After bidding farewell to his own women, Fang Lang walked quickly through the backyard and came to the central hall, where General Crook, who was dressed in casual clothes, was looking at a landscape painting on the wall of the central hall with great interest. I heard the sound of slightly hurried footsteps, and then slowly turned my head.

Fang Lang hurriedly stretched out his hand, and came to General Crook with great enthusiasm and said:

"Your Excellency General, it was a rude official who didn't know about your arrival and couldn't greet you in time, please forgive me!"

General Crook saw Fang Lang, who was also dressed in home clothes, and smiled and held Fang Lang's hand and said:

"Haha...... General Fang laughed, it's your vacation time, I took the liberty to visit and disturb your vacation, you don't blame me for being rude. ”

As soon as he saw General Crook's attitude, Fang Lang knew that today's matter should not be a bad thing, and he hurriedly laughed and said:

"Haha...... General Crook said with a smile, I am your soldier, if you need it, I will run over to see you as soon as you say hello, how can you run this trip yourself. ”

After speaking, he stretched out his hand and pointed to the two Taishi chairs in the middle of the hall and said:

"Your Excellency General, please! Let's try it together, this time I brought the good Chinese tea from Hong Kong City. ”

General Crook laughed and sat down under Fang Lang's guidance.

After General Crook sat down, Fang Lang instructed Fu Bo to arrange someone to make tea, and soon a middle-aged woman dressed plainly served a cup of tea to each of them.

The two chatted for a while, and General Crook even brought a New Year gift to Fang Lang, which surprised Fang Lang and expressed his gratitude again and again!

After the tea was thirty years old, General Crook seemed to feel that the time was almost up, so he spoke directly:

"General Fang, I am on a private visit this time, there are a few things I want to communicate with you privately, I wonder if you have any suitable places to talk here?"

Hearing this, Fang Lang immediately understood, it seems that this visit of General Crook also came quietly, and the issues he wanted to discuss were also secret topics, and he didn't want too many people to hear about it.

Fang Lang directly took General Crook into his study, and after the two sat down at the tea table in the study, Fang Lang personally made tea for General Crook and said with a smile:

"Your Excellency the General is serious, if you have any orders, just give an order directly, how can I trouble you to run in person!"

Hearing this, General Crook glared at Fang Lang angrily.

"You kid did it on purpose! I don't believe you haven't heard any news. ”

Fang Lang, who already had some guesses, was even more convinced when he heard this.

"General Crook came over this time, won't he also make me the deputy chief of the general staff of the Admiralty?"

Seeing that Fang Lang had clarified the topic, General Crook no longer concealed it, picked up the teacup handed over by Fang Lang, took a sip lightly, and then glared at Fang Lang angrily and said:

"Okay, you kid don't have to be tempted here repeatedly, I'm not in the same league as those idiots. If that's what I thought, should I do it myself? ”

Regarding General Crook's words, Fang Lang really didn't doubt that although the two were superiors and subordinates, their personal relationship was extraordinary, not just that Fang Lang was pulled up by General Crook.

Now General Crook's family works for the fishing company he and Parisi formed! In other words, this fishing company is a joint venture of several people, so everyone is actually a community of interests.

Seeing that General Crook didn't have the slightest intention of fighting with himself, Fang Lang was completely relieved, and said with a smile:

"Hey...... I knew General Crook wouldn't do such a thing. I wonder what you're here for? ”

General Crook looked at Fang Lang with a hippie smile, the expression on his face gradually converged, and he slowly said with a serious face:

"Now the call for you to move the nest is high, and I've suppressed it for a long time. But now that a new presidential election is about to begin, many people are already ready to do so, and it may backfire if they continue to suppress it.

I thought you might as well take this opportunity and try it a little further. Judging by the power you have over the carrier battle group, these guys are destined to be in vain. ”

I have to say that Mr. Navy, who is Fang Lang's old superior and cooperated with him in the formation of this aircraft carrier fleet, has an understanding of the situation of his fleet that is by no means comparable to those who only know red-eyed.

At the same time, his suggestion to Fang Lang was really thinking about Fang Lang. It is impossible for Fang Lang not to accept this feeling. He also sensed where General Crook was going and had his idea.

I just don't know how different this place is from Fang Lang's own thoughts. He was not polite to General Crook, and asked directly and curiously:

"What is your new role for me?"

