I built an armada.

Chapter 976 The European nations have lost face; don't forget to tell your ancestors at the family altar.

This is not an excuse, but a form of protection.

The wood show will be destroyed by the forest wind.

Su Dingping's value goes far beyond what a general can represent. An overly abrupt promotion might actually put him in the spotlight.

After pondering for a long time, Liu Huaming made a decision: "Let's do this: regarding the commendation and promotion of Comrade Dingping, we will, in the name of the Navy, compile a detailed report, focusing on his irreplaceable, strategic-level contributions, as well as the actual situation and concerns we face."

"Then, report it directly to Commander Xue and ask the leader to make a decision."

Meanwhile, in the capital city, inside a quiet and ancient courtyard house in the Beijing Military Region.

Xue Shuai had just finished reviewing the reports on the recent conflict in the waters of East Asia and the long-distance voyages in the waters of Europe. He rubbed his slightly throbbing temples and let out a soft sigh of relief.

With the overall situation settled, Longxia can be said to have double joy: it has demonstrated its power and peace in the east, and set sail with prestige and influence in the west.

He had assumed that Liu Huaming and his team would handle the details and follow-up matters, allowing him to relax a little.

However, when he saw the request from the Navy Headquarters regarding the victory banquet and Su Dingping's military rank, delivered by his confidential secretary, this seasoned and composed old marshal couldn't help but frown slightly, feeling somewhat troubled.

"This Hua Ming has given me a difficult problem."

Xue Shuai put down the documents, stood up, and slowly strolled in the courtyard paved with blue bricks.

Regarding the victory celebration banquet, he said without hesitation: "We must hold it! It has to be a grand affair, showcasing the spirit and morale of our Longxia soldiers!"

"We can't just have the Navy celebrate behind closed doors. The invitation list should include the meritorious units and representatives from the Air Force and Rocket Force that participated in the operation! This is a victory of joint operations of the three services, and we must demonstrate unity and cooperation!"

However, when it came to Su Dingping's problem, Xue Shuai also found it quite troublesome.

He was well aware of Su Dingping's immense contributions; it could be said that Su Dingping deserves the greatest credit for the transformation of the Longxia Navy to this day.

Rewarding him according to his merits and granting him the rank of general would not be an exaggeration.

However, just as Liu Huaming had worried, Su Dingping's age and speed of promotion were indeed too conspicuous in peacetime, breaking the conventions of many years.

This is not only about the balance within the military, but may also attract excessive international attention, which may not be good for Su Dingping's own safety and future working environment.

"The navy is really out of options..." Xue Shuai muttered to himself.

He knew that Liu Huaming had passed the buck to him, because the problem was beyond the scope of what the navy could solve independently.

After much deliberation, Xue Shuai made a similar decision.

He returned to his desk, personally drafted an explanation, attached the Navy's report, and instructed his confidential secretary: "Send this document to the Supreme Command and forward it to...those gentlemen for their review."

"Comrade Su Dingping's case concerns matters of great importance to the country and requires a decision by the highest level of government."

Thus, the "happy dilemma" of how to commend Su Dingping was brought up from the Navy Headquarters to Marshal Xue, and then further submitted to the highest decision-making level of the Longxia tribe.

In the subsequent preparation of the grand commendation plan, how to give Su Dingping an honor that matches his contributions and can properly balance various factors became a difficult problem that left the senior management quite at a loss.

Conferring of ranks?

Awarding honors?

Or is it some kind of special honor that transcends the norm?
This requires immense wisdom and courage to make the decision.

Just as Longxia was contemplating the glory of victory and internal personnel arrangements, in the turbulent Eastern Wilderness tribe, Cabinet Chief Shinzo Koizumi locked himself in his office, the curtains drawn, with only the dim yellow light emanating from the desk lamp.

Before him lay the latest intelligence report: the Longxia Navy was "popular" in Europe, morale was high within Longxia, international sympathy and support for the Eastern Wilderness were scarce, and the Eagle Tribe's attitude was ambiguous...

His resignation and the resignation of the entire cabinet seemed to be a foregone conclusion, and he could even feel the cold gazes from the Imperial Palace and the financial groups behind him.

But he was unwilling to give up and was still desperately trying to find a possible way out of the predicament, even if it was just to leave a less messy situation for his successor, or... to secure a slightly more dignified way out for himself.

