Chapter 162: Then You Admit You

"General," Sa Lahe said, looking at the burning wreckage on the sea surface and the floating lifeboats, "Do… do we need to rescue the people who fell into the water?"

Li Te was silent for a few seconds.

"Rescue," he finally said. "We came to demand justice, not to slaughter. Send destroyers to pick up people, and have the medical ship ready to receive the wounded. The Dutch are also human."

The orders were relayed. Several destroyers broke off from the formation and began rescuing the sailors who had fallen overboard.

At 10:20 a. m., the Dutch colonial government sent a surrender telegram.

"We accept all your conditions. The detained have been released, the armed police who opened fire have been detained. We request a ceasefire."

Li Te looked at the telegram and said to the communications officer: "Reply: 1. The Dutch East Indies authorities shall immediately withdraw from Kun Dian and surrounding areas and hand them over to our troops. 2. All Dutch officials, soldiers and civilians may evacuate within forty‑eight hours; our troops will guarantee their safety. 3. Immediately surrender all military facilities and files at Kun Dian Port. 4. These conditions apply to the entire island of Borneo."

The telegram was sent.

A long fifteen‑minute wait.

At 10:35, the reply arrived: "Accepted. We request more evacuation time."

"Fine," Li Te said, "Seventy‑two hours. But after seventy‑two hours our troops will take full control. Now, have your representatives board the ship and sign the official documents."

He set down the microphone and walked out of the bridge.

On the sea surface, the wreck of the Dutch battleship was still burning, black smoke rising into the sky. Farther away, the outline of Kun Dian Port was clearly visible. That was the former capital of Lanfang, the place that fell forty‑four years ago.

"Sa Lahe," Li Te said softly, "Send a telegram to Dubai. Just one sentence: 'The gate is open; you can go home.'"

"Yes, General!"

The young man ran toward the communications room, his steps light enough to seem as if he might take off.

Li Te leaned on the rail, watching the land drawing ever nearer.

He recalled many things: his grandfather's stories of Lanfang from his childhood, the plan he and Chen Feng made three years ago in a tent in Dubai, and Wang Bo's tearful eyes when departing the port.

Now, they had achieved it.

In three years they built a world‑class fleet. With a coordinated salvo they shattered the Dutch navy. With a single telegram they reclaimed the lost homeland.

This is not the end, only the beginning. Next comes the landing, the takeover, the reconstruction, and confronting the international community's reaction…

But at least the first step has been taken.

The sea wind blew in, carrying the scent of gunpowder and the ocean.

Li Te took a deep breath, then exhaled slowly.

Home at last.

3:00 p. m., February 20, Dubai Administrative Building.

Chen Feng sat in his office, holding two telegrams in his hand.

The first was sent by Li Te: "At 10:00 a. m. today, my fleet engaged the Dutch Far‑East fleet off the coast of Kun Dian. We sank one enemy ship, heavily damaged two, and captured two. We suffered no significant losses. The Dutch authorities have accepted all conditions and are signing the surrender documents. The gate is open; you can go home."

The second was forwarded by Wang Bo via the transport fleet's radio: "At 11:00 a. m. today, the vanguard battalion of the landing forces entered Kun Dian. Along the streets, tens of thousands of empty alleys. I, an old man, stand at the former main hall site; the ruins remain. Yet the locals meet us with tearful eyes, saying: 'We have waited forty‑four years for you.' Also, my father's remains have been found; we plan to rebury them tomorrow. Do not worry."

Chen Feng read the two telegrams three times, then carefully folded them and placed them in the deepest part of the drawer.

There were already many documents there: the first development plan from three years ago, the launch photograph of the first submarine, and the report of the first successful test flight.

Now, the gate tower has fallen, but the people have returned.

A knock sounded at the door.

"Enter."

Wang Wenwu pushed the door open and entered, his complexion not very good: "President, the British consul Huo Hua De and the French consul Dupont have arrived. In the reception hall, they say they want an 'emergency meeting.'"

"Faster than I expected," Chen Feng said, standing up and smoothing his collar. "What expressions do they have?"

"Huo Hua De's face is grim, Dupont… Dupont is sneering."

"Fine," Chen Feng nodded. "Have them wait ten minutes. Then… invite them in."

Ten minutes later, the reception hall.

Huo Hua De and Dupont sat on the sofa, tea set before them, but neither moved. Huo Hua De wore a formal black tuxedo, an imperial medal pinned to his chest, though the medals now seemed dim. Dupont was in a gray suit, legs crossed, his fingers lightly tapping his knee.

When Chen Feng entered, the two stood up simultaneously—not out of courtesy, but instinct.

"Two consuls, please sit," Chen Feng said, taking the main seat, while Wang Bo—no, Wang Bo was not there, it was another elderly attendant—poured tea.

"Mr. Chen," Huo Hua De said bluntly, "We have just received news that the Lanfang navy launched an attack on the Dutch fleet in Borneo. Is that true?"

"It is true," Chen Feng said calmly, "but it was not an attack; it was a protection of overseas compatriots operation. Dutch military police shot seven of my compatriots in Kun Dian early this morning and injured more than twenty. Under international law we have the right and the duty to protect overseas nationals."

"Does protecting compatriots require sinking five warships?" Dupont's French, laced with sarcasm, asked, "Does it require occupying the entire port? Does it require… 'full takeover of Borneo'?"

That final sentence was a quotation, clearly indicating he already knew the conditions Li Te sent to the Dutch.

"If the lives of compatriots are threatened, any measure is necessary," Chen Feng said, taking a sip of tea. "As for taking over Borneo… that is the ancestral land of the Lanfang Republic. It was illegally seized by the Dutch in 1876; today we are merely reclaiming what is rightfully ours."

"Illegally seized?" Huo Hua De's voice rose. "Mr. Chen, the Dutch rule in the East Indies is recognized by the international community! All the great powers, including Yingguo, Faguo, and Deguo, acknowledge it as a Dutch colony!"

"Then you are mistaken in your acknowledgment," Chen Feng set down his teacup. "Do you need me to produce evidence? We have copies of all original treaties signed between Lanfang Company and the Dutch East Indies Company. Should I summon an international law expert to argue? Should I bring out the photos of how the Dutch used cannons to blast open the Kun Dian gate…"

He paused, his voice turning cold:

"Or perhaps I should remind you both, where were Yingguo and Faguo in 1876? When Dutch gunboats opened fire on defenseless civilians, did London and Paris ever issue a protest? Now we are reclaiming our own home, and you leap out. Why? Because the Dutch are white? Because colonies may only belong to European nations? Because Asians are unfit to have their own country, unfit to recover lands that were taken from them?"

A barrage of questions slapped the two consuls' faces like a series of blows.