Siheyuan: Hang Jia Dongxu, smash Banggeng to death!

Mark strode to the soprano platform, staring at the screen. The lights spread out into a battle formation, with the aircraft carrier in the center, destroyers around it, and several nuclear submarines on the periphery.

This is not a sailing formation; this is an offensive formation.

"God, they're not doing a drill."

Mark's voice was dry. "Our position might be right under their noses. They're using us as a target for their exercise."

"Colonel, what do we do? Retreat?"

"withdraw?"

Mark gritted his teeth. "Where to retreat to? We can't escape now. Our mission is to monitor them. If we retreat, how will we explain ourselves when we get back?"

"Keep listening. They do their drills, we do ours. Let's take a gamble, stay hidden, and don't expose ourselves."

However, before he could finish speaking, a strong signal suddenly appeared on the sonar screen.

It's not about passively receiving information, but actively probing.

Someone is actively sonar scanning them.

"They really found us." The soprano's face turned pale.

"Shit!"

Mark roared, "Our submarines are the quietest in the world, how could they possibly find us?"

But the facts are undeniable.

The sonar signal became faster and denser, making people's scalps tingle.

"Colonel, the Chinese fleet has sent a radio message."

The communications officer removed his headset. "They warned us that there were unidentified underwater targets in the exercise area and demanded that we surface immediately to identify ourselves, or we would be considered hostile targets."

Mark slammed his fist on the control panel. "Damn it! They're using us as target practice."

"Tell them that we are the U.S. Navy's nuclear submarine 'Big Beauty,' conducting a routine patrol in international waters, posing no threat to any ships, and ask them to let us leave."

The communications officer sent out the message.

A moment later, the call came back.

The Chinese fleet replied: We have entered the restricted area of ​​another party's exercise, posing a potential threat.

They demand that we surface and surrender immediately, or they will take all necessary measures.

Take all necessary measures?

Mark sneered, "They never intended to let us go, damn it!"

"Colonel, what should we do now?"

Mark gritted his teeth. "This is our country's waters. I'd like to see what they dare to do to us."

Onboard the "Yanhuang," Lin Tian looked at the electronic nautical chart, a cold smile playing on his lips. "The Ugly Navy submarine wants to leave?"

Now that they've arrived, there's no reason for them to leave without even having a cup of tea.

Brigade Commander Chen nodded.

Lin Tian: "Notify the anti-submarine fleet to begin the exercise. Drive that 'Sea Wolf' out of the deep sea."

"Yes."

The signal was sent.

Several destroyers on the outer perimeter of the fleet began to accelerate, encircling the area where the submarine was located.

The towed sonar array, like the tentacles of a giant beast, conducts a carpet search in the deep sea.

The Y-9 anti-submarine patrol aircraft dropped sonar buoys, which exploded on the sea surface, transmitting underwater sound signals back to the cabin in real time.

"Target spotted, bearing 305, 12 nautical miles away, depth 400 meters."

"Active sonar, continuous scanning."

The powerful sonar waves pierced the deep sea, generating a piercing shriek on the submarine's hull.

The sound traveled through the hull into the cabin, and every crew member heard it.

It sounded like someone was scratching glass with their fingernails, or like a siren screaming in your ear.

"They turned the active sonar up to maximum power."

The sonar officer covered his ears and cried out in pain, "Colonel, they are attacking us with sonar!"

Mark's temples were throbbing; the Chinese fleet was no joke.

They really did treat them as targets for the exercise.

Staying here means either being rendered incapacitated by the sonar or floating up and becoming someone else's target.

Either way, it's a dead end.

"Colonel, the Chinese fleet has issued another warning, demanding that we surface within fifteen minutes, or they will take further action."

"What further measures?"

The communications officer hesitated for a moment. "They didn't say, but according to their exercise plan, the next step should be a live-fire exercise with anti-submarine weapons, and we'll be the targets."

"Damn it!!"

Mark's mind went blank. Live-fire anti-submarine warfare drills meant they would use torpedoes to attack.

Although torpedoes don't carry warheads, this humiliation is worse than being sunk.

A US nuclear submarine, a formidable vessel, being used as a target and chased around—if word got out, Mark would become a laughingstock worldwide.

"Colonel, time is running out."

The soprano reminded him.

Mark closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and when he opened them again, his eyes were full of resentment. "Notify all departments to prepare to ascend."

He wanted to take another gamble.

In public, the Chinese people dared not kill him.

"Colonel!"

"Execute the command!"

The submarine began to slowly rise to the surface.

The water in the ballast tanks was squeezed out by compressed air, and the submarine's depth changed from 400 meters to 300 meters, 200 meters, and 100 meters.

When the periscope emerged from the sea, Mark saw the orderly array of the Chinese fleet.

Aircraft carriers, battleships, cruisers, and destroyers lined up in a row, creating an imposing sight.

Several anti-submarine helicopters circled overhead, their rotors stirring up waves on the sea surface.

The "Big Beauty" surfaced, and Mark stood on the command tower, looking at the Chinese fleet not far away, his face ashen.

On the flagship "Yanhuang".

Lin Tian looked at the submarine that had surfaced, a slow smile creeping onto his lips. "Target detected. Exercise continues."

Brigade Commander Chen smiled.

"Sir, the Ugly Army must be furious."

That's their business.

An anti-submarine helicopter dropped a simulated torpedo, which exploded underwater, creating a huge splash.

The destroyer launched anti-submarine rockets and depth charges, which exploded into rows of white columns of water on the sea surface.

The submarine maneuvered at high speed underwater, dodging "attacks" from all directions.

The "Big Beauty" was like a tiger with its teeth pulled, watching helplessly.

Mark said angrily, "This is a disgrace, a disgrace to our U.S. Navy. They're playing cat and mouse."

The adjutant stood behind him, not daring to respond.

"Did you take a picture?"

Mark suddenly asked.

The adjutant paused for a moment, "Take pictures...take pictures of what?"

"I want to film their exercises, film the planes, warships, and weapons. I want the Pentagon to see what kind of army we are facing."

"Yes."

The exercise lasted for a full half day.

The Chinese fleet had just withdrawn and regrouped when the "Big Pretty" was left with only its wreckage floating on the sea.

Mark and the others, clinging to a dozen or so planks, floated on the sea, watching the Chinese ship disappear into the distance, cursing under their breath.

"Colonel, what do we do?"

"Swim back."

On the Yanhuang ship.

"Sir, this exercise was a great success."

"Um."

Lin Tian nodded. "However, we cannot be complacent. Although the Ugly Army is not as well-equipped as us, their combat experience and fighting spirit are still inferior to ours."

"The commander is right."

"Hahaha……"

Everyone burst into laughter.

Lin Tian said in a deep voice, "Rest for a day, then continue the exercise tomorrow."

"Yes."

The night in Gemport is very quiet.

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian officers and soldiers couldn't sleep all night.

……