Li Yunxiang made a special trip, not to flaunt his success to Bai Zhizhan, but to give Bai Zhizhan a heads-up.
Three days earlier, on May 1st, Xue Yuanzheng formally granted Liu Changxun the rank of Grand Navy Marshal, and at the same time, Liu Changxun submitted his request for retirement.
Apart from the Founding Fathers, the title "Grand Marshal" became a ceremonial rank, bestowed only on retired generals.
Because of the defeat, or at least the lack of victory, in the last war, none of the thousands of Land and Sea Forces generals earned this honor.
Even Zhou Kuande, who committed suicide for his country before the end of the war, was posthumously awarded the rank of Marshal.
The last Navy General to receive the rank of "Grand Marshal" was Chen Bingxun.
Additionally, it was only after his death for his country that he was posthumously awarded the "Grand Marshal" rank.
