Chapter 931: Safe Return

Watching the enemy warships explode one after another, the sailors on our own warships were all stunned.

Everyone huddled together, whispering to one another, feeling at a loss for a moment, completely unsure of how to respond.

The warship commander reacted instantly and immediately issued a stern order: "All personnel, pay attention! To avoid any misjudgment or conflict, withdraw at full speed immediately!"

The order traveled through the communications system to the engine rooms, various gun turrets, and missile launch control stations.

All sailors quickly adjusted their operations, keeping a close eye on the two remaining enemy ships that had not yet sunk, while maneuvering their own vessels to change course and sail at full speed away from these waters.

Everyone looked back; the fires on the two damaged warships were burning more and more fiercely, and large numbers of enemy soldiers on board were in a panic, jumping into the sea one after another to save their lives.

Not until our fleet reached a safe distance and was completely clear of these dangerous waters did the officers and soldiers finally relax the heartstrings they had kept taut, ready for a fight to the death.

It was unclear who shouted first: "We won!"

"We won!" Cheers erupted one after another from the several warships.

Some sailors excitedly slapped the railings, others hugged each other tightly, all of them grinning broadly, with tears of joy streaming down their cheeks.

He Yuzhu drove his fishing boat far behind the retreating fleet, and only after seeing Secretary Liu return safely to the naval port did he turn the boat around and find a small pier to dock and go ashore.

The next morning, He Yuzhu went to Secretary Liu's residence.

Secretary Liu stood up and looked at him, his tone carrying a hint of lingering fear: "You have too much nerve, kid! I only instructed you to sabotage their power systems; you went and blew up the warships directly. If you had really pushed the other side to the brink and they had fired back first, our losses would have been absolutely catastrophic."

He Yuzhu calmly explained: "Leader, if I hadn't pre-planted explosives in their ammunition depots, these people would have turned around and opened fire directly, and afterward, they would have shifted the blame, slandering us for initiating the conflict."

Hearing this, Secretary Liu nodded slowly: "That logic holds, but they have suffered such a huge loss this time that they will never let it go."

"Then I will go to their military bases in Asia and cause some trouble to see if they can actually withstand it."

"Go ahead, but be sure to look after your own safety on this trip." Secretary Liu readily agreed.

He Yuzhu did not expect the other party to agree so readily this time; he immediately stood straight, his expression solemn: "Don't worry, Leader. Those people from M Country have always bullied the weak and feared the strong. Having suffered this silent loss, at most they will only protest verbally; they definitely won't dare to come and provoke us again in the short term."

"How do you intend to do it?" Secretary Liu asked.

"Make their base ammunition depots explode silently, turning it into an accident with no detectable human traces," He Yuzhu said bluntly.

Secretary Liu waved his hand: "Go ahead and do it!"

On the other side, inside the Pacific Theater Command, the atmosphere was as oppressive as if frozen.

Commander Daniel stared fixedly at Captain Thomas in front of him.

Thomas was the captain of an FFG Frigate and had luckily escaped with his life this time.

When the incident occurred, his reaction was extremely fast; the moment he saw the engine room catch fire, he immediately ordered all lifeboats to be lowered to evacuate the crew, which was why his ship had the highest number of surviving sailors.

"Thomas," Daniel's gaze was as sharp as a knife, as if he wanted to cut through the lies in the other man's heart, "tell me truthfully, can you be one hundred percent certain that the Huaxia warships did not fire a single shot or launch a single shell from beginning to end?"

Thomas nodded vigorously, his attitude sincere: "General, even if I wanted to pin the blame for the engine room fire on the Huaxia military, as a soldier, I cannot fabricate false testimony."

Daniel nodded slightly: "During the internal investigation phase, you only need to state the facts. As for how to spin it to the politicians, that is a matter for the higher-ups and has nothing to do with you."

Thomas continued his report: "Previously, our four ships received orders from headquarters to move up and intercept the Huaxia fleet. The opposing ships were smaller in tonnage and were at an equipment disadvantage throughout the skirmish, but those officers and soldiers were all fearless; their small boats were like crazed sharks, entangling us and fighting in circles..."

Hearing him praise the bravery of the Huaxia sailors, Daniel looked impatient and immediately interrupted, cutting straight to the core question: "I will only ask you one thing: are you certain the Huaxia ships did not fire on us at any point?"

"Reporting, sir, it is absolutely true; not a single shot or shell was fired," Thomas answered with absolute certainty.

Daniel stood up abruptly from his chair and strode to the floor-to-ceiling window.

The sunlight leaking through the gaps in the blinds cut mottled patterns of light and shadow across his face.

He turned suddenly, his expression terrifyingly grim: "Four warships having their engine rooms explode simultaneously, and two cruisers having their ammunition depots detonate one after another—if someone hadn't deliberately sabotaged them in secret, it wouldn't make any sense!"

Seeing the veins on the Commander's temples throbbing, Thomas hurriedly explained: "In my personal judgment, it is highly likely the work of an internal mole, very likely that ethnic Chinese soldiers in the military had infiltrated long ago. They were certain that a naval battle would break out, so they took the risk to act."

Daniel shook his head in rejection: "Spies planted on four warships simultaneously, and they were able to precisely synchronize the engine room explosions? If there were such a serious infiltration loophole, our navy would have collapsed long ago."

Thomas looked innocent: "Commander, all four ships have a large number of surviving sailors; you can question them one by one to verify. The Huaxia fleet truly did not launch any attacks at any point."

Daniel interrupted him again, his cold gaze locking onto him: "According to your version of events, the captains of all four ships bear major responsibility. Do you still insist on this claim?"

Thomas instantly heard the hidden intent in the Commander's words and immediately changed his tune: "However the Commander wants me to report it, that is how I will report it."

A cold smirk curled the corner of Daniel's mouth: "You will unify the story externally: say that the Huaxia side has developed a new type of weapon capable of remotely controlling and detonating our ammunition depots."

Thomas nodded in agreement: "If the higher-ups send an Investigation Team to inquire, how should I respond?"

"You only need to cooperate with the unified story; do not draw conclusions about the whole matter on your own. Leave the power of characterization to those high-level politicians..." Daniel instructed.

Thomas straightened his posture and saluted, his metal badges clinking with a crisp, faint sound: "Understood, sir. Everything will be left to the higher-ups to set the tone and characterization..."

After Thomas withdrew, Daniel remained alone in his office, lost in long contemplation.

In the southern city of Shencheng, the scorching noon sun baked the entire district, and the glass curtain walls reflected a blinding glare that made people's eyes ache.

He Yuzhu took his leave of Secretary Liu and drove straight to Shencheng.

Just as he walked into the He Group office building, he ran into He Xiao.

He Xiao hurried up to meet him, his face full of surprise: "Dad, why did you come over so suddenly?"

"Came to see your mom. The atmosphere throughout the company is tense; what major event happened?" He Yuzhu asked casually.

"Two of our construction sites had explosions one after another; four workers were killed on the spot, and over a dozen others were injured and hospitalized. Mom is in the conference room holding a meeting and losing her temper," He Xiao replied in a low voice.

He Yuzhu was startled at first, then calmed down.

The intensity of the sabotage by the hostile forces this time was unprecedented; since they had many properties, suffering losses was already within expectations—it would have been unrealistic to remain unscathed.

Inside the conference room, Lou Xiaoe stood with her hands on her hips, sternly reprimanding two construction project managers.

"I notified you to stop work completely long ago, but you refused to listen! Now look, two buildings under construction have been completely destroyed, and four lives have been lost!"

Several managers hung their heads, not daring to even breathe loudly.