About 2,300 kilometers southeast of the Hawaiian Islands, the super-large bulk cargo ship "Oriental Divine Power" filled with copper ore in the cargo hold was sailing along the intercontinental route across the Pacific Ocean toward its destination on the other side of the ocean at an economic cruise speed of 16 knots. The super cargo ship, which can carry 150,000 tons of cargo, only 34 crew members. At this time, eight crew members, including Captain Cao Xuehua, were on the lookout platform on the top of the ship building.

"Old Cao, it's 8:30, will they encounter any trouble?"

"No, they will definitely arrive on time. Continue searching and don't be careless." After saying that, Cao Xuehua picked up the glitter telescope and looked at the sea in the south.

One day three years ago, Major Cao Xuehua, who had served in the Navy for fourteen years, received a letter of retirement. On the same day, he received a secret appointment. In the following two years, Cao Xuehua and more than 100 retired naval soldiers, including the other 33 seamen on the ship, received special training from the Military Intelligence Bureau as employees of the "China Ocean Shipping Corporation". Later, Cao Xuehua became the captain of the "Oriental Divine Power". During the year, he and thirty-three comrades who also shouldered special missions ran three round trips on the route from Chikrayo to Shanghai.

In addition to docking at ports in foreign countries and taking advantage of the time when the ship loads and unloads cargo, crew members can go to the visa-free zone of the harbor, the life of seafarers is dull. After the ship leaves the port, among the thirty-four crew members, except for the captain, thirty-three were divided into three shifts in the morning, noon and evening. Each shift works for eight hours, taking turns to "serve" the super giant ship until the freighter enters the port again.

Three days ago, a special telegram broke the peaceful life on the "Oriental Divine Power".

This is the first time that Cao Xuehua and the others have received a secret mission. Before that, they have "execute" secret missions in a simulation manner many times in training bases or in normal drills.

As time passed by minute by minute, Cao Xuehua couldn't help but feel a little anxious.

The scheduled meeting time is nine o'clock at night. It's time to come, but there is no sign. Could it be that the submarine that has arrived thousands of miles away is in trouble?

"Old Cao, look quickly, the direction is at seven o'clock."

The sudden scream from the first mate Liu Wanhai scared Cao Xuehua.

Six hundred meters away, a periscope stretched out from the sea.

"Send a light signal. Ask for the other party's identity."

Liu Wanhai immediately whistled at a crew member standing on the top of the mast. Then he gestured.

As the "Oriental Divine Power" emits a light signal, the periscope extending out of the sea also emits a light signal.

"It's it. It's finally here."

"The speed is reduced to four knots. Xiao Liu. You take the helm yourself. Let everyone go to the port deck."

"Yes!" Liu Wanhai immediately rushed into the bridge. He was also very excited when he performed a special mission for the first time.

After looking at the watch, Cao Xuehua looked up at the night sky with twinkling stars, and then he breathed a little relieved. At 8:55, it was very timely. According to the "Star Map" provided by the Intelligence Bureau, there was only a twenty-five minute gap. In other words, within these twenty-five minutes, no scanning range of reconnaissance satellites could cover this sea area. After twenty-five minutes, reconnaissance satellites would pass over the top of their heads. Transfer work must be completed within twenty-five minutes, separated from the submarine, and returned to the original route.

The submarine slowly approached, and the crew had prepared the cables and cranes.

The "Calachian" attack nuclear submarine slowly leaned on the left side of the "Oriental Divine Power". When the crew threw the cables onto the submarine, several soldiers appeared on the submarine's command platform. When the two boats remained relatively still, the crane on the ship started, first lifted the two soldiers over, and then transferred the third soldier and a very special machine to the ship.

The submarine officer standing on the podium waved to the three soldiers who boarded the "Oriental Divine Power".

After sending a farewell signal, the sea water around the submarine rolled up. In about half a minute, the huge submarine penetrated into the sea. The "Oriental Divine Power" continued to sail forward for about five minutes. After leaving the rendezvous sea area, Cao Xuehua asked the freighter to accelerate.

"Take them to the captain's room and I'll go there in five minutes."

After putting down the wireless caller, Cao Xuehua looked at the night sky above his head again. It took only twenty minutes in front and back, and everything was under control.

Compared with any ship, the captain's room of the "Oriental Divine Power" is much more luxurious than the captain's room or captain's room. It not only has a single bed that is 1.2 meters wide, but also a separate bathroom, as well as daily necessities that are rarely seen on ships, such as large-screen LCD TVs, double-door refrigerators, and even a set of high-end audio.

All of these made Lu Chengwen envious because there were no 52-inch large-screen LCD TVs in their military camps.

"I bought it myself."

Hearing the sound from the door, Lu Chengwen immediately retracted his hand on the TV.

"Life at sea is too boring. I can only watch movies or something, so I spent money to buy this home theater. But it's too narrow here and the effect cannot be reflected." The captain walked in and took the initiative to reach out, "My name is Cao Xuehua, the captain of the 'Oriental Divine Power'."

