The combat effectiveness of the Navy comes from thousands of warships, and the better the warships, the stronger the combat effectiveness. This is the reason, now is the industrial age, the navy's requirements for the quality of warships are becoming more and more demanding, and in many cases, even a small gap can lead to a dramatic ending of a naval battle.

China in this era. Of course, the most effective and fastest way is to go to the industrial power and directly purchase advanced warships, and try to narrow the gap with the naval powers; although this gap is definitely not something that can be eliminated in a short period of time, as long as the center is still allocating the cost of purchasing ships for the navy, then this new foreign-made warship must be bought back.

In the old and auspicious years, the center allocated a "special ship purchase fee" to the Admiralty for ordering two large warships from the American shipyards, and the cross-fire deal went very smoothly, and the American shipyards quickly laid the keels for the two attack ships, and because of the very rapid allocation of funds by the Chinese side, the construction progress of the two attack ships was quite fast, and the two shipyards in the United States only took a little more than a year to complete the construction of the two warships, and now, the two warships are about to hold a launching ceremony and conduct sea trials. The reason why Zhao Bei asked the Admiralty to send someone over this time. It is for this purpose. The President of the United States also attaches great importance to this international arms deal, so this is not only a military affair, but also has a bearing on the friendship between China and the United States.

On the way to come. Liu Guanxiong has already pondered this matter, leading Chinese sailors to the United States to receive warships, this is a task, but it is also an honor, for him, a "Beiyang relic" who sits on the cold bench. This is more of an opportunity, and he is eager to take on this task. In order to show loyalty to the center and the president, and by the way, also show his sassy and heroic posture of "incorruptible and not old". Erect a promotion step and see if you can retire and retire with the rank of "major general" or even "lieutenant general" in the future, at least it will look much better.

Therefore, when the president was busy with the affairs of the Ordnance Industry Administration, Liu Guanxiong recommended himself to President Mao Sui in a timely manner, wanting to lead Chinese sailors to the United States to receive the two American-built warships.

As early as last year, in order to receive these two US-made warships, the Admiralty had already sent a group of naval cadet officers to the United States to study at the US Naval Academy, and from time to time to US shipyards to supervise the construction of ships. As long as you take this task, you can easily complete this, Ren

。

But this is only Liu Guanxiong's own opinion, and the president does not see it that way.

"I deeply admire Director Liu Lei's ambition, but the United States is far away, and now the weather is getting hotter again, Deputy Director Liu, as an important member of the Admiralty, has more important work for you to do.

Zhao Bei's words gave Liu Guanxiong a scoop of cold water, and Liu Guanxiong immediately calmed down and thought about it. Indeed, it is very reasonable for the president not to send him to the United States to receive warships, because those two attack ships are the most combat-effective large warships that the Chinese Navy can currently have, and of course they can only be handed over to the president's descendants to command, and in any case it will not be their turn to be the "Beiyang relics."

"I wonder if the president has the right person in mind?"

Liu Guanxiong asked tentatively, after all, he is a navy veteran, and there are always some disciples, if the president does not have a suitable candidate, he will not mind handing over this opportunity to his disciples, so as to inherit the mantle.

"Director Liu Bei, can anyone recommend to the center?"

Zhao Bei didn't answer immediately, just smiled and looked at the navy veteran in front of him, Liu Guanxiong's mind he could guess some of it, and he also knew that this navy veteran did have the heart to join the president, but Zhao Bei did not intend to let Liu Guanxiong continue to stay on the warship, in his opinion, these naval generals who graduated from the end of the nineteenth century were not suitable for his needs, on the one hand, the tactics and strategic thinking of these people were behind the times, and on the other hand, many of these people had participated in the Sino-Japanese War. At that time, the gap between the Chinese Navy and the Japanese Navy was not so alarming, but now, the gap between the Chinese and Japanese navies is very alarming, and if the Chinese and Japanese navies have another face-to-face battle, it is difficult to guarantee that these naval veterans will not be in a bow.

The current Chinese Navy. Obviously, it is difficult for a navy veteran like Liu Guanxiong to be qualified for such a job, but it is Lu Ping and Zhang Guangyang who are young and strong naval officers who are more suitable for this job, so a navy veteran like Liu Guanxiong can stand in the Admiralty as an idol, but the person who really kills on the front line can only be the young Zhuang faction of the navy.

