Workers at the Zhoushan Military Port spent five days repairing the "Longganhu" aircraft carrier. The hull was repainted, all missing or damaged spare parts were replaced, a huge red carpet was laid out on the flight deck, the colored flags hanging from the mast were even more dazzling, and even the three big characters "Longgan Lake" were repainted with a layer of white paint, which was particularly conspicuous.

Seeing this battleship that seemed to have just sailed out of the shipyard, Tan Renhao felt an inexplicable excitement. This is not his first flagship, but it is the one that he remembers the most, decades later, Tan Renhao will not forget what is about to happen on this day, it is all this that makes the three words "Longgan Lake" recorded in the history of the Imperial Navy, and also makes this aircraft carrier a legendary warship.

"Let's go, go up and have a look!" Hao Dongjue pushed Ren Hao next to him. "This is your new flagship, man, I'm dying of envy!"

Tan Renhao didn't bother to joke with his brother-in-law at this solemn moment, the aircraft carrier had just approached the dock, and as soon as the gangway was lowered, he boarded the aircraft carrier. A group of sailors is putting the finishing touches on the carrier, and a Marine soldier stands every five meters on either side. They were all dressed in solemn festive attire, even the sailors who were busy on deck. The officers and soldiers saluted Tan Renhao and Hao Dongjue, and the two nodded all the way and walked towards the temporary wooden platform next to the ship's island. On top of the wooden platform is a plaque-like object covered with bright red satin.

"This is the 'Golden Dragon Shield'?" Hao Dongjue walked up with curiosity, ready to throw up the corner of the silk to see what was underneath.

Tan Renhao grabbed his brother-in-law, and then pointed to the poster on the other side of the wooden platform. "There's one on there, you kid don't move your hands and feet."

Hao Dongjue immediately retracted his hand and walked to the poster with a smile.

The "Golden Dragon Shield" is 5.5 meters long, 2.4 meters wide, 15 centimeters thick, and has two pointed ends. It is wide in the middle, thin at the edges, and thick in the middle, like a shield laid horizontally. On the front is a golden dragon that has just jumped out of the sea and made a soaring pose, and in front of the dragon is a round of golden sun, which symbolizes the meaning of the imperial navy is thriving and advancing. There is the Emperor's seal on the back. There is also an inscription from the emperor who cast this coat of arms to the navy. The body of the shield is forged from pure brass, while the surface is wrapped in a layer of pure gold. Regardless of its significance, it is worth a fortune on its own.

"This should be the second 'Golden Dragon Shield', right?"

"No, it's the third side." Tan Renhao stood in front of the poster, recalling the history of this shield, which symbolized the Imperial Navy.

The "Golden Dragon Shield" was cast on three sides, to be precise, it was cast on three sides in succession. The first "Golden Dragon Shield" was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean with the flagship of the Imperial Navy in a naval battle 200 years ago, when it was the British Navy's battleship "Ark Royal" that sank the battleship. Subsequently, the emperor at that time ordered the casting of the second "golden dragon shield". And re-hung on the new flagship of the Imperial Navy. And it was this new flagship that led the Imperial Navy to defeat the British Navy five years later. By the time of the Tang-Japanese War, this "Golden Dragon Shield" was hung on the ironclad ship "Huaxia" of the Imperial Navy, and as a result, the ship was attacked by the Japanese Navy. A shell hit the bridge of the "Huaxia" and smashed the "Golden Dragon Shield" hanging here. The following year, the Emperor again ordered the casting of the third side, which is now the "Golden Dragon Shield".

Because of this, the Imperial Navy set a rule before the outbreak of the first global war, in peacetime, the "Golden Dragon Shield" could accompany the battleship, and in wartime, it was replaced by a replica "Golden Dragon Shield", and the real "Golden Dragon Shield" would be kept in the fleet headquarters. In order to prevent the "Golden Dragon Shield" from being lost again or damaged.

Tan Renhao glanced back at the "Golden Dragon Shield" covered by red satin. It was real, not a copy, and he knew very well that only when the shield hanging ceremony was held, the "Golden Dragon Shield" would be hung on the bow of the "Longganhu" aircraft carrier, and after the ceremony, this shield would be removed and replaced with a counterfeit one. And the real "Golden Dragon Shield" will be kept in the Imperial Navy Command, because now the First Fleet does not have a fixed shore command.

"What are you thinking?"

