Reborn as King of South America

Chapter 404 Young Military Officers

At around four o'clock in the afternoon, the grand court meeting ended. Other officials and generals left together, but the four newly appointed chiefs of the army and navy were left alone.

"The Empire's military has been expanded by half. The burden on the Army and Navy is heavy. The four of you must work together to ensure that the expansion goes smoothly."

"Your Majesty, rest assured. We will do our best to ensure the completion of the military expansion mission."

The four of them expressed their views in unison.

"Well, that's good." Li Mingyuan nodded and said, "The focus of the large-scale military expansion is on the army. In this expansion, I hope that the army can learn from past combat experience and train several troops for special terrain operations based on the different terrain and climate in various parts of the country."

"The Special Forces Command has deployed a special mission combat unit in Patagonia, the northern mountains and forests of the Empire, and the tropical rainforest. I intend to use these three units as templates to establish a regular army specifically for the snowy and cold areas, the mountainous and hilly areas, and the tropical rainforest areas."

Following up on Li Mingyuan’s words, Zhao Yongzeng replied.

"General Zhao has served in the Special Forces Joint Command for several years and is very familiar with the combat style and tactics of the special forces. I think General Zhao should lead the training of the special terrain forces of the National Defense Force."

The new Army Minister Luo Linshan took the initiative to propose.

"I have seen General Zhao's performance during his tenure as the commander of the special forces. It is most appropriate for General Zhao to lead the organization of the special forces of the National Defense Forces."

Li Mingyuan agreed with Luo Linshan's suggestion and continued, "The Patagonia region covers an area of ​​more than 60 square kilometers. The local climate is cold and the fishery resources are rich. American and Canadian fishing boats often illegally cross the border and enter the coastal areas to hunt.
In order to ensure the Empire's control over the region and prevent Western powers from blocking the Strait of Jianye (Strait of Magellan) through the Penguin Islands (Malvinas Islands, after the Han Dynasty occupied Argentina, it claimed to inherit the territory of Argentina and had sovereignty over the Penguin Islands and Southern Antarctica.), it is necessary to strengthen the garrison strength in Patagonia. "

"Your Majesty, do you think it is appropriate to select suitable soldiers from the young people in the Patagonia region and reorganize a brigade-level snow combat force?"

Zhao Yongzeng asked tentatively.

“The brigade is too small, so we directly selected three troops from the newly formed infantry division and trained them in combat methods suitable for snowy and cold areas, mountainous and hilly areas, and tropical rainforest areas.

After the training was completed, the Snow Division was deployed in Patagonia to carry out the defense of the southern territory of the empire, and the Mountain Division and the Jungle Division were deployed in the southern border area of ​​the empire to serve as the spearhead force in the battles against Paraguay and the Republic of Brazil.

"Yes, Your Majesty. I will learn from the training model of the special forces and conduct targeted training for the three special forces."

"The combat missions of the three special forces are different from those of the special forces. The training methods and conditions can be partially changed, but the training standards must be maintained at a normal level and cannot be lowered too much from the special forces training standards."

"I will remember your majesty's teachings."

"Also, although the number of special forces' missions has decreased in recent years, we cannot relax the management and training of special forces. Weapons such as airships, gliders, new rifles, new grenades, and mines can be equipped to special forces first. In addition, in response to the combat requirements of special forces, the Army Department's Ordnance Department must also cooperate with the Special Forces Joint Operations Command to develop special standard weapons."

"The Special Forces was created by His Majesty himself. The Army's demands and support for the Special Forces remain the same. There will never be anything in the Special Forces that would disappoint His Majesty."

"Only high standards and strict requirements can create a steel-like force!"

In Li Mingyuan's heart, the special forces he built have always had a special status.

"The special forces were formed during the Peruvian uprising. At that time, the troops were poorly equipped and in a harsh environment. I and more than 100,000 soldiers fought for thousands of miles with a desperate mentality, and more than 10,000 soldiers died along the way before we arrived in Yangzhou (Rio Grande do Sul)."

Li Mingyuan couldn't help but be emotionally affected when he recalled the tens of thousands of Chinese workers who died during the Peruvian uprising and the thousands-mile migration twenty-one years ago.

"Where the graves of Han soldiers are, that is Han territory!

Today, the remains of tens of thousands of soldiers are lost along the thousands of kilometers of migration roads. In order to hurry along, they just piled up simple graves with stones in front of each collective burial site.

Now, more than twenty years have passed, and the loyal souls of more than ten thousand soldiers have been waiting in the desolate land for more than twenty years!

