In Fang Lang's view, Brazil is now keeping up with the world's advanced level in the aviation field. If he continues to interfere too much in the company's aircraft design work, his company's designers may gradually lose their independent thinking. and the ability to innovate.
When the time comes, when he can no longer provide advanced solutions, the company may be unable to continue its subsequent development, which is something he does not want to see.
For him, the United States and the Soviet Union are still exploring future air force tactics, and everyone has no concept of multi-functional fighter jets. On this point alone, Fangyuan Aircraft Manufacturing Company is already at the forefront of the world, and it is completely There is no need to encourage growth.
Rather than providing a complete design plan yourself, it is better to provide design indicators and requirements so that designers can use their imagination. By then, they may be able to find a new path different from that of the United States and the Soviet Union!
Fang Lang, who wanted to understand this, began to guide the aviation officers' ideas. After a long period of communication, everyone involuntarily came to the idea that fighter jets should not have a single function.
In particular, when it was mentioned that missiles can carry out precise guidance and carry out precise strikes on calibrated targets, everyone's development direction of new aircraft began to revolve around new missiles.
In this way, unknowingly, Fang Lang used the Peninsula War to not only improve his reputation in the Brazilian army, but also took the opportunity to propose a new air force development idea, which convinced Fang Lang all the officers in the Air Force Ministry.
This created favorable conditions for Fang Lang to control the air force in the future.
Since Fang Lang's ultimate goal is to control the Brazilian army, of course he will not only focus on his navy and air force, but leave the most powerful army in Brazil aside.
This was okay now. Of course he would not let go of the opportunity to meet Army officers in an honest way. Therefore, he proposed to General Crook, the current Deputy Minister of Defense, that the Navy Department first proposed and organized a review of the Peninsula War tactics. , expanded to the entire military.
Of course, now that the navy and air force have participated, what the Ministry of National Defense needs to do is to arrange for the army to send elite troops to join this exercise.
Fang Lang's purpose in doing this was to select outstanding talents in the army and then recruit them in a targeted manner in order to complete the penetration of the army as soon as possible.
In fact, Fang Lang penetrated the Army earlier than everyone expected.
As early as when the navy and army jointly established the Brazilian Military Officers University, he had already begun to contact grassroots army officers through scholarships, funding for poor students, and organizing study groups in schools.
You must know that these grassroots officers are the future of the Brazilian Army, and some of them, with the support of the Fang family, have overcome all obstacles and quietly squeezed into the ranks of mid-level officers.
Whether they are individuals or their families, these officers have all got out of their original predicaments with the support of the Fang family. Many of them are grateful to the Fang family from the bottom of their hearts for what they have done.
And they are not fools. They still understand the principle of being soft-spoken and short-handed. Therefore, when most of these people were in school, they joined an organization that looked very ordinary, the Young Officers Mutual Aid Association.
This organization regularly organizes activities in the school so that everyone can get together to talk about their ideals and future. The outstanding officers among them will be directly received and encouraged by Fang Lang.
All of these are just little tricks that Fang Lang learned from Huangpu. After these outstanding officers completely accepted Fang Lang as the leader, Fang Lang tried to find ways to make these guys progress quickly in the army.
With this channel of rapid progress, the influence of the Young Officers Mutual Aid Association began to quietly expand, forming a force that cannot be ignored in the military.
Of course, due to time constraints, this force is still mainly concentrated at the grassroots level of the Brazilian Army. What Fang Lang has to do now is to support his own people in the middle and upper levels of the army as soon as possible so that he can expand his influence on the army as soon as possible.
Naturally, the Ministry of the Army must attach great importance to the Peninsula War tactical review activities organized by the Ministry of National Defense. After all, the review of the three armed forces together is obviously a test of the strategic and tactical thinking among the various services. Who has the ability? Just know who doesn’t have the ability to compare.
Therefore, the Ministry of War sent their best commanders to participate, and Fang Lang took the opportunity to examine the abilities of these officers.
Thinking that with the support of the Brazilian Intelligence Agency, Fang Lang had already obtained the list of personnel and their detailed information as soon as these people were selected by the Ministry of Army.
