Eagle Sauce: The 055 destroyer was launched into the sea just after the founding of the country?

Apparently, seeing that Heru had not made up his mind for such a long time, the envoy of John Kingdom once again entered the Commander's Mansion and brought new conditions to Heru.

In the commander's mansion, the envoy from John's country had just left.

Heru stood in front of a huge map of Southeast Asia, his finger slowly running across the Strait of Malacca.

This most important waterway in the world has tens of thousands of merchant ships passing through it every year, controlling the lifeline of maritime trade in the entire Far East.

“Control of the Strait of Malacca…”

He muttered to himself, a glint of greed in his eyes.

"Billions of dollars in revenue each year, plus half of the colonies in Southeast Asia..."

His eyes wandered over the map. The rubber plantations in Malaya, the oil fields in Brunei, the mineral resources in Sarawak...

These colonies were extremely rich, with the annual output value of rubber and tin alone exceeding one billion US dollars.

If all of this belonged to the White Elephant Kingdom...

"And most importantly," Heru's finger stopped at the narrowest part of the Strait of Malacca.

"This is the throat of the Dragon Kingdom. Eighty percent of their maritime trade passes through here."

"As long as we control this waterway..."

A glimmer of revengeful pleasure flashed in his eyes.

The shame of the Battle of Mengmai still haunts him.

Those bombed factories, those destroyed dreams, if we can strangle Longguo's throat, everything can be taken back.

But soon, reason prevailed.

Heru walked to the window and looked at the old warships in the harbor.

This is the entire naval force of the White Elephant Kingdom - several World War II destroyers and some patrol boats.

Even if John's Far East Fleet is added, how long can it last in the face of Dragon's aircraft carrier formation?

"The promises of John's people..." He sneered, "Their promises are as reliable as the borders they draw."

On the desk, a latest intelligence report caught his attention.

The above records in detail the military strength displayed by Longguo in Singapore.

An 80,000-ton aircraft carrier, the latest jet fighters...even the people of John have to bow down to such strength.

"If we rashly get involved..." Cold sweat broke out on Heru's forehead.

He knew very well that if war broke out, the White Elephant Kingdom would be the first to bear the brunt.

Those newly rebuilt industrial zones and those cities that have been developed with great difficulty may be reduced to ruins again in the revenge of the Dragon Kingdom.

"Report!" A staff officer pushed the door open and said, "The envoy from John Country said they are willing to offer more conditions. In addition to the territory and control that have been promised, they are also willing to..."

"That's enough!" Heru suddenly interrupted him, his voice a little tired. "Tell me, do you think the promises of John's countrymen are credible?"

The staff officer was stunned for a moment: "This..."

"The border they drew in the White Elephant subcontinent is still causing bloodshed."

Helu walked to the window. "The promises they made in the Middle East have caused Arabs to still be fighting each other."

“Now, they are trying to tempt us with these sweet poisons…”

He turned and his eyes fell on the old colonial photo on the wall.

"A hundred years ago, they used this method to gradually erode our country. Now, they want to repeat the same trick."

The staff officer was silent.

He also understood Heru's concerns.

In this rapidly changing world, John's country is no longer the "Empire on which the Sun Never Sets".

Their promise may not even be fulfilled until tomorrow's sunrise.

"But Mr. President," the staff officer said cautiously, "if we don't help the John people, will they..."

"Will they hold a grudge against us?" Helu smiled, but there was bitterness in his smile. "Of course they will."

"But compared to the resentment of the John people, I am more worried about the revenge of the Dragon Kingdom."

"Look at what happened in Xingzhou and you'll know how formidable their current strength is."

He walked back to the map and his eyes lingered on the Strait of Malacca.

"This waterway is indeed very tempting. But the question now is, do we have the ability to defend it?"

“If we accept John’s terms, will we become the second Singapore?”

The office fell silent. The afterglow of the setting sun streamed in through the windows, gilding everything.

