"I finally came home. It feels so good to be back."
Captain Leifer, no, Major, set foot on Italian soil. He took a deep breath of the sea-smelling air and sighed with satisfaction.
"Paul, I think you were very well-off in the Qing Dynasty. Why do you still have such an expression when you return to China?"
Major Gomes also took a deep breath and couldn't help but joke about Leifer.
Faced with the joke of his colleague Major Gomes, Leifer showed a helpless smile. The reason has to start with himself. Because of his performance in the Sino-French War, Li Zhongtang particularly appreciated him and wanted to invite him for this reason.
He became a member of the Beiyang Fleet's advisors, but he declined.
Although he was rejected, Li Zhongtang was not angry because of it. He still took good care of Leifer and other Italian navy officers and soldiers. In addition, he also arranged for someone to take care of their daily life. I don’t know why he was arranged to take care of Gome.
St's is a man, while Leifer's is a woman, a young woman.
Well, this kind of differential treatment is a bit embarrassing, and Leifer was laughed at by Gomes several times for this.
Now that he was used to it, he turned to Gomes and asked, "What do you think will happen when the general summons us this time?"
Faced with Leifer's inquiry, Gomes put away his smile. "I don't know about this, but I believe it will not be a bad thing."
Gomes' words made Leifer angry. Isn't this nonsense? They had been in the Far East for more than a year and experienced so much suffering. So they were meritorious people. How could they be reprimanded just after returning home?
Seeing Leifer's face, Gomes knew that what he said was wrong. "Well, actually I don't know anything. I need to see the general to find out."
As soon as he finished speaking, Gomes pointed to a carriage outside the dock and said, "Look, the carriage to pick us up has arrived."
As soon as he finished speaking, Gomes hurried over with his luggage.
Leifer shook his head helplessly and rushed over with his luggage.
"Hello, majors. I'm in charge of receiving Second Lieutenant Pirie."
The person from the Admiralty who greeted them introduced himself.
"Hello, Lieutenant Pirie."
"Hello."
After a brief greeting, the two of them put away their luggage with the help of Lieutenant Pirie. They boarded the carriage and left Antium Port.
"Both of you were summoned and arranged to attend at ten o'clock tomorrow morning."
Lieutenant Pirie, who was sitting on the carriage, introduced the time of the interview to Leifer and Gomes.
As for the time of the interview, neither of them had anything to say. After all, Admiral Golek had a lot of things to do, so it would be very quick to meet them tomorrow morning. For many officers at the rank of colonel or major general, it is normal for them to wait for two or three days.
After all, they are not King Carlo, so they can see the Admiralty whenever they want.
Seeing that the two majors were silent, Lieutenant Pirie continued to ask. "The place where you two live has been prepared. Do you want to go and have a rest first, or what?"
"Let's go to the resting place first."
Gomes speaks his mind.
"Then let's go to the resting place first."
Since his colleague wanted to take a rest first, it was not easy for Leifer to refute, and he also said to take a rest first.
After receiving the reply, Lieutenant Pirie gave instructions to the carriage in front of him: "Let's go to the Polka Hotel."
"OK."
After the coachman replied, he raised his whip to speed up the carriage.
After a two-hour journey, the carriage finally arrived at the Polka Hotel.
"This is the main reception place for our Admiralty. Generally, visitors to the Admiralty will be arranged here. The hotel is not far from the Admiralty, and it is not far from the Roman Madame Club."
Faced with Pili's hint, the two majors failed to understand its meaning, which made him roll his eyes inwardly.
In addition, he didn't say anything, this hotel is usually provided for colonels and above officers, you are lucky enough to be able to live here.
After that, the second lieutenant took the two people to the front desk, opened two rooms, and handed them the keys.
"Goodbye you two, I have other things to be busy with."
"goodbye."
After Lieutenant Pirie left, Gomes said, "I don't like Lieutenant Pirie."
Facing Gomez, Leifer agreed. "I don't like him either."
"We still have half a day, where do you plan to go?"
Facing Gomez's question, Leifer thought for a while and then said, "I plan to visit some friends, what about you?"
"I want to walk around."
"Then I wish you a good time."
Then the two of them set off towards their destinations.
Although the two of them were busy with their own affairs, they both remembered that they were still waiting for the admiral to receive them tomorrow, so they returned to the hotel around ten o'clock.
Early the next morning, both of them got up early. Although the admiral would not receive them until ten o'clock, there was no harm in getting up early. They arranged their clothes, wiped their leather shoes, and cleaned themselves. They were busy with various things for more than a day.
Hour.
When it was half past eight, the two of them were finished. When they walked out of the door, their handsome and upright military temperament made them eye-catching even in the hotel. The main reason was that they were too young, only in their twenties, and wore school uniforms.
