97: The Type 055 destroyer is so powerful!!! The aircraft carrier formation escorts Fang Le on his visit!!!

The party responsible for personally welcoming Fang Le and his entourage was an aircraft carrier group from the Long Country South Sea Fleet, comprising over twenty large vessels of various types, including aircraft carriers, destroyers, frigates, amphibious ships, and supply ships.

The underwater component was not even mentioned.

Fang Le and his group were received aboard a large, 10,000-ton class destroyer, starting with hull number 055.

This destroyer was the command flagship of the aircraft carrier group.

On the flagship's deck, several rows of Long Country soldiers in white naval uniforms were lined up to welcome them.

The leader, looking to be in his early fifties, was solemn and dignified; the two pine branches and two stars on his shoulders indicated his rank as a Lieutenant General.

As soon as Fang Le stood firm on the deck, the leader strode over, extending a large hand for a handshake.

“President Fang, hello, I am Shen Nanshan, Commander-in-Chief of the Long Country South Sea Fleet. I have received orders from the People's Army Military Commission to welcome you on your visit to Long Country.”

Fang Le was slightly surprised.

Even with the importance placed on war, a nation's Fleet Commander-in-Chief would not personally participate in frontline combat but would instead command from the rear.

Shen Nanshan's presence clearly demonstrated Long Country's Pay attention to for the Anti-War Army's visit; this was part of the protocol.

So Fang Le also shook his hand solemnly.

The other party's palm was broad, strong, and powerful.

Fang Le responded courteously:

“I am the leader of the Anti-War Army, my surname is Fang, and I am also the chief representative of this visiting delegation. Commander-in-Chief Shen, thank you for coming to meet me.”

Fang Le's voice was serious, his words standard and unremarkable on the surface, yet Shen Nanshan was already secretly nodding.

A person of his status and experience could discern the quality of the person opposite him through just a first meeting.

The Anti-War Army leader opposite him was indeed young, but his aura showed no signs of weakening under the pressure of their formation.

Indeed, for him to lead ten thousand Anti-War Army soldiers and resist the American military, which outnumbered them tenfold, for nearly half a month without defeat, and ultimately withdraw completely, it would be impossible without some real skill.

Even if he was merely a leader pushed to the forefront by the Anti-War Army, he would still need his own foundation; otherwise, he couldn't uphold this identity.

Shen Nanshan said: “Henceforth, our fleet will sail north, returning to Long Country-controlled waters, escorting your delegation to Long Country's mainland to complete the visit. During this process, we will provide full escort, eliminating any potential American military and hostile actions. Please rest assured, Commander Fang.”

Fang Le nodded: “With such a powerful People's Army escorting us, the Anti-War Army and I are very much at ease.”

Afterward, Shen Nanshan generally instructed the entire fleet, which was nothing more than to maintain vigilance, report any enemy sightings immediately, intercept any attacks and counterattack at any time, and so on.

Next, led by Shen Nanshan, Fang Le and his group began to tour the large 055-class destroyer they were on.

Fang Le had admired this ship for a long time, and with this opportunity, how could he not take a look?

Unfortunately, he used to be a military layman, especially with very little knowledge of the navy, and he didn't understand the technical details. Throughout the entire viewing process, he could only exclaim in awe.

After touring the flagship and generally understanding how this destroyer sought out and engaged the American military, Shen Nanshan suddenly proposed: “Commander Fang, would you also like to visit the aircraft carrier in the fleet?”

Fang Le was instantly eager.

After all, just over two months ago, he was still a pure Long Country citizen, and he was very interested in Long Country's three aircraft carriers.

But Fang Le immediately suppressed this impulse, saying: “Let's talk about it once we return to your country's waters.”

Currently, the fleet had just begun sailing north and was still in South Pacific waters. Moving back and forth between different ships would be troublesome and detrimental to the fleet's movement and command.

The bigger picture had to be considered.

After that, it was a continuous several-day journey north by sea, with nothing noteworthy to mention.

Now, regarding global public opinion.

The war clouds in the South Pacific waters had just dissipated, and global netizens were still extremely enthusiastic.

They wanted to know why the situation, which had been highly tense, with two major powers seemingly on the verge of a world war, suddenly cleared up and became calm.

