On January 22, 79 years of the imperial calendar, the No. 3 slipway of the Puzhou Navy Shipyard.

After receiving the news, Bai Zhizhan immediately rushed over, but he was still one step too slow.

The huge gantry crane has already sent the steel frame weighing more than 100 tons to it, and the foreman and dozens of workers are preparing for the next riveting operation.

The steel frame is riveted between the hull and the superstructure, and is riveted to the rest of the building, supporting the outer armor plates and protecting the engine room below. Because the riveting point will destroy the overall structural strength, the steel frame cannot be changed casually after riveting and fixing.

The point is that the steel frame is in the middle of the battleship.

If it's in the bow or stern, it's nothing, it's a big deal to tear it down and reinstall it. However, in the middle of the hull, it is not only very troublesome to dismantle, but also may cause damage to the hull structure. If you don't do it, you will have to remove all the upper parts of the part, which is very troublesome.

A piece of the field next to it has been cleared out, and some support frames have been placed.

Looking at this situation, after the steel frame is installed, the armor steel plate will be laid.

The order to resume work came from the wartime cabinet, otherwise the steel mills that produced the materials would not have been so active, and it only took a few days to produce steel frames that had not been made for several months. As other materials arrive, the construction of the "Longjiang" will definitely be accelerated.

Bai Zhizhan went directly to the foreman and asked the foreman to order a temporary stoppage.

Just a few days earlier, White had submitted a report to the Naval Command concerning two battlecruisers, proposing to convert them into motherships. In order to convince the commander-in-chief of the navy, Bai Zhizhan specially sent a telegram to Gui Boyong, hoping that He Yongxing would pay attention to this matter.

In fact, Bai Zhizhan did not believe that the Navy would experiment with two valuable battle cruisers.

Even if these two battleships have not yet been built.

It's just that now, Bai Zhizhan feels obliged to fight for it, after all, the order to resume work comes from the cabinet, and cabinet officials may not know about the navy.

The resumption of work was ordered, perhaps simply to put pressure on the coalition in the negotiations.

"It's only been a few days before and after......"

"Sir Bai, it's not that we don't understand what you mean, it's just that you know that the order to resume work is issued from above, and it's not something you can stop when you say stop." The foreman was very polite and used honorific titles, but this attitude was clearly rejecting people thousands of miles away, and he didn't take Bai Zhizhan seriously.

"Just today. I'll send a telegram at once, and I'll give you a clear answer by the afternoon at the latest. ”

"Chief Bai, more than a hundred of my brothers are waiting." The foreman was visibly impatient, and his tone was no longer so polite. When he said this, he also looked Bai Zhizhan up and down carefully. The look and appearance seem to be asking, how old are you?

Bai Zhizhan was also furious in his heart, but he dared to be angry but did not dare to speak.

It's not that I'm afraid, but I don't want to make a big deal out of it.

It's easy to get rid of skilled workers. It is not so easy to re-recruit and train skilled workers to meet the standards for employment.

It's very difficult just to re-recruit skilled workers.

Besides, the foreman didn't do anything wrong, he just acted according to the order, so even if Bai Zhizhan was a military representative, he could not force the order to stop work.

According to the normal procedure, Bai Zhizhan should first go to the leaders of the shipyard, get a suspension notice, and then come to the foreman.

The foreman refused to back down, and it was difficult for Bai Zhizhan to ride a tiger, and the scene was very embarrassing.

Fortunately, it didn't last long.

"Zhang Laosan, Lao Tzu hasn't come for a few days, and your bean sprouts will grow into the sky?"

A heart-pounded angry shout came from the side of the ladder, and standing in front of Bai Zhizhan, the foreman, who was still arrogant and domineering at the beginning, immediately turned into a deflated ball.

Looking back at the colonel officer who came up, Bai Zhizhan couldn't help but smile bitterly.

Although it was the first time they met, Bai Zhizhan knew the colonel.

That's right, it is the chief supervisor of the "Longjiang", Colonel Liu Xiangdong. It looks the same as the photo posted on the billboard, but the skin tone is not so dark.

Maybe it's because I've been ashore for too long, and I don't usually bask in the sun.

"Chief Liu, what kind of wind blew you here?" The foreman is also a human spirit, bypassing Bai Zhizhan and walking towards Liu Xiangdong with a smile on his face.

Bai Zhizhan has not yet taken a real job, and he has no way to be a foreman.

Liu Xiangdong is the rightful chief supervisor, who holds the power of acceptance, and it is easy to clean up a small person like the foreman.

"Don't talk nonsense to me. You've already seen it? Then I won't be too long-winded, this Captain Bai Zhizhan will be the deputy chief supervisor of this ship in the future, and you all have to obey his orders and commands. From now on, he will be solely responsible for the acceptance work, and don't come to me when the time comes. ”

"Chief Bai, look at this, it's all a misunderstanding." The foreman reacted immediately.

Bai Zhizhan smiled reluctantly, and didn't bother with the foreman.

"This is the approval of the command of the Navy." Liu Xiangdong took out a document and slapped it on the foreman's chest. "During the shutdown, all skilled workers, including you, receive a daily base pay. After the resumption of work, the bonus will be calculated. As for when the resumption of work will be possible, don't ask me, the command of the Navy will naturally have arrangements. Nothing else, go get your people in and that's all for today. ”

The foreman did not dare to ask more, and after reading the approval of the naval command, he called all the workers down.

At this time, Bai Zhizhan had already gone down to the slipway with Liu Xiangdong.

"It's all my fault, I should have come to you a few days earlier." Although he said so, Liu Xiangdong didn't mean to apologize at all. "Before I came over, I called He Pengfei, and he was driving over. Wait a minute, and he'll take you to the station. ”

"Colonel Liu, I'...... Stop!? Bai Zhizhan obviously didn't keep up with Liu Xiangdong's rhythm and didn't understand why he went to the station immediately.

"Commander He sent it to you." Liu Xiangdong did not explain, and handed a telegram to Bai Zhizhan.

It is said to be a copy, but in fact it is only a few words.

Important, quickly return to the Navy Command, congratulations.

Next to the inscription, there is a symbol symbolizing the identity of the sender, which is actually a symbol, and there are four more points of water under the word "Shang", specifically referring to the admiral.

Sure enough, He Yongxing was promoted again.

As expected, he should now be the commander of the home fleet.

What is the important thing to go to the command of the Navy immediately!?

"When you see Gui Boyong, help me speak."

Hearing this, Bai Zhizhan was stunned for a moment, and then looked at Liu Xiangdong.

"Even if the war is over, the bet is not invalidated. When the next big war breaks out, I'll show him who's the one who has the last laugh. ”

"Colonel Liu......" Bai Zhizhan was obviously shocked, or embarrassed.

"Don't think about it, Lao Gui and I are classmates and have lived in the same dormitory for five years, three of which are bunk beds."

Hearing Liu Xiangdong say this, Bai Zhizhan nodded and agreed.

At this time, He Pengfei arrived by car.

It was probably Liu Xiangdong who said hello, so He Pengfei went to Bai Zhizhan's dormitory and brought some clothes, especially a winter coat.

Winter in the imperial capital is not ordinarily cold.