After meeting up with the destroyer that came to support it in the Atlantic Ocean, the aircraft carrier formation finally arrived at the Natal Naval Base in Brazil on June 10, 1946 after half a month of sailing.
To welcome the commissioning of Brazil's first aircraft carrier, the Brazilian Navy organized a grand welcome ceremony.
Almost all the senior officials of the Admiralty came to Natal to watch the ceremony.
The most important figure was the Brazilian President Dutra.
The commissioning ceremony of the aircraft carrier was presided over by Defense Minister General Moraes, who named the aircraft carrier "Rio de Janeiro".
Naming the aircraft carrier after the capital shows that Brazil has great expectations for it.
At the same time, the First Fleet was directly renamed "Rio de Janeiro Aircraft Carrier Battle Group".
At the ceremony, President Dutra personally awarded Fang Lang the rank of Rear Admiral.
Defense Minister General Moraes appointed Fang Lang as the commander-in-chief of the "Rio de Janeiro Aircraft Carrier Battle Group" on the spot.
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The ceremony reached its climax at this moment.
The 22-year-old rear admiral broke the world record.
At this time, even if there were people in the Brazilian army who held opposing opinions, they did not dare to raise objections in public.
After all, this powerful naval fleet was born in the hands of this young man who was only 22 years old.
Fang Lang had never expected that he would be directly promoted to rear admiral at this important moment.
This moment is destined to be the highlight of Fang Lang's life and has milestone significance.
Afterwards, Fang Lang learned that his military rank had actually been determined before he returned.
After completing the statistics of the results of the European war, the Brazilian government held a grand awarding ceremony directly at the Ministry of National Defense.
Defense Minister Moraes was awarded the rank of Marshal, and all other officers who had participated in the European war were promoted according to their military achievements.
There were five people who were awarded the rank of major general, including one in the navy, three in the army, and one in the air force. The one in the navy was naturally Fang Lang.
The major general of the Air Force is Air Force Minister Nero Mora, which also means that Fang Lang’s military rank is equivalent to that of the Air Force Minister.
In fact, the number of aircraft that Fang Lang can now command has reached 150, which is about half of the entire Brazilian Air Force.
Unlike the Brazilian Air Force which only has fighter jets, Fang Lang's battle group has reconnaissance aircraft, fighter jets, bombers, torpedo attack aircraft, transport aircraft, etc., a complete combat system.
This made Air Force Major General Nero Mora, who came to watch the ceremony, drool with envy.
He had already started thinking about how to get closer to Fang Lang, because he had heard that Fangyuan Group had established an aircraft modification factory in Sao Paulo.
Among them, there are a large number of aircraft designers from Germany. It is obvious that this aircraft modification factory has great ambitions, and it is only a matter of time before it starts producing aircraft.
In the future, the Air Force can also directly entrust this company to design and produce new aircraft for itself!
General Crook was officially appointed Secretary of the Navy and was awarded the rank of Lieutenant General.
This appointment did not come as a surprise to Fang Lang.
After the ceremony, Fang Lang led a group of senior officials from the Ministry of National Defense to board the aircraft carrier for a visit.
That night, a grand party was held on the deck of the aircraft carrier, which was cleared of aircraft.
As the highest commander of the Natal Naval Base, the newly appointed commander-in-chief of the "Rio de Janeiro Aircraft Carrier Battle Group", the captain of the aircraft carrier, and the rear admiral.
Fang Lang was the undisputed protagonist of the night. For a moment, people kept coming forward with their glasses to clink with Fang Lang and congratulate him.
Fang Lang also politely thanked everyone one by one. Fortunately, he was very restrained and only took a sip every time he clinked glasses, otherwise he would definitely get drunk.
If this is true, his image in everyone's mind will be greatly affected.
The party lasted until 10 pm. After Fang Lang sent everyone off the aircraft carrier, a young man in a suit and tie came up to Fang Lang and whispered:
"General, the President wishes to speak to you alone."
Fang Lang felt a little strange about this sudden invitation.
As President Dutra's position became more and more stable, he had less and less control over the military's work. He did not expect that he would suddenly invite him today.
Fang Lang looked up at the sky and asked in confusion:
"Now?"
The other party nodded and pointed to a car by the dock and said:
"General, this way please!"
Fang Lang could only nod and follow the other person's footsteps.
Fang Lang was not sure where the president would live after arriving in Natal. After all, it was not arranged by him, and he had just returned to Brazil today.
The vehicle stopped and started along the way and arrived at an estate on the outskirts of Natal.
Fang Lang was originally wondering why the president had a manor to live in Natal, but when he arrived at the gate of the manor, he found that the mayor of Natal, Ewald Dursley, was waiting at the door.
I suddenly understood that this must be the home of Mayor Ewald Dursley.
After getting off the car, Mayor Ewald Dursley stepped forward to shake hands with Fang Lang and led him into the room.
"General, please come this way. The President is waiting for you."
Fang Lang didn't bother to be polite with him. The two of them had been dealing with each other for a long time.
I shook his hand and nodded.
"Thank you for your hard work, Mr. Mayor."
