Great Warlord: The Second Ancestor of the Empire

After Lin Yi recruited Qian Hongtao, he turned his attention to Wang Hongchang.

"Here, let's take this drink to Colonel Wang." Lin Yi looked at Wang Hongchang with a smile on his face.

The reason why he did not address Wang Hongchang by his official position as he addressed Qian Hongtao, but by his military rank, was mainly because Wang Hongchang should be the captain of a destroyer or light cruiser with his military rank.

But the great defeat three years ago resulted in the sinking of all the Imperial Navy's capital ships, leaving only some coastal defense gunboats and some torpedo boats.

The current flagship of the Daxia Empire Navy is just a destroyer of less than [-] tons.

And with Wang Hongchang's military rank, it was never his turn to be the captain of the flagship.

Therefore, in the navy, official positions have always been a pain in their hearts.

Others generally address people in the Imperial Navy by their military rank.

Wang Hongchang couldn't figure out why Lin Yi, as Prince Rui, was so polite to him, but he still picked up his wine glass and said to Lin Yi very respectfully.

"I humble my position and respect the prince."

After saying this, Wang Hongchang raised his head and drank the white wine in the glass in one gulp.

The spicy white wine followed Wang Hongchang's throat and entered his stomach, making Wang Hongchang, who likes to drink red wine, frown slightly.

However, he didn't have the courage to show an uncomfortable expression in front of Lin Yi.

He has long known that the Army likes strong liquor. Although he does not look down on these Army officers who drink strong liquor like some naval officers, under normal circumstances, he will not touch strong liquor.

As good as red wine is, why do some people like spirits? Wang Hongchang couldn't understand this.

In fact, there are many people in the army who can't stand the navy drinking red wine, thinking that they are like pussies.

However, no matter what, no one dared to be presumptuous in front of a prince with such ability and status as Lin Yi.

Seeing Wang Hongchang drink the liquor in his glass in one gulp, Lin Yi had a better impression of him and felt that the officers of the Imperial Navy were not as difficult to get in touch with as rumored.

"Hongchang, I would like to thank you this time for taking your brothers all the way from Panyu. It's been a hard journey."

After hearing Lin Yi's words, Wang Hongchang immediately stood up and said to Lin Yi: "No matter what the prince said, this is what a humble official should do. No matter how you say a humble official, you are a member of the empire."

"Well, no matter what, without your assistance this time, Hongchang, my king's new first division will not be able to successfully capture Jinghai Port."

"I have faithfully presented you with your merits. I believe the emperor will reward Hongchang, you, and the navy."

"Thank you for your humble position, Your Majesty." Wang Hongchang said to Lin Yi again before sitting down again.

Lin Yi looked at Wang Hongchang, and he had already begun to think about whether he should drag him into the first army of his empire.

Lin Yi has already seen Wang Hongchang's resume. His resume can be said to be quite gorgeous.

At the age of 14, he entered the Imperial Naval Academy. At the age of 16, the empire funded him to go to John's Royal Naval Academy to study warship command.

He graduated third in his grade at the age of 21. The director of John's Royal Naval College at the time hoped that he could stay and assured him that if he could stay, he would at least be the captain of a heavy cruiser.

But he rejected them all and decided to return to Daxia.

Later, he started as a frigate captain and was promoted to the position of heavy cruiser captain.

But later, a naval battle broke out, and the cruiser he was driving participated in the first naval battle.

As a result, due to Ding Xuanren's fault at that time, the Imperial Navy was defeated, but the cruiser he drove fought to the end.

After the battleship was hit by 21 bullets, and after receiving Ding Xuanren's order to break out of the encirclement, he led ten remaining ships and successfully broke out of the encirclement.

But later, his car was hit by too many bullets. After a successful breakout, it sank less than ten nautical miles away from Penglai Military Port.

Later, Ding Xuanren's corruption came to light. As a close confidant of Ding Xuanren, Wang Hongchang was also implicated. The reason was that he retreated from the battle and was dismissed from his post.

It was not reactivated until a year ago.

When Lin Yi saw this resume before, he directly cursed the official responsible for Ding Xuanren at the time as a bastard.

As an officer and captain, Wang Hongchang would feel better when he saw his father die in battle. Doesn't he want to fight to the death?

But the question is, is fighting to the death really right?

If the entire Imperial Navy is annihilated, then all the Empire's years of investment in sending people to study in the West will be in vain.

At that time, Daxia wanted to rebuild the navy, not to mention doors, not even windows. It takes at least seven or eight years to train a qualified naval officer.

Daxia simply didn't have that much time, so the best and most appropriate way at that time was to retreat decisively when it was clear that nothing could be done, leaving hope for the Imperial Navy.

To put it ten thousand steps back, even if it was not the end of the road, but Ding Xuanren ordered him to retreat, could he not have to retreat?

Stop making trouble, if that's true, someone will definitely kill Wang Hongchang on the spot.

After Wang Hongchang received Ding Xuanren's order, he not only ran out by himself, but also ran out with ten other frigates.

It can be said that Wang Hongchang single-handedly preserved the spark of naval revival for the empire, making it possible for the imperial navy to develop and grow in a short period of time.

Otherwise, at this time, the Imperial Navy will be just an empty frame without a qualified captain.

For such people, Lin Yi felt that not only should they not be punished, but they should also be rewarded!

Therefore, when Lin Yi knew that Wang Hongchang had been sidelined because of Ding Xuanren and the retreat, he cursed the people in charge of the review as idiots.

Looking at Wang Hongchang who is now mature and stable, Lin Yi really wants to pull him into his team, so that he can build his own navy with Wang Hongchang.

However, Lin Yi didn't know what excuse he should use to win over Wang Hongchang. After all, he was now the commander of the First Army and belonged to the army.

However, after a moment, Lin Yi figured it out.

It may be difficult for others to win over Wang Hongchang, but what is your identity? He can be Prince Rui! Imperial Prince! Emperor Zhao Xu’s favorite nephew!

He wants to bring Wang Hongchang into his camp, who dares to say anything? If someone really wants to come out to object, it may not be his turn to come out and argue with the opponent. Zhao Xu will go up and give the opponent two slaps.

Then he asked the other party loudly, who stipulated that the First Army of the Empire cannot have a navy?

The only thing to worry about is that Wang Hongchang doesn't want to, and it's not easy for him to use force.

But the problem is that as long as Lin Yi draws Wang Hongchang over and forms a naval framework, he can get six main battleships.

With these battleships, not to mention letting Wang Hongchang join the First Army of the Empire, even if Wang Hongchang says that he wants to join the army!

Who stipulates that the Army cannot have battleships?