Taking You To See Some Real Stuff

Zhang Xueming's voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable authority.

His sharp gaze swept over everyone present.

Chen Houpu and the others exchanged glances, their faces a kaleidoscope of emotions.

There was excitement, confusion, but more than anything, an unease in the face of the unknown.

Navy Commander?

It sounded impressive.

But did Fengtian even have a navy?

Not even a small sampan!

Wasn't this just a general without troops?

To put it bluntly, it was a drawing of a cake – nice to look at, but wouldn't fill their stomachs!

Seeing their hesitation, Zhang Xueming curled his lips and suddenly smiled.

"What? Do you think my temple is too small to accommodate great figures like yourselves?"

"Or do you think I, Zhang Xueming, am just drawing you a cake to fill your hunger?"

He stood up, walked to the window, and pushed it open.

A gust of salty sea breeze immediately rushed in.

"Let's go."

Zhang Xueming said without looking back.

"Seeing is believing."

"I'll show you some real stuff, so you don't think I'm all talk."

Chen Houpu was stunned, and everyone else was bewildered.

See real stuff?

See what?

Could the Young Marshal really conjure up warships out of thin air?

Despite their hearts full of questions, they still followed Zhang Xueming's footsteps out of the room.

A motorcade was already waiting downstairs.

They drove east, passing through Fengtian City, heading straight for the Bohai Sea.

The closer they got to the sea, the stronger the salty, damp smell in the air became.

Finally, the motorcade stopped in front of a heavily guarded port.

The port was new; the cement on the docks still exuded its unique scent.

A massive archway stood at the entrance, with four large characters written in a flamboyant calligraphy.

Yingzhou Port!

A brand new, ice-free, deep-water harbor!

Chen Houpu's heart inexplicably began to race.

He had a premonition that today, he might witness something that would change his life forever.

"Mr. Zhang, this..."

Chen Houpu was about to ask, but Zhang Xueming simply gestured for him to proceed and walked into the port first.

With trepidation, the others followed.

Rounding a row of giant warehouses, the scene before them made everyone stop in their tracks.

Their breathing, at that moment, completely ceased.

On the vast, rippling sea, three steel behemoths lay quietly at anchor!

The outermost was a destroyer with sleek lines and a sense of speed.

In the middle was a cruiser with a long hull and numerous gun turrets.

And closest in, docked at the main pier...

What a colossal war machine it was!

Its hull, as majestic as a mountain range, its menacing and thick giant gun barrels, its bridge soaring into the clouds...

Every detail was filled with a beauty of violence and destruction.

"Gulp."

Someone, no one knew who, swallowed hard.

Chen Houpu's eyes widened like copper bells, his mouth agape enough to fit a fist.

He reached out, trembling, pointing at the three warships, his lips quivering, but he couldn't utter a single word.

That destroyer!

That cruiser!

And that... that battleship that only exists in myths!

This... isn't this the three ships from the blueprints?!

Exactly the same!

"Hallucinations... this must be a hallucination..."

A naval technical officer muttered, he even pinched himself hard.

The intense pain told him that everything before his eyes was real!

"Oh my god!"

Another man collapsed directly onto the ground, his face full of disbelief.

"This... how is this possible?! They... where did they come from?!"

Chen Houpu suddenly snapped back to reality. He rushed to the edge of the dock like a gust of wind.

He almost crawled on the ground, staring intently at the hull of the battleship.

Cold steel, familiar rivets, and the faint smell of paint drifting in the air...

It's real!

All of this is real!

He suddenly turned his head and looked at the young man behind him, who had his hands in his pockets and a calm, indifferent expression.

"Young Marshal! This... this...!"

He was speechless, his face flushed with excitement.

Zhang Xueming smiled, walked up to him, and patted his shoulder.

"How is it, Mr. Chen?"

"Is my grand plan still solid enough?"

More than solid!

This was practically enough to overwhelm a person to death!

Chen Houpu felt his worldview shatter at that moment, only to be reassembled.

He had originally thought Zhang Xueming was a genius with foresight and courage.

Now, it seemed, this was no genius, but a celestial being descended to earth!

"I'm convinced! I, Chen Houpu, am completely convinced!"

Chen Houpu took a deep breath and bowed deeply to Zhang Xueming again.

This time, he didn't hesitate.

Zhang Xueming looked at him, then at the crowd behind him who had slowly recovered from their shock, their faces now filled with fervor.

He sighed and said with feigned annoyance.

"Alas, the ships are here, but unfortunately, no one knows how to operate them."

"A while ago, I had a few guards who knew how to operate fishing boats try them out..."

"Good heavens, they almost broke the cruiser's waist."

"What a headache!"

He glanced at Chen Houpu and continued slowly.

"If you guys are unwilling to come, I can't just let these precious darlings rust in the harbor."