Chapter 45: 3.8 Million a Ship

Negotiations lasted from afternoon until late night. When the final terms were basically settled, it was already ten o'clock.

"General Du Buwa," Chen Feng stood up, looking a little weary but satisfied, "I think we now have a solid foundation. The concrete contract text, my team will have ready within three days. In the meantime, you may continue touring our industrial facilities, and also… go see that 'Gu Ba Class' battleship under construction."

The proposal lifted the spirits of all the French.

"You mean…" Du Buwa probed.

"Tomorrow morning, I will arrange a 'limited tour' for you all," Chen Feng smiled, "from a sufficiently distant distance, to see the outline and scale. That should help you persuade Paris that this investment is worthwhile."

"Thank you for your sincerity." Du Buwa extended his hand.

The two hands clasped again. This time, Du Buwa's grip was lighter, the duration shorter— that was not probing, it was acknowledgment.

"Then, good night to you all." Chen Feng took his leave.

As they left the conference room, Wang Bo whispered, "Young Master, three‑point‑eight million is lower than the four‑million we expected. And the technology transfer includes only thirteen items…"

"Enough." Chen Feng walked down the corridor, steps light, "The Optical Rangefinder and the special‑alloy technology alone are worth five hundred thousand pounds. The rest are just add‑ons. Moreover, the French 'recognition of facts' is more important than the technology—that means we are no longer a completely invisible existence."

"But the risk is greater. If the deal leaks, how will Deguo react?"

Chen Feng stopped, looking at the night outside the window.

"So we must also give Deguo what they want." He said slowly, "Tomorrow notify Dr. Schmidt, and the day after arrange for them to tour the non‑core facilities of the 'Leopard'. Let them feel that we are more open and more trusting toward Deguo."

"Pleasing both sides, offending neither?" Wang Bo worried, "It's like walking a tightrope."

"No." Chen Feng shook his head, "It's not about pleasing, it's about balancing. Make Deguo think we rely on them, make Faguo think we need them. Then, between them, find Lanfang's space to survive and develop."

He kept walking forward:

"And when the 'Gu Ba Class' and the 'Leopard Class' are both completed, the world will see that the center of naval technology is no longer Yingguo, no longer Deguo, but here, Persian Gulf. By then we will no longer be pawns."

"What's that?"

Chen Feng pushed open the door of his study, turned back with a smile:

"A player."

The door closed.

Wang Bo stood in the corridor, lingering on that sentence.

A player.

Yes, perhaps soon, this young leader, this unrecognized Lanfang, could truly sit at that table.

Together with Yingguo, Deguo and Faguo, play a game that decides the world's fate.

And the stake is the future of all Chinese.

In the suite prepared for the French delegation at the Palm Palace, General Du Buwa did not sleep.

He sat at the desk, under the lamp's light, drafting a secret telegram to Paris. On the table lay the negotiation records, technical parameter sheets, and a copy of the preliminary design plan for the "Gu Ba Class".

"General, do you really believe they can deliver within twelve months?" Louis·Mo Luo asked. The engineer also could not sleep, repeatedly studying the design drawing.

"I believe they have the capability." Du Buwa did not look up, "You saw today when you toured the industrial zone, their equipment, worker quality, management level are all decent. And moreover…"

He set the pen down:

"And they dare to take us to see the hull under construction, proving there is indeed a physical ship. This is not a scam, it is real industrial capability."

"But that's unbelievable." Pierre·Du Lande shook his head, "A group of Chinese in the Persian Gulf desert building the world's most advanced battleship… it sounds like a novel."

"But this is reality." Henry·Le Fei Fu pointed to a detail on the design drawing, "Look at this armor joint design; this kind of slant and welding I have never seen in Europe. And the turret's rotating mechanism design… these are not imagined out of thin air, they are the result of calculations and experiments."

Du Buwa finally finished the draft telegram. He read it once:

"To the Honorable Minister of the Navy Thomson and Prime Minister Ke Lie Mengsuo: A preliminary agreement has been reached with Lanfang leader Chen Feng. They can provide a 'Gu Ba Class' battleship, specifications as follows: standard displacement 23,000 tons, full load 25,000 tons, equipped with twelve 305 mm main guns, speed 22 knots, armor protection superior to Germany's Westphalia Class. Price three‑point‑eight million pounds per ship, payable fifty percent cash and fifty percent colonial resources. Technology transfer of thirteen items required. Commitment to deliver the lead ship within twelve months. They will arrange an on‑site tour of the hull under construction tomorrow. Recommendation to approve. Du Buwa."

He paused, then added the final sentence:

"Personal assessment: Lanfang's industrial capacity exceeds expectations; Chen Feng is young yet unfathomable. This deal carries huge risk but may be the only way out for the Faguo Navy. Recommend prompt decision."

"Send it?" the communications officer of the delegation asked.

"Send. Use the highest secrecy level." Du Buwa nodded, "Also, prepare a technical assessment report, detailing the design advantages of the 'Gu Ba Class'. Mo Luo, this is yours."

"Understood." Louis·Mo Luo had already begun sketching in his notebook.

Du Buwa walked to the window, looking at the night view of Dubai Harbor. The port side remained brightly lit, faintly audible were the roars of machinery. Farther away, the desert darkness stretched boundlessly.

He recalled the words the Navy Minister Thomson said to him before leaving Paris: "Charles, the future of the Faguo Navy rests on you."

At the time he thought it was a polite remark.

Now he knows it was genuine.

If this deal succeeds, France will obtain three world‑class battleships within two years, five within five years. Though still fewer than Deguo, at least it provides a counter‑balancing force.

If it fails…

Du Buwa dared not imagine.

"General," Pierre·Du Lande suddenly said, "Have you ever wondered why Lanfang helps us? They could just sell to Deguo, which would be safer."

"Because they need balance." Du Buwa turned, "If Deguo fully controls them, they become Deguo's vassals. But if there is a French client, they have choice, they have bargaining power."

"So we are using each other."

"Isn't international politics just like that?" Du Buwa smiled wryly, "Using each other, checking each other, dancing on the steel wire of interests. The difference is only that some dance well, others fall."

He returned to the desk, picked up the design drawing, his fingers lightly brushed the ship's contour.

This ship still has no name.

But in Du Buwa's mind, it should be called "Richelieu" — named after the red‑cloaked cardinal who established France's naval power.

Or called "Colbert" — named after Louis XIV's naval minister.

The glory of the French Navy has been dim for far too long.

Perhaps these five ships can reignite it.

"Mo Luo, " he suddenly said, "If the deal succeeds, the first ship, I want to name it 'France'."

Louis·Mo Luo looked up, a similar spark flashing in his eyes:

Good name, General. The French… it will lead the fleet and restore its glory.

The two stared at each other, each seeing hope in the other's eyes.

That long‑absent, almost luxurious hope.

Outside the window, the bells of Dubai Port struck midnight.

A new day is about to begin.

And the fate of the French Navy may be altered on this day.