441 Oolong Incident
Liu Yong, a man whose days usually began with the soothing ritual of scrolling through his mobile phone for the latest news, found himself unusually tardy in receiving an intriguing piece of information one fine morning. The news he stumbled upon was a pivotal press conference regarding the actions of the M country's navy, and it was by sheer accident that he came across it.
At that very moment, across the world in both country M and various Western nations, the news had already erupted like wildfire, dominating headlines and discussions. Meanwhile, in China, the news had just begun to trickle into public consciousness.
Liu Yong's eyebrows arched upward in mild astonishment as he digested the contents. He hadn't anticipated that the US Navy's response to the recent events would be to hold a press conference implicating the Universal Enterprise Group.
A faint, knowing smile curled at the corners of Liu Yong's lips. He couldn't help but chuckle, and it was a light, almost carefree laugh that escaped him. He had imagined that there would be some grand strategy at play here. Yet, as he considered the situation more deeply, his smile grew more assured.
On one hand, it seemed likely that the US Navy was acting out of speculation and suspicion, lacking concrete evidence to substantiate their claims. If they possessed incontrovertible proof, the situation would undoubtedly have taken a more serious turn. Their recourse to blaming the Universal Enterprise Group hinted at their lack of substantial evidence.
On the other hand, there was an air of caution underlying their actions. It seemed that they were hesitant to go too far without a clear understanding of what had submerged their warships beneath the waves.
Having unraveled the reasoning behind these two possibilities, Liu Yong remained unfazed, the weight of the situation barely registering on his shoulders. After all, he thought, there was no need for him to be overly concerned.
Following a leisurely breakfast, Liu Yong made his way to the Universal Building, the hub of his vast business empire.
Once settled into his office, Qiu Yang, his right-hand man, entered in a state of palpable anxiety. "Boss," he began urgently, "the situation has escalated. The M country's military held a press conference, implicating us in the sinking of their seven warships and one submarine."
Liu Yong's countenance remained relaxed as he reassured Qiu Yang, "Their claims are based on speculation and suspicion, Qiu Yang. There's no need to worry; they lack any concrete evidence."
Perplexed, Qiu Yang inquired, "What should we do, then?"
Liu Yong had anticipated this question and waved his hand dismissively. "It's quite simple, really. We should hold a press conference of our own, disavowing any involvement in this incident."
"Is that all?" Qiu Yang seemed surprised.
But he quickly grasped the wisdom of Liu Yong's approach. Given the circumstances, a press conference was indeed the best course of action. After all, the M country had no evidence to back their claims.
With a casual air, Liu Yong retrieved his mobile phone and shared a video with Qiu Yang. "Take a look at this video; it can be presented at the press conference. It shows that the M country's navy caused this incident themselves. They mistakenly launched torpedoes that struck their own warship, leading to its destruction."
Qiu Yang viewed the video on his own phone, his eyes lighting up with understanding and approval. Although the clip was brief, its quality was excellent, and it left no room for doubt.
In the video's opening moments, a warship from country M could be seen firing two torpedoes, producing distinct "plop, plop" sounds. The torpedoes' trajectories were clearly visible as they plunged into the water, and not long after, an explosion rocked a warship in the distance.
Any discerning eye could discern that the torpedoes had struck the warship, causing the subsequent explosions. It was the very epitome of a costly blunder.
As for whether the other warships met a similar fate, no one could say for certain. The M country had no evidence to support their claims, nor did they possess live video footage. Thus, the Universal Enterprise Group could chalk it up to an internal accident that resulted in the sinking of several warships.
The afternoon arrived, and the Universal Enterprise Group convened a press conference at the Universal Building's grand press conference hall. By this time, the domestic media had caught wind of the M country's naval mishap, transforming it into a global news sensation.
The press conference held by Universal Enterprise Group attracted a substantial turnout of media representatives. The cavernous hall was packed, and cameras were trained on the podium like an army of sentinels.
Among the attendees, not only were domestic reporters present, but a significant contingent of foreign correspondents had also assembled. The spotlight bathed the room in a luminescent glow, lending an air of gravity to the event.
Stepping confidently to the podium, Qiu Yang addressed the gathering with vigor. "Ladies and gentlemen," he began, "more than twenty hours ago, a mishap occurred in the North Pacific Ocean, leading to the sinking of seven US Navy warships and one submarine."
He provided a concise account of the incident, offering a fresh perspective to the gathered audience. While most of them were already aware of the situation, Qiu Yang presented the Universal Enterprise Group's version of events.
A foreign journalist immediately raised his hand and posed a question when Qiu Yang concluded, saying, "Mr. Qiu, the M country's navy held a press conference, claiming that this incident is connected to your group."
A hushed anticipation filled the hall as all eyes turned toward Qiu Yang, awaiting his response.
With unwavering composure, Qiu Yang replied confidently, "The M country's navy has fabricated this incident as a means to save face. It's nothing more than baseless speculation."
A murmur of surprise rippled through the audience at his assertion. Qiu Yang's statement had ignited a spark of intrigue.
Global Enterprise Group's fleet, he continued, had happened to be in the vicinity at the time of the incident. The M country's navy, he suggested, had chosen to scapegoat them due to a lack of better options.
"Any rational observer," Qiu Yang reasoned, "would recognize that our fleet comprises civilian vessels, primarily transport ships and a salvage ship. It is beyond belief that they could be mistaken for a modern navy fleet."
The hall buzzed with renewed discussion, and many eyes sparkled with understanding. It was a compelling argument.
Indeed, Universal Enterprise Group's ships were civilian vessels, with even the largest among them barely exceeding 100,000 tons. They were a far cry from the capabilities of a modern warship. Furthermore, the Universal Enterprise Group's ships had emerged from the incident unscathed, raising doubts about the authenticity of the M country's claims.
Qiu Yang was content with the audience's response and, after a raised hand and a press of a button, projected a video onto the large screen. The brief, twenty-second footage delivered a powerful message.
The video, although short in duration, was filmed from an excellent vantage point, ensuring utmost clarity. It commenced with a warship from country M launching two torpedoes, producing the unmistakable "plop, plop" sound. The torpedoes' trajectories were crisp and distinct, and within moments, a
warship in the distance erupted into flames.
It was a clear-cut case of friendly fire, an oolong incident of epic proportions.
Qiu Yang continued, "This video will be available for download on our company's official website."
With his final words, Qiu Yang exited the stage, leaving a room of astounded reporters in his wake. The truth of the matter had been unveiled in all its clarity.
The incident had nothing to do with the Universal Enterprise Group, and the hall reverberated with the realization that they had witnessed a masterful display of crisis management.
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