The villainous young lady is actually a scientific research genius!

"Order Zhulong to switch to Level One combat readiness!"

The order was transmitted to Lingshui Airport immediately.

In the operations room, the duty officer quickly displayed the latest Shanghai chart of the US carrier strike group.

A striking red line cuts across the sea and extends southwestward.

At the end of the shipping route lies the sea area where Chinese fishing boats operate most densely.

Qin Beihai braced his hands on the edge of the table, his gaze fixed on the coordinates.

"How many ships are closest?"

"Radar has confirmed 137 vessels, and the number of vessels in the outer perimeter is still being counted."

The duty officer spoke very quickly.

"Most of them are small wooden boats, which are very slow. Some boats don't even have long-distance communication equipment."

As soon as he finished speaking, several telephones on the table rang one after another.

The first line to be connected was the South China Sea Fisheries Administration Line.

"The US escort ships are repeatedly broadcasting announcements in English on public channels, demanding that all nearby vessels evacuate within two hours."

The translator, wearing headphones, transcribed the announcement word for word.

The US claims that its carrier strike group is about to conduct exercises in the area. Any vessel that fails to evacuate within the stipulated time will bear all safety consequences arising therefrom.

Gu Zhaozhao raised her head.

Was the exercise area announced in advance?

"no."

Is this area of ​​water U.S. territorial waters?

"no."

Has an official international navigation warning been issued?

"No, not at all."

Gu Zhaozhao picked up a pencil and circled the location of the fishing boat on the nautical chart.

"We do not recognize this expulsion order."

The naval official frowned.

"But there are over a hundred fishing boats there. If something really happens, it will be too late to evacuate."

"People should be evacuated first, of course."

Gu Zhaozhao did not look up; the pencil in her hand remained still on that stretch of sea.

"But the withdrawal of personnel does not mean that the right to operate is also relinquished."

She picked up a piece of paper and wrote down three lines crisply.

"Notify the fishery administration vessels to organize small fishing boats to move to the surrounding areas in an orderly manner."

"All vessels retain the U.S. notification and record the time of receipt."

"Vess that can use public channels will be called out by the fishery administration and their names, locations, registration numbers, and operating permits will be reported in batches."

Qin Beihai stared at the three lines of text on the paper and quickly understood her intention.

"Ships can temporarily adjust their positions to avoid collisions. But we cannot allow the US to later claim that we acknowledged their hastily designated exercise area."

"right."

Gu Zhaozhao lightly tapped the nautical chart with a pencil.

"We're hiding from a warship."

"It's not about giving up your own sea."

……

On the South China Sea, the setting sun had already dipped below the horizon.

The radio on the fishing boat was blaring.

The shouts, inquiries, and engine roars mingled together, making one's eardrums throb.

"Old Zhou, did you hear that clearly? What were those foreign devils saying in their gibberish?"

"Get us all out of here within two hours!"

"On what grounds?"

Someone in the channel suddenly became famous.

"My grandfather's generation used to cast their nets in this very sea! When did it become their place to give orders?"

Several veteran captains took turns reporting the latitude and longitude.

Someone pulled a laminated nautical chart from the ship's hold. The edges of the chart were worn white, and several rough hands pressed firmly against the four corners, carefully checking it again with a ruler.

The coordinates are correct.

This area is neither U.S. territorial waters nor within the territorial waters of any other country.

On the Haian No. 7, the old captain Huang Yuanshan grabbed the radio.

"Stop arguing!"

His voice was deep and resonant, instantly drowning out the argument on the channel.

"What's the use of yelling and cursing at this point? Will a few curses make the warship turn around?"

Huang Yuanshan slammed his pipe against the edge of the table twice.

"The fisheries administration ordered the small boats to retreat first, so we'll follow their instructions. Everyone stay calm, don't all turn around in a rush, and definitely don't block the waterway!"

The channel was quiet for a moment, but soon someone couldn't hold back their anger.

"Brother Huang, if we leave today, won't they tell everyone tomorrow that we gave up this sea ourselves?"

Huang Yuanshan remained silent for a few seconds.

He glanced at the setting sun outside the porthole before pressing the call button again.

"People have to get home alive first."

"But what needs to be said must be said clearly in front of everyone."

His voice wasn't loud, but it carried steadily into every ship.

"We're leaving now to avoid warships and save our lives, not to accept their bullshit order to leave."

This statement quickly spread to all the fishing boats.

The fishery administration vessel raised signal flags and began to organize the surrounding fishing boats to turn around in batches.

The fleet did not panic and scatter, but instead moved north along the designated route according to the unified plan.

The large ship voluntarily gave way to the channel.

Ships carrying the wounded should be evacuated first.

Two fishing boats with malfunctioning engines fell at the back of the group.

One of them could barely survive on a single engine, with thick black smoke constantly billowing from its smokestack, and its speed was less than four knots.

While urging the engine room to check the fuel lines, the escorting fishery administration personnel coordinated with nearby vessels to prepare for towing.

"Send the tow cable over!"

