New Calendar, Year 79, January 22, Puzhou Navy Shipyard, Ship Platform Three.
Upon receiving the news, Bai Zhizhan had rushed over, yet he was still one step too late.
The massive gantry crane had already hoisted the steel frame weighing over a hundred tons, and the foreman, along with dozens of workers, was preparing for the upcoming riveting work.
The steel frame, positioned between the hull and the superstructure, was connected to other parts by riveting, supporting the exterior armor plates and providing protection to the machinery room below. Because riveting points compromised the overall structural strength, the steel frame could not be altered after being fixed through riveting.
Crucially, the steel frame was in the middle of the battleship.
If it had been at the bow or the stern, it wouldn't have been a big deal; it could simply be dismantled and reinstalled. But being located in the middle of the hull, not only was removal laborious, but it could also potentially damage the structural integrity of the hull. If mishandled, the entire section above that part might need to be dismantled, which would be extremely troublesome.
Adjacent to it, an area had been cleared and some supports had been set up.
It seemed that after the steel frame was installed, armor steel plates were going to be laid down.
The order to resume work had come from the War Cabinet. Otherwise, the steel mill producing the materials wouldn't have been so eager, creating the steel frames that hadn't been produced over several months in just a few days. As the other materials kept arriving, the construction of the "Longjiang" was bound to accelerate.
Bai Zhizhan went straight to the foreman and instructed him to temporarily halt the work.
Just a few days earlier, Bai Zhizhan had submitted a report to the Navy headquarters concerning the conversion of two battlecruisers into mother ships, hoping to persuade the Navy Commander-in-chief. To support his proposal, Bai Zhizhan had specifically sent a telegram to Gui Boyong, hoping He Yongxing would take notice.
In reality, Bai Zhizhan did not believe the Navy would experiment with two valuable battlecruisers.
Even though these two warships had not yet been completed.
Now, however, Bai Zhizhan felt compelled to make an effort, since the order to resume had come from the Cabinet, whose officials might not fully understand the Navy.
Ordering the resumption might have just been a tactic to pressure the Alliance Group during negotiations.
"Just a few days..."
"Chief Bai, we understand what you mean, but you know the order to resume came from above, it's not something you can stop just by saying so," the foreman replied very politely, using a respectful title, yet his attitude made it clear he was dismissing Bai Zhizhan entirely.
"Just for today. I'm going to send a telegram immediately, and I can give you a definitive answer by this afternoon."
"Chief Bai, more than a hundred of my men are waiting here," the foreman said, clearly impatient and less polite. As he spoke, he scrutinized Bai Zhizhan from head to toe, his expression and manner seeming to ask, who do you think you are?
Bai Zhizhan's anger was bubbling up inside, yet he held his tongue.
Not out of fear, but because he didn't want to escalate the situation.
Driving away skilled workers was easy, but recruiting and training new ones to meet the standards required for the job was not.
Moreover, replacing skilled workers was extremely difficult.
Besides, the foreman hadn't done anything wrong; he was just following orders. Even as a military representative, Bai Zhizhan couldn't force a stop work order.
Normally, Bai Zhizhan should have first approached the leadership of the shipyard, obtained a notice to stop work, and then come to the foreman.
With the foreman refusing to back down, Bai Zhizhan found himself in an extremely embarrassing situation.
Fortunately, the awkwardness did not last long.
"Zhang Laosan, I haven't been here for a few days, and you think you can grow so arrogant?"
A powerful shout came from the stairway. The foreman, who had been domineering just moments before, deflated like a punctured ball.
Turning to look at the Colonel approaching, Bai Zhizhan couldn't help but give a bitter smile.
Although it was their first meeting, Bai Zhizhan recognized the Colonel.
Indeed, it was the "Longjiang" supervisor, Colonel Liu Xiangdong. He looked just like the photo posted on the public notice board, only his skin was not as dark.
Perhaps he had been ashore too long and normally hadn't been in the sun.
"Chief Liu, what brings you here?" The foreman, a cunning man, bypassed Bai Zhizhan and walked over to Liu Xiangdong with a smile plastered across his face.
Bai Zhizhan did not yet hold an official position and had no authority over the foreman.
Colonel Liu Xiangdong was the rightful supervisor, holding the power of acceptance; dealing with a small fry like the foreman was a piece of cake for him.
"Cut the chatter. Have you already met? Then I won't waste words. This Captain Bai Zhizhan will now serve as the deputy supervisor of this ship, and you all will follow his commands and direction. Starting now, he will be fully responsible for the inspection work. Don't come begging to me later."
"Chief Bai, you see, this is all a misunderstanding." The foreman immediately reacted.
Bai Zhizhan forced a smile, not bothering to squabble with the foreman.
"This is the approval document from the Navy headquarter." Liu Xiangdong pulled out a document and slapped it onto the foreman's chest. "During the shutdown period, including you, all technical workers will receive their basic wages daily. After work resumes, bonuses will be calculated. Don't ask me when work will resume; the Navy headquarter will naturally have plans. That's all; call your people over, let's end it for today."
The foreman dared not ask further. After reviewing the approval document from the Navy headquarter, he called all the workers down.
By this time, Bai Zhizhan had followed Liu Xiangdong down to the shipyard.
"It's my fault; I should have come to you a few days earlier." Although Liu Xiangdong said so, he showed no sign of apology. "Before coming here, I called He Pengfei, and he's on his way driving here. In a moment, he'll take you to the station."
"Colonel Liu, I... to the station!?" Bai Zhizhan clearly could not keep up with Liu Xiangdong and did not understand why he needed to go to the station immediately.
"It's from Commander He." Liu Xiangdong did not explain further and handed a telegram to Bai Zhizhan.
It was said to be a document, but it only had a few words.
Urgent matter, return immediately to the Navy headquarter, He.
Next to the signature was a symbol signifying the sender's identity, actually a symbol, beneath the character "shang" (up) there were four additional dots of water, specifically indicating a Navy Admiral.
Indeed, He Yongxing had been promoted again.
If nothing unexpected happened, he should now be the Commander of the Domestic Fleet.
What critical issue warranted an immediate return to the Navy headquarter?
"If you see Gui Boyong, give him a message for me."
Hearing this, Bai Zhizhan was first stunned, then looked towards Liu Xiangdong.
"Even if the war has ended, the wager still stands. When the next great war breaks out, I will prove to him who is the last one to laugh."
"Colonel Liu..." Bai Zhizhan was clearly shocked or perhaps felt troubled.
"Don't overthink; Gui and I were classmates, shared the same dormitory for five years, among which three were in bunk beds."
Hearing Liu Xiangdong say this, Bai Zhizhan nodded and agreed.
At that moment, He Pengfei arrived by car.
Probably because Liu Xiangdong had mentioned it, He Pengfei went to Bai Zhizhan's dormitory, brought some clothes, particularly a winter coat.
The winter in the Imperial Capital is exceptionally cold.