World War: Battleship Arms Dealers

"How about taking a detour?"

"Going west would add 300 nautical miles and waste at least a day. Going east... the International Date Line lies to the east, where meteorological data is incomplete, making it even riskier."

Chen Feng pondered. A day's delay meant a postponement of their arrival in Hawaii, which could affect the meeting arrangements. But braving the eye of the storm was too risky—even though the "Huaihe" was designed with severe sea conditions in mind, the power of nature can sometimes surpass any engineering design.

A huge wave crashed in, causing the warship to list sharply to the left at a 25-degree angle. Unsecured items slid down, and the sound of things breaking echoed from all directions. Several young officers nearly fell, clinging tightly to the anchor points.

"President, I suggest we turn west to avoid the eye of the storm," Zhang Haitao shouted. "Safety first!"

Chen Feng looked out the window. Another giant wave crashed in, as high as a ten-story building, like a moving wall of water. The warship's bow plunged into the wave, the entire ship was submerged, and it only emerged from the water a few seconds later, its hull shaking violently.

At that moment, he suddenly had a realization: this storm was like the international situation he was about to face. You could choose to detour and buy time, but you might miss the opportunity; or you could choose to confront it head-on, take the risks, but you might reach your goal.

"No," he finally said. "Keep course, reduce to eight knots. We're going through the storm."

"Commander-in-Chief!" Zhang Haitao tried to dissuade him.

"Listen to me," Chen Feng walked to the nautical chart, pointing his finger between their current location and Hawaii. "If we detour and waste a day, how will the people of Melaka interpret that? They'll think we're afraid of the storm, or... deliberately delaying. Diplomatically, that would be seen as a sign of weakness."

He turned to face everyone on the bridge.

"And if we weather the storm and arrive on time, even if the ship is damaged and the crew is exhausted, what message will we convey? It will be determination, courage, and the will to complete the mission no matter what difficulties we encounter. This in itself is part of the negotiation."

Wang Wenwu understood. This wasn't recklessness; it was calculation—calculating the political signals conveyed by every action.

"But there are risks..."

"The risks are manageable." Chen Feng looked at Zhang Haitao. "Captain, I believe in you and your crew. I also believe in this ship. It's called 'Huaihe,' a great river in China that flows through mountains and into the sea. Today, let it brave the storms of the Pacific Ocean and prove its name."

Zhang Haitao stared into the president's eyes. A few seconds later, he stood at attention and saluted.

"Yes, sir! Maintain course and proceed through the storm! All crew, prepare for even worse sea conditions!"

The order was given. The "Huaihe" did not turn but continued sailing northeast, heading straight for the eye of the storm. The speed was reduced to eight knots to reduce the pressure on the hull. All watertight doors were closed, the damage control team was on standby, and the engine room was under heightened monitoring.

An hour later, they entered the eye of the storm.

This was the most violent part of the storm. Wind speeds soared to fifty knots, and waves exceeded ten meters in height. Rain lashed down horizontally, reducing visibility to less than one hundred meters. Warships heaved violently between the crests and troughs of the waves, often listing at angles exceeding thirty degrees.

Inside the hangar, one of the cables securing the fighter jet snapped. The aircraft slid and crashed into the bulkhead. Ground crew risked their lives to rush over and re-secure it, narrowly escaping being hit by a flying toolbox.

In the engine room, a turbine unit triggered an alarm due to severe vibration. Engineers lay on the floor to inspect it and found that a fixing bolt had come loose. They braced the tools with their bodies and tightened it while the turbines were shaking.

On the bridge, Chen Feng remained standing, refusing to go to the safer command center. He wanted everyone to see that he was with them.

"Commander-in-Chief, you should go down," Wang Wenwu advised.

"No." Chen Feng shook his head. "If the ship really sank, it wouldn't matter where I am. But right now, as I stand here, the sailors know that their leader isn't hiding in a safe place."

Another giant wave. This time it came from the starboard side, causing the warship to list to port at a 35-degree angle. Everyone thought it was going to capsize, but the design of the "Huaihe" demonstrated meticulous attention to detail—an extremely low center of gravity and a powerful restoring moment. The ship paused at its extreme angle for a few seconds before slowly righting itself.

Seawater rushed in through the ventilation vents, causing a short circuit in the electrical system and a power outage in some areas. Emergency lights came on, casting a stark white glow.

"Damage control report!" Zhang Haitao yelled into the intercom.

"Sector A has experienced minor flooding, which is under control! Sector B is without power and repairs are underway! Sector C... one sailor is injured, and the medical team has been dispatched!"

"keep going!"

The storm lasted for four hours. This was the most severe test since the "Huaihe" entered service, and also the ultimate test of the Lanfang Navy's long-range capabilities. When the warship finally broke through the eye of the storm and entered a relatively calm area, everyone collapsed—not from exhaustion, but from the sudden relaxation of their tense nerves.

Sunlight pierced through the clouds, spilling onto the battered deck. The warship's surface was covered in salt stains and watermarks; the shield of a secondary gun was deformed by the waves, and an antenna was broken, but the overall structure remained intact.

"Loss report." Zhang Haitao's voice was hoarse.

"Seven people sustained minor injuries, no serious injuries or fatalities. The ship's structure sustained no major damage, and all main systems are functioning normally. Only some external equipment and antennas require repair." The damage control captain's report brought a sigh of relief to everyone.

Chen Feng stepped off the bridge and onto the open platform. The sea breeze was still strong, but much gentler now. Before him lay a magnificent sight: the storm was receding, forming a massive wall of clouds to the southeast, while here, the sun shone brightly, and the sea gradually calmed.

"We've made it through," Wang Wenwu said, his voice filled with awe.

"Yes." Chen Feng gazed at the receding storm. "Now we know what the 'Huaihe' can withstand, what the Lanfang Navy can withstand. We also know what we ourselves can withstand."

He turned to look east. Four more days' flight, and Hawaii was just ahead.

"Inform Pearl Harbor that we will arrive at the scheduled time. Also, let them know that we are crossing the storm...not to boast, but simply to inform them."

Wang Wenwu nodded. He understood the significance of this "information"—to let the people of Meilika know that they were welcoming not a pampered delegation, but a force that had been tested and proven.

The Huaihe continued its voyage. On deck, sailors began cleaning and repairs. Their movements were somewhat weary, but their eyes were resolute. Having weathered this storm, they knew that this ship, this navy, and this nation could face any challenge.

In the operations room behind the bridge, the staff officers spread out the nautical charts again. The storm had set them off course by thirty nautical miles, but they could still make it to the schedule. The sand table exercise continued, but the atmosphere was different—after experiencing the real test, the virtual exercise seemed clearer, but also more somber.

Chen Feng returned to his cabin. After a quick shower, he stood in front of the mirror. The man in the mirror had tired but sharp eyes, and his face bore the salt stains left by the storm, as well as the wrinkles etched by time.