Su Shu was the last to step off the battleship Taishan.
He experienced nearly two years of unforgettable time on this warship.
The experience of the past two years has also allowed Su Shu to no longer limit his sights to the Great China Empire, but to have a global perspective.
Su Shu knew that at the end of the Ming Dynasty, the Kingdom of Spain fell into the crisis of the Thirty Years War.
Instead of transporting large amounts of silver from the Americas to China for business, they used large amounts of silver for military expenditure.
The Ming Dynasty did nothing wrong, which resulted in a sharp decrease in the import of silver and a sharp rise in rice and salt prices.
This made life even more difficult for the people at the bottom of the Ming Dynasty, which was already experiencing frequent disasters due to the Little Ice Age.
The Ming Dynasty Donglin Party and other dignitaries were unable to obtain more silver from overseas trade, so they would inevitably increase their exploitation of the lower class people.
The Ming Dynasty collapsed due to a series of problems caused by financial bankruptcy.
Su Shu saw the vastness of the world, especially the collapse of the Inca Empire in America and the fate of the local indigenous people in the United States and the Philippines.
He realized that this was a world where the jungle prevailed, and as long as the Great China Empire did not develop itself, it would lag behind other forces.
The wealth of the Great China Empire cannot be maintained at all, and the fate of the royal family and the people will be very miserable.
What a person does is closely related to his vision.
Su Shu has opened his eyes to see the world. He believes that after taking power, he will never make a foolish decision.
Whether the experience of the past two years has increased his upper limit of what he can do, he himself cannot yet feel it.
Su Shu can be sure that the experience of these two years has definitely raised the lower limit of what he can do.
The two years on the battleship Taishan were two years that Su Shu would benefit from throughout his life.
He watched the battleship Taishan enter the dock with a gaze salute.
This warship will undergo a comprehensive and detailed inspection, and the warship's steam engine will even be dismantled to conduct a detailed inspection of the structure of the steam engine.
The performance of the steam engine of the battleship Taishan determines how many warships of this type the navy will purchase.
The officers and men of the fleet disembarked from their respective warships and used the warships as a phalanx to form large and small phalanxes.
Admiral Zhan Tie stood in front of the phalanx, with a microphone placed in front of him and four loudspeakers beside him.
He said excitedly: "Brothers, it took us two years to complete the task assigned to us by His Majesty the Emperor.
This journey has been smooth and smooth, and no brother has been sacrificed because of the war.
This is not just my credit, this is the credit of everyone in the fleet.
His Majesty the Emperor knew of our achievements and sent a congratulatory message to the entire army to commend our fleet."
After Admiral Zhan Tie finished speaking, he raised the telegram in his hand and shouted excitedly: "Long live the emperor, long live the navy."
The officers and men of the fleet shouted at the same time: "Long live the emperor, long live the navy."
Admiral Zhan Tie announced the military commendation from Emperor Su He.
Chief of Staff Cao Zhengyuan walked to the microphone, coughed twice and said: "I will announce two things next."
As soon as he opened his mouth, all the excited soldiers fell silent and waited for the order they were most concerned about.
Chief of Staff Cao Zhengyuan said eloquently: "According to the navy's practice, you go to sea for one year and take three months off.
We have been at sea for two years this time, and His Majesty has granted permission for all the officers and men of the fleet to take a six-month leave.
Six months later, everyone will report to Wusong Military Port."
As soon as the news of the vacation came out, the originally quiet soldiers cheered with joy.
This is a six-month vacation. Excluding the time on the road, they can spend at least four or five months with their families.
This kind of leave is paid as usual every month. This is the military's favorite way to take leave.
Chief of Staff Cao Zhengyuan patted the microphone with his hand, and a banging sound came from the loudspeaker.
Everyone in the audience immediately fell silent.
He said with some reluctance: "The second thing is, there are 563 people in the fleet, and their service life has been reached.
In accordance with the regulations of the Metropolitan Governor's Office, these people were arranged to be discharged from the army.
We send these brothers home with warm applause.
All retired soldiers, come out of the phalanx and stand in front of me."
Five hundred and sixty-three soldiers who decided to retire walked out of their respective square formations.
This includes Su and Shu.
Su Shu joined the army just for experience. Now that the experience is over, those who join the army as a frontline soldier also have to go through the normal discharge process.
When he returns to the capital, if he gets the attention of his father, he will definitely take on more positions.
The Great China Empire implemented a strict policy of separation of civil and military affairs. Except for the emperor and the prince, no one could hold the positions of civil officials and military generals at the same time.
Su Shu must retire from the army in order to gain more.
However, his experience in joining the army was naturally welcomed by the generals, which provided him with assistance in his subsequent fight for the crown prince.