After being pushed down by Hao Dongjue, Tan Renhao came back to his senses. "Nothing, just don't you think it's coming too fast?"

"You mean the coat of arms?" Hao Dongjue walked around to Tan Renhao, "Don't think so much, this should have belonged to the First Task Force." Two-thirds of the battleships that have hung the 'Golden Dragon Shield' are the flagships of the First Fleet, and now that you are the commander of the First Fleet, it is natural that you should receive this shield, right? ”

Tan Renhao smiled and shook his head. "Alright, it's almost time, the guests are coming, and it's time for me to change into my dress."

"Shall I change into a dress too?"

"How do I know?" Tan Renhao walked quickly in the direction of Jiandao, "You kid doesn't have a serious day, if you don't wear a dress, it's best to wear a pair of pants to come out, it is guaranteed to attract everyone's attention, and it will be on the front page of all the newspapers in the empire tomorrow." ”

"That's a good idea, and I'm sure everyone will pay attention to me, not you."

Tan Renhao rolled his eyes, he really didn't know what to say about Hao Dongjue.

The ceremony officially began at ten o'clock, Tan Renhao put on a new custom-made military dress and stood behind the ceremony, the ceremony was presided over by Gan Yongxing, and all the guests sat in front of the ceremony in order. More than 1,000 guests came to participate in the shield hanging ceremony, plus the officers and men who maintained order and ensured safety, and almost the entire flight deck of the aircraft carrier was crowded. Sitting in the front row were the Imperial Emperor's Crown Prince, the Emperor's own brother, Prince Fu, the Imperial Prime Minister, the Minister of the Navy, the Chief Assistant to the Minister of War (government officials, non-military personnel), and a dozen other cabinet ministers, or their chief assistants. Sitting in the second row were the veteran generals of the Imperial Navy, including the former Marshal Satietin, a total of more than thirty retired generals. Then there are the active generals of the Imperial Navy, the senior staff officers of the headquarters, representatives of all branches of the armed forces, representatives of the theater commands, representatives of the fleets, and a group of naval representatives who have received high orders. This was followed by civilian representatives, including shipyards with close ties to the Navy. Representatives of aircraft factories and other factories. Diplomatic envoys from other friendly countries were arranged on the left side. Representatives of some foreign navies in Zhoushan at that time were arranged on the right.

After Gan Yongxing announced the official start of the ceremony, the newly grown crown prince first delivered a scrappy and inspiring speech on behalf of the emperor. This was followed by a speech by Imperial Prime Minister Xue Xiyue on behalf of the Imperial Cabinet Government, which signaled victory. Nie Renfeng was the third to take the stage, and on behalf of the navy, he delivered a speech on the future prospects of the navy. Afterwards, representatives from all walks of life gave congratulatory speeches, and envoys from several friendly countries made representations on behalf of their kings or prime ministers. In the end, it was the turn of Tan Renhao, the real protagonist, to take the stage.

"On the occasion of this grand celebration, I would like to first thank the Emperor and the Prime Minister on behalf of all the officers and men of the First Fleet. Thank you to all the guests who came to this ceremony......"

Tan Renhao didn't know what he was talking about, he really didn't understand that the speech was drafted by a full-time staff officer of the Navy Command, and was reviewed by Gan Yongxing and Nie Renfeng before it was handed over to Tan Renhao. Therefore, this is not his own speech, but a speech on behalf of the Navy, on behalf of the First Fleet. The manuscript was placed behind the baffle on the podium, Tan Renhao didn't look at it, he memorized almost every word of the manuscript. But he thinks. This simply doesn't express his mood at the moment.

“…… Finally, on behalf of the First Fleet and all the officers and men of the Imperial Navy, I would like to thank the Empire for the great hope and love it has bestowed upon us. Tan Renhao turned sideways. Looking at the unveiled shield behind the side, "The 'Golden Dragon Shield' does not belong only to the First Fleet, it belongs to every fleet of the Imperial Navy. The 'Golden Dragon Shield' does not just belong to the fleet, it belongs to every unit of the Imperial Navy. The 'Golden Dragon Shield' does not only belong to the navy, it belongs to every soldier of the empire. The 'Golden Dragon Shield' doesn't even belong to the Empire, it belongs to every soldier who has made outstanding contributions in this war! ”

Warm applause swept through the entire aircraft carrier and dispersed far away. The last paragraph is not on the manuscript, and it was temporarily added by Tan Renhao himself, which is exactly what he wants to express. The First Fleet is just a symbol, and he's just a representative. He represents the First Fleet, the Imperial Navy, all the soldiers of the Empire, and tens of millions of soldiers of the Allied Powers.