"Get close to port, but don't get too close, watch out for the waves!"

Before the tow cable could be connected, the radar operator's tense voice came through the intercom.

"The US destroyer did not change course and continued to approach in a straight line!"

"Twenty-four nautical miles away!"

The people on deck subconsciously looked up and gazed at the sea to the southwest.

There are no ships in sight there yet.

But everyone knew that the other side was closing in.

Not long after, a second report came.

"Twenty-three nautical miles away!"

The other party still did not slow down.

The course was not changed.

That route was directly opposite the two broken fishing boats that were at the very back of the convoy.

……

When the operations room received the latest data, the two Zhulong aircraft at Lingshui Airport had already completed their pre-flight checks.

Zhou Zhigang climbed into the cockpit, fastened his helmet, and quickly scanned the instrument panel and warning lights.

"Fuel level is normal."

"Avionics system normal."

"Weapon system self-check complete."

The voice of the wingman pilot came through the headset.

"Candle Dragon II is ready."

Zhou Zhigang pulled down his mask.

"Candle Dragon One received."

Ground staff removed the boarding stairs, quickly exited the safe area, and then raised a flag to allow passage.

The two fighter jets taxied onto the runway one after the other.

The roar of the engines suddenly rose, tearing through the heavy twilight over the airport.

The next moment, the fighter jets rushed off the runway, took off one after the other, and headed straight for the southern sea area.

Inside the operations room, Gu Zhaozhao kept her eyes glued to the flight path chart.

Two points of light, representing the Candle Dragon, are moving south at high speed.

"Remind Zhulong not to approach the airspace above the aircraft carrier."

The duty officer immediately repeated the order.

"The Zhulong operates outside the carrier strike group's airspace and is only responsible for early warning and aerial surveillance. It is not allowed to cross the airspace above the carrier strike group without orders."

The naval officer asked:

"What if US carrier-based aircraft take off?"

"A warning will be issued on the public channel first."

Gu Zhaozhao answered quickly.

"At the same time, record their takeoff time, flight path, altitude, and all their maneuvers."

She paused, her gaze still fixed on the nautical chart.

"As long as the other side doesn't fire, we won't give them an excuse to create an aerial conflict."

The naval officer then asked:

"How should we handle the situation on the sea surface?"

Gu Zhaozhao's gaze shifted to the side of the nautical chart.

There is a small blue mark there.

513 frigate.

"Let the 513 ship cut in."

Several people inside the room looked up at the same time.

The 513 ship is not large in tonnage.

If placed side by side with a US destroyer, the difference in hull size, tonnage, and equipment on paper is immediately apparent.

What's more, the other side has an entire aircraft carrier battle group behind them.

Qin Beihai did not hesitate and reached out to grab the phone.

"Send the order to Ship 513!"

"Immediately proceed to the fishing vessel evacuation route and carry out escort duties!"

"We must get those two broken fishing boats out of the water!"

The telegram was issued swiftly.

……

On the sea, the bow of the 513 ship slowly turned southwest.

With the diesel engine power increasing continuously, the ship cut through the sea surface against the waves, leaving a long white trail behind it.

All deck personnel took their positions.

The naval guns remained in their original positions, without being turned or aimed at the American ship.

Inside the bridge, Captain Liang Haishan stared intently at the radar screen.

The dot representing the US destroyer is steadily approaching along a nearly straight line.

"Connect to public channels."

"Public channel connected."

Liang Haishan grabbed the intercom and spoke in a deep voice:

"This is the Chinese Navy's 513 ship."

"The warship ahead is approaching the fishing area of ​​the Chinese fishing vessel. There are slow-moving vessels and vessels carrying injured persons nearby. Please abide by the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea and adjust your course immediately."

After a brief electrical hum, the US warship responded.

"This ship is currently conducting an exercise."

"All vessels must leave the relevant waters immediately."

Liang Haishan glanced at the constantly updating distance data.

"You did not announce the exercise area in advance, nor do you have the right to drive away vessels that are operating normally in the area."

"The 513 ship is currently carrying out personnel protection missions."

"Please turn to starboard immediately and maintain a safe distance from civilian vessels."

Silence fell over the public channel.

The US warship did not respond.

On the radar screen, the light spot representing the other party did not deflect at all.

Liang Haishan put down the communicator, his gaze darkening.

"The course remains unchanged."

The vice-captain turned his head to look at him.

If this course continues, the 513 ship will be positioned directly between the US destroyer and the malfunctioning fishing boat.

Liang Haishan did not repeat the order.

The first mate quickly looked away and responded loudly:

"Understood, course unchanged!"

The 513 ship continued forward.

The bow cleaved through the increasingly heavy waves, cutting resolutely between the American destroyer and the two malfunctioning fishing boats.

Distance announcements were constantly broadcast from the bridge.

"The two sides are nine nautical miles apart."

"Eight and a half nautical miles."

Everyone was staring at the radar screen.

The US warship is still approaching.

"Distance between the 513 ship and the target—"

"Seven point eight nautical miles."