Chapter 38: The Grand Performance at Portsmouth

"…Dad, Mom, I'm fine here. Every day I have food, I get wages, and I'm learning to read. When the railway is finished, I'll bring you over…"

"…Little sister, wait two more years. When we Lanfang establish a nation, I'll go back to marry you…"

"…Son, study hard. Dad is building the railway here so that you won't have to build railways in the future…"

Zhou Nian listened to these fragments, his eyes grew warm.

These people, only months ago miners, farmers, and peddlers from the South Ocean, came here because of Lanfang's summons. They lack advanced skills and rich experience, but they have the simplest wish: to build their own country so their descendants will no longer be bullied.

And the railway is the country's first step.

"Minister Zhou!"

Someone called out to him again. Zhou Nian gathered his thoughts and hurried over.

"Take a look at this." The technician pointed at a newly laid rail, "the joint is a bit large; trains passing might experience a jolt."

Zhou Nian crouched, felt the joint with his hand, then took out a caliper and measured: "Exceeds tolerance by 0.5 millimeters. Take it apart and relaid."

"Minister, it's only 0.5 millimeters; the train can pass…"

"Being able to pass is one thing; passing smoothly is another." Zhou Nian stood up, "the railway we're building will carry heavy trains for decades. A 0.5‑millimeter gap now could become five millimeters in a few years. Take it apart, relaid."

"Understood." The technician ceased arguing and called the workers over.

The sound of hammering rang out again.

Zhou Nian kept moving forward, inspecting each rail, every spike, and each bolt.

Quality. Quality. Quality.

The three words Chen Feng repeatedly emphasized.

Because this railway is not only a transport route but also Lanfang's backbone.

A backbone cannot bend or break.

At sunset, Zhou Nian returned to the command post. His assistant handed the day's progress report: 800 meters of sleeper laying completed, 750 meters of rail jointing, 1.5 kilometers of roadbed compacted…

Ten percent slower than planned.

But Zhou Nian did not lose his temper. He knew the workers had done their best; in 42 °C heat, in a water‑scarce desert, completing this was already remarkable.

He signed the report and added a comment: "Three workers suffered heatstroke today and have been taken to hospital. Recommend adjusting tomorrow's work schedule and strengthening heat‑prevention measures."

Quality matters, but people matter more.

This is what Chen Feng taught him, and also his deepest insight after twenty years of railway building.

At eight p. m., work ended. The workers, dragging their exhausted bodies, returned to the temporary camp, queuing for meals, queuing for showers, queuing for tomorrow's water.

Zhou Nian stayed. He sat in the command post by the kerosene lamp, beginning to plan tomorrow's tasks.

Outside the tent, the desert night was quiet, only the wind and the distant power plant's faint rumble.

The assistant brought a cup of tea: "Minister, you should rest as well."

"I've finished reviewing this section." Zhou Nian pointed to the blueprint, "tomorrow we start erecting Bridge No. 1; it's the first critical node and cannot go wrong."

"Then I'll accompany you."

The two, under the dim light, studied the bridge structural diagrams, calculating each beam's load and each pier's position.

It was late at night.

Zhou Nian finally lifted his head, rubbed his sore eyes: "Alright, go to sleep. We have to get up early tomorrow."

He stepped out of the tent, looked up at the starry sky.

The desert's starry sky was exceptionally clear; the Milky Way stretched across the horizon like a luminous river.

He recalled a saying his father told him while they watched stars in southern Yunnan during his childhood:

"Son, look at the sky full of stars. Each star has its own place, its own orbit. Humans are the same; find your place and walk your own path."

In the desert of the Persian Gulf, on the 60‑kilometre‑long railway construction site, among the dust‑covered Chinese whose eyes still held a spark.

In this Persian Gulf desert, on this 60‑kilometer railway site, among these Chinese covered in dust yet with light in their eyes.

His place is here.

"Minister, you said after the railway is finished, what will the first train transport?" the assistant asked suddenly.

"Minister, what will the first train carry once the railway is finished?" the assistant asked suddenly.

Zhou Nian thought for a moment: "It will haul iron ore from the mine to the steel mill. Then the mill will forge steel, build ships. Once the ships are built, they'll sail back to the South Ocean."

"Back to the South Ocean," the assistant repeated, his tone full of longing.

"Yes." Zhou Nian patted the assistant's shoulder, "Back to the South Ocean. With our railway‑building expertise, our ship‑building skill, and our resolve to build a nation."

The night wind brushed by, carrying the distant salty scent of seawater.

Zhou Nian cast one last glance at the stars, then turned and walked back into the tent.

Tomorrow, the sun will rise as usual.

Tomorrow, the railway will keep extending.

One kilometer, then another kilometer.