Excluding some old guys who were looking for fame and reputation, Fang Lang's key targets were concentrated on the young officers of the army.
Among them, two white men were rejected by Fang Lang because of their slight racial discrimination. After two more drunk men were excluded, five army officers came into Fang Lang's sight.
Entering Fang Lang's sight was only the first step. In the subsequent war review activities, several guys who were obviously aging in their tactical thinking and not flexible enough and only knew how to act recklessly were eliminated by Fang Lang.
Only a colonel officer in his early forties came into Fang Lang's sight. This colonel named Woolf Fairclough was less than 1.8 meters tall. He was thin and his hands were covered with calluses. His fingers were covered with calluses. The smoke turned brown, just like an old farmer who had been working in the fields all year round. His skin was dark and he looked inconspicuous.
He is such an army colonel who is like a farmer, but he can always make amazing remarks in review activities, discover many loopholes that others cannot find, and formulate more reasonable tactics. He also has clear ideas and adaptability to the formation of troops. Flexible, with battlefield sense and command capabilities that others do not have.
It's a pity that this guy is obviously not reused in the Brazilian Army because of his background. He only serves as the combat staff of the staff department. And everyone knows this position of staff, that is, the staff will not make a sound without a long fart.
In a military environment like Brazil, the fact that Wolf Fairclough, who was powerless and powerless, could climb to the rank of colonel and serve as a combat staff officer is a good indication of his ability. Of course, in Fang Lang's opinion, given his background, if nothing else happens, he will be like this for the rest of his life.
After conducting a detailed investigation on him through the Brazilian Intelligence Agency, Fang Lang included him as the primary investigation target. In the subsequent review activities, he often gave the other party opportunities to perform, allowing him to make the most of the Ministry of War's generals. Most of the officers competed.
This made the officers of the Army Department feel a little dissatisfied, but considering that this was the Ministry of Defense, they couldn't say much.
But Woolf Fairclough was very happy with Fang Lang's kindness, and the two got along more and more harmoniously. After all, who can refuse a superior officer who obviously appreciates him?
"Wulf, with your abilities, you shouldn't just serve as a combat consultant!"
On this day, Fang Lang finally decided to extend an olive branch to Wolf Fairclough and invited him to have dinner at a Chinese restaurant near the Ministry of Defense.
After hearing Fang Lang's words, a look of embarrassment flashed across Woolf Fairclough's face, but he quickly hid it.
"General Fang was joking. There are many people with my abilities in our army. I am really not outstanding. I am very satisfied with what I have achieved today."
Unexpectedly, this guy did not take the opportunity to complain to Fang Lang, but instead tried his best to protect the image of the army. This made Fang Lang even more satisfied with him, which showed that the character of the guy opposite was not bad.
While putting a piece of bacon into his bowl, he continued to speak to Woolf Fairclough:
"Haha...Wulf, don't forget, I am also from the Army. I am no stranger to the situation in the Army than you are. You don't have to hide it when you talk to me!"
"this……"
Seeing the troubled expression on the other person's face, Fang Lang knew that this guy didn't want to talk more about the Army, so he went straight to the topic:
"Wulf, let me speak frankly! I am not very satisfied with the current situation of the Army. I hope to do something if I have the opportunity. After observing for such a long time, I think you are the person who can bring changes to the Army. .
I don’t know if you are willing to shoulder this great mission. "
What Fang Lang said was very great, but Woolf Fairclough was not a fool to get to this point. He naturally understood what Fang Lang wanted to do.
In fact, to be more precise, he had already prepared for Fang Lang's purpose as early as when he went to the appointment today. Now that Fang Lang said this, he still showed a trace of embarrassment.
It is impossible to say that he does not want to go further, but the conflict between the Army and the Navy has been around for a long time. If he really turns to Fang Lang, the Vice Minister of the Navy, he will be equivalent to becoming a traitor to the Army. By then, life in the Army may be even more difficult than it is now.
This was also the fundamental reason for his hesitation. After thinking for a long time, he put down his bowl and chopsticks, looked at Fang Lang seriously, and said slowly:
"General Fang, I understand your purpose very well, but you have to understand that I am just an ordinary combat staff officer without any real power. I am basically a dispensable existence in the Army Department. How can I have a chance with my strength? Change the status quo in the Army.”
