It was easier for me to handle the morale-boosting than for Zhu Da; his knack for rambling made him perfectly suited for dealing with stubbornly resistant individuals. Shen Langhua, hearing this, interjected, "Judging our performance? What exactly do you mean?"

"What do I mean?" Zhu Da retorted. "Of course, we're watching to see if you show sincerity. We can't protect you fishermen forever, and frankly, the three of us can't possibly safeguard every fishing boat in the Xisha, Zhongsha, and Nansha islands. After all, we only have three pairs of hands, and we'll be stretched too thin."

"And if we are sincere?" Shen Langhua asked. Being able to fish without harassment was, naturally, their greatest wish.

"If you are sincere, we'll point you toward a clear path forward."

"What path? Zhu Da, just say it outright."

Zhu Da declared, "Zhu San mentioned it just now: you need to bring in the Red Dragon to protect your fishing fleet!"

"Red Dragon?" Shen Langhua had certainly never heard that term before. The outside world was in an uproar, but here, they knew nothing of it.

"Exactly! Their strength is beyond question. Forget two rusty missile boats; even if an M-nation aircraft carrier showed up, they could still immobilize it."

Shen Langhua leaned forward. "Are they really as formidable as you say? How many people do they have? And hiring them must be incredibly expensive?"

I spoke up. "The Red Dragon is an organization. They can provide integrated sea, land, and air protection. We are quite familiar with their leadership. We discussed this before coming here: if the fishermen show genuine willingness, they are prepared to protect your fishing operations free of charge—not taking a single penny. However, if the people cannot spontaneously unite and resist the invasion of the Yue-Nan military in spirit, then even if the Red Dragon arrives, they won't stay long."

Shen Langhua nodded slowly. "I understand. No organization can endure without popular support."

Cai Bao'er chuckled. "Heh, I never expected Miss Shen to utter such profound wisdom. You could be called a great visionary!"

Zhu Da scoffed. "That sounds like something Chairman Mao said. Stop throwing around grand titles and flattering people."

Shen Langhua was a sensible young woman who grasped the bigger picture. "This matter requires discussion with my father and the villagers. My word isn't final. I need to go back and talk it over. However, you must give us a general outline of this organization's strength, or we might raise everyone's hopes only to disappoint the Red Dragon later."

I smiled. "Didn't Big Brother just say it? They can sink even an M-nation aircraft carrier. Their preliminary plan is to deploy over 200 warships and submarines across the entire South China Sea to escort the fishing fleets. Once we take the lead here, fishermen elsewhere will naturally contact them, and the work will become much easier then."

"Two hundred ships!?" Shen Langhua exclaimed, surprise coloring her voice, before asking, "What about the Yue-Nan military vessels?"

"Yes, 200 vessels. And that’s just the initial configuration of the Red Dragon Navy's First Fleet. The Yue-Nan fleet—frigates, fast attack craft, and landing craft combined—total less than 100. This strength comparison should put your minds at ease, right?"

Shen Langhua seemed reassured. "Rest assured, absolutely. But they must have a reason for spending so heavily to help us poor and middle peasants. If you don't explain it clearly, we won't be able to explain this to the village elders."

I countered, "Do you need a reason? What would you do if you saw your own brothers and sisters being bullied and humiliated? How would you feel if your own territory were invaded by another country?"

"The Red Dragon organization has deep roots with Great Dragon Country—it's highly classified, but I don't mind telling you now. The very purpose of the Red Dragon's existence is to reclaim all the lost lands of Great Dragon Country, to defeat every enemy who has dared to bully us, and to make every nation that looks down on us, the descendants of the Dragon, regret it!"

Shen Langhua quickly interrupted, "Zhu San, stop talking. Though I haven't studied much, I understand these principles. 'If the nation perishes, what shelter can skin and hair find?' An elder in our village once told me that. I didn't understand it before, but now I do. For our Great Dragon Country to become strong and no longer suffer humiliation, the nation must strive, but we common people must also possess a patriotic heart and the courage to stand up and resist. People often say unity is strength; I believe that is precisely the meaning." She lowered her voice. "I will keep the Red Dragon's secret with my father. As long as the fishermen know the Red Dragon truly wants to help, and that they have a heart that cares for the fishermen, I believe that is enough."

