Chapter 150 After Entering the Port
The Russian aircraft carrier forcibly docked in a Chinese port, potentially facing exorbitant compensation claims!
A news report about the aircraft carrier Udenev has once again drawn worldwide attention.
Not long ago, the Ukrainian district court rejected all of Haojiang Entertainment Company's claims. Just when everyone thought that this unfinished aircraft carrier would ultimately belong to Emirates, a dramatic turn of events occurred—
With less than a week's journey remaining to its destination, a Far Eastern port, the Udnev encountered a sudden Category 12 typhoon at sea and had to seek shelter at the nearest deep-water port, which turned out to be Bincheng Port in South Korea.
This is practically walking into a trap!
An even more serious problem was that, since the Udnev had no power and no anchor winch, it had to drop anchor in an emergency to avoid the aircraft carrier crashing into the dock. But once the anchor was dropped, it could not be easily pulled back up.
This means that the Udnev, like a stubborn holdout, remained firmly anchored in the channel of Pencheng Port.
To make matters worse, due to limited visibility during the typhoon, unfamiliarity with the shipping lanes, and the lack of suitable berths for the aircraft carrier, the Udnev essentially stormed into Pencheng Port, damaging multiple navigation markers and even blocking the shipping lanes, causing widespread delays and resulting in direct economic losses exceeding one million yuan per day.
As time went on, the amount of compensation increased day by day, and the number of zeros before the decimal point increased.
The ship's escort experts and local shipyard engineers in Pencheng Port were helpless and unable to get the Udnev to weigh anchor. They could only barely adjust the aircraft carrier's berthing position to clear the channel and allow other blocked cargo ships to leave the port normally. However, the aircraft carrier itself remained firmly rooted in the port like a landmark building.
The port authorities lodged a strong protest with the new owner of the Udnev, demanding that the aircraft carrier be towed away as soon as possible to avoid disrupting the port's normal production order. They also made a high compensation demand, amounting to nearly half the value of the aircraft carrier.
The ship owner was extremely anxious and immediately called in people from the Uzbek shipyard. More and more engineers came, and they got older and older. In the end, even elderly men and women with white hair came, holding a stack of old, yellowed blueprints, pointing and discussing the aircraft carrier.
Hearing that there was an aircraft carrier to see, locals from Bincheng braved the wind and rain to come that very day. The news spread quickly, and a day later, people from other places also arrived in Bincheng, just to see the aircraft carrier with their own eyes.
Because the area where the aircraft carrier is located is under the control of Bincheng Port, non-employees are not allowed to enter without permission. People can only watch from a distance. The small hillside closest to the aircraft carrier and with the best view is packed with people, and even the tree branches are full of people.
Quick-thinking vendors arrived with their carts, selling popsicles, shrimp chips, deep-fried small fish, and kebabs. Some even offered to take commemorative photos for a fee. It was bustling and crowded, with no room to even stand on the mountain.
"Popsicle, popsicle, the old-fashioned popsicle that costs one cent—"
"Wow, this aircraft carrier is huge! Look at that waterline, how many tons of steel must have been used!"
"Come on, look at the camera, smile, I'll count to one, then we'll take the picture, three, two..."
"No wonder the Americans love to act as Pacific police wherever they go. Having an aircraft carrier makes them so powerful. They can attack whomever they want."
"If it weren't for the Russians' sabotage, this 'Dev' ship would have been ours. We would have an aircraft carrier then, and we wouldn't be afraid of the US at all!"
"Excuse me, excuse me... Could you please move your feet so I can pass?"
"Hey, you know, since this aircraft carrier is already right at our doorstep, why don't we just detain it? We can just give them some money."
"That's a good idea... Hehe, let's be a rogue for once..."
Upon hearing this, a gentle and refined elderly man next to him coughed lightly: "Ahem, comrade, you can't say that. What do you mean by 'playing the rogue'? It's clear that the Udnev aircraft carrier damaged our port construction, causing serious consequences and enormous losses. Before the ship owner provides compensation, we have the right to temporarily detain this aircraft carrier. This is an indisputable legal right!"
