World War: Battleship Arms Dealers

He stood before the microphone, his gaze sweeping across the dense crowd below, over the two massive steel warships, and finally settling on the words "Dingyuan." A few seconds of silence followed, then he spoke, his voice carrying throughout the harbor through the loudspeaker:

"Today, we are here to witness history."

His voice was calm, but every word struck people's hearts like a heavy hammer.

"Before 1885, the Dingyuan and Zhenyuan warships were launched at the Vulcan shipyard in Germany. They were the earliest dreadnoughts in Asia and symbols of the ancient East's attempt to embrace modern sea power. In that era of poverty and weakness, they carried the last hope of a nation that refused to succumb to defeat."

Chen Feng paused, the sea breeze ruffling the hem of his clothes.

"Then, in the Yellow Sea, at the Yalu River, at Weihaiwei... hope was shattered. Ironclad ships sank, soldiers died for their country, and the dream of naval power was broken. The sinking of the Dingyuan and Zhenyuan was not only the failure of a battle, but also the end of an era—the end of the naive era that thought that buying a few warships would make a country strong."

Many elderly people in the crowd began to sob quietly. They had lived through that era or heard those stories from their parents.

"But—" Chen Feng's voice suddenly rose, "—the end is not the end! Today, these two warships, with the same name, are once again sailing the world's oceans. This is not a simple repetition; this is an answer that transcends history!"

He pointed to the "Dingyuan" warship: "To those fallen for our predecessors—your cause has been carried on!"

Pointing to the Zhenyuan: "Answer those skeptical bystanders—Eastern maritime power will surely be revived!"

Finally, he turned to the crowd, his voice booming: "We must also answer ourselves—a nation that has once stumbled, do we have the courage to rise again, the wisdom to avoid repeating the same mistakes, and the ability to safeguard our hard-won peace and dignity?"

The port erupted in cheers. Applause, cheers, and shouts swept across the water like a tsunami. People waved flags, threw hats into the air, and many embraced and wept.

After waiting for the commotion to subside, Chen Feng continued, "I now officially announce: the Lanfang Republic Navy Battleship Flotilla is established! 'Dingyuan' and 'Zhenyuan' are commissioned!"

The cannons fired a salute. Twenty-one shots, each one deafening, and smoke billowed over the harbor.

On the bridge of the "Dingyuan," the newly appointed captain, Rear Admiral Zhou Yu—a name personally chosen by Chen Feng, who said it was "borrowed from the name of an ancient figure to express the hopes of today"—stood at attention and saluted. This thirty-eight-year-old officer, a hero of the East China Sea naval battle, had fingers trembling slightly at this moment. (Names were insufficient, so I added some randomly.)

"All officers and men!" he roared into the megaphone, "Salute the national flag! Pay tribute to our predecessors! Swear an oath to the Republic!"

Eight hundred officers and soldiers on board saluted in unison. Many had tears in their eyes.

On the viewing platform, Chen Feng continued speaking, but his tone had shifted from impassioned to calm:

"With these powerful weapons in hand, we do not use them for violence, but only to protect our country, our businesses, and the peace and tranquility of our compatriots! I hope you will use them wisely and cautiously! Remember—the power of naval guns lies not in how many enemy ships they can sink, but in how many enemy ships they can deter from approaching our coastline, how many merchant ships they can sail safely in our waters, and how many citizens can sleep soundly at night without fear of threats from the sea!"

He paused, then finally said:

"Dingyuan and Zhenyuan, these two names once meant humiliation and defeat. From today onward, they will mean strength and protection. This is history—not passively endured, but actively written."

"The ceremony is over! Long live the Republic! Long live the Navy!"

"Long live! Long live! Long live!"

The cheers lasted for a full ten minutes. The crowd lingered, many rushing towards the dock railings to get a closer look at the two giant ships. Police and militia had to form a human wall, holding hands to prevent a stampede.

Lin Santai climbed down from the control panel and squeezed to the edge of the dock. He looked up at the towering bridge of the "Dingyuan", at the young sailors busy on the deck, and at the eight dark 380mm main guns.

