Yes, Prime Minister of Japan

Look, this is how all Chinese people play, so it must be the right way.

Therefore, Chief of Staff Grady stated:

"Therefore, we must take the lead and complete the design and construction of the all-purpose warship before the Chinese, so as to achieve a generational leap forward in Chinese warships! Therefore, we hope to cancel the Constellation-class and new DdGX destroyer projects and devote ourselves wholeheartedly to the production plan of the Ford-class aircraft carrier and the all-purpose warship. This all-purpose warship project requires at least $500 billion in special special funds for design and production..."

In modern warfare, with the rapid technological advancements among missile powers (excluding the United States), the long-range hypersonic missile firepower of versatile destroyers like the Type 055 has gradually surpassed that of aircraft carriers, making them more akin to modern battleships.

The naval combat vessels have also changed from the single core of the United States, which is mainly based on aircraft carriers, to the dual core drive of China, which combines aircraft carriers and Type 055 missiles.

Aircraft carriers and carrier-based aircraft can compete for air superiority in the sea area. The long-range hypersonic missiles of the Type 055 destroyer, like the guns of a battleship, have a decisive effect.

Therefore, it cannot be said that this ambitious future plan is wrong.

These congressional members, though on the Armed Services Committee, knew nothing about military affairs and questioned with skeptical eyes:

"So where are the current technical challenges?"

At this point, the Pentagon's solution team is the most qualified to speak.

"Ahem, well... the main challenge is the difficulty in developing the all-electric integrated propulsion system. If a single all-purpose warship uses various radars, naval guns, missile vertical launch systems, and propulsion systems simultaneously, the Pentagon is considering abandoning the overly advanced all-electric integrated propulsion system and instead using a traditional propulsion system and auxiliary power generation system."

"Another issue is the lack of shipborne long-range hypersonic missiles. The Navy and Air Force's hypersonic missile projects have repeatedly failed and been cancelled..."

"We still lack a new shipborne universal vertical launch system required for hypersonic missile firing. We need to develop a new universal launch silo that can launch Standard series missiles and also accommodate large hypersonic missiles in a four-in-one configuration..."

This is the core reason why the US's new destroyer program has been delayed. Long-range hypersonic missiles are the cannons of the new era's all-around warships; the new vertical launch system is the gun barrel of the new era's battleships; and long-range hypersonic missiles are the cannonballs. Without cannons, you can't build a GIL ship.

It's like having a perfect plan to pursue the beautiful girl next door, even buying a house for the wedding, only to discover you're also a woman and lack the necessary "weapons." Even if you borrow some tools, they're not the originals and can't achieve the desired effect.

But it would be too embarrassing to just talk about the difficulties.

A quick calculation by knowledgeable members of Congress reveals that this ship lacks hypersonic missiles, universal launch silos, integrated masts, and advanced phased-array radar. Even the steel components for building the ship must be imported from China or Japan.

In this light, the most outstanding feature of this all-around warship is that it is relatively durable and not easily sunk by a single ordinary missile.

Therefore, they couldn't help but ask:

"So what you're actually trying to build now is a warship that's expected to be all-around capable, but can currently only withstand hypersonic missile attacks, and is extremely durable?"

Just take the beating?

Chief of Staff Grady coughed twice:

"Cough cough..."

Don't tell anyone.

There is currently no research on hypersonic missiles with specialized warheads specifically designed to counter Li Xinghe's ironclad warships, so theoretically, the new all-around warship with enhanced defenses should be able to withstand hypersonic missile attacks.

They began to explain their expected goals in unison.

"As long as Ngad is successfully launched..."

"As long as there's a new vertical launch well..."

Anyway, as long as things are good, everything is good.

For the U.S. military, which currently lacks hypersonic missiles and ultra-long-range offensive capabilities, building durable ships seems like a more worthwhile investment. It's at least slightly better than being unable to fight back or escape.

Moreover, as long as long-range hypersonic missiles are successfully developed and deployed on ships, and with the follow-up development of various phased array radars, advanced masts, and interceptor anti-aircraft missiles, the ultimate goal of "penetrating and blocking" can be achieved within a certain period of time.

This would allow us to acquire a new-era dreadnought that surpasses the Type 055 destroyer in combat capability, achieving a leapfrog development from a latecomer to a leader.

The Pentagon even decided to cancel all shipbuilding plans except for aircraft carriers because of this.

The congressmen asked:

"That new batch of DDX destroyers that have already been ordered from South Korea..."

"Cancel."

Grady answered.

"what?"

"The Pentagon wants to cancel the relevant orders and transfer the production orders to domestic shipbuilders. Of course, that was a plan from the previous chief of staff's time; the all-purpose warship is a project we are currently pushing hard for."