Zhu Da and Cai Bao'er simultaneously gave her a thumbs-up. "Excellent! Miss Shen, you are truly remarkable. You might not have studied for years, but your thinking surpasses those who have. Your eloquence is excellent, too; you will surely achieve great things in the future."

Shen Langhua laughed softly. "What great things can a mere fisherwoman achieve? If conditions improve, the greatest achievement will be catching more fish, saving up a decent dowry, and marrying early to have children."

I gently persuaded her. "You shouldn't think that way. Women can achieve great things too. What does it matter if you haven't been educated? Everything can be learned from scratch. Is learning harder than fishing?"

"When the Red Dragon arrives, they will help with basic infrastructure and establish relevant meteorological communication stations on the island. Then, you can check the weather before setting out, and they will even install free radio communication equipment on your fishing boats so you can contact each other if anything happens. Once you catch more fish and your living conditions improve, you can dedicate time to studying or participating in the nearby oil and gas well construction. That earns much more than fishing, and the working conditions are far better. I believe within a few years, all your current notions will be completely transformed."

Shen Langhua sighed. "Heh, I truly hope things turn out as you say. Oh, one more critical question: what if the government disagrees with us seeking the Red Dragon's protection? This involves a dispute between two nations."

I waved my hand dismissively. "You don't need to worry about the government's opinion. Since the government is currently unable to attend to this region, it's perfectly justifiable for us to find our own solutions. As for the bilateral dispute, it’s absolutely unavoidable, but given Yue-Nan's military strength, they will only dare to make a couple of loud noises at most. Do they really think they can clash an egg against a stone? The Sino-Vietnamese Self-Defense Counterattack War was the best response to them back then."

Shen Langhua understood. "I see. I hope to give you a satisfactory answer tomorrow."

I applied some psychological pressure. "Opportunities missed never return. To prevent the fishermen from doubting the Red Dragon’s strength, tomorrow morning, everyone will be taken to the west side of the island to observe the warships. If they believe the Red Dragon has this capability, they must unite to seek protection for their rightful interests. If they prefer to continue living in constant fear and hardship, then the Red Dragon will not proactively contact you again."

Shen Langhua nodded, falling silent, but it was clear her heart was unsettled. Despite being a young woman, from our interactions, I knew she was a youth with ideals and aspirations, merely constrained by circumstances. I believed that as the fishermen’s living conditions improved, she would certainly make her mark in the future.

Late that night, aboard the Jinxing-class Submarine Carrier 001 beneath the South China Sea, the lights were blazing. A powerful, young officer entered, snapped to attention, and saluted me. "Comrade Commander, First Fleet Naval Commander Wu Gang reporting!"

I returned his salute and gestured for him to sit. Turning to Army Commander Liu Hu, I asked, "How are the ranks being sorted out? We can't have our comrades without proper titles indefinitely."

Liu Hu looked embarrassed. "I discussed it with the Chairman. He said the international situation is complex, and the Tri-Service Corps cannot be officially integrated into the Republic's forces yet, so rank validation here is impossible."

I chuckled. "No matter. We'll manage it ourselves. You draft a proposal, then review every single soldier's file from the beginning. Apply for whatever rank they qualify for. Ranks above Lieutenant Colonel at the Brigade level will be decided jointly by us. Ranks below that can be approved by the respective Commands, provided we report the filings to headquarters."

Liu Hu was delighted. "Understood! That solves a major problem for us. Most of our soldiers transferred to the Tri-Service Corps with existing ranks, and now their status is unclear, which is quite an affront to their pride."

Shen Jian and Zhang Dahai laughed. "Heh, Comrade Commander, please don't take offense. Our countrymen value face deeply; it's understandable. A rank system greatly stimulates the fighting will of the soldiers; it's a crucial aspect of political indoctrination in any force."

I acknowledged this. "I understand; I was a soldier once myself. Very well, let's finalize the arrangements for the First Fleet's deployment to Nansha tomorrow."

