Chapter 942 Commander Candidate
Roger is very clear about his advantages. He has been studying the situation and geographical environment of the South China Sea during the two years on Ambon Island to prepare for Haihan's next southward expansion. Although there was no naval fleet stationed on Ampurna Island, Roger personally led the team out to sea several times and visited the surrounding areas on civilian ships. He had actually visited Borneo, Tamerlan Islands, Anambas Islands, the Malay Peninsula, and even the Star Island where the fleet landed this time, but he had not publicized it to the outside world. If necessary, he could even hand-draw a chart of the South China Sea right away.
The competition with Mu Xiabai was basically within his expectations. After all, the South China Sea Fleet had been stationed at Cam Ranh Port before and accepted Mu Xiabai's direct command. If the Military Commission wanted to select a commander in the South China Sea region, he would definitely Consider Mu Xiabai, who has been stationed in Indochina for many years. However, Mu Xiabai's disadvantage is that he is from the army and is not as familiar with naval affairs as Roger. He also lacks experience in commanding fleet operations at sea. If the Military Commission plans to move part of the South China Sea Fleet to Star Island for garrison, Mu Xiabai's Professional abilities may become the subject of doubt by the Navy.
Roger's experience in navigation is obviously stronger than that of Mu Xiabai. For the special environment here on Star Island, the commander must have navigation skills, so he is not nervous about this debate. Be willing to give up opportunities to your competitors.
"I suggest that the Military Commission give priority to Roger." Mu Xiabai spoke, startling both Yan Chujie and Roger.
Yan Chujie was about to take notes, but after hearing this, he immediately put down the pen in his hand and asked: "Old Mu, I am talking to you on behalf of the Military Commission. You have to think carefully."
Mu Xiabai said seriously: "I know, and I am answering you very seriously. Let me tell you the personal reasons first. Before this departure, my eldest wife was already pregnant with the second child, and the younger wife was also pregnant with the eldest child. When I was fighting on Ambona Island, I didn’t want to miss the birth of my next child. I knew the importance of Star Island and what kind of status the commander here would have, but for me, my wife and children were also important. Very important.”
Mu Xiabai participated in the time-travel operation alone. After being assigned to Annan, he married a wealthy businessman in the north of Annan. He was 35 years old when he time traveled and is now in his early forties. Judging from the situation of marriage and childbirth in this era, he is actually old enough to be a grandfather. However, the eldest son of his family was born during the Battle of Cheyenne Island in 1631. He is only two and a half years old now, so he can be regarded as a "old man with a son".
Most of the travelers who came to this time and space as singles already had partners or even children. Older singles who could not find a suitable partner due to various reasons in the original time and space have become the targets of powerful people from all over the world after coming here. Marriage with the Haihan people can provide a solid guarantee for their own interests, even if He had no business dealings with Haihan, so having Haihan's son-in-law at home would at least provide him with an extra escape route in times of crisis.
After having a family, it is true that many time travelers will choose a more stable lifestyle, especially those who are stationed abroad all year round. Every job transfer often means relocation of the whole family. Not everyone is willing to go for glory and wealth. Take the initiative to bear the price. Mu Xiabai is not the first person to choose his family between the two, and he probably won't be the last.
Mu Xiabai continued: "Roger is young and has no family burden now. He is also familiar with the conditions of the countries in the South China Sea. In addition, his ability in navigation is indeed better than mine. He is more suitable to be the commander of Star Island than me." Some. We have had a great time cooperating with him during his two years at Ambon Island, and I think we can continue to do so in the future.”
Roger had never expected that Mu Xiabai did not intend to compete for this position. This statement made all his previous preparations fall into place, and he did not know how to respond.
However, Yan Chujie was relatively calm and confirmed to him again: "What you just said, I will convey it to the Military Commission and the Executive Committee when I go back. Have you considered it clearly?"
"Thought it through very clearly." Mu Xiabai nodded, and then extended his hand to Roger: "Do it well!"