Everyone exclaimed in amazement, "Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant! That's why they say experience matters!"
Under the spotlight, the Emei staff sent by the ship owner to handle the aftermath are arguing with the Chinese personnel.
"No, we disagree. According to international practice, the Udnev was only seeking refuge in port due to extreme weather. Although customs procedures are still required, they can be handled through the standard process. Why should we need to apply for additional approval from your government?!"
Unlike the ship owner who was in a frenzy, the port staff calmly said, "What you said does have some merit, but it doesn't apply to the Udnev aircraft carrier—according to our country's laws, warships need special government approval to enter the port."
"But this is not a warship! The Udnev was never officially commissioned, even though it was indeed an aircraft carrier!"
The port staff simply smiled calmly and did not argue with him.
The staff member from E'fang sighed dejectedly and said helplessly, "Fine, fine, it's your territory, you call the shots... It's all that damn typhoon's fault..."
He rallied his spirits and pointed to the crowd behind him.
"But you need to explain why so many people from your customs, quarantine, and border control are here!!!"
The dock was packed with over a hundred people, young and old, all eager to get on board and visit the aircraft carrier.
Some people couldn't wait and had already boarded the small boat, circling the aircraft carrier like madmen.
The port staff member, unusually embarrassed, cleared his throat.
"Hehe, after all, your aircraft carrier is quite large, with many rooms, so there are correspondingly more people going on board for inspections..."
E'fang staff: ...
Someone behind shouted in Chinese, "Xiao Wang, what's that Russian muttering about? We've been waiting for ages, when are we going to get on the ship?"
Xiao Wang turned around skillfully and reassured him in Chinese, "Director Li, please wait a moment, it will be ready soon!"
He turned to the Emei staff in Emei language and said, "It's getting late, I think we should finish the inspection as soon as possible."
E'fang staff: "...Your bureau chief personally inspected it?"
Xiao Wang said without changing his expression, "Yes, this is the advanced nature and flexibility of socialism with Chinese characteristics. If it weren't for the rigid system and serious bureaucracy, your alliance wouldn't have disintegrated."
E'fang staff: "..."
It was truly a satisfying and exhilarating act of killing someone and destroying their spirit.
Despite the strict precautions taken by the Emirates side, wave after wave of "boarding inspection teams" still managed to thoroughly inspect the entire aircraft carrier from the inside out.
Everyone who has seen and touched the Udnev aircraft carrier can't help but exclaim, "What a magnificent ship!"
It is indeed a good ship. The steel is good, the craftsmanship is good, and the design is good. The Alliance originally intended to use this aircraft carrier to fight against the US fleet, so they were willing to spend a lot of money. Even though construction was halted for many years and it was dismantled into pieces, and it was covered in rust from seawater corrosion, it is still good in every way.
After all, at this point, Zhongguo's capabilities in both steelmaking and shipbuilding were far from comparable to those of the Udnev.
Previously, though people were thousands of miles apart, they knew that aircraft carriers were powerful, but they didn't know exactly how powerful they were. It wasn't until they actually saw an aircraft carrier with their own eyes, even if it was just an unfinished one, that they truly realized how terrifying an aircraft carrier was.
Among the crowd visiting the ship, some began to waver, their hearts irresistibly tilting in another direction.
Aircraft carrier, aircraft carrier...
Only with its own aircraft carrier fleet can a nation defend its vast maritime territory, truly bring its territorial waters under actual control, break free from the three island chains, and transform from a single land power to a nation that balances land and sea power.
As the Udnev aircraft carrier spends more time docked in Pencheng Port, more and more people are starting to pay attention to the carrier.
When news first broke that a Chinese businessman had purchased the Udnev aircraft carrier, the relevant departments were both pleased and troubled. They were pleased that the carrier had fallen to China, but troubled because the "aircraft carrier ban" had not yet been lifted. Even if the carrier flew the Chinese flag, it could not be used for military purposes, and would only create more trouble on the international stage.