Seeing that the president asked him for a necessary number, Liu Guanxiong pondered for a moment and took out what he thought was the right person: "There are many young talents in the navy. Shen Honglie, Yang Shuzhuang, Chen Shaokuan, Yang Lizhong. Wan Shaoxian, Qi Zhaoshuang, these naval cadets are all young talents recently promoted by the Admiralty, and in my opinion, they all have the qualifications to be captains, and the president can choose some of them. ”

Liu Guanxiong is also clever, and he did not only recommend his own disciples, but mixed in a lot of "outsiders." "In order to avoid being accused of forming a faction, which has always been hated by the president.

Zhao Bei smiled faintly. said: "Deputy Director Liu. In your opinion. How is Lu Ping the person? ”

Liu Guanxiong was stunned for a moment, then nodded. He said: "Although this man is not confused, he can also be called a young talent, and it is no safer for the president to send him to the United States to receive warships."

Although Lu Ping was born in the Beiyang Naval Academy, he joined the revolution earlier, and he was already a descendant of Zhao Bei, and now Zhao Bei plans to let him go to the United States to receive warships, which shows that Lu Ping has become a rising political star in the navy, and maybe. He will be the future Chief of the Navy and Chief of the General Staff of the Navy.

More importantly, Lu Ping is from Shandong, not Fujian, and the president's move seems to have the intention of balancing the forces of various factions in the navy.

Zhao Bei didn't bother to think about Liu Guanxiong's thoughts now, he paced back and forth with his hands behind his back for a few steps, then sat down on the sand, knocked his knees with his fingers, and decided to envelop Liu Guanxiong by the way. Divide Duan Qirui's forces. Further devour the political legacy of Beiyang and prepare for the next move.

"Lu Ping led the team to the United States, and the center was more relieved. However, in order to better complete the task of receiving the ship. A couple of assistants must also be sent to him, so be it. Qi Jinbo was his deputy, and as for the list of other entourages, it was handed over to the Admiralty to draw up. Deputy Director Liu, you make a list of the candidates you just recommended, and I will hand them over to the Admiralty for alternatives, so that you can serve the country and do not have to worry about it. Write whoever you think is suitable. ”

Hearing these words, Liu Guanxiong was a little surprised. The president's significance is clear, and the power to draw up this list of candidates is handed over to him, which seems to be seen as the president's trust in Liu Guanxiong. So, the depression in Liu Guanxiong's heart was suddenly swept away, and he nodded again and again, and unceremoniously took this task down, but he also understood that what the president really valued was Lu Ping and Qi Jinbo, these two people are not only from Shandong, but more importantly, they are both classmates of the Beiyang Naval Academy.

Liu Guanxiong was happy and did not forget to get down to business. Take out a thick document bag from your briefcase. Give it to the president.

"The President just called the Admiralty to see information about the two attack ships. These are some documents sent to the Admiralty yesterday by the US commercial representative, and there are also some photographs, all of which are relevant information on the two attack ships; at present, the construction of the warships has been completed, and the launching ceremony will be held soon, and after Lu Ping leads the team over, sea trials can be conducted. Before I came, General Tang asked me to give the president a message: Now that the construction of the two attack ships has been completed, the name of the ship has not yet been determined, and if the name of the ship "No. 1 and No. 2" is used at the time of installation, it will be a little shabby. Considering that these two attack ships will be the most combat-effective and deterrent large surface ships of our Navy, it is better to have a louder name. Chief Tang's meaning is not as good as naming one "Republic" and the other "Iron Blood" to show the nature of our national system and the determination of the Navy to defend the republic. ”

"Republic,?" Blood? The name of the ship of Tang Jiwu is not bad, but I have already named the two warships, and it just so happens that you all have to see which ship is more appropriate. ”

Zhao Bei smiled and picked up the file bag, stood up, and walked back to the desk. He took out a piece of letterhead from a drawer and showed it to Liu Guanxiong and Liu Qingen. Ask them to rate it.

"Green Forest? Red eyebrows? ”

Liu Guanxiong and Liu Qingen were very surprised, but the two felt that the name of the ship given by the president was more appropriate.

"That's right. One is called "Green Forest" and the other is called "Red Eyebrow" attack ship. What is particular about is a sea attack war, if you can fight it, you can fight, if you can't fight it, you can run, this is somewhat similar to the past rogues and peasant army battles, so ah, simply, it is called "Green Forest" and "Red Eyebrow", if we build a similar attack ship, the name of the ship is also ready-made, "Tianwan", "Bronze Horse Red Turban", "Yellow Turban" Our thousands of years of Chinese history, are you afraid that you can't find a usable ship name? ”

The president's high-minded remarks opened the eyes of Liu Guanxiong and Liu Qingen, not to mention, this warship is indeed quite in line with the character of this "mad president".

I just don't know, does the Admiralty have an opinion on this? Navy, or pirates? This is a problem.