Starting from the middle of this month, the first batch of technologies and equipment from Germany have been installed and debugged one after another, including the mg34 general machine gun production line. In addition, the production lines of the bf109a fighter and Stuka dive bomber, which Xiang Xiaoqiang is very concerned about, have also begun assembly. Soon, the first prototype in Daming will be launched. Of course, a series of test flights and improvements will be needed afterwards, but after all, the two best combat aircraft of this era have already settled in Daming. Mass production and installation are just It's a matter of time.
In the three months after the armistice, the Ming Army's Army Aviation's combat aircraft increased by more than a thousand, and the original four aviation divisions expanded to eight. Correspondingly, there was an expansion of enrollment in colleges and universities.
...To be precise, it’s the aviation school’s expansion of enrollment.
The number of new students admitted to the Imperial Aviation School has tripled. At the same time, two new aviation schools are under intensive preparation and construction. According to the traditions of the world's militaries, the best batch of pilots in a country are not Instead of staying in the frontline troops, they stayed in the aviation school. But Ming Dynasty, like other countries in the period of rapid development of the air force, faced a problem, that is, the pilot base was too small.
500, 1,000, 5,000, or even 10,000 aircraft can be rolled off the assembly line in a month, but pilots cannot be "produced" at this speed. Therefore, the problem of more aircraft than pilots has arrived early.
Therefore, 1,000 German pilots have become a treasure that everyone covets. They have many flying hours, hard training, and superb skills. This was already stipulated when Ming Dynasty signed the contract with Germany, that is, Germany cannot use some rookies. Just to make up for it. Before these German officers came, they were all checked and selected by representatives of the Ming army and confirmed that they were "not rookies." But after Xiang Xiaoqiang watched their flight show, he immediately understood that not only were they not rookies, but they were also in their thirties. The best pilots you could find in the 1960s.
Obviously, either the head of state was too generous, or the Ming Dynasty's military expert team was too capable. In short, Xiang Xiaoqiang could imagine how angry Goering was.
The Army Department wants it, and so does Army Aviation. The Army Department wants these outstanding pilots to enter the aviation school as instructors. Because aviation schools belong to the training system and are under the control of the Army Department. The Army Aviation wants to recruit them because they want them to come. Forming the German Volunteer Flying Force directly forms combat effectiveness. Because in this way they belong to the combat force and can be directly commanded by the General Staff of the Army and the Army Aviation.
If in the past, when the cabinet had complete control over the army, this problem would not have been a problem. With the stroke of a pen from the Ministry of War, most of these 1,000 pilots would have entered the aviation school, while the army could only watch, and if they wanted to divide it, they would have to watch. The face of the Ministry of War. But it is different now. The army is directly under the control of the emperor and has become an organization on the same level as the cabinet government. This is ridiculous. And everyone knows Xiang Xiaoqiang's influence on Her Majesty the Queen, and The German officer corps also negotiated with Xiang Xiaoqiang. Therefore, Xiang Xiaoqiang's attitude is crucial.
Xiang Xiaoqiang had a headache because of this matter. Frankly speaking, he would rather let these outstanding pilots enter the aviation school to train more and better pilots for the Ming Dynasty. But the Ministry of War belongs to the cabinet, so it can be said that Shen Rong Xuan's side. However, Lu Hang is firmly on his side, and the Army is also more on his side.
Xiang Xiaoqiang called in several of his think tanks - Shi Shi Ge Ge, Xiu Xiu, Tummy Tong, Song Ruhai, Sun Jiye, and Wang Hexiang - and closed the door to discuss it. Xiang Xiaoqiang said bluntly that he hoped that these 1,000 pilots I entered aviation school. But now I am faced with such a problem, what should I do?
Although these people don't understand where the pilot is better, they all agree that this is a good opportunity to expand their influence to Xiang Xiaoqiang. If Xiang Xiaoqiang is smart, he should be a person in the middle who has a good balance between both ends. Of course, the Army The Ministry is the camp of the cabinet, and the Minister of War is also one of his own nominated by Shen Rongxuan. Even if Xiang Xiaoqiang gives all 1,000 pilots to them this time, there will be a limit to what they can do with him in the future. But Xiang Xiaoqiang can definitely take this opportunity, and greatly to win over top army officials.
…
"Li Guoliang is already one of ours," Shi Shigege said with twinkling eyes, "and the marshals of the General Staff did not show any displeasure. They have been acquiescing and even encouraging him to become one of ours. What does this mean? ?”
Xiu Xiu listened to Shi Shi Ge Ge's words and kept looking into Xiang Xiaoqiang's eyes, nodding her head. It was obvious that what Shi Shi Ge Ge said was exactly what she wanted to say.
Fourteen Gege continued:
"Li Guoliang is now our guest. If we can pass this matter and make Marshal Tang Yunsheng, Chief of the Army General Staff, and even Marshal Zhang Zhaoxian, Chief of General Staff of the General Headquarters, become our guests, that would be very... worthwhile. Already."
Xiu Xiu listened to Shi Shi Ge Ge's words again, then stared into Xiang Xiaoqiang's eyes and nodded vigorously. Xiang Xiaoqiang could see that Xiao Nizi's eyes were shining with the same desire for power as Shi Shi Ge Ge.
"What do you think?"
Xiang Xiaoqiang glanced at his close subordinates. They all nodded in agreement.
Xiang Xiaoqiang thought for a while, raised his head and said:
"In this case, I plan to arrange a banquet and invite the leading figures from the Army Department and the General Staff of the Army. In this situation, I can arrange it as I please. I will give them half for each person, and they will all be grateful to me."
He turned to Song Ruhai and said:
"Trouble Haigong and go to the Army Department to see who can be hired. The higher the rank, the better."