The South Korean replacement ship was an achievement of the former chief of staff.

An all-around warship—that's my achievement.

Last year, the orders placed by Chief of Staff Vance and John were indeed good, bringing together a shipbuilding force for the United States, which lacked shipbuilding capabilities. That's good, but aren't those modified Burke-class destroyers still outdated as soon as they enter the battlefield? After the Taiwan Strait crisis, those old Burke-class destroyers have completely lost their initiative in entering the battlefield.

Furthermore, the shipyard is located within the range of Chinese missiles. Is this reasonable?

This year, you, Vance, still want to be a pillar of the nation. Does that mean that the Pentagon is not a loyal subject of the nation for developing an all-purpose warship for the long-term development of the country and bringing it back to the United States from South Korea?

Contract breach penalties amount to over three billion US dollars?

Let's talk.

If it really doesn't work out, then we'll just pay. Since it's based on last year's budget anyway, cutting some of the savings can be split together this year.

Faced with this scene, the members of Congress gasped in shock:

"You keep building and cutting, cutting and building. The Constellation-class ships are going to be abandoned halfway, and the new Ddgx is going to be canceled after construction has started. When will the all-around ships be completed?"

The Pentagon team gave the standard answer:

"The first prototype ship is expected to be built around 2035."

Five years later.

The gentlemen did some quick calculations:

"Okay, 2040? You mean there won't be any new destroyer launches for a full decade, and we'll have to continue using Arleigh Burke-class destroyers from 1988 to 2040?"

The Navy's shipbuilding bureau does not deny this.

Anyway, a new chief of staff, a new plan, a new future. You either approve it, or we'll come with guns in a few months and you have to approve it.

……

When the Pentagon's advance notice of canceling the contract was relayed to the South Korean embassy in the United States, Hyundai's representative in the US was nearly driven mad with anger.

"I've been tricked! I've been tricked terribly!"

Ulsan Hyundai says it has suffered losses of over $15 billion.

However, the South Korean shipbuilding industry used its reputation for building US-made destroyers to attract customers internationally, and it did indeed win over many clients and increase its brand awareness. So it wasn't a particularly bad deal.

When they complained to Li Xinghe, Li Xinghe replied to them:

"Let's cancel the parts that have already started. The Americans are willing to pay a penalty for breach of contract. I'll order three more aircraft carrier battleships. Make sure they're repaired beautifully, so the Americans can see them."

As for those Type 510 naval guns, Li Xinghe really wanted to remove them.

Reducing the size of the new ship and focusing on developing vertical launch systems for missiles is the right path.

However, Ulsan Shipyard stated, "We do not currently have the capability to modify the design."

It's rather unsatisfactory.

Therefore, the second batch of aircraft carrier battleships was still built according to the 510mm gun design.

Its scaled-down modified version, armed with a 203mm rapid-fire naval gun and a shipborne version of the Galaxy-1 ballistic missile, was awarded to several Japanese warship companies as orders the following year, who then completed the design and started construction.

We had just calmed down the Koreans when we received a call from Australia.

He Yang excitedly made a new request:

"We have completely captured Darwin. It seems the Australians are helpless. Should we continue the offensive? With a mere 30,000 troops, the Australians are no match for us."

But this doesn't make any sense.

Because governing Australia's vast territory is extremely costly. A wise strategist should force Australia to become a financial and economic colony.

Li Xinghe reassured He Yang:

"Don't rush. First, control the area around Darwin Harbour and send the immigrants and building materials there. Then, assemble a battleship fleet and sail south along eastern Australia, threatening Sydney, Canberra, and Melbourne. Privately tell Australia that I won't give up unless we sign a Japan-Australia military agreement. The Americans won't say a word."

After hanging up the phone, Li Xinghe stretched.

With one hand launching missiles, the other building ships; with one hand interfering in US domestic affairs, and the other sexually assaulting Australian women.

This is the new international order based on strength.

Chapter 844: Conquering a White Nation by Setting Up Giant Ships and Cannons (4300 words)

2030年9月12日，农历8月15日，中国人过中秋节的好日子。

As Chinese influence gradually permeates Japan, the Japanese have had to accept the fact that they now celebrate holidays in two countries simultaneously. Besides their own various festivals, major Chinese holidays flood their lives like a torrent, accompanied by a surge of goods. For the Dragon Boat Festival, they eat zongzi (sticky rice dumplings); for the Mid-Autumn Festival, they munch on mooncakes; and on National Day, countless Chinese flags flutter in the streets of Tokyo—one might mistake it for a trip to Shanghai.

