Chapter 57: News of the Aircraft Carrier Varyag!

Kovsky and his colleagues were visibly incensed.

They had come to negotiate the sale of the second batch of 956Es for the sake of national interest; their goal was to sell the 956Es at a premium!

That was their core objective!

Instead, they had been bamboozled by Wang De into sympathizing with the Chinese Navy. This was a complete reversal of their positions!

At this thought, Kovsky and the others felt a surge of irritation.

Just moments ago, they had been secretly lamenting their own incompetence due to Wang De's "silver-tongued" persuasion, feeling like fools. Now, they each felt like grabbing Wang De and giving him a piece of their minds.

"The Chinese are pushing us too far!"

"Damn that Wang De! If I run into him again, I'll definitely teach him a lesson!"

The group cursed under their breaths, their tempers flaring.

"Let's first think about how to give Headquarters an explanation," Turgenev said.

Kovsky and the others' expressions instantly darkened.

At the time, Wang De had said he would go back and think of a way, but they had personally declared that this agreement was off, claiming they would handle the explanation to Headquarters themselves.

Now that reality had set in, what could they possibly use as an explanation?

Kovsky looked at Turgenev and said, "You have many ideas. You tell us."

"This purchase cooperation is likely dead in the water."

"Not even a chance?"

"Wasn't it your own big mouths back then? I estimate Wang De has already reported this news upward. When the time comes, the responsibility will fall entirely on us!" Turgenev said helplessly. "Believe me, it won't be long before Headquarters calls."

After a pause, Turgenev added another sentence.

"The Chinese don't want to buy, yet they've made us the scapegoats. Oh, Wang De, Wang De—he's dug a massive pit for us!"

As soon as these words were spoken, Kovsky and the others' hearts sank to the bottom.

Previously, they had only been thinking about how to pull a major fast one on the Chinese Navy; they hadn't expected to be the ones walking into a trap in the end.

Although they had spent nearly three months here eating, drinking, and enjoying themselves—seemingly making a profit—the failure to sell the second batch of two 956Es at a high price was their greatest loss.

Just as the group was feeling restless and frustrated, a call came in from the Russian headquarters.

The caller went straight for the jugular.

"What is wrong with you people! A perfectly good, highly profitable deal, and you managed to ruin it? You must provide an explanation! Otherwise, you can stay in China and never come back..."

"General, the situation is actually like this..."

A moment later, Turgenev hung up the phone.

Kovsky hurriedly pressed him, "What did they say?"

The others also looked toward Turgenev, waiting for an answer.

"The General said we were played by the Chinese this time, but we will settle the score!" Turgenev said.

Hearing this, Kovsky and the others breathed a sigh of relief.

Even though they had botched the matter, it seemed the higher-ups weren't blaming them too harshly.

"Turgenev, did the General say how we would settle the score?" Kovsky inquired.

Turgenev waved his hand. "I'm not sure about that. The General told us to wait here for a few more days."

"Wait a few more days?"

"Yes!"

"Why?"

"The General said that in the next few days, the Chinese will come knocking again to purchase the 956Es!"

Kovsky and the others looked at each other in bewilderment.

After what Wang De had done, why would they come back to buy more 956Es?

It made no sense.

Suddenly, there was a knock at the door.

Kovsky opened it to find a Chinese man standing at the entrance.

"Hello, Mr. Kovsky. Secretary Wang asked me to come by. If there are any gifts you would like to take back, please feel free to instruct me, and I will arrange for someone to handle it."

After a brief explanation, the man left a contact number and departed.

Holding the contact information, Kovsky glanced at it and casually tossed it into the trash.

"This Wang De is really eager to see us off."

"Let's stay a few more days. Headquarters should be making a move within these next couple of days!"

...

On the other side, after Wang De finished handling the matters regarding Turgenev and the others, he quickly sent a courier to Beijing to accompany them in purchasing gifts to take back.

Once everything was settled, he reported the matter to the three leaders respectively.

Qingdao, Northern Fleet Command Headquarters.

Xu Dongguo flipped through the documents and then signed them with a flourish.

This document was a proposal from the staff of the 408 Research Institute to change the Type 051B model to the Type 051C, serving as the Navy's first official step into modern warships.

The other two leaders had already signed; now that he had finished, they were just waiting for Liu Huaming's signature to finalize the transition of the improved Type 051B into the Type 051C.

He had already watched the complete recorded video of the Type 051B's sea trials; the footage was far more convincing than pale data.

Setting down his pen, he was in a very good mood.

The Navy of the new millennium had completed three major tasks.

Gaining a heavyweight genius, overcoming the technical hurdles of the 956E, and finalizing the Type 051C.

Once this year's military budget was released and the Type 051C production line was established, the Type 051C could be deployed across the three major fleets!

In a few more years, all of the Navy's warships would complete the leap from non-modernized to modernized.

Just as he was looking toward the future, the landline on his desk rang.

"Reporting, Chief. The matters regarding the Russian representatives have been handled..."

Wang De explained the situation and continued, "Chief Qian said he will send someone to communicate with the Russians."

"Secretary Wang, you did a beautiful job with this!"

After hanging up, Xu Dongguo thought of another issue.

Over a billion USD could be saved to build their own production lines. They were going to build a line for the 051C, but should they build one for the 956E as well?

If they built a 956E production line and encountered international military technology patent conflicts, it wouldn't be something that could be solved simply by paying money!

If the Russians found out that the Chinese Navy had not only mastered the core technology of the 956E but could also mass-produce it, it would cause massive trouble.

If it weren't for the fact that the 956E's combat capability was significantly higher than the 051C—serving as their confidence in dealing with the Japanese "Eight-Eight Fleet"—he wouldn't be so hesitant.

A moment later, another call was transferred in.

"Reporting, Chief. Secretary Zhao is looking for you."

Zhao Quanfa?

Xu Dongguo's eyebrows shot up.

He remembered Zhao Quanfa; he had been secretly dispatched two months ago to handle a major undertaking.

A call at this time meant that the major undertaking had reached a result.

As soon as the call connected, Zhao Quanfa spoke.

"Reporting, Chief. The '1121' Plan is showing initial results. We have had close contact with the other party's high-level officials, and the negotiations were pleasant! If all goes well, we can finalize the deal in a month or two!"

"Good! Secretary Zhao, if this succeeds, you will be the greatest hero!"

Hanging up the receiver, Xu Dongguo was in high spirits.

"The new millennium truly is a lucky year for our Navy!"

Just a moment ago, he thought the millennium had completed three major tasks; now, it seemed a fourth major task, "Aircraft Carrier Procurement," was also about to launch.

The aircraft carrier *Varyag*. The Navy had coveted it for a long time.

When they learned late last year that the Actor State intended to sell the *Varyag*, the Navy high command immediately made a decision, sending Zhao Quanfa as a representative to handle the matter in secret.

"A uniform fleet of modernized Type 051C ships, plus the stronger 956E, paired with the core—the *Varyag* aircraft carrier. The prototype of a complete carrier strike group is beginning to take shape."

At this moment, Xu Dongguo's heart could not help but swell with emotion.

They only needed to endure a few more years; once a complete carrier strike group was stationed, the security of the maritime regions would be maximally guaranteed!

*Knock, knock, knock—*

A knock sounded at the door, followed by the guard saying, "Reporting, Chief. Dean Lyu has arrived."

Taking a deep breath, Xu Dongguo suppressed his surging emotions.

"Let him in!"

As soon as Lyu Guangjun entered, he said bluntly, "Chief Xu, I am applying to go to Comrade Su Dingping's place to continue my studies!"

(End of Chapter)