My Italy

"It feels so good to finally be home."

Captain Leifer, no, Major, set foot on the Italian soil. He took a deep breath of the sea-smelling air and sighed with satisfaction.

"Paul, I think you were very well-off in the Qing Dynasty. Why do you still have such an expression when you return to China?"

Major Gomes also took a deep breath and couldn't help but joke about Leifer.

Faced with the teasing of his colleague Major Gomes, Leifer showed a helpless smile. The reason has to start with himself. Because of his performance in the Sino-French War, Li Zhongtang particularly appreciated him. For this reason, he once wanted to invite him to become a member of the Beiyang Fleet advisor, but he refused.

Although he was rejected, Li Zhongtang was not angry because of it. He still took good care of Leffel and other Italian naval officers and soldiers, and also arranged for someone to take care of their daily life. I don’t know how they considered it. The person assigned to take care of Gomes was a man, while Leifer’s was a woman, a young woman.

Well, this kind of differential treatment is a bit embarrassing, and Leifer was laughed at by Gomes several times for this.

Now that he was used to it, he turned to Gomes and asked. "What do you think will happen when the admiral summons us this time?"

Faced with Leifer's inquiry, Gomes put away his smile. "I don't know about this, but I believe it won't be a bad thing."

Gomez's words made Leifer furious. Isn't this nonsense? They have been in the Far East for more than a year and have experienced so much suffering. So they are meritorious people. How could they be reprimanded just after returning home?

Seeing Leifer's face, Gomes knew what he said was wrong. "Well, actually I don't know anything. I need to meet His Excellency the Admiral to find out."

As soon as he finished speaking, Gomes pointed to a carriage outside the dock and said. "Look, the carriage to pick us up has arrived."

As soon as he finished speaking, Gomes hurried over with his luggage.

Leifer shook his head helplessly and rushed over with his luggage.

"Hello, majors. I am responsible for receiving Second Lieutenant Piri."

The man from the Admiralty who greeted them introduced himself.

"Hello, Lieutenant Pirie."

"Hello."

After a brief greeting, the two of them put away their luggage with the help of Second Lieutenant Piri. Boarded the carriage and left the port of Antium.

"Both of them were summoned and arranged to attend at ten o'clock tomorrow morning."

Lieutenant Pirie, who was sitting on the carriage, introduced the time of the interview to Leifer and Gomes.

Neither of them had anything to say about the time of the interview. After all, Admiral Gorek had many things to do, and it would be very quick to meet them tomorrow morning. For many officers at the rank of colonel or major general, it is normal for them to wait two or three days. After all, they are not King Carlo, so they can see the Minister of the Navy whenever they want.

Seeing that the two majors were silent, Lieutenant Pirie continued to ask. "The place where you two live has been prepared. Do you want to take a rest first, or what?"

"Let's go to the resting place first."

Gomes speaks his mind.

"Then let's go to the resting place first."

Since his colleague wanted to take a rest first, it was naturally hard for Leifer to refute, and he also said to take a rest first.

After receiving the reply, Lieutenant Pirie gave instructions to the carriage in front. "Let's go to the Polka Inn."

"OK."

After the coachman replied, he raised his whip to speed up the carriage.

After a two-hour journey, the carriage finally arrived at the Polka Inn.

"This is the main reception place for our Admiralty. Generally, visitors to the Admiralty will be arranged here. The hotel is not too far from the Admiralty, and it is not far from the Roman Madame Club."

Facing Pili's hint, the two majors failed to understand the meaning, which made him roll his eyes inwardly.

In addition, he didn't say anything. This hotel is generally provided to officers of colonel and above. You are lucky enough to be able to live here.

After that, the second lieutenant took the two people to the front desk, opened two rooms, and handed them the keys.

"Goodbye you two, I have other things to be busy with."

"goodbye."

After Lieutenant Piri left, Gomes spoke. "I don't like this Lieutenant Pirie."

Faced with Gomes, Leifer agreed. "I don't like him either."

"We still have half a day, where do you plan to go?"

Facing Gomez's question, Leifer thought for a while and then spoke. "I'm going to visit some friends, what about you?"

"I want to move around."

"Have a good time then."

Then the two of them set off towards their destinations.

Although the two of them were busy with their own affairs, they both remembered that they were still waiting for the admiral to receive them tomorrow, so they returned to the hotel around ten o'clock.

Early the next morning, both of them got up early at the same time. Although the admiral would not receive them until ten o'clock, there was no harm in getting up early. Arranging clothes, wiping leather shoes, cleaning myself, busy with various things for more than an hour.

It wasn't until half past eight that the two of them were done. When they walked out of the door, their handsome and upright military demeanor made the two of them eye-catching even in the hotel. The main reason is that the two of them are too young, only in their twenties, and they are inconspicuous in their military uniforms.

