure, but the bills will be a nightmare.

整个97年内海军多了2艘战列舰、1艘航母、2艘055、2艘057，（购买汉诺威赠送的扎拉、柴郡船体被列为057A/B型），1艘潜艇（洛山基级）。

Although the country has tried its best to list it outside the scope of military expenditure, it cannot change the fact that more money is being spent. In 97, the official budget was 720 billion yuan, but the actual military expenditure exceeded the budget by 76%, and the navy's expenditure exceeded the budget by 150%.

This directly led to the Imperial University of Tokyo's very serious proposal during its application to join the WTO, stating that the world is currently at peace and that the University of Tokyo must disclose its true budget and not engage in secret plans.

This has received unanimous international approval. Don't you see how many people have died because of secret agreements? Not to mention ordinary secret weapons, the fact that warships, which weigh thousands or tens of thousands of tons, are not made public can cause serious strategic miscalculations and could potentially trigger an arms race.

After all, if everyone's construction plans are kept secret and not made public, there will be no trust between them, and they will only compete to see who can build more, leading to a vicious cycle.

The domestic side quickly agreed, not out of fear, but because going public was actually the right thing to do and beneficial. If it really became a shipbuilding race... they couldn't afford to compete. Let alone the Empire, even Japan could barely keep up on its own.

Domestically, the 1998 annual plan was guaranteed to be made public, but the dock in Yangjiang where Gaijin is building the Type 013 Super United States shipyard is expected to be completed in June and construction will start simultaneously. It will be launched for sea trials in the first half of 1999, which must be included in the planned budget.

In addition, to expand the navy, increase facilities, train carrier-based aircraft, and upgrade the equipment of the army and air force, the actual expenditure budget in 98 was more than 1200 billion yuan (US$144 billion), and the annual growth rate thereafter had to be maintained at at least 20%.

Aside from dealing with the skyrocketing expenses, the biggest problem is how to quietly cut them down to a less conspicuous number—and how to explain CV13.

Of course, it was still not enough compared to the Empire, and because of the replenishment of new equipment and ammunition after the Christmas campaign, the Empire's military expenditure in 98 was close to $3000 billion, a shockingly large gap.

However, Tang Wen disagreed. Money? Just print more!

Too many to print? Borrow some!
"Secretary Chen, if you're short on funds to buy equipment, I can provide loans of 500 billion or 1 trillion for ship purchases, but you must buy some battleships. Could you please pass on the message that you're interested?"

Secretary Chen immediately got goosebumps and fled as if he were facing some kind of monstrous flood.

……

Sindeli

Paraniapan and British Ambassador Watts had direct exchanges.

Watts: "The subcontinent was once the jewel in the Queen's crown, and the British are still willing to stand on your side, but please be sure to tell us the truth."

"We have no connection with the Lost Empire."

Palaniapan was very polite and sincere in his dealings with his former patriarch.
"Our mushroom technology is entirely self-developed, thanks to the countless hours of hard work and effort of our Indian brothers."

Watts: "Please tell the truth, as far as we know, Russia..."

"Okay, we did... cough cough... spend money to buy some reference materials."

Watts was still staring at him, so Paraniapan had no choice but to say:
"General Yeprini also sold some raw materials in private, and our design was also evaluated by Russian experts, but in any case, we have no connection with the Lost Empire."

Whether it's gnats or mushroom eggs, it's the same.

Watts: "We need evidence. Please provide us with your detailed purchase records, weights, centrifuge factory output, production records, and Prism Building to corroborate these."

Paraniapan nodded vigorously, then realized something and shook his head forcefully.
"This is the most crucial secret of the subcontinent and cannot be provided."

Watts: "Then it can't be proven."

Paraniapan: "I can swear."

Watts: "You can swear on the stealth bomber's bunker-buster nuclear bomb."

"..."

Watts: "There's nothing special about the mushroom egg. Open it up for us to verify. Or immediately stop all operations related to the factory, even if the mushroom egg is already assembled. Don't touch it, don't test it. Continuing to push forward will definitely be met with a crackdown from the Convention Alliance. This is not a bluff."

Paraniapan: "This requires persuading Parliament, and it will take at least seven days of effort."

Watts: "Stop everything now. Dai Ying can buy you three more days, or you must accept the Prism Building investigation from now on. I repeat, this is not a threat. The sword of Damocles of the Allied Forces has been raised."

No, no one can tolerate the Lost Empire's contact with mushrooms. From now on, if satellites discover that you are still stubbornly pushing forward with mushroom experiments, the Allied Forces will consider it non-cooperation and provocation.

"..."

Paraniapan remained silent.

In fact, his meeting with Watts was informal and not authorized by parliament.

Because it is impossible to obtain authorization.

