C850 On the way out (1/2)
Inside Voltaire Shipyard, everyone who was preparing to return had gathered, King Yi and Fang Guan continued to stay in Europe, while Xiang Ying and more than 50 other students continued to take on the task of accompanying Kevin in escorting the Zhiyuan Warship back home.
On the deck, King Yi was reading a secret message from the Ryukyu. Fifty foreign students, who had undergone military training, stood together like a squadron of tofu.
”Send the Prime Minister's order to appoint the commanders of all levels of the homecoming fleet …” Zhiyuan Warship Captain Xiang Ying! ”Come out!”
With a ”pa” sound, the military boot hit the deck. Xiang Ying, who had changed into a military uniform, was so excited that tears started to well up in his eyes.
A year in Europe was really three years for these students. Everyone slept for two or three hours a day, and their meals were always sandwiches with two slices of bread and sausages.
The first batch of European students were all carefully chosen by Xiao Letian to be geniuses, it would not be exaggerated to say that they had never forgotten anything.
The language and writing barriers had already been solved in the Ryukyu. Furthermore, the basic education of the universities in the Ryukyu was very well-prepared.
Even if there were some obstacles, so what? Diligence could always make up for the gap.
Countless days and nights, studying without sleep, other Prussian students experimenting while they went for walks, played football, and drank at bars.
When the others had fallen into a deep slumber, they were studying hard in the library. If the foundation hadn't provided them with sufficient living expenses to keep up with the flow of nutrition, they would have already exhausted a large group of people.
The King Yi patted on Xiang Ying's shoulder, ”Remember, this is only a temporary appointment. After you finish your mission, come back and learn from me! ”Don't embarrass your uncle, go …”
Pah! With a military salute, Xiang Ying returned to the group.
”Kevin... The Prime Minister recognizes you as Zhiyuan Warship's vice Captain and is in charge of all the technical work! ”
”Thank you, Prime Minister. I will not fail my mission!”
”Jin Sanshun... ”I'll make you the Head of Internal Affairs. When you return, you can take away 300 thousand silver coins as your expenses along the way!”
”Lin Zhen... We acknowledge you as the Zhiyuan Warship Chief Gunner, responsible for all weapon's firepower output! ”
”Cai Bixia is the communication leader …”
”Yan Xing is the chief engineer …”
”Liu Anchen, Qiu Wei, Jiang Yuheng, Sun Chujian … Take orders from the supply ship Captain s and listen to the orders of the Zhiyuan Warship. Even if you have to lose your lives, you have to protect our Iron-armored Ship and come back to our country … ”
One after another, students from abroad came out to accept their fate. From this moment on, the command system of the Zhiyuan Warship began to work. Following which, the military officers started to roll call the names according to the register. Prince Karl had transferred 300 veterans from the Prussian navy, which was composed of the sailors from the Zhiyuan Warship.
Karl had told these veterans that this mission would preserve their ranks and treatment in Prussia. Furthermore, the Prime Minister Xiao of the Ryukyu had promised to give everyone three times the reward for this mission.
It was not just for money, Prince Karl had clearly said that Prussia still owed Xiao Letian a favour, that the Chinese would bleed during the Poo War period, that it was not Prussian's style to repay favors, that was why the three hundred veterans were so attentive to this mission, that they would not defy it, and would not do anything against it.