Behind-the-scenes restaurant, located near the Palais Bourbon in the 7th arrondissement of Paris.

In the beginning, it only existed as a high-end restaurant that served the upper class.

However, due to the relatively private environment, the distance from the core institution is not too far, and the high price is equivalent to a certain entry threshold set by nature, it has gradually become a position for some middle and high-level people to "have a small meeting" after work.

Decades later, the restaurant's status has risen to the level of "no white ding".

People in politics, business, and entertainment circles tend to talk about things they don't want to make public

Correspondingly, the privacy and security of the interior of the restaurant has far exceeded that of the past.

It is said that no media outlet has ever dug up useful information inside the restaurant.

Still, there are quite a few reporters who like to crouch around and see if they can catch any useful information.

After work, Le Maire did not use her own driver, but asked Caroline to drive herself to the door of the restaurant behind the scenes.

What is going to happen next is suspected of overreach, and while it is impossible for people to seize any evidence, the fewer people who know about it, the better.

Caroline, as Le Maire's secretary, is theoretically a government employee and is not entirely subject to the latter's control, but both are in good hands and in bad terms, much more reliable than the same driver who drives anyone.

Of course, the more important point is that the news of Vice Admiral Laurie Warjoul's visit to lead the fleet, and even the detailed schedule, was obtained by Caroline.

She was meant to be an insider.

"I'll be waiting for you in the parking lot on the east side."

Caroline left Le Maire in front of the hotel and drove away.

It's like dropping by to put an acquaintance halfway.

For this level and type of restaurant, it is natural that the identity of the customer is not asked.

Le Maire gave a string of numbers, and the staff pointed out the location of the private room.

Following the other party's guidance, he quickly opened the door of the private room with a card.

Vice Admiral Voljoul, who was also dressed in civilian clothes and was dressed in a low-key outfit, was already sitting inside.

Judging by the amount of coffee left in front of me, I must have been waiting for a while.

"Good evening, Laurie."

After meeting, the two first came to a warm hug.

Although they didn't usually see each other much, they were always fellow countrymen who struggled in Paris, and it was definitely impossible to be a stranger's relationship:

"I'm sorry to be a little late, I went to Singapore on a business trip before, and I saved up a lot of things to deal with after I came back."

"It's all right, Guillaume."

Warjoul patted Lemaire on the shoulder, signaling that he didn't care:

"It's boring desk work, I understand."

Slowly, Le Maire hung his hat, scarf, and trench coat on the coat rack, and sat down opposite Waujoul:

"It's not exactly the useless stuff."

"For example, recently our association is preparing to set up a military aviation equipment management committee, and we are considering specific candidates."

"Isn't that still ......"

The lieutenant general wanted to blurt out that it was still useless, but halfway through the sentence he realized that the situation was not right.

Le Maire is not a fledgling stunned young man, and on this occasion he came to such a sentence a little abruptly, obviously not because he had nothing to say.

It's about hinting at something.

"What exactly is this committee responsible for?"

Wojul asked as if he had not yet done so, pouring coffee over the cup in front of his fellow.

"Docking the needs of aviation companies and the military, and then being responsible for some work like quality supervision and equipment acceptance as a third party, is drudgery."

Seeing that the other party took the bait, Lemaire immediately explained.

Of course, Voljoul would never believe this assessment.

Responsible for management and acceptance, fools know that it is the most lucrative position in oil and water.

Of course, as a soldier on active duty, and in addition to his high official position, it is certainly impossible for the lieutenant general to do it himself.

But if you can arrange for your own cronies or even relatives......

There is still a lot to be done.

Of course, Warjoul knew very well that Le Maire had made a special trip to call him over, and it was impossible for him to do charity.

Although the two are fellow villagers, their relationship is not so good.

However, in this scene, he is not too naked to engage in revolving door transactions.

So the scene froze directly for a moment.

And seeing the reaction of the lieutenant general, Le Maire knew that his foreplay had been done.

