Chapter 32: Comrades, do you say we should allow Japanese ships to dock?

Chen Feng's eyes narrowed slightly: "The French… finally came to us."

"Do you think they're after our warships?"

"Otherwise? The French must be as frantic as ants on a hot pan." Chen Feng walked to the world map on the wall, pointed at France, "Germany has six Dreadnoughts, Austria‑Hungary has three, Britain has one ready and is building ten more. France has none, and was even rejected by the British. It's no wonder they're in a hurry."

"Then should we make contact?"

"Contact, but cautiously." Chen Feng turned, "What can the French give us? Money—they're not as flush as the Germans. Technology… they may surpass the Germans in some fields, such as optics and aviation. Most importantly, they can provide political cover—a 'de facto recognition' from a major European power, which is valuable to us."

"What about the risk?"

"The risk is angering the Germans." Chen Feng walked back to his seat, "So we must not act proactively; we wait for the French to offer a high enough price. Tell them: commercial inspections are welcome, but must be submitted through official diplomatic channels—we're unrecognized, yet the procedure must look like that of a nation."

Li Mingyuan nodded: "The second contact request… even stranger. It comes from a Japanese merchant ship operating in the Arabian Sea, asking to dock at Dubai port to 'replenish fresh water and food'. The vessel is named 'Spring Day Maru', registered in Kobe."

"Japan?" Chen Feng frowned, "What are they trying to stir up?"

Minister Wang Bo analyzed: "After Japan defeated Russia in the Far East, its navy suffered heavy losses and urgently needs new ships. Yet its attempts to purchase from Britain and Germany were rejected, so it may be seeking other avenues."

Chen Feng's intuition immediately raised the alarm.

The Japanese differ from the Germans, the French, and the British. This nation possesses an intense sense of crisis and expansionist drive; to gain a technological edge, it will stop at nothing.

"Tell the port authority: permit 'Spring Day Maru' to dock at the commercial pier for resupply, but restrict the crew's shore access. Strengthen vigilance at 'Leopard Nest' and the refinery area, embed counter‑intelligence operatives among the dockworkers, and monitor every move of the Japanese crew."

"Do you suspect they'll conduct espionage?"

"It's not suspicion, it's certainty." Chen Feng said coldly, "The Japanese navy is now like a starving wolf that smells meat. We must let them know that this meat has an owner, and the owner holds a gun."

Li Mingyuan quickly recorded all the orders.

At this moment, Wang Bo pushed the door open, holding a freshly received telegram, his expression grim:

"Young Master, something's happened."

"What happened?"

"Our iron‑ore procurement agent in Australia sent an urgent telegram, saying the British colonial authorities have suddenly tightened scrutiny of mineral exports, especially transactions involving 'strategic minerals' flowing to 'unspecified end users'." Wang Bo handed the telegram to Chen Feng, "Of the three mines we control through multiple layers of agents, two have had their export licenses temporarily frozen."

Chen Feng skimmed the telegram quickly, his expression unchanged, but his gaze grew cold.

"The British are becoming wary," he said, setting the telegram down, "They may not yet fully understand what we're doing, but they've realized a large amount of strategic resources is flowing this way."

"What do we do? Without enough iron ore, the shipyards and steel mills will be affected."

"Activate the contingency plan." Chen Feng said decisively, "Contact our agent in Chile and increase purchases from there. Also, through Dutch merchants, buy low‑grade ore from Sumatra and Borneo—though smelting costs are higher, it's still better than a supply cut."

He paused, looking at Li Mingyuan:

"Also, inform all overseas procurement teams: starting today, all transactions must be more dispersed, use more intermediaries, and payments should switch to anonymous Swiss bank drafts. We need to build at least six months' worth of raw material reserves before the British fully uncover our details."

"Six months? That will require huge funds…"

"Money isn't the issue." Chen Feng cut him off, "German gold is arriving soon, and if the French truly want a warship, they'll bring gold too. The problem is time. We must race against the clock."

The conference room fell silent.

Outside the window, the port's horn sounded faintly; another convoy of supply ships was arriving.

Chen Feng walked to the window, watching the ships traversing the distant sea. Those vessels carried ore, machinery, food… and also spies, merchants, and adventurers from various nations.

The world is beginning to notice the anomaly in this corner of the Persian Gulf.

Every subsequent step will be harder and more dangerous.

"Wang Bo," Chen Feng said without turning, "gather all ministers and chief factory heads for a meeting tomorrow morning."

"Yes, Young Master. What's the meeting's agenda?"

Chen Feng turned, his gaze sweeping over everyone in the conference room:

"The topic is: 'How to Survive and Thrive in the Eye of the Storm.' We must make everyone understand—great powers have their sights on us. From now on, every ton of steel, every Shell, every drop of oil could decide whether Lanfang rises or is smothered in its cradle."

His voice was calm, yet each word weighed as heavily as a thousand pounds:

"Tell them, the toughest times are coming."

French Naval Ministry building, late night.

The minister's office light was still on. Naval Minister Gaston Thomson sat behind a massive oak desk, three documents spread before him.

The first was General Du Bu Wa's urgent report sent from London, detailing the entire negotiation with the British and the ominous phrase "seeking other avenues".

The second was an analysis by the Naval Intelligence Bureau on the "Persian Gulf Chinese Industrial Base", concluding "hard to believe, but worth investigating".

The third was Prime Minister George Ke Liemengsuo's handwritten directive: "At all costs ensure the French navy does not fall behind Germany. Authorize any necessary measures."

Minister Thomson removed his glasses and rubbed his temples. He is sixty‑two, has served forty years in the navy, and has witnessed the French navy's rise and decline. He has watched the French fleet slip from the world's second‑largest to its current state—behind Britain, behind Germany, and perhaps soon behind the United States.

Now, the Germans' Dreadnoughts loom over France like a sword of Damocles.

"Minister."

A knock sounded as General Du Bu Wa entered, having just rushed back from London to Paris, dust‑caked but with eyes still sharp.

"Charles, sit," Thomson gestured to the chair opposite, "the London trip… was arduous."

"No gain at all." Du Bu Wa sat down, speaking bluntly, "The British treated us like beggars. The Marquis of Langsdun wouldn't even give a false promise."

"I figured as much." Thomson sighed, "The British are now preoccupied. Fei She Er forced the cabinet to approve a plan for ten Dreadnoughts; their shipyards won't take foreign orders for the next three years."

"So we can't wait." Du Bu Wa leaned forward, "Minister, I recommend we launch the 'Eastern Plan' at once. Send people to the Persian Gulf to contact that 'Lanfang'. If the rumors hold even a one‑in‑ten‑thousand chance…"

"The risk is too great." Thomson cut him off, "Arming an unrecognized entity? If the Germans discover it, or the British learn of it, the diplomatic fallout would be unimaginable."

"Then, if the Germans already have six Dreadnoughts while we have none, is the diplomatic fallout still tolerable?" Du Bu Wa retorted, "Minister, do you know the current mood within the navy? Defeat, anger, fear. Officers whisper that if we clash with Germany now, the French fleet can only hide in port—because sailing would make us a target."