Chapter 72

After absorbing (suddenly) the village head into the Dragon Group to join the 1999 Return Project, Tang Wen brought out another set of classic rumors:

"Man Tian Huo, since you have officially joined the organization, I can reveal more inside information to you:

This warship is real. Although it is far behind and unable to fight, serving only for tourism and sightseeing, it is indeed a genuine warship."

Although he had expected it, hearing Tang Wen admit it with his own mouth, Chen Yonggui still drew in a sharp breath of cold air.

Tang Wen: "And the origin of this warship is also extraordinary:

After the Little Japanese surrendered, they never gave up the chance for revenge. Before completely surrendering, they sealed up a large batch of warships that could still be operated, then hollowed out mountainsides by the sea and stuffed the warships inside to hide them.

These warships were publicized as destroyed to the outside world, but in reality, they were all sealed in shipyards inside the caves, while a large quantity of brand-new spare parts were preserved with oil paper and yellow grease, maintained to look as good as new.

Once an accident occurs, they will immediately be thrown back into war.

What is even more terrifying is that besides their homeland, there are also many such sealed caves in the Nanyang, which was once colonized, and even on our own land, complete with everything from submarines to aircraft carriers.

As far as we know, there are a total of 100 caves, big and small, containing more than five hundred warships!"

"Hiss!"

Chen Yonggui couldn't help but say angrily:

"The Little Japanese have a thief's heart that won't die; they are truly insidious and cunning. If they succeed, they will release another evil wolf!"

Tang Wen sighed and continued:

"Yes, fortunately, the Nanyang is currently under our control, and we have been searching for these caves all these years.

Many of the warships found are still useful, so for now, they will all be transferred to the Southeast Bureau, which is under my jurisdiction, for handling.

However, we are currently in the open, so we must do some disguising and give these warships an origin story. Do you understand?"

"Understood, I understand!"

Chen Yonggui answered excitedly:

"Featherless Arrow, our Dragon Group truly has great wisdom. Taking the Little Japanese's ships and turning them to our own use weakens them while strengthening us; this is a win-win!

Brilliant, truly brilliant."

Tang Wen adopted the demeanor of a master, nodding with restraint.

The XXXX Project dividends, the secret weapons buried in Tokyo Bay, the oil-paper-wrapped century-old parts; the tricks that have endured through the ages are indeed useful.

After brewing for a moment, Tang Wen threw out the ultimate technique:

"Man Tian Huo, you are only an external personnel. I telling you this is already a violation of regulations; it is only because you are honest and dedicated to the people that I am making an exception.

I am telling only you about this matter. Do not let a single tooth of it leak out."

"I, Old Chen... Man Tian Huo, will keep my lips sealed and absolutely will not leak any secrets!"

Chen Yonggui patted his chest to guarantee, his eyes emitting a sharp light:

"My lord Featherless Arrow, this subordinate has another question. Is that big shed over there also..."

"Ahem, do not ask what you should not know."

Chen Yonggui looked at Tang Wen's expression and let out a long "Oh" twice.

If there are airplanes, could the thing in the shed be an aircraft carrier?

"Old man, where did you go?"

Chen's wife turned on the lightbulb and saw Chen Yonggui standing outside the door with his eyes wide open, holding a box in his hands.

Just now, she had heard the old man being called away in a daze, and only got up to open the door after hearing the knocking sound.

As a result, Chen Yonggui was standing straight outside the door, his eyes bulging like an ox's, and his expression was also strange.

Chen's wife suddenly shivered; wasn't this the soul-returning scene from Xiangjiang zombie movies? Could it be that he bumped into a ghost?

She grabbed the doorknob tightly and asked with trembling:

"Old Chen, how did you come back?"

"This is my own home; why can't I return?"

Chen Yonggui was still immersed in the honor of joining the Dragon Group and didn't pay much attention to his wife's behavior.

How could a mere woman understand how the Dragon Group operates?

"Who is the old man? Call me... Hmph, even if I tell you, you won't understand."

Chen Yonggui at least remembered his 200 silver coin confidentiality fee and forcibly stopped the impulse to speak his codename. He turned around, placed the small box under the bed, and instructed:

"No one is allowed to touch this box, and you are not allowed to look at it either."

