Capítulo 357: Chapter 357: Yezhen is Pregnant
The spring sunshine bathed Hardy and Taylor in its warm glow. As Hardy gazed at the sleeping Taylor, he marveled at her youthful beauty. At eighteen, she was at the pinnacle of her allure, with delicate pink skin, long eyelashes, and a soft layer of fine hair framing her face.
In the past, it was often said that women were at their most beautiful at thirty. But Hardy thought that eighteen was the age when beauty truly blossomed. Though women could still shine at thirty, it was a different kind of radiance.
Taylor was exhausted, having given her all the night before. It seemed she would need some rest.
Hardy quietly rose, showered, and then went to the gym for his workout. After an hour of exercise and a refreshing sweat, he had breakfast. Taylor woke up leisurely after ten o'clock, slowly becoming aware of her surroundings. She realized she was in Hardy's bedroom and, recalling the events of the previous night, felt a rush of blissful memories. The experience had been as wonderful as she had imagined.
She wandered into the living room in her pajamas, where Hardy was engrossed in some documents. Her eyes sparkled as she asked, "Hardy, aren't you going to work today?"
Hardy set down the paperwork, approached Taylor, and embraced her gently. "I'm staying home today to be with you."
Taylor's face lit up with joy. She was about to head to the bathroom for a shower, but Hardy took her hand and guided her into the bathroom instead. The sounds of her singing soon filled the space.
Hardy had initially planned to keep things simple, but Taylor's affectionate gestures and playful kisses made it hard for him to resist. He didn't want to make her feel unloved, so he reciprocated her affection, embracing the moment with her.
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A few days after Taylor's birthday, Hardy flew to Japan but first made a stop in Malaya to inspect a base. He had informed the base's person in charge beforehand and had brought along Lanster and Henry for this trip.
Hardy had long been interested in Malaya. Whether or not his efforts were successful, it was worth the attempt. If he succeeded, the benefits could far surpass the earnings from opening a few companies. He had reviewed extensive reports on Malaya, including details about British governance, local Sudanese forces, the Chinese population, and the various power struggles.
Malaya had a complex colonial history. Originally colonized by Portugal, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom, it was briefly occupied by Japan during World War II. After Japan's defeat, the British returned. Post-war anti-colonial movements had stirred unrest, but the British had managed to suppress it. Malaya was fragmented, with numerous sultans ruling different territories. Penang and Malacca were directly under British control, bypassing the sultanate's jurisdiction, which meant they were potentially easier to negotiate with.
The political landscape was complicated. Singapore, Penang, and Malacca had significant Chinese populations due to the Malays' resistance to Chinese settlement in their territories. This made these areas potentially valuable for Hardy's plans.
After landing at Singapore Airport, Hardy was greeted by the head of the HD Defense Company's Singapore base and the secretary of the British Governor, Lord Mountbatten. The secretary conveyed the Governor's willingness to provide assistance.
"Thank you for your warm welcome," Hardy said. "Please extend my gratitude to Governor Mountbatten. I'll visit him at the appropriate time."
The secretary left, and Hardy proceeded to the Singapore base. Situated by the sea, the base covered approximately 5,000 acres and included a military camp, canteen, training ground, oil depot, and material warehouse. The base was well-equipped with frigates, patrol ships, and speedboats.
The defense company had initially focused on protecting ships but had expanded due to increased demand from shipping companies affected by piracy. The company's stability and effectiveness in these missions had drawn more clients.
Hardy was investing reinvested profits into base construction and operational enhancements. The Singapore base boasted more than 700 frigates, two 600-ton patrol ships, ten 50-ton torpedo boats, and over 500 personnel.
In Penang, the setup was similar. Hardy visited the city, which resembled Hong Kong with its vibrant Chinese community. He returned to Singapore, instructing Lanster to continue strengthening the base and to recruit additional crew members for the newly acquired Fletcher-class destroyers.
"Additionally, we need an air force here," Hardy stated. "We don't need a large airport, just enough to accommodate transport aircraft. Each base should have ten aircraft and a team of pilots."
He also tasked Henry with increasing intelligence efforts in Malaya to gather information on the local Sudanese and rebel groups.
Henry acknowledged the task, and Hardy flew to Japan, while Lanster and Henry returned to the U.S.
Upon arriving at Haneda Airport in Tokyo, Hardy's assistants and security personnel greeted him. An urgent telegram awaited him. Hardy tore it open, and his heart sank as he read the brief message:
"Yezhen is pregnant, let her know."
The message was from Han Yezhen, and its impact hit Hardy like a heavy blow.
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