Operation Shakti was planned for 30 years and cost tens of billions of dollars, all for that dream that was within reach.

In the original timeline, the authorities' approval rating soared from 45% to 75% after the successful Shakti operation, making it a crucial factor that everyone took very seriously.

Giving up at the last minute, when progress is 98% complete? Paraniapan knew they couldn't agree to a compromise, and the reason they came to negotiate was to buy time to delay until it was a done deal.

The scientists at Operation Shakti told them that they had to work desperately and it would only take 7 days to detonate the explosives.

But Watts didn't lie to him either. The Lost Empire's Prism Building was simply unacceptable; it was a bottom line that couldn't be touched, and there was no room for compromise.

If we give Britain some face and India compromises, we can extend the lease for a few more days, but if they remain stubborn...

Paraniapan remained silent for nearly three minutes; the answer was already clear.

Watts glanced at his watch:

"Tomorrow at 19 PM is the minimum time to give a clear reply. Please go back now."

"Thank you."

Paraniapan struggled to his feet and slowly moved out.

……

Prism Building has always demonstrated its tolerance.

This is not irony, but a fact that is happening right now.

"After testing, the enriched uranium in the container was found to be of very high quality and purity, almost in line with mainstream levels."

The test results were pushed onto the Joint Chiefs of Staff's table, but Rams didn't even glance at them before setting them aside, simply asking:

"Has the subcontinent project been halted?"

Rams was very reluctant to use force against the Third Brother. He even thought that it didn't matter if there was really a connection with the Lost Empire. As long as he turned back and confessed now, everything would be fine.

However, if there is no collusion, and the Indians are determined to do what they know will cause serious misunderstandings, it means that they no longer take the empire seriously.

This is a problem as serious as the Lost Empire's possession of nuclear weapons.

The President has already given the authorization, and Rams is now giving India one last chance.

However, the satellite monitoring results disappointed him:
"According to satellite results, the progress of the model test site is accelerating, and we have learned that Operation Shakti is urgently arranging transportation plans, and they may want to test the explosion ahead of schedule."

How much longer?

"Our experts predict that it has entered the assembly stage, in about 5 to 7 days. And we have noticed that air defenses near Rajasthan have been strengthened."

Rams unconsciously twitched his fingers and looked at Wayne:
"Has the Air Force finalized its plan?"

"We have three B-2 bombers available, which can carry GBU-37 bombers and effectively and precisely strike underground facilities. Six bombs are enough to destroy test sites, atomic research centers and assembly plants. Centrifuge factories are not currently included in the strike range."

"Six bombs are a bit few."

Wayne: "But if the plan succeeds, it will take at least four to six months for Operation Shakti to get back on track. This is just a punitive operation."

Rams nodded in approval:

"Then let's reduce it by two more. Four bombs: two at the test range and two at the assembly plant. That's a sufficient warning... Is there a problem with the flight mission execution?"

"The current proposed flight route is from Whiteman Air Base on the mainland, across the Atlantic Ocean, through the Mediterranean Sea, and into the Indian Ocean. Multiple refuelings along the way will ensure the success of the mission. In addition, we can organize a feint attack across the Pacific Ocean."

Since this is a punitive operation, there's no need for fighter jets to attack air defenses. Furthermore, time is limited; we lack sufficient understanding of the subcontinent. Operations using stealth aircraft alone would be safer.

Wayne's plan was meticulous, and Rams nodded repeatedly:
When can the three B-2s take off? How long will the flight take?

"Preparations began as soon as you expressed your intention to strike, and GBU-37s have been deployed to Whiteman Air Force Base to await loading. The estimated flight time to the destination is approximately 20 to 22 hours."

The deployment of refueling aircraft along the route has been checked and is capable of supporting ultra-long-distance flights of 1.5 kilometers one way.

"Can the plane take off at midnight local time?"

"The earliest we expect to receive a response is around 1 p.m. today, which is 1 a.m. local time tomorrow, 18 hours from the expected response time."

Rams: "Very well, then take off at 1 p.m. If your planes have not entered the subcontinent in 18 hours, continue the attack if Prism does not issue a clear order, otherwise return to base."

"This is not a problem."

Huai En stood up, bowed, and then sat down.

The agenda had just concluded when, during a brief break in the Joint Chiefs of Staff meeting, an attendant brought new information:

The domestic military budget plan for 98 has been released.

"Oh, let's see if our old friend is secretly building battleships again."

Rams made a little joke, but his smile vanished as soon as the servant handed out the documents.

What does it mean that Hudong Shipbuilding won the bid for the Type 012 aircraft carrier and Guangzhou Shipyard won the bid for the Type 013 aircraft carrier?
Starting construction on two aircraft carriers simultaneously?
Rabbit, are you crazy?

(End of this chapter)