Tech Giants: Starting from Bankrupt Companies

323: Chapter 323 Aircraft Carrier StandoffJuly 6th, 10:00 AM, Persian Gulf waters.

A massive gray silhouette appeared on the horizon.

The USS Dwight D. Eisenhower carrier strike group passed through the Strait of Hormuz. The 100,000-ton nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, fully loaded with F-18 carrier-based aircraft, slowly sailed into the Persian Gulf.

Combined with the USS Bush already in the Gulf, the United States had assembled a dual-carrier strike group in the Persian Gulf.

Two aircraft carriers, fifteen escort ships, over two hundred carrier-based aircraft, and tens of thousands of sailors and pilots.

This was the largest U.S. military buildup in the Middle East since the 2003 Iraq War.

Carrier-based aircraft were being marshaled on the decks, guided-missile destroyers cruised the perimeter, and nuclear submarines lurked underwater. These steel behemoths had turned the entire Persian Gulf into America’s backyard.

3:00 PM, Washington, White House Situation Room.

The President sat at the head of the table, a real-time battlefield situation map before him. The Secretary of Defense, Secretary of State, and National Security Advisor Hawke sat along the sides of the long table.

The President asked, ”What’s the reaction from Iran?”

Hawke pulled up the intelligence: ”They are still launching missiles. But the primary target is Israel. The U.S. mainland and American bases are not under threat.”

”Have our carriers arrived?”

”They have. The dual-carrier strike group is in position. The Eisenhower has entered the Persian Gulf, and the Bush is on standby at the entrance of the Strait of Hormuz.”

The President nodded.

”Give them an ultimatum.”

4:00 PM, U.S. Embassy in Switzerland.

An American diplomat drove to the entrance of the Iranian Embassy in Switzerland. He held a sealed kraft paper bag containing a formal diplomatic note.

The Iranian Chargé d’Affaires in Switzerland received the uninvited guest.

The diplomat handed over the document without a handshake or pleasantries, leaving only one sentence: ”Please relay this to your government. The deadline is seventy-two hours.”

Then he turned and left.

The Chargé d’Affaires opened the document and scanned it quickly.

Demands of the United States of America to the Islamic Republic of Iran:

1. Immediately cease missile attacks on Israel.

2. Abandon all nuclear weapons development programs.

3. Destroy the three nuclear facilities within the territory: Natanz, Fordow, and Arak.

4. Accept comprehensive inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency, allowing inspectors access to any suspicious locations at any time.

In exchange, the United States will lift some economic sanctions and suspend further military action against Iran.

Deadline: Seventy-two hours.

7:00 PM, Tehran, Iranian Supreme National Security Council.

Inside the conference room, twelve people sat around a long table.

The President, Foreign Minister, Minister of Defense, Revolutionary Guard Commander Jafari, Intelligence Minister, Chairman of the Atomic Energy Organization...

At one end of the long table sat Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

The eighty-year-old Khamenei’s hair was entirely white, but his eyes were as sharp as an eagle’s. He looked at the ultimatum in his hand, flipped through every page, and then placed it gently on the table.

Jafari finished reading the full text of the document, and the conference room fell into silence.

Then, someone laughed.

It was Khamenei.

There was no mockery or anger in that smile, only a kind of calm contempt.

”The Americans think two carrier strike groups can intimidate us.”

He looked at Jafari.

”How many missiles do we have left?”

Jafari was well-prepared: ”The first batch of qimingxing missiles has been loaded onto ships and will arrive at Port Abbas in three days. Currently, we have sixty ’Fateh-1’ missiles in stock and three hundred conventional missiles. Enough for three more rounds.”

”What is the deployment status of the Peregrine Falcon?”

”At least three sets of Peregrine S-15 have been deployed around all nuclear facilities. Radars are on twenty-four hours a day, and missiles are on standby twenty-four hours a day. If the Israelis come again, they won’t be going back.”

Khamenei nodded.

