Chapter 139 The Unfinished Aircraft Carrier (Revised)...

The Yan family's small building, the study.

He Changyi rarely returns to China, but whenever she does, the whole family gathers together in a lively atmosphere. Knowing she's very busy abroad and worried that she won't get enough rest, the Yan family has been politely declining guests during this time.

Therefore, this uninvited guest was particularly special.

The guest leaned forward and asked expectantly, "Xiao Yan, how much do you know about Uzbekistan?"

He Changyi didn't rush to answer. Instead, she looked questioningly at her father, who was frowning, looking both amused and annoyed. He said to the guest, "Old Qin, we agreed not to discuss business at home. Besides, my daughter is just an ordinary person and doesn't get involved in national affairs..."

The guest interrupted Yan's father urgently: "Old Yan, that's not fair of you! I've heard about the T-80 and that shaft machine tool. You have a good daughter who saved your old Lu family from taking more than ten years of detours!"

Yan's father didn't seem surprised, even though for safety reasons, He Changyi had two identities in China—Yan Zhengyue and He Changyi—each identity was independent, with complete files and legal documents, seemingly unrelated, and even the photos were deliberately chosen to be very different.

The powerful multinational tycoon He Changyi and the abducted Yan Zhengyue who finally returned home after more than 20 years are incomprehensible to those who do not know the inside story; while those who do know the inside story must abide by the confidentiality regulations and must not disclose it to the outside world.

This was to protect He Changyi. After all, it could be seen as a spontaneous act of patriotism for an international trader to bring tanks and machine tools back to China, but for the daughter of a military region commander to do the same thing would have more political implications, and she would be more likely to be targeted by intelligence agencies of various countries when she was abroad.

Therefore, not many people in China know He Changyi's true identity. Every time she returns to China, she is very careful. When she enters and leaves the Yan family home, she is like a female celebrity followed by a large group of paparazzi. She wears a wig and a long dress, looking like a delicate and beautiful young girl, which is completely opposite to her decisive and ruthless demeanor abroad.

This uninvited guest was not fooled by He Changyi's two identities. He even mentioned the T-80 tank and the seven-axis five-linkage machine tool that He Changyi had previously sent back to China with certainty. He was obviously one of the few people who knew her true identity.

The strict father didn't deny it, and said with a hint of pride, "There's nothing I can do. My daughter is capable and patriotic. That's what they call a tiger father and a dog daughter."

The guest immediately chimed in, "Then let your daughter help our navy too!"

The stern father hesitated, "This..."

He wanted to refuse on behalf of He Changyi, but when he saw the longing in his old friend's eyes, he couldn't bring himself to say it.

The guest who came was named Qin Polang, the deputy commander of the Navy, who was in charge of equipment development.

Despite having a rank and position at the top of the military, China's naval development is far behind the world's advanced level. It only has a few coastal ships, and both the ships and weapons are old and worn out. When in conflict with foreign militaries, it can only be forced to adopt the method of loading tanks and land artillery onto ships. A century after the Sino-Japanese War, it still faces the desperate situation of not being able to hit the other side with its shells.

Even if a crisis of foreign invasion were to occur, the current defenses of the Chinese navy would be as thin as paper, with weak ships and ineffective cannons. All their ambitions would be in vain.

At this point, aircraft carriers occupy the pinnacle of global naval power, and wherever they go, national authority extends. The United States possesses the world's most advanced and largest aircraft carrier fleet, capable of striking whomever it chooses and flexing its muscles along the coastlines of various countries.

Among them was Jong Kook.

As a naval commander, General Qin longed more than anyone else to own an aircraft carrier of his own country.

"If we also had an aircraft carrier, even just one, even if it was just sitting there unused, it would still be a deterrent. China's oceans belong to us, and no country can come and go as it pleases!"

Seeing General Qin's indignant expression, the strict father said carefully, "Old Qin, I understand your feelings, but an aircraft carrier isn't something we can just have whenever we want. We still need to consider the country's actual situation..."

General Qin interrupted him excitedly: "I know what you mean, but now there is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. If I miss this opportunity, I will die with regrets!"

He Changyi didn't speak, but listened quietly to the conversation between the two elders, seemingly lost in thought.

General Qin turned his head and looked at her intently: "Xiao Yan, I know you are very capable. You have a very successful business in the former alliance. There is no one else like you in the whole country. I have a favor to ask. I wonder if you can agree to it?"

Before He Changyi could speak, the stern father interrupted, "Old Qin!"

His expression was more serious than ever before: "If you want Zhengyue to go to Uzbekistan to buy an aircraft carrier for you, then I disagree!"

General Qin was also anxious: "This is for the country, not for myself! As long as we can buy the aircraft carrier, I will bear whatever the consequences may be!"

The stern father angrily said, "But she's my daughter in the first month of the lunar year, I can't let her take that risk!"

The atmosphere between the two generals was extremely tense. The strict father even rudely forced his guests to leave, and the meeting ended on bad terms.

He Changyi didn't get a chance to speak from beginning to end. It wasn't until only the Yan family father and daughter were left in the study that she finally found an opportunity to ask about the Ukrainian aircraft carrier.

The stern father put down his teacup and sighed heavily.

"Old Qin has a sincere heart, but you are my daughter, and I can't let you get involved in this mess."