It's time to get down to business.

"Laurie, I heard from a friend in the media two days ago that you are going to take a fleet on a trip to East and Southeast Asia in a while?"

After the waiter rang the doorbell and came in to bring the dinner for two, Lemaire asked.

The visit itself is not too much of a secret, but the specific itinerary has not been made public.

"That's right."

Wojul nodded helplessly:

"This is a real chore, counting the journey, it will take nearly half a year to go out, but fortunately, there is a big ship on the Deirance River in the formation, otherwise I don't know how to spend these months......"

Young junior crew members generally like to go on ships and go on missions because they can get higher subsidies.

But for a high-ranking general of the level of Voljoul, this money no longer matters.

This visit was not an important task that attracted the attention of the whole country, and it was definitely worth the loss to be away from the center of power in Paris for a long time.

"What's the schedule for the trip?"

Lemaire's question is clearly a bit out of bounds.

It stands to reason that the fleet's sailing schedule should be classified.

But in this situation, of course, it is impossible for Voljoul to refuse to answer:

"From the port of Toulon, we crossed the Suez Canal, visited Egypt, then went east along the Arabian Peninsula and the Indian Peninsula, first stopping at India and Bangladesh, then the eight ASEAN countries except Cambodia and Vietnam, then Japan, South Korea, and finally China."

"Just a visit?"

Le Maire's tone was light, like small talk, from which it was impossible to discern where his focus was.

"The other countries are, and finally to China. The above request is to carry out some on-the-spot activities with the Huaxia Navy to enhance mutual trust between the two sides, but so far it has not been determined what specific arrangements will be. ”

As he spoke, Wojul took a piece of snail meat out of its shell and stuffed it into his mouth:

"My adjutant is writing a specific plan for the trip, and if nothing else, it will probably be a football match for the crew, a joint search and rescue exercise, and the main gun target firing and the like, which is a cliché......

"Can you consider arranging a joint anti-submarine exercise?"

Le Maire didn't go around in circles anymore, and said directly:

"Of course, it doesn't have to be particularly complicated, just show the anti-submarine level of our navy a little."

His thinking was simple.

When he was in Singapore before, he once asked the exhibitors in Huaxia whether the improved Dolphin helicopter was the active equipment of the Huaxia army.

The reply was that the assault transport version participating in the exhibition has not yet entered service with the Chinese Army, but the Navy version using similar improved ideas has already been delivered to the Navy for trial.

According to Le Maire's experience, the Chinese navy is currently at a stage where it needs to demonstrate its military strength to outsiders.

Therefore, if such an exercise can be arranged, there will definitely be a chance to see the comparison between the original Dolphin and the improved Dolphin.

Then he will be able to find a way to cooperate with Huaxia.

Deciding on the details of the trip may sound like a big deal, but for Voljoul it was just a matter of putting pen to paper.

"Shhh...... If only I had said it earlier. ”

He said in a somewhat regretful tone:

"Jean Bar is a C70-class air defense ship, if you want to show anti-submarine capabilities, it is better to use the F70 anti-submarine model ......"

"There's no need."

Lemaire hurriedly shook his fork in mid-air:

"The anti-submarine helicopter on the F70 is a big lynx, we can't use our resources to make propaganda for the British......"

Although he said this, Warjoul on the other side quickly understood the extraneous sound:

"Are you going to take this opportunity to show the performance of our helicopter, let the Chinese Navy have a long insight, and by the way, advertise?"

A sentence almost didn't choke Le Maire.

He said in his heart that I really want people to have a long experience, but I don't want Chinese people to ......

But if you explain it, it's a bit of a problem.

So after a little thought, I nodded.

"Yes, that's it."

"That's easy to say."

The lieutenant general did not doubt him, and immediately agreed to Le Maire's request:

"Although it still needs to be coordinated with the Chinese side above, a simple anti-submarine exercise is not a sensitive project, and I don't think it's a big problem......

(End of chapter)