World War: Battleship Arms Dealers

"The ship is in pristine condition and maintained to an extremely high standard. The officers and men are highly disciplined, and all operating procedures are even more standardized than those of the Royal Navy. Most importantly—" McMahon paused, "some of the equipment on board is completely incomprehensible to our engineers. In particular, there is a sealed compartment below the main gun turret, which Lanfang refused to show, citing 'military secrets'."

Sir Grey interjected, "So, the 'Bismarck' and 'Tirpitz' sold to the Germans might not even be in their complete form?"

"Very likely." McMahon nodded. "Chen Feng held back. That's in line with his style—never playing all his best cards at once."

King George V finally turned around. In the candlelight, his face appeared angular, and his blue eyes, inherited from his father Edward VII, were now filled with complex emotions: vigilance, annoyance, curiosity, and a hint of... anxiety.

As a monarch who had experienced the glory of the Victorian era and witnessed the British Empire reach its zenith, he was all too aware of the empire's current predicament. The war had entered its third year; the treasury was bleeding, youths were dying, and signs of discontent were beginning to emerge in the colonies. Meanwhile, Wilson in America, while constantly chanting slogans of "peace" and "national self-determination," was secretly challenging Britain's naval and financial hegemony.

Now, another one, Lanfang, has emerged.

"Where is Chen Feng?" the king asked in a low voice.

"The convoy has departed from Alexandria and is expected to arrive at eight o'clock." McMahon glanced at his pocket watch. "He refused the cars we offered and insisted on traveling in his own vehicle. It's a convoy of twelve cars, all of them 'Dongfeng' brand bulletproof limousines manufactured in Lanfang."

Sir Grey scoffed, "He's demonstrating his capabilities in another field—the automotive industry."

"He is demonstrating all-around capabilities," George V corrected. "Warships, automobiles, and those machine guns, artillery, and communications equipment that gave the Germans the advantage on the Western Front... Lanfang's industrial system is being perfected at a speed we cannot comprehend."

A moment of silence fell over the hall. In the distance came the chanting of prayers from the minarets of Cairo, long and ethereal.

"Your Majesty," Sir Grey said cautiously, "we need to achieve several clear objectives in tonight's talks. First, to ascertain Chen Feng's true attitude towards Germany and the boundaries of his commitments. Second, to resolve the loan issue and secure as many benefits as possible. Third, to probe his views on Japan and what role he is willing to play in the Far East."

"Fourth," King George V added, his tone hard, "we must make Chen Feng understand that the British Empire's patience has its limits. If he continues to play this dangerous balancing act, he will eventually get burned."

Sir Grey hesitated, wanting to say something but stopping himself. He wanted to say that threats might not work on someone like Chen Feng. That Easterner was too calm, too calculating; everything he did was like playing chess, thinking at least three moves ahead.

In the end, the Foreign Minister simply nodded: "Understood, Your Majesty."

At eight o'clock sharp, the sound of car engines could be heard outside the palace. Through the tall arched windows, a convoy could be seen driving into the courtyard. All of them were black cars, with the blue flag of the Lanfang Republic flying on their hoods.

The guards opened the car doors. The first to step out was Rear Admiral Li Te, in his dark blue uniform, standing ramrod straight. Next came several Lanfang military officers and civilian officials. Finally, Chen Feng emerged from the middle limousine.

Even through the glass window, King George V could sense the distinctiveness of this man from the East. In his thirties, of medium build, he wore a simple dark gray suit, without any medals or ornaments. Yet his gait was steady, his posture relaxed, and his gaze, as he swept across the palace, lacked the caution or curiosity typical of a diplomat arriving in unfamiliar surroundings; instead, it held an…assessment. Like an engineer inspecting a machine, or a businessman sizing up a piece of merchandise.

"He's here," McMahon said in a low voice.

King George V straightened his ceremonial robes, took a deep breath, and resumed the solemn expression befitting a monarch.

"Let's go meet this...the shrewdest speculator of our time."

The hall doors were pushed open by guards. Chen Feng entered, accompanied by Li Te and Wang Wenwu. The Lanfang delegation was small, consisting of only eight people including the translator and recorder. Compared to the large British delegation of over twenty people, their group appeared streamlined and restrained.

King George V stepped forward to greet him. According to diplomatic protocol, this was an exceptional courtesy extended by a monarch to the head of state of a non-monarchical country.

"Your Excellency, welcome to Egypt." The king extended his hand, speaking fluent English with a standard royal accent.

Chen Feng extended his hand to shake it. His hand was dry and steady, with a moderate grip. "It is a great honor to be greeted by His Majesty personally. Thank you for your invitation."

The translation is quick and concise. Their eyes met in the air. George V saw deep brown pupils, calm and still, like two deep wells, revealing no emotion. Chen Feng saw a pair of blue eyes that were a mixture of pride and weariness, along with fine lines at the corners of the eyes and premature graying at the temples.

"I hope the journey has been tiring and the Mediterranean winds and waves haven't caused you too much discomfort." The king gestured for Chen Feng to proceed to the dining table.

"On the contrary, the 'Huaihe' sailed very smoothly. Your country's 'Malaya' was very impressive in its professional navigation," Chen Feng replied with a smile.

The representatives from both sides took their seats in order. On the British side, the King sat in the center, with Sir Grey, Sir McMahon, representatives from the Admiralty, and representatives from the Army on his left. On the Lanfang side, Chen Feng sat in the center, with Li Te on his right and Wang Wenwu on his left, and the rest of the representatives lined up in order.

The waiter began serving the appetizer—cream of asparagus soup. The silver spoon clinked softly against the porcelain plate, and for a moment the only sounds in the hall were the clinking of cutlery and the faint music in the distance.

"Is this your first time in Egypt, Your Excellency?" King George V broke the silence.

"Yes. But I've always been very interested in Egyptian history." Chen Feng gently stirred the soup with a spoon. "Pharaonic civilization, Ptolemaic dynasty, Roman provinces, Arab empire... this land has witnessed the rise and fall of too many empires. Standing here, one can't help but think about the cycles of history."

Sir Grey interjected, "Does the President have a background in history?"

"I know a little bit." Chen Feng put down his soup spoon. "I believe the greatest value of studying history is not memorizing dates and events, but understanding a pattern: there is no eternal hegemony, only eternal change. Wise people do not try to stop change, but learn to find their place in the process of change."

This remark caused a slight tension at the dinner table. It was no longer casual conversation; it was conveying a certain signal.

King George V took a sip of his wine and said slowly, "Change is indeed eternal. But some things are worth upholding—such as promises, credibility, and the dignity of international law."

"I completely agree." Chen Feng nodded sincerely. "That's why Lanfang has always strictly adhered to the agreements it signed with all countries, including the pre-war loan agreements with Germany and Britain."

Here we go. Let's get down to business.