Chapter 29: The Navy Takes Action

  On July 3, at 14:30 Beijing time, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic issued a strongly worded diplomatic statement in response to the Indian bombing of the Chinese workers' camp in Gwadar Port, which killed 33 people, injured 107 and left 58 missing. The statement said that China will take all necessary measures to safeguard its interests in the Indian Ocean region and protect the lives and property of overseas Chinese in Pakistan, and that India will bear full responsibility for any serious consequences arising therefrom.

  Keen-nosed commentators immediately sniffed out a strong whiff of gunpowder from this brief, tough statement.

  Before major news media around the world came back to their senses, the "measures" mentioned in the statement were already released.

  At 16:30, thirty hours after the outbreak of the Fourth Indo-Pakistani War, and two hours after a statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Minister of National Defense Zhao Rundong and Admiral Ying Changhui, Commander of the People's Liberation Army Navy, held a press conference to announce to the world through reporters from major news media around the globe that the Chinese Navy would dispatch a special task force consisting of six destroyers, six frigates, and two large comprehensive supply ships to the Indian Ocean to evacuate Chinese nationals in Pakistan and protect the lives and property safety of Chinese expatriates in Pakistan.

  No declaration of war on India has been made and no related action plan has been announced.

  The whole world was shocked. China took substantial military action in a non-declared war manner by dispatching a naval task force.

  According to incomplete statistics, more than 500 major media outlets around the world reported on this news that day.

  In an instant, all sorts of news flooded major news outlets. Hundreds of TV stations' breaking news reports, hundreds of newspapers' front-page headlines, and dozens of major news portal websites' homepages were all filled with related coverage. By that evening, well-known current affairs commentators and military analysts from around the world appeared on television to "speak their minds", some analyzing China's reasons for sending troops to the Indian Ocean, others analyzing the Chinese government's goals, others analyzing the combat capabilities of China's special mixed fleet, and others analyzing India's possible reactions.

  The scene at the time was even more spectacular than the London Olympics three years ago.

  After a 36-year hiatus, China has once again dispatched military forces abroad in a politically targeted manner to carry out military tasks since the Sino-Vietnamese border self-defence counterattack at the end of the 1970s.

  China has become the focus, and the Chinese Navy is the focus of the focus.

  Thirty-six years ago, China relied on the world's most powerful army to "spank the little rascals". Thirty-six years later today, China can only rely on the world's seventh and Asia's third navy to punish the "culprits".

  Can the naval forces of the Republic, like the army thirty-six years ago, accomplish the tasks entrusted by the state and the nation?

  Perhaps an event later enthusiastically discussed among Chinese people can illustrate the issue from a different angle.

  As relevant news was hyped up, the world's top five gaming companies jointly opened a betting market: betting on whether the Chinese Navy or the Indian Navy would win.

  Within four hours, the odds of the Indian Navy had reached eight to one, while those of the Chinese Navy were only six to one.

  The overwhelming majority of people believe that the Indian Navy, which has two aircraft carriers, more than a dozen destroyers, more than twenty frigates, and more than a dozen submarines, occupies a favorable position in terms of timing and geography, and will emerge victorious with ease; while the Chinese Navy, which has only dispatched twelve warships, will be completely defeated.

  By that evening, the odds of the Chinese Navy had become one against four.

  Mainly overseas Chinese from all over the world joined after hearing the news, even if it's gambling, they can't lose to India. According to unverified information, the top five richest Chinese businessmen invested more than $240 billion in betting funds, with the richest Chinese person, Yan Bo, using his assets as collateral and taking out $120 billion to bet on the victory of the Chinese Navy.

  The bigger the disk mouth is fried, even some financial speculators have joined in.

  These people have a wide range of channels to obtain first-hand information and accurately grasp the strength comparison between the two sides. As a result, most speculators bet that the Chinese navy will win. The reason is simple: China not only has attack nuclear submarines that India does not have, but also has a military satellite system that India lacks.

  The odds on the Indian Navy rose to five to one, while those on the Chinese Navy fell to two to one.

  Within a short span of 24 hours, at least three trillion US dollars have flooded into this massive casino, where winners will reap a fortune and losers will lose everything.

  Ji Youguo didn't place a bet; his salary wasn't even enough to qualify him as an entrant.

  Zhao Rundong announced the news when Ji Youguo was on the phone with Kaber. This time, Kaber called the hotline without "making an appointment". The tone and emotion of the US President once again proved Ji Youguo's judgment that the United States did not want China to enter the war. In order to stabilize the United States, Ji Youguo not only guaranteed that the navy's actions would focus on evacuating and protecting Chinese nationals, but also hinted to the other party that the Republic would not directly enter the war.

  Ji Youguo then met with Pakistani Ambassador to China.

  The sky in Beijing has not yet darkened, and the special plane carrying Pakistani President's Special Envoy and Foreign Minister Qureshi landed at the Capital International Airport. Subsequently, this envoy with an important mission went to the State Guesthouse under the escort of the Guard of Honor.

  At this time, the naval forces of the Republic had already begun to move into action.

  Zhanjiang Port, six destroyers, six frigates and two large comprehensive supply ships have completed all preparations for departure. At 9:00 pm, under the gaze of thousands of comrades and relatives, the special mixed fleet led by the 173rd air defense missile destroyer slowly sailed out of the military port and set foot on its journey to the Indian Ocean.

  In the northeastern waters of the Lingga Islands, two attack nuclear submarines from the South Sea Fleet successively entered the Malacca Strait.

  In the western Java Sea, two attack nuclear submarines from the East Sea Fleet are heading towards the Sunda Strait.

