I really don't have money for the ship girls.

Indeed, selecting a secretary ship is one of the objectives. Ying Tian also wants to take this opportunity to better understand the situation of the naval base from the forty ship girls who are generally recognized as the most capable. She should be able to fully understand the situation in the port area by understanding the organizational structure of the naval base from so many perspectives. Since she is being called "Commander" by everyone, and cannot personally go to her own port area for the time being, she should at least fulfill some of the duties of a commander.

When people see this question, some are a little dumbfounded. It is a very ordinary and broad question, completely different from some of the difficult questions they have prepared for. And it is precisely because the question is so ordinary that it is difficult to make a striking first impression or to be unexpected. It tests one's ability to compose words.

Without much thought, the company quickly started typing on the borrowed laptop—the naval base is mainly divided into military and daily operations departments. The military departments are further divided into routine operations and large-scale operations offices. Routine operations are conducted on a rotating basis according to established rules. In the event of a major military mission, a large-scale operations office composed of representatives from various factions will be formed to deploy the operations…

Atlanta didn't think much of it either, and she really didn't. She drank a Coke, watched the seagulls foraging outside the window for a while, and half an hour passed in a flash. She hadn't written a single word yet, but that wasn't a big deal. As long as she had a draft in mind, she would definitely be able to write with ease.

Hu De kept telling herself not to overthink it, but the recent setbacks had made her develop some path dependence, and she couldn't help but think more about the meaning of this question and discuss the organizational form of the naval base. This should be a test of the respondent's understanding of the current situation in the port area. As for the method of managing the naval base well, it is to see if the respondent has the corresponding ability and vision to manage the naval base.

Just as Hood was about to start writing, a question suddenly occurred to her: Did the Commander really have experience managing a large organization? If not, from what perspective would he evaluate the content of the argument? After thinking for a while, Hood knew how she should write it. The manager of the naval base was the Commander, not the secretary ship. Without the Commander, everything was just a mirage.

Frederick the Great articulated his thoughts with absolute rationality, while Tirpitz was more humane in comparison. Beneath her cool exterior lay a heart yearning for passion. Amagi leisurely typed, her words sounding more like suggestions than arguments. Jean Bart remained outspoken; her purpose in participating in the secretary ship selection was to serve as a warning to someone. Howe simply followed the established procedures, only able to write down her own understanding and insights…

The naval base also had some relatively weak players, but the ship girls who advanced in the villa were all formidable characters. Ying Tian made a token inspection and found that everyone typed very quickly. Even Essex, who claimed to only write battle reports, had a confident and serious expression. Kaga looked really cool when she was focused and holding her breath. Akagi was also a true Yamato Nadeshiko when she was quiet. Richelieu's delicate brows were slightly furrowed, which made her look even more sacred and compassionate.

Ying Tian could only say that he would feel quite at ease handing over the secretary ship to any one of them; this was the trouble with having so many talented people.

With a ten-minute reminder and the papers collected within five minutes of the deadline, Ying Tian checked the time the documents were sent to him via group chat and found that everyone had submitted them on time, including Yukikaze and Santiago. Although he hadn't seen the contents of the exam yet, Ying Tian was quite impressed. Even destroyers shouldn't be underestimated when it comes to ship girls.

Yingtian handed all the documents to the Prince of Wales and asked her to help print and organize them. After dinner, the two of them reviewed the documents together in the room.

The final judge is, of course, Yingtian. However, the Prince of Wales can help distinguish between some particularly good and some particularly bad answers, reducing Yingtian's workload. After all, Yingtian has no real experience in managing a garrison, while the Prince of Wales has extensive connections and rich practical experience, making him the best person to refer to.

"Yukikaze and Atlanta are just here to join in the fun..." the Prince of Wales remarked, somewhat amused and exasperated.

Ying Tian was reading Prinz Eugen's discourse. She was actually describing the situation of the naval base from the perspective of a soldier. After all, the naval base was a risky combat organization. Ying Tian nodded repeatedly at many of the things Prinz Eugen said. He gained a deeper understanding of this charming and beautiful iron-blooded ship girl who had once shared a bed with him and been naked with him.

"what happened?"

Yingtian walked behind the Prince of Wales and saw the two men's arguments. Xuefeng was one thing, but his paper was full of phrases like "May auspicious omens abound, may your home be safe and sound, and may you gain eternal life and all things go smoothly by worshipping Lord Xuefeng." He managed to squeeze out 1,200 words. Atlanta was even more impressive, with only one truly useful sentence: "Unite the garrison and maintain the status quo." The rest was all copied and pasted from the opening chapters of Romance of the Three Kingdoms.

