"Do you really want to sell the Zhenyuan? If we are short of money, we can reduce some of our salaries and some of our training. Shen Honglie was discussing this issue in Meng Xiang's headquarters at this time.

Now the five major fleets of China, except for the Fifth Fleet of the Vanguard Army, have all existed in name only.

Shen Honglie's Third Fleet naturally had no large warships for a long time, only a few small boats, not even gunboats. Xie Zhegang had already given up and led his men to the vanguard army.

"As long as the Zhenyuan is still there, I can say that I am more fearful. I think it's better to keep it. As for the Russians, at most we will compensate them for something else. Chen Ce said beside him. His Fourth Fleet was originally a leather bag, and it was no more than a few thousand tons at full duty. After the occupation of Guangzhou, he did not go back, on the one hand teaching in the naval school, and on the other hand, he also went to command the Zhenyuan.

Long Yi is not often on the Zhenyuan, and the acting command was taken over by Chen Ce.

There is also Zeng Yiding in the command of the Zhenyuan, and his second fleet is almost gone. The rest of the ships were given to Chen Jiliang, commander of the First Fleet, who was half arranged, and half willingly went to the Fifth Fleet of the Vanguard Army to visit and investigate.

This expedition will stay here.

Even Shen Honglie came over to command a Zhenyuan.

It is also rare for the commanders of the three major fleets to come and grab a ship, and Long Yi is the four commanders.

The captains and sailors of the other fleets had nowhere to place, and they all came to the vanguard army, which is also the reason why so many ships of the vanguard army could sail out quickly, otherwise with the small number of people in the vanguard army, they would not be able to drive a few ships. But this also sparked strife within the Fifth Fleet of the Vanguard Army. Several factions are thinking about assigning good ships, but how to assign a battleship, a heavy cruiser, and an aircraft carrier is a troublesome matter.

Shen Honglie came early and occupied the Ashishan, Long Wu personally commanded the Canglong, and Chen Ce and Zeng Yiding and others commanded two Scotts.

In normal times, a ship like Scott would be the main force, and commanding such a ship would be quite majestic.

But compared to the Zhenyuan and Ashigara, the Scott class is too small.

Long Yi spent most of his time at the headquarters helping Meng Xiang deal with the miscellaneous affairs of the navy, so the Zhenyuan also became the stage for everyone's usual disputes. It's the Canglong, everyone is not very familiar with the aircraft carrier, and the dragon five has strict management, and has been staying on the ship to practice, and there are the most clones on it, and the contradictions are relatively the few.

"We have the Zhenyuan and can also give the navy a little threat and relieve the pressure on the Russians. It's really not good, let's rent it first. Zeng Yiding said it very reluctantly, and he knew it in his heart. The Fifth Fleet did not receive a penny from the central government, and even if the Zhenyuan was left, the central government would still not subsidize it. There are still many people in the navy who have not been paid their salaries. The vanguard army supports so many ships, and it is also short of funds.

"The Zhenyuan has always been the flagship of our Fifth Fleet." Meng Xiang smiled slightly. Although these people are fighting in private, they still have a lot of trust in Shangyu himself.

"But that Nagato-class battleship still has to be sold." Without waiting for a smile to appear on the faces of Shen Honglie and the others, Meng Xiang swept everyone's expressions and said.

"This, now that Nagato-class battleship is the flagship?" Shen Honglie had already understood what Meng Xiang meant, and he wanted to stay without leaving the ship, but he still pretended to be confused. As soon as the Nagato-class battleship was sold, the Ashigara became the flagship? And what about him? Also to command the Scott class? He deliberately ignored the Canglong, and there are not many aircraft carriers as flagships.

Chen Ce was also a little disappointed, but he didn't say anything. They are no more angry than the sailors and students who are angry after hearing this gossip, and they all know that it is not easy to raise a navy. Battleships, in particular, can be described as gold-swallowing beasts. With such an intensity of training as the Vanguard Army, three months of actual training for ships is almost equal to the amount of training in other fleets in one year. In this way, although the navy is fully trained, this consumption is also multiplied.

Meng Xiang didn't want to sell any more, so he smiled directly: "The old ones don't go, and the new ones don't come." We already have new battleships. ”

"New battleships?" The three of them asked in unison.

"Yes, better, more powerful." Meng Xiang nodded. The source of the leak of the news this time is likely to be planned by Soviet Russia itself, and it is also possible that his own spies played a role. But in short, this Zhenyuan will be handed over to the Russians in March, and it will not be able to keep the secret by then, and it will also need to be explained to the people.

