Chapter 813 Passing the Strait!

When the news that Ankara requested a direct meeting reached the capital, most people were unable to react immediately.

Including Chang Haonan.

Although it was his idea to use the name of Greece to create a card in the void, when making plans, he only used it as one of the bargaining chips at most.

Who would have thought that it would be a decisive kill.

About half a minute after the staff finished explaining the situation, someone in the originally tense meeting room finally couldn't hold back and let out a bitter laugh that was mixed with sarcasm and a bit of helplessness.

Soon after, the others were also inspired and began to laugh secretly with their heads down and their hands covering their mouths.

The entire conference room was finally filled with a happy atmosphere.

"Ugh……"

The leader of the delegation sighed, then leaned back in his chair and shook his head.

Although he didn't laugh out loud like the others, the corners of his mouth that were difficult to suppress clearly showed that he was in a very good mood:

"I thought we were going to chew on a hard bone, but... when I opened my mouth, I found it was a brittle bone..."

With this slightly joking remark setting the tone, the other people's speeches naturally became less restrained.

"Yeah, let alone the first two days, even in the first two hours, when I heard the other side put forward those four demands, I felt that they were coming with great force and were quite difficult to deal with."

Shen Shengguang, who thought he was going to play the leading role but found out that he was just playing a supporting role, suddenly got rid of his depressed mood and smiled, holding up the notebook in front of him and said:

"Look, I'm still analyzing it seriously."

This sentence attracted everyone's attention, and they found that the two pages of the notebook were already densely written.

"I just thought that these four items from the Turks seemed confusing, but in fact, they are closely linked. The first item requires us to pay a large deposit, which is not only an interest-free loan, but also the fourth item requires us to participate in joint research and development as a guarantee. If it is found that the project has not made much progress after five years, we can continue to argue about the refund..."

It should be said that Shen Shengguang’s explanation does make sense.

If the agreement is really signed according to the conditions offered by the Turks, then even for the sake of the 20 billion, the Aviation Power Group should not be too lazy and should come up with something real.

But the opponent probably didn't think so much, and just performed a series of sit-ups directly -

At first I felt that I was very capable and tried to do it for a while, but then I found that I was not so capable anymore. As a result, I didn’t even struggle and just lay down again.

It’s better not to have any hesitation in the beginning.

This speed of sliding and kneeling makes it look even more clownish.

Chang Haonan couldn't help but think of a famous quote from a classic TV series he had watched in his previous life, so he spoke almost subconsciously:

"Being arrogant at first and respectful later, it makes me laugh when I think about it..."

This monologue was heard by Ding Gaoheng who was standing next to him.

"Heh, this statement is quite suitable to describe the opponent's performance..."

The latter commented immediately.

Although "arrogant at first but respectful later" can also be used to describe people, it is absolutely appropriate in the current environment.

"Also, I didn't realize before that you, Xiao Chang, have some knowledge of literature?"

Chang Haonan couldn't explain that this line came from a TV series that was released a few years later, so he just waved his hand:

"It's just something that comes to my mind. I guess it's just something I feel..."

However, the joyous atmosphere did not last long.

After all, although the Turks have shown signs of sliding on their knees, the Varyag has not actually passed through the Bosphorus Strait yet, so they cannot open the champagne in advance.

According to the delegation leader, since the other party is ready for a face-to-face interview, the next step is to determine the meeting place and negotiators.

But at this time, some people expressed different opinions.

"I don't think there is any need to agree to the Turks' demands right away."

As a leader in charge of foreign economic and trade cooperation, Shen Shengguang is quite professional in negotiating and understanding the psychology of foreigners.

In his opinion, since he has discovered that the opponent's pressure resistance level is far less than expected, he should not give the opponent any breathing space.

Oh, you said before that you didn’t want to meet and talk, and we agreed to that.

Now that you realize that the situation is not right, you want to suddenly change your mind?

How can such a good thing happen?

