On Sunday, August 23, 1643, the lunar calendar was in full swing.

After the promulgation of the amendment to the "National Defense and Military Service Law" last year, the recruitment of troops for the army and navy in the autumn of each year was officially set at the end of August each year, which was more than a full month earlier than in previous years.

In the bustling West Point Commercial Plaza of Union City, a large-scale Department of Defense recruitment tour is underway, the largest official event ever held in Union City since its first year.

A large platform was built in the square, and the military band directly under the Ministry of National Defense lined up in a phalanx under the stage, playing military music like a rainbow. There were more than 10,000 united citizens around the square, and more than half of them were young men and women, and the atmosphere was extremely warm.

"Now, Miss Alice, the special spokesperson of the Ministry of Defense this year, is invited to the stage!"

As the military music ended, an exciting message came from the square radio. Then I saw a girl in a special military dress walking up to the high platform with light and lively steps. The long black skirt and a set of richly decorated military shirts, with a tassel on the right shoulder to the chest, and a delicate armed belt tied around the waist, the whole person looks heroic, solemn and free, and the previous image of a sweet and beautiful young girl is different.

"How many times have I fallen on the road, how many times have I broken my wings; Now I don't feel hesitant anymore, I want to go beyond this ordinary life. ”

"I want a life that blooms like flying in the sky; It's like walking through the boundless wilderness, with the strength to break free......"

The radio began to play Alice's cover of Jenny's girl's version of "Blooming Life", and the infectious lyrics accompanied the beautiful figure of the girl on stage, which made the people in the audience fascinated.

"Alice! Alice! ”

Since Alice became famous and attended an Ivy League college in the capital, the people of West Point have rarely seen this noble girl known as the "West Point Princess" in public. Now Alice appeared in West Point dressed as a soldier, which immediately sparked a frenzy like a sea tide.

"I don't know who came up with the idea, but there is a spokesperson for recruitment, and I heard that Miss Alice will sign everyone who receives the registration form...... It is clear that Miss Alice prefers Army-style clothes to come to the stage today. It's not good for our navy. ”

On the rostrum, Major Don Hannah, who was the chief officer of the Navy recruitment, looked at the funny and exuberant scene in front of him with a little crying and laughing, and could not imagine that the rumored West Point people would be so enthusiastic about national recruitment.

"If Admiral Scott was in the Navy and not from West Point, maybe Alice would have considered our Navy first...... Wife, why don't we let our daughter be a star when she grows up? ”

Tang Hannah's husband, Major Hu Huan, came to United City on behalf of the Marine Corps to do recruitment propaganda this time, and he was constantly laughing at himself. Looking at the army representative seats on the side, several army recruiters were smiling from ear to ear, as if in their eyes. Alice was born to be part of the Army.

On stage, Alice showed her personal charm very generously in the sound of music, and from time to time made a few playful gestures similar to military salutes to the surging crowd below, and then caused a wave of cheers.

“…… Brave West Point people, join the Wehrmacht and show your loyalty and strength! ”

Alice's performance on stage came to an end, and as soon as the last line before leaving the stage fell, countless young men threw out their hats, and a sea of hats rose in the square.

In the most corner of the crowd. A young man stared closely at Alice's figure sitting back on the podium, her fists clenched, and a girl beside him put her arm around him.

"Brother. What are you doing?! Seeing that his brother seemed to have been "fooled" into it, Zhang Xiaoyun hurriedly grabbed Zhang Niuwa's arm, "Uncle asked you to take care of the sack company, but he didn't let you join the army." Mom and Dad won't agree to it! ”

"I'll take a closer look...... You go home first. Help my aunt cook. Zhang Niuwa hurriedly defended in a low voice, then let go of her sister's hand and began to squeeze into the crowd.

The eager cry of my sister in my ears has long been drowned out by the roar of the crowd in the square. It took Zhang Niuwa almost half an hour to get to the line on the side of the high platform. As far as the eye can see, there are already more than 300 West Point youths lined up in a thick long line.

"Come one by one, Miss Alice will sign autographs for everyone who signs up to join the army!" An employee of Manchester City Entertainment, accompanied by the military, struggled to organize and maintain order on the scene, and he had no idea that Alice's first appearance today would cause such a big sensation.

Almost all of them chose the Wehrmacht application form and rushed to the signing table. And there are very few people who stop in front of Hu Huan and Tang Hannah, so that Tang Hannah has no way, and the fire in her stomach is getting bigger and bigger.

"Miss Alice, do you want to take a break?" A female clerk of the Ministry of Defense was busy and dizzy, and asked the girl who was struggling to write a book next to her with envy.

"Thanks, I'm not tired." A few drops of sweat had already appeared on Alice's little face, and although her fingers were a little numb, she still gritted her teeth and persevered.

"Why are they all signed up for the Army?" The male clerk of the Ministry of Defense on the other side glanced at the arm that was outstretched on the spot, and he was also a little surprised by the Army's eating incense in Union City.