Song Ruhai nodded and smiled, indicating that he understood. Song Ruhai used to be the Ming Dynasty's army attaché stationed in Germany. He was affiliated with the Army Department rather than the General Staff of the Army. He was considered a member of the Army Department. It would be easier for him to speak in the Army Department if he stepped forward. Moreover, he is now in charge of the political work team. Foreign relations is his job.
Of course, Wang Hexiang used to be the deputy director of the General Administration of Military Industry and was also under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of War. But compared to former diplomats stationed in major European countries, the status of a former deputy director of the General Administration of Military Industry is a bit low. The gentlemen in the Ministry of War may not necessarily look down on him.
Xiang Xiaoqiang turned to the Fourteenth Gege and said:
"Please, Your Highness Princess, please visit the General Staff and the General Headquarters. The same is true. Please hire as many officials as you can. It would be best if you can invite Mr. Zhang Zhaoxian here."
Everyone laughed. Marshal Zhang Zhaoxian is the chief of staff of the Supreme Command, which is equivalent to the commander-in-chief of the three armed forces. The person with the highest status in the Ming army is also the person with the most actual military power. The nominal commander-in-chief of the army and navy is Zhu Yourong, but in reality He was the one who got the top. After the coup, the status of the army was equal to that of the cabinet, and his status was also vaguely equal to that of the chief and assistant ministers, becoming the two highest civil and military officials in the empire.
The Fourteenth Princess also smiled and nodded, indicating that he would accept it. Xiang Xiaoqiang understood that the Fourteenth Princess had the ability to invite Mr. Zhang here, as long as Mr. Zhang happened to be in a good enough mood.
During Xiang Xiaoqiang's mission to Europe, Shi Shi Ge Ge acted as the commander of the People's Guard and had frequent interactions with the army's leaders. The generals had a good impression of Shi Shi Ge Ge, unlike those civilian officials who were not as fond of the former Manchu Qing Ge Ge.
There is such a big prejudice. In addition, the Fourteenth Princess is a princess and has a noble status. Visiting any general in person is a matter of great honor to the other party.
"Sir," Xiu Xiu looked at Xiang Xiaoqiang and said with some concern, "Are you... going to make arrangements at home?"
"Of course, what's the matter? By the way, you will be in charge of this banquet. You must let them make it beautiful."
Xiuxiu hesitated and said softly:
"Sir, this...is not good at home."
"Yes," Shi Shigege tapped her pen on the table and agreed, "Xiuxiu is right, this kind of banquet is not suitable for holding at home. It is best to go outside."
"Why……"
Xiang Xiaoqiang reacted as soon as he asked. The person invited this time was too big, and Xiang Xiaoqiang appeared as a mediator. If he was mediating on Xiang Xiaoqiang's territory, it would be like Xiang Xiaoqiang bringing both parties together.
Call them together and condescendingly arrange the same for them. Xiang Xiaoqiang obviously doesn't have the qualifications now. But if it is in a restaurant outside, it will be different. It doesn't matter who's territory, it's just that everyone has a meal together and settles the matter.
Just talk.
"Well, no matter what, this is a good thing," Xiang Xiaoqiang said with a smile. "The fact that everyone is fighting for these one thousand pilots also shows that both the military and the government of the Ming Dynasty attach great importance to air power. If
In Beiqing, there are such a group of flying masters who want to join the aviation school as instructors. I’m afraid they won’t be able to get in without giving money to the aviation school officers.”
…
At noon the next day, Song Ruhai hurried back from the Army Department with an ugly face. He went directly into Xiang Xiaoqiang's office to ask for an audience, then closed the door and said:
"Sir, I just came back from the War Department. Guess what?"
After saying that, he sat down in a chair opposite Xiang Xiaoqiang, took out a cigarette and put it in his mouth, and said angrily:
"You can't even guess it."
Xiang Xiaoqiang was a little sweaty. When did this old man learn to have a stomachache? But he still picked up the lighter with a smile and handed it to the fire across the table. Only then did Song Ruhai come to his senses and called him "Unfortunate Sir".
But he still moved forward and lit a cigarette on Xiang Xiaoqiang's lighter.
He puffed out a puff of smoke and sighed:
"Sir, against all odds, we still let Mr. Shen Ge take the lead."
"how?"
When he mentioned Shen Rongxuan, Xiang Xiaoqiang suddenly had an ominous premonition.
Song Ruhai sneered:
"I saw the Secretary of War. His face was very ugly, as if he had just taken gunpowder. He sullenly said to me that they were already planning to voluntarily give up all 1,000 pilots to the Army Airlines.
No one is left, so we should be satisfied that they will not eat this meal."
"oh?!"
Xiang Xiaoqiang was very surprised. The Ministry of War actually took the initiative to give up these 1,000 pilots to the Army? They were fighting to the death before, so how could they just say no and just give up all of them now?
Song Ruhai looked at him and said:
"Sir, don't you understand yet? It's obvious that Mr. Shen Ge has intervened. It's obvious that he doesn't want you to end up in a good position with the Army's top brass. For this reason, he would rather let the Army give up these 1,000 flight instructors."
"ah!"
Xiang Xiaoqiang understood it immediately. Shen Rongxuan, Shen Rongxuan, he really made a great move! Which is more important, the result of getting together with the army's top brass, or the result of losing 1,000 flight instructors? Shen Rongxuan Of course you can tell the difference!
Don't say a thousand instructors, let alone 10,000 instructors. As long as it blocks his way to continue to seize power, Shen Rongxuan can give up even if he says so!
Xiang Xiaoqiang's face was ashen and he stared blankly at the table.
...Damn it, if this is the case, there is nothing I can do about it.