  In the waters northwest of Zengmu Ansha, four conventional submarines in snorkel mode increased their speed to eight knots. In the nearby night sky, four J-11 fighter jets from the naval aviation were closely monitoring an EP-3C reconnaissance aircraft flying in from Thailand.

  When the lights of the harbor disappeared below the sea and sky line, Lin Xiao Lei Lieutenant General put down his binoculars.

  As a naval officer who has served for 28 years, led fleets on three visits, twice led fleets to the Gulf of Aden for escort missions, two years ago led the fleet to complete the second global voyage of the Republic's naval combat fleet, from naval lieutenant to step into the hall of generals, and also holds the qualification of naval aviation pilot, Lin Xiao Lei is very clear that the task of the special mixed fleet is not to evacuate or protect the embassy, nor is it to engage in a decisive battle with the Indian Navy.

  Before owning an aircraft carrier, the naval forces of the Republic were not truly a blue-water navy.

  Over the years, Lin Xiaolei has participated in more than a dozen joint exercises and drills as the commander of the South China Sea Fleet's destroyer flotilla and deputy chief of staff of the fleet, mainly focusing on seizing maritime supremacy under the cover of shore-based aviation or supporting and coordinating with nuclear submarines.

  Nuclear submarines remain the backbone of the Navy of the Republic.

  Lin Xiao Lei felt both helpless and heartbroken about this situation.

  If the Republic Navy had an aircraft carrier, even just one, things would be very different. At least surface warships wouldn't fall to supporting roles.

  Lin Xiao Lei knew that the day of owning an aircraft carrier was not far away.

  The overall assembly work of the "Republic" is about to be completed and will be put into service in two years. Although as Lin Xiao Lei, he did not have the opportunity to become the first aircraft carrier captain of the Republic Navy, with his qualifications and abilities, it is entirely possible for him to become the first aircraft carrier battle group commander of the Republic Navy.

  The day he wore Shanghai military uniform, Lin Xiao Lei had been dreaming of this day coming soon.

  For this, he not only dedicated his youth and 28 years of hard work to the Republican Navy but also determined to complete this seemingly impossible task, adding a heavy stroke to the history of the Republic's Navy and his own career.

  "Commander, the air force has arrived."

  At the reminder of his adjutant, Lin Xiao Lei looked towards the northern night sky.

  A few twinkling stars are moving rapidly, those are the shore-based fighter jets of naval aviation. Before the fleet leaves the South China Sea, naval aviation will provide full coverage.

  "Commander, a message from the General Staff Department has arrived, the submarine is in position."

  "Roger that, a captain's phone conference will be held in 15 minutes to announce combat operations."

  Ling Xiao Lei left the outer corridor and returned to the bridge after glancing at the fighter jet that had just flown over the warship.

  At this time, thousands of kilometers away at the Guadal naval base.

  Due to concerns about another air raid, strict blackout measures were implemented in the port.

  Looking down from a helicopter, the entire naval base is like a lifeless graveyard, and the sea surface in the harbor is like an unfathomable bottomless pit.

  The green light came on in the cabin and the captain's voice came over the loudspeaker. "Two minutes to prepare!"

  Kang Xiaoting, Su Mingjian and more than a dozen special soldiers immediately began to check the search and rescue equipment they carried. The crude Pakistani military uniforms made them feel very uncomfortable, and the only assault rifles also made them feel not very safe.

  Under the guidance of ground personnel, five "Mountain Cat" helicopters carrying "Lion" trial special forces officers and men alternately landed in the open area within the base. As soon as the officers and men got off the plane, the "Mountain Cat" helicopter immediately took off and flew away from the military base.

  "One team searches from the west, two teams search from the east, and three teams follow me searching from the south."

  Upon hearing Lieutenant Colonel Lu Chengwen's order, dozens of special forces immediately divided into three small squads.

  They were not on combat missions but search and rescue missions.

  When Lu Chengwen saw the Pakistani rescue personnel, he stopped in his tracks.

  Due to the lack of professional search and rescue tools, the rescue work did not go smoothly, only more than a dozen injured people buried under the rubble of buildings were found, as well as more than 20 bodies of victims.

  Lu Cheng heard they brought professional search and rescue equipment, and even three search and rescue dogs.

  Under the cover of night, dozens of special forces soldiers searched tirelessly with heavy hearts.

  They are racing against time, racing against the god of death. The sooner they find the buried personnel, the more likely they are to snatch them back from the hands of the god of death.

  Whenever they found one survivor, the soldiers were more excited than anyone else.

  Every time they dug out a body of a victim, the soldiers were more grief-stricken than anyone else.

  When the first name was dug out of the wounded because of serious injuries, the officers and men were furious. They did not hate those executioners, nor did they hate the simple conditions, but hated themselves, hated that they came too late, hated their own slow actions, could not let their compatriots live to return to their homeland, back to their loved ones.

  The sky gradually brightened, and dozens of special soldiers were still busy non-stop.

  When the rescue dogs were tired, they went into the ruins by themselves to search for survivors; when the shovels were broken, they used their own hands to dig through the sand and rocks that pressed on their compatriots; when the jacks were broken, they used their own backs to support the heavy concrete slabs; when the respirators were exhausted, they used their own lips to send life-giving breaths to their compatriots.

  They had no time to stop and eat, nor even to take a sip of water or catch their breath. The injured compatriots were still waiting for them to be rescued, the bodies of the deceased compatriots were still waiting to return to their hometown's warm earth.

  Gradually, the officers and soldiers had an idea.

  The perpetrators must be severely punished, and blood debts must be repaid with blood.

  If the murderer is still at large, if the murderer is still acting arbitrarily, who can guarantee that there will not be another innocent death of a Chinese son or daughter in a foreign land, under the enemy's gunfire?!

  ****

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