"Thank you!" At this moment, Roger was finally convinced that the other party had actually given up this opportunity to him. Although he was extremely confident that he would win the competition, Mu Xiabai's voluntary withdrawal left no doubt about the final candidate for this position. This was really achieved without any effort.
Although subsequent appointments and transfer orders will certainly have to wait until some time after Yan Chujie returns to Sanya, given that Roger currently has no other competitors, Mu Xiabai can basically determine the ownership of this seat after withdrawing from the competition. However, Star Island is located in a key area of the east-west sea lanes, and its importance far exceeds that of Amborna Island. The interest disputes that it will face in the future are also foreseeable. The pressure and pressure that Roger will face on Star Island are also foreseeable. The competition will definitely be far greater than when he took power in Ambon Island two years ago. The Dutch, Aceh, Johor, and even the Portuguese will probably not welcome Haihan's arrival. Roger must handle all aspects of relations.
This candidate will not be made public for the time being, and Roger will still return to Ambon Island to be stationed in the near future. However, the few travelers in the fleet learned the news during dinner and congratulated Roger. . Only Zhang Yun still felt a little uneasy about this. After dinner, he called Roger to the beach to ask about Amborna Island.
"Then what did you say about the zoo you mentioned to me a few days ago? Will you still continue this project after you transfer it?" Zhang Yun asked with some worry.
"Proceed as usual! Didn't I already say that I am not managing the entire project alone. The Ministry of Commerce and other relevant departments, including your department, will gradually get involved." Roger explained: "The next step is to The amount of money invested in Ambon Island in the past six months is definitely more than the previous two years combined. The overall development of Ambon Island is just around the corner, just waiting for the money to be in place, whether I am on the island or someone else takes my place in the future. , this matter will continue according to the process, and will not stop because of personnel changes in individual positions. Your role in the process is very important. Don’t worry, you will not be forgotten. Someone will contact you before the project starts. Maybe a formal transfer order will be issued to temporarily transfer your work location to Ambon Island for a period of time.”
The overall construction plan of Ambona Island involves a very large amount of funds, and it will definitely not be able to be operated by the military alone. Roger recruited Zhang Yun to join this plan during his southern tour. In fact, strictly speaking, it is just the icing on the cake, making the entire plan Just more perfect. Of course, since the addition of Zhang Yun can make the original plan more perfect, Roger is also happy to see it happen. "Then I only have one request. When the time comes to arrange for me to move my work location, I have to bring an assistant with me." Of course, Zhang Yun didn't just ask questions, he also had his own conditions.
Roger smiled and said: "I know, your two godsons will definitely follow you. Then say hello to the Ministry of Civil Affairs and you can start counting their seniority."
Zhang Yun did not have a family in this time and space, so he adopted the two brothers as his only relatives, serving as both sons and apprentices, and also acted as assistants during field trips. If he wants to set up a wildlife park on Ambon Island, he may have to take root there in the next one or two years or even longer. Naturally, he is worried about leaving his two apprentices in Sanya.
Speaking of job transfers, Roger asked by the way: "How is your current housing in Sanya?"
Zhang Yunchan smiled and said: "We still live in the dormitory we were assigned before."
Roger said in astonishment: "Didn't they build a bungalow specially provided by the elders in Sanya New City?"
Zhang Yun responded: "Sanya New City is a little far away, and it is not convenient to go to school, so I still live here at Victory Fort."
After listening to this, Roger actually had a general understanding of his personal situation. In the second year after the Time Travel Group settled in Sanya, they began to build a dormitory near the Victory Fort as one of the benefits for the time travellers. However, when Sanya New Town was developed later, a batch of more spacious bungalows with better conditions were built. However, because the construction speed of bungalows was limited, they could only be supplied in batches. But during this period, the gap in personal income among time-travelers also began to gradually widen. Some high-income earners were no longer satisfied with the pigeonhouses and small suites provided by welfare, but chose to invest their own money to build the courtyards or courtyards they wanted. villa.
