World War: Battleship Arms Dealers

Liu Yongfu was finally persuaded, but the pragmatism of the technical staff immediately made him think of practical issues: "Even if we're going to do it, there needs to be a plan. Who's in charge? Where will it be done? How will we keep it confidential?"

This is exactly what Chen Feng was waiting for.

"I'm personally in charge. This project is codenamed 'Manhattan'."

"Manhattan?" Wang Wenwu asked, puzzled. "What do you mean?"

"It's just a place name, it's not important," Chen Feng said vaguely—he couldn't very well say it was a copy of the code name for the US atomic bomb program. "I'm the project director, and Wang Wenwu will be the deputy director, responsible for resource coordination and external cover. Chief Engineer Liu, you need to select a highly skilled technical team, no more than fifty people, and they must be absolutely reliable."

"Where is the location?"

"Inland, deep in the desert," Chen Feng had already chosen. "I'll take you to see the exact location tomorrow. We'll build a 'geological exploration and research station' there as cover. All personnel and supplies entering and leaving will have to go through three checkpoints. A 50-kilometer radius will be designated a military restricted area, and the original inhabitants will be relocated with compensation."

Uncle Wang asked, "What about the pilots? Who flies these... iron birds?"

"Recruitment." Chen Feng opened another booklet. "Secret selection from the Army, Navy, and immigrants. Requirements: Age 18 to 25, at least junior high school education, excellent eyesight, quick reflexes, boldness and meticulousness. The first batch of recruits is planned to be thirty people."

"Junior high school?" Li Te frowned. "Commander-in-Chief, less than 10% of our army has a literacy rate of junior high school. It might be higher among immigrants, but still only slightly."

"So this is the first difficulty," Chen Feng admitted, "but we must persevere. Flying a plane is not like riding a horse; you need to understand instruments, calculate the course, and comprehend basic principles. An illiterate person can't do it."

Wang Wenwu quickly took notes, then looked up: "The budget is two million pounds. Does it need board approval?"

"No." Chen Feng said firmly, "This plan will not follow the normal procedures. The funding will come from my special funds, and any shortfall will be temporarily adjusted from the naval budget. The external accounts will be balanced, and everything will be listed under the categories of 'Special Machinery Research and Development' and 'Geological Exploration Equipment Procurement'."

He looked around at everyone: "Any other questions?"

Uncle Wang slowly raised his hand: "Young Master, I have one last question. You just said that someone might die in the fall. If... if someone really dies, how will we explain it to the family? And how will we appease the others?"

Chen Feng remained silent for a few seconds.

"The truth cannot be told. We can only say he 'died in the line of duty during a special equipment test.' The compensation will be three times the highest standard, and his family will be supported by the state for life. As for the others…"

He paused.

"I will tell them: The sky has no pity for the weak. We measure altitude with our lives, and every foot is etched with a price. Those who are afraid of death can withdraw now. Those who stay must be prepared to entrust their lives to the blue sky."

The room fell silent again. The lamplight seemed even dimmer.

Wang Wenwu closed his notebook: "I have no more problems."

Li Te stood up and stood at attention: "The Navy supports all plans to enhance national defense."

Liu Yongfu sighed, then nodded: "I'll give you the list of the technical team within a week."

Uncle Wang concluded by saying, "I will take good care of logistics and confidentiality."

"Alright." Chen Feng stood up as well. "Then, the Manhattan Project is officially launched from this moment on. After the meeting, everyone should immediately take action according to their assigned tasks. Remember—"

His gaze swept over everyone again.

"This is Lanfang's top secret. Anyone who leaks it will be prosecuted for treason."

November 5, 1911, 4:00 AM.

On the outskirts of Dubai, more than 300 people were already standing on the parade ground of the Third Army Training Base.

A cold wind blew from the depths of the desert, whipping up sand and dust that stung their faces. But no one moved. These young men were secretly selected from various military units and resettlement sites; they only knew they were to participate in a "special unit selection," but no one told them what they would actually do.

A makeshift platform had been set up in front of the playground, and three people were standing on it. In the middle was Chen Feng, to his left was Wang Wenwu, and to his right was a middle-aged man whom no one recognized—his name was Zhao Tianxiang, whom Chen Feng had "recruited" from Shanghai with a high salary. He was said to have studied in England, majoring in mechanical engineering, and could even fly a plane—not a real plane, but a British glider.

Holding the roster in his hand, Zhao Tianxiang called out in Mandarin with a Shanghai accent:

"Let's begin the first test! The academic exam!"

A slight commotion arose from the audience.

"Didn't they say you needed to be physically fit? How can you take the academic exam?"

"I...I can't read."

Chen Feng walked to the front of the stage, took the megaphone, and shouted, "Quiet! Don't you understand? I told you to be quiet!"

The noise immediately subsided.

"Let me explain," Chen Feng said. "This unit requires operating complex machinery. You need to read blueprints, read instruments, and do calculations. If you can't read or write, and don't understand math, you can't do it. Now, those who can read and have an education, step forward. Those who can't read, step back. Don't try to cheat; there will be verification later. If you're found to have falsified information, you'll be eliminated immediately!"

The crowd began to move. About a third of the people took a few steps forward, while the rest remained where they were or retreated.

Chen Feng glanced at the crowd and frowned—there were fewer than a hundred people standing in front.

"Okay, now for the second item," he continued. "Those of you standing in front, line up according to your level of education. Those who attended a private school and are literate, stand on the left. Those who attended a modern school and learned arithmetic, stand in the middle. Those who attended secondary school and studied physics—if any, stand on the right."

The group moved again. Only seven or eight people remained on the right.

Chen Feng's heart sank. He turned to look at Wang Wenwu, who also shook his head.

"Minister Wang, please preside over the cultural examination. Mr. Zhao, please take people to have their eyesight tested; they need the best possible vision, not a single bit off."

"Yes."

The test began. Wang Wenwu laid out the test papers in the makeshift tent—the questions were simple: recognize five hundred commonly used characters, do ten arithmetic operations, and write a paragraph. But even so, some people were still scratching their heads in frustration.

Outside the tent, Zhao Tianxiang tested each person one by one with an eye chart. He was extremely strict; anyone who was even slightly off would fail.

Chen Feng paced around the playground, watching the young people who had been eliminated. Most of them were in their early twenties, strong and bright-eyed, but because they were illiterate or had poor eyesight, they could only stand in the cold wind, watching their companions take the test with blank stares.

A dark-skinned young man suddenly ran over, stood at attention, and saluted: "Reporting, Commander-in-Chief!"

Chen Feng recognized him—Zhou Afu, the machine gunner who performed exceptionally well.

"explain."

"Commander-in-Chief! I...I can read! I can read!" Zhou Afu said eagerly. "I learned from the accountant at the dock, and I can recognize seven or eight hundred characters! I can also do arithmetic; I learned it in the army!"

Why didn't you move forward just now?

"I...I..." Zhou Afu's face flushed red. "I thought you had to have attended a proper school to count, but I'm self-taught..."