Reborn as King of South America

Chapter 46 Awarding of Military Flag

"In addition to the above-mentioned troop organization, the newly established field army and garrison army will also implement a new military rank system.

The platoon leader is a basic officer, and the corresponding rank is second lieutenant, and so on.
Company commander, deputy battalion commander: Captain

Battalion commander, deputy regiment commander: major or lieutenant colonel
Regimental commander and deputy brigade commander: Lieutenant Colonel or Colonel

Brigade commander, deputy division commander: Colonel or Major General
Division Commander: Major General or Lieutenant General
However, at this stage, the highest military rank is only major general, and the rank of lieutenant general will be awarded after the founding of the People’s Republic of China.”

"Is the new unit formed from the existing unit?"

"Yes, the original 4th Division and 3rd Brigade were streamlined and reorganized from the old units, while the Tianxiong Guard Brigade was formed by drawing soldiers from various units."

"Prince, what is the tax rate for the 300 acres of land given to the soldiers?" asked a junior officer.

"You asked a good question." Li Mingyuan looked at him with appreciation and continued, "Land is what the Chinese value most. For thousands of years, the common life of the Chinese people is that those who till the land own the land, the elderly have a pension, and the young are provided for.
All of you brothers were sold to foreign countries as laborers just like me, so I decided that no matter whether you are a disabled soldier or a senior officer, each of you will not have to pay taxes on your 300 acres of land until you die."

"The prince is wise." As soon as Li Mingyuan finished speaking, a roaring sound immediately rang out in the hall.

Although the Chinese sitting in the hall were all military officers, more than a month ago, they had nothing and were coolie laborers living on the line between life and death. Owning 300 acres of land was something that no one had ever dreamed of.

However, Li Mingyuan not only made it clear that each person would receive 300 acres of land, but also that they would not have to pay taxes on these 300 acres of land until they died. This was of course supported by all the officers.

In the feudal period, many people might own hundreds of acres of land, but these lands had to pay high taxes. Once a flood or drought occurred and the land was barren, the high taxes would drag down a wealthy family. However, it would be a different story if three hundred acres of land were not taxed.

Even if 10 acres of the 300 acres of land are used to grow crops and the rest are used to raise livestock, there will still be a large surplus every year.

There is no need to be afraid of droughts or floods because there is no pressure of taxes. Even if there is no harvest that year, you can live well with the stored grain from previous years.

Li Mingyuan had the confidence to not collect taxes. Apart from anything else, the 400 tons of gold in his hands alone could feed the Chinese Independence Army for decades.

The land in southern Brazil is fertile. Once there, the Chinese will no longer have to worry about food problems after the first season's harvest in just half a year.

There are two main ways for a country to develop. One is internal oppression, squeezing the labor and financial resources of the domestic people. The other is external expansion, obtaining resources and wealth by exploiting the people of other countries.

There are few Chinese in South America, and the southern region of Brazil, where the country was founded, has a good natural environment, so Li Mingyuan does not need to exploit the Chinese who have followed him through thick and thin to promote national development.

Building a country is not the job of one person or one class, but the obligation of all citizens. However, verbal patriotism is useless.

Why do I say this? Because a country is made up of people. If the most basic living needs of every citizen are not guaranteed, how can you have the reason to ask him to contribute to the country?
There is a saying called the silent majority, which means that in major social changes, revolutions or other events, most people are not keen to participate.

Because as grassroots people, participation in major events has nothing to do with their own interests. They are busy supporting their families and have no time to participate in such things.

Li Mingyuan was also a member of the lower class in his previous life, otherwise he would not have risked his life to fight for the French.

As a member of the grassroots, Li Mingyuan knows that if you want others to keep pace with you, you must have the motivation to make them do so.

So before occupying southern Brazil, Li Mingyuan distributed the land.

With three hundred acres of tax-free land, the soldiers of the Chinese Independence Army had the motivation to fight actively.

At this time, they were fighting not for Li Mingyuan alone, but for their own interests.

