After dinner, the guests and hosts had a great time. After seeing off Colonel Antal Heydrich, Adams Teach stood next to Fang Lang and watched Colonel Antal Heydrich's car leave with some confusion. looked at Fang Lang and asked:
"Your Excellency General, if Colonel Antal Heydrich comes to serve as deputy chief of staff of your aircraft carrier fleet, what will the commander of the Naval Base in Rio de Janeiro do there?"
Fang Lang looked at the faint car taillights in the distance, smiled and said to Adams Teach beside him:
"The current Secretary of the Navy is General Crook. Let's not go too far. Being able to send you to the Naval Staff first is a big victory.
As for the commander of the Rio de Janeiro Naval Base, let it be left to General Crook to choose! "
In the end, Fang Lang still considered the good cooperative relationship with General Crook and gave up the fight for the commander of the Rio de Janeiro Naval Base. After all, although this position did not have many troops, it had an important geographical location and was close to the center. It attracted everyone's attention. The slightest disturbance can be magnified infinitely.
This is inconsistent with Fang Lang's goal of wretched development.
But as a Westerner, Adams Teach couldn't understand Fang Lang's thinking. How could he give in to such a thing! Therefore, he could not hold back the confusion in his heart and continued:
"But when the time comes, if General Crook proposes to arrange for a difficult person to come up, we will not be very passive."
Hearing this, Fang Lang turned to look at Adams Teach, smiled, patted him on the shoulder, and motioned for them to chat on the beach together. Then Fang Lang took the lead and walked towards the beach.
Upon seeing this, Adams Teach quickly stood up and followed.
Fang Lang said as he walked:
"Do you know how many major forces there are in the navy now?"
Hearing Fang Lang's sudden question, Adams Teach was a little confused, but he still answered truthfully:
"Four forces."
"Tell me, do you know those four forces?"
Of course, an old navy officer like Adams Teach knows this kind of power situation within the navy very well, so he said in detail:
“First of all, it must be the forces represented by General Crook, the Secretary of the Navy. These are some emerging factions who participated in the European War.
Secondly, there are the conservatives led by Captain Marcelino Orlando, captain of the battleship Minas Gerais, and others. Most of them are die-hard forces influenced by the idea of the naval cannon.
Thirdly, it is the local defenders who mainly focus on local defense forces. I originally belonged to this force. "
Hearing Adams Teach say that he originally belonged to the conservative faction, Fang Lang smiled slightly and understood what the other party meant. This may be a not-so-close alliance between the commanders of their naval bases.
In Fang Lang's view, this is not a big force at all. If he really thinks so, is he also a member of this conservative faction? After all, he is the commander of the Natal Naval Base!
"What else? There are only three here?"
I was thinking about what Adams Teach said, but found that he only mentioned three forces and then stopped. I couldn't help but ask with some confusion.
Unexpectedly, Adams Teach looked at him with a strange expression and said nothing, which made Fang Lang a little confused. However, he quickly reacted and said helplessly:
"You don't want to think that the fourth force is my aircraft carrier formation!"
Seeing Fang Lang say it himself, Adams Teach smiled and nodded:
"Currently, your force is considered the most powerful."
Fang Lang glared at the other party angrily and said:
"Don't talk nonsense. I am not a fourth-party force. I belong to General Crook's faction. At most, I am a small force under General Crook's influence."
Hearing this, Adams Teach looked like he had seen a ghost. He didn't know what to say. Is there a small force as powerful as you?
Looking at his expression, Fang Lang didn't want to say more to him, but continued to ask:
"You said that you naval base officers are conservatives. I feel wrong too! I won't say anything about you. I heard that Colonel Genard Berry and General Crook of the St. Paul Naval Base left. Very close!
Shouldn't he also be from General Crook's line? "
After hearing what Fang Lang said, Adams Teach smiled and said:
"Actually, there are no clear boundaries between these so-called forces. I just divided them based on their respective positions, attachment to the chief, and common interests.
Conservatives led by Captain Marcelino Orlando, captain of the battleship Minas Gerais, were actually promoted by the previous Navy Minister.
With the outbreak of World War II and the strong rise of General Crook, the backward tactical thinking of giant ships and cannons slowly came to an end. Coupled with the retirement of the previous Navy Minister, the influence of this faction became less and less.
General Crook, on the other hand, accepted a new tactical idea during World War II and believed that aircraft carriers were the emerging force of the future. With the victory of the war, General Crook was promoted to Minister of the Navy and was in a state of prosperity.
If we follow this tactical thinking of identification, we only have two factions. Do you understand what I mean? "
"What you mean is that Colonel Genard Berry of the Sao Paulo Naval Base agrees that aircraft carriers are the future in terms of tactical thinking, so he is close to General Crook.
But at the same time, he is the commander of the naval base, so he is also a local defender. Is this what you mean? "
Adams Teach heard this and nodded. Seeing this, Fang Lang smiled, shook his head and said:
"Grandpa Mao said it well, there are no factions in the party, and there are all kinds of strange things. You are wrong to divide it this way. In my opinion, there should be only two factions, the conservatives and the emerging factions. The other conservative factions are all these two factions Just a small faction.
