That year the flowers bloomed 1981

Chapter 1359 Everyone Has a Dream of a Great Power
After learning that the people from Keshi Company had panicked and left Lutsk because they were threatened, Li Ye did not delve into the identity of the kidnapped "British Territory citizen," although he had a vague feeling that the person was likely Lu Zixue.

What Pavlov did is none of my business. I'm too busy.

Li Ye was indeed very busy. After successfully completing the first transaction with Pavlov, he made a small request—to see the large ship, the Varyag, located at the Black Sea Shipyard in Nikolayev.

But just a moment ago, Pavlov was patting his chest and boasting, "Tell me whatever you want, and I'll sell you XXX's ass if the money is right," but when he heard Li Ye say he wanted to see that ship, he shook his head vigorously like a rattle-drum.

"NO NO NO, you're too greedy. That ship is the pride of our nation, it's 100% not for sale. No matter how much money you offer, we won't sell it."

"."

Li Ye blinked and said with amusement, "Pavlov, that ship seems to be only half-finished, right? What kind of honor is that?"

Pavlov glanced at Li Ye and stubbornly said, "Even if it's a semi-finished product, you don't have it either, do you? Although our country is currently in a difficult situation, our industrial foundation is something you can't compare to."

The Black Sea Shipyard is among the world's top-tier shipyards. Once we weather this difficult period, we will inherit and surpass the glory of the Sugo era.

"."

Looking at Pavlov, who was talking non-stop and spitting as he spoke, Li Ye suddenly felt that this guy was wearing several layers of disguise.

When I first met Sun Xianjin, he was a cold and aloof man who rarely smiled and seemed somewhat pitiful due to the decline of the country.

This time, however, because he had just made a large sum of illicit money from Li Ye, this guy turned into a greedy bastard with gleaming eyes.

But when Li Ye talked about that big ship, he seemed to suddenly become more than ten years younger, and returned to his passionate youth.

It turns out they, too, harbor a dream of becoming a great nation.

The reason why aircraft carriers are so sought after is not only because of their military function, but also because of their spiritual significance—they are a major weapon of a great power.

Of the five great philanthropists of 1992, only China did not have an aircraft carrier.

Therefore, Pavlov can now mock Li Ye without restraint, saying, "Don't you guys have none either?"

Therefore, even decades later, when China's missile technology has advanced so rapidly that the operational role of aircraft carriers has changed, the country will still continue to build aircraft carriers.

Because aircraft carriers are a standard feature of a major power.

If you talk about "nuclear bombs" with a disobedient little monkey, it won't be afraid of you at all, because it's not worth it for you to both of you to suffer losses. To them, a weapon of mass destruction is just a bluff.

It's like two people fighting. If you're brandishing a 45-meter-long machete and yelling, it's not the most intimidating thing, because I don't believe you'd dare to risk your life to kill someone.

But if you come waving a brick at me, I definitely have to dodge.

Because they really dare to smash that thing!
Li Ye listened quietly to Pavlov's generous speech before saying, "We just want to take a look around. You don't need to be so nervous. Since you feel it's not suitable, we can look for other ways."

Pavlov paused for a moment, then suddenly changed his mind, saying, "A visit is no problem. Besides, there are many valuable things for sale on the Black Sea side, in addition to Wagjork."

Li Ye smiled.

Pavlov was clearly afraid that he had found another "broker," which also proves that he was not the only one actively profiting from the national crisis.

With a country like this, you still want to restore Sugo's glory, or even surpass it?
What a wishful thinking.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Kyiv is not far from the city of Nikolayev, where the Black Sea Shipyard is located; it takes less than an hour by plane and only two hours by helicopter.

However, when Li Ye arrived at the Black Sea Shipyard with high hopes, he was somewhat "disappointed".

Because decades later, that great ship, which was of great significance to China, is now just a rusty lump of iron.

Yes, the "light of revival" in Pavlov's mouth... it's rusted. Li Ye glanced sideways at Pavlov and saw the dejection and disappointment on the other's face.

Inside this Black Sea shipyard, there were countless unfinished ships of all sizes, with at least half of them at a standstill. Among the other ships that were barely under construction, not a single one was a military vessel; they were all civilian vessels.

Because civilian ships can generate revenue once they are built, while warships, being money-guzzling beasts, are mostly loss-making ventures.

What saddened Pavlov even more was that the shipyard, which once employed 25,000 people, was now deserted, with not even a tenth of its workers in sight.

The Black Sea Shipyard thrived because most of its workers were from the Nikolay family, whose skills were passed down from father to son. Once these valuable skilled workers are lost, the former glory will never be regained.

It's all because they're short of money.

Balayev, a deputy director of the Black Sea Shipyard, received Li Ye and his group and tried his best to promote other products to them in an attempt to resolve their financial difficulties.

"Don't bother looking at the Varyag anymore. We've already decided to mothball it temporarily; nobody can sell it. However, we have several other aircraft carriers available for sale."

Li Ye smiled and said, "Oh? You're also planning to sell that nuclear-powered aircraft carrier?"

"Hehehe, you're joking. I was referring to the Kiev-class aircraft carrier."

Balayev shook his head, a hint of barely perceptible embarrassment showing on his face.

Compared to the Vag, which is 68% complete, the other nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, the Ulyarovsk, is the real pain for shipbuilders like Balaev.

Putting aside the question of whether Balayev and his team can even finish building the ship without the support of the Sugo supply chain, the current rumors they've received suggest that the Ukrainian authorities intend to dismantle the ship in order to curry favor with the West.

Demolishing them is even more maddening than watching them rot away.

"Our Kiev-class aircraft carriers are also excellent. If you'd like, we can build you new ships, two or three, no problem at all."

It must be said that Balayev is a responsible shipyard manager. Even when faced with individual buyers like Li Ye, he tried his best to sell his products, hoping to get an order that could bring in cash.

Unfortunately, Li Ye had absolutely no interest in Kiev-class warheads. Only a White Elephant man, who was born with a penchant for fantasy, would impulsively buy such a stupid thing.

The Kiev-class carriers were not designed for carrier-based aircraft. The forward deck was too narrow, and even short-legged medium carrier-based aircraft like the MiG-29K risked crashing into the conning tower during takeoff and landing, let alone heavy fighters like the Su-27.

So instead of buying Kiev-class destroyers now, it would be better to buy a few more Sovremenny-class destroyers that are also stuck in construction stagnation!
However, the modern-class ships are built at the northern shipyard of the Goose Group, which is also in the midst of a severe economic crisis. Wen Leyu's inspection team has already begun formal contact with the Goose Group.

"Sigh, why is it so difficult to get things done?"

Li Ye couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

He genuinely wanted to bolster the Chinese navy's confidence before 1996, but looking at the current situation, things have truly not gone as planned.

Even if things don't go smoothly, he still has to plan ahead and do his best.

After visiting the Black Sea Shipyard, Li Ye summoned A-Qiang.

"Ah Qiang, what do you know about the gambling ships at sea in Macau?"

Ah Qiang was stunned for a moment, then said awkwardly and aggrievedly, "Mr. Li, although I used to be a gambler, I don't gamble. I don't have money to gamble."

Li Ye smiled and said with amusement, "That's right! If you're really addicted to gambling, it's not a good idea to let you do this!"

"So, Mr. Li, what do you want me to do?"

"I'll discuss it with Lao Pei and we'll set up a gambling company at sea for you, and then we'll wait for the right opportunity."

(End of this chapter)