"Changing the negotiation method itself is something that can be traded. If you want a face-to-face meeting, then set some conditions in exchange."

Shen Shengguang cleared his throat and expressed his thoughts.

"But Comrade Sheng Guang."

Concerns were quickly expressed:

"After all, we just bluffed about the Greek card. If we delay it for too long, then what if the other party finds out about the problem..."

Before he could finish, Shen Shengguang waved his hand:

"I just said that I can't agree to an interview right away, not that I won't talk."

"There's no need to drag it out any further in Budapest. Let's adjourn the meeting and have Comrade Yi Kuangyao in Ankara convey our conditions directly to them. Tell them that is our bottom line for the negotiations. If they don't agree, we can't guarantee the arms balance in the Aegean Sea!"

"As for the Varyag, at worst we can just sail it back to the Black Sea Shipyard. We can talk again after two years when they get the next leadership!"

Shen Shengguang said this and knocked hard on the table in front of him.

Negotiation is essentially a bit like playing cards.

It's not just the size of the cards that count.

Unless you start with an invincible hand like a royal flush, you can naturally defeat ten opponents with your own strength.

But in most cases, you still have to play a psychological game.

Like now.

China is indeed just bluffing.

However, the other side has exposed its own internal instability and weakness of being unable to withstand any public opinion storm.

It is equivalent to showing your trump card.

It was simply impossible to afford for the Greeks to acquire advanced equipment that could reverse the situation.

Of course, the situation in China is actually similar.

The Varyag must be allowed to return home safely at all costs.

But the Turks don't know about this latter incident.

Under this kind of one-way information transparency, negotiations are basically a one-sided devastation.

So, there is no need to be too timid.

The leader of the delegation pondered for a while, then raised his head again:

"Then, next, we will follow Comrade Shen Shengguang's advice and first determine the content of this 'ultimatum'!"

……

One day later.

Zhu Yuzhou, who had been circling on the high seas outside the entrance of the Bosphorus Strait for more than ten hours, looked worriedly at the vaguely visible Camilica Mountain in the distance.

He had barely gotten any sleep since the phone call asking him to slow down as much as possible.

The big ship behind him is of great significance to him, to the LuChuang Group, and even to the entire China. Every day delayed on the road increases the risk of more trouble.

Less than a week had passed since the fleet set sail, and the number of small boats and helicopters that appeared within visual distance of the fleet had exceeded double digits.

The most dangerous incident occurred when a helicopter attempted to force a landing on the deck of the Varyag.

Fortunately, he saw the opponent's intention in advance and ordered a turn to evade in time, which prevented him from succeeding.

But a thief can steal for a thousand days but you can never be on guard against thieves.

If we continue to go around in circles like this, it is only a matter of time before someone finds our flaw and boards the ship, or even destroys the tow rope.

Zhu Yuzhou certainly also knew that at this moment, the country was probably engaged in intense negotiations with Turkey.

But at least in his opinion, the results are hardly optimistic.

The Mediterranean is too far away after all.

"Mr. Captain."

Zhu Yuzhou, who was really unable to bear it any longer, turned around and said to the big hairy captain who was only wearing a vest:

"I'm going to take a rest. If you find anything unusual nearby, be sure to wake me up."

"Okay, Zhu, go ahead and leave this to me."

The latter has a very good mentality. After all, the overseas subsidies are calculated on a daily basis. Even if he keeps wandering in the Black Sea, it will not affect his income.

Zhu Yuzhou nodded, and just as he was about to turn around and walk down the deck ladder, he heard the maritime satellite phone next to him suddenly ring.

He shuddered all over, his sleepiness disappeared almost instantly, and he rushed over at a speed so fast that the captain next to him could hardly see his figure.

"This is the Nikolay Chikel, please speak."

There was a sound of heavy breathing on the other end of the receiver.

After a few seconds, the voice of old friend Ye Junqi was heard.

