The Qing Dynasty

Chapter 121 Cutting the Braids

Although the robbery of the Leasing Bank was specifically carried out by Li Yaoting's guard platoon, the task of clearing out the resistance in the foreign-funded banks was entirely accomplished by Hu Dajiu and his men. More than half of the credit should be attributed to them. However, in order to avoid suspicion, Teng Yuzhao only gave them a reward of fifty taels of silver each.

Teng Yuzhao nodded, looked at the more than 40 people in front of him and said with a smile.

"I think many of you may not be willing to come here to serve as guards, because it is difficult to gain military merit here, and some people may think it will be difficult to get promoted in the future."

Teng Yuzao waved his hand to stop Hu Daqiu from speaking, and continued, "If anyone thinks so, I can say responsibly today that you all keep it in your heart."

"I have already told General Manager Li of the Camp Affairs Office. He will arrange for the instructors or students of the Wuwei Front Military Camp School to give you lessons during your breaks. As long as those of you can pass the exams, I will assign you to various units as junior officers on a regular basis. As for your future, it will depend on the knowledge you have acquired and the military exploits you have made."

Although these people did not personally participate in the robbery of the foreign-leased bank, whenever they heard about this incident in the future, they would immediately think that it was done by Li Yaoting's guard platoon. Therefore, these people must not be allowed to return to the Second Regiment for the time being, but it is impossible to kill them all to prevent future troubles. Teng Yuzhao, a time traveler, could never do that.

After repeated consideration, Teng Yuzhao could only place them by his side first. If these people could achieve something in the future, he would personally arrange them to be officers. These people who were labeled as his guards would be grateful to him and might even become his die-hard fans.

"Thank you for your cultivation!"

Although not everyone thought the same as Teng Yuzhao's words, it still made everyone's blood boil. More than 40 people ignored the military orders and shouted excitedly.

Teng Yuzhao encouraged these people a few more words before leading Wu Peifu and the guards out of the yard.

The military camp was quiet everywhere, except for the noisy sound coming from the direction of the parade ground.

The large parade ground was filled with chaotic crowds, but the noisy sound still couldn't cover up Liu Shijiu's loud voice.

Teng Yuzhao listened attentively and could roughly make out that Liu Shijiu was cursing someone, and the content was about braids, which made Teng Yuzhao frown.

Approaching the Grand Parade Ground, Teng Yuzao could see more clearly. Although the Grand Parade Ground was still in chaos, it had been roughly divided into three major groups. Li Yulin and Li Xianze were both in the Grand Parade Ground, organizing the reorganization of the troops.

The more orderly group was the one on the far right side of the parade ground, wearing the new field gray uniforms of the Vanguard Army. Each of them was very excited, and was organizing the team amid the efforts and loud shouts of a dozen platoon leaders of the Second Regiment.

Next to the queue, there were some people who were hurriedly and excitedly putting on their new uniforms. These people were obviously from the Qian Regiment who had agreed to join the Vanguard Army.

The group in the middle was the largest and most chaotic, with more than a thousand people, and they were wearing their own clothes. Not only Liu Jiu's Qianzi group, but all the Boxers did not have uniform clothing, they all wore their own clothes.

In front of these people, at the edge of the parade ground, was a row of vanguard soldiers numbering more than a hundred people. All of them were holding clippers and scissors, cutting the braids and hair of the people in the Qian Regiment. All of their hairstyles were flat-topped about an inch long. The large group of people in the Qian Regiment who were waiting for a haircut but had not yet been in line, pointed at those who were having their hair cut or those who had just had their hair cut, and laughed loudly from time to time.

As for those who had their hair cut, some proudly showed off their new hairstyle to these people, while others hurriedly ran to the group of people who were lining up, as they were anxious to receive their fancy new uniforms.

There were also some who had just had their hair cut. Their expressions did not show off, but they looked like thieves. They covered their heads and ran away. They hurried to the place where they received their military uniforms. After receiving their uniforms, the first thing they did was to put on their military caps.

When the Wuwei Army was first established, German instructors repeatedly emphasized that in order to facilitate quick and easy movement on the battlefield, and to facilitate wound treatment and bandaging in case of head injuries, the Wuwei Army must cut their braids.

The imperial court at that time was frightened by the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895 and was eager to train a strong army. Although it did not agree explicitly, it adopted a tacit attitude, so the soldiers of the Wuwei Army now all have their braids cut.

However, most officers above the rank of battalion commander did not cut their queues. Only officers such as Teng Yuzhao and Hu Dianjia, who graduated from the Beiyang Military Academy, cut their queues.

Teng Yuzhao, who hated pigtails in the first place, would naturally not allow anyone in his vanguard army to go to the battlefield with a pigtail after he traveled through time. All officers and soldiers of the vanguard army had to have flat heads. Those who wanted to join the Qian Regiment of the vanguard army could only join the vanguard army if they cut off their pigtails.

As for the group of people on the far left, there were only about 200 people, but some of them were standing, squatting, or even sitting on the ground. Their expressions were different. Some were angry, some were sad, and some were nervous and hesitant. Among them were several leaders of the Qian Group, and Liu Shijiu was angry with these people.

At this moment, Liu Shijiu, wearing a brand new military uniform, lieutenant colonel epaulettes, and a majestic wide-brimmed hat on his head with his braids cut off, was standing in front of the group of people, cursing loudly with a red face and thick neck.

Behind Liu Shijiu stood several big leaders of the Qian Group, who were also dressed in military uniforms and had their braids cut off. Among them were the second and third senior brothers of the Qian Group.

Teng Yuzhao noticed that, for some reason, the meticulous Li Yulin and Wei Jinghai had given, all the members of the Qianzi Regiment on the parade ground, including the leaders of the Qianzi Regiment, did not carry any weapons, except Liu Shijiu who had a Browning on his belt. Teng Yuzhao nodded secretly.

Behind them, there were two tables. On one table were bundles of silver dollars, and on the other table were pens and ink. Behind each table was a clerk from the vanguard army sitting. Wei Jinghai and a guard stood coldly behind the table.

"Damn it, it's just a braid."

Liu Shijiu pointed at the