"So, do you have anyone who signed up for the navy? I can sign in advance! Alice seemed to notice this, and quickly looked up at the crowded pastry youth in front of the stage, and as soon as her words came out, the noise of the scene was swept away.

You look at me, I look at you, and many people have bewildered expressions. Shouldn't West Point people join the Army?

"I ...... I...... I signed up for the Navy! ”

Zhang Niuwa, who was about to line up to receive the registration form, roared at this time, squeezed in front of Tang Hanna and Hu Huan in a few steps, and didn't care about asking anything, grabbed a piece of naval recruitment information and jumped up.

With Alice's previous statement, the team consciously let go of a crack, and Zhang Niuwa finally squeezed in front of the signing table, and carefully put the registration form in her hand in front of the girl.

"Ah, God forbid, I finally see the Marines...... Well, all the most handsome and heroic people! ”

Having probably heard of the Marines making a big splash in the military operation to take over Virginia, Ellie did not hesitate to give a compliment that she thought was most appropriate, and then signed her name very seriously on Zhang Niuwa's registration form.

"Handsome and heroic Marines? Damn it...... Miss Alice is right, I should be a part of it! ”

Watching being "cut in line". The dozens of West Point youths crowded at the front were stunned for a moment, and then suddenly dropped the army registration form in their hands, and crowded to the table of Tang Hannah and other naval officers, no matter what it was, they picked up a copy of the recruitment materials and left.

"Oh my God, it's not fair!" The army recruiter who was enjoying the scene was dumbfounded, he didn't expect that Miss Alice's mere muttering would cause so many "betrayal revolutions".

Alice's casual remark instantly changed many people's choices, and the change in the direction of the wind on the stage surprised everyone.

"Hey, hey. If we can publicize it for one more day, maybe the initial recruitment of the expanded Marine Corps will be enough in West Point. And let's choose well! ”

Hu Huan can be regarded as happy now, because his position is better than Tang Hannah, so the list that Zhang Niuwa grabbed just now happened to be his Marine Corps propaganda registration form, but in a few minutes, the entire two hundred lists were swept away.

Finding that his wife didn't seem to respond positively, Hu Huan turned his head curiously and didn't care. It was found that his wife, Don Hannah, had even darker faces. It turned out that no one touched the recruitment list of the naval fleet.

Zhang Niuwa, who once again squeezed out of the crowd in the square, squeezed the Marine Corps registration form in her hand tightly at this time, and looked at Alice's delicate signature on it carefully and contentedly. There was a stirring in my heart.

"Brother ......" I don't know when, Zhang Xiaoyun appeared in front of Zhang Niuwa again, looking at the list in the other party's hand in surprise.

"Sister, my brother plans to volunteer for the army! I'll make it clear to my aunt. The sweet smile Alice had given to herself was still in my mind. Zhang Niuwa gritted her teeth and nodded fiercely at her sister.

"But there is no shortage of money at home, and my uncle said he didn't want you to ...... Is it just because of Miss Alice? Zhang Xiaoyun looked at her brother's resolute and intoxicated look. My lips are bitten.

"No, I chose it myself! Belch...... The summer vacation is almost over, let's go, brother will buy you a new dress! ”

Seeing her sister's nervous expression of wanting to cry, Zhang Niuwa hurriedly touched the other party's head to comfort her.

……

South of Manchester, Su Family Manor.

In the living room, Su Zining and Yan Xiaosong were sitting quietly on the sofa, and several children of the two families were also standing in the center of the living room, and the atmosphere was a little strange.

Su Fangwei, the second son of the Su family, and Yan Shuming, the son of the Yan family, stood upright in front of the two parents at this time. And Su Fangqi, the daughter of the Su family, stood on the side a little farther away, secretly looking at the two companions who didn't know the sky.

"Dad, Brother Shuming and I have decided to take a break from school in our junior year, sign up for a short-term crash course for officers at West Point, and retire and return to school in five years." It seems that he has been preparing for a long time, and Su Fangwei is no longer nervous at this time, but looks full of ambition.

Looking at her husband's calm expression, and then looking at her daughter's frowning brows, Yuan Xinyi's hand holding Su Zining's arm became tighter and tighter.

Yan Xiaosong, on the other hand, looked into the eldest son's eyes with a meaningful smile, as if he was exploring the other party's thoughts at this moment.

"God willing, brave children, you will be blessed by all!"

Caterina, who has a heroic personality, was the first to break the calm atmosphere, and she was a little overjoyed about her son's choice to take a leave of absence from school to join the army. In her opinion, it is the pride of the whole family that her excellent son can enter the short-term crash course for officers at West Point as a college student.

According to the state's long-term propaganda, the social status of military personnel is very high, and in the eyes of most ordinary citizens, it not only means high income, but becoming an officer is almost equivalent to stepping into high society with one foot.

The only regret is that her son doesn't seem to be interested in the navy, and Katarina, who is in the navy, hopes that Yan Shuming can become a naval officer.

After glancing at his friend, Su Zining finally stood up, walked slowly to his son, raised his hand and touched the other party's shoulder: "The army is not the place of free indulgence you imagined, the obedience and courage you guarantee are not the point, self-restraint and self-discipline are the fundamental." ”

"Dad, Uncle Yan, don't you think this is abnormal?!" Suddenly, Su Fangqi on the side shouted.