You have me, and I have you, this is normal.
As for me, I definitely belong to General Crook’s emerging faction, what do you think? "
Adams Teach didn't know who Grandpa Mao Fang Lang was talking about, but he just thought to himself, you have said so, what else can I say? He could only shrug helplessly and spread his hands.
Seeing this scene, Fang Lang just smiled and couldn't help but complain in his heart, you are a foreigner, you don't understand anything, so you can just enjoy the shade under the big tree.
I don’t even understand why a big tree attracts the wind, but we still have to rely on the wisdom of our ancestors.
He patted Adams Teach on the shoulder and continued:
"Then do you know whose path Colonel Genard Berry took to get promoted?"
This question was obviously beyond the scope of Adams Teach's information. He shook his head helplessly. Based on his own experience, promotion in Brazil cannot be a gift only for one officer.
After all, in non-war situations, the military is not just a matter of words, and you can't join it just because someone says it. You must be sensible and provide benefits to the relevant departments and heads to have a chance to sit in this position.
It is not enough to sit in the position, but you must also pay tribute every year, otherwise you will be prepared to be replaced by others.
As for whose path Colonel Gennard Berry took and who led it, how could he know? But now that Fang Lang asked, he had to think about it carefully.
Soon, he looked at Fang Lang in surprise and said:
"It can't be General Crook, can it?"
Fang Lang smiled when he heard this but said nothing.
Adams Teach was really shocked at this time. He didn't expect that this guy Genard Berry looked so careless. He didn't expect that he was so hidden!
】
"I think you can come forward and recommend Colonel Genard Berry to succeed you as the commander of the Rio de Janeiro Naval Base. What do you think?"
Hearing Fang Lang's words, Adams Teach's heart moved, and he immediately understood what Fang Lang meant. Since Colonel Genard Berry was General Crook's man, if he pushed him to take over, the Minister of the Navy would definitely not refuse.
He also had a good personal relationship with Colonel Genard Berry, and it would not be harmful to him if he took over his position.
As for Colonel Genard Berry, he was transferred from the Sao Paulo Naval Base to the Rio de Janeiro Naval Base. Although it was considered a smooth transfer, the location of the Capital Garrison Naval Base was obviously more important, and the other party would definitely not refuse.
After understanding this, Adams Teach showed a surprised smile on his face, looked at Fang Lang and said:
"Your Excellency, General, I think this idea is great, and the chance of success is very high. I think I should have a good chat with Colonel Genard Berry first."
Fang Lang smiled slightly when he heard this. It seemed that this guy had understood what he meant. He wanted to sell favors to the other party in advance.
"Don't be anxious. You'd better recommend someone from among the people you trust to Colonel Genard Berry and include him as the successor to the commander of the Sao Paulo Naval Base."
Adams Teach was really shocked now. It turned out that what Fang Lang wanted was for the St. Paul Navy to remember the position of commander!
But thinking about it, he was relieved. After all, Fang Lang's hometown is in Sao Paulo, and most of Fangyuan Group's industries are concentrated in Sao Paulo. Although this naval base does not have many troops, it is still an important location.
There must be someone of your own to look after so that you can rest assured.
However, I don't know why Fang Lang didn't choose his own people, but let him arrange the people he trusted.
In fact, what Fang Lang thought was not that complicated. Since he accepted Adams Teach, it was impossible for him to be alone. He must have his own confidants to do things well.
By then, he will definitely form a force of his own, and what he needs to do, in fact, is to balance the various forces under his command.
Seeing Adams Teach's hesitant expression, Fang Lang smiled and said:
"It's just a recommendation, and it may not be successful. After all, you are also the person who wants to be the Chief of Staff of the Navy. How can you not have your own manpower?"
Hearing this, Adams Teach was overjoyed. This was the boss asking him to properly cultivate his power!
"Yes, General!"
Although Fang Lang said it might not succeed, he believed that the boss would not let anything go. What's more, the location of the Sao Paulo Naval Base was even more important to Fang Lang than the Rio de Janeiro base.
He would not give up easily. According to Adams Teach's inner thoughts, the reason why Fang Lang asked him to recommend Colonel Genard Berry to take over his position may also be for the position of chief of the St. Paul Naval Base.
The two of them ended the topic knowingly. After chatting for a while, Adams Teach proposed to say goodbye, and Fang Lang sent him away with a smile on his face.
In the next half month, just as Adams Teach expected, the Navy Department announced a series of personnel appointments and dismissals.
Unexpectedly, he directly became the deputy chief of staff of the Navy. This was obviously a surprise for him who was only prepared to do a sinecure.
Then Colonel Genard Berry took over as the commander of the Rio de Janeiro Naval Base, and his close deputy who he recommended was directly promoted to the commander-in-chief of the Sao Paulo Naval Base.
Compared with this series of major personnel changes, Colonel Antal Heydrich was transferred to the Rio de Janeiro aircraft carrier fleet as deputy chief of staff, which seems somewhat insignificant.
