At 9 a.m., the ship's announcement sounded again, notifying everyone except those on duty to gather on the deck.
At 9:30, as the solemn national anthem sounded, four flag bearers held the national flag and walked slowly down the corridor. All officers and soldiers on the ship raised their right hands. Under the leadership of the ship commander, the solemn oath ceremony began——
"Be loyal to the party, love the people, serve the country, dedicate yourself to the mission, and respect honor; obey orders, obey commands, observe discipline, and remain vigilant; strictly keep secrets, overcome difficulties, fulfill your duties, work hard, and successfully complete the escort mission!"
This is the mission and commitment of the officers and men of the escort formation.
Three ships and nearly 800 naval officers and soldiers recited the same oath as the formation was about to leave the waters of the motherland.
Standing in the square formation, Li Zheng suddenly felt a trance at that moment. Time seemed to have traveled through countless years, returning to the era of glory and humiliation of Chinese civilization on this ocean. That scene was recorded in history textbooks. The picture flashed through my mind...
Zheng He's voyages to the West...
The Sino-Japanese War...
The Battle of Xisha in 1974...
At that moment, Li Zheng seemed to see the vivid images of his predecessors appearing before his eyes. They looked at this modern People's Navy with curiosity, surprise, relief and pride.
Internationally, it is customary to refer to the coastal defensive navy as the "yellow water navy", the offshore cruising navy as the "green water navy", and the navy with ocean combat capabilities as the "blue water navy".
Embracing the deep blue is the dream of every country’s navy.
Once, in the decades after the founding of the People's Republic of China, not a single sail of the Chinese navy could be seen in the vast ocean.
In the past, we had to rely on backward torpedo boats to maintain our dignity even within our own nine-dash line in the South China Sea.
In recent years, the navy's modern warships, represented by modern new destroyers, have frequently cut through the waves of the ocean, sailed into the ocean, and advanced into the deep blue.
In May 1980, our first fleet appeared in the Pacific, but it was just to complete the launch support task of the launch vehicle.
At that time, all countries in the world, including Eagle Sauce, looked at this group of navy people with a surprised look.
At that time, Ambassador Yingjiang said to the head of a naval base: "You have solved the problem of sea supply and you can finally visit our country."
It was an invitation, but a poignant one.
At that time, the navy had just solved the problem of going on overseas visits and even providing supplies at sea.
It’s no wonder that when the Navy Day TV program mentions the history of the development of the Navy and mentions the large-scale cruisers and aircraft carriers that are like dumplings today, they burst into tears on the spot, choking and saying how much cowardice we have suffered to get to where we are today!
Why is he crying?
Since the late Qing Dynasty, China has encountered many invasions from the sea. Therefore, the Qing Dynasty people called Europeans Westerners and Japanese Orientals.
Since the Opium War, the invaders have repeatedly relied on strong ships and artillery to bring disaster to the Chinese people. In the Opium War, the British fleet captured Guangzhou, and even the governor was sent to India as a prisoner. In the Sino-French War, China was undefeated and the fleet was destroyed by the French. The failure of the Sino-Japanese War plunged China into an abyss.
The navy is China's maritime fortress, and its failure is related to China's national destiny. The Chinese people have suffered too much because of the country's poverty and the decline of its navy.
Beiyang Navy Since the late Qing Dynasty, China has been poor and weak. We cannot build ships, and we have no money to buy ships.
During the Anti-Japanese War, our navy was even weaker. In order to prevent the Japanese invaders from invading along the Yangtze River, we had no choice but to bomb merchant ships and block the river mouth. We were helpless and helpless.
In the Battle of Crossing the River, our People's Liberation Army relied on wooden boats to win the battle. However, after the founding of New China, the country was impoverished and the People's Navy's funding and technical conditions were also very limited.
However, the enemy will not give up provocation because of this. In the Battle of Xisha and the Battle of Chigua Reef, the People's Navy, which has inherited faith and bloodshed, achieved brilliant victories.
It is precisely by virtue of the spiritual power of "small boats fighting big ships, and bayonets fighting at sea" that the People's Navy has gone through the most difficult historical stage and won more time and space for the growth of the Republic.
Compared with the Chinese Navy of the old era, the biggest difference between the People's Navy and the People's Navy is that they have a strong spiritual power - the military soul.
What is this military spirit?
That is, I have thought about everything but never thought of admitting defeat!
This is the military soul of the PLA, the navy, and the military soul of the army, air force, rocket force and other arms!
After the oath-taking ceremony, Li Zheng, who already felt some heat in the corners of his eyes, picked up a pen and signed his name on a banner more than ten meters long.
This was not the kind of "come here" type of tourist attraction message. At that moment, Li Zheng felt that what he signed was not just a name, but a sacred promise, a bond between himself and the country, nation and 1.4 billion people. Signed letter of commitment.
After the ceremony was completed, everything returned to normal, but since they had sailed away from their own country's waters, everything became more tense.
Early the next morning, Li Zheng and his comrades finished breakfast in the restaurant and were about to return to the cabin when they heard someone shouting: "We've arrived in Singapore!"
Singapore! ?
This is a star country in Asia.
The land area is not large, only more than 600 square kilometers. Most of them are overseas Chinese immigrants. Chinese is the official language. With the unique natural conditions of the strait, it has become the shipping and financial center of Asia. It can be said that God provides food for food, and also with them. Inseparable from wisdom.
Li Zheng couldn't help but ran to the starboard side with Fatty Wei, opened the watertight door, and peeked out.
In the distance, towering modern skyscrapers come into view, and there are various ships near the sea, including cargo ships, yachts, and fishing boats.
To escort in the Indian Ocean, the best route is through the Singapore Strait. This strait is about 111 kilometers long, 18 kilometers wide at its widest, and less than five kilometers wide at its narrowest point. Because it connects to the Strait of Malacca, it is very busy.
Driving in this strait is very quiet and safe, but Li Zheng knew that the special operations team would usher in its first high-alert period.
The reason is simple, after passing here is the Strait of Malacca.
The Strait of Malacca is located between the Malay Peninsula and Sumatra. It is about 600 nautical miles long and is one of the busiest sea areas in the world. More than 200 large cargo ships pass through it every day.
Because of this, HD activities are very rampant here, and it is known as one of the five most dangerous sea areas in the world.
HD is a huge threat to commercial maritime shipping. Whoever encounters HD is unlucky, which means the beginning of a nightmare.
Just after crossing the Singapore Strait, when the formation was approaching 1 degree north latitude and very close to the equator, the ship's announcement sounded——
"Attention all departments, entering the first level anti-piracy deployment! Attention, the formation has entered the first level anti-piracy deployment!"
Li Zheng, who was already fully armed and ready in the cabin, checked the equipment one last time, stood up and looked at Fatty Wei who was looking a little nervous, and said with a smile: "Fatboy, it's our turn to appear."
Please vote for me, please vote for me!
(End of chapter)