This was, in fact, an aftershock of the Red Giant's dramatic collapse.

After the alliance disintegrated, the original member states declared independence. The majority of the alliance's legacy was taken by Oros, while the remainder fell into the hands of the former member states.

For example, the unfinished aircraft carriers at the Black Sea Shipyard were 98% complete when the Russian Navy forcibly took over, while the remaining two half-finished aircraft carriers were left to Uzbekistan.

In theory, this is a good thing, since there are very few countries in the world that can have two aircraft carriers at the same time. However, the problem is that building an aircraft carrier is extremely expensive, and billions of dollars can be invested with little effect.

Moreover, building an aircraft carrier requires tens of thousands of supporting enterprises, government departments capable of controlling and integrating massive resources, and most importantly, a powerful alliance.

Clearly, after the split, Uzbekistan is neither a part of the family nor a faction; it's a miracle it even survived.

Uzbekistan had intended to sell the two unfinished aircraft carriers to Russia, but the two sides failed to reach an agreement, and the Uzbek government ultimately ordered the construction of the carriers to be halted. One carrier was subsequently scrapped, while the other, the Udnev, had its important equipment removed and remained in port to rust.

After Uzbekistan publicly announced its intention to sell the Udnev, buyers from all over the world flocked to it, including Zhong Guo.

He Changyi asked, "This is a good thing, why don't you buy it?"

The stern father smiled wryly and said, "It's a good thing, but it's not suitable for now."

Aircraft carriers are great, sailing into the deep blue is great, but now is simply not the right time.

On the one hand, the military was short of funds, with the total annual budget of the entire army being less than 10 billion yuan, while the construction of an aircraft carrier would require 70 billion yuan; on the other hand, the central leadership was not considering the issue of aircraft carriers at that time.

Since the collapse of the alliance, the United States' attitude toward China has quickly turned hostile. The Western world is eager to set up a new target and once again try to take a bite out of this Eastern dragon.

Zhong Guo had no choice but to adopt a strategy of concealing his strength and biding his time, feigning weakness to the enemy, and striving to gain space and time for development amidst the encirclement of enemies.

It's truly frustrating, but there's really nothing we can do. We can't compete in terms of either economic or military strength. Even if we stubbornly fight to the death, it will only cause the steadily improving domestic situation to slide into the abyss.

Who wouldn't want their own country's aircraft carrier?

However, the existence of aircraft carriers would shatter China's publicly proclaimed defense and security concept. As a long-range offensive weapon, no country would believe that China is building an aircraft carrier fleet solely for self-defense.

It's like having a hammer; everything looks like a nail. An aircraft carrier, a vital national asset, is a giant hammer. If China wields this hammer, the Western world will become the nails, and they absolutely cannot allow that to happen.

Since Ukraine announced its intention to sell its aircraft carrier, many people in the country have offered suggestions and advice, hoping to buy back the unfinished carrier before other countries, but all of them have been met with indifference.

At its worst, the Navy prohibited discussions about aircraft carriers; this was an absolute red line that could not be crossed. Some people were even publicly criticized for publishing articles in magazines that called for aircraft carriers.

The stern father said with mixed feelings, "It's only because of your Uncle Qin that I wouldn't dare mention him if it were anyone else."

He Changyi asked curiously, "If that's the case, then what does General Qin want me to do? If things are as they are now, even if I buy back the Udnev, it won't be able to enter the navy's fleet, let alone complete the subsequent construction."

The stern father shook his head helplessly: "He's unwilling to accept it."

Yes, how could anyone be content with that? Having experienced the era of land-based artillery on ships, and now constantly facing military intimidation from the United States, who wouldn't want to have an aircraft carrier of their own?

Even an unfinished aircraft carrier represents hope.

After listening to his strict father's words, He Changyi fell into deep thought.

Seeing this, the stern father said with concern, "I told you the whole story to warn you. You must not agree to Qin's request. Aircraft carriers are good, but you are my daughter, and I cannot let you take this risk."

He sighed again and said, "If Lao Qin had found your two older brothers, I wouldn't have said this. One of them is a soldier and the other a policeman. A real man should dedicate himself to the country."

He Changyi said, "Is it only men who can serve the country? Sometimes women can do better than men."

The stern father said incredulously, "Don't tell me you want to buy an aircraft carrier from Uzbekistan?!"

He Changyi said with a smile, "Dad, just trust me, I'm sure I can handle this."

She lowered her eyes and said softly, "After all, I also want the country to get better and better. Even if it's just buying a decommissioned aircraft carrier, it might play a big role in the future."

The strict father was both shocked and angry: "Did I just explain everything to you for nothing?!"

Undeterred by his anger, He Changyi playfully clung to her father's arm and said sweetly, "Dad, I know you mean well, but I'm not just your daughter, I'm also a true descendant of the dragon."

She even raised her hand to her left chest and gestured, "Look, this is my Zhong Guoxin."

The strict father couldn't vent his anger, and finally looked at He Changyi and sighed heavily.

Do you know how dangerous it is here?

He Changyi said solemnly, "I know."

She looked into her stern father's eyes and said gently, "But sometimes people should do something for their country, even if it means risking their lives."

"This is my battlefield."

-----------------------

Author's note: Currently frantically researching...