Naval Commander Zhang Dahai chimed in. "The new batch of warships and submarines transferred by Comrade Commander has completed outfitting and has been formally commissioned as the First Naval Fleet. The structure is: four Jinxing-class Improved Submarine Carriers, hull numbers JX—Ⅱ011–015. Because the R-series Jinxing carriers have a more rationalized and integrated internal layout, offering significantly more space, the complement has changed from 22 Shanying, 3 Gepard anti-submarine helicopters, 2 Changhang early warning aircraft, and 3 small transport planes, to 15 Shanying small fighters, 15 Hama medium fighters, and 5 Walrus-class bombers, with anti-submarine helicopters, early warning aircraft, and small transports each reduced to two units. This reduction is because we have other assets to support anti-submarine, early warning, and transport roles."

"Sixteen Xia-class cruisers, hull numbers 011–026; sixty-four Xiyu-class destroyers, hull numbers 021–084; forty Huoxing-class submarines, hull numbers 041–080; eighty Shuixing-class submarines, hull numbers 100–180; and twenty related logistics support vessels. The theoretical assignment is four cruisers, sixteen destroyers, ten Huoxing-class submarines, twenty Shuixing-class submarines, and five supply ships escorting each submarine carrier. I believe this strength is sufficient to dominate the Pacific, let alone the South China Sea."

I addressed the assembled commanders. "While the configuration of our First Fleet is astoundingly high-end, military strategy dictates concentrating superior forces for rapid annihilation of the enemy to better secure our own objectives. Since we possess this capability, we must increase our force commitment. Firstly, it acts as a deterrent to the enemy; more importantly, rapid annihilation reduces our own casualties."

"From our previous two engagements, we have learned that surprise attacks and concentrated, overwhelming force are extremely effective. We must continue to employ this tactic. Fighting a war of attrition wastes time, increases operational costs, and significantly risks greater losses among our men. Therefore, my combat philosophy is this: engage the enemy with absolutely overwhelming force, ensuring victory with one hundred percent certainty!"

Zhu Da and Cai Bao'er declared in unison, "We fully endorse Commander Zhao's strategy. What's the harm in manufacturing more weapons? Once we use them, we can refurbish and sell them to other countries for huge profits. This is a no-lose business. With our future plans, the Second Fleet's strength should far surpass the First Fleet's."

I confirmed, "The Second Fleet, as I envision it, will be the Pacific Fleet, and its configuration will naturally be even higher, eventually incorporating Earth-class fortress submarines. However, we must hold off on that for now, as matters in Nansha are not yet settled. Only once we have a solid rear base can we confidently advance eastward into the Pacific and westward into the Indian Ocean."

The meeting briefly discussed other matters. The construction of the Wuen Military Port was complete, and the military base construction was proceeding smoothly. However, the M-nation was constantly obstructing progress, and the protests from Feilü (Vietnam/Floating Donkey?) and Malay were quite vocal. According to our established principle, as long as they didn't initiate hostilities, we wouldn't let them benefit from their interference.

Most of the Air Force and Army personnel have been relocated to the Wuen base; it’s more convenient here to coordinate with various entities in East Asia regarding land and sea affairs. Once we control the South China Sea choke point connecting the Pacific to the Indian Ocean, we will call the shots. At that time, the entire South China Sea island chain will function as one vast naval base, which is excellent news for our ever-growing fleet.

The massive production lines in the deep-sea base under the Okinawa Trough have long been operational, currently focused primarily on manufacturing submarines and conventional weapons. A major hurdle is surfacing warships from the deep-sea environment for completion, which isn't ideal for the underwater facility. However, I have already selected a location for the surface warship production base, and the foundational construction has begun: the northern bight of the South China Sea.

There is an exit for the Underground Great Wall in the Shiwan Dashan mountain range, not far from the Beibu Gulf. The Engineer Ants have begun tunneling from the Shiwan Dashan toward the gulf, where extensive underground transformation will occur in Qinzhou Bay to establish the newest production complex. Once completed, the warships built underground can be towed directly to the surface and launched into the Beibu Gulf—a thousand times easier than previous transport methods.

However, half of the Beibu Gulf is currently controlled by Yue-Nan. They heavily exploit its resources and conduct regular joint military exercises. When our warship production base is finished, the entire Beibu Gulf will be under our control, and we might even incorporate some of Yue-Nan's existing ports into our production complex.

The night was late; there were no more items to discuss. I addressed Wu Gang, the commander of the First Naval Fleet. "Comrade Wu Gang, tomorrow rests on you. Bring the fleet to the designated location promptly at six o'clock and await further orders."