But behind this beautiful scenery, a choice concerning the fate of the country is waiting for the leader of the White Elephant Kingdom.

Should he accept the temptation of John's people and take the risk of retaliation from the Dragon Country, or should he wisely choose to stand by and watch?

This choice will determine the fate of the White Elephant Nation in this new era...

However, just when Heru was indecision.

The envoy from John Kingdom once again stepped into the gate of the Commander's Mansion.

Heru stood in the office, holding tightly in his hand the aid list that John's countrymen had just submitted.

Modern steel mills, chemical plants, machinery manufacturing plants... these are the industrial bases that the White Elephant Country urgently needs.

Since the Battle of Mengmai, the industry of the White Elephant Kingdom has almost been reduced to its pre-liberation level. This list is like a shot in the arm, giving him hope for reconstruction.

"A complete industrial system..." he muttered to himself, "If we can rebuild these, coupled with control of the Strait of Malacca, the White Elephant Kingdom will be truly powerful."

He walked to the window and looked at the dilapidated factories in the distance.

The aid package promised by the Johns included not only the latest industrial equipment but also comprehensive technology transfer and expert training. While Johns may no longer be the "Empire on which the Sun Never Sets," they remain a world leader in industrial technology.

"Report!" A general pushed the door open and entered. "The military has completed the preliminary combat readiness assessment. If we want to cooperate with John's people, we can immediately mobilize the entire White Elephant Navy."

Heru nodded and walked over to the map hanging on the wall.

His eyes wandered across the border between Dragon Kingdom and White Elephant Kingdom.

After hesitating for a long time, Heru suddenly gritted his teeth.

“The enemy of my enemy is my friend,” he said to himself. “There are no eternal friends or eternal enemies, only eternal interests.”

These words seemed to give him the final determination.

Yes, what the White Elephant Kingdom needs now is profit.

Control of the Strait of Malacca, colonies in Southeast Asia, a complete industrial system... these are all necessary for the rise of the White Elephant Kingdom.

"Moreover," his eyes became firm, "as a neighboring country, we must curb the development of Dragon Country."

"Otherwise, when they become truly powerful, we will be the first to suffer."

Memories of the Battle of Mengmai came back to him.

At that time, Longguo was just a newly established emerging country.

But in just a few years, they developed aircraft carriers, jet fighters, and even missiles that could hit the Eagle Sauce.

If they were given a few more years...

"Pass my order," Heru turned to the general and said, "Begin mobilization immediately. Mobilize all White Elephant Kingdom's warships and prepare to cooperate with John's people!"

"Yes!" The general stood at attention and saluted, but a trace of worry flashed across his face. "But Mr. President, if the Dragon Kingdom retaliates..."

"They will retaliate," Heru interrupted him, a hint of coldness in his voice, "but this is why we have to do this."

"The Dragon Nation is already terrifying enough. If we allow them to continue developing, once they become a true superpower, we won't even have a chance to retaliate."

He walked back to his desk and picked up the documents left by the envoy from John's country.

"And this time, we are not fighting alone."

"With the support of John's people and their familiarity with the local waters, we might have a chance of winning."

"But..." the general wanted to say something else.

"No buts!" Helu slammed the table. "Look at what's happening in Xingzhou. Longguo is already flexing its muscles to the whole world."

"If we don't take action now, once they truly control the entire South China Sea, the White Elephant Kingdom will forever be their vassal!"

"Go and prepare," Helu waved his hand. "Remember, this is not just a war, it's a decision about the future of the White Elephant Nation!"

“We must seize this opportunity, otherwise history will not give us a second chance.”

The general turned and left.

Heru walked back to the window and looked at the sunset in the distance.

He knew that the decision he had just made would lead the White Elephant Kingdom onto a path full of unknowns.

But in this world where the strong prey on the weak, sometimes the most dangerous choice is not to make a choice.

"Come on," he whispered, "let's see who has the better of us."