Chapter 228 Set sail!

Although it is a cloudless sky, the sea breeze in the South China Sea is still quite fierce. White waves appear in some places. In the eyes of the old crew, it is just a "white" and calm sea. On this "quiet sea", a merchant ship painted white with a tricolor flag was sailing with waves.

Unlike ordinary merchant ships, there is a naval gun on the bow and stern of the merchant ship, and there are also artillery on the side of the ship. This is obviously an armed merchant ship. On the mast of an armed merchant ship, an observer was searching the sea with a telescope, and suddenly a silhouette was reflected in the morning light.

"A cruiser was found on the port side 265. I don't know if it's the enemy or ours?"

Listening to the report, Song Wenxuan also picked up the telescope and looked in the direction of 265. Sure enough, he saw a column of smoke.

"Unidentified ship's speed is 15 knots, and the position is 265..."

"Order the whole ship to enter the battle! The gunner is in place! Start the maximum horsepower!"

Song Wenxuan immediately gave the order.

The next moment, there were bursts of alarms on the merchant ship.

After the alarm sounded, the whole armed merchant ship boiled up. The sailors in the cabin were walking in the cabin, wearing life jackets, carrying smoke shields, and quickly ran to the deck. After running on the deck, they immediately rushed to the gun position and torpedo tubes. When the sailors rushed to the deck, there was another army. When the officials went down to the sweaty cabin, the sailors were desperately shoveling coal into the boiler, and at the same time, the damage management personnel were in place.

"Discover the enemy ship, enemy ship Yoshino, speed 20..."

As the officers in the bridge issued orders, Song Wenxuan frowned from time to time, and occasionally accompanied by wrong instructions or in a hurry in Mandarin with a southern Fujian and Cantonese accents. However, as the captain, Song Wenyi did not raise these, but looked at the cruiser Yoshino in front of him with a telescope. In fact, it was just a "Jian'an" destroyer, dragging a target ship 100 meters behind the destroyer.

"Ath 266, distance five... fire!"

At the moment when the two 120mm rapid-fire guns on the Hantong training ship and the two 88mm secondary guns on the starboard side opened fire, a flashed on the training ship, and a few waves flashed near the target ship, and all four bullets were lost.

"Full horsepower, full speed..."

After the order came out of Song Wenyi's mouth, then another order came out.

"The enemy ship's six-inch cannonball hit the bow position, the gun commander was killed, and six people were injured!"

And the first mate next to him immediately said.

"Lift the corpse of the gunner to the officer's ship, and the wounded soldiers into the cabin, ..."

A series of orders were spit out from the mouth of the first mate. A simple target shooting training was added a lot of things by Song Wenyi. Through oral appearance of battlefield casualties, in order to train the battlefield response ability of the students of two sailors in Guangdong and Fujian and the newly recruited sailors.

"Second gun chief! You go to command the bow position, fire at the maximum rate of fire, and prepare the torpedo launch tube. It is said that the ship enters the fish laser world. You don't have to wait for the order to launch the torpedo immediately..."

Until now, with the successive bullet holes on the drag target canvas, and the orders of the trainers became proficient, Song Wenxuan felt a little satisfied. This was the first ocean-going training of the "Hantong" training ship. After this gunnery training, the next step was the South China Sea cruise, and sailing to the ocean has always been Song Wenxuan. The gunboat captain's dream was that he never thought that his first ocean was in training, not the cruiser he imagined.

"Ring the ship's bell, the battle is over!"

After the crisp bell rang, Song Wenyi saw the flag sent by the destroyer Jian'an.

"Hit five shots!"

As soon as the people waiting anxiously on the deck saw the five shots, there was a sigh. They fired 30 shells and hit five shots, less than 20% of the hit rate. If they were on the battlefield, the hit rate would only be lower under the interference of the enemy's fire.

"The hit rate is exchanged for sweat! Hurry up! Hurry up...train now"

"Training! Training! Training! For the sake of Jiawu!"

After a sigh, the training ship boiled again, and the sailors and officers once again carried out intense training according to the training subjects.

When they were training, Song Wenxuan walked out of the bridge and looked north. He knew that today was the opening day of the Naval Academy. For this Naval Academy, he had a faint expectation in his heart. This expectation can be said to be the common expectation of every non-Min navy officer in the navy.

"I hope the book island can change everything!"

I hope that the Hantong will continue to sail south.

The east of the booklet island is 2.5 kilometers away from Zhoushan Island, and the shore is 2.5 kilometers away. Because the two flats of the island are separated from Phoenix Mountain, it looks like a flat book, so it is called Brochuzi Island.

