World War: Battleship Arms Dealers

Zhao Gang quickly took notes: "Understood. Also... the selection of personnel to take over the 'Dingyuan' and 'Zhenyuan' has been completed, with two-thirds coming from the 'Fuxing' and 'Guangfu'."

"Very good." Li Te handed the telegram back. "Sending veterans to the new ships is a respect for their feelings and the best way to maintain combat effectiveness. Tell the political corps that the work needs to be meticulous, but time is of the essence. By the time we return, both ships must have completed all handover preparations."

"Yes."

After Zhao Gang left, Li Te continued to gaze at the sea. The Red Sea was dazzlingly blue under the August sun, with occasional plumes of smoke from cargo ships visible in the distance. This was the center of world shipping and a conduit for the projection of imperial power. British warships, French transport ships, Italian patrol boats… beneath this seemingly calm sea lay a complex web of spheres of influence.

"The fact that the 'Huaihe' is sailing alone on this sea is itself a declaration." A calm voice sounded from behind.

Li Te turned around and saw Chen Feng enter the driver's seat. The President was dressed today in a simple white linen shirt and dark trousers, without any medals or insignia, looking more like a scholar or engineer than a head of state who held the lives of tens of millions of people in his hands.

"Commander-in-Chief." Li Teli saluted.

Chen Feng waved his hand, walked to the observation window, and stood side by side with Li Te. His gaze was also fixed on the distance, but Li Te knew that the President was seeing not only the sea, but also the crisscrossing shipping lanes beneath the surface, the cargo ships in the port, the conference room in London, and the battle map in Berlin.

"General Li, how do you think the British will view our ship?" Chen Feng suddenly asked.

After a moment's thought, Li Te cautiously replied, "They will assess the 'Huaihe's' combat capabilities and calculate how many warships would be needed to deal with it. They will be wary, but they will also... be envious."

"Envious?" Chen Feng smiled slightly.

"A soldier's envy of advanced weaponry is the purest form of admiration," Litt said frankly. "I've seen the look German naval officers gave the Bismarck-class destroyers in Wilhelmshaven. It was a look that mixed jealousy, longing, and a hint of fear. British naval officers would have felt even stronger."

Chen Feng nodded: "You're right. So our biggest bargaining chip in this meeting isn't language or promises, but this ship and what it represents—Lanfang has the capability to build the world's best warships and can sell them to anyone."

He paused, his tone becoming profound: "King George V was a sailor by birth; he understood the navy. When he saw the 'Huaihe,' he would understand one thing: the Royal Navy's three-hundred-year technological advantage had been challenged. And this challenger was willing to do business with them."

"So the President insisted on bringing only the 'Huaihe' ship to demonstrate strength, and also to avoid provocation?"

"It's to convey a complex message," Chen Feng corrected. "We have both the ability to threaten them and the willingness to cooperate with them. This contradiction will make the British hesitate and give them more consideration in their decision-making. In diplomacy, the enemy's hesitation is our opportunity."

Li Te seemed lost in thought. He recalled Chen Feng's words at the pre-battle meeting before the East China Sea battle: "War is a continuation of politics, and politics is a game of calculation. We must calculate more accurately than anyone else."

"By the way," Chen Feng changed the subject, "have the matters concerning the 'Fuxing' and 'Guangfu' high-speed trains been resolved?"

Li Te reported the contents of the telegram he had just received and his reply.

After listening, Chen Feng remained silent for a few seconds: "The feelings of veterans must be respected. Here's what I'll do: send a telegram in my name to all officers and men on both ships: First, their names will be engraved on the Dubai Naval Monument; second, the first 50,000-ton battleship in Lanfang will be named 'Fuxing'; third, all officers and men who voluntarily transfer to 'Dingyuan', 'Zhenyuan', or other new ships will automatically be promoted one rank and their service years allowance will increase by 50%."

Li Te's eyes lit up slightly: "This plan is good. It gives us honor and tangible benefits."

"During wartime, the loyalty and sacrifice of soldiers are the most valuable assets and cannot be squandered." Chen Feng turned and left the bridge, but stopped at the door. "By the way, inform Minister Wang Wenwu, who is accompanying us, to prepare the technical parameters of the destroyer we need to give to the British. I need to be able to present them at any time during the negotiations."

"Yes, Commander-in-Chief."

After Chen Feng left, Li Te stood alone on the bridge. Sunlight streamed through the observation window, warming his shoulders. But his heart felt cold. Not from fear, but from a profound realization—he was participating in a game that would determine the world's格局 (geju, a term referring to the overall structure or pattern of the world) for decades to come. And his leader was, in this game, propelling Lanfang, a nation that didn't even exist twenty years ago, to the center of the world stage.

"General," the radar officer suddenly reported, "a naval formation has been spotted 60 nautical miles ahead. Identification signal... it's the British Navy: one battleship, two cruisers, and four destroyers."

Li Te walked up to the radar screen. Several bright spots were clearly visible on the green fluorescent screen.

"They're probably here to meet us," he concluded. "Send a signal: The flagship of the Grand President of the Lanfang Republic, the 'Huaihe,' is en route to Alexandria for a friendly visit. Please identify yourselves."

The signalman acted swiftly. A few minutes later, a reply came: "The Royal Navy battleship HMS Malaya, by order of His Majesty the King, is here to escort you. Welcome to the Mediterranean."

Lee Te looked at the telegram, a complex smile appearing on his lips.

welcome?

This is surveillance, a demonstration, and also a silent contest.

"HMS Malaya..." he murmured the name. The Queen Elizabeth-class battleships, the mainstay of the British Navy, armed with eight 15-inch main guns, with a standard displacement of 33000 tons. In most seas, it was a fearsome behemoth.

But what about the "Huaihe"?

Li Te shook his head and gave the order: "Reply: Thank you for the Royal Navy's hospitality. We will follow your fleet. Please guide us."

The order was given, and the "Huaihe" slightly adjusted its course, heading towards the British fleet. Two hours later, the two fleets met on the azure Mediterranean Sea.

From the bridge of the Huaihe, the silhouette of the Malaya could be clearly seen. It was indeed a magnificent warship, with a long hull, a towering triangular mast, and four twin-gun turrets. But when standing on the Huaihe and looking down at it, a contrast unconsciously arose—like an adult looking at a teenager.

The British fleet, led by the HMS Malaya, formed an escort formation around the HMS Huaihe. But Li Te knew that this formation could be interpreted as either escort or surveillance and encirclement.

The signal lights flashed again: "Huaihe, please follow our course. Maintain speed of 20 knots."