Sometimes if a certain force does not object, that is the greatest support.
In addition to uniting a core group of people in Su Shu, the most critical point is to win the neutrality of a large number of forces.
He was bound to retire from the army, and Su Shu had been prepared from the day he boarded the battleship Taishan.
But other people next to him, either actively or passively, chose to retire.
The Great China Empire adopted a conscription system, and all young men and women were obliged to join the army.
However, the Great China Empire had too many people and the number of troops it needed was limited.
Generally, you take the initiative to sign up to join the army.
Joining the army is the easiest way for ordinary people to become wealthy.
As long as he works hard and performs meritorious service on the battlefield, anyone has the opportunity to become an officer or even be named a noble.
But a soldier only has five years. If he has not become a junior officer within five years, he will be forcibly retired by the military and make way for younger people.
Most of the people who are retired from the army today are in this situation.
If you want to become a junior officer in the Navy, the most important thing is to master a skill.
Whether you can read charts or are a good gunner, as long as you have a certain skill, there is no problem in becoming an officer.
These people have wasted five years in the navy and have not mastered any skills. They will inevitably be eliminated by the navy.
The Great China Empire's arrangements for veterans are extremely meticulous and thoughtful.
This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading! After being discharged from the navy, most of them will join the coastal defense forces in various places, responsible for arresting pirates and combating smuggling.
A very small number of smart people will become grassroots officials and start a new life as low-level civil servants.
There are also some retired officers who actively applied for discharge.
Officers generally do not apply for military service on their own initiative, and the Metropolitan Government will not allow them to retire.
These people are not prepared to stay in the military for various reasons.
Most of them have already made their life choices and have better dreams than being a soldier.
Active application can only be made during non-war periods and when the situation is tense. If an officer does this, he will wait for the Military Justice Department to come to him and treat him as a deserter.
Chief of Staff Cao Zhengyuan walked up to these veterans. He personally received the veterans' nameplates, took off the veterans' armbands, patted their shoulders and said a few words of encouragement.
Su Shu handed over his nameplate, which was engraved with his name, place of origin and position. It was forged by a thousand-ton hydraulic press. This technology cannot be counterfeited at all.
This nameplate proves his military status, and handing over this nameplate represents his discharge from service.
The epaulettes on military uniforms indicate the branch of service and army to which one belongs, and also represent the status of a soldier.
If these two things are handed over, they will no longer be soldiers from now on.
Su Shu had some reluctance in his eyes. He had lived with these people for two years, and most of them would not be able to see each other in the future.
Some veterans with deep feelings suddenly burst into tears at this moment, feeling very reluctant to leave the army.
Admiral Zhan Tie walked up to the microphone amidst the cries and sounds of comfort.
He announced loudly: "The fleet is officially on holiday and everyone can leave the port in an orderly manner."
After this order was given, whispers immediately broke out on the scene, and everyone relaxed.
Taking the phalanx as a unit, the comrades said goodbye to each other and lined up to leave the military port.
Some people choose to take the train, and some choose to take the ship to return to their hometown.
Su Shu looked beside him. Several people he was familiar with, including staff officer Lu Yuanqi, had already left the military port.
He stood in the port, waiting for the people arranged by his father to take him back to Beijing.
After all, Su Shu is the eldest prince. He goes on the road alone. If something happens, everyone related to him will bear the responsibility.
He is not a reckless man and would not choose to go alone.
The bandits in the empire have been wiped out, and all the survivors of the Ming Dynasty have been suppressed.
But no one knows whether some gentry whose land was confiscated will choose to die with him out of hatred for the imperial family.
Chief of Staff Cao Zhengyuan took care of his own affairs and saw that Su Shu had not left yet.
He walked to Su Shu and comforted him: "Your Majesty, Your Majesty has sent a meritorious army of Qilin Guards to welcome Your Majesty back to the capital.
This was the last time when the fleet passed by Temasek, the fleet exchanged information with the Governor-General.
The fleet was eager to return to the country, perhaps at a slightly faster speed, which resulted in the Qilin Guards' soldiers not yet arriving at the port.
I need to sort out some information at the port and report to the Metropolitan Government.
His Highness has been staying at the port for the past few days, waiting for the arrival of the Qilin Guards.
Those soldiers who have retired have been looking forward to fighting abroad this time.
Regardless of meritorious service or injury, you will have the opportunity to stay in the military.
Especially if you join the Meritorious Army, you will have no worries for the rest of your life."
Su Shu immediately agreed to Chief of Staff Cao Zhengyuan's request to stay.
He now chooses to stay in the military port, which is the safest option.
If Su Shu himself does not risk his own life and goes out, there will be no risk to its safety.