Wu Gang saluted crisply. "Comrade Commander, rest assured, the mission will be accomplished!"

As they prepared to leave, I turned to the three commanders of the Sea, Land, and Air forces. "Slow down the pace of drawing personnel from the PLA's regular structure. The Chairman lodged a serious protest with me. You've plucked away so many of his excellent pilots and seasoned sailors that it has attracted the attention of some high-ranking officials, and the Chairman is struggling to contain the issue. From now on, mechanical tasks will be handled by Mechanized Soldiers, reserving human resources primarily for combat roles."

The three smiled and saluted. "Understood. The Chairman is worried about his troops. We just took control of two of his military regions in one go; of course, he's concerned!"

Everyone parted with smiles. When Zhu Da, Cai Bao'er, and I hurried back to the fishing vessel Shunfeng, we found Shen Langhua standing on the deck, peering anxiously into the darkness. Seeing us approach, she called out urgently, "Where have the three of you been?"

Zhu Da chuckled by way of explanation. "Heh, we ate too much tonight. After going so long without greasy food, suddenly eating so much canned meat gave us the runs."

Shen Langhua retorted, "Diarrhea takes over an hour? I’ve been waiting for more than an hour! And all three of you had to go? Do you grown men get scared easily?"

I explained quickly. "Collective diarrhea, collective diarrhea. Is something the matter, Miss Shen, that you're up so late?"

Shen Langhua didn't press us further about our 'disappearance' from the boat. She sat down on the deck. "It's about tomorrow."

We all boarded, and the four of us sat side-by-side. I asked, "Did you talk to everyone? I believe a good opportunity like this shouldn't, and shouldn't have a reason to be, refused."

"The fishermen from our village have no issues. Everyone saw your power today. But the fishermen from the other villages are harder to sway; they need to see the Red Dragon's strength tomorrow before deciding. Otherwise, if we provoke the Yue-Nan army carelessly, I fear they might shut down all our current fishing grounds."

I reassured her. "It’s only natural for people to be cautious. Don't worry; we'll go see them precisely at six tomorrow. I guarantee we won't disappoint them; the Red Dragon has already prepared the fleet."

Shen Langhua leaned back onto the deck without reservation, gazing at the starry sky. "What a beautiful night. Tell me, can I know your true identities? I am genuinely curious: what kind of people are the three of you, and why are you helping me so kindly?"

Zhu Da corrected her. "Not helping you, helping all of you!"

Shen Langhua smiled without replying. Cai Bao'er, who hadn't talked much in front of her lately, launched into a nonstop monologue, digging up every embarrassing story about Zhu Da and me from our childhood.

"That sounds like an amusing childhood," Shen Langhua finally said. "Not like mine; I've depended solely on my father since I was small, risking the sea every day just to feed us."

I said softly, "Every family has its own difficult chapter. Zhu Da lost both parents; no matter how tough life was, you at least had your father nearby. Zhu Er, my second sister, suffered a brain injury and currently has the mental capacity of a three-year-old."

"Heh, so you aren't actually related brothers? You certainly put on an act."

Cai Bao'er defended them. "But we are closer than real brothers, aren't we, Commander Zhao? Don't forget you promised to marry my sister. I'm destined to be your brother-in-law!"

I retorted, "When have I ever gone back on my word? You underestimate me too much. Tomorrow, send your sister over to my place."

Cai Bao'er scoffed. "Forget it! She acts like a child all day long; she'd be bullied to death at your place. You are the one who needs to marry into my family as a live-in son-in-law!"

Zhu Da burst out laughing. "Hey! Bao'er, do you even know your own surname? Having Commander Zhao become your live-in son-in-law? Look at the threshold of your house—are you worthy of Commander Zhao?"

"What's wrong with my house? My sister is beautiful and cute, and our house is big..."

"Pah! Anyone you pull from Commander Zhao's house wouldn't be worse than your sister, and as for size, the Great Hall of the People is the biggest; why don't you move there?"

I said to Shen Langhua, "Don't mind them. They’ve been bottling up their arguments these past few days. Let them talk for a bit."