He sat motionless in the darkness, like a lifeless statue, with only the occasional movement of his eyes revealing the intense and painful struggle still raging within him.

Outside the window, Tokyo's night scene remains as vibrant as ever, but beneath this vibrancy lies a bottomless crisis and a sense of bewilderment.

In the Eastern Wilderness Tribe, on the top floor of the cabinet building that symbolized supreme power, the leader's office was brightly lit, yet it could not dispel the heavy and gloomy atmosphere that permeated it.

The cabinet leader stood alone in front of the huge floor-to-ceiling window, looking down at the still bustling city with its neon lights, but his heart felt as if it had sunk to the bottom of a cold sea.

The images and information transmitted through encrypted channels constantly stimulated his sensitive nerves.

The "hospitality" the Longxia Navy received in Europe, its close interactions with delegations from various countries, and the amazement and praise for the Longxia fleet on international social media...

All of this forms an incredibly cruel contrast to the mess he is currently facing!
Thinking of his own navy, which was once known as the "Little Overlord of the Eastern Sea Area," now that its main force has been lost and the remaining ships can only cower in the port.

He was powerless to even maintain basic stability in the surrounding waters, and a mix of bitterness, resentment, and immense disappointment gnawed at his heart like a venomous snake.

"once Upon a time……"

He muttered to himself, his voice hoarse and aged. In just a few months, most of his hair had turned white, his face was haggard, and his eyes were sunken. "At the beginning of my term, we still possessed a formidable naval power in the region... but now, we have fallen to this state..."

He was tormented by intense self-doubt and guilt.

Was it a strategic misjudgment on my part?

Was it their own flawed decision-making that led the Eastern Wilderness Navy step by step into the abyss, to its current state of being merely a shell of its former self?

This guilt and torment caused him more pain than any attack from his political enemies.

He seemed to have already seen how history would judge him: a sinner who led the Eastern Wilderness to decline.

Gazing at the hazy night outside the window, he let out a long, sorrowful sigh: "Eastern Wilderness Tribe...where is the way out..."

In stark contrast to the despair of the Eastern Wilderness leader, many other nations on Earth, especially small and medium-sized countries and regional powers, were more concerned with how to get a share of the spoils from the rise of the Dragonxia tribe.

They are keenly aware that in this world that still follows the law of the jungle, strength is the hardest currency for gaining respect and building "friendship".

The military might displayed by the Longxia Navy during this long-distance voyage is more persuasive than any diplomatic note. They are all adjusting their strategies, considering how to forge closer ties with Longxia and gain access to its advanced weaponry, investment markets, and even political support.

As for how warmly the Dragon Summer Navy was welcomed in Europe, that became a secondary focus; it was simply an inevitable result of its strength.

At the British Colony, outside the historic main naval port of the Royal Navy, on a high observation point, General Morton Forbes, the base commander, put down his high-powered binoculars, his expression complex.

Although he was not at the forefront of the port, the majestic and austere outlines of the Dragonxia warships in the distance, gleaming with a metallic gleam in the afterglow of the setting sun, still gave him a strong visual and psychological impact.

It is a design aesthetic that is completely different from modern Western warships, exuding a simplicity and sharpness born for ultimate efficiency.

In the core area of ​​the port, the atmosphere reached its climax.

Under the guidance of the aircraft carrier's captain, Blackett, the Longxia Navy's 10,000-ton destroyer and Type 052D destroyer slowly docked at the pier in perfect formation.

The invisible, heart-pounding sense of oppression emanating from the approaching steel behemoth caused many on the shore to instinctively hold their breath.

The sound of camera shutters clicking was like a sudden storm. A reporter from a well-known news agency quickly snapped a close-up shot of the massive bow of the Longxia warship angled towards the camera.

The sharp lines and the dense array of vertical launch silos exuded a sense of power, and he almost subconsciously captioned the photo "The Gaze from the Eastern Empire: A Historic Crossroads of Old and New Sea Powers".

This title, carrying a subtle hint of bitterness, also accurately captures the complex feelings of many Western observers at the scene.

As Blackett and other Royal Navy officers descended the gangway of the HMS Queen Elizabeth with complex expressions, a polite but somewhat sparse round of applause rang out from the shore.

However, when Senior Colonel Zhou Qinglei and other representatives of the Longxia Navy, dressed in crisp white uniforms, walked steadily down the gangway of the Longxia warship with great spirit, they were surprised to see the scene unfold.