In history, there are too many people who were about to succeed, but died at the hands of a small child because of negligence.
Su Shu asked in a soft voice: "Chief of Staff Cao has been honored as a marquis, and he still envies the meritorious army."
Chief of Staff Cao Zhengyuan said with emotion: "Your Majesty's preferential treatment for soldiers is unprecedented.
Before the Great China Empire, there had never been a court that distributed pensions so quickly and harshly.
If an official dares to embezzle pension funds, even if he is a high-ranking official, the court will deal with it.
The Metropolitan Governor's Office has established meritorious troops in various war zones.
They specifically accommodate soldiers who have made meritorious service on the battlefield but have suffered physical disabilities.
The imperial court will take care of these soldiers for their entire lives."
Su Shu knew more about the meritorious army.
The meritorious troops in each war zone serve as a powerful supervisory force, supervising the actions of local military and political officials.
The meritorious troops under the Qilin Guard are the most loyal force of the royal family, guarding the safety of the royal family of the Great China Empire.
The officers and soldiers of the Meritorious Army must be those who have made great contributions to the empire. They are all soldiers who love the empire.
These meritorious army officers and soldiers, because they were physically disabled and had no skills, could only rely on the royal family to support them.
Once something happens to the royal family, their luxurious life will inevitably become difficult.
For various reasons, the Meritorious Army is the army most loyal to the royal family.
Now the war has entered the age of firearms, and the battle is between machine guns and artillery.
Even if the meritorious soldiers are physically disabled, this does not affect their ability to operate firearms and artillery, and their combat effectiveness is basically intact.
Their legs and feet may not be flexible, but they are mainly responsible for defending the city and do not need to march long distances.
Su Shu waited in the military port for two days. He saw Chief of Staff Cao Zhengyuan walking up to him with a general.
The general was wearing casual clothes, but his temperament could not be concealed. The man had a resolute face and wore a black eyepatch over his right eye.
He walked up to Su Shu, saluted him with a military salute, and introduced himself: "Wang Tiedan, commander of the meritorious Qilin Guard Army of humble rank, is leading His Highness back to the capital on the orders of His Majesty the Emperor."
Su Shu guided Chief of Staff Cao Zhengyuan to bring Captain Wang Tiedan to him. He must have verified this person's identity.
But for safety reasons, Su Shu verified Wang Tiedan's identity again.
After confirming that his identity was correct, he followed Wang Tiedan out of the room.
When they came to the military camp, Su Shu saw the soldiers of the meritorious army dressed as bodyguards.
There were also several people among them, dressed as butlers and waiters.
Wang Tiedan introduced: "The news of His Highness's return has not spread yet.
This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading! The situation in the capital is not good now.
The Empress notified her subordinates and asked Her Highness to disguise her identity and return to the capital."
When Su Shu heard that this was his mother's arrangement, he immediately obeyed Captain Wang Tiedan's arrangement.
He has been away from the empire for two years, and he has no understanding of the changes that have taken place in the empire within two years.
The queen mother must have made such an arrangement for his safety.
Su Shu asked worriedly: "Captain Wang, since you want to disguise your identity, why don't you change a group of people.
You guys, the performance on your body is too obvious, and you can't show this kind of momentum even if there are no lives on your hands."
When Captain Wang Tiedan heard this, he laughed and explained: "Your Highness, don't worry, it is very common in China now for escort agencies to be composed of veterans.
In the past, escort agencies were mainly responsible for transporting goods.
Now that there are railways, generally Xiao Xiao cannot rob railway supplies.
The business of this kind of escort agency responsible for freight transportation is gradually declining.
But as the number of wealthy merchants in the empire increased.
There has been an increase in the number of kidnapping cases by some criminals targeting businessmen.
The business of the escort agency that protects people is gradually improving.
Among them, many disabled veterans join the escort agency.
This is because veterans have good marksmanship and can gain the trust of employers.
Our current combination is a very popular combination in the empire.
If you don't make this arrangement, you will appear to be unique."
Su Shu nodded, dressed up a little, and followed Captain Wang Tiedan to move.
All he had to do was pretend to be a noble prince, book a carriage, and take the train to the capital.
When Su Shu saw the train starting, he curiously asked: "Captain Wang, why can we return to the capital smoothly by pretending to be merchants?
Didn’t Captain Wang say that I am being targeted by some forces?"
Captain Wang Tiedan scratched his head and said: "All this is the arrangement of Queen Wang. I am a rough man and act according to the arrangement of Queen Wang.
I don’t know much about the specific situation.”
Su Shu knew that these people were very strict in their speech. They just worked quietly and never talked nonsense.
If he wanted to know the specific reason, he could only return to the capital and ask his mother.