"Bai Zhizhan has ceased fighting, awarded the title of White Dragon General, and promoted to Brave General."
Li Yunxiang stood at attention and saluted as Xue Yuanzheng approached, his eyes fixed straight ahead.
Subsequently, Xue Yuanzheng pinned the rank of major general on Bai Zhizhan’s shoulders.
The term "Major General" actually appeared before the last great war and was commonly used.
The title "White Dragon General" corresponds to a Navy Major General, while "Brave General" is a general term, combined they make "Brave White Dragon General". If it were an Army Major General, it would be General of Brave Tiger.
These traditional titles indeed are complex and sowhat awkward; not only common citizens but also soldiers easily got them confused, hence they were rarely used.
Indeed, the rank of "Major General" is more straightforward and easily understandable at a glance.
Moreover, major general is the lowest rank among generals.
Although both the Navy and the Army have the rank of Brigadier General, strictly speaking, a Brigadier General is not considered a general but a transition from colonel to general.
Not to ntion, there is no formal commissioning for a Brigadier General.
In the past, especially during peace tis, many colonels wouldn’t beco generals by the ti they retired, thus they were often promoted to Brigadier General before retirent.
According to the rules set by Emperor Shiwu, Major General is the minimum requirent for leading troops into battle.
That is why the Imperial Authority pays extra attention to the first commissioning of generals. In the past, the Emperor himself would award the commissions. After the constitutional andnt, it changed to the Grand Secretary, although the awarding ceremony always took place at the Privy Council where the new generals must swear allegiance to the Emperor.
After pinning the military ranks, Xue Yuanzheng gently patted Bai Zhizhan’s shoulder twice.
It was a small, yet profoundly aningful gesture.
From a cultural perspective, this small act was essentially telling Bai Zhizhan that he was entrusting him with a very important task, which he must shoulder.
When it ca to awarding Liu Xiangzhen, Xue Yuanzheng didn’t perform this small gesture.
Liu Xiangzhen was ranked before Bai Zhizhan not because his contributions were greater, but because he benefited from the order of strokes in their surnas—the second stroke of "Liu" is horizontal, while for "Bai" it is vertical. Unfortunately, in the Imperial language, horizontal strokes are ranked first and vertical second.
Indeed, Bai Zhizhan was the last one.
Army generals were ranked before him.
This made sense, as the Imperial Guard Army belongs to the Army, and since the Imperial Guard Army is a part of the Royal Guards, they naturally ranked ahead, incidentally placing the Army before the Navy.
As for the other Navy generals, none of their surnas begin with a dot.
The following was to comnd and reward ritorious soldiers.
Although traditionally called soldiers, they were all from the grassroots level, usually officers from the Navy and a few soldiers from the Army.
At the Privy Council, it was the Grand Secretary himself who comnded and rewarded these individuals, a practice intended to elevate the social status of the military personnel.
During war tis, such comndation and award ceremonies were frequent. For example, during the last great war, they were held almost monthly, extensively publicized, allowing photographers to take pictures, and enabling all national newspapers to publish related reports and even organizing ritorious officers to tour the country and give speeches.
Had the last great war not ended after the "Watcher Strait Naval Battle," perhaps twenty years ago, Bai Zhizhan would have been awarded as a "ritorious soldier" and then traveled across the country by train, inspiring the public by sharing his firsthand battle experiences.
To Bai Zhizhan’s surprise, among the few grassroots officers sent back by the Special Mixed Group, there were several pilots he knew, including Jiang Haiyang and Wei Chengwen.
Not much to say about Wei Chengwen; he was originally a fighter pilot from the Second Shipborne Air Force Wing.
But Jiang Haiyang, originally a Bomber pilot from the First Shipborne Air Force Wing had, in the battles over Fla Sea, struck the "Jiahe" with his dive bomber, earning his first rit.
As far as Bai Zhizhan knew, Jiang Haiyang had been injured during that battle and had been recuperating in a hospital since then.
As for when he returned to his unit, Bai Zhizhan was not quite sure.
It was surprising that Liu Xiangzhen would recomnd a pilot from the First Shipborne Air Force Wing for comndation!
Apparently, he was also starting to poach talents.
In terms of importance, an elite pilot like Jiang Haiyang definitely held more value than an officer of the sa rank from the Fleet, possessing irreplaceability.
Like the initial commissioning of generals, it was Xue Yuanzheng who personally awarded dals to the ritorious soldiers. However, this ti, there would be journalists photographing the event.
Additionally, the officers would co forward by themselves, receive their dals, and then step away for the next person to co forward.
No matter how great the rit, they are still junior officers and soldiers.
"General Bai!" Jiang Haiyang had already noticed Bai Zhizhan.
"Are you healed?"
Jiang Haiyang nodded and said, "I ca yesterday. The doctor said I need to be observed for a few more days. If there is no serious issue, I can be discharged."
"Do you have a place to go?"
"I will look for Li. He told to go to the First Special Mixed Fleet. It’s just..."
"I’m now the Fleet Commander of the First Special Mixed Fleet."
Jiang Haiyang was startled at first, then he understood. "Commander, yes!"
This guy actually saluted Bai Zhizhan right in the hall, which made Bai Zhizhan a bit flustered because it was so abrupt.
Of course, it was deliberate; he wanted to show Liu Xiangzhen.
This "Commander" clearly marked his position.
He was telling Liu Xiangzhen that he was on Bai Zhizhan’s side, so don’t bother trying to poach him.
Unfortunately, this is the straightforwardness of soone from the Land Air Force, doing everything so bluntly, like a straight chopstick that reaches to the end.
Jiang Haiyang was not foolish; he was Li Yunxiang’s man, otherwise, he wouldn’t have gone to find Li Yunxiang, and naturally, he considered himself Bai Zhizhan’s confidant.
As for being recomnded for recognition, he really wouldn’t care for it.
Fortunately, Zhou Yongtao had already accepted the recognition.
Recognition was according to the rank order; Jiang Haiyang had recently beco a Major in the Navy Air Force while Zhou Yongtao was a Captain, which ant he ranked behind him.
"Let introduce you; this is Major Jiang Haiyang, the squadron leader of the First Shipborne Air Force Wing. After rejoining, he fought alongside us. This is Captain Zhou Yongtao, a staff officer of the First Special Mixed Fleet Headquarters, who has made notable achievents in the battle against the Permanent Fleet."
"Major Jiang!"
"So, you are Zhou Yongtao? Li specifically ntioned to that in the battle at West East Ocean, it was mainly through your strategies."
"This..."
"From now on, we are brothers; take care of each other."
Jiang Haiyang’s enthusiasm made Zhou Yongtao a bit uncomfortable.
At that mont, a young man resembling a secretary ca over.
"General Bai?"
"Who are you..."
The young man didn’t say much, just showed his credentials. After seeing the credentials, Bai Zhizhan just nodded.
"Go on and talk, if I haven’t co back later, you take Major Jiang to the hotel. Tonight, we’ll have a good drink."
"Drink again?"
"Major Jiang has recovered and rejoined; we must celebrate."
"Commander Bai, this..."
"We’ll settle it like this."
Seeing Bai Zhizhan had business, Jiang Haiyang and Zhou Yongtao didn’t say much. Whether to drink in the evening or not would be decided then; discussing it now was pointless.
Besides, they were at the Privy Council, and both knew the rules well.
The one called away was not only Bai Zhizhan but also Liu Xiangzhen.
Indeed, another secretary had called Liu Xiangzhen and led him out through a different door, in a direction different from Bai Zhizhan’s.
It seed like there would be a good show to watch later.
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