Shen Langhua laughed. "I can understand. An eight-year-old mentally disabled child... so it’s true that you really do have a three-year-old sister at home."

Cai Bao'er suddenly asked Shen Langhua, "Miss Shen, do you have someone you favor? Which one of us three do you fancy?"

Shen Langhua blushed deeply. "No, I don't fancy any of you. We are not the same kind of people. I like honest, simple fishermen and plan to marry one and live a quiet life on the island forever."

Zhu Da clapped his chest. "Then I am relieved."

Cai Bao'er asked, "Relieved about what?"

Zhu Da replied, "I’m relieved on behalf of Commander Zhao. This handsome face of his attracts admirers everywhere; finally, he’s found a girl who isn't interested in him."

Shen Langhua smiled. "Actually, all three of you are likable men, but you aren't the husband type, hehe. I prefer a simple life, and you are men destined to do great things."

I mused, "In reality, sometimes life isn't entirely up to us. Often, you have to violate your ideals just to survive, and yet, you still have to do it enthusiastically."

Shen Langhua considered this. "Perhaps you are right. Regardless, as long as we try our best, that's what matters, isn't it?"

I affirmed seriously. "Yes, as long as we try our best, whatever the outcome, we will have no regrets in this life. Look! Like the meteors in the sky, they burn their lives away to leave a brilliant streak across the heavens. Though their life is short, they illuminate the night sky, leaving us with infinite contemplation."

The four of us lay on the deck, gazing at the brilliant starlit sky, silent for a long time. The waves softly lapped against the shore's rocks with a gentle hush. Faint lights still shone from a few distant fishing boats. Everything was so tranquil, so harmonious—what a beautiful night, what a beautiful life.

A large crowd of fishermen gathered on the west shore of the small island early in the morning. This side, with its deep water and few reefs, was an excellent harbor for anchoring warships. As if fate itself were setting the stage, the sea was initially shrouded in a dense fog, obscuring the view. Six o'clock arrived, and anxiety mounted, when suddenly a gust of sea wind blew in, and the sea mist instantly dispersed, followed by gasps of astonishment from the watchmen stationed along the shore.

Looking out at the sea again, sixteen Xia-class cruisers and sixty-four Xiyu-class destroyers were perfectly aligned on the water ahead. As I silently issued the command via my mobile phone, the eighty surface vessels roared in unison. The fishermen, seeing such a grand formation for the first time, stood frozen on the shore.

The fishermen naturally did not understand the precise classifications of these warships, but they understood size. Any single one of these vessels dwarfed any warship from Yue Nan they had ever seen; the comparison was incomparable. The apprehension the fishermen had felt the previous night finally dissolved into relief.

Shen Langhua gripped Zhu Da’s hand. "Zhu Da, are these warships really here to help us? They are so massive, so numerous! I’ve never witnessed such an imposing fleet!"

Zhu Da grinned proudly. "This is nothing. The submarine corps hasn't even shown itself yet. By then, I guarantee you’ll be even more shocked."

As I issued another directive, forty Mars-class submarines, eighty Mercury-class submarines, and four Venus-class submarine tenders emerged from the water ahead of the surface fleet. Since this location was far from the main garrisons of Yue Nan forces, and our satellite signal jamming was effective, I ordered thirty fighter jets from one of the Venus-class tenders to take off and demonstrate formation flying for the fishermen.

Just seeing the submarines had sent the fishermen into a frenzy; such a spectacle was truly unprecedented in their lives. When they saw the mass of aircraft ascend into the sky, some fishermen couldn't help but shout: "Fighter jets! These are fighter jets coming to help us! Let’s see if Little Yue Nan dares bully us again!"

Shen Langhua certainly knew how to seize the moment. She stepped sharply in front of the assembled fishermen. "Villagers! You have all seen the sincerity of the Red Dragon and the magnitude of their strength! These warships alone are enough for Little Yue Nan to handle, let alone the fact that they also possess submarines and aircraft. Do you still doubt their words?"

The assembled fishermen roared in unison: "We believe you, we believe you!"

Shen Langhua commanded, "Very well. What you need to do now is go out to sea and fish with peace of mind. Fish exactly as you always have. If you encounter Yue Nan warships on the way, simply ignore them. The Red Dragon will shield us from all threats. Hurry now, prepare to set out!"