Seeing Fang Lang's curious face, and there seemed to be a hint of expectation in his eyes, General Crook smiled slightly, knocked on the tea table in front of him, and motioned for Fang Lang to add tea to himself before saying:

"I'm going to recommend you to take my place, what do you think?"

Fang Lang, who was flattering General Crook with a face to add tea, was stunned when he heard this, and his hand holding the fair cup stopped directly in mid-air, looking at General Crook with an incredulous expression.

General Crook proposed to let Fang Lang take his place, obviously shocking Fang Lang. It's not that he doesn't want to be the Minister of the Navy, it's that his age and seniority are obviously not enough, although everywhere it is said that seniority and age are not important.

But in reality, whoever takes this seriously is a real fool.

If he really serves as the Minister of the Navy, he will definitely attract the attention of many people, and in the future, his every move will be taken to a magnifying glass to observe, and if he is not careful, he will be directly knocked out of power.

As for whether he can take on the post of Minister of the Navy in his own ability, he must still be very confident, but even if he is confident, his reason tells him that it is not yet time.

He is not at all worried about whether the new president will agree to this appointment, as long as the Ministry of Defense proposes, the new president will definitely not dare not buy his face.

Soon, he realized that General Crook was leaving the Admiralty, and he didn't care about thinking about his next post, and said with surprise:

"What do you mean? Are those guys trying to get you down too? ”

Regarding Fang Lang's reaction, General Crook seemed to have expected it, and said with a smile and a playful face:

"What? Can't it be that I want to go further? ”

Hearing this, Fang Lang's eyes couldn't help but light up. With General Crook's influence in the Admiralty, Fang Lang really didn't believe that anyone could oust him from power. Now that he heard the other party's words, he immediately reacted.

With some surprise, he said:

"Your Excellency, General, is this a better place to go?"

Seeing Fang Lang's surprised expression, Crook shook his head with a smile, and after a little hesitation, he slowly spoke:

"As things stand, President Dutra's re-election is a foregone conclusion.

Once the new president takes office, the post of defense minister will definitely be replaced, and Marshal Moraes is ready to step down.

He talked to me and wanted me to work in the Ministry of Defense. ”

As soon as these words came out, Fang Lang immediately understood what the situation was, it seemed that Marshal Moraes was preparing to step down as Minister of Defense, and wanted to complete the adjustment of the position of the Ministry of Defense before leaving office.

And General Crook, the giant of the Admiralty, was picked out by him and prepared to be sent to the Ministry of Defense, as for behind this, it is difficult to say whether it is a good thing or a bad thing for General Crook.

Fang Lang said tentatively:

"Is this preparing you to be the new Minister of Defense?"

Hearing this, General Crook directly rolled his eyes and said:

"What do you think! The Secretary of Defense must be determined by the new president, and Marshal Moraes cannot influence the thoughts of the new president.

Besides, if you don't work as a civilian in the Ministry of Defense for a few years, how can you have the opportunity to become Minister of Defense. ”

Fang Lang heard from General Crook's words that it was not that he did not want to serve as Minister of Defense, but that he really had the same qualifications as Fang Lang. He was born in the navy, and if he is not familiar with the work of other branches of the military in the Ministry of Defense for several years, it will definitely be difficult for him to become the Minister of Defense directly.

If Fang Lang is willing, he can talk to Scalia and directly push him into this position, but the reality is that once President Scalia does this, it is likely to cause dissatisfaction in the army. This is not conducive to Mr. President's control over the military.

By the time General Crook has been in the Ministry of Defense for a few years, although he can't completely wash away the naval color on him, he can also be less eye-catching.

"Then Marshal Moraes doesn't want to promote you openly and secretly, transfer you out of the Admiralty, and make way for the others, right?"

Although he knew that it was unlikely, Fang Lang still spoke with a little doubt.

Hearing this, General Crook couldn't help but turn dark, glared at Fang Lang with dissatisfaction, and said:

"What do you kid think? Marshal Moraes is not such a person. He suggested that I join the Ministry of Defense and take the post of deputy minister. ”

Hearing this, Fang Lang couldn't help but take a closer look at General Crook, but he didn't expect the other party to hide it.

