After Tian Qiliang took over Gibraltar, he set up a coastal defense division, and before the commander of the coastal defense division was decided, he had already selected the chief of staff of the division, with the aim of repairing the damaged shore artillery as soon as possible.

This chief of staff was an artillery expert who was transferred from the port of Hankou, and the expert was named Sun Hejing, the son of Sun Yuanhua, who had a very deep understanding of artillery.

As soon as Sun Hejing received the order, he was sent to Gibraltar by the navy on a frigate, and Tian Qiliang personally met him on the dock.

Sun Hejing also brought two assistants with him this time, and after the three of them went ashore, they were taken to Tian Qiliang's headquarters by Tian Qiliang.

"Chief of Staff Sun, welcome! Our conditions here are not good in all aspects, so we can only grieve you to live in the headquarters temporarily. ”

Sun Hejing said: "Commander Tian, Hejing is not here to enjoy happiness, where you live is the same, you better arrange for us to go to the fort first, it doesn't matter if we live in the fort." ”

Tian Qiliang said: "Then how can it be done, you guys will rest for one night first, and tomorrow I will send a squad to escort you up the mountain." ”

……

The next day, Sun Hejing, escorted by a squad, ascended the steep fort. Gibraltar's forts were all built on steep rocks, and there were thirty-eight forts along the coast, several of which were built on the reef alone.

Sun Hejing's two assistants are both engineers, one surnamed Zhang and the other surnamed Chen.

They came to a fort that had been blown into a large hole, and the shore gun, which had been blown in half, was flipped over on the edge of the cliff, and if it had not been stopped by a protruding rock, the half of the cannon would have fallen into the sea, and the other half of the cannon would have flown somewhere.

Sun Hejing pointed to the big hole and asked the engineer beside him, "Zhang Gong, can this place still be able to rebuild the fort?" ”

Zhang Gong, an engineer engaged in fortification construction, had a sad face: "We need to rebuild a platform, but it's enough, and our shore guns are much bigger than the Spaniards." ”

Sun Hejing said: "This place is the most ideal location for building a fort, can you find a way to build a standard platform." ”

Zhang Gong replied: "I need specific data, and I will not be able to reply to you after I investigate." ”

"Do you need manpower?" Sun Hejing asked.

"You'd better send me two assistants."

Sun Hejing turned to the squad leader who was serving as a guard and said, "Squad Leader Wu, you send two soldiers over to help." ”

Squad Leader Wu said to two of the soldiers beside him: "You, you, go over there and do a favor!" ”

Sun Hejing said to the two soldiers: "You must obey Zhang Gong's command and pay attention to safety!" ”

Zhang Gong was assisted by two soldiers and began to conduct field surveys at the scene.

Sun Hejing asked another engineer: "Chen Gong, how about erecting a 400 mm caliber shore gun at this position?" ”

Chen Gong is an artillery expert, he gave a thumbs up and gestured to the sea, and then said to Sun Hejing: "Chief of Staff, I suggest that a 255 mm caliber shore gun here is enough." ”

Sun Hejing asked, "Why?" ”

Chen Gong replied: "First, we have to consider the terrain here, whether the 400 mm caliber cannon can be transported, and whether it can be opened. Second, Chief of Staff, you see, there is a dead end from us, and our artillery cannot hit that area, and if the enemy ships bombard the battery from this position, the battery will have no power to counterattack. The 255 mm shore guns could cover that position, and although the long-range fire capability was not as great as the 400 mm shore guns, it was enough to block the ships attacking the city of Gibraltar. ”

Sun Hejing said: "I also agree with you, the key problem is that this piece has been blown out of a big hole, and it is indeed not enough to build a large battery." ”

Zhang Gong, who had just finished the survey, came over and said to Sun Hejing: "Chief of Staff, the corner on the west side has collapsed too much, and it is very difficult!" ”

Sun Hejing said: "I weighed with Chen Gonggong just now, this fort can be built one size smaller, just place a 225 mm caliber shore gun here." ”

Zhang Gongdao: "Even if you are shrinking the number one, it is very difficult, the main problem is that the gap in that book is too large, and the construction is very difficult." ”

Sun Hejing said: "We will solve the specific problems concretely, and this artillery position has been decided." Let's go and take a look at the one above. ”

Under the guidance of the escort squad, the three of them ascended to a higher battery, which was a double battery, and the terrain was relatively flat.

The two cannons here were blown to pieces, but fortunately, the platform was not greatly damaged, Zhang Gong knocked on the side of the rock with a geological hammer in his hand, and said: "There is not much damage here, there is no problem in building two large forts." ”

Sun Hejing asked Chen Gong: "What is your opinion, Chen Gong?" ”

Chen Gong said: "It is not a big problem to build two forts, but we must pay attention to the distance between the forts. ”

Sun Hejing nodded and said, "You can discuss this issue with Zhang Gong." Okay, let's go over there! ”

……

Sun Hejing took two engineers to look at five or six more forts on the mountain, and it was almost dark, and squad leader Wu was afraid that he would not be able to see the road clearly in the dark, so he urged Sun Hejing to return to the headquarters first.

Sun Hejing came down to the mountain, and as soon as he arrived at the entrance of the headquarters, he saw Tian Qiliang, and Tian Qiliang said to him: "Chief of Staff Sun, I will discuss something with you." The three regiment commanders of the coastal defense division are already in place, but the division commander has not yet decided on a candidate, can you pick up this burden? ”

Sun Hejing hurriedly refused: "No, no, no, I am a technician, it is difficult for me to be the chief of staff, and now let me be the division commander, I have never commanded the troops." ”

"Temporary, temporary." Tian Qiliang explained, "As long as the new division commander comes, you don't have to serve as the division commander." ”

Sun Hejing said: "The commander has said so, can I still refuse?" ”

Tian Qiliang said with a smile: "That's it, let's go, meet with the three regiment commanders first, and your large army will arrive tomorrow." ”

As soon as Tian Qiliang had introduced the three regiment commanders to Sun Hejing, his chief of staff came over and told him that Rear Admiral Albert, commander of the British fleet, had asked to see him.

Rear Admiral Albert came from the port of Tangier, across the Strait of Gibraltar, and the British Navy, with the consent of Huaxia, sent a fleet to Tangier, and the commander of this fleet was Rear Admiral Albert.

This time, Rear Admiral Albert came to discuss matters related to the military exercises between the two countries, and Huaxia and Britain have agreed to set up a joint fleet in the Mediterranean, and the huge military exercises between the two countries are aimed at preparing for the establishment of a joint fleet.

Tian Qiliang has the rank of vice admiral, and Rear Admiral Albert saw Tian Qiliang give a military salute respectfully.