In the eighteenth year of Chengtian, the eighth day of the eighth month of August. This is Chen Han's 'Army Day'!

As early as the first year of Chengtian, this festival was completely finalized by the cabinet.

At that time, the old Confucianists who were in the opposition and the old Confucianists who were officials in the court also wrote to Chen Ming, begging Chen Ming to retract this decision. Because in their eyes, such a policy will not do the slightest benefit to the current situation of the Chen Han Dynasty, which has always been light on literature and military force, but will further enhance the influence of the army.

But facts have proved that eighteen years have passed, and the influence of Army Day has passed its peak and fallen into a trough, and now the popularity is mediocre, and its influence in society is just as mediocre.

Not to mention that compared with traditional festivals such as Qingming Festival, Dragon Boat Festival, Qiqiao Festival, Mid-Autumn Festival, Double Ninth Festival, and Spring Festival, even Chen Ming's Wanshou Festival and National Day are far inferior.

That is, the army really takes it as a thing. For all officers and men, this day is their common 'birthday'.

It's already 10 p.m. At the dock of the Singapore Naval Port, under the light of the fire, two Western-style first-class sail battleships Qin Shi Huang and Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty were moored side by side, and on their outer sides were four third-class sail battleships Wang Qian, Sima Cuo, Li Guang, and Huo Quai.

On the periphery of the six battleships were a large wave of frigates, as well as small flying shear-bow warships that were still patrolling at night.

In the port area, not far from the military port, a hotel is still open. Those who have been to Singapore know this Homeinn Hotel, one of the national chain hotels controlled by the Kyushu Chamber of Commerce, and the other big boss is the Lee consortium founded by the famous lame uncle Li Kun.

Over the years, this hotel chain has opened all over China. The lintel of the hotel is hung with the sign of "Home Inn", which is very common, but it is said that it is the title of the emperor's imperial pen today, and even the name "Home Inn" is given by the saint today.

The façade decoration of the hotel is simple and straightforward, but after being nominated by the two current emperors, it suddenly gives people a feeling - simple atmosphere, and the grade has come up all of a sudden.

Home Inn Singapore has been open in the port area for so many years, and the chefs here are still at a level that no other hotel in Singapore can match. Although their master here changes every two years, the level has never dropped.

The reputation has been established, and because of the hotel's extraordinary backing background, it has become a favorite gathering place for Chen Hanhai's army officers to take vacations and entertain guests. Of course, in view of some inexplicable unpleasant mutual glances between the navy and the army, in order to prevent accidents, the attendants here will often guide the army officers and the sailor officers to sit separately and shorten the distance.

Today, the third floor of the Homeinn Hotel was clad by the sailor, and the second floor was clad by the army, leaving a floor for others.

In order to distinguish a position in the 'ranking', the representatives of the Navy and the Army almost fought in the hotel manager's office.

Finally, take a step back on each side.

Your army ox occupies the second layer, but it is also crushed under the feet of the sailor.

And you sailors don't have to be, you still have a number of troops in the rankings.

Anyway, it's not the first floor, and the hotel has made up its mind early on not to allow the site on the first floor to any of the naval forces.

At this time, the third floor was crowded with young officers of the Naval Division, who were generally under the age of 40, all with red faces and wine glasses and high talks, celebrating this festival that belonged to them. Most of the people here are officers of the Nanyang Naval Division who are resting at the military port, especially the officers of the two detachments led by two first-class sail battleships.

“…… Haha, you know, when those British saw our fleet, their eyes widened, as if they saw their God! ”

A young sailor sergeant seemed to have drunk too much, and as he banged on the table, he deliberately imitated the stupid appearance of staring, and his colleagues around him should laugh in harmony. At the same time, several officers of the Navy Division who had drunk too much were still hugging each other affectionately, banging on the table with their hands, and singing the military song of the Navy Division loudly.

The two first-class sail battleships belong to two mobile fleets, one has just returned from Honolulu, and the tall battleships have also thrown the local natives into the ground, but the natives of Honolulu are just a group of newly civilized savages, no matter how much they are frightened, they can't arouse the pride in the hearts of the officers and men of the fleet.

On the other hand, the British, another mobile fleet that has just returned from Indian waters, the first class sail battleship of the Chinese Navy to the outside world, is really not inferior to the Europeans.

The number of 112 guns loaded, including 16 35-pound short-barreled guns, 48 20-pound guns, 30 15-pound guns, and 18 10-pound guns.

This number is only higher than that of the British first-class sail battleships. The firepower seems to be a little more powerful.

Although the threat of rockets makes it difficult for naval warships to get closer to a distance of one or two hundred meters, they are lined up to bombard. Instead, the distance between them was generally increased to more than 500 meters, so that the importance of the rate of fire of naval guns decreased, but the importance of accuracy was greatly increased.

And the role of short-barreled guns, which are huge, but not far-reaching, is greatly reduced.

Therefore, the first-class sail battleships of the Chinese Navy, represented by Qin Shi Huang and Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, are generally equipped with short-barreled guns that have dropped from twenty or thirty at their peak to less than 20 today.