However, with the nature of work like Zhang Yun's, you often have to ask your grandparents to ask for help when applying for activity funds. There is no money that can fall into your own pocket. The basic salary is enough to support two apprentices. Most of the time, I have to rely on the original shares I get from the traversers' share every year to support my life. Of course, with the prosperity of Haihan trade year by year, the share received every year is more and more, which is definitely more than enough for a family of three. I just want to go to the Yalong Bay enclosure for vacation like those who have the means. Villa, that's not possible.
Although in the eyes of outsiders, the lives of the Haihan gentlemen are very glamorous, in fact, within Haihan, there is still a clear gap in the quality of life. Some capable people who have chosen the right path have become the first to get rich, and their quality of life is naturally much better than that of poor scientific research practitioners like Zhang Yun. Senior executives like Schneider, who is in charge of the entire group's purse, own six or seven properties in Hainan Island alone, which is far beyond what Zhang Yun can compare with.
But this is a thing of the past. Roger patted Zhang Yun on the shoulder and said: "Don't worry, after you are transferred to Ambona Island, all kinds of treatment will be like those of front-line experts. I also have a nice two-story villa on the south side of the island. , when the time comes for you and your godson to move there, you will have all the living utensils and servants, so you can just move in with your bags. Once the supporting projects are completed and the business starts, you will not have to worry about money for the rest of your life."
Zhang Yun smiled and said: "I am not obsessed with money, but if I have money in the future, I plan to ask the Ministry of Shipping to design a special research ship, and then I will lead a team to travel around the world."
Zhang Yun was not from the military or the Ministry of Shipping, but he had the ambition to complete a global voyage for the purpose of studying. Roger immediately felt a sense of awe for him. He could ignore material life when wealth was at his fingertips, and he could endure it. People who study alone are undoubtedly very worthy of respect. In this era, although some people have achieved the feat of traveling around the world, it is not really a journey. It is more like an ascetic journey. Roger himself is an expert at sailing, so he naturally understands how much hardship and risk there is in this industry.
What Haihan can rely on is nothing more than time-honored navigation technology and a relatively detailed global map. As for Haihan’s current leadership in shipbuilding technology, it will not bring more comfort to the people on board during long-distance voyages. , and there is no way to eliminate various risks that may be encountered during maritime navigation. Navigation pioneers like Columbus, Vasco da Gama, and Magellan had relatively better luck. During the same period, navigators who tried to complete the grand goals of exploring the New World and global routes lost their lives in the oceans, and even their names were not passed down to future generations.
After staying in Xingdao for a week, Zheng Zha and Fan Ji, who couldn't bear the loneliness, led their own troops and left here respectively. Fan Ji went directly north to return home and reported to the king of Champa the results of this South China Sea exercise. Zheng Zha followed Haihan's supply ship to Ambona Island. He planned to go to the local area for a closer inspection and wait to watch the second round of negotiations between Haihan and the Dutch. According to the agreement between the two parties, they will meet again on Ampurna Island at the end of this month to discuss the specific conditions of the trade alliance.
If the two parties can reach an agreement, then the next step is for all parties to jointly sign an agreement on the South China Sea Trade Alliance. Although there are currently only six or seven intended members of the trade alliance led by Haihan, once established, its influence will far exceed that of the current private business organizations such as Qiong Lianfa and the Nanhai Chamber of Commerce. With Zheng Zha's identity, he can directly act as Annan's representative, without the need to arrange separate talks.
Of course, the most important thing is that Zheng Zha has to keep an eye on the negotiation site, lest the Haihan people reach any preferential terms with others and accidentally or unintentionally leave Annan behind. If he hadn't followed the Haihan fleet all the way south this time, he might have missed the two big deals on Amborna Island and Belitung Island. If you miss a business opportunity like this, the conditions may be very different. For example, the Portuguese who did not cruise with the fleet in the South China Sea this time will probably not be able to get the same treatment as Annam and Champa if they hear the news after the incident and then negotiate terms with the Haihan people.
(End of chapter)