Military uniform, why is it so inconspicuous?
This time there was no carriage to pick them up, so they chose to walk to the Admiralty.
Waiting for more than an hour was nothing to the two of them, so when the admiral's secretary called them, they answered immediately.
"You two, the admiral is waiting for you inside."
As the secretary opened the door, Leifer and Gomes appeared in front of Admiral Gorek.
"Wait for me and let me sign this document."
Admiral Gorek, who did not even raise his head, continued to process the documents in his hand after giving instructions.
Facing the admiral's words, the two of them immediately stood quietly in front of him, with no one wanting to say a word.
After a few minutes, the document was finally processed. Admiral Gorek looked up and saw the two people still standing, and immediately pointed to the stool behind them with a smile and said.
"You guys sit down first."
After receiving the order, the two people sat down and looked like they were listening.
"Do you know why I summoned you?"
Facing Admiral Gorek's inquiry, the two of them shook their heads in unison.
Seeing the actions of the two men, His Excellency the Lord Admiralty smiled slightly.
"Since you don't know, then I'll tell you."
"Major Gomes."
"arrive."
Gomes, who was named, immediately stood up with a snap like a spring.
"Congratulations on being appointed as the captain of the Venetian outfitter. I hope you will continue your efforts and achieve even more outstanding results."
Hearing Admiral Gorek's words, Gomes looked happy. For this trip to the Navy Department, he and Leifer had considered that they might need to be assigned positions, and the two people with actual combat experience in uniformed patrols finally decided
The only hope is to become the captain of the new Venetian cruise ship.
However, considering that currently only one Venetian Improved class ship has been launched in Italy (the other one is Argentina’s May 12th), then this position will definitely require some competition.
Gomez did not expect that this position would eventually belong to him. Thinking of this, he couldn't help but glance at Leifer beside him from the corner of his eyes, and he felt much relieved in his heart.
Although the two were friends, Gomes had to admit that Leifer performed better in the Far East. He thought that this position would most likely be taken away by Leifer, but he didn't expect that it would be him in the end.
"Admiral, please rest assured, I will definitely lead the Venice to create even more outstanding results."
Facing Gomez's statement, Admiral Gorek said with a smile, "Very good, that's what I like about you."
Seeing that his friend had taken over the captaincy of the Venice, it was impossible for Leifer not to be disappointed. Both of them had led armored patrols in naval battles, and they themselves performed even better. For the captain position, Leifer
Feier thinks that nine times out of ten it should be him. Now that it has been given to a friend, what should he do if he changes it?
Leifer's somewhat dazed expression did not escape Admiral Golek's eyes.
"Gomez, please wait outside first."
Although it was a bit strange for the general to leave Leifer alone, the characteristics of a soldier made Gomes reply without hesitation. "Yes, your Excellency, general."
After Gomez went out, General Gorek looked at Leifer and suddenly asked, "Do you have anything to do with His Majesty?"
"ah!"
He didn't expect that the admiral would ask such a strange question. After being surprised for a while, Leifer answered truthfully. "I have only met His Majesty a few times. As for the relationship, there is no relationship."
After hearing Leifer's words, Admiral Golek said something incomprehensible. "It's pretty much what I thought."
Leifer, who was a little confused by the admiral's words, didn't know how to answer.
"Do you know why I made Gomes the captain of the Venezia?"
"have no idea."
"Then I'm telling you, because you have a better place to go."
Faced with the mysterious words spoken by Admiral Gorek, Leifer really didn't know how to answer.
"What do you think of the position of King's Adjutant?"
Admiral Gorek's words made Leifer's eyes widen.
Of course he knew the position of the king's adjutant. It was the link between the king and the army. The person who could hold this position must be the king's most trusted officer. This alone was not attractive enough. There was another very important reason. As long as he held the position
The adjutant is destined to be one of the big bosses in the military in the future. Even if he does not want to develop in the military in the future, he cannot be underestimated in the political world.
Giving himself such an important position made Leifer feel very unreal.
"I will be the king's lieutenant?"
"That's right, it's you, Major Leifer."
Receiving confirmation from Admiral Gorek made Leifer feel even more confused.
He almost couldn't even remember how he got out of the office.
"Leifer...Leifer, what's wrong with you?"
The voice of his friend Gomes came to his ears. He looked at Leifer who was in a daze and asked worriedly.
"nothing."
"Don't be like this, Leifer. I know I took your place, but I really didn't know it would be like this..."
Gomez's words of self-blame made Leifer shake his head and say, "It's okay, I'm fine, really fine."
"Then what's wrong with you?"
"I was stunned by the news."
"What news?"
"I'm going to serve as your Majesty's adjutant."
"This is not a blow. There is plenty in the future...what did you say!"
Gomes looked at his friend in surprise like a rooster being strangled.
