World War: Battleship Arms Dealers

Wang Wenwu listened in silence. He had followed Chen Feng for many years, witnessing firsthand how this man built a nation from a desert and swamp. Yet, at times, he was still awestruck by Chen Feng's ambition and composure.

"So this westward transfer of Japanese troops is not only a deal between Germany and Japan, but also part of our strategic plan," Wang Wenwu said slowly.

"Yes." Chen Feng nodded. "Saionji agreed to this plan because we gave him a way out, we gave him leverage in negotiations. The Germans got troops, Japan got money and technology, but what did we get?"

He turned to Wang Wenwu and said, "What we gained was: First, Germany owes us a favor—without our solution, they couldn't have mobilized those 200,000 people. Second, Japan owes us a favor—without our mediation, they couldn't have both gotten the money and saved face. Third, it proved our value—we can come up with creative solutions in complex situations."

"But what if Britain and France discover the truth and accuse us of helping Germany..."

"They will find out, but they won't publicly accuse us," Chen Feng said confidently. "Because Britain and France need us now. They need our rubber, tin ore, and oil; they need our fleets to transport supplies; they need our ports as transit points. As long as we don't directly participate in the war and don't openly take sides, they will turn a blind eye."

He walked to his desk and picked up a telegram—a private telegram sent by Saionji that morning.

"Look, in his telegram, Saionji thanked me for my 'wise advice' and promised to 'fully consider Lanfang's interests in East Asian affairs.' That's what we want: not direct money, but future political capital."

Wang Wenwu finally understood. This series of actions—from proposing the uniform plan to facilitating the deal to preparing tank technology—were not isolated events, but part of a complete strategy. Each step was accumulating leverage, each step was expanding Lanfang's room for maneuver in the complex international chess game.

"So, what do we need to do next?" Wang Wenwu asked.

"Three things," Chen Feng said, holding up three fingers. "First, ensure the timely delivery of the Bismarck-class battleships. This is our commitment to Germany and a window to showcase Lanfang's industrial capabilities. Second, accelerate the tank project and strive to produce finished products when the Germans need them most. Third..."

He paused, his gaze deepening: "Third, prepare for unforeseen circumstances. The deployment of Japanese troops to the western front, regardless of the outcome, will alter the battlefield situation. We must anticipate all possibilities and prepare contingency plans."

"What change?"

"For example," Chen Feng walked back to the map, pointing to Verdun, "if the Germans really break through the defenses and reach the gates of Paris, France might collapse. Then Britain would have to consider the possibility of a separate peace. Or, if the Japanese forces suffer heavy losses on the Western Front, Tokyo might change its policy or even withdraw from the war."

He turned to look at Wang Wenwu: "These changes will have a chain reaction, affecting the global balance of power. What we need to do is to see the trends before the changes happen and prepare the options."

Wang Wenwu felt a chill. Chen Feng's thinking had gone far beyond a single transaction or agreement; it was about the entire global chessboard.

"I understand." He took a deep breath. "I will have the intelligence agencies strengthen their monitoring of the western front and the activities of high-ranking officials in various countries."

"Go ahead." Chen Feng nodded. "Remember, in this era, information is power. Whoever sees the changes first will seize the initiative."

After Wang Wenwu left, Chen Feng stood alone in the strategy room. The setting sun cast long shadows on the floor as sunlight streamed in through the windows.

He walked to the world map, looking at the markings, arrows, and circled areas. Europe was burning, Asia was restless, and the Americas were watching. Lanfang, this emerging nation, was cautiously navigating this global storm.

Sometimes, he thinks about the history of "that world"—how World War I changed the world order, how old empires collapsed, and how new powers rose. And now, he is changing that history, in his own way.

The Bismarck-class battleships appeared twenty years ahead of schedule, Japanese troops appeared on the Western Front wearing German uniforms, and the Panzer I and Panzer II tanks were about to be introduced... Every change was disrupting the original historical trajectory.

All he could do was keep moving forward, keep strategizing, and keep fighting for Lanfang's survival and development in this cruel world.

Outside the window, in Dubai Harbour, a cargo ship is leaving the port, its horn blaring. It's bound for America, carrying rubber, tin ore, and tea in exchange for machinery and industrial raw materials.

Trade continues, industry develops, and the nation grows.

The war was still burning in the distance, like an inextinguishable fire that illuminated the end of the old world and the beginning of the new world.

Chen Feng picked up a red marker and gently drew a circle in the Pacific region of the map.

Dubai Port before dawn on July 1st.

Two massive steel warships lay silently at their dedicated deep-water pier, their hulls silhouetted against the lingering darkness, appearing as two steel islands suddenly rising from the seabed. These were the Bismarck-class battleships, the "Yangtze" and the "Yellow," two German warships that had distinguished themselves in the Battle of the East China Sea. They had completed all final preparations for departure; wisps of smoke rose from their funnels, and their boilers ran at low power, ensuring they were ready to set sail at any moment.

On the dock, a special farewell party stood silently.

Three hundred Lanfang naval officers and men stood in neat square formation, dressed in dark blue naval uniforms, but without rank insignia on their shoulders or nameplates on their chests—this was a voyage without public records, a mission that did not exist. Standing at the forefront of the formation was the commander of this operation, Rear Admiral Li Te. The veteran naval officer had a solemn face, clutching a newly signed handover document tightly in his hand.

"Have you checked everything?" Zhang Yongfu asked the chief engineer behind him without turning around.

"Three times, General," the chief engineer replied in a low voice. "The power system, navigation equipment, weapon safety devices—all critical components have been checked. As per the agreement, the main gun's elevation and swivel mechanisms have been locked, the fire control radar's core components have been removed, and the cipher machine and encrypted communication equipment have all been removed."

"Where are the personnel?"

"All three hundred crew members volunteered and underwent three rounds of political vetting and psychological evaluation. They knew where they were going and understood the risks of the mission."

Li Te nodded. He looked at the two giant ships, his eyes filled with complex emotions. As one of the founders of the Lanfang Navy, he had personally witnessed these two ships transform from blueprints into reality, from the laying of the keel to launching and outfitting. Every rivet and every inch of steel plate embodied the nation's hard work. And now, he was going to personally deliver them into the hands of the Germans.

"General," a young lieutenant jogged over, holding a telegram, "final instructions from the Grand Commander's office."

Li Te took the telegram and read it by the dim light of the dock. The telegram was short, containing only two sentences:

"Safety first. Remember, your value lies not in the ship, but in your eyes and minds. — Chen Feng"

He read the telegram three times, then carefully folded it and stuffed it into his uniform pocket. Chen Feng always did this, using the most concise language to convey the core meaning. The key to this mission wasn't delivering the warships, but observation—observing how the German Navy received new equipment, how they trained, how they planned to use it, and… what their real predicament was.