What the hell is a private enterprise?

Chapter 665 Portable Attraction Models

"Next stop, Goose City, then take the B25 to Nansha to inspect the construction progress there, and then..."

"Stop reading it, stop reading it."

On the plane, Tang Wen interrupted Zhenhai, who was arranging the subsequent itinerary, and closed his eyes to rest for a while.

However, just as he was drifting off to sleep, an unusual fluctuation entered his mind.

"What kind of trouble are those stars in Nanmei up to now?"

The perspective flies across time and space to the model ship under the moonlight, where Aveiro is respectfully chanting to the window facing the moonlight.

He revealed all of Jonathan's information, then denounced Enrique's inaction and the severe damage suffered in the Amazon region, before finally saying:

"Great Emperor, we need your help to defeat the evil invaders and spread justice back to the land."

Emperor: "..."

So the Prism Tower tried to set fire to cause a flood that would kill its air raid towers.
Tang Wen zoomed in on the image and examined the photocopy shown by Aveiro closely before he finally believed this surreal fact.

It must be said that the Prism Building is quite imaginative, but it's also really unethical.

But from another perspective, the Empire seemed very resistant to intervening in the rainforest again... It took Tang Wen a while to come to his senses and reply in Morse code:

Tell us your plans.

"The Emperor is listening!"

Aveiro became excited and quickly explained their plans:

We have two plans:

Plan A was to wait for Enrique to go to the golf course, then take out the commando team disguised as caddies, and then the others would seize the building and the radio station.

Plan B was to launch a surprise attack while he was sleeping, and then the others would seize the building and the radio station.

That way, no matter what Enrique does, we'll succeed!

Tang Wen was stunned for a long time before he came to his senses and managed to stammer out:
Why didn't you just storm the presidential building?

Aveiro immediately replied:
"Because he almost never goes to the presidential palace."

"..."

Tang Wen scratched his head hard. Sure enough, there was a reason why the Lamei region was always being ravaged by outsiders; humanoid swarms were emerging one after another.

He couldn't help but complain:

[Then you might as well try to gather Enrique and his cronies into one plane, shoot it down, and then declare a state of emergency.]

Avila slapped his thigh hard as he looked at the translated text, then said regretfully:

“You think exactly the same thing as me, but the Air Force and we don’t have a very good relationship.”

"..."

Tang Wen blocked all contact and closed his eyes to sleep.

Before he fell into a deep sleep, he recalled a short story from a marketing account before he traveled through time, claiming that a certain employee stationed in Africa accidentally became a strategist for a local tribe and almost defeated the local official army.

Although this is most likely fabricated, it's not impossible now... The matchmaking system in the Lamei region is so excellent, not to mention the Black people.

……

Upon returning to Goose City, the first thing Tang Wen did was to send all the usable planes from his company to Hongdu.

In order to cope with the flood crisis, in addition to the 20 CH47Ds that he managed to acquire, almost all of the CH47Cs and S76s that Geigin purchased and manufactured were also sent to serve as rescue teams, totaling more than 20 aircraft.

Among these helicopters, the CH47 series is particularly useful, with a payload of nearly 10 tons capable of transporting large quantities of supplies and rescuing large numbers of people at once.

In addition, there are more than 20 Zero seaplanes. These small aircraft are easier to operate and can make emergency landings, making them quite suitable for reconnaissance of water conditions.

Finally, he called the factory that Shi Juzhu had commissioned to produce Brain Gold for help. They produced a batch of incredibly sweet energy bars made entirely of cocoa butter, sugar, and malted milk powder, so that they could be airdropped when needed. These things were much more filling and lighter than instant noodles.

"Do your best and leave the rest to fate," Tang Wen believed that the disaster in this world line would definitely be brought under strong control.

After completing these tasks, he prepared to inspect the Nansha Islands, but a group of special guests came to his door.

When Hu Li told him that a group of guests wearing white cloths on their heads had arrived, Tang Wen immediately decided to meet them in person.

"Hello, respected Tang, I am Abdullah Seyeh Ip..."

The lead client, a big shot, gave a lengthy self-introduction, and the translator who came with him added a comment after finishing the translation:
“You can call him Tahir. He is the nephew of a prince and holds an important position in the military.”

"Ah, no respect, no respect."

As Tang Wen shook hands, he was also sizing up the other person. After all, there are quite a few swindlers these days, but the other person's demeanor... seemed flawless.

He had received a message from Gao Yuliang before he came, so there shouldn't be any problems.

Meanwhile, Tahir was also carefully observing Tang Wen. He was a little confused because Tang Wen didn't seem like a businessman, but rather like... those stern generals from the Prism Building, which was quite unbelievable.

This feeling was out of place with Tang Wen's outward appearance, but it made Tahir even more convinced that his visit was well worth it.

And his opening remarks immediately astonished everyone present:

"Tang, we want to buy two battleships."