Moreover, the Anti-War Army's visiting delegation had successfully departed Australia and was picked up by the Long Country fleet.

What exactly happened in between? Was it really just the United States's apprehension about the three powerful aircraft carrier groups dispatched by Long Country? Otherwise, why didn't the United States dare to bomb until the Anti-War Army's visiting delegation successfully boarded the Long Country fleet?

Wasn't it a very casual matter to bombard the isolated and helpless visiting delegation on the sea surface, which was still within the 12-nautical-mile territorial sea line?

A few missiles, a fighter jet, a warship, or a submarine could have handled it, right?

When did the U.S. Military become so benevolent towards the American military?

That was the Anti-War Army, the Anti-War Army that had successfully completed a major strategic transfer, escorting 4,000 American military prisoners, greatly damaging the American military's reputation!

Then, the live broadcast of the popular political commentator, Long Country Chess Master, began.

Long Country Chess Master started by excitedly stating:

“Haha, brothers, I haven't been live for the past half-day because I know what you're most concerned about is the situation in the South Pacific, but I didn't have first-hand information, so I couldn't answer your questions accurately. But now I can.”

“I just consulted a contact in the military and got some shocking inside information. Today, I'll give you a taste of it and talk about it. Don't worry, it's all information that can be shared.”

Upon hearing Qi Ge say this, the old viewers in the live stream were instantly invigorated and excited.

Long Country Chess Master's fame stemmed not only from his frequent outrageous remarks and his complete theoretical system on international politics, but also because Qi Ge had his own information channels within the Long Country military, allowing him to occasionally reveal some inside stories.

As soon as Qi Ge announced he would reveal inside information, the live stream's popularity surged through word of mouth, and a large number of new and old viewers immediately crowded in.

Qi Ge started with a few minutes of warm-up, then went straight to the main topic.

“Everyone remembers, right, the previous standoff in the South Pacific, where a minor incident could have escalated at any time, posing a great danger to the entire world.”

“Our country sent those three fleets not for tourism, but truly with the purpose of assisting the Anti-War Army in completing their initial visit, and we were mentally prepared for direct military conflict with the United States.”

“Military confrontation between the two countries is not a first. Just 8 years ago, around 2016, our country and the United States almost had a military conflict, triggering a large-scale war. And that time, the geographical location was our country's southeastern waters. You can figure out why.”

“And coincidentally, that time, the Commander-in-Chief of the U.S. Military's West Pacific forces was Aris, the current Commander-in-Chief of the U.S. Military's joint military operation and a four-star Navy Admiral.”

“However, times have changed. Back then, the United States was stirring up trouble near our country's coast. This time, our country pushed the front line forward to the United States's main base in the South Pacific, Australia.”

“Well, let's not dwell on these old stories. Let's get back to the current situation.”

“I speculated in my previous live broadcasts that I believed this visit by the Anti-War Army was their own plan, because our country's military capabilities were not yet able to sustain large-scale force projection in the South Pacific.”

“However, our country's high-level officials fully accepted the Anti-War Army's visit, and publicly announced it with great solemnity, and then solemnly dispatched all three aircraft carrier groups southward to receive them.”

“According to my judgment, this is our country building a public image for the Anti-War Army, for that young Anti-War Army leader who is about to make his first visit abroad.”

“After all, as I said, in the future, the Anti-War Army and Long Country will form a double-horse chariot to drive the world situation and leverage world hegemony. Since it's a double chariot, neither side can be weak or lose in terms of momentum, otherwise, who would want to play with you?”

“And now, although the Anti-War Army won the previous Darwin City defense battle, they are now deep in the Australian hinterland, in the mountains, effectively surrounded and in a passive defensive weak moment. Therefore, world observers do not look favorably on the Anti-War Army's long-term development.”

“But our country wants to use this visit to tell the world that the Anti-War Army is not that weak, nor are they completely surrounded. Their leader is fully capable of visiting other countries!”

These points had actually been mentioned by Qi Ge before, so many voices in the live stream grew impatient.

“Qi Ge, we know all this, and we agree, but what we most want to know now is how this South Pacific crisis was resolved.”

Qi Ge had no choice but to turn the topic to the main subject.