By uniting all the Chinese as a whole through land, when facing attacks from other countries, all soldiers will closely connect themselves with the entire country and fight back against the enemy without hesitation. The Chinese officers in the hall excitedly discussed the 300 acres of tax-free land. Li Mingyuan did not stop them from sharing their joy. When everyone had almost finished speaking, Li Mingyuan said, "These 300 acres of land belong entirely to you. Apart from the minimum standard land share to ensure the lives of your descendants, the excess land can be freely bought and sold. It can also be rented to others for planting."

"The three hundred acres of land was obtained by the prince and his brothers at the cost of their lives. I will not sell it." said an old Taiping soldier in his thirties.

"Chen Lao Er, you are reluctant to sell the land. What if you get married and have a son in the future and your son sells the land?"

"He dares? If he dares to sell the land, I will break his dog legs."

"Old Chen, you don't even have a wife yet, and you're already thinking about your son?"

"Hehe, I'm not afraid. How can I not find a wife if I follow the prince? By then, I will give birth to three sons. No, three sons are not enough. I want to give birth to five," Chen Laoer said seriously.

The people around him burst into laughter at Chen Laoer's appearance.

"What Chen Laoer said is very good. Everyone has a thousand acres of land, and there is no need to worry about not being able to raise children. You should all have more children in the future. When you are old, they can take over the independent army." Li Mingyuan said with a smile.

"It is only the prince who understands me, Old Chen." Chen Lao Er said a little embarrassedly.

A house full of children and grandchildren is the ideal family structure for the Chinese. Li Mingyuan believes that after arriving in southern Brazil, there is no need for government propaganda. After every Chinese soldier has three hundred acres or even more land, he will definitely want more children. Newborn babies will also help increase the number of Chinese and allow them to take root in South America faster.

"Three hundred acres of land is not the limit. If you have made contributions during the transition to southern Brazil or in future battles, I will reward you with land according to your contributions. However, the tax-free land owned by each person shall not exceed three thousand acres. Land exceeding three thousand acres will be taxed according to the size of the land. (Only the first generation of Chinese workers who participated in the uprising do not have to pay taxes. The next generation will pay taxes according to the land area.)"

"Three thousand acres of land? How big is that?" Chen Laoer said with his eyes wide open.

"Haha, Chen Laoer, work harder and try to earn more property for your future son." Li Mingyuan said with a smile.

"I can," Chen Laoer said with a silly smile.

After chatting with some junior officers for a while, Li Mingyuan carried out the highlight of the day.

"Chen Guozhu, Zhou Daniu, Li Dawei, Sun Qisheng."

"Here." As Li Mingyuan called the roll, the four people immediately stood up.

"You four have distinguished yourself in the Battle of Arequipa. You are hereby appointed as follows:
Chen Guozhu, commander of the Zhaowu Division of the First Division, rank major general,
Zhou Daniu, commander of the Second Mixed Brigade, Tiger Brigade, military rank major general

Li Dawei, commander of the Imperial Guard Brigade, rank major general
Sun Qisheng, deputy commander of the special forces and commander of the special brigade, rank colonel"

After reading the list, Li Mingyuan took a flag with an eagle painted on it from the guard and handed it to Zhou Guozhu in person, saying solemnly, "Zhou Guozhu, the first commander of the Zhaowu Division, today I hand over the flag of the Zhaowu Division to you. I hope you can lead the Zhaowu Division to fight more bravely and bring more honor to the eagle flag."

"As long as the flag is there, the people are there. If the flag is gone, the people are gone." Chen Guozhu took over the military flag and said loudly.

Li Mingyuan nodded and walked to Zhou Daniu.

He took out a black tiger military flag and handed it to Zhou Daniu: The black tiger is soaring in the wind, the military flag is flying far away, don't let the military flag fall.

"I will definitely live up to the prince's expectations." Zhou Daniu said, holding the military flag tightly. ...

(End of this chapter)