"The first sentence was fine, but why was this part copied later? 'The world, after a long period of division, tends to unite; after a long period of unity, tends to divide.' This is an ominous sign."

The Prince of Wales said, "It's hard to say. If we hadn't found the commander, the naval base might have really fallen apart by now. Besides, was that first sentence really a good idea?"

"Concise, but it really hits the nail on the head." Ying Tian leaned against the Prince of Wales' back and explained, "The secretary ship can be kept in charge. There is no need for sweeping reforms in the current situation. I just saw a quote from Tirpitz that was very true. The naval base has some problems, but as long as the commander is there, it is not really a problem. If there are no problems, there is no need to make too many changes."

The Prince of Wales stroked his smooth chin and said, "If that's the case, it's difficult to choose the outstanding ones, and even more difficult to choose the ones who can maintain the status quo. Basically, all the ship girls who can advance have this kind of strength. Who do you plan to choose?"

"I don't know, let's at least take a look before making a decision." Ying Tian sat down next to the Prince of Wales again and casually asked, "Do you have any recommendations?"

"I don't recommend it, you can make the decision."

As the Prince of Wales spoke, he placed Hood and Howe's arguments in a prominent position. He did not recommend them to avoid suspicion, but he still had to whisper in their ear.

Chapter Sixty-One: Pillow Talk

The grading process lasted almost the entire night. In terms of word count alone, there weren't many words, but you had to think while reading. Moreover, as the saying goes, excellent designs tend to converge, and those who advanced were basically smart people. Many people's understanding of the current situation of the naval base and their ideas for future management were largely the same. It took a lot of insight to find some differences among them.

The Prince of Wales silently walked behind Ying Tian, ​​his slender hand touching his temple, his full figure gently pressing against the back of his head: "Should I call Belfast over? Her massage techniques are more professional."

"No need, it's just a small matter. I used to do my homework until the early hours of the morning when I was in high school." Ying Tian thought to himself that even without reading these theories recently, he still didn't go to sleep until the early hours of the morning every day. Although he used to do his homework passively, now he was doing it voluntarily because he was enjoying the beauty of the union of fish and water.

"Are you sure you don't need to call Belfast over? I'll just switch shifts with her."

“Really, no need,” Ying Tian said casually. “Just give me a shoulder massage. As long as it’s Welsh, any massage will feel good.”

Currently, only the Prince of Wales and Belfast have married two ships here, so the two have agreed that Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays will be Wales, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays will be Belfast, and Sundays will be Yingtian, which is free to choose. Of course, it's not very free, because he is too embarrassed to suggest a threesome. He doesn't have any other ideas; he just wants the whole family to be together.

The beautiful woman's soft, boneless hands pressed on his shoulders. Ying Tian looked at the papers in his hands. To be honest, it wasn't difficult to select members of the secretariat, but choosing a specific secretary ship was a bit difficult.

No one deliberately used sensational or shocking words to attract attention. At most, like Soviet Russia, they thought that the current naval base was too bourgeois and needed a complete social transformation. Their tone was firm, but when it came to specific measures, they were very gentle. They even let Akashi and Edinburgh choose which street lamp to hang. She was so gentle, I cried.

Or perhaps it was Jean Bart, who directly pointed out the current predicament of the naval base to Ying Tian, ​​accusing him of not caring enough about it and contributing too little as commander. Even if past mistakes were due to unconscious spacetime influences, she should have the courage to take responsibility, at least by punishing herself with three cups of wine as a sign of commitment. Otherwise, replacing the naval base with more secretary ships would be futile, ultimately leading to its disintegration. Ying Tian felt that Jean Bart's last words were somewhat alarmist, but her suggestions did indeed have some merit.

Perhaps choosing a character like Wei Zheng as the secretary ship wouldn't be bad?

Other excellent candidates included Frederick the Great, whose writing was rational and elegant; Amagi's suggestions were incisive; Akagi not only pointed out the current problems of the naval base but also clearly outlined solutions; and Hood astutely recognized the role of the commander. No one in the naval base would disobey the commander's orders, but the orders of the secretary ship were less reliable, especially when those orders conflicted with the wishes of the faction's leader…

Yingtian originally thought that everyone was capable and that he could choose any secretary ship, but when it came to practice, he found that choosing randomly was the hardest thing to do.

"Is the commander so conflicted?"

The Prince of Wales noticed that Ying Tian hadn't touched the draft in front of him for a long time, but was deep in thought. So he wrapped his arms around Ying Tian's neck from behind. He would never get tired of hugging his man, or rather, he couldn't resist seeing his man looking so handsome and focused on his thoughts.

