In the conference room of the Navy Headquarters Building, the Minister of Navy, Jiayang, stared blankly at the document in his hand, his face pale without a trace of color, his body trembling uncontrollably.
It's because the significance of this document in his hand is too heavy.
The document lists one by one the main battleships that once represented the power of the Country A Navy, all now sunk.
The naval forces that India painstakingly built over decades were all buried in Mengjia Bay.
Opposite Jiayang, Prime Minister Singh was also present.
Upon discovering the traces of the Stealth Cruiser, before the Vikrant aircraft carrier launched its airstrike against it, the carrier fleet transmitted the news, so Singh had rushed here, anxiously waiting for the progress of the sea battle.
However, Singh's anxious wait was met with a nightmare-like bad news.
"The carrier fleet was annihilated, the main battleships all sank, sank..."
Singh's eyes widened more and more, seemingly unable to believe this news, he instinctively stood up, but felt his legs were as weak as noodles, powerlessly slumping back into the chair.
"Prime Minister, please restrain your grief; your health matters."
The side of Minister of Defense, Vipu quickly came over to support him.
"Navy, how exactly does the Navy fight..."
Viciously pushing Vipu away, Singh roared, the spray of his rage hitting Jiayang and Vipu's faces.
"Prime Minister, Jieke Group's Stealth Cruisers are not just one, but a full six; they are equipped with powerful missile firepower, are indeed Cruiser Arsenal Ships, and are capable of submarine diving. It's a well-planned trap against our Country A Navy."
Jiayang's voice was hoarse, not only saddened by the annihilation of the Country A Navy but also by his future career.
"Why did you fail to detect anything unusual? Why were you so easily trapped? The taxes of fifteen billion citizens are for you to fight wars this way?"
Singh couldn't control his fury; it was thirty main battleships, with a total tonnage of over 230,000 tons, the entire assets of the Country A Navy were in there.
To suddenly be told that the main navy force was sunk, his naval assets completely destroyed, how could he accept this?
Ordinary people would lose sleep over losing a few hundred thousand yuan, let alone the India Navy losing warships, each costing tens of billions, along with elite soldiers aboard.
Without this massive fleet, India instantly fell from a naval power dominating the Indian Ocean to an insignificant role there; even the navies of neighboring small countries could bully them.
"Prime Minister, we didn't know Jieke Group was hiding such information. Those Cruiser Arsenal Ships can fire hundreds of missiles and have powerful anti-air and underwater capabilities. We were deceived by Jieke Group; this isn't a battle fault."
Jiayang was quite innocent, trying hard to dissociate himself.
How could he have known that Jieke Group's Stealth Cruisers would be so terrifying? According to battlefield intelligence, those Cruisers could hold several hundred missiles, had powerful diving and stealth abilities, and absurdly strong air defense firepower, and there were a terrifying six of them.
If he had known the data about those Stealth Cruisers, he definitely wouldn't have decided to send the main navy force to their doom.
"Damn, are you saying it's my fault?"
Singh erupted in anger, slapping Jiayang across the face.
The crisp sound of the slap echoed, leaving a conspicuous red handprint on Jiayang's face.
Vipu discreetly stepped back two paces, afraid of becoming the next target of Singh's anger.
Having been slapped, Jiayang lowered his head to defend himself: "Prime Minister, it's really not my command error, it's just..."
"Enough, I now announce the removal of your positions as Minister of Navy and Navy Commander; you have buried the powerful navy we built over decades. You are the sinner of all India people. Now, immediately take him away."
Singh gritted his teeth and spoke; now that the Country A Navy was annihilated, someone must take the blame.
Jiayang didn't proactively take responsibility and wanted to dissociate himself. Did he expect the Prime Minister to get blamed by the entire nation in his place?
Although the final decision to send the main naval force to pursue Jieke Group's Stealth Cruisers was made by him, he was the Prime Minister; how could he be wrong? He was merely deceived by those incompetent fools below him.
Soon, military police came in, taking Jiayang out of the conference room as he shouted protests.
"Prime Minister, we should consider the aftermath arrangements. Whether to continue the war with Jieke Group, whether to fight or make peace, it needs your decision."
Vipu stole a glance at Singh, who was flushed red, carefully reminding him.
Singh lay limp in the chair, hearing this, his temples throbbed painfully.
"Last time Jieke Group directly rejected our peace proposal, that Liu Yingying even mocked us, demanding we cede the Andaman Islands.
Now our navy has been destroyed; who knows what outrageous demands they'll make.
Our East District Six States surely can't be kept; more maritime interests will be lost, and they might even demand compensation for defeat."
As Singh spoke, he grew angrier, slapping the table: "It's all because of Jiayang, the fool; if it weren't for him, we wouldn't be so passive."
Given Jieke Group's usual greedy behavior, Singh could imagine how arrogant they would be when they humbly begged for peace, how Jieke Group would extort them, forcing India to be blackmailed.