Chapter 642: If the Royal Navy has ships needing repair, Lanfang can provide the same service

The next morning, the Yingguo Consulate in Dubai submitted a formal protest note to Lanfang's Foreign Ministry.

The note's wording was harsh, accusing Lanfang of violating international law by allowing belligerent warships to stay in a neutral port for more than twenty‑four hours, and demanding that Lanfang immediately expel the German warships, otherwise Yingguo will take all necessary measures to protect its own interests.

Chen Feng was drinking tea in his office when he saw the note.

He read it once and smiled.

"All necessary measures." He handed the note to the Li Te beside him, "What measures do you think they will take?"

Li Te took the note and glanced at it.

"Send warships to block the Persian Gulf?" he said, "How many of their ships are still operational?"

Chen Feng stood up and walked to the window.

"We just received intelligence yesterday," he said, "the Avenger and the Conqueror have entered Mumbai Port and are under repair. King George V, the Centurion and the Aias are rushing here from the Mediterranean. The Prestige and the Counterattack are also on the way."

He turned and said, "Ten ships. Within a month, Yingguo can assemble ten capital ships in the Arabian Sea."

Li Te was silent for a second.

"President, then what shall we..."

"We do nothing," Chen Feng interrupted, "let them assemble."

He walked back to the desk and sat down.

"If Yingguo protests, let them protest. If they assemble, let them assemble. If they block, let them block," he lifted his teacup, "as long as they don't dare to fight, no amount of shouting will help."

Li Te looked at him, "Are you sure they don't dare to fight?"

Chen Feng smiled.

"Chief of Staff," he said, "think about it: if Yingguo declared war on Lanfang now, what would be the consequence?"

Li Te thought for a moment, "We would side with Deguo. Six Bismarck Class ships would join the German Navy. The Nagato would enter service early. The entire Indian and Atlantic transport lines of Yingguo would be cut off."

"Right," Chen Feng nodded, "Yingguo knows this better than we do. So they can only protest, only assemble, only intimidate. But if they really move to act— they don't have the nerve."

He set down his teacup, "Send a reply note. Say that the German warship is undergoing emergency repairs in Dubai, fully in accordance with international law. After the repairs are finished, it will depart immediately. If the Royal Navy needs any ships repaired, Lanfang can provide the same service—fair prices, no deception."

Li Te was stunned for a moment, then smiled.

"President, what you're doing is..."

"Drive them mad," Chen Feng said.

On the afternoon of the third day, She Er arrived at Pier Three to watch the engineers at work.

The side hull breach of the Bismarck had been cut into a regular square. Several workers were welding a new steel plate onto it. Sparks flew, landing on the sea surface with a hissing sound.

Engineer Tang stood nearby, holding a blueprint, occasionally pointing.

She Er walked over and stood beside him.

"Engineer Tang," he said, "how is the progress?"

Tang turned his head, saw him, and nodded.

"General, smoother than expected," he said, pointing at the breach, "this can be welded by tonight. Tomorrow we'll do the watertight test; if all is well, we can flood it the day after tomorrow."

He also pointed at the B turret: "The hydraulic lines have been replaced. We're conducting a pressure test; it should finish this afternoon."

She Er watched the workers. Their shirts were off, skin glistening with sweat, yet their movements were deft; the welding torches in their hands were as precise as paintbrushes.

"Engineer Tang," he said, "how many of you are there?"

"Dubai Shipyard has three thousand regular workers," Tang said, "if needed, we can draw from other yards. Lanfang has invested a lot here."

She Er was silent for a few seconds.

"Engineer Tang," he finally said, "did you come voluntarily?"

Tang was startled for a moment, then nodded, "Yes, General."

"Why?"

Tang thought for a moment.

"General," he said, "the Bismarck Class is our design. I spent three years drawing this blueprint. Every line, every datum is etched in my mind. When they fight in the Atlantic, it's like... like my child fighting out there."

He paused, "If a child is wounded, can a father not go to rescue?"

She Er looked at him.

He looked at the oil‑stained face and the focused, steadfast eyes.

"Engineer Tang," he said, "thank you."

Tang shook his head.

"General, you needn't thank me," he said, "as long as you return alive and keep fighting Yingguo, that will be the best thanks."

Mumbai Port, Yingguo Navy base.

Admiral De Luo Beike stood on the bridge of the flagship King George V, watching more and more warships gather in the harbor.

The King George V, his flagship, had just rushed here from the Mediterranean. The Centurion and the Aias followed closely. The Avenger and the Conqueror were being rushed in the dry dock and could set sail in three days. The Ramilis and the Monarch were hurrying here from Singapore. The Prestige and the Counterattack had already rounded the Cape of Good Hope and could arrive within a week.

Ten ships.

Ten capital ships.

Adding destroyers, cruisers and supply ships, this will be the largest fleet the Royal Navy has assembled in the Indian Ocean.

"Commander," Chief of Staff walked over, "recon reports that the Deguo are still in Dubai Port, showing no signs of departure. The repair work appears to be ongoing."

De Luo Beike nodded.

"Let them repair," he said, "the longer the better."

Chief of Staff was startled, "Commander?"

De Luo Beike walked to the chart table, his finger pointing at the mouth of the Persian Gulf.

"If they come out now, we would have only seven operational ships. Seven against two gives us a numerical advantage, but we can't catch them. They can still flee."

His finger moved toward the position of Dubai Port.

"But the longer they stay inside, the more ships we have. After a week, ten ships. Ten ships against two, we can split forces to blockade, set ambushes, and leave them nowhere to run."

They raised their head: "Let them repair. When they finish the repairs, what will greet them will be ten Yingguo battleships."

On the seventh‑day afternoon, the Bismarck's repairs were all completed.

Engineer Tang, with She Er, examined every battle wound.

The B turret's hydraulic system returned to normal, achieving a firing rate of two rounds per minute. The breach on the starboard side was patched, and the watertight test passed. The radio room beneath the bridge was repaired, and both primary and backup antennas are functional. The damage on the secondary gun deck was also dealt with, and the secondary guns can fire normally.

"General," Engineer Tang said, "the Bismarck can now run at thirty knots and fire a twelve‑round volley. Compared with before the war, its combat power has recovered to over ninety‑five percent."

She Er nodded.

They looked at the massive ship, at its hull glittering in the sunset, at the busy sailors on the deck.

Seven days ago, it entered this harbor wounded and in a ragged state.

Seven days later, it was brand new again, ready for battle.