"The Strait Management Authority has withdrawn its order prohibiting traffic."

This short sentence suddenly relaxed Zhu Yuzhou's tense nerves.

He suddenly felt a little dizzy.

Fortunately, I grabbed the handle next to me in time:

"That...that means we can get through?"

"Yes, but there are still some technical requirements. A transport boat will come on board in a while and explain the details to you..."

In order to prevent their sit-ups from becoming a clownish act, the Turkish side put forward many technical details.

For example, the brake tugboat is required to have a horsepower of no less than 16000, and two additional auxiliary tugboats are required at the bow, midship, and stern, as well as three additional pusher boats to prevent collisions with cross-sea bridges or coastal buildings, bringing the size of the entire fleet to 12 ships.

In addition, when navigating, visibility must not be less than 5 kilometers, the water flow must not be greater than three knots, and the wind speed must not be greater than level five.

In fact, from the perspective of navigation safety alone, this is a bit of an overreaction.

The narrowest part of the Bosphorus Strait is 708 meters, and the shallowest part is 27.5 meters, which is more than enough for the Varyag, which has not yet been fully equipped.

Moreover, the tugboat fleet hired by China is composed of veteran sailors who have been working near the strait for many years, so there is actually no need for such an exaggerated momentum.

However, China can also understand Ankara's thinking -

The fact that the Varyag was intercepted has been made public to the whole world.

Now the purpose of extortion has not been achieved.

Then you have to give an explanation to the outside world and explain why you have been jumping around for so many days.

I can't admit that I wanted to make a fortune but was killed instead.

That's too embarrassing.

Therefore, they can only focus on technical details and show an attitude of "I am so rigorous in order to ensure the safety of international waterways."

Therefore, China simply accepted all these purely technical requirements.

It won’t take much anyway.

But the part other than technology is completely different.

The first one must be completely abandoned without a doubt.

Of course, as the five great good people, we are not completely unreasonable.

Huaxia promised that if any damage was caused to the strait and onshore facilities during navigation, it would pay corresponding compensation from a huge special insurance.

The only difference is that the guarantor was changed from a Turkish bank to a domestic insurance company in China.

It also became the single largest business of China Insurance Industry for many years to come.

The second and third articles have a different wording.

That is to say, referring to the agreement reached previously with the EU, both sides will open their markets and investments to each other in accordance with the treatment of WTO members.

As for the tourism industry, Comrade Yi Kuangyao spent a lot of time and effort to make Ankara accept the reality that Turkey is not well-known in China.

In order to improve this situation, he kindly suggested that the two countries should consider opening up a visa-free or visa-on-arrival policy...

The fourth point was indeed somewhat sensitive because it involved the defense of a NATO country, so it was eventually replaced with a completely empty statement.

"The two sides will work to enhance strategic mutual trust between the two militaries, improve their ability to respond to non-traditional security threats, and gradually deepen military exchanges under the guidance of the principles of mutual respect, fairness and justice, and win-win cooperation..."

In short, this "Black Sea-Mediterranean Crisis" which was much ado about nothing ended quickly, leaving many countries stunned.

Although some major powers outside the region have once again emphasized the "risks" and "threats" that an unpowered ship may pose when passing through the strait, it is clear that nothing can be done without advance preparation.

……

Three days later, witnessed by tens of thousands of onlookers at both ends of the Bosphorus Bridge, the Varyag, surrounded by a dozen auxiliary ships, slowly passed through the narrowest part of the strait and successfully entered the Mediterranean Sea.

Even the traffic on the bridge was not affected.

At exactly 12 noon, the leading ship, the Nikolay Chiker, sounded its whistle to salute the Bosphorus, the Black Sea and the Nikolayev Shipyard.

This giant ship that spanned two eras finally broke free from geographical constraints and headed for the vast ocean for the first time 11 years after its launch.

At the end of this voyage, it will inherit its original mission and become another iconic force of the Red Navy...