The two families turned around and saw that the Su family's daughter's face was a little pale, and a pair of hands holding the hem of the skirt were trembling slightly. Not far behind, several other junior children of the Su family showed a row of heads at the corner of the corridor, also looking strange.

Su Fangqi graduated from university this year with a bachelor's degree, and was admitted to graduate school very smoothly. Su Fangqi is not disgusted with soldiers, but in her eyes, whether it is her younger brother Su Fangwei or her boyfriend Yan Shuming, they should climb in the ivory tower like her. In the future, they should not only be the heirs of the family, but also the elite intellectuals that the country's upper class society should be.

"They've already had a bar mitzvah. As an adult, you are eligible to choose your own path. Yan Xiaosong also walked up to his son and sorted out the other party's school uniform with a smile. It seems that he is already making up for the appearance of his son in a military uniform.

"Great......" Seeing that things were going smoothly to this point, Yan Shuming secretly gave his companion a smug look.

"Is the campus so unattractive...... Why did he aspire to that profession......"

Su Fangqi lowered her head, hiding her lonely expression and red eyes, and after muttering a sentence, she turned around and ran towards the corridor leading to the garden.

Looking at her daughter's distant back, Yuan Xinyi also showed a bitter smile.

……

In the more than 20 years since the founding of the People's Republic of China, in the context of low external threats, the military construction, which had been deliberately suppressed for the sake of economic development, has finally been given a chance to be released. Of course, the end of the Thirty Years' War in Europe is nearing its end. and the demands of the situation in the Far East, but in essence, it is still the strategic preparation that Huamei must make in advance for the next stage of external expansion.

In 1643, the largest expansion of troops was still carried out by the navy, and the number of sailors recruited by the fleet increased considerably. The total strength of the Navy will rise to 9,000 troops, of which the Marine Corps will also expand the original light battalion into a heavy battalion. At the end of last year, the National Defense Army established the Eastern Brigade, with a total strength of 7,500 troops.

Excluding the 5,500 members of the Foreign Legion, although the size of the army and navy has suddenly increased a lot. However, after the adjustment of the schedule of military service contracts began last year, the "fast-in, fast-out" mode of officers and men on active duty has instead reduced the intensity of service for young and strong people in China. At present, the population of the country is more than 780,000, not counting the Foreign Legion. The total active strength of the army and navy is only 2.1% of the total population (slightly lower than the proportion of active military personnel in Israel in later generations), which is still in a benign range, and has little impact on the occupation of labor.

The production of the 30A rifle, a domestic military standard individual weapon, was declared discontinued in the summer of 1643 with the delivery of the last reserve stock contract. It has taken thirteen years since the official installation, and together with the reserves, a total of 40,000 30A rifles have been produced. Although the operating tax of arms companies is as high as 30 percent, the R&D manufacturer NORINCO has also made millions of dollars on this type of weapon.

The expensive 32A rotary tube machine guns were not so lucky, and even if the National Guard and the Navy also procured them, the total production was less than 500 units. Combined with some subsidies initially allocated by the Congressional Commission of Science and Technology, the R&D manufacturer General Industries Group has only recovered its costs, and its profits are almost negligible.

However, Jiang Zhaolong, chairman of the board of directors of General Industries Group, is not worried about losing money at all, because the "consumables business" of 11 mm copper straight cartridges common to 30A rifles and 32A rotary tube machine guns is very cost-effective, and the total number of bullets purchased by the army and navy has so far exceeded 15 million, and the after-tax profit has also reached nearly one million US dollars.

It seems that something had been expected for a long time, and after entering 1643, the two major industrial groups of China and the United States began to prepare to increase the production line of ammunition, because with it, there will be a large number of orders for shells and bullets. Peripheral suppliers who have also extended their arms production have also benefited. Even the leather products company under Yang Wenwen Living Art Group received an order to produce a large number of military uniforms and boots for the army in advance.

The only thing that worries is the army and navy's logistics department, because they have more than 30,000 obsolete 22A rifles and hundreds of organ machine guns, as well as a huge number of paper bullet shells worth at least one million dollars, which are expensive to mothball and maintain.

Several attempts to lobby the Department of Defense and Congress to sell these backlogs to friendly countries outside have been rejected on the grounds that it is not appropriate to open up the export of advanced weapons for the time being. As a result, Army Commander Chen Liwen could only continue to spend a lot of money every year to preserve, and he was depressed for a while.

In fact, the real answer is very simple: neither the Ministry of Defense, nor even the two houses of Congress, is likely to offend the centrist who are now emboldened and have a large amount of industry in control on this crucial issue. At present, the two major domestic arms manufacturers are not doing too well in their arms business in Europe, and once these advanced second-hand weapons, which have huge inventories in stock, are sold in Europe, the two major arms groups will not make a dime, and on the contrary, the existing sales of the 21B and 34A flintlock pistols will be affected. (To be continued......)