This kind of cultural export, relying on the logistics of goods, naturally depends on the collaborative efforts of the Sally Group, Japan's three major convenience store chains, and China's major e-commerce multinational corporations, to stuff all sorts of products into Japanese people's shopping carts. Whether the Japanese buy them or not, just like advertising is always there like a persistent plaster, the brains of people, which never stop moving, can only lie flat and let the problem fester.

"Ah~"

At Qingshan Manor, Li Xinghe held a five-nut mooncake and maliciously tempted Lin Meng to take a bite.

Lin Meng took a bite and was horrified. She ran out the door and fled.

Then Li Xinghe went to tempt the poor little May who was completely unaware of what was going on. Gao Tiao May had just woken up and hadn't even washed her face yet when Li Xinghe stuffed her mouth full of five kinds of nuts.

Li Xinghe asked with a wicked smile:

Is it delicious?

"It doesn't taste good!"

Gao Tiao Wuyue was furious and chased after Li Xinghe, demanding that he also have a bite.

Li Xinghe didn't care and took a bite. Although it wasn't tasty, he was used to eating it every year.

It just so happens that July and September also got up.

"I also think it doesn't taste good."

Li Xinghe laughed heartily at May and July's predicament.

Then I suffered a brutal shinbone and foot massage in May and July.

Only September took a bite, and looking at her two older sisters who were cursing angrily and Xinghe brother who was full of curiosity, she said against her will, "It's delicious."

"Hahaha! September is so good."

Li Xinghe picked up the adorable little Jiuyue, and then, as if by magic, pulled out some truly delicious, improved mooncakes from his pocket, such as egg yolk pastry-filled mooncakes and purple sweet potato-filled mooncakes, and stuffed them into the little cutie who was willing to lie.

"Brother Xinghe! You're so mean!"

July was so angry when she saw this that she stomped her feet and chased after Li Xinghe, digging all the mooncakes out of his pockets. Fortunately, Li Xinghe hadn't bought all the five-nut mooncakes; most of them were the newer, tastier ones. July and September fought over them, but September couldn't beat her tallest older sister, so she snuggled into Li Xinghe's arms and acted spoiled.

So the family sat on the sofa and began the pastry and tea party that the Japanese girl had learned in England.

While eating a double-skin milk pudding-filled mooncake, Gao Tiao Wuyue spoke in a language her two younger sisters couldn't quite understand:

"It seems the international community isn't reacting much to our actions? I thought there would be condemnation, insults, or even substantial sanctions."

Li Xinghe smiled, feeding Jiu Yue egg yolk pastries while mocking the slowness of Europeans and Americans:

“Indeed, their brains are rusty.”

The conflict at Darwin has almost silenced the media in Europe and America.

Because they suddenly realized that the Western world no longer knew about, nor did it have the means to sanction, Japan, a monster that seemed to be on their side. Moreover, the truth was difficult to discern, to the point that many media outlets were embarrassed to discuss the matter.

He's an ally, yet he's indiscriminately shelling another ally's territory. But it seems perfectly reasonable, because his justification is the classic, utterly clichéd argument of protecting human rights. Human rights above sovereignty—isn't that the tired trope that the West loves to play with?

Even though many Western media outlets would have to answer the question, "How can they be the same?"

However, major newspapers that are almost like official media outlets are being extremely cautious in their statements, fearing that they might create an uncontrollable public opinion storm.

As the core controller of Western media, the US will react sluggishly and stupidly when the US itself is in a state of intellectual death. They need to follow the lead of their own leader.

Is it really worth breaking ties with Li Xinghe over Darwin Port, a mere port with a population of a few hundred thousand that has already been leased out and is surrounded by wasteland?

That's not all. The whole thing started when the Australian government deliberately provoked Li Xinghe, trying to expel the coalition troops stationed there in place of the US military. The root cause of the whole incident is very clear: the biggest culprit is the Americans, who made Japan take on the burden of overseas troop deployments but backed down during the argument.

Gao Tiao Wuyue buried her head in Li Xinghe's arms and kissed her adorable little sister Jiuyue:

"What a weak international order. It was broken so easily, a curtain wall more fragile than glass, so fragile and pathetic."

That's truly amazing.

The Gulf War 40 years ago brought technological innovation to the world. In the 10 years after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the United States launched attacks all over the world and was invincible.

However, less than 20 years after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the US military began to gradually become mired in various quagmires. In Iraq and Afghanistan, the waste of trillions of dollars in wealth, coupled with the launch of Obama's new "happy education" approach, jointly nipped the seed of continued healthy development in the bud. After the financial vultures triggered the subprime mortgage crisis, the US finances, which were barely functioning, became a burden on the world due to the ever-expanding debt.