When they set foot on British soil, the long-waiting crowd at Longsha erupted in thunderous cheers and shouts from the bottom of their hearts!
"Our navy!"

"So majestic, so handsome, breathtakingly handsome!"

"That's right, this is what a major power's navy should look like, so imposing!"

The sound was deafening, as if it were releasing all the pent-up anticipation and pride.

Brightly colored dragon-patterned flags were waved vigorously among the crowd, forming a sea of ​​red, a stark contrast to the previous atmosphere.

Captain Blackett stood aside, watching the stark contrast in the scene, a helpless, bitter smile playing on his lips.

The feeling of welcoming a foreign army on one's own soil, even to the point of overwhelming the cheers for one's own country, is truly indescribable.

Then, an even more touching scene unfolded.

As Zhou Qinglei and others stood at attention, they solemnly saluted the welcoming crowd and the direction representing the motherland.

Led by Lu Xiangdong and Ma Jiancheng, the students and high-level talents from Longxia who were about to return to China spontaneously and unanimously sang the Longxia national anthem in unison!

That majestic and familiar melody resounded powerfully over the foreign port, each note filled with the deep longing of the wanderer for his motherland and the excitement of this moment of triumph.

Zhou Qinglei and the officers from Longxia behind him maintained a salute, their postures upright as pine trees, their gazes firm and sacred. This solemn and dignified scene was transmitted to all parts of the world through countless cameras.

The journalists from various countries, observers from other countries, and even the British Royal Navy soldiers on guard were all deeply shocked.

This is not just a simple visit by the military; it is a demonstration of a strong sense of cultural identity and national cohesion, and a confidence and dignity that comes from the depths of one's heart.

After a simple welcoming ceremony, Zhou Qinglei shook hands warmly with Ambassador Zhao of the Longxia Embassy in Britain, who had been waiting there.

Ambassador Zhao said quickly in a low voice, "Colonel Zhou, you must be tired from your journey! Most things have been arranged, but there are a few minor issues. We'll discuss them in detail later."

Zhou Qinglei nodded slightly, indicating that he understood.

Subsequently, led by Ambassador Zhao and Zhou Qinglei, the Longxia delegation, along with key personnel such as Lu Xiangdong and Ma Jiancheng, left first to proceed to the designated location.

However, the crowd at the port did not disperse immediately.

Many Longxia residents were still immersed in excitement, chatting with each other and taking photos to commemorate the occasion.

Journalists from various countries seized the opportunity to photograph the details of the Longxia warship from all angles.

Meanwhile, the military attachés and observers from other countries had a variety of expressions on their faces, some showing undisguised envy, some deep contemplation, and others a lingering sense of jealousy and disappointment.

On the outskirts of the crowd, General Morton Forbes, who had changed into civilian clothes, quietly arrived at the edge of the dock accompanied by a bodyguard.

He no longer used a telescope, but instead used his own eyes to observe the Dragon Xia warships closely and carefully.

The smooth and clean deck, the integrated superstructure with excellent stealth capabilities, the seemingly simple yet highly sophisticated welds…

The closer he looked, the stronger the impact on him became.

This gap is not just reflected in the data on paper, but also in all aspects of industrial design, manufacturing processes and attention to detail.

"Amazing...truly amazing..."

He sighed softly, his tone carrying a sense of mutual respect, like that of heroes, and a hint of undisguised melancholy, "Times have truly changed."

He clearly realized that if the Royal Navy did not undergo a radical transformation and remained complacent in its past glory, it would be difficult to compete with this emerging Eastern power on the high seas in the future.

He stood silently for a long time, then finally turned around and disappeared into the crowd without a sound, as if he had never been there.

The subsequent formal military exchanges with the Longxia Navy were handled entirely by Brigadier General Abster, and no one knew about Morton Forbes's "private ship tour".

The Longxia Navy, on the other hand, has shown unprecedented openness and confidence.

They did not impose too many obstacles on journalists from various countries to take pictures; as long as they were outside the security line, they were allowed to freely photograph the exterior of the warships.

This openness is itself a declaration of powerful strength.

As the hustle and bustle of the port gradually subsided, a silent memorial service was taking place in a quiet cemetery dozens of kilometers away from central London.

This place, too, silently tells a tragic story!

(End of this chapter)