When Tan Renhao stepped off the podium, he let out a long breath, he didn't know if there was a problem with the last paragraph, but he really wanted to say it, if this honor needs to be obtained by a collective, then all local soldiers have this qualification.

"That's a good point." Gan Yongxing gave a thumbs up to Tan Renhao. "You kid reacted very quickly, I didn't even think of ending it this way, you see everyone's reaction, this is indeed a beautiful speech."

"Chief of Staff, will it be screwed up?"

"Don't worry, this is the best speech!" Gan Yongxing patted Tan Renhao on the shoulder, "There is no better speech than this, how can it be messed up?" ”

Tan Renhao smiled reluctantly, and he quickly glanced towards the guest seats opposite the ceremony, and many people were looking at him. The reporters gathered outside the guest seats raised their cameras one after another and pointed their lenses at Tan Renhao behind the stage.

This is followed by the official shield hanging ceremony. The crown prince and Prince Fu unveiled the red satin on the "Golden Dragon Shield" together, and under the light of the morning sun, the "Golden Dragon Shield" was particularly dazzling and dazzling. The flashing lights in the reporter's hands also flashed, and the atmosphere reached its peak.

Two colonel officers of the Marine Corps dragged the noose attached to the crane and hung it on two dumplings on top of the "Golden Dragon Shield". As the crane started, the noose was quickly straightened, and the "Golden Dragon Shield" slowly rose into the air and leaned towards the front end of the island. During the ceremony, the "Golden Dragon Shield" will eventually be hung in front of the island, but in fact, the real "Golden Dragon Shield" will be taken down in the afternoon, and the "Golden Dragon Shield" will be welded to the bow of the aircraft carrier, that is, the steel plate under the front end of the flight deck, by workers at night.

At twelve o'clock, on behalf of the Navy, Nie Renfeng thanked the guests who came to participate in the ceremony, and invited all the guests to attend the banquet to be held on this aircraft carrier. Tan Renhao returned to his main cabin at this time, changed out of the dress that seemed a little bulky, changed into an ordinary dress, and prepared to go to the banquet.

"Yes, your kid is pretty handsome today." Hao Dongjue has now become Tan Renhao's personal image consultant. "Don't buckle so tightly, yes, loosen it a little, how do you feel today?"

"It's no difference, just a little nervous." Tan Renhao loosened his collar, "I prefer to go to the battlefield, to be honest, this kind of activity is not very suitable for me." ”

"You'll get used to it, you're not afraid in front of thousands of enemy troops, what's there to be nervous about now?" Hao Dongjue patted Tan Renhao's chest, then picked up the medal on the table and began to wear the medal for Tan Renhao. "You kid is also quite calm, and the last paragraph is particularly interesting, you added it yourself, right?"

Tan Renhao nodded, then laughed.

"Don't laugh, be careful if I stab you." Hao Dongjue picked up the second medal, "And you will be familiar with this kind of occasion in the future." ”

"If you don't fit in, you can't do it." Tan Renhao sighed secretly.

At this time, the door was pushed open, and Duchenne glanced at the door and said, "General, sister-in-law is here." ”

Liao Yingyu, dressed in an evening dress, appeared by the door, and Tan Renhao smiled and nodded at his wife.

"Alright, now it's not my turn to dress you up." Hao Dongjue took two steps back, "Sister-in-law, he will be handed over to you to deal with, the banquet is about to start, you have to hurry up." Don't worry, with me and Duchenne standing guard outside, no one dares to eavesdrop! ”

Du Xing immediately laughed, Tan Renhao kicked over, and Hao Dongjue jumped out of the cabin from Liao Yingyu and closed the door.

Liao Yingyu put down her handbag for decoration, picked up a medal from the table and walked to her husband's side. "Renhao, you are very special today."

"I don't want that, as long as you think I'm special." Tan Renhao hugged his wife.

"Don't do anything, everyone is waiting for you."

Tan Renhao honestly withdrew his hands and feet and asked his wife to wear the medal for him.

By the time Tan Renhao and Liao Yingyu came to the flight deck outside, the banquet had already begun. The guests paid tribute to Tan Renhao, and Tan Renhao also returned the salute one by one. It was a grand banquet and a rare opportunity to relax during the war.