Hu Li, who was standing to the side, immediately widened her eyes, while Zhenhai and Rangbar, who were standing behind Tang Wen, remained calm. The latter took Hu Li out first, leaving the group alone.

Tang Wen was also surprised by Tahir's purpose: "Mr. Tahir, first of all, battleships are outdated, and secondly, Gekin is not an arms dealer. If you want to buy warships, you can go to the capital to ask. Gekin is just an ordinary private enterprise."

Tahir burst into laughter, then quickly covered his mouth:

"God above, such laughter is impolite... but your humor did make me laugh, I apologize. I'm serious, the Atlantean Navy does indeed plan to purchase two battleships."

Tang Wen became slightly serious:

“I’m sorry, Geijin really doesn’t buy or sell military equipment, but warships are undoubtedly a very clear example of military equipment.”

"What's that outside?"

Tahir pointed out the window, and Tang Wen turned around to see... the USS New York, which could be seen from the Gekkin Heavy Industries office building, but he still calmly replied:

"Oh, that's a mobile military education attraction model of the USS New York, built by the Greater Bay Area Tourism Development Company."

The translator struggled to translate the long and awkward name, repeating it twice before Tahir finally understood what Tang Wen was saying, and immediately raised his voice to ask:
"Does this ship have armor, cannons, and the ability to reach speeds of over 22 knots?"

"Of course, that's why the Greater Bay Area Tourism Development Zone is a world-class military-style tourism zone."

Tang Wen answered proudly, while Tahir questioned:
"So this is a battleship."

Tang Wen: "If you insist on emphasizing this point, then we have no choice but to end the dialogue."

Tahir took a deep breath:

"Okay, we'll take two of these boats."

"What ship?"

"It's...tourism...the thing you just mentioned."

Tang Wen: "Please state your name completely."

Tahir stared wide-eyed at his translator and said in Arabic:

"Tell him that's the name, say it completely."

The translator wore a terrified expression, but still managed to say, under pressure, with a forced sigh:
“Tourism Development Company… ‘USS New York’…Educational Simulation…Moving Attraction Model”

Tang Wen finally nodded with relief.

This may seem like a pointless exercise, but in reality, once the transaction is completed, the ship can be driven to the Art Exhibition under the guise of a tourist attraction, and then the ship can be transferred on the spot—this is much more covert than direct warship trade, and relatively more moderate and low-key.

He could guess to some extent why Art came to buy battleships. The South Pacific Express was an excellent advertisement, making many small countries with the will but not the means realize that the backwardness of battleships was only relative. Apart from that, Art probably needed battleships to save face more than to fight.

"The construction period for two New York-class battleships is a maximum of six months. Construction will begin with a 50% down payment, and the full amount will be paid upon delivery... Shall we discuss the price?"

Tahir: "You just mentioned battleships, right?"

"This is just an abbreviation; the full name is still..."

Tang Wen began chanting again, making Tahir want to beg for mercy and quickly reveal his needs:
“I don’t want the New York-class, it’s too small and outdated. I want a big one, like the Iowa-class… a mobile attraction model.”

"Iowa?"

Tang Wen stroked his chin, then decisively shook his head:

"No, I can't sell equipment similar to what's currently in service, and Iowa is too big. Let's get a different one... Kongo or Fusang would be great."

Tahir looked troubled:
"They're too ugly, we need better-looking ones."

"Let me think... How about the Colorado-class? It has powerful firepower, solid armor, and American-style equipment."

Tahir, clearly an expert, immediately shook his head:
"Too slow, it needs at least 30 sections."

"That would be difficult."

While Tang Wen was talking about warships, he was actually thinking about geopolitics.

Buying two battleships back to Atlantis now is no small matter; the fragile regional balance will soon be broken.

Despite the fact that battleships are no longer able to resist anti-ship missiles, the joint maritime defense force has proven with facts that as long as no shots are fired, the deterrent and control power of battleships is absolute, and a cold standoff without firing is the norm in the international arena.

Why did Tahir approach him directly instead of Hudong Shipyard, which could build 100,000-ton battleships like the Huashan? Clearly, it was to minimize obstacles to purchasing the ship.

After considering the matter carefully, Tang Wen stopped recommending warships and instead leaned back on the sofa to ask:

"How much funding have you prepared?"

"We respect technology, and there will definitely be a fair price."

Tahir said this.

"The Iowa-class is not bad, but our current shipyards only produce small-tonnage battleships. Building such a top-class battleship requires specially customized equipment and reverse engineering blueprints, which would be very expensive."

"Please feel free to speak."

"This number."

Tang Wen held up two fingers.

"Two billion US dollars per ship?"

Tahir frowned slightly:
“That is a bit expensive, but if it can reach the standard of a real battleship, we can offer $15 billion per ship.”

(End of this chapter)