novelAbuy Chapter 50 A Gift to the British
Chapter 50 A Gift to the British
Inside Chen Feng's office!
"General, we are now official partners." Chen Feng invited Dubois to sit down and personally poured two cups of tea. "There are some things I want to say frankly as partners."
"Speaking."
"The British fleet is on its way." Chen Feng pushed a cup of tea in front of Dubois. "They will arrive off the coast of the Persian Gulf in five days at the latest. They will demonstrate, exert pressure, and may even provoke us."
Dubois picked up his teacup but didn't drink. "Paris is prepared. The Prime Minister has authorized me to convey to you that the French Republic will not abandon its allies under British pressure. If the situation requires, we can transfer part of our Mediterranean fleet to Djibouti as... a strategic response."
This is a significant commitment, almost equivalent to military support.
But Chen Feng shook his head.
"Thank you for your country's support, but it's not necessary at the moment." His tone was calm and confident. "I will receive British guests in Lanfang's own way."
Dubois raised an eyebrow: "Are you sure? While the 'Dreadnought' may not be as good as the 'Recovery,' the British fleet has a complete escort force and extensive combat experience..."
"So what we need to do is not to fight, but to make a demonstration." Chen Feng put down his teacup. "Demonstrate strength, demonstrate resolve, demonstrate the generational gap. Let the British understand that their old rules no longer apply in the Persian Gulf."
He walked to the window and looked out towards the harbor.
"The HMS 'Revival' will begin combat training tomorrow. Captain Little will take it to the Gulf of Oman to 'meet' the British fleet. If all goes well, the British will be shocked and reassess the situation. If not..."
Chen Feng turned around, his eyes clear and firm.
"Then let them experience firsthand what a technological gap is."
Looking at this man thirty years his junior, Dubois suddenly felt a long-lost surge of passion welling up in his chest. It was the feeling he had when he first commanded a warship at sea in his youth—facing the unknown, facing challenges, but firmly believing that he held the power.
"Mr. Chen, may I ask you a question?"
"Excuse me."
"What do you ultimately want from all this?" Dubois looked directly into Chen Feng's eyes. "Money? Power? Or...?"
"go home."
Chen Feng's answer was so simple that Dubois was taken aback.
"go home?"
"I was born in a place called Pontianak, in western Borneo. Many years ago, my ancestors established the Lanfang Republic there." Chen Feng's voice was soft, but every word carried immense weight. "Later, the Dutch came and, with gunboats and contracts, gradually swallowed up our country. My grandfather was the last Grand President. Before he died, he held my hand and said, 'Grandson, remember, Lanfang is not dead. As long as there is one Chinese person who remembers this name, Lanfang is not dead.'"
The study was so quiet you could hear your own heartbeat.
"So I brought those who were willing to follow me to this desert. We built factories, shipyards, and warships. Not for conquest, not for hegemony." Chen Feng looked at Dubois, "but so that one day we could return to Borneo with enough power to tell the Dutch, to tell the whole world: the Chinese on this land have the right to decide their own destiny."
Dubois remained silent for a long time.
He thought of French history, of the predecessors who fought for the Republic, of the soldiers who shed their last drop of blood on the battlefield. Nation, people, freedom—these words were discussed too easily in Parisian salons, but in some corners of the world, they were still things that had to be fought for with blood and lives.
"I understand." The old general slowly stood up and saluted Chen Feng.
It's not a diplomatic courtesy, but a sign of respect between soldiers.
Chen Feng returned the courtesy.
"General, could you do me one more favor?"
"Please speak."
"Send a telegram to Paris," Chen Feng said. "Tell them that there may be some...dramatic news from the Persian Gulf in the next 72 hours. Ask your country to remain calm and continue to advance cooperation as planned."
Dubois laughed: "Are you trying to make a big splash?"
"It wasn't my idea," Chen Feng laughed, "the British forced me to. Since they've put on this show, we have to respond, otherwise it would be impolite."
The two smiled at each other.
At this moment, differences in age, nationality, and background vanished. They were two people fighting on their own paths, two people who believed that strength could change their destiny.
Night falls over Dubai Port.
On the bridge of the "Kuangfu" warship, Li Te was making final preparations. The massive warship was anchored deep in the harbor, all its portholes lit up, like a slumbering steel behemoth.
"Ammunition loaded!"
"Fuel refueling complete!"
"All crew members have completed pre-battle preparations!"
Reports came one after another.
Li Te stood in front of the control panel, looking at the complex instrument panel and communication equipment in front of him. His fingers gently brushed over the steering wheel, feeling the cool metallic touch.
"captain."
The deputy captain walked over; he was a young man in his twenties named Lin Hai. He was among the first batch of graduates from technical school, intelligent, hardworking, and his eyes always shone with a light.
"The statistics are complete. The ship has 1,200 combat positions, with an average age of 24. The oldest is 40, Master Wang from the engine room. The youngest is 18, Amin from the signal corps."
Li Te nodded: "Tell them that starting tomorrow, we will face a real test. This is not an exercise, not training. Facing us is the Royal Navy, the maritime hegemon of three hundred years."
"They're not afraid," Lin Hai said. "I just went to check on everyone in the cabins, and everyone was checking their equipment and reviewing the procedures. No one was panicking, no one was afraid. They know what they're fighting for."
Why fight?
Li Te recalled Chen Feng's words before the expedition: "We are not fighting for a battle, we are fighting for the dignity of a nation. Sixty years ago, British gunboats blasted open China's doors. Ten years ago, the Japanese fleet defeated the Beiyang Fleet in the Yellow Sea. Now, it's our turn. It's our turn to sail warships built by the Chinese themselves and tell the world: times have changed."
"Captain," Lin Hai asked softly, "Are you nervous?"
Lee thought for a moment and answered honestly, "Nervous. But I'm even more excited."
He walked to the observation window and gazed at the lights of the harbor outside. The lights stretched out in a continuous line, illuminating the newly built factories, docks, and residential areas. Three years ago, there were only a few tents here; now, a city was taking shape.
Three hundred thousand people.
Three hundred thousand Chinese people who left their homes and placed their hopes here.
"Lin Hai, do you know which design element of the 'Kuangfu' ship I like the most?"
"Which one?"
"It's a name," Li Te said. "Liberation—liberation of our homeland, revival of our nation. Every time I say this name, I know what I'm fighting for."
The young vice-captain straightened up: "Me too."