”Then tell them—Iran will not give up its nuclear rights. We will not destroy our nuclear facilities. We will not accept humiliating inspections. If the Americans want to fight, we are ready to take them on.”

Su Chen stood by the window, looking at the view of Shenzhen Bay. Blue sky, white clouds, and seagulls flying; it was as peaceful as another world.

Lin Wan stood beside him, reporting the latest battle updates.

”The Iranian missile strikes have caused significant losses to Israel. The U.S. dual-carrier strike group has arrived in the Persian Gulf. Iran has rejected the ultimatum. Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Kuwait are requesting Xingchen to accelerate the delivery of the Peregrine Falcon.”

She paused.

”Global media are asking: Will Xingchen get involved in the war?”

Gu Xinghe pushed the door open and entered, holding a document.

”President Su, the second batch of arms for Iran has been loaded. A total of thirty Venus missiles, one hundred comet air-to-air missiles, and five Peregrine Falcon systems. The cargo ship is flying the Russian flag, and the Russian ship ’peter the great’ continues to provide escort.”

He looked up.

”The U.S. Fifth Fleet has issued a warning, saying ’If you continue to export weapons to Iran, you will face the consequences.’”

Su Chen was silent for three seconds.

Then he asked, ”Do you think the Americans dare to intercept?”

Gu Xinghe thought for a moment.

”They won’t. The cargo ship is flying the Russian flag and is escorted by a Russian ship. Intercepting it would mean going to war with Russia. America doesn’t want to fight a world war right now.”

Su Chen nodded.

”Then proceed with the shipment as normal.”

He turned and walked to the window.

”The Americans speak with aircraft carriers. We speak with missiles.”

He paused.

”Let’s see whose words carry more weight.”

Outside the window, the sunlight was just right.

But everyone knew that six thousand kilometers away in the Persian Gulf, the night was deep.

Steel giants were arrayed at sea, and missiles were on standby on their launch racks.

War was dancing on the edge of a cliff.

Two days later, July 9th, 10:00 AM, the desert of eastern Saudi Arabia.

The scorching sun was high, and the temperature was forty-five degrees Celsius.

As far as the eye could see, there was only endless yellow sand and blinding sunlight. When the wind blew, fine sand kicked up, stinging the face. Distant dunes distorted in the heat haze like a mirage.

But now, in the middle of the desert, a massive industrial plot of flat land had been cleared.

Covering ten square kilometers, it was equivalent to one thousand four hundred football fields. Bulldozers, rollers, and loaders were neatly lined up as workers made final preparations. Huge steel structural components were piled to the side, waiting to be hoisted.

Hundreds of guests sat under temporarily erected awnings. High-power air conditioners were running inside the awnings, but the heat still surged in from all directions. The guests included members of the Saudi Royal Family, foreign diplomats stationed in Saudi Arabia, and global media reporters. Everyone was drenched in sweat, but not a single person left.

Because what they were about to witness was history.

In front of the awnings, a massive foundation stone stood under the scorching sun. Made of white marble, it was three meters high, five meters wide, and weighed twenty tons. Carved upon it in Arabic and Chinese was:

”Saudi-Xingchen Defense Industrial City”

On both sides of the foundation stone, the Saudi national flag and the Xingchen flag were planted, flapping loudly in the hot wind.

Prince Fahd and Gu Xinghe stood side by side on the main stage.

The thirty-five-year-old Fahd wore a white robe and a red-and-white checkered headdress, remaining composed even under the blistering sun. His skin was a healthy wheat color, his eyes were sharp, and a faint smile played on his lips.

The forty-eight-year-old Gu Xinghe wore a dark suit. Sweat had already soaked his shirt collar, but his posture remained as straight as a spear.

Fahd was the first to give a speech.

He walked to the microphone without a script. His voice echoed across the venue through the speakers:

”Today, Saudi Arabia and Xingchen are together here to sow an industrial seed.”

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the guests below.

