World War: Battleship Arms Dealers

In the oval-shaped command center, about twenty people sat around a circular conference table. Three rows of shadowless lights on the ceiling cast a pale, even glow, illuminating the fatigue and tension on everyone's faces.

Chen Feng sat in the main seat, already dressed in a formal khaki military uniform. His shoulder insignia showed no rank insignia, only a gold dragon-shaped badge. To his left and right were Wang Wenwu and Liu Yongfu—the former representing the diplomatic and intelligence systems, and the latter representing the industrial and military-industrial complex.

"That's the situation." Chen Feng briefly introduced the contents of the Berlin telegram and his preliminary analysis in ten minutes. "Now we need to decide: first, how to respond to Germany; second, how to deal with the chain reaction caused by the possibility of Merika entering the war; and third, Lanfang's own strategic choices."

He looked around the room.

"Who goes first?"

"Let me speak first," Liu Yongfu stood up. This 58-year-old industrial leader and military industry director was short and stocky, with dark skin and large knuckles, a typical craftsman by trade. He walked to the giant display screen on the wall—it was a cathode ray tube display independently developed by Lanfang, the technology of which came from Chen Feng's laptop.

The screen lights up, displaying a series of charts and data.

"This is the growth curve of my country's industrial output over the past twenty-four months." Liu Yongfu pointed to a blue line that rose almost vertically with a laser pointer. "From August 1914 to October 1916, the total industrial output increased by 470 percent. Among them, the output of the military industry increased from 8 percent to 62 percent."

He switched the screen, and a complex pie chart appeared.

"Our main clients are: Germany (35%), the UK (22%), the Ottoman Empire (15%), Japan (12%), and the remaining countries (16%). Note that the UK's share has been declining for the past six months, while Germany's has been rising."

Switching again, this time it's employment data.

"The workforce directly engaged in military and related industries: 1.2 million. The workforce indirectly engaged in related industries: 2.4 million. The total national workforce is approximately 8 million. That is to say, more than 45 percent of employment is directly or indirectly related to the needs of the war." (This excludes Arabs and Borneo natives.)

Liu Yongfu turned off the screen and turned to face the conference table.

"Simply put, our economy is deeply 'war-like.' If the war were to end abruptly within six months, the most optimistic estimate is that the unemployment rate would soar to over 30 percent. The pessimistic estimate... could trigger nationwide unrest."

Minister of Industry Cho Hak-sung—a thin man with thick glasses—added, “This doesn’t even include the risks to the banking system. To expand production capacity, companies have borrowed heavily, and banks have loosened their credit standards. If orders disappear, the bad debt rate could exceed 40 percent. The entire financial system is in danger of collapsing.”

A low murmur arose in the conference room.

"So," Rear Admiral Little began in a deep voice, "we must prevent the war from ending? Or rather, prevent Miraika from entering the war?"

"It's not about stopping the war from ending," Chen Feng corrected, "but about delaying it. We need time to complete the adjustment of our economic structure, to complete the accumulation of technology, and to consolidate our position in Asia and the Persian Gulf. Ideally, the war would continue for another two years, giving us enough time."

"But how can we delay it?" Zhang Mingyuan, the second-in-command of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and in charge of American affairs, asked. "We have very little direct contact with Meilika. Even President Wilson probably doesn't know Lanfang's exact location on the map."

"Therefore, we need to establish contact," Wang Wenwu continued. "I have already drafted a note, in the name of President Chen Feng, requesting a meeting with President Wilson to discuss 'the current world situation and prospects for peace.' The location can be designated by the US side."

"Will they agree?" Zhou Tieshan, the Minister of State Security, questioned. This former intelligence chief was skeptical of everything.

“Wilson is an idealist,” Chen Feng began, drawing all eyes to him. “He abhors war, yet is bound by reality. If we can offer a… seemingly feasible peace plan, or at least a path to alleviate the crisis, he would be interested. The key is how we package this proposal.”

He stood up and walked to the sand table in the center of the conference room. The sand table displayed the topography of the entire world, with each continent sculpted using resin material of different colors.

"The current situation is: Britain is using economic threats to force Merika to enter the war, while Germany is using submarine warfare threats to force Britain to surrender. Both sides are tightening the noose, and the noose is around everyone's neck." Chen Feng's finger traced across the North Atlantic. "What we need to do is not to untie the noose—that's impossible now—but to insert a wedge before it tightens completely."

"What wedge?" Li Te asked.

"A reason that would allow all parties to temporarily cease hostilities." Chen Feng's eyes gleamed shrewdly under the light. "For example... a peace conference initiated by a neutral country. The location could be Switzerland or the Netherlands. Participants would include all belligerent nations, as well as neutral countries like the United States and Lanfang. The conference wouldn't demand an immediate ceasefire, but only the establishment of basic principles and a timetable for negotiations."

Wang Wenwu frowned: "Would the belligerent parliaments agree? Especially Germany, they currently have the upper hand on the battlefield."

"So we need bait," Chen Feng said. "With Germany, we can make a private promise that if peace talks begin, Lanfang will provide a new round of loans and technical assistance to help them consolidate their front. With Britain, we can send a message through Meilika: if the peace talks fail, Meilika's entry into the war will be inevitable, but the peace talks can at least buy time for Britain to complete a new round of mobilization."

"So what do we get in return?" Liu Yongfu asked bluntly.

"Time," Chen Feng's answer was simple. "The peace conference can be dragged on for at least three months. If things go well, it can last for six months. In those six months, we can accomplish three things: First, shift our industrial structure towards civilian use; second, complete the mass production of new warships and aircraft; and third, consolidate our sphere of influence in Southeast Asia."

He paused, allowing everyone to process the information.

"But that's just Plan A." Chen Feng's voice turned cold. "We must also prepare Plan B: if Meilika joins the war within six months, and if the war ends quickly, how will we protect ourselves?"

Everyone straightened their backs.

"Li Te".

"exist!"

"What is the current combat readiness status of the navy?"

Li Te stood up and walked to the Pacific Ocean area on the sand table.

"The main fleet includes: six Bismarck-class battleships currently in service, six Lexington-class aircraft carriers, all under construction in the dry dock, with the first expected to be launched next March; twelve heavy cruisers, twenty-four destroyers, and one hundred and thirty-four submarines. In addition, four battleships and eight cruisers are under construction in the dry dock and can be requisitioned in case of emergency."