110: The people of Darwin are enthusiastic about welcoming Fang Le's return!

Fang Le's visit garnered worldwide attention, and his return also drew global scrutiny.

Many speculated whether the United States would once again target the Anti-War Army's visiting delegation on their return journey.

As long as the visiting delegation was eliminated, the cooperation between the Anti-War Army and China would likely fall through.

Three days later, the People's Army's South Sea Fleet, responsible for escorting Fang Le and his entourage, returned along the original route to a position outside the 12-nautical-mile territorial sea baseline north of Australia's Darwin Port.

This time, Commander-in-Chief Shen Nanshan of the South Sea Fleet personally led the escort.

During the farewell, on the deck of the command flagship, Shen Nanshan looked towards the Australian coastline, his face showing unconcealed worry.

“Commander Fang, we cannot continue to escort you beyond this point.”

“But we will remain here, watching you disembark.”

“Should you encounter any attacks during this process,”

“Regardless of who the attacker is, the People's Army will launch a resolute counterattack!”

Shen Nanshan spoke with unwavering resolve.

Fang Le was also somewhat moved.

The Anti-War Army, originally isolated and helpless, seemed to have found a solid backing.

Fang Le instructed his subordinates: “Contact Darwin Port and have the civilian ship we used before brought over.”

At the United States Pentagon, Department of Defense.

Secretary of Defense Savitz stared intently at the 055, which served as the command flagship, under the satellite camera, his mind racing with countless thoughts.

Fang Le and his group would soon be leaving the Chinese fleet.

Next,

To bomb?

Not to bomb?

If they bombed, and if the Anti-War Army leader didn't use a body double, it would mean directly eliminating the Anti-War Army leader.

The blow to the Anti-War Army would be self-evident, and the Anti-War Army might even disintegrate due to the lack of a backbone.

But if they bombed, what if the Chinese fleet attacked them, leading to a direct military war between the two major powers?

Savitz was undecided.

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Claire, who had come, was also undecided.

They both felt as if there was an itchy spot in their hearts, wanting to scratch but not daring to, so they had to forcefully endure it, feeling extremely conflicted.

Ah, the ships are here—

New developments emerged from the satellite monitoring, and Savitz and Claire quickly looked over.

—

Saw them, saw them.

On the deck of the 055 large destroyer, Fang Le, holding binoculars, saw the silhouettes of ships within 12 nautical miles.

One, two, three...

Hmm, that's about right.

Fang Le put down his binoculars.

However, in the next moment, his personal guard Yan Ruyu suddenly became extremely vigilant, immediately shielding Fang Le, her nerves taut as she looked towards the coast, blurting out: “Danger! Protect the Commander!”

Hearing this, Ouyang and the other members of the guard regiment also immediately surrounded Fang Le.

Huh?

Fang Le and Shen Nanshan exchanged bewildered glances.

Shen Nanshan's expression darkened, and he ordered: “Immediately scout the direction where the ships appeared and eliminate any danger.”

“Yes, Commander-in-Chief!”

Soon, Fang Le and Shen Nanshan saw clear images transmitted from the air and sea in the 055's command room.

The moment they clearly saw the specific content of those images, Fang Le was stunned.

Shen Nanshan was also stunned.

Could it be that those were all—

Fang Le said nothing, striding towards the outside.

More than ten minutes later, Fang Le stood on the deck of the 055, witnessing a scene that moved him deeply.

Within Australia's 12-nautical-mile territorial sea baseline, over an area of several square kilometers, countless ships appeared.

From fishing boats, cargo ships, yachts, and passenger ships, to patrol boats, hovercraft, and tugboats, there were thousands of them, of all kinds.

And without exception, all the ships were crowded with people on their decks.

Judging by their attire and age range, they were clearly a large number of ordinary Darwin citizens.

On the leading large cargo ship stood the current Mayor Zhuang Zimo of Darwin City.

After Zhuang Zimo saw Fang Le on the deck of the 055, he led the applause to welcome him.

The people behind him also clapped vigorously.

And the people on the other ships also clapped along.

The entire sea surface became a world of applause.

This scene left the escorting Chinese fleet officers and soldiers dumbfounded.

Fang Le descended the retractable gangway connecting the two ships and arrived on the leading cargo ship.

The moment he stepped onto the cargo ship's deck, the surrounding applause grew even more intense, and the faces of the welcoming crowd were beaming with excited smiles. Fang Le's entire being was immersed in this goodwill.

Then, children came up to place fresh flower garlands on him.

At this moment, Fang Le was somewhat choked up.

He absolutely did not expect that he had left amidst a storm of blood and returned to thunderous applause.

Zhuang Zimo led the senior municipal officials forward, and the two sides shook hands.

After a long while, the applause subsided, and the two finally had a chance to converse.

“Mayor Zhuang, how did you manage to invite so many ordinary citizens?”

Fang Le suspected that Zhuang Zimo had mobilized all types of ships in the entire port for this reception.

Mayor Zhuang smiled: “I told them that protecting Commander Fang means protecting Darwin City and protecting everyone, so they came along.”

Fang Le was deeply moved.

Everything was unspoken.

“Let's go.”

Next, thousands of ships, surrounding the central cargo ship, collectively turned around on the sea surface spanning several kilometers, and headed towards Darwin Port.

The layers of encirclement seemed to represent the Darwin citizens' determination and will to escort them.

At the United States Pentagon, Department of Defense, upon seeing this scene, Savitz and Claire also breathed a sigh of relief.

Now they had sufficient reason to convince themselves not to take action against Fang Le and his group at this moment.

Let all the conflicts remain for later.