Comrades, what do you say about allowing Japanese ships to dock?

Chen Feng narrowed his eyes slightly: "The French... have finally come knocking on our door."

"You think they're after the warships?"

"Otherwise what? The French should be as anxious as ants on a hot pan right now." Chen Feng walked to the world map on the wall, pointed to France, and said, "Germany has six dreadnoughts, Austria-Hungary has three, and Britain will soon have one, and is building ten more. France has none, and was even rejected by the British. No wonder they're anxious."

"Should we make contact?"

"Make contact, but be cautious." Chen Feng turned around. "What can the French give us? Money? They don't have as much as the Germans. Technology... they might be better than the Germans in some areas, like optics and aerospace. But most importantly, they can provide cover in international politics—a 'de facto recognition' from a major European power is very valuable to us."

"What about the risks?"

"The risk is angering the Germans." Chen Feng walked back to his seat. "So we can't take the initiative. We have to wait for the French to offer a high enough price. We'll tell them: business visits are welcome, but they must apply through formal diplomatic channels—even though we're not recognized, the process has to be like that of a country."

Li Mingyuan nodded: "The second contact request... is even stranger. It comes from a Japanese merchant ship operating in the Arabian Sea, asking if it can dock at Dubai port to 'replenish fresh water and food.' The ship's name is 'Kasuga Maru,' registered in Kobe."

"Japan?" Chen Feng frowned. "What are they doing here?"

"Minister Wang analyzed that after Japan defeated Russia in the Far East, its navy suffered heavy losses and urgently needed new ships. However, their requests to purchase ships from Britain and Germany were rejected, so they may be looking for other avenues."

Chen Feng's intuition immediately sounded the alarm.

The Japanese are different from the Germans, French, and British. This country has an extremely strong sense of crisis and a desire for expansion, and will stop at nothing to gain technological advantage.

"Inform the port authority: allow the 'Kasuga Maru' to dock at the commercial pier for resupply, but restrict the area where the crew can disembark. Strengthen security at the 'Leopard Nest' and the oil refinery area, and deploy counterintelligence personnel to infiltrate the dockworkers and monitor the Japanese crew's every move."

"You suspect they might be involved in espionage?"

"It's not doubt, it's certain," Chen Feng said coldly. "The Japanese navy is like a hungry wolf, smelling meat. We need to let them know that this meat has an owner, and that owner has guns."

Li Mingyuan quickly wrote down all the instructions.

At this moment, Uncle Wang pushed open the door and came in, holding a telegram he had just received, his face grave:

"Young Master, something has happened."

"What is it?"

"Our iron ore purchasing agent in Australia sent an urgent telegram saying that the British colonial authorities have suddenly tightened their scrutiny of mining exports, especially transactions involving 'strategic minerals' going to 'unidentified end users'." Wang Bo handed the telegram to Chen Feng. "Two of the three mines we control through multiple layers of agents have had their export licenses temporarily frozen."

Chen Feng quickly glanced at the telegram, his expression unchanged, but his eyes turned cold.

"The British are starting to get alert." He put down the telegram. "They may not fully understand what we're doing yet, but they've realized that a lot of strategic resources are flowing in this direction."

"What to do? Without enough iron ore, shipyards and steel mills will be affected."

"Activate the backup plan," Chen Feng said decisively. "Contact our agent in Chile and increase our purchases from there. Also, purchase low-grade ore from Sumatra and Borneo through Dutch merchants—although the smelting cost is high, it's better than a complete supply disruption."

He paused, then looked at Li Mingyuan:

"Also, inform all teams sourcing overseas: from today onwards, all transactions must be more decentralized, with more intermediaries used, and payments must be made via Swiss bank bearer drafts. We need to build up at least six months' worth of raw material reserves before the British fully understand our situation."

"Six months? That would require a huge amount of money..."

"Money isn't the problem," Chen Feng interrupted him. "The Germans' gold will arrive soon, and if the French really want warships, they'll bring gold too. The problem is time. We have to race against time."

The meeting room fell silent.

Outside the window, the faint sound of ship horns could be heard from the port, indicating that another batch of supply ships had arrived.

Chen Feng walked to the window and looked at the ships coming and going on the distant sea. Those ships carried ores, machinery, food... as well as spies, merchants, and adventurers from various countries.

The world is beginning to notice the anomaly in this corner of the Persian Gulf.

Every step from here on will be more difficult and more dangerous.

"Uncle Wang," Chen Feng said without turning around, "summon all ministers and heads of major factories for a meeting tomorrow morning."

"Yes, young master. What is the topic of the meeting?"

Chen Feng turned around, his gaze sweeping over everyone in the conference room:

"The theme is: 'How to survive and thrive in the eye of the storm.' We must make everyone understand—the great powers have their eyes on us. From now on, every ton of steel, every shell, and every drop of oil could determine whether Lanfang rises or is strangled in its cradle."

His voice was calm, but every word carried immense weight:

"Tell them that the most difficult time is coming."

French Naval Ministry building, late at night.

The light in the Secretary's office was still on. Secretary of the Navy Gaston Thomson sat behind a large oak desk, three documents spread out in front of him.

The first document was an urgent report from General Dubois in London, detailing the entire process of negotiations with the British, and the meaningful phrase "find other ways."

The second report was an analysis by the Naval Intelligence Bureau on the "Chinese industrial base in the Persian Gulf," which concluded that "though unbelievable, it is worth investigating."

The third document was a handwritten instruction from Chancellor Georges Clemenceau: "Ensure at all costs that the French Navy does not lag behind Germany. Authorize all necessary measures to be taken."

Secretary Thomson took off his glasses and rubbed his temples. He was sixty-two years old and had served in the navy for forty years, witnessing the rise and fall of the French Navy. He had watched the French fleet slip from second in the world to its current state—behind Britain, behind Germany, and possibly soon behind the United States.

Now, the German dreadnoughts hang like the sword of Damocles over France's head.

"Mr. Minister."

A knock sounded at the door, and General Dubois entered. He had just returned to Paris from London, looking travel-worn, but his eyes remained sharp.

"Charles, have a seat." Thomson gestured to the chair opposite him. "You must be tired from your trip to London."

"Nothing of value." Dubois sat down and stated bluntly, "The British treated us like beggars. The Marquess of Langston wouldn't even give a false promise."

"I guessed it," Thomson sighed. "The British are too busy with their own problems right now. Fisher forced the cabinet to approve the plan for ten dreadnoughts, and their shipyards won't be able to get any foreign orders for the next three years."

"So we can't wait." Dubois leaned forward. "Minister, I suggest we immediately launch 'Operation East.' Send someone to the Persian Gulf to make contact with that 'Lanfang.' Even if there's only a one in ten thousand chance that the rumors are true..."

"The risk is too great," Thomson interrupted him. "To do arms deals with an entity that is not recognized internationally? If the Germans find out, if the British find out, the diplomatic consequences will be unimaginable."

"What if the Germans already have six dreadnoughts while we have none? Wouldn't the diplomatic consequences be unimaginable?" Dubois retorted. "Minister, do you know what the atmosphere is like inside the navy right now? Frustration, anger, fear. Officers are saying privately that if a conflict breaks out with Germany now, the French fleet can only hide in port—because going out to sea would make them targets."