In January of 1945, the weather in Italy was very cold. Fang Lang and the soldiers stood outside the tent, shivering with cold, but Fang Lang did not order the team to disband. Instead, they started the first self-introduction outside the barracks, because Fang Lang knew that he was too young, almost everyone in the team was older than him, and there were two second lieutenants in the rank, so Fang Lang had to establish his stern image in the first meeting.
This is what the patriarch said about the three things a new official has to do upon taking office. Fang Lang knew very well that authority was very important in the military, and you had to make sure everyone knew who had the final say.
Fang Lang saluted and the team saluted in unison. After the salute, Fang Lang began his first speech: "At ease, brothers! I am the captain of this newly formed transport ship. My name is Fang Lang. Thank you for welcoming me in the cold wind. We will fight on the same ship in the future. I hope to get to know you first. Next, starting with the vanguard on my right, introduce yourselves one by one. I need to know your name, years of service, service experience and position on the ship! Do you understand?"
"Understood!" The team shouted in unison. It was obvious that the Americans' training of the free-spirited Brazilians was effective. Although the team's standing posture, military appearance and discipline could not be compared with the army in Fang Lang's mind, it was much stricter than the army in Brazil.
"Let's get started!" After hearing everyone's answers, Fang Lang ordered to start right away.
"Report, my name is Fyodor de la Torre. I have been in the Navy for eight years. Before I was transferred, I was the first mate of the destroyer Marcillo Diaz. Now I am your first mate." The first person introduced made Fang Lang stunned. How could a destroyer's first mate be sent to such a transport ship as the first mate? This is equivalent to being exiled to the frontier!
"Report, my name is Norbertru Findis, I have been in service for two years, from the logistics department, and now I am your second mate." This person is obviously a relative, inserted by the logistics department. A logistics person comes here to be the second mate, isn't this bullshit? Fang Lang didn't even think about how he is a bigger relative in the minds of these crew members! At a young age, a sergeant in the army who is less than 20 years old, he suddenly became the captain of a naval transport ship. The Americans also specified that he must be the captain. If this is not a relative, then what is a relative?
Of course, the backer of this relative of his is the Americans, and now the Americans are the fathers of the Brazilians, so no one dares to have any objections.
"Report, my name is Amar Reina. I have been in service for two years. Before joining the army, I was the chief engineer of a transport ship. Now I am your chief engineer." Finally, a normal crew member came.
...
...
"Report, my name is Cruzere Duarte. I have served for three years. I was formerly the squad leader of the 11th Infantry Regiment of the Army, and now I am your guard squad leader." There was another colleague here, but the guard squad leader he mentioned was not Fang Lang's guard. Although he was also responsible for part of Fang Lang's guard work, this squad was mainly responsible for using defensive weapons such as anti-aircraft machine guns and anti-submarine guns on the ship to protect the ship from being sunk by German planes or submarines.
The remaining personnel were basically sailors and soldiers. It was not unexpected for Fang Lang that most of these crew members were personnel drawn from various naval ships, and some even only had experience working on inland ships. However, Fang Lang was still very surprised to have a first mate who had worked on a destroyer.
Although Fang Lang knew that this person might have been sent here, or that the Brazilian Navy was worried that Fang Lang would not be able to handle the transport ship, so they arranged a backup, but Fang Lang did not care at all. Given Fang Lang's current relationship with the US military, the Brazilian Navy did not dare to move Fang Lang's position. So if Fang Lang arranged such a person, as long as he could use him well, Fang Lang would be very relaxed.
Finally, everyone finished introducing themselves, and Fang Lang began to summarize: "Very good. Although everyone comes from different branches of the military, different departments, and has different experiences, I hope everyone can seize the time, get familiar with each other, and form combat effectiveness as soon as possible. The superiors only gave us a week to adapt to the new jobs. This afternoon I will confirm the situation of our ship with the US military. Tomorrow morning we will officially receive the ship and start our crew career. I hope that since everyone is on the same ship, we must unite as one, overcome difficulties, cross the German blockade together, and complete the task assigned to us by the superiors. Do you have confidence!"
"have!"
"The voice is too soft, I can't hear it clearly!" Fang Lang stared at the soldiers coldly. Although he could hear their replies, he obviously did not hear their confidence in the responses.
"Yes!" The voices finally became a little more uniform and a little louder.
"Are you women? The voices of so many people are not as loud as mine alone! Answer me loudly, do you have confidence?" What Fang Lang needed was the soldiers' shouts with all their might.
Finally, the soldiers tried their best, the veins on their necks bulged, and their faces flushed and necks thickened as they shouted loudly: "Yes! Yes! Yes!"
"Very good! Remember this feeling. No matter you are speaking or doing things, you must try your best. My hearing is not very good, so when you answer my questions in the future, please keep the same condition as today." Fang Lang certainly has good hearing. After the fusion of the memories of two lives, his memory, physical fitness and spirit have doubled compared to before. In particular, his body has become much stronger than before. The muscles on his body bulge out, and the increased strength makes Fang Lang feel that he can easily knock down ten enemies.
"Stand at attention! Everyone, except the first mate, go back to the camp to rest. Disband." After hearing Fang Lang's announcement, the soldiers who were shivering in the cold wind dispersed. This made Fang Lang very dissatisfied, but he didn't say anything else, after all, this was the Brazilian army.
"Hello, Mr. De La Torre. It's a pleasure to work with you." Fang Lang extended a hand of friendship to his first mate. The first mate was a blond, blue-eyed, bearded white man, not very tall. Judging from his age, Fang Lang thought he was at least 38 or 39 years old, in the prime of his life.
The first mate also extended his hand to shake hands with Fang Lang, and said solemnly: "Hello, Captain. It is an honor to serve as the first mate on your ship."
Fang Lang said straight to the point, "Mr. First Mate, please forgive me for being so presumptuous. I am very curious about why you agreed to serve as the first mate on my transport ship with your resume."
Maybe most foreigners are more direct, or maybe De La Torre himself had expected to be asked this question. So he said awkwardly, "Captain, my family is not well off and I send all my monthly income back home, so I don't have money to give as gifts."
The first mate's answer made Fang Lang stunned. He didn't react. If he didn't have money, he would be transferred from the destroyer to the transport ship? What kind of bullshit reason was this? Even if he was lying, he should have found a more reliable reason! However, looking at the serious expression on the first mate's face, Fang Lang felt that he should not have lied to him.
It took him a long time to realize that he was in Brazil! At this time, corruption was rampant in Brazil, and the government was authoritarian. If the junior officers did not give their superiors enough benefits, there was basically no hope of promotion. Phenomena like De La Torre should be very common.
"I understand, Mr. First Mate. First of all, I want to tell you that I don't care about other places, but on my ship, I will not allow you to accept benefits from the crew members below, and you don't have to give me benefits. In addition to the fixed military salary, I will give you a certain amount of cash rewards based on your work performance. My requirements are very simple. I hope that everyone can devote all their energy to work and to improving their work ability. If you are capable enough, I will give you enough power and enough income to support your family. Do you understand what I mean?" Fang Lang said to the First Mate seriously, thinking in his heart that maybe he had found a direction to cultivate his own power.
"Captain, are you serious?" De La Torre stared at Fang Lang with a look of shock and expectation.
"Of course, don't worry! Generating income is my job, and what you have to do is to help me manage the crew and train them to improve the tacit understanding among them. I hope I can have a combat-capable ship. If you can satisfy me, you will get an additional allowance of no less than one hundred US dollars from me every month." Fang Lang patted the first mate's arm affirmatively and promised seriously!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