Otherwise, the Chinese people who had just been inspired by the battleships in China might have been slapped with a stick, pointing the finger at the vanguard. They are not as good at talking as the people in front of them who understand the actual situation.

"W-that's true?" When Shen Honglie and the others took the parameters about the Yamato handed over by Long Yi, their eyes couldn't help but pop out. Looking at the parameters above, it is simply not called a battleship, it is simply an unsinkable fortress on the sea. The 460-mm cannon is unheard of, and when it hits, where can the armor of the Nagato resist?

"It's true!" Meng Xiang said solemnly, "We need to wait until March." ”

In fact, the first Yamato was almost finished. But Meng Xiang didn't dare to stay in the vanguard army directly, and it would be strange if he was not blocked at the door by the major powers when the time came. He was waiting for the best time, and the first ship could only be sold to the Germans to serve as a shield. And in March, the second Yamato was about to be built.

During this period, one or two more Nagato-class ships may be sold.

The British and French were a little tempted, and in the face of the Nagato, which cost about the same cost as their own production, if it were not for the opposition of domestic shipbuilding companies, I am afraid that they would have bought it a long time ago.

However, now that there are four orders from me, the Nagato class has also earned about the same. When it was time to deliver to them, it was the time when the Yamato of the vanguard army appeared.

At that time, it was also the time for Meng Xiang to clean up the interior of the navy, relying on the appearance of the Yamato to deter those who had different intentions.

The training center is now tilted towards naval officers, reducing the training of gunners and tankers, and the Air Force pilots remain the same, occupying three seats along with naval officers. At that time, more than 200 clone naval officers will occupy key positions on major ships.

At present, most of the more than 100 naval officers are only training new naval officers in military academies, training the ordinary people of the vanguard army. Although Shen Honglie and others were still teaching and training, among the three naval schools in Qingdao, Yantai, and Tianjin, the vanguard military faction was the most powerful.

"A century-old navy, it takes time to train talents! You can only take your time. Meng Xiang said with a little regret, "It will take at least two more years, and two years later will be 41 years!" I hope it's in time. ”

Compared with the Navy, the training of the Air Force is faster, and those cadets can complete the reading skills in half a year, but they are rookies who have not grown their hair. The remaining six months need to continue flight training. Meng Xiang's rule is that without 100 hours of driving experience, he is not allowed to fight with himself unless he has an emergency as a last resort.

At this time, there were 3,000 cadets gathered in the two aviation schools of Weifang and Beiping Nanyuan, most of whom may have reached 100 hours before going to the front line to serve, and only a few of the remaining continue their studies to learn more aviation knowledge and command. Of course, the doors of the aviation school are open for every pilot, and every pilot must have at least one month a year to rebuild. to acquire new knowledge.

Even those pilots who are on the flyer can continue to grow into a qualified air commander through learning and practice of air combat on the battlefield. The selection of officers in the Vanguard Army was based on merit, even in the Air Force.

"I heard that the Air Force is going to be selected again." Zhang Leshui stabbed Xue Ceping, who was in a daze next to him.

"I see!" Xue Ceping came back to his senses and replied listlessly. The last time he tested, he was nervous, several movements were deformed, and he failed to pass, so he could only continue to rebuild the furnace. It's been three months, and another selection is about to come. Although he had made full preparations this time, he still had no bottom in his heart.

"I heard that the navy came ahead of schedule. Yesterday they came to our Weifang Aviation School, why did they come here? Zhang Leshui couldn't help muttering.

"They are also here to recruit pilots, and that is the aircraft carrier. Take off and land on the ship. Dong Qingshan next to him walked over and said to the two of them, "Do you go to sign up, have one more chance to take the assessment, even if you don't pass, there will be the selection of the Air Force." ”

"I'm not going. I'm seasick! Zhang Leshui shook his head vigorously and said.

"Hehe, your name is still Leshui? Leshui is still seasick? Dong Qingshan sneered.

"My dad originally planned to call me Hate Water, but who knew that there was a Zhang Hate Water who was too famous." Zhang Leshui teased. When Zhang Hatshui became famous, he already had a name, but every time others used his name to tease him, he was also self-deprecating.

"I'll go!" Xue Ceping said suddenly.

"There's always one more chance. Don't be nervous, don't worry, it's okay if you fail, there will be official tests of the Air Force not long after. He cheered himself up.