A huge Type 39 airship slowly landed at the military airfield near the Manila Military Port. Li Ming and Qiao Haipeng jumped off the airship, and Wang Shukun, the commander of the Luzon Garrison Command, was waiting here.

"Lao Wang, didn't you say that you don't need to take it, we are the officers and soldiers who visited the exploration fleet on behalf of the board of directors of the company, and you didn't inform the people of the Luzon Island Management Committee."

After listening to Li Ming's words, Wang Shukun said with a smile: "Commander, the Luzon Island Management Committee didn't know about your arrival, we have prepared lunch, let's eat first." ”

Qiao Haipeng said with a smile: "How is the situation of the officers and men of the exploration fleet?" ”

"Commander Qiao, Li Shaojie, the commander of the Pacific Exploration Fleet, and the captains of the ships are waiting for you in the cafeteria. They're waiting in the cafeteria. ”

When Li Ming and Qiao Haipeng walked into the cafeteria, they found that there were already several tables set up inside, and Li Shaojie, commander of the Pacific Exploration Fleet, the captains of the three warships, and the cadres and non-commissioned officers of each ship had already gathered together.

"Standing ......"

With Li Shaojie's command, all the officers and soldiers of the exploration fleet in the canteen stood up.

"Comrade Commander, all the personnel of the Pacific Exploration Fleet are waiting for dinner, please instruct ......"

Li Ming returned a military salute, and then smiled and said, "Take a break......

After he finished speaking, he smiled and said to everyone, "Everyone please take a seat...... Sit down...... Yesterday, I received a telegram from you returning home safely, and all the members of the Standing Committee and members of the board of directors of the company were very excited, and you specially entrusted me and Commander Qiao of the Admiralty Department to come here to express our condolences to you on behalf of the board of directors of the company. ”

Li Ming and Qiao Haipeng made brief speeches respectively, and then the banquet began. They also toasted all the commanders and fighters of the exploration fleet and cordially talked with the officers and men of the fleet.

The two of them sat back in their seats after they were busy, and there were only Li Shaojie, the commander of the exploration fleet, and the deputy commander of Van Bit and the three captains and deputy captains of the battleship. and Wang Shukun and others.

Li Ming raised his glass, touched it with everyone present, and then said with a smile: "I salute everyone for this glass and thank you for your contribution to the company." ”

After he finished speaking, he looked up and said, and then said to Li Shaojie with a smile: "Shaojie, this voyage is going well, right?" ”

Listened to Old Joe's words. Li Shaojie also raised his head and drank this cup, wiped his mouth and said: "Commander, this voyage was generally relatively smooth, and we encountered several relatively large winds and waves on the way, but fortunately, several of our warships survived. This expedition has basically completed the task assigned to us by the company.

He also successfully found several islands along the way, and also established two footholds in Hawaii and Oahu and San Francisco's Bay Area, leaving Liu Shouyou's "Brave" battleship in the San Francisco Bay Area, and stationed a squadron of daredevils in each foothold. Before we left, the infrastructure was completed at both sites.

After the fleet landed on the islands along the way and in the San Francisco, Hawaiian areas. According to the company's policy, there are no conflicts with the local indigenous people, and we have also established a good relationship with the local indigenous people using some of the goods we have brought with us. I suggest that the company can increase its investment in the expedition exploration fleet, and strive to establish a colony on the west coast of the Americas as soon as possible. ”

Qiao Haipeng nodded and said: "In the past few days, you write a report, go back to Shenyang with us to make a detailed report to the board of directors of the company, and put forward your own opinions to the board of directors of the company." ”

Li Ming thought for a moment and said, "That's it." Shaojie, tell me what you think first. ”

"Actually, my idea is very simple. That is to form a larger exploration fleet, and I will lead the second voyage. This time, we have already set up signal coordinate towers and radio relay stations on the islands and two footholds along the route. The safety of the second voyage will also be greatly improved.

The long-distance navigation capability of our Far East Navy has always been relatively average, and the main reason is that the officers and men of the troops lack experience in crossing the ocean. Even I always thought I had a good experience, but after this voyage, I felt that I was too far behind.

Just like this time we explored the fleet's operation across the Pacific Ocean. Without the help of Lao Fan and other Dutch deputy captains, it is estimated that it will be difficult to complete the task smoothly. It may not be possible to find a few islands along the way, and sometimes many things in our navy cannot be realized by relying on advanced equipment, and a large amount of ocean-going navigation experience must be accumulated.

I think this exploration fleet provides a good opportunity for our Far Eastern Navy. Just take advantage of the opportunity to expand the size of the exploration fleet. Rotational training is carried out annually for our Far Eastern Navy. This will certainly have a tremendous effect on the ocean-going navigation capability of our Far East Navy. And the company can also gain a foothold on the west coast of the Americas in the shortest possible time, and then go south to complete the company's plan to control Central America. ”

Li Ming and Qiao Haipeng glanced at each other, then nodded and said: "Shaojie, your ideas are very good, you have to summarize these ideas of your own, and then make a detailed plan, go back to Shenyang with us, and report to the board of directors." ”

Qiao Haipeng also nodded with emotion and said, "Shaojie, this time your Pacific Exploration Fleet has completed the mission very well, and the company is also very satisfied with your performance. It is true that the Far Eastern Navy lacks the ability to navigate the oceans, and there is still a big gap between it and the Western colonizers.

But let's not be presumptuous, after all, people have been playing for more than 100 years, the bottom of the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian Oceans, I don't know how many ships have sunk, it is the experience of countless explorers who have summed up with their own lives, in fact, people are forced out, it is a special play with life.

Although we started late in the Far East and lacked sufficient accumulation, our starting point is high. First of all, we have the most advanced sailing ships, as well as the best and most complete nautical charts of this era, advanced navigation equipment, and more importantly, our Far East Navy has the spirit of courage to explore and a group of officers and men who dare to work hard and are not afraid of death. ”

The next day, Li Ming and Qiao Haipeng made a special trip to greet all the commanders and fighters of the Pacific Fleet, had dinner with them, toasted every officer and sailor of the fleet, and encouraged them to make persistent efforts and continue to carry forward the spirit of pioneering and sacrificing the Far East Navy.

A few days later, Li Ming, Qiao Haipeng, and Li Shaojie returned to Shenyang by airship. Li Shaojie reported to the company's board committee and submitted a plan to expand the size of the Pacific exploration fleet. (To be continued.) )