After the small talk, Graham finally brought the topic to business. After all, Fang Lang would soon be a major in the expeditionary army. Colonel-level officers in Brazil were different from lieutenants. They could not be promoted by giving gifts or money. They had to have real merits. Therefore, many lieutenants in Brazil remained lieutenants until they retired.
Of course, this doesn't mean that there is no chance at all. It depends on whether you can give it to the right person! If you give it to the president, the commander-in-chief of the army, navy, and air force, or the chief of the general staff, you will definitely have a chance. But many lieutenants will never have the chance to meet these superiors in their lifetime, let alone give gifts. Others don't know you, so if you go to give gifts directly, you are lucky if you are not directly sent to a military court.
"I came to you this time to discuss something with you. You will be a major soon, and your position will definitely be promoted. We want you to serve as the captain of a destroyer, but the Brazilian Navy's own warships are all old models and have basically no combat effectiveness, so I want to hear your ideas."
When he heard that he was asked to be the captain of a destroyer, he thought that he would have to fight the Germans and would have no time to make money! This was not acceptable.
"But, I have no problem sailing a boat, but piloting a warship is not just about sailing a boat."
Lieutenant Colonel Graham didn't know what Fang Lang was thinking and thought that Fang Lang was just worried that he was not capable enough for the position.
"Don't worry about that. We won't let you drive the warship alone. We will definitely provide you with enough professional personnel!"
However, Fang Lang was obviously not interested in this kind of combat position which wasted his time in making money. If he really wanted to change his position, Fang Lang would rather have the lucrative position in the logistics department.
"Well, I have never participated in a naval battle, so I may not be suitable for this position! I wonder if there are other positions in your logistics department that are more suitable for me. I can work in the logistics department."
...
...
Graham heard Fang Lang's obvious evasion and decisively rejected Fang Lang's idea of coming to the logistics department. You're kidding me. As the first officer of the logistics department, I only have the rank of lieutenant colonel. You, a major, come here and become my deputy. And you have the support of the Americans behind you. What kind of boss am I?
"There is no vacancy in the logistics department right now. The headquarters wants you to be the captain of the naval destroyer. Because we are friends and you helped me solve the problem of transporting the spoils, I wanted to communicate with you in advance to see what you think!"
Fang Lang finally heard something different in Lieutenant Colonel Graham's words. Since the headquarters had already decided to let him be the captain of the destroyer, what else was there to communicate? He was a soldier, could he just refuse to execute orders? This was just asking for his life.
"But what communication is there? If the headquarters wants to transfer me to be the captain of a destroyer, I can only follow orders!"
Hearing the broken jar in Fang Lang's tone, Graham wondered if his communication style was a bit too tough. After all, behind the man in front of him stood Brazil's current father, the American.
It only means that Lieutenant Colonel Graham has become accustomed to the way of doing things where he is in control. He may not have the confidence when dealing with outsiders, but when dealing with the situation within the Brazilian Army, Graham has always been a relatively strong officer. After all, his backer is the Commander-in-Chief of the Brazilian Expeditionary Force, Brazilian Marshal Major General Moraes!
But his attitude towards Fang Lang was actually different from the beginning, because he felt that Fang Lang had an American father behind him, and he was not someone he could easily offend. This made Fang Lang make a wrong judgment from the beginning, and he thought that Lieutenant Colonel Graham was an easy-to-talk-to officer, and was even willing to make friends with him.
Since General Moraes also felt that there was an American behind Fang Lang and wanted to use Fang Lang's relationship to promote his idea of increasing the strength of the Brazilian Navy, Graham obviously could not offend this Asian guy with a strong background.
"Uh! Maybe I didn't make it clear enough! The point now is that our Brazilian Navy's equipment are all warships from the First World War. They have poor combat effectiveness and can barely defend near the coast of Brazil, let alone engage in a naval battle with the Germans. And there is no vacancy for the captain, so this time we want the US military to support us with a new destroyer!"
Fang Lang felt that he had grasped some of Lieutenant Colonel Graham's thoughts from his words, but he was not quite sure, so he could only express his inability again, hoping to further understand the thoughts in the mind of this seemingly harmless logistics chief.
"That's not good! As a novice, you want me to be the captain of this new warship. Wouldn't that be unfair to the veteran captains of our navy?"
Graham answered all of Fang Lang's questions one by one. In short, he had one purpose, which was to make Fang Lang agree to become the captain of the destroyer.
"Whether it is fair or not is not your concern. As for the issue of novices, our Brazilian navy has never come into contact with new destroyers, so the Americans will definitely arrange personnel to train us."
Fang Lang was still not very clear about the idea of the expeditionary force. However, since he wanted to keep his identity as a Brazilian soldier, he had no way of refusing the reasonable transfer order from his superiors.
"Oh! All right then! I'll obey your orders!"
Hearing Fang Lang's direct acceptance of the appointment, Lieutenant Colonel Graham was a little unresponsive for a moment. Wasn't it the man in front of him who had just been trying to shirk his responsibility? But since he agreed to accept the appointment, the rest would be easy!
"Uh! Now there's a problem!"
Fang Lang knew that the question in his heart would be answered soon! He wondered casually:
"What's the problem?"
Graham was a little embarrassed. After all, it took him so long to get Fang Lang to agree to be the captain of the new destroyer. Now he had to tell him that he had to figure out how to handle the warship himself.
"The Americans are waiting to see if they can provide us with a new destroyer. As far as I know, you have a good relationship with Commodore Jackson of the US Navy. I wonder if you can find a way to get your own warship."
Fang Lang was not happy when he heard what Lieutenant Colonel Graham said. What does this mean? It was you who asked me to be the captain, and it was you who talked about the new destroyer so much. Now you tell me that the Americans have not agreed yet and I have to go to the Americans to ask for the warship myself. Are you kidding me? Is this my warship or the Brazilian Navy's warship?
Of course, Fang Lang couldn't refuse directly, so he could only express it in a tactful way.
"Ah! This is not good! My relationship with Brigadier General Jackson is not that good."
Graham obviously didn't believe Fang Lang's nonsense, and directly said:
"How do you know if it works if you don't try? After all, this is your own warship!"
Fang Lang would not be fooled and shook his head repeatedly.
"I can continue to be the captain of the Gilas, responsible for transportation while waiting for the results of your communication with the United States!"
Seeing that Fang Lang was not willing to listen, Graham became annoyed and began to speak in a threatening tone.
"Fang, if we were to negotiate entirely, you, an inexperienced captain, would have no chance of becoming captain."
But Fang Lang had never intended to be the captain of the new destroyer, so what Graham said to Fang Lang was completely wrong.
"That's perfect. I really don't have the ability to be the captain of a destroyer! I think it's fine for me to continue to be a transport captain."
Seeing that Fang Lang did not accept the challenge, Lieutenant Colonel Graham could only block Fang Lang's retreat.
"The Navy will not allow a lieutenant commander to serve as the captain of a transport ship. Besides, I heard that the captain of the Gilas has already been selected!"
Finally, Fang Lang felt a strong sense of malice from Graham, which made Fang Lang feel unhappy and his tone became stiff.
"What! If the United States cannot provide us with destroyers, then where will I be assigned?"
Graham obviously didn't feel Fang Lang's emotional change and was still painting a bigger picture for Fang Lang.
"It's hard to say. I heard that they hope you can use your connections to get a new destroyer for you and the Brazilian Navy. Fang, as a friend, I think you should believe in your influence. If you can get the new destroyer that the Brazilian Navy needs from the Americans, believe me, your position in the navy will be unshakable."
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