"What is this?"

Chen's wife was somewhat dumbfounded, but she saw Chen Yonggui snort, go into the room to find the village committee key, and then was about to go out again.

"Going to do what again?"

"Mind your own business; it's a man's important matter."

In the face of Chen's wife's dumbfounded gaze, Chen Yonggui turned around arrogantly and coolly, then knocked on the big door of the neighboring courtyard.

Not long after, the light turned on inside the room, and a burly man pushed the door open while yawning:

"What's up, Village Head? Did you catch anything from the sea?"

"Stop sleeping. Go call everyone who has strength to get up and come with me to the village committee to get striped waterproof tarps.

Hurry up. It's a big tourism development project for the village; tell them there are benefits to be had."

Facts prove that the power of the masses is infinite.

With a wave of Chen Yonggui's hand, dozens of burly laborers rushed to the port, and under his command... they covered the Yashima with three-colored striped waterproof tarps.

It was the kind of striped tarp used for setting up sheds at rural banquets or for storing grain against water; Chen Yonggui brought over all the striped tarps in the village at once.

Dozens of villagers were also shocked by the Yashima, but the Village Head had spoken:

This is the cement park; to keep the tour project confidential, we must cover it up first. If you have questions, don't ask; if you ask, we won't answer.

At this moment, the importance of prestige became apparent; under Chen Yonggui's command, the villagers actually began to work obediently.

Of course, the striped tarp couldn't cover the entire ship, but covering sensitive parts like the ship's important cannons and camouflaging the shape of the bridge was no problem.

After completing this step, Chen Yonggui commanded the young and strong to fetch a pile of bamboo scaffolding from the construction site and randomly erect it around the upper structures of the warship to disguise it as a construction site.

With this whole operation, the combination of striped tarp and scaffolding gave the cement aircraft carrier a credibility of eight or nine tenths.

Dozens of people worked feverishly, continuing until nearly 5 o'clock before the work was basically finished.

Under the already brightening sky, Chen Yonggui suddenly felt he had excellently completed the task assigned by the Dragon Group.

I, Man Tian Huo, must become a regular member!

"Come on, everyone has worked hard."

Tang Wen, who had watched the entire process, also hurried over, deeply impressed by these villagers.

Able to shoulder shotguns and climb masts, indeed, it has to be fishermen.

In front of the pier, Tang Wen stepped forward before the crowd and announced:

"Everyone who came to help today will receive five hundred yuan; form a line and collect it in an orderly manner!"

After witnessing the villagers' action, turning Dawan Village into his own power base became a thought that lingered in Tang Wen's mind.

As for money, there is plenty.

Indeed, upon hearing about five hundred yuan, the villagers who had risen in the middle of the night to work until now were no longer sleepy; all their fatigue instantly vanished without a trace.

With the village head present, they did not cause any disorder, but happily queued up to collect the money.

Tang Wen took twenty thousand in cash; after distributing it, more than ten bills remained. Without looking, he stuffed them into Chen Yonggui's hand, then pointed to the hotel inside the port where lights were already on and said:

"Don't go back yet; Dawan Hotel has just opened. Please treat everyone to breakfast before returning!"

"Good!"

The hungry adult fishermen immediately rushed into Dawan Hotel; upon entering the restaurant, they were stunned into silence by the luxurious, exquisite buffet.

Even with Tang Wen's words, the group of heroes who had just been shirtless couldn't help but become restrained, only confirming they weren't dreaming after taking a bite, then quickly finding a place to wolf down their food.

The vulgar fishermen were out of place in the restaurant's atmosphere, but Tang Wen didn't mind, instead shouting enthusiastically:

"Eat freely! If you can't finish, pack it to take home!"

Chen Yonggui was also greatly surprised, feeling even more excited in his heart.

This is the Dragon Group, a thousand-year organization, rooted in all things; even its iceberg tip is bottomless. They actually built such a large port and such a luxurious hotel in Dawan Village without making a sound!

Collecting the Dragon Group's silver coins, eating the Dragon Group's food; the Dragon Group's grace is endless!

Observing the reactions of the villagers and Chen Yonggui, Tang Wen breathed a sigh of relief; if he could achieve absolute control over Dawan Village, then he could act without any hesitation.