Until it links the port and the mine, connects the present with the future, and joins this desert with the distant South Ocean homeland.

That is the true terminus of this railway.

It is also Lanfang's true starting point.

The gloomy sky finally cleared, sunlight pierced the clouds and fell on the densely packed crowd at the port. Over 50,000 Yingguo people gathered on the docks and the surrounding hills, waving Union Jacks and singing "Heaven Bless Our King." The sound of the military band, the crowd's cheers, and the whistle of the locomotives merged into a deafening clamor.

The overcast sky finally cleared; sunlight pierced the clouds, bathing the densely packed crowd at the harbor. Over 50,000 Yingguo gathered on the docks and surrounding hills, waving the Union Jack and singing "God Save Our King". The military band's music, the crowd's cheers, and the whistle's blast blended into a deafening roar.

And at the focal point of all eyes, the shipyard's massive battleship had its scaffolding removed, revealing its full silhouette— the Dauntless, the Royal Navy's first all‑big‑gun battleship and Britain's response to Germany's six Westphalia‑class vessels.

On the viewing platform, King Edward VII wore the Admiral of the Fleet uniform, his face bearing the standard monarchic smile. Beside him stood Prime Minister Campbell‑Bannerman, Navy Minister Earl Selborne, and today's protagonist—First Sea Lord Lord John Fisher.

"John," the king turned his head slightly, his voice audible only to Fisher, "to be frank, how does our Dauntless compare to the German ships?"

Fisher kept his smile toward the crowd, his lips barely moving as he replied, "Your Majesty, on paper specifications, the Dauntless is not inferior and even slightly superior. Ten 12‑inch Main Guns, steam turbine propulsion, a designed speed of 21 knots—these are world‑class standards."

【61】 "Paper specifications," the king repeated, meaningfully, "and the actual performance?"

"In reality…" Fei She Er paused, "Deguo have six ships that have been in service for at least half a year, having completed full training and integration. Our 'Intrepid' was only launched today; its fitting out still needs eight months, sea trials three months, and it won't achieve combat capability until early next year. In terms of time, we are at least a year behind."

The king's smile did not change, but his gaze darkened slightly: "So today's ceremony…"

"It is a necessary performance," Fei She Er said bluntly, "Your Majesty, we need to let the people see hope, let our allies see resolve, and let our opponents see that Yingguo will not concede. This is politics, and also strategy."

Prime Minister Kan Bei Er-Ban Na Man stepped forward: "Fei She Er is right, Your Majesty. The cabinet has already approved a construction plan for ten follow‑up vessels, and the shipyard is working at full speed. By 1908, we will have eleven Intrepid‑class ships, reestablishing our numerical superiority."

"The premise is that Deguo will not build any new ones for the next three years," the king murmured.

The remark silenced several ministers nearby.

Indeed, a premise. The premise is that Deguo wait in place. The premise is that Emperor Wei Lian is satisfied with the existing six. The premise is…

There is no premise. In this chase‑and‑catch competition, no one will stop to wait for the opponent.

"Ladies and gentlemen!" The emcee's voice rang through the loudspeakers across the entire harbor, "Now, please welcome our king, Your Majesty, to conduct the naming and launching ceremony for the Royal Navy's battleship 'Intrepid'!"

Thunderous applause.

Ai De Hua Qi Shi walked toward the bow, where a bottle of champagne had been prepared. According to tradition, he will smash the champagne against the prow while announcing the ship's name.

But today, he added another gesture—before smashing the champagne, he turned toward the crowd and raised his right hand.

The harbor fell silent instantly.

"Today," the king's voice carried far through the loudspeakers, "we bear witness not only to the launching of a warship, but also to the dawn of a new era for the Royal Navy!"

The cheers rose again.

The king continued: "For three centuries, the Royal Navy has been the British Empire's most solid shield and its sharpest sword. We protect the Empire's sea lanes, safeguard world peace, and shoulder the mission of civilization!"

Applause roared like thunder.

"Now, a new challenge has arisen," the king said, his voice suddenly solemn, "Some people believe that technological progress will alter the balance of power. Some think that a few new‑type warships can destabilize three centuries of tradition."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the foreign diplomatic section of the viewing platform—Deguo, Faguo, Russia, the United States, Japan… representatives of each nation stood there.

"I will tell those people: you are wrong."

The entire venue fell silent.

"The Royal Navy's greatness does not stem from having the largest warships, nor from having the most guns," the king's voice rose, "but from our indomitable spirit! From the honor of our legacy! From the resolve to fight to the end in defense of the Empire's interests!"

He raised the champagne bottle:

"'Intrepid'—this name embodies the Royal Navy's soul! Fearless! Never retreat! No matter what challenges we face, no matter what opponents we encounter, the Royal Navy will bravely meet them, until victory!"