Chapter 315: Marine Corps Prepare to Land, Establish Safe Zone

Major General Li Te stood on the bridge of the Huai River, observing the port through a telescope. Calais Port is the most important supply hub for the Yingguo and Faguo coalition between the Yingguo mainland and the European continent; the docks stretch for kilometers, piled high with ammunition crates, food sacks, and medical supplies. But now, near berth No. 3 of the main dock, a massive crowd has gathered.

They are Chinese laborers.

About three thousand, wearing tattered cotton jackets or simple coats, many with melon‑skin caps on their heads. They are enclosed by barbed wire in a temporarily demarcated area, surrounded by armed Faguo gendarmes and Yingguo military police. Some laborers squat on the ground, some stand watching, some try to push forward, only to be shoved back by rifle stocks.

"Captain, the port authority has sent a signal," the communications officer reported, "'Only one supply ship may berth; battleships must remain at anchor and may not enter the harbor.'"

Li Te sneered, "Reply: Lanfang Navy is carrying out a humanitarian mission, demanding immediate berthing at the main dock. Repeating, immediate berthing."

After the signal was sent, the port fell silent. A few minutes later, a Faguo Navy patrol boat emerged from the fog, approaching the Huai River. On board stood a Faguo Navy lieutenant colonel and a Yingguo Army major.

"Prepare for reception," Li Te said, straightening his uniform.

The patrol boat docked on the side ladder, and the two officers boarded the battleship. The French lieutenant colonel was about forty, looking weary with deep eye bags. The Yingguo major was younger, but his expression was stiff and clearly displeased.

"I am the Faguo Navy Calais Port Operations Commander, Lieutenant Colonel Le Ke Lai Er," the Frenchman began, his tone fairly courteous, "and this is the Yingguo Expeditionary Corps Gendarmerie Headquarters representative, Major Smith."

"Lanfang Navy Special Task Fleet Commander, Major General Li Te," Li Te shook hands with them, "I believe the port authority has received our notice—we are here to repatriate the Chinese laborers."

Le Ke Lai Er and Smith exchanged a glance.

"Major General," Le Ke Lai Er said carefully, "the situation is somewhat complicated. Those laborers came to Europe under contracts signed between the Central X Government and the Yingguo and Faguo coalition headquarters. They were hired for logistics work for a two‑year term. To leave suddenly now… does not follow procedure."

"What procedure?" Li Te asked.

"The contract termination procedure," Smith replied, his English thick with a London accent, "each laborer signed an employment agreement; unilateral termination requires payment of damages and approval from the employer—the Yingguo and Faguo coalition headquarters."

Li Te looked at the young Yingguo officer, "Major, did those laborers know what they signed? Many of them are illiterate, they only made a handprint."

"That's not our problem," Smith said stiffly, "procedure is procedure. Moreover, the western front now urgently needs labor; if these laborers leave, it will severely affect logistics supply."

"So you would rather watch them die under artillery fire than release them?"

Le Ke Lai Er tried to smooth things over, "Major General, you may not fully understand the situation. The labor camps are set in safe zones, and we have comprehensive protection measures…"

"Safe zone?" Li Te interrupted, "Lieutenant Colonel, on my way here I saw artillery flashes twenty kilometers northwest of the port. If I'm not mistaken, that's the Lis River front, right? How far can the Deguo long‑range artillery reach? Thirty kilometers? Forty kilometers?"

Le Ke Lai Er fell silent. Smith's face turned ashen.

"Major General," Smith raised his voice, "this is a military matter; as a neutral‑nation officer you have no authority to intervene. Our demand is simple: your ship may berth for supplies, but must not contact the laborers. Their resettlement is to be negotiated between the Yingguo and Faguo coalition headquarters and the Central X Government."

Li Te stared at him for a few seconds, then turned to the executive officer and said, "Colonel Chen, order the Pearl River to berth at berth No. 3, the Huai River to maintain channel watch. The marine corps prepare to land and establish a safe zone."

"Yes!" Chen Shaoming immediately relayed the order.

"Major General!" Smith snapped, "are you planning an armed invasion?"

"This is a humanitarian rescue," Li Te said calmly, "my orders are to safely bring home compatriots who wish to return. Whoever blocks us is an enemy of Lanfang."

"You…" Smith's hand trembled with anger, "do you know the consequences?"

"I know," Li Te said, walking to the porthole and pointing at the laborers on the distant dock, "but I also know that if I don't take them away today, many will die here. To die ten thousand kilometers from home, to die in someone else's war."

He turned back, his gaze sharp as a blade, "Major, have you ever been to the front? Seen people blown apart by shells? Seen corpses suffocating in a gas chamber? Those laborers will soon witness, experience, perhaps become one of them. And you are discussing 'procedure' with me?"

Smith opened his mouth, but Le Ke Lai Er stopped him. The French lieutenant colonel inhaled deeply, "Major General, I need to consult my superiors. In the meantime, please suspend your actions."

"I can wait an hour," Li Te glanced at his pocket watch, "and after one hour, reply or not, my marine corps will land."

Le Ke Lai Er and Smith hurried away. As soon as the patrol boat pulled away, the Huai River sounded a battle alarm. Sailors rushed to their stations, the turrets began to rotate, and the marines assembled on deck, checking weapons.

The thick fog began to lift. Sunlight pierced the clouds, striking the battleship's gray‑blue hull and reflecting a cold, hard sheen.

The standoff at the port began.

At the same time, Dubai, Presidential Palace.

At ten a. m. (Dubai is three hours ahead of France), Chen Feng was chairing a cabinet meeting. Suddenly, the chief secretary Chen Wenya hurried in, handing a telegram.

"President, Calais urgent telegram."

Chen Feng took the telegram and read it quickly. Everyone in the conference room stared at him—Wang Wenwu, Zhou Tieshan, Zhang Zhen, Liu Qinian, Li Yongguang, and several ministers. They read ill‑omen from Chen Feng's changing expression.

The telegram, sent by Li Te, was brief: "Arrived at Calais; Yingguo and Faguo forces block repatriation, demanding laborers obey contracts and not leave. About three thousand laborers now gathered at the port, more in surrounding camps. Requesting instructions."

Chen Feng handed the telegram to Wang Wenwu, then stood up and walked to the map. His finger pointed to the location of Calais, France.

"Gentlemen," he began, his voice calm, but the air in the room instantly hardened, "our fleet has arrived, but we cannot bring the people back. The Yingguo and Faguo say the laborers signed contracts and cannot leave."

Zhou Tieshan slammed a fist on the table, "Bullshit! That's a slave contract!"

Wang Wenwu, after reading the telegram, turned pale, "President, this… this is worse than expected. The Yingguo and Faguo are trying to block hard."

"They dare to block because they think we won't stand firm," Chen Feng turned, his gaze sweeping each person, "they think we'll abandon those one‑hundred‑and‑fifty‑thousand people for 'international relations' and the 'greater picture.'"