It's just that in this era, the first-class sail battleship represents the highest combat effectiveness of the navy, and the number is scarce compared to the aircraft carriers of later generations. The symbolism is stronger than the reality.

A detachment led by a first-class sail battleship appeared off the coast of India, which shocked the British as you can imagine.

Of course, in some corners, there were also many officers who were calmly facing each other, with low-alcohol blended fruit wine or simply beer on the table on their bodies, maintaining a calm that was completely different from the other officers and soldiers of the Navy Division around them.

Not all of them are passionate, and not all of them have an unquenchable interest in talking. For example, Shi Yiyang and Zhang Yu.

Both of them were born in the powerful, and the Shi family did not have too outstanding talents in the officialdom and the army, but they had a lady in the emperor's harem, and they had been quite favored for one or two decades, and their background was naturally not bad.

Zhang Yu's cousin and aunt are also in the harem, his father is the first person to be the commander of the Southeast Water Division, Zhang Qiu, Shi Yiyang's father, uncle and even grandfather, all of whom ate under the Zhang family back then.

That is, after the Shi family entered the palace, they were favored, and the Shi family slowly broke away from the shackles of the Zhang family, but the two sides never tore their faces.

After the Shi family's son broke away from the competition for the throne early, the connection between the Shi family and the Zhang family became closer. Who let the daughter of the Zhang family give birth to only one daughter?

The two families huddled together to keep warm, and the family behind the women in Chen Ming's harem started and ended with their two families huddling together to keep warm?

The Yao family, who was born in Wanwan, also made up his mind early and let his son stop looking at the chair in the Fengtian Temple.

As the children of relatives and the children of the Southeast Water Division, Shi Yiyang and Zhang Yu are both graduates of Fujian Water Division, and the two are even classmates and intern on the same training ship.

But when it was assigned, both of them involuntarily assigned to the Nanyang Fleet, because they wanted to avoid suspicion.

The background of these two guys is definitely not low, but unfortunately neither of them has any talent. They all lack the affinity and closeness to the sea in the bones of their grandparents, compared to Ye Huan and Zhu Shifu, who are recognized as geniuses in the academy, their evaluation when they graduated is only average.

The two also used to envy Ye Huan and Zhu Shifu, especially Ye Huan, Ye Tingyang's youngest son. He only abandoned the darkness and turned to the light when the mountains and rivers were exhausted, but after one or two decades, not only Ye Tingyang became a general trusted by the emperor, but even his son was also a genius.

In contrast, the Zhu family, who followed Chen Jigong in the early years, although the speed of climbing over the years has been amazing, it is not as 'different' as Ye Tingyang's Ye family.

There is still King Song behind the Zhu family.

Don't look at the fact that it has been eight years since Lao Xiangguo retired, but every year when there are big banquets and rewards in the palace, there will always be the emperor's second uncle among the first-class people.

Shi Yiyang and Zhang Yu have been promoted to sergeants step by step over the years, and not long ago they were notified of the training of the captain class of the Guangzhou Naval Academy, and they will graduate next fall, and then they will have the qualifications to serve as the acting pipe band of small warships.

Now one of the two men served in the 3rd Mobile Detachment of the Nanyang Naval Division and went to India; The other served in the 2nd Motor Detachment and went to Honolulu.

The two had been sitting facing each other for a long time, Shi Yiyang looked up over the glass window, looking at the moon in the sky outside, while Zhang Yu was slowly holding a wine glass, watching the frolic of his fellow sailors in the depths of the hotel.

In the noise, the group slowly walked towards the two, Zhang Yu's eyes lit up, and he gently knocked on the table with his hand to remind Shi Yiyang, and then a bright smile appeared on his face, and he stood up and sorted out his military uniform.

The person who came was not Zhu Shifu, nor Ye Huan, but Yang Dong at the head. The second son of Admiral Yang Shijin, the commander of the inland river division.

Although Chen Han's army and officialdom are far from being 'reduced to the point of solidification' of classes, it is undeniable that classes do exist in any era.

The second generation, such as Yang Dong, Shi Yiyang and Zhang Yu, has many, many more in Chen Han's major naval fleets.

They may not be able to excel in the army, but as long as it is in a peaceful era, the promotion of these people is not as good as the pride of heaven with background and ability, but it is definitely much faster than the elite who only have the ability and no background of civilians and grassroots.

War is a catalyst for the advancement of talents, and this statement is absolutely true.

Only in the context of the general environment of the war, the influence of the backers behind the second generation with a background like Yang Dong will be weakened to the minimum.

Otherwise it's the exact opposite.

At this point, no matter how much Emperor Chen strictly prohibited, it was impossible to completely achieve it.

"Haha, are you kid getting fat? The face is round. I really can't see it, your days as soldiers are quite nourishing! A young man who followed behind Yang Dong was smiling and laughing at Shi Yiyang, who had really gained weight, while spreading smoke to Shi Yiyang and Zhang Yu.

"Lao Shi will go to India this time, isn't that falling into the nest of blessings? Sex bliss is dead. Anything like a little longer meat. ”

Shi Yiyang was teased one after another, and he was not angry. They often joke like this, "I'm so strange, this Army Day, why are you guys coming to Singapore?" ”

"I don't believe you really welcome me and Zhang Yu."