Ying Tian held Welsh's slender hand and joked, "If you had agreed to be my secretary ship back then, I wouldn't have had to be so conflicted."

"Is it my fault?"

"It's my fault for being indecisive; having so many talented people is also a problem."

As he spoke, Ying Tian took Wales's hand, stood up from the chair, and stretched out a big yawn.

"Have you made a decision?"

"No, I plan to relax a bit. Trying to think without any ideas can easily lead to getting stuck on a single point."

The Prince of Wales's red eyes sparkled as she smiled slightly and asked, "How would you like to relax? Go for a walk, or grab a late-night snack? I think Shoukaku should be asleep by now, but Belfast and Chinkai should still be awake. You could also order takeout."

"Never mind, I won't bother others." Ying Tian glanced at Welsh's beautiful and elegant face, a smile tinged with deep affection. "What do you want for a midnight snack? I want to eat you."

"Oh, so how do you want to eat it?"

They could already be considered an old married couple. The Prince of Wales tiptoed and brought his beautiful face close to hers, his nose almost touching hers, carrying her rich and pleasant fragrance. He could feel her sweet and warm breath brushing against the downy hair on his face, and the smile in her red eyes seemed to sparkle like stars.

Ying Tian's words were originally meant as a joke, but the Prince of Wales' charm directly stirred his heartstrings, and all his previous worries and fatigue were instantly forgotten.

"How can we eat it? What other ways are there to eat it?"

As Ying Tian spoke, he embraced the Prince of Wales's slender waist and breathed hot air onto her fair neck.

"Aren't you going to take a shower first?"

"No."

After a long while, the Prince of Wales leaned against Yingtian's chest, the ends of his hair tickling Yingtian.

Ying Tian's mind went blank, and he had no other reaction for the time being. He even couldn't help but think about the selection of the secretary ship. He hadn't decided on the final candidate yet. He didn't expect that he would be so conscientious. He was thinking about the naval base's affairs even when he was having sex with his wife. Who knew the painstaking efforts he had put in?

"What are you doing?" Wales asked lazily as he noticed Ying Tian trying to stand up.

"I'll run the water for you to take a bath."

“We’ll talk about it later,” Wales said, half-commandingly. “Hold me tight.”

"I'm holding her."

Ying Tian held Wales in his arms, watching her lying on top of him. He could see her smooth, flat back and her rounded, smooth shoulders like freshly peeled eggs. He thought of something and asked, "Back then, you were the first person I asked to come to. Everyone in the garrison must have respected you, right?"

“No, having me here was a product of compromise.” Welsh was quick-witted and immediately understood what Yingtian was thinking. “It’s the same now. It’s not that everyone respects me, it’s just that there’s no one more suitable than me for the time being. Back then, I didn’t love you as much as I do now.”

Ying Tian recalled the past and said, "Then I feel that you loved me quite a bit back then."

"Hehe." The Prince of Wales smiled without saying a word.

"Didn't you love me back then? I'm angry."

“It’s just that I didn’t love you this much back then.” The Prince of Wales sat up and gently stroked Yingtian’s face as if comforting a child. “Now nothing can separate us, my love.”

"You still want to break up? I wouldn't even dare to think about it."

Looking at the Prince of Wales's beautiful face, Ying Tian could not suppress the love in his heart and once again embraced his lover, their skin touching and their ears rubbing together.

"So, in reality, besides you, no one else in the naval base has the unanimous approval of everyone?"

The Prince of Wales said, "No one but the Commander can gain everyone's approval except me. I am only recognized because of the Commander's favoritism."

Ying Tian nodded thoughtfully. He now had some ideas. There was no one who could be approved by everyone. So, he changed his thinking. Being able to advance meant that he had already gained initial recognition. So, all he needed to do next was to show his favoritism.

"So Commander, you don't need to worry too much. There's no perfect candidate. Whether it's Hood, the Duke of York, Howe, Frederick the Great, Enterprise, or Amagi, they're all fine. Just choose someone you trust." The Prince of Wales said, thinking to himself, "That's all I can do for you. I'm just emphasizing your names to make a stronger impression on the Commander. But the final decision still depends on the Commander's decision."

"Yes, I already have an idea. It has to be you. It's so good to have you by my side."

"Hmph, such a sweet talker."

"Just telling the truth."

As Ying Tian spoke, he flipped over and pinned the Prince of Wales's delicate body beneath him.

Wales parted her lips slightly: "Not going to take a bath?"

"Wash it, but do it again before washing."

"once?"

"Then...twice?"

The Prince of Wales pursed his lips: "Tomorrow you'll have a secretary ship, and the person you trust most won't just be me anymore."