This time there was no carriage to pick them up, so they chose to walk to the Admiralty.

Waiting for more than an hour was nothing to the two of them, so when the admiral's secretary called them, they answered immediately.

"You two, the admiral is waiting for you inside."

As the secretary opened the door, Leifer and Gomes appeared in front of Admiral Gorek.

"Wait a moment for me to sign this document."

Admiral Gorek, without raising his head, continued to process the documents in his hand after giving instructions.

Faced with the admiral's words, the two people immediately stood quietly in front of him, and no one wanted to say a word.

After a few minutes, the document was finally processed. Admiral Gorek looked up and saw that the two were still standing, and immediately pointed to the stool behind them with a smile.

"You guys sit down first."

After receiving the order, the two people sat down and looked like they were listening.

"Do you know why I summoned you?"

Facing Admiral Gorek's inquiry, the two of them shook their heads in unison.

Seeing the actions of the two men, His Excellency the Navy Minister smiled slightly.

"Since you don't know, I'll tell you."

"Major Gomes."

"arrive."

Gomes, who was called, immediately stood up with a snap like a spring.

"Congratulations on being appointed as the captain of the Venice outfitting patrol. I hope you will continue your efforts and achieve even more outstanding results."

Hearing Admiral Gorek's words, Gomes looked happy. For this trip to the Navy, both he and Leifer had considered that it might be necessary to arrange positions for them, and the two people with actual combat experience in uniformed patrols finally decided The only hope is to become the captain of the new Venetian cruise ship.

However, considering that currently only one Venetian Improved class ship has been launched in Italy (the other one is Argentina’s May 12th), then this position will definitely require some competition.

Gomes did not expect that this position would eventually belong to him. Thinking of this, he couldn't help but glance at Leifer beside him from the corner of his eyes, feeling much relieved inside.

Although the two are friends, Gomes has to admit that Leifer performed better in the Far East. He thought that this position would most likely be taken away by Leifer, but he didn't expect that it would be him in the end.

"Admiral, please rest assured, I will definitely lead the Venice to create even more outstanding results."

Facing Gomes who expressed his stance, Admiral Gorek said with a smile. "Very good, that's what I like about you."

Seeing that his friend had captured the captain of the Venice, it was impossible for Leifer not to be disappointed. Both of them had led armored patrols in naval battles, and their performance was even better. Leifer believed that this captain position should most likely belong to him. Now that it was given to a friend, what should he do if he changed it?

Leifer's somewhat dazed expression did not escape Admiral Golek's eyes.

"Gomez, please wait outside first."

Although it was a bit strange for the general to leave Leifer alone, the characteristics of a soldier made Gomes answer without hesitation. "As you command, Your Excellency."

After Gomes went out, Admiral Gorek looked at Leifer and suddenly asked. "Do you have anything to do with His Majesty?"

"ah!"

He didn't expect the admiral to ask such a strange question. After being surprised for a while, Leifer answered truthfully. "I've only met His Majesty a few times, but we don't have anything to do with him."

After hearing Leifer's words, Admiral Golek said something incomprehensible. "It's pretty much what I thought."

Leifer, who was a little confused by the admiral's words, didn't know how to answer.

"Do you know why I asked Gomes to be the captain of the Venezia?"

"have no idea."

"Then I'm telling you, because you have a better place to be."

Faced with the mysterious words spoken by Admiral Gorek, Leifer really didn't know how to answer.

"What do you think of the position of King's Adjutant?"

Admiral Gorek's words made Leifer's eyes widen.

Of course he knew the position of the king's adjutant. This is the link between the king and the army. The person who can hold this position must be the king's most trusted officer. This alone is not attractive enough. There is another very important reason. As long as the person who serves as adjutant is destined to be one of the military bosses in the future, even if he does not want to develop in the military in the future, he cannot be underestimated in the political world.

Giving himself such an important position makes Leifer feel very unreal.

"I will be the king's lieutenant?"

"Yes, that's you, Major Leifer."

Receiving the confirmed words from Admiral Gorek made Leifer feel even more confused.

He almost couldn't even remember how he got out of the office.

"Leifer...Leifer, what's wrong with you?"

The voice of his friend Gomes came to his ears. He looked at Leifer who looked in a daze and asked worriedly.

"nothing."

"Don't be like this, Leifer. I knew I took your place. I really didn't know it would be like this..."

Gomez's words of self-blame made Leifer shake his head. "It's okay, I'm fine, really fine."

"Then what's wrong with you?"

"I was stunned by the news."

"what news?"

"I'm going to serve as your Majesty's adjutant."

"This is not a blow. There is plenty in the future...what did you say!"

Gomes looked at his friend in surprise like a rooster being strangled.

And Leifer said it again.

"I want to be your Majesty's adjutant."