"Old Lin!" Someone patted him on the shoulder. Turning around, he saw his old comrade-in-arms, Zhang Dahai, who had retired and was now a quality inspector at the shipyard.

"What's wrong?" Lin Santai asked.

Zhang Dahai's eyes were red, and his voice choked with emotion: "I just saw... I saw a line of small characters engraved below the bow of the ship."

"What character?"

"The name of this ship comes from 1885. Its spirit lives on, and its legacy will be passed down through generations."

Lin Santai stood there, stunned. After a long while, he raised his rough hand and wiped his face, wiping away both sweat and tears.

"It was worth it," he murmured. "My life has been worth it."

Not far away, a group of overseas Chinese businessmen who had just arrived from Southeast Asia were also gathered together. The elderly man at the head of the group, surnamed Chen, was over sixty years old. He had made his fortune running a rubber plantation in Java and had come to Dubai specifically to invest. Leaning on his cane, he looked at the "Dingyuan" ship, tears streaming down his face.

"Mr. Chen, what's wrong?" Someone next to him handed him a handkerchief.

The old man shook his head and pointed to the warships: "Thirty years ago, I was in Singapore... and I witnessed the Beiyang Fleet's visit. Dingyuan, Zhenyuan, Zhiyuan, Jingyuan... so majestic, so imposing. Even the local foreigners had to give them a wide berth. At that time, I thought, our China has finally become strong."

He paused, his voice trembling: "Then... came the news of the defeat in the First Sino-Japanese War. Dingyuan sank, Zhenyuan was captured... I saw photos in the Singaporean newspapers, seeing the Japanese dragging Zhenyuan back to their country as a war trophy for exhibition... For that whole year, I couldn't hold my head up in front of foreigners."

The old man took a deep breath: "Today, as I look at the new Dingyuan and Zhenyuan... I think to myself, how wonderful it would be if my father and grandfather could be alive today."

He turned to his nephews and nieces who were with him and said, "Go back and get the paperwork done to transfer half of our assets back to China to invest in industry and education. This country, this nation... has hope."

Similar scenes played out throughout the port. For overseas Chinese, the significance of these two warships transcended military; they were symbols of national dignity and a spiritual home that wanderers could rely on.

Behind the reviewing stand, Chen Feng had already quietly left. He did not attend the subsequent reception or the ship open house, but instead went directly back to the Presidential Palace by car.

In the car, Wang Wenwu handed Chen Feng a wet towel. Chen Feng took it and wiped the sweat from his face, but his eyes remained sharp.

"How is the public's reaction?" he asked.

"The response has been overwhelming," Wang Wenwu reported. "Especially the overseas Chinese community; many expressed their intention to increase domestic investment right there on the spot. Journalists from Europe and the United States stationed in Dubai have also sent urgent telegrams. It is estimated that the whole world will know about the addition of the 'Dingyuan' and 'Zhenyuan' to the fleet tomorrow."

"What were the reactions from Britain and Germany?"

"The British consulate sent someone to observe the ceremony, and they didn't look too pleased. The German consul, on the other hand, was very excited and kept asking about the technical details." Wang Wenwu paused, then continued, "President, isn't using the names 'Dingyuan' and 'Zhenyuan' too politically charged? It might provoke the Japanese, or even the British..."

Chen Feng looked out the car window at the rapidly receding street scene: "We need to provoke them. Provoke the Japanese, let them know who the future of Asian maritime power is; who they should follow for a better future! Provoke the British, let them understand that Lanfang has the ability and will to protect its interests; provoke everyone—history has turned the page."

He turned to Wang Wenwu: "Notify the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to prepare a formal statement: The naming of the new Lanfang naval vessel is to commemorate history and carry on its spirit, and is not directed against any specific country. However, it should also emphasize that Lanfang is determined and capable of safeguarding the security of its own waters and shipping lanes."

"Yes."

The car drove into the Presidential Palace. Chen Feng went straight to the underground strategic room.

There, the next game is already waiting.