Yang Dong borrowed the fire to light a cigarette, took a long breath and spit it out, "Old Shi, we are really here to welcome the two of you." It's been more than half a year, are we old friends, what's wrong with having a small welcome ceremony? When you say this, it really hurts the hearts of your brothers. ”

Zhang Yu next to him said with a look of disgust: "Come on." Don't say it, I'm going to throw up. ”

"Seriously, what do you need to run over?"

"Just the sandalwood thing."

"What about sandalwood?" Shi Yiyang and Zhang Yu glanced at each other, and their eyes were full of red fruit disbelief. "Isn't it okay to talk about sandalwood? Is it necessary for you to come in person? ”

"It's necessary, it's necessary." Yang Dong and several people who came with him shouted in unison.

Several people took their seats, and Yang Dong lowered his voice and said to Zhang Yu and Shi Yiyang.

"I'm telling you both, the price of this sandalwood will definitely soar in the next few years."

"You should always know about the Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang, Gansu, right?"

"The emperor himself said that it is a national treasure that must be protected. A few days ago, when I was sorting out and repairing and cleaning up the sand, I found a big cave in the scriptures. Tens of thousands of cultural relics such as Buddhist scriptures, social documents, embroidery, silk paintings, and ritual utensils from the Northern and Southern Dynasties to the Northern Song Dynasty were excavated. ”

Buddhism is still very influential in China in the current era. Even if Taoism has improved over the years, the foundation of the people, Buddhism is still better than Taoism.

Wu Chengen's "Journey to the West" is so influential that many ordinary people think that the Buddha in heaven is the most awesome, and all the immortals in heaven eat dry rice, and they will only understand the most superficial meaning.

And the relative many episodes in "Romance of the Gods", whether it is a counterattack against Buddhism and "Journey to the West", it is not clear. But what is certain is that the popularity and influence of "Romance of the Gods" among the people are not as good as "Journey to the West".

Sun Dasheng's image is too deeply rooted in the hearts of the people.

"We don't have the ability to get a piece of the big business, so let's start small. As long as you plan it properly, you can also gain a lot. Yang Dong analyzed the influence of Buddhism in today's society, if the treasure of the Mogao Caves is announced, I don't know what kind of upsurge of burning incense and worshiping Buddha will be triggered among the people.

Zhang Yu and Shi Yiyang still didn't believe it, so they made such a noise, as for their group of people making such a big move?

"Don't worry, I've heard a message. Some people say that the emperor and his old man are ready to dig the underground palace of Famen Temple. ”

"Famen Temple was bombarded during the war that year, and a while ago, the real body pagoda of Famen Temple collapsed due to continuous rain, and the statues and scriptures hidden in the tower fell. After cleaning, it was found that there were 20 fragments of the Song carving "Pilu Zang", 579 volumes of the Yuan carving "Jinning Collection", 33 fragments of the Yuan carving "Secret Collection", and 7 volumes of the "Miaofa Lotus Sutra". Among them, the "Jinning Collection" and the "Pilu Collection" are very rare books and scriptures that are very rare today, and they are of high value. ”

Then because the Famen Temple was going to build a new tower, when cleaning up the remnants of the tower base, it was found that the underground palace under the tower was about one meter away from the surface. Looking at the exposed carving technique, it is said that it is very likely to be from the Tang Dynasty. The Tang Dynasty royal family has welcomed the Buddha finger relics many times to Famen Temple, and if the underground palace is really from the Tang Dynasty, I don't know how many treasures will be enshrined in it. If all these things were left untouched in the dungeon, it would be a big deal. ”

Yang Dong's face was full of envy, because what he didn't know was the best, how prominent Famen Temple was in the Tang Dynasty, just look at the history books. If it is really a treasure enshrined by the royal family of the Tang Dynasty, the most important thing is the true body relics of the Buddha, it is really invincible.

"The true body relics of the Buddha."

"Now we are running Ceylon, and we have taken Burma, and Siam is also a little brother. In these territories, the influence of Buddhism is very large. If we can dig up the true body relics of the Buddha, hehe, this temptation is something that the emperor will never resist. ”

The greatest significance of the underground palace of Famen Temple is not the treasures enshrined by the royal family of the Tang Dynasty, but the real body relics of the Buddha, which have great political significance for Siam, Myanmar and Ceylon.

By the way, there are also Tibetan lands.

Shi Yiyang and Zhang Yu no longer ask about the value of sandalwood, if these two discoveries are announced to the world, it will really be the prosperity of Buddhism. I don't know how much sandalwood will be used in Buddhist temples all over the world.

"This kind of business has a certain risk, and if you don't dig up the real body relics, the utility will be reduced by half. And it is troublesome, it takes a long time, it doesn't make much, and the capital turnover period is very long.

Those giants can't see it, and only people like us can get a piece of the pie. You two are the most important of our group, and you can't drop the chain. ”

"Rest assured. My fourth uncle is now the mayor of Honolulu. Can't you still do this little thing? ”

"The Governor of Ceylon is an old relationship of my father, as long as we don't lose our jobs, we won't go on a business trip."