Chapter 8: One Arrow, Three Hawks

  Time flies like a white horse passing through a crevice, and with a flick of the finger, five years have passed. Everyone gathered together, feeling both nostalgic and extremely excited.

  "Lao Hua, I heard you've been transferred to a conventional submarine unit?" Lu Cheng walked over with two cups of drinks.

  "Yes, a one in a hundred chance was finally caught by me." Hua Jianfeng laughed very happily, he didn't want to let Lu Chengwen know about the crying and wailing face he had when he received the order.

  "I think it's one in ten thousand." Lu Chengwen pulled Hua Jianfeng aside, "Is it the experimental troops?"

  "How did you know?" Hua Jianfeng was taken aback, and immediately smiled and said, "I didn't say anything, I didn't say a word."

  "Alright, you think that little secret of yours can escape my hawk eyes? Let me tell you, we're also an experimental unit now."

  "Really?" Hua Jianfeng's expression changed 180 degrees again. "That's good, they're all experimental troops, don't worry about those confidentiality rules. By the way, which experimental troop are you from?"

  "Northwest side, coordinating with land navigation."

  "I've heard of it, isn't that the unit that took out a group of terrorists last year and was commended by the General Staff Department?"

  "It has nothing much to do with us, it's the credit of the border defense troops."

  "Never mind, you think I'm a naval officer and don't know the capabilities of the border defense troops? Without your help, the border defense troops probably can't even figure out where the terrorists are."

  Lu Cheng heard the laughter but didn't say a word, he didn't want to get into an argument with the boatmaster.

  "By the way, do you know why we came back?"

  "It may have something to do with what happened in the past few days."

  "What's going on?" Hua Jianfeng had been on the submarine for a month and returned to the base, then got on a plane, without knowing what was happening outside.

  "The Humayun's Tomb in New Delhi was attacked by terrorists, India-Pakistan relations are very tense, and it seems like war is imminent."

  "A fight?" Hua Jianfeng was shocked, "Mother's, if we really start fighting, then we'll have a chance to show off our skills."

  Lu Chengwen just smiled and didn't continue the topic.

  When Peng Maobang walked into the conference center, more than a dozen soldiers immediately stood up and saluted.

  "Everyone please take a seat." Peng Maobang nodded to the crowd and sat down first. "You've probably guessed why you were called back. The Hu-Ma-Yongling bombing case that occurred two days ago has put India and Pakistan on high alert, with war possibly breaking out at any moment. Although we are trying our best to mediate and hope that India and Pakistan can resolve the issue through negotiations, we cannot be empty-handed and unprepared. From now on, the experimental troops will enter a state of highest combat readiness. A military affairs meeting will be held at 8 pm tonight to discuss related issues."

  After finishing speaking, Peng Maobang stood up and left the conference center, leaving behind more than a dozen stunned military officers.

  By the time everyone reacted, the staff responsible for receiving guests were already waiting at the door.

  Peng Maobang had just walked into the office when he saw Cao Jishun sitting on the sofa, looking anxious.

  "Director."

  "Sit down, just arrived?" Peng Maobang first went to pour a cup of boiling water. "I heard there's new news?"

  "Just received news." Cao Jishun took out the documents he had brought. "This was sent to me directly by 'The Musketeer'. He caught a CIA spy who detonated explosives."

  "So soon?" Peng Maobang's hand on the water cup trembled slightly before quickly returning to calm.

  "The matter this morning has been confirmed, it's a female spy with the codename 'Sherry'."

  "Xuěli?" Peng Maobang sat down on the sofa, "This name seems very familiar."

  "This codename appeared five years ago, entered the country four years ago, was active for three months before escaping our dragnet and then disappeared for three years until reappearing recently."

  "It was her, related to the 'Yanhuang Plan', you reported the situation to me at that time." Peng Maobang also remembered, "It seems that we have both human evidence and physical evidence now."

  "It can be said that way, but the results have not been reviewed yet."

  "Will she speak?"

  Cao Jishun hesitated for a moment before saying, "As long as there's enough time, anyone will open their mouth."

  "You are personally responsible for this matter, once you have definite news, inform me immediately."

  "I'll deal with it immediately, flying to Islamabad this afternoon to take command on the front line."

  "Be careful, the situation over there is very tense, your movements will definitely alert the CIA." Peng Maobang put down the water cup in his hand and stood up, "Take a few more people with you, if you encounter any trouble, contact me directly."

  Cao Jishun nodded and stood up to bid farewell.

  Five minutes later, Peng Maobang also left the office.

  Half an hour later, he arrived at the Presidential Palace.

  "American spy?" Ji Youguo was also slightly surprised after hearing the news. "Previous speculations were correct, the US planned this terrorist attack. But what is their goal?"

  "Perhaps they want to use this to deal with us, or perhaps they want to get details about the 'Yan Huang Plan'."