”This seed will grow into the largest air defense system production base in the Middle East. It will produce sixty sets of Peregrine S-15 annually, serving Saudi Arabia, the Gulf nations, and the entire Middle East and Southeast Asia.”

Thunderous applause erupted below.

Fahd continued:

”Some say Saudi Arabia can only sell oil. Some say Saudis only know how to spend money. Today, we want to tell the world—Saudi Arabia can also manufacture weapons and air defense missile systems.”

He turned to Gu Xinghe.

”Thank you, Xingchen, for giving Saudi Arabia this opportunity.”

Gu Xinghe then gave his speech.

He walked to the front of the stage, facing the guests under the scorching sun. His voice was steady and powerful:

”Xingchen chose Saudi Arabia not because of oil. It is because Saudi Arabia has vision, determination, and the dream of becoming an industrial powerhouse.”

He looked at Fahd.

”Prince Fahd, Xingchen is honored to write this history together with Saudi Arabia.”

The two of them walked together to the foundation stone.

Staff handed them two brand-new shovels. The handles were wrapped in red silk, and the blades were chrome-plated, gleaming in the sunlight.

Fahd and Gu Xinghe simultaneously shoveled the first bit of earth.

The soil was Saudi soil, brownish-yellow and dry. The two shovelfuls of earth fell beside the foundation stone with a faint rustling sound.

Flashbulbs drowned out everything.

Click, click, click—the shutter sounds of hundreds of cameras overpowered the roar of the distant bulldozers.

11:30 AM, Washington, State Department routine press briefing.

The briefing hall in the State Department building was packed with dozens of reporters. Spokesperson Nauert stood behind the podium, facing the reporters below.

Nauert was fifty years old, her blonde hair meticulously styled, and her deep blue suit perfectly tailored. She was a typical American diplomat, her wording cautious and airtight.

A reporter raised their hand: ”Ms. Nauert, how does the United States view the Saudi-Xingchen Defense Industrial City?”

Nauert remained expressionless, reading from her script:

”The United States expresses serious concern over the proliferation of advanced air defense technology. We call upon the countries involved to carefully consider the regional instability such cooperation may bring.”

Another reporter followed up: ”Does this mean the United States opposes it?”

Nauert: ”We are evaluating relevant measures.”

Her answer was as good as no answer at all.

But experienced veteran reporters noticed that her wording was more cautious than usual, and her attitude was softer.

2:00 PM, Riyadh, Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Reporters quickly surrounded the Saudi Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Qasim.

Qasim was fifty years old, with a neatly trimmed beard, wearing a traditional white robe. He was a veteran diplomat who had worked at the Saudi Foreign Ministry for thirty years and had seen countless major events.

He stood before the cameras, facing dozens of microphones, and said only three sentences:

”First, Saudi Arabia is a sovereign state and has the right to choose its partners.”

”Second, Xingchen’s technology is defensive in nature and complies with international law.”

”Third, we have noted the concerns of the United States. However, this is a sovereign matter for Saudi Arabia.”

Translated into plain language: None of your business.

The reporters looked at each other. This was the first time Saudi Arabia had so directly rebuffed the United States.

A reporter followed up: ”Mr. Qasim, are you not worried about U.S. sanctions?”

Qasim smiled.

”Sanctions? The United States and Saudi Arabia are partners; our oil is exported worldwide. I believe the United States will not point weapons at an ally; we are merely engaging in normal technical cooperation.”

4:00 PM, Gu Xinghe dialed Su Chen’s phone.

”President Su, the groundbreaking went very smoothly. The U.S. only protested and was rebuffed by Saudi Arabia.”

On the other end of the line, Su Chen smiled.

”Fahd did a great job.”

Gu Xinghe asked, ”Next, the production line construction will take a year. The first batch of Saudi-made Peregrine Falcons will roll off the line next July.”

Su Chen’s voice was calm:

”No rush. Let the bullet fly for a while.”