Hearing this, Fang Lang couldn't help but smile. Woolf Fairclough's meaning had been made very clear. It was not that he did not want to change the current situation of the army, but that he was unable to change it.
"Haha...Wulf, just because you don't have the ability now, doesn't mean you won't have the ability in the future. With my support, you will soon be able to get rid of your current predicament. When the time comes, I will naturally be able to push you to a higher level. The location allows you to do what you want!”
Fang Lang's words made Woolf Fairclough's pupils shrink and his expression became serious.
"General Fang, you are the Deputy Minister of the Navy, not our Deputy Minister of the Army. Do you think you can exert influence on our Army Department?"
"Haha... It's true that I am the Deputy Secretary of the Navy, but there is General Crook above me! He is the Deputy Minister of Defense. As far as I know, there are several generals in your Army Department who have taken the initiative to join the army. Under the command of General Crook!
With the influence of several generals, shouldn't you be allowed to move to another position? "
"You come to me on behalf of General Crook?"
Woolf Fairclough looked at Fang Lang with some surprise. Hearing this, Fang Lang smiled and shook his head.
"Of course not. You don't think that with your level, you can get into the eyes of General Crook! Of course, if you want to join General Crook's camp, I can also recommend it to you.
However, in this case, you lose the opportunity to become my person. I will not support you. As for whether you can be reused by General Crook, it depends on your own ability. "
Fang Lang's words were a bit arrogant, but Woolf Fairclough didn't show much surprise. He still had a certain understanding of Fang Lang's strength. As early as when General Crook was still Secretary of the Navy, General Fang had already mastered half of the real power of the Navy Department.
Now, with the promotion of General Crook, although General Fang is still only the Deputy Minister of the Navy, almost all the actual power of the entire Navy is in his hands.
Almost everyone in the Navy Department, from the chief of staff to the heads of various departments, is this person. His control over the Navy Department has long surpassed that of the previous Navy Secretary, General Crook.
The new Minister of the Navy obeys the advice of the other general. Most of the time, he does not work in the Navy Department at all. He is a proper person.
It is not difficult to tell from Fang Lang's words that the relationship between him and General Crook is not a direct relationship as the outside world thinks, but seems more like a cooperation.
This made him look at Fang Lang differently.
"How are you going to support me?"
Hearing this, Fang Lang smiled slightly.
"Based on my observations during this period, I found that you have some own opinions on armored force tactics. I am going to send you to West Point Military Academy to study armored force tactics for a period of time. What do you think?"
Woolf Fairclough obviously did not expect that Fang Lang would want to send him out to study, and thought he would directly let him go to the grassroots army to become a regiment leader! But I have to say that Fang Lang's proposal made him very excited.
"Really? Will West Point accept a cadet like me?"
"Haha... Others will definitely not be able to send you to West Point Military Academy, but to me, this is just a trivial matter. When you come back, I will first put a gold star on your shoulder.
Then, give me an armorer to practice your skills on. "
If sending him to West Point for gilding was a surprise, Fang Lang's words now were a complete shock. For a moment, Woolf Fairclough didn't know how to express his feelings.
You must know that there are only two armored divisions in Brazil now. He never dared to think that he would have the opportunity to lead one of them even if he was killed. This made him feel a little unreal for a while.
After swallowing with some difficulty, Woolf Fairclough said in disbelief:
"Is General Fang serious? The two armored divisions of the Army are now the Army's treasures. Can they agree to me serving as the division commander?"
Seeing Woolf Fairclough's performance, Fang Lang knew that he had won the army colonel.
"The few Shermans the Army has now are really not worth mentioning. They are the ones that other Americans are planning to eliminate, so the Army treats them as treasures.
After you come back from studying in the United States, I will first let you serve as the commander of a motorized division. Then, after the new tanks we develop ourselves are finalized, we will directly adapt your motorized division into a new armored division.
Guaranteed to be more powerful than the current two armored divisions. "
(End of chapter)