As soon as the morning sun came out in the morning, there was a sound of neat and uniform military boots on the book island. The neat sound of military boots awakened the dreams of the villagers in the village. The villagers opened their hazy eyes and saw the young soldiers in navy blue military uniforms and rifles emitting a powerful momentum. They turned around and walked neatly. With the sound of neat boots, the songs of the soldiers echoed in the air.

"You and I are plum blossoms of the same time, blooming together on the campus of Haibing School. I have had a sense of gratitude for a long time. Let's take it easy for the sake of our motherland. You and I are the plum blossoms of the same period, blooming together on the campus of Haibing School. The blood is connected to Kunzhong. How can we endure the importance of life and death? You and I are plum blossoms of the same time, blooming together on the campus of Haibing School. Looking up at the ocean dyed red by the sunset, only the brave can survive. You and I are plum blossoms of the same period, blooming together on the campus of Haibin School. We promised to die together. How can you have the heart to leave me alone? You and I are plum blossoms in the same period, and our days are always scattered. One day, in the Martyrs' Temple, we will welcome spring together on the flower branches!"

The melodic and beautiful lyrics echoed in the early morning of the book island with the sound of the military boots of the students of the Marine School on the Booklet Island. When they passed by the village, most of the early children looked at these majestic brothers with a look of admiration and envy.

Sa Zhenbing, who was riding on the horse, made a military salute on the horse when the soldiers passed by in the morning. He knew that the school song was written by the ruler. Fan Zhen once said, "A person's life is like a tree flower, with the same branch, and all of them bloom." The Book of Songs? Qin Feng said, "How can it be said that there is no clothes? Same as the son. Wang Yuxing, I repaired my spear. Enmity with the son. How can it be said that there is no clothes? Together with the son. Wang Yuxing repaired my spear halberd. Work with your son. How can it be said that there is no clothes? Same as the son. Wang Yuxing, my armored soldiers. Travel with your son." This song is about the love of comrades-in-arms. The navy is different from the army. In the hierarchical navy, the "sea school at the same time" means a layer of intimacy beyond the relationship between comrades-in-arms. It represents a kind of Kunzhong's feeling of "not seeking the same for life, but seeking the same for death".

"In the [***] team, we must have the courage to die! Meet the enemy!"

Give up your life and die!

Perhaps this is exactly what the ruling government pursues. Whether it is the navy or the army, it must give up the hope of life and fight with the heart of death.

What are the duties of soldiers? It is to defend the motherland and win! However, here in the navy, the purpose of war is death. Withering like a plum blossom is the most gorgeous way to die. However, can such a death win the war?

Sa Zhenbing thought in his heart. With a pair of boots, the spurs stabbed the horse's abdomen, and the black horse ran to the navy school. Today is the day when the first cadets of the naval school finished their military training and officially became the sea school cadets. As the principal, Sa Zhenbing is going to preside over the opening ceremony.

The Booklet Island Naval School, when it was built last year, was a merchant ship school run by Huaxing Shipping Company. It was an educational institution for the training of merchant ship sailors built for the company to train senior sailors and captains. After the approval of Zhang Zhidong, the then governor of the two rivers, the school building was built on the land acquisition on the book island.

From the beginning, this school is different from ordinary merchant ship schools. Its school building is completely imitated from the United Kingdom. The school building is also planned and designed by British designers, and from the teaching building to the dormitory, and the whole school also accounts for almost half of the book island. Whether it is the size of the school or the school building, it is obviously not what ordinary schools can do. Compared with. Even in order to ensure the learning environment of the school, the school signed an agreement with the surrounding landlords and farmers at the time of land acquisition. The land around the school must not be used to build tavernies, courthouses and all other places that may corrupt people.

Naturally, the school established at the cost of work will not be Huaxing Merchant Shipping School. In fact, from the beginning, it was designed according to the plan of the Naval Officers' School, and this proposal was made by Xiao Yuren, who was the professor director of Huangpu School at that time. This officer from the Army Officer School knows better than anyone else. Where is the weakest link in China's national defense?

"There are many things needed to build a navy, such as at least a warship, a personnel who can use warships and the organization of how these personnel are formed. Generally speaking, the most eye-catching of these three elements is the warship, but in fact, the warship problem is actually the best and simplest. As long as you can get the money, you can buy anything. Shipbuilding companies in Britain, France, Germany and the United States are fighting in the world. As long as they have money, they can buy the latest warships. The difficulty is actually personnel training and control.

"The warship has the spirit because of the officers. If there are no officers, the sailors will do nothing. If the sailors do nothing, the ship will become useless waste. And the profound academic practice that naval officers must master is not easy, so the most important thing at present is to start a school as soon as possible.

"Train an army officer. After half a year of short training, they can grow up in the army and the battlefield, but the navy is different. The navy is a technical army, and it is impossible to train qualified naval officers without four years."