I still remember the promise we made, that wherever our horses tread, they shall be our land.

Even if the souls of the soldiers are unable to return, we must give them a place to rest in peace!" Li Mingyuan said excitedly, turned his eyes to Zhao Yongzeng, and ordered: "Twenty-one years ago, it was the special forces that found a thousand-mile transfer route for the entire army. In the near future, I also hope that the special forces will start along the way they went and collect and bury the bones of the soldiers left behind during the migration one by one!"

"The burial place of every fallen soldier is recorded. I guarantee to Your Majesty that the remains of a fallen soldier will never be left in the wild!"

"Good! Very good! I hope that during my lifetime, I can complete the task of welcoming back the remains of the soldiers and making the burial place of the soldiers the territory of the Han Dynasty together with you, rather than leaving this task to future generations."…………

In the council hall, Li Mingyuan's conversation with the four chiefs of the army and navy was still going on. Outside the imperial palace, more than a dozen young naval officers, aged between 20 and 30, who had mostly studied and trained in Western powers, gathered together to discuss the topics discussed in the court.

"I heard that the German naval instructors are about to leave the ship and hand over the command of the warship. Who do you think is most likely to serve as the captain of the two Vanguard-class ironclad ships (two 3500-ton armored cruisers built in the mainland, initially commanded by German naval officers on board to assist local naval officers)?"

"It's hard to say. He Linshu, Yang Jiannian, Chen Binshi, Wang Jinyong, Yang Guangzong, Xu Zhixuan, Lu Wenhui, Chen Jurong... the Navy Department has nominated more than ten reserve candidates. Who knows which two will be chosen?"

"In my opinion, He Linshu, Yang Jiannian, Chen Binshi and Wang Jinyong have the best chance."

An officer with the rank of major on his shoulder spoke up.

"Why? Is it because of their seniority and high status?"

"Haha, Brother Wang, don't be unconvinced. The four of them are the fifth batch of overseas students from our country, and they are also the first batch of seniors with experience in serving in the German Navy. Isn't it appropriate to choose them as captains of the Vanguard-class armored cruiser?"

"That's not necessarily true. Your Majesty has always advocated the promotion of talents, not seniority. If you only have seniority but no achievements, you can't be the captain of the main battleship of the Imperial Navy."

"Brother Chen is right. In terms of ability and military exploits, the captain of the Yongxing-class ship No. 1, Major Yang Guangrong, the captain of the Yongxing-class ship No. 5, Major Xu Zhixuan, the combat staff officer of the Chaoyang (an improved version of the Zhenyuan-class), Major Lu Wenhui, and the main gun commander of the Liming (an improved version of the Zhenyuan-class), Major Chen Jurong, are no worse than the four of them. Why must He Shulin and the others be the captains?"

“That’s right.”……

More than a dozen young naval officers were divided into two groups, arguing separately.

"Okay, everyone, stop arguing. Before the Navy Department officially appoints the captains of the first and second Vanguard-class armored cruisers, there is no point in arguing. In my opinion, why don't we make a bet on who can guess the captains of the two ships correctly? What do you think?"

"Chen Laosan, you know that gambling is prohibited in the military. If you are caught gambling by the military police, you will suffer!"

"Chen Shiding, it doesn't matter if you get caught gambling, but don't let us get implicated!"...

Everyone felt that Chen Shiding had come up with a bad idea and started to criticize him.

"Brothers, what are you talking about! I, Chen Shiding, am a top student who graduated from Charlottenburg University after all! How could I lead you to gamble!"

"Come on, Chen Laosan, the University of Charlottenburg's advantaged subject is metallurgy. You graduated from the University of Charlottenburg and joined the Navy. Everyone in the Navy knows your background!"

A young officer who had a good relationship with Chen Shiding started to make a fuss.

"What's wrong with joining the navy midway? I got in based on my real abilities and knowledge. When it comes to commanding naval operations, I'm no worse than you, Major Sun!"

Chen Shiding loudly refuted, then put on a smile and continued, "Haha, everyone misunderstood. What I meant was that we should make a bet on who will be the captain of the two Vanguard-class ironclad ships. Those who guessed wrong will admit defeat. I invite everyone to go to Zuixianlou in Beijing for a drink. What do you think, brothers?"

"That's a good suggestion, I agree."

“I agree too”…

More than ten of them were major-level officers. They received a lot of military pay and subsidies from the navy every month, so they were not short of money. They all agreed to Chen Shiding's suggestion. …………

(End of this chapter)