diymy Chapter 778 Full load displacement 7 tons
Chapter 778 Full load displacement 7 tons
In the German delegation's quarters, Tirpitz sat alone at his desk, the Cypriot Treaty spread out before him. He studied it for a long time, then picked up a pen and wrote a long telegram to Berlin.
In the British delegation's villa, Asquith locked himself in his room and did not participate in any of the celebrations. He sat motionless in the darkness, staring out at the pitch-black night.
In the villa of the Lanfang delegation, Chen Feng stood on the terrace, looking at the shimmering sea in the distance.
Wang Wenwu walked to his side and asked softly, "Commander-in-Chief, are you unhappy?"
Chen Feng shook his head. "Happy. Of course I'm happy."
He looked at the dark sea in the distance.
"But after the joy, it's time to think about the next step."
Wang Wenwu asked, "What's the next step?"
Chen Feng did not answer.
After a long while, he said softly:
"wait."
9:00 AM, June 22, Port of Cyprus.
The sun had risen above the horizon, its golden rays scattering across the harbor's waters, creating shimmering, fragmented waves. The ships carrying the delegations from the five nations gradually departed the dock, preparing to return to their respective countries. The dock was filled with people seeing them off—local officials, ambassadors from various countries, armed soldiers, and a large group of journalists carrying cameras and notebooks.
Reporters crowded outside the police cordon, craning their necks to peer inside. Some stood on tiptoe, some climbed the nearby low wall, and some even climbed onto the port's cranes, all in an effort to get a good photo. Flashes went off one after another, and the clicking of camera shutters was like a cacophony of cicadas.
"The delegation from the Meilika delegation is out!" someone shouted.
Wilson walked at the front, smiling and waving to the reporters. Lansing and several entourage followed behind him. The group climbed the gangway of the "Ocean," stood on the deck, and waved to the shore again. Reporters frantically pressed their shutters, flashes going off everywhere.
"The French delegation has emerged!"
Clemenceau walked quickly, a look of relief on his face. He nodded to the reporters but didn't stop, boarding the French ship directly.
"The German delegation has emerged!"
Tirpitz, dressed in casual clothes, stood ramrod straight. His face was expressionless as he strode toward the German ship. He ignored the reporters shouting something.
"The British delegation has arrived!"
Asquith walked slowly, his face still somewhat pale. He kept his head down, neither waving to the reporters nor looking at anyone. His chief of staff, Gray, walked beside him, speaking softly. The two boarded the British ship and disappeared into the cabin.
"The Lanfang delegation has arrived!"
Chen Feng was the last to emerge. He wore a dark gray Zhongshan suit, his face expressionless. Wang Wenwu followed behind him, carrying a briefcase. The two walked slowly, unhurriedly, as if strolling along the beach.
The reporters went even crazier.
"Commander Chen! Look this way!"
"Commander-in-Chief, what are Lanfang's plans after the war?"
"Can I say a few words?"
Chen Feng ignored him. He simply nodded slightly and continued walking towards Lan Fang's boat.
The ship was a chartered cruise ship, not large, but very clean. Its white hull gleamed softly in the sunlight, and several Lanfang golden dragon flags hung from the gunwales. The gangway was lowered, and several Lanfang soldiers stood at attention on either side, saluting.
Chen Feng walked to the gangway and stopped. He glanced back at the five flagpoles, the five flags fluttering in the wind, and the reporters still frantically taking pictures. Then he turned around, preparing to board the ship.
Just then, Wang Wenwu leaned close to his ear and whispered a few words.
His voice was very soft, almost inaudible. The dock was noisy with people, the waves were lapping against the ship's side, and seagulls were crying in the air; no one could make out what he was saying.
But someone heard it.
Lansing Station was not far away, looking in the direction of Lanfang's delegation. He wasn't very close, but he understood some Chinese. When those words reached his ears, his heart skipped a beat.
"Full load displacement of 70,000 tons."
Lansing stood there, frozen. He watched as Wang Wenwu finished speaking, Chen Feng nodded, and then the two climbed the gangway and went into the cabin. It wasn't until the ship slowly sailed away from the harbor that Lansing came to his senses.
He turned and rushed into the cabin to find Wilson.
"Your Excellency, President!"
Wilson was talking to some of his entourage when he saw Lansing's expression and frowned. "What's wrong?"
Lansing lowered his voice and leaned close to his ear. "I just heard Wang Wenwu say something to Chen Feng."
Wilson looked at him. "What did you say?"
Lansing's voice was trembling.
"Full load displacement of 70,000 tons."
Wilson's expression changed instantly.
After the Ocean departed Cyprus, Wilson locked himself in his cabin.
He sat by the window, a glass of whiskey in front of him, now cold. He didn't drink it, just gazed at the endless sea outside. The sea was blue, the sky was blue, and sunlight shimmered on the water, creating golden ripples. Everything was so peaceful, so beautiful.
But his heart was in turmoil.
70,000 tons.
These three words were like three stones, pressing down on his heart, making it hard for him to breathe.
He recalled the specifications of the Bismarck-class battleships—45,000 tons, eight 380mm main guns, and a fire control radar capable of hitting a target with a single shot from 20 kilometers away. Those four warships were already suffocating the Maldives Navy. Every time Congress discussed the naval budget, someone would ask, "Can our warships defeat the Bismarck-class?" The Navy Department's answer was always, "No."
Now, Lanfang is going to build a behemoth weighing 70,000 tons?
He stood up, walked to the other end of the cabin, and then walked back. He paced back and forth like a wild beast trapped in a cage.
What can a 70,000-ton warship carry? Ten 406mm main guns? Armor so thick that current armor-piercing shells can't penetrate it? And it can maintain a speed of over 30 knots? One such warship is equivalent to three of the existing ones in the United States.
He stopped and pressed the call button.
A few minutes later, a middle-aged man in a naval uniform entered the cabin. He was Harrison, a colonel and a member of the Maryka Navy's entourage, and served as the military advisor for the delegation.
"Your Excellency, Mr. President, you wanted to see me?"
Wilson nodded. "Sit down."
Harrison sat down on the sofa. Wilson walked over and sat down opposite him.
"Colonel Harrison, I have a question for you."
Harrison straightened his back. "Please speak."
Wilson looked him straight in the eye. "If Lanfang were to build a battleship with a full-load displacement of 70,000 tons, how many years would it take our navy to catch up?"
Harrison was stunned.
He opened his mouth, as if to say something, but nothing came out. It was a long time before he finally found his voice.
"Your Excellency, you mean... 70,000 tons?"
Wilson nodded.