"Stop talking," Ying Tian said fiercely. "You're not sleeping tonight!"

Chapter Sixty-Two: An Unexpected Result

Inside the house, Ying Tian and the Prince of Wales were being intimate, while outside, many other ship girls were also unable to sleep.

Richelieu intended to discuss her thoughts on the discussion with Jean Bart afterward, but Jean Bart directly sent the document he had written to his sister. After reading it, Richelieu's Dao heart was unstable, and she almost covered her face and fell. "What do you mean, the terrible commander is the biggest culprit for the current situation of the naval base?" Jean Bart, are you trying to cut yourself off from the commander?

It was Joan of Arc who quickly helped Richelieu up. She knew that the only people who could make the bishop so excited were the commander and Jean Bart. Even an upright official can't settle family disputes.

Akagi sat expressionlessly in the first-floor living room, but her eyes never left the commander's room on the second floor. On the surface, she was as calm as an old fox, but in reality, her heart was churning like a stormy sea. What if she wasn't chosen as the secretary ship this time? Did it mean that her performance hadn't made the commander realize that she was the most suitable partner for him? Was what Amagi-nee had always said right, and that she shouldn't have created this not-so-realistic persona?

Thinking of this, Akagi shook her head, her red eyes sharp and fiery. When did she become so insecure? To admit defeat before the outcome is even known is not Akagi's style. The secretary ship is definitely mine!

"Senior colleague, how's your writing?"

The company shook its head and said, "To be honest, I think my writing is dry and uninteresting. I'm better at fighting."

"Me too."

Essex then asked Baltimore, New Jersey, and Cleveland, and received similar answers. Yorktown and Independent were considered to be better at writing, but unfortunately, neither of them advanced to the next round.

However, most of the Eagle Union ship girls value freedom and don't really care about the secretary ship position.

Some people who didn't participate were even more nervous than those who did.

For example, in a California-based group, a massive betting operation is underway. Currently, the odds for Hood and Frederick the Great are far ahead, with the Amagi and Akagi sisters close behind. With so many options, the bookmaker is bound to win big in the end.

Giulio Caesar: "I was supporting Veneto at the time."

Julius Caesar: "Therefore I wagered five thousand Frederick the Great."

Sukup: "You call this supporting Veneto?"

Giulio Caesar: "How can this not be called support? If Sister Veneto becomes the secretary ship, I'll be happy even if I lose money. If Frederick the Great becomes the secretary ship, I'll be happy even if I win money. How wonderful! Sister Veneto certainly wouldn't want me to be unhappy."

San Francisco: "That makes sense. I'll bet 10,000 on San Diego."

Salt Lake City: "San Francisco, are you crazy?"

San Francisco: "Support Jin Ke La Jiang! Besides, if we're going to gamble, let's go big! What if there's an upset? I'll make a fortune!"

Quincy: "Good, that's tough."

Those in California who opened the betting pool are laughing all the way to the bank. You might be making a killing, but I'll never lose.

So the next day, everyone was excitedly waiting for the news about the secretary ship, but no news came.

Someone excitedly went to ask the ship girl next to the commander, and the feedback they received was just one sentence—

"The commander hasn't gotten up yet, what's the rush?"

"But it's already ten o'clock."

"Ten o'clock is the time to get up? You may understand getting up, but you don't understand the Commander."

"..."

It wasn't until lunchtime that Ying Tiancai and the Prince of Wales emerged from the room together.

St. Louis looked at the two of them and said teasingly, "Commander, you must be tired getting up so late."

"Yes, I stayed up all night reading everyone's arguments, and didn't go to sleep until almost dawn. It was really tiring," Ying Tian said without batting an eye.

"I think Wales looks very energetic."

[Of course, I was the one who initiated things throughout the rest of the night. It was almost dawn when I still had to force myself to go to the toilet, and then I carried Wales to bathe her. Of course, she was more energetic than me.]

Ying Tian continued his nonsense: "It was me reading the paper, not Wales, so of course she was excited."

St. Louis didn't believe it at all; could staying up all night to read academic papers really make your legs weak?

However, she didn't expose her true feelings, but instead continued to tease, "As a married ship, you don't even help the commander with his worries. Wales, you're not qualified."

The Prince of Wales glanced at St. Louis, smiled, and remained silent. Firstly, things had indeed gone a bit too far last night, and secondly, there was no need for her to indulge in such verbal sparring. "I had my commander providing me with pleasure all night long, what about you?" she thought. "Heh."

Zuikaku asked curiously, "Commander, have the results of the secretary ship selection been announced?"

"Out."