After a few pleasantries, Fang Lang was directed to a not very large living room, which was decorated in a Brazilian style. On the wall behind the sofa, there was an Indian feather crown that looked very eye-catching.
President Dutra had already stood up and walked towards the door when he heard the noise.
Fang Lang stood at the door, saluted and said:
"Good evening, Mr. President!"
President Dutra took the initiative to extend his right hand to Fang Lang, and Fang Lang quickly extended his right hand and held him tightly together.
Then the president hugged Fang Lang and said:
"Good evening, Major General Fang."
After the two hugged each other, President Dutra pointed to the sofa and motioned for them to sit down and chat.
Fang Lang didn't hesitate and found a sofa to sit down.
A servant brought two cups of steaming coffee and placed them in front of the two men.
Mayor Ewald Dursley said after the servants left:
"Mr. President, please talk to the General slowly. I'm outside. Please call me anytime if you need me."
Fang Lang nodded at him, and after he closed the door, he turned around and looked at President Dutra.
President Dutra said with a smile on his face:
“Fang, I was surprised when I arrived in Natal this time.
The changes are really huge.
This is completely different from what I saw when I came here during the war. The streets are paved with cement and look very clean.
Even the slums have been demolished and there are no homeless people on the streets. This is really unexpected.
I heard from Mayor Ewald Dursley that this was all your doing.
This was a plan made during the military rule, right?"
Fang Lang was stunned. He didn't expect that Ewald Dursley would actually give him the credit.
This was beyond Fang Lang's expectations.
However, Fang Lang's character is more used to being modest, so he smiled and said:
“I just provided some suggestions. The specific operations were all handled by Mayor Ewald Dursley and the government staff.
I dare not take credit for it.
You know, after the war I was traveling around Europe and America and spent very little time in Brazil.
There is no time for town planning in Natal.”
After hearing what Fang Lang said, President Dutra smiled and said:
“Okay! I understand, this is the result of your joint efforts.
I didn't expect that you not only have superb military command skills,
It's amazing that they also have such advanced ideas in building the local economy.
I wonder if you are interested in working on my staff!"
Fang Lang's hand that was reaching for the coffee cup stopped in mid-air, and he looked at President Dutra in disbelief.
Seeing Fang Lang's expression, President Dutra laughed out loud.
“Haha… General Fang, this is just a suggestion, not a mandatory requirement, so don’t be nervous.
I know you have just been promoted to general and you would not be willing to come and serve as my staff.
However, I appreciate your advanced ideas on economic development. I hope you will not confine your ideas to the military field.
Can you provide more suggestions for Brazil's economic development? "
After hearing what President Dutra said, Fang Lang breathed a sigh of relief:
"Mr. President, thank you for your praise. If you don't mind my crude ideas, I will tell you everything I know."
The person on the other side is the President of Brazil, so anything he says cannot be aimless.
It's just a proposal, but maybe this is actually an idea.
But maybe he saw what I was thinking, so I just laughed it off.
But Fang Lang knew very well the national conditions of Brazil and would never follow the example of President Dutra and leave the army to enter politics.
Even if he becomes the president of Brazil, what good will that bring?
President Dutra was relatively good and completed his four-year term smoothly.
His predecessor, President Vargas, was overthrown in a coup and almost died.
In the next presidential election, Vargas will continue to run and be successfully elected, but what is the result?
In less than two years, he was forced to commit suicide by shooting himself.
More people were prosecuted for corruption and bribery, imprisoned and disgraced after leaving office.
Given Brazil's national conditions, there are no officials who are not corrupt.
Everyone is corrupt, but you, Mr. President, are aloof. Who would be willing to be your confidant?
I'm afraid everyone is worried about whether they will be sent to jail by you!
Is a president who doesn’t even have confidants still a president?
If you choose to blend in with the crowd, then be prepared to be sent to jail by your political enemies.
From any perspective, the Brazilian president is a triple evil.
Whoever wants to sit can sit, Fang Lang is not interested anyway.
How great it is to be a warlord with military power. No matter who is the president, they can only win you over and dare not say anything about you.
Although the president is nominally the commander-in-chief of the military, it is just a title.
The real military power has always been in the hands of the powerful people below, and Fang Lang is now considered a real powerful person.
Especially after his military rank was officially promoted to major general, he was also considered a decision-maker in the Brazilian military.
You can express your opinions on many issues.
Considering the powerful strength he has, everyone cannot help but seriously consider his ideas.
"Okay, General Fang, if you have any ideas or suggestions, you must tell me.
A few days ago in Congress, representatives of the National Alliance submitted a policy bill to relax the legal status of Chinese immigrants in Brazil.
After a vote in the Legislative Council, it was passed with 65% of the votes in favor.
I also voted in favor of this bill.
After all, I saw a lot of excellent qualities of the Chinese people from General Fang.
You are courageous, hardworking, studious, pragmatic and law-abiding, which is exactly what we need in Brazil."
President Dutra looked at Fang Lang with a sincere attitude and serious expression.
After hearing what the other party said, Fang Lang instantly understood why the President summoned him late at night today.
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