But before they could even grapple with the decision, the Eguo Company suddenly appeared and snatched the aircraft carrier away, which was very upsetting.
Never having had something is worse than having had it and then losing it; the latter is always more heartbreaking.
Just as many people were regretting not being more decisive and resolute, a sudden typhoon blew the aircraft carrier into the port of Zhongguo—it was a godsend opportunity to regain what they had lost!
The experts who boarded the ship under the guise of customs inspection also submitted a detailed inspection and demonstration report, concluding that "the hull is usable, the power is usable, it can be restored into an aircraft carrier, or converted into an amphibious assault ship, or a test and training ship."
Gradually, a consensus began to form at the top.
China needs an aircraft carrier; China needs the Udnev.
But the Udnev is still nominally owned by an Eurasian company. How can we legitimately get that company to keep the aircraft carrier?
First, the authorities cannot come forward, otherwise those CBB and NNC reporters, who are faster than rabbits, will hype up the Jong-guk threat theory again.
Secondly, it would be best if the aircraft carrier were sold by the Eguo Company itself, to avoid hostile forces spreading rumors that the Zhongguo was using its power to coerce a transaction.
As for the final question—has Bincheng Port not yet formally requested compensation for losses from Eguo Company?
Readers who regularly follow the international edition of the newspaper have been watching the spectacle closely lately.
The people of Ego seized the aircraft carrier from the people of Zhong in Uzbekistan, but as fate would have it, the aircraft carrier encountered a typhoon on its return journey and had to seek refuge in a Zhong port. Now that it's on someone else's territory, the power dynamic has immediately reversed.
The port of Bincheng, South Korea, filed a lawsuit against the owner of the Udnev, demanding compensation for damage to port facilities, obstruction of the waterway causing widespread delays, and payment of berthing fees after the aircraft carrier entered the port. The total amount is $22 million, and this amount is still increasing daily.
The Ego company was naturally dissatisfied. First, it dismissed the person in charge of the aircraft carrier project, sent a new person in charge to argue, and even invited foreign reporters to criticize China's hegemony on camera.
The two sides argued fiercely, from newspapers to television, for months on end. The onlookers grew tired of the drama, and the hype plummeted. Even if they continued to clamor about the "Zhong Guo threat," no one bothered to give it a second glance.
As time went on, Eguo Company eventually couldn't take it anymore and watched helplessly as its debts piled up and its cash flow became increasingly strained. Meanwhile, the aircraft carrier that they originally planned to dismantle and sell for scrap steel to recoup their losses was firmly held back by Zhongguo and could not be moved.
The insurance companies that insure you before you set sail, just like insurance companies all over the world, will guarantee that you will definitely pay out claims when you pay the premium; but when an accident actually happens, the insurance company will take out the dictionary-like contract, flip out the exclusion clause from the corner, and explain word by word that due to the policyholder's mistake, the insurance claim will not be approved.
Ultimately, the Ego State Company, which was on the verge of bankruptcy, announced that it would sell the Udnev for the cost price of 30 million US dollars.
—It was indeed the cost price. It cost 20 million US dollars to buy the aircraft carrier, and another 10 million US dollars to tow it back from the Black Sea. This included expert escort fees, insurance fees, tugboat fees, strait passage fees, unforeseen expenses, etc.
Many companies inquired about the price, including those from Japan, South Korea, India, and small islands in Southeast Asia.
However, what was most surprising was that their old rival, Macau Entertainment Company, also inquired about the price, and even adopted a determined attitude.
Today, the shareholding structure of Haojiang Company has undergone tremendous changes. Xu Shaobo has been completely kicked out and replaced by Zhou Chunjun.
Xu Shaobo was imprisoned for embezzlement, misappropriation of funds, bribery, and other illegal activities. The luxury mansion in Deep Water Bay on Hong Kong Island that he bought with the funds he misappropriated to purchase an aircraft carrier has been seized and will soon be auctioned off by the judiciary, along with other movable and immovable properties.