"The Deputy Minister of Defense is a good position! I don't see that His Excellency the General has such a good relationship with Marshal Moraes, and that he would have put you in this position before he left office. ”

Fang Lang's words were actually a bit arrogant, but he was really a little curious, so he couldn't help but blurt out.

Unexpectedly, when General Crook heard his words, he did not get angry, but smiled and said:

"Speaking of which, it's thanks to you kid! You won't forget your efforts to destroy the Eddie Brothers' rebels! This rebel army tossed the army to the ground, but you easily dealt with it.

You don't think this is the end of it, do you? As defense secretary, Marshal Moraes must strike a balance between the parties.

Compared with the disgrace of the army, the performance of our navy can be regarded as brilliant. In such a situation, no one can ignore the combat effectiveness of our Navy.

Otherwise, do you think that I, a person from the Navy, have a chance to become Deputy Minister of Defense?

It is precisely because of your military exploits that I dare to propose that you be the Minister of the Navy. Otherwise, the saliva inside the Navy could drown me. ”

Hearing this, Fang Lang suddenly realized, and said that the navy, which had been squeezed out by the army, how could it have a chance to win the post of vice minister of national defense!

You must know that in a democratic country like Brazil, the Minister of Defense is personally appointed by Mr. President, who may be a general with high prestige in the army, or a scholar who has been engaged in military theory research.

This position does not directly manage the military under his command, but rather formulates the country's national defense strategy and communicates the president's directives to the military.

If it is a general with high prestige in the army, then this defense minister can still be regarded as a powerful figure.

And if you are a scholar engaged in the study of military theory, then I am sorry, people in the military will not pay attention to you at all, and the real power is often in the hands of the deputy minister of defense and the chief of the general staff, who are military backgrounds.

As General Crook as Deputy Minister of Defense, it goes without saying that the Admiralty would definitely approve of his leadership. If he can take several important positions in several War Departments when he is in power, his tentacles can reach into the Army.

This is definitely a rare opportunity for General Crook.

No wonder the other party would be willing to give up his position as Minister of the Navy, thinking of this, Fang Lang had to think about his situation again.

Admiral Crook's meaning was very clear, he supported his appointment to the post of Minister of the Navy. Otherwise, he would not have made a special trip to his home to communicate in a private capacity.

"So, you've already decided, are you leaving the Admiralty?"

Fang Lang looked at General Crook seriously and confirmed to the other party again.

Looking at Fang Lang's serious expression, General Crook knew that now Fang Lang was seriously considering his proposal.

He also nodded with a serious expression and said:

"I have no reason to refuse such an offer, do I?"

Hearing this, Fang Lang took a deep breath, then lowered his head and took a sip of the tea on the tea table, thinking seriously.

Seeing this, General Crook did not rush, he knew that this was an important decision, and it was necessary to seriously consider the pros and cons.

After a long time, Fang Lang spoke again:

"Then I don't know what General Crook will be responsible for in the Ministry of Defense?"

General Crook was stunned for a moment when this question was asked, he didn't expect that Fang Lang was not thinking about whether he should take over the post of Minister of the Navy, but about what he was responsible for in the Ministry of Defense? I thought that the other party was worried about his future, and I couldn't help but feel a little moved in my heart.

A smile involuntarily appeared on his face, and he took a sip of tea from the teacup, and then said confidently:

"Don't worry! As the deputy minister of defense, I am definitely a real position of real power, and I can not only participate in the formulation of Brazil's national defense strategy, but also directly intervene in the management of the naval, land and air forces. ”

Hearing this, Fang Lang's heart moved, and he spoke again:

"You recommended me to be the Minister of the Navy, there should be a lot of resistance!"

Fang Lang's words made General Crook have some vague guesses, but he did not pause, but said directly:

"You're right, you're too young and you don't have any experience in government work, so there's really a lot of resistance for you to become the Minister of the Navy.

But since I nominated you to serve as a post, I am sure that I will push you up. ”

I have to say that General Crook really had nothing to say to Fang Lang, not only did he promote him exceptionally, but also made him the commander-in-chief of the only aircraft carrier battle group in Brazil in just two years.

Now he has to go to great lengths to send him to the position of Minister of the Navy, although Fang Lang and his partnership business have made their family a lot of profits, but Fang Lang believes that the other party values him so much, it will definitely not be for this reason.

He believed in his ability, but it was obviously not enough to support him so sparingly, just because of his military ability.

(End of chapter)