  Ji Youguo slightly furrowed his brow, then shook his head. "Although I don't know much about intelligence work, but logically speaking, neither of these two situations is very likely. Think about it, 'Xuē Lì' (Snowflake)'s identity has already been exposed, would the CIA still let her carry out related operations?"

  After some thought, Peng Maobang acknowledged Ji Youguo's analysis.

  Ji Youguo supported his chin and fell into thought, without continuing in a hurry.

  After a while, Ji Youguo smiled faintly. Seeing the smile on the President's face, Peng Maobang knew that the President had already seen through the situation.

  "The US has gone a bit too far this time, thinking they can kill three birds with one stone." Ji Youguo picked up the cigarette that was placed beside him, lit it and said, "It seems like the Hu Ma Yun Ling explosion case is a terrorist attack. In connection with the tense situation in South Asia, would it be an ordinary terrorist attack?"

  "Lao Ji, you said one arrow and three birds..."

  "If India and Pakistan fight, will we just sit back and watch? If not, what kind of outcome will there be?" Ji Youguo put down his cigarette and habitually stroked his chin. "If we take action, even if we don't openly help Pakistan beat India, using our military strength to make India bleed a bit, or even cripple it, is no big deal. If India loses the war, it will prove that its military strength is weak, and also prove that Russian weapons are outdated. India has no choice but to spend a huge amount of foreign exchange to buy American arms. Isn't Lockheed Martin selling F-22I and F-35 fighter jets to India? The two orders are worth over $30 billion, with fat profits! Plus the Indian army and navy, in the next decade, it will bring hundreds of billions of dollars in orders and tens of billions of dollars in profits to American arms dealers."

  Peng Maobang furrowed his brow and quickly pondered the Premier's words.

  "As long as we intervene, India will resolutely board the US war chariot and become a firm ally of the US in South Asia. With its equipment fully Americanized, India may even terminate its non-aligned policy that has lasted for more than half a century and sign an alliance treaty with the US. At that time, the 'new crescent-shaped strategic defense perimeter' that the US has longed for will take shape against us. This is the second goal of the US."

  "If we don't go to war..."

  "Pakistan is bound to lose, and we will lose our only ally. The US can still use anti-terrorism and economic aid to pull Pakistan over to its side, continuing to play a balancing game of diplomacy and complete its strategic encirclement of us."

  Peng Maobang silently sighed and knew that the leader was right. "So, the last thing is..."

  "Shelley was caught in India, proving that American spies are still active in the country. The Japanese Prime Minister will arrive in New Delhi tomorrow and is expected to sign a cooperation treaty with the Indian Prime Minister within three days at most. If something happens during this time, Japan will find it difficult to stay out of it." After some thought, Ji Youguo continued, "If Japan uses this opportunity to promote its militaryization and independence, the US will use our hands to teach Japan a lesson. If Japan swallows its pride and downplays its role in the Indo-Pakistani conflict, the Democratic Party's reputation will be ruined and the Liberal Democratic Party will return to power. Either way, Japan will once again fall under America's wing, the Democratic Party's radical policies will be stillborn, and America's position in the East Asian strategic alliance will be consolidated."

  At this point, Peng Maobang suddenly realized and understood the meaning of "three carvings".

  Ji Youguo continued to ponder, the situation in front of him made him have to believe that the United States was accelerating its siege of China, wanting to make China a supplier of cheap goods on the US market again, using the blood and sweat of 1.4 billion Chinese people to consolidate its position as the world's number one power.

  "Lao Ji, shall we step in and mediate?"

  "It's not the right time yet, the situation is still unclear. If we come out now, it would be too artificial." Ji Youguo vetoed Peng Maobang's proposal and said, "The United States is a very clever chess player and also a very difficult opponent to defeat. This time they have overplayed their hand and even staked the country's future on it, completely a gambler's mentality. The US will not give up easily, and we are not yet at the point of being unable to counterattack. If handled properly, we can turn a bad situation into a good one."

  "Support Pakistan in this war?"

  "Whether to fight or not, we can't decide." Ji Youguo smiled faintly and said, "We need to make good preparations for fighting, but we can't be too high-profile. Many problems, I haven't thought them through clearly yet. Whether to fight or not, no decision will be made now. Intelligence work needs to be accelerated, closely monitoring the CIA's every move. In addition, regarding how to fight, a big battle or a small one, relevant combat plans need to be perfected as soon as possible."

  "Want to test America's bottom line?" Peng Maobang looked at that red phone.

  Ji Youguo glanced at Peng Maobang and smiled, saying: "What's the hurry? When the time is ripe, there's no need for me to make a phone call. Jia Peier will take the initiative to contact me. The US also wants to know our bottom line. If we appear too eager, aren't we implying to Jia Peier that they can do whatever they want in South Asia?"

  Peng Maobang also burst out laughing, but his laughter was a bit tense.

  What kind of performance will the Republican army show when they really start fighting, and can they defeat a powerful enemy after not having been on the battlefield for over 20 years?

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