Zhou Chunjun's journey was not without its challenges. He was reported to his superiors by political enemies for approving Hong Kong Securities Company's loan to Haojiang Entertainment Company without a collective resolution. As the Udnev approached Bincheng Port, Zhou Chunjun had already been suspended from his duties and was under investigation.
Although Zhou Chunjun wrote a statement explaining the circumstances of the loan and clarifying that he did not profit from it and was honest and upright, there was still controversy at the higher levels regarding his handling of the case.
At this time, the small island in the southeast openly expressed its desire to purchase the Udnev, offering $30 million in full and even sending American experts to assist in launching the aircraft carrier, without requiring any additional payment.
The Eguo company was very interested, and the representatives of both sides put their arms around each other and exchanged glances, ready to finalize the cooperation right in front of the Chinese side.
Should the Udnev be turned around from Pencheng Port and head towards the small island?
Zhou Chunjun was quickly reinstated to his original position and then given the secret mission of "buying back the aircraft carrier at all costs".
This time, it was no longer Xu Shaobo's so-called "state action, civilian operation" that deceived his superiors, but the true will of the state.
At Bincheng Port, Zhou Chunjun saw the Udnev aircraft carrier again, along with He Changyi, whom he hadn't seen for a long time.
"Mr. Zhou, as I said, we will have a lot in common."
Zhou Chunjun smiled, took two quick steps forward, and laughed loudly, "I always carry your business card with me now!"
He Changyi then extended his hand to Zhou Chunjun, saying, "Then I wish our cooperation will be successful once again."
Zhou Chunjun gripped her hand tightly: "We will definitely succeed!"
Before the Udnev was towed away from the Usak shipyard, Zhou Chunjun and He Changyi put on a charade in front of the whole world.
One is a victim whose love was stolen away and who threatened to see him in court; the other is a petty thief who ran away with his prized aircraft carrier. These two, who should have been bitter enemies, actually colluded behind the scenes and openly put on a grand show.
No one expected that the perpetrator and the victim were actually in cahoots.
Thanks to the efforts of the Haojiang Company at the Usak shipyard, the Udnev aircraft carrier was able to pass through the Tusman Strait without incident.
Even now, many people still lament that the Russian company was incredibly unlucky.
"Miss He, you are truly amazing! Who would have thought you would send an aircraft carrier back to China in this way?"
Zhou Chunjun sighed, "Even if you dare to think about it, you might not dare to do it. If you mess it up, the ship could be destroyed and everyone could die."
He Changyi said with a smile, "It's not difficult, it just requires a bit of luck. Fortunately, this time heaven is on our side."
Zhou Chunjun shook his head with a smile: "You, you..."
He Changyi then said, "President Zhou, the aircraft carrier has arrived at port, but it seems we'll have to put on another act."
Zhou Chunjun nodded in agreement, and then said, "It's like the story of Meng Huo being captured seven times, captured and released, captured again. This aircraft carrier is just tossing back and forth between our two companies, making everyone outside dizzy!"
After exchanging pleasantries, He Changyi invited Zhou Chunjun to visit the Udnev.
The sea was calm today, and taking advantage of the rare good weather, several gangways were hung on the aircraft carrier. People were constantly climbing up and down the gangways, and small boats were busily shuttling between the dock and the aircraft carrier.
He Changyi and Zhou Chunjun changed into port staff uniforms and safety helmets, blending in unnoticed into the crowd boarding the ship.
This was Zhou Chunjun's first time walking on an aircraft carrier deck, and his excitement was palpable.
No matter how much he suffered because of this, at this moment, it was all worth it!
He Changyi led Zhou Chunjun to the highest point of the ship's island, where someone was already waiting for them.
Zhou Chunjun was taken aback, a sense of something dawning on him: "Who is this...?"
He Changyi introduced with a smile: "This is Qin Polang, General Qin. He was the one who single-handedly pushed for the purchase of the Udnev."
The old general, dressed in his old military uniform and with gray hair, raised his right arm cleanly and solemnly to salute the two men, his voice booming.
"Thank you! On behalf of the country, I thank you for bringing the aircraft carrier home!"
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Author's note: Time for bed.
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