After Lu Chengwen shook hands with the other party, he said, "My surname is Lu, the commander of this operation."

"Major?" Cao Xuehua looked up and down at Lu Chengwen. When he saw the other party showing a look of surprise, he said, "I am also a soldier. I have served in the Navy for fourteen years. When I retired, I was a major. But now the Navy has given me the rank of reserve colonel. I don't know if I can be considered a comrade-in-arms."

"Of course, you are all soldiers, aren't you?"

"Yes, we are all soldiers." Cao Xuehua brought four glasses and took out a bottle of beer from the refrigerator. "Please sit down, you have worked hard all the way. After receiving the order, we changed the schedule and waited for you here for several hours."

Lu Chengwen sat down on the stool opposite Cao Xuehua, but the two special forces soldiers following him did not sit down.

"Your mission this time is very important?" Cao Xuehua asked knowingly. If it was not important, the Military Intelligence Bureau would not urgently "activate" their secret personnel.

"this……"

"I know, when I was receiving the training, the instructor told us not to ask what shouldn't be asked." Cao Xuehua laughed, "You can take a shower first. It seems that the conditions on the nuclear submarine are not as good as our merchant ship. In addition, I will arrange a separate room for you, and no one will disturb you until you return to the country."

"Col. We have something to deal with."

Cao Xuehua frowned slightly and glanced at the equipment placed between the two special forces soldiers.

"Is this ship loaded with copper ore?" Lu Chengwen attracted Cao Xuehua's gaze. "The goods we transported have radiation. Although they are not harmful to the human body, they can be detected."

"Buried it in copper ore?"

Lu Chengwen nodded. "Metal minerals can shield radiation, and for safety reasons, we must do this."

"I'll take you to the cargo hold." Cao Xuehua put down his wine glass and stood up first. "The tail cargo hold is filled with selected copper ore, which has very high grades, and the shielding effect should be better."

Lu Chengwen didn't say anything at all, and immediately called two subordinates and followed Cao Xuehua to leave the captain's room.

There are five cargo holds in front and behind the cargo ship, and each cargo hold is divided into nine small cargo holds. When loading cargo, the selected copper ore is usually loaded in the cargo hold closest to the stern. Although each small cargo hold only contains more than 3,000 tons of cargo, more than 3,000 tons of copper ore are piled in a cargo hold of dozens of square meters, which is nearly ten meters high.

Cao Xuehua called several crew members and took several hours to bury the cargo.

Lu Chengwen used the radiation detector he brought to test. After confirming that there was no problem, he asked the two subordinates to stay and take turns to take care of him, and he followed Cao Xuehua out of the cargo hold.

In the next seventeen days, the "Oriental Divine Power" sailed 12,000 kilometers at a speed of 16 knots.

During this period, there was no trouble. Cao Xuehua made some tricks on the crew list and navigation log, increasing the number of crew members to thirty-seven. Lu Chengwen and the other three also used the more than ten days to learn some navigation skills from other crew members.

At noon on the 18th day, the "Oriental Divine Power" arrived about 250 nautical miles southeast of the Okinawa Archipelago.

"We will enter the East China Sea before dawn tomorrow." Cao Xuehua pointed to the sea ahead, "The General Staff must have made arrangements and will send warships and fighter planes to escort us. Unexpectedly, after working in the Navy for fourteen years and three years of retirement, my first mission was truly carried out."

Lu Chengwen was not at all relaxed and careless. While Cao Xuehua was talking, he picked up the telescope and looked northwest.

Over the sea level, two moving objects attracted Lu Chengwen's attention. He immediately adjusted the focal length of the telescope, and two "Sea Eagle" helicopters flying at low altitude, Lu Chengwen immediately showed a nervous look.

"sh-60j, the anti-submarine helicopters of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force. They seem to be conducting anti-submarine searches. Are they targeting us?" Cao Xuehua also saw the two helicopters.

"I don't know." Lu Chengwen shook his head slightly, "But we'd better be prepared. Lao Cao, hurry up and make arrangements, and never let others board the ship."

Cao Xuehua did not hesitate and immediately blew a whistle to Liu Wanhai in the bridge, and gestured to prepare for battle.

“Is there an encrypted radio station on the ship?”

"Yes, in my cabin, do you want to contact the headquarters?"

"No..." Lu Chengwen hesitated for a moment and said, "There is no need for encrypted radio stations, we call with ordinary radio stations."

"Ordinary radio station?"

"Yes, we are ordinary merchant ships. If we are intercepted by ships from other countries, we can only call with ordinary radio stations. If we use encrypted radio stations, wouldn't we report our own home?"

Cao Xuehua immediately understood what Lu Chengwen meant and admired this special forces major even more.

Five minutes later, a set of radio waves flew away from the "Oriental Divine Power" and the Pacific Ocean was no longer peaceful.

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Chapter completed!