It is precisely because of Xiao Yiren's suggestion that Chen Moran, the fashion host, will grit his teeth and take out 6 million yuan and choose back and there. Finally, he chose to run a merchant ship school on the name of Huaxing Shipping Company on the book island, which is actually a merchant ship school of the navy school. Originally, Chen Moran wanted to build a school in the same way of Huangpu. While studying while recruiting students, Xiao Yanren objected again.

Whether in Europe and the United States or Japan, the navy has always been an aristocratic service, and naval officers are aristocrats, paying attention to "Noble'sOblige", that is, the obligation of the aristocracy. That means that the country is yours. If you eat and drink well, you will have to work for the country at that time.

What is "become a gentleman first, then an officer" and so on? Under the opposition of Xiao Yanren, the dormitory building of the merchant ship school and the school is very luxurious, and the teaching building is also equally luxurious. It is by no means comparable to the simple Huangpu Military Academy. Even the original 6 million is not enough. By the end of the year , with an additional investment of more than 5 million yuan, until May, when the merchant ship school that consumed "a battleship" was completed, the battle of restoration began. As soon as the natural merchant ship school was completed, it was officially named "Book Island Naval Officer School", and the enrollment began through the newspaper.

"Before the First Sino-Japanese War, in the face of the deterrence of "Dingyuan" and "Zhenyuan" of the Beiyang Marine Division, when Yidong Youheng sighed that there were no warships, it was said that the navy had spent more than 20 years to cultivate and organize naval talents, and the effect of this effort had reached the first time to see results! And now..."

When Ye Zugui said these words, he couldn't help but think of the shocking scene when four warships, including Dingyuan, Zhenyuan, Jiyuan and Weiyuan, were ordered by Li Hongzhang, to go to Nagasaki for a major repair under the leadership of Ding Ruchang.

"It's not too late for China to create a navy, but the education of the navy is far better than that of our country. Now... From this naval officer school, we can also see the heart of governing the navy!"

Sa Zhenbing nodded. A month ago, the ruling said that the ruling axe would give a big gift to the navy. At that time, he thought it was something else. Who would have thought it would be a military academy, a large military academy that is far larger than all the naval schools in China.

While thinking about it, Sa Zhenbing looked at the officers in British naval uniforms standing on the observation platform not far away. The 56 British Navy officers, from 50 to 60 years old, were all in power to ask John in personal relations. Arbuthnot? Admiral Fisher hired professors from the Royal Dartmouth Naval Academy, quite a few of whom are old professors with rich teaching experience. Admiral Fisher is the commander-in-chief of the Portsmouth Command of the Royal Navy, and the successive deans of the Royal Dartmouth Naval Academy are the commander of the Royal Fleet of the British Royal Navy. That's why Fei Admiral Scheer was able to find 56 of the best professors for the Naval Academy.

Not only 56 professors from various departments were invited, but Admiral Fisher also moved the courses and materials of the Royal Naval Academy to the Brochure Island. Of course, there was no time to translate the textbooks, and there was no need to translate them. Originally, the Naval Academy put English in a very high position. The teacher is British, and the textbook is in English. He does homework in English and answers questions in English. The only place where you can use Chinese may be when you secretly express your dissatisfaction with this "English world" behind your back.

In the sound of the horn, the tricolor flag was raised into the air. 465 officers and students of the Naval Academy were dressed in formal dresses and short swords with English military salute. They saw the tricolor flag rising to the top of the mast of the mast of the field. The opening ceremony was not held in the auditorium of the Naval Academy, which could accommodate 2,000 cadets, but The huge school and the classrooms, dormitories and auditoriums that can accommodate 2,000 students all show the ambition of this school, and this naval school built on Hengshuiyang Shangshuzi Island not only represents the ambition of the Chinese navy in the future, but also the spirit of the navy will start from this once desert island.

What is the combat spirit of the navy? Its essence can be summarized in four words - fight when you see the enemy. Don't be afraid of the strong enemy, don't be afraid of sacrifice, and have the courage to challenge powerful opponents. Even if you know that you are invincible, you must resolutely attack and fight to the end, and destroy the enemy's will with sacrifice and blood. In history, at the last moment, the navy was often more determined and tenacious than the army, with a spirit of endless fighting.

"I hereby appoint 465 students of the Naval Academy, including Chen Shaokuan, Li Guotang, She Zhenxing, Lv Deyuan, Xu Fengzao and Yang Qixiang. Although this Naval Academy was founded this year, I want to restore the spirit of the navy here. You are all students of the first phase of the Naval Academy. I hope you will use the Navy from today on. Soldiers come to ask themselves to set a model of the spirit of Booklet Island in the future and train themselves as an excellent officer of the Chinese navy in the future. The only goal of soldiers is to be good at fighting and win,... I hope that in the next four years, the strict law has been carried out and set a model of the century-old spirit of the book island!"

