Chapter 155: Zhujiang Hao Enters Service

"Impressive." Schmidt said in German with a heavy Ruhr accent, "Three years, from laying the first keel to today, you have built four of the world's most advanced battleships. This speed… Berlin cannot achieve, nor can London."

"Because we have no other choice," Chen Feng replied in fluent German, "A small nation that wants to survive must run faster than the great powers."

Schmidt was silent for a few seconds, then lowered his voice: "Mr. Chen, some people in Berlin feel… uneasy about your speed."

"And how did you answer?"

"I said, Lanfang's engineers are the smartest, most diligent group I've ever seen." Schmidt took off his glasses, wiped the lenses, "They can derive an entire process from a single blueprint, and extract ten improvements from a single failure."

Chen Feng smiled: "Thank you for your fair words."

"But I also have a question." Schmidt put his glasses back on, "'Zhujiang Hao' completed, what will you build next? Bigger battleships? Or…"

He did not finish, but the meaning was clear.

Chen Feng looked at the battleship in the dock about to launch, the sea mist being scattered by the morning light, the hull's outline becoming clearer.

"We build what is sufficient." he finally said, "Enough to protect ourselves, enough to guard our homes, enough… to reclaim justice."

At eight a. m., more people gathered on the viewing platform.

Besides government officials and technicians, there were over two hundred specially invited representatives—model workers from the steel plant, veteran shipyard masters, leaders of immigrant communities, student representatives. Wang Wenwu was explaining the warship specifications to several Arab tribal elders, with Elder Sa Leman serving as translator.

"Eight 380‑mm Main Guns, each Shell weighing 800 kg, range 36 km…"

"Maximum speed 30 knots, 2 knots faster than Yingguo's latest Elizabeth Queen Class…"

"Thickest armor 360 mm, can withstand the Main Guns of all current battleships…"

The elders listened, eyes wide with amazement. They had seen camel cavalry, they had seen rifles, but a steel creation of this Scale was beyond their imagination.

"How much does this ship… cost?" an elder couldn't help asking.

Wang Wenwu thought for a moment: "Excluding R&D, a single ship costs roughly… eight million pounds."

Breathing sounds rose and fell. Eight million pounds was enough to purchase three years' total output of all tribes in the Neizhi region.

"Too expensive…" another elder shook his head.

"But what it can protect is worth eighty times eight million." Chen Feng walked over, speaking in Arabic, "Elders, do you know why the European great powers were able to establish colonies worldwide?"

He pointed at the Zhujiang Hao: "It's not because their civilization is more advanced, not because their morals are higher, but simply because— they have ships like this. When their cannons aim at your villages, you have only two choices: surrender, or death."

The elders fell silent.

"Lanfang does not wish to be a great power," Chen Feng continued, "but we also do not want to be the ones pointed at by cannons. So we must build our own ships, our own guns. Only when you hold a sword can you choose not to draw it; if you have no sword, you have no right to choose at all."

Elder Sa Leman nodded slowly: "Mr. Chen is right. Three years ago, Yingguo's gunships were patrolling outside the bay; they could land at any time and seize people at will. Now? Now their captains must first send a telegram to request permission."

At nine o'clock sharp, the ceremony began.

No lengthy speeches, no elaborate procedures. Chen Feng walked to the microphone at the front of the viewing platform and said only one sentence:

"Three years of effort, four giant ships. Today, the final one returns to the fleet. I announce—'Zhujiang Hao', launch!"

The dock gate slowly opened, Persian Gulf water surged in.

At first it was slow, like a creek. Then it accelerated, becoming a raging river. The sound of seawater slamming against the dock walls roared, splashing water ten meters high.

The hull began to rise.

First the stern lifted slightly, then the hull, and finally the entire ship broke free from its supports, floating entirely on the surface. Forty‑thousand tons of steel, at this moment, as light as a leaf.

"Cut the cables!" Ma Guodong shouted.

On both sides of the dock, workers swung axes to sever the last fixed cables. The Zhujiang Hao slowly slid out of the dock into the bay. Three tugboats that had been waiting outside immediately moved forward, guiding it to a deep‑water berth.

There, three other Bismarck Class ships were quietly moored.

"Changjiang Hao," "Huanghe Hao," "Huaihe Hao," plus today's "Zhujiang Hao." The four giant ships lined up, their deep‑gray hulls glinting with a cold sheen in the winter sun.

Thunderous applause erupted on the viewing platform. Many people were moved to tears— they had taken part in building these warships, from cutting the first steel plate to tightening the last bolt. These are their children.

Chen Feng watched the scene quietly, his face expressionless.

Wang Wenwu came over, whispering, "President, General Li Te is waiting for you at the command center."

"Understood."

The naval command center is three levels underground in the administrative building, accessed through three steel blast‑proof doors. This is Lanfang's military brain; the walls are lined with sea charts, and the tables hold the latest radio equipment and cipher machines.

Li Te was already waiting for him.

"President." Li Te stood at attention and saluted.

"Sit." Chen Feng removed his coat, handed it to Wang Bo, and walked to the largest South Ocean chart, "Is everything ready?"

"Ready." Li Te picked up a slender baton, pointed to Borneo on the chart, "According to the 'Return Home' plan, Phase One, I will lead the special mixed fleet out. Fleet composition: Changjiang Hao and Huanghe Hao, two Bismarck Class; Restoration Ship and Fuxing Hao, two battleship‑cruisers; plus six Omaha Class cruisers and twelve Fengfeng Class destroyers."

"Any other requirements?"

"None." Li Te shook his head, "The firepower of this formation is enough to crush all of Holland's naval forces in the East Indies. Their Far East fleet is down to five pre‑dreadnoughts, the oldest 'Holland' launched in 1898 with a main gun of only 240 mm. Our 380 mm guns can shred them from beyond their range."

Chen Feng stared at the chart: "What about Phase Two?"

"In three days, Huaihe Hao will lead the transport fleet out." Li Te's baton moved to Dubai Port, "Carrying the army's First Division, Second Infantry Division, and the newly formed Fifth and Sixth Arab Divisions. A total of 87,000 troops, all equipped with heavy weapons. The fleet will be escorted by eight destroyers, with Huaihe Hao as flagship."

"Have you assessed the loyalty of the Arab divisions?"

Li Te set down the baton, pondering a moment: "President, this may not sound very palatable—but I don't fully…"

"Specify."