Sa Zhenbing's speech was not long. After he went up and down from the mast, Chen Moran, who arrived on the cruiser Hairong Island to attend the opening ceremony of the Naval Academy, walked on the mast.

In a white military uniform, he stood on the mast and looked at the young people in navy blue under the stage. From their serious faces, Chen Moran can feel that perhaps the soul of China is still there. At least in their bodies, they can see the vitality of the young people on their bodies. In this vitality, they may feel a trace of the sea, just a trace, and this military academy is to inspire and recast them. The soul of the sea.

Ten years to establish an army and a hundred years to establish a navy. And it took a hundred years to build the soul of the navy. A fleet without a sea soul, even the most powerful warship, is buried in the belly of the fish. History has proved this again and again. The reason why the word "no navy after the Beiyang" appeared in history refers to the sea soul that was lost after the Beiyang War. The sea soul was lost for a hundred years. Even after a hundred years, did the Chinese navy find its own sea soul?

This is a puzzle!

He once supported his sea soul with a belief, but now? Can this school cast the sea soul of China?

Standing on the mast, he looked at the young people who were 17 or 8 years old and 21 or 12 years old. They were selected 465 elites from tens of thousands of people in ten provinces. Chen Moran stared at them and first made a military salute. The army salute was different. This military salute was a British military salute in the navy.

"Don't forget Jiawu!"

There are only four simple words without any sensational speech!

"Snow Jiawu Shame!"

465 students roared like a four-character school motto! It is also the mission of their generation of students, and it is also the country's expectation for them. The shame of swearing to the snow is the mission and dream of every naval officer and soldier. This dream has been lingering in the hearts of naval officers and soldiers for ten years.

Looking at the naval officers and students under the stage, Chen Moran nodded with satisfaction. His expectations for this school even exceeded the army. The army has always been in its own control. However, in the navy, Yu Guang glanced at Ye Zugui, Sa Zhenbing and others standing beside the eye. On the Hairong, Chen Moran really realized what it was for the first time. "Min navy", on the whole Hairong, almost everyone speaks Fujian dialect, which is the official language of the navy.

From Zuo Zongtang's establishment of the Fujian Shipping Administration Bureau in Mawei, China's modern shipbuilding industry began. Set up a school before and after the Mawei Ship Administration Bureau, the former cultivates shipbuilding talents, and the latter cultivates driving talents. Mawei Ship Political School is the cradle of China's modern navy and the birthplace of the establishment of the navy at the end of the Qing Dynasty. Now the navy is monopolized by the Fujian people. From ministers and commanders to soldiers and miscellaneous servants, most of them are Fujian nationality. The Fujian navy has long been synonymous with the Chinese navy. The so-called "Min system" can actually be called the "horsetail system". The vast majority of people entered the navy after being educated before and after the school.

Mawei Ship Political School adopts the British naval academic system, which recruits and trains 14-year-olds for admission. Most of them are recommended by Fujian natives in the navy, with 8 years of naval officer training education. From the navy at the end of the Qing Dynasty to the current cruise and training of the two fleets, Fujian people have gradually gathered. The Fujian navy has deep roots. They control the power of the navy at all levels, and this kind of province controls the navy that Chen Moran does not want to see.

This school was founded, on the one hand, to train naval talents, and on the other hand, it will completely replace the status of the "Min Department". The situation of the "Min Department" controlling the navy will also end with the establishment of this school. None of the 365 students in the first phase of the naval school are from the old ship administration or naval school. They are all church schools or English universities from Shanghai, Anhui, Hubei, Jiangsu, Guangdong and Fujian. English textbooks, British professors, and all-English courses are the only existence of the Fujian navy in this school. I'm afraid it's Sa Zhenbing, the principal, but the military instructor of the school is from Huangpu.

On the other hand, in order to eliminate the possible phenomenon of nepotism in the future, the navy has introduced a set of personnel procedures that are said to be fair and transparent, saying that it can be meritocratic. I hope so!

Looking at these future naval officers, Chen Moran's mind came up with his wife's money to buy this warship for the navy in the United Kingdom. Now the whole navy is thinking about this warship. Navy officers and soldiers have raised 750,000 yuan for it, and the people have raised more than 12.65 million yuan for it. Not only can they buy back those two. A battleship, and even the rest of the money is enough to build another battleship.

Thinking that the navy's recent war of words for the naming and ownership of the two battleships even before his own case, Chen Moran smiled in his heart that the Chinese navy has not seen a big guy for ten years, and now everyone is jealous of the expectation.

"You guys... As long as people are trained, there will always be warships!"

People! The navy is not as good as the army. As long as you have money, you can buy any warship. What about people? Staring at the students in front of him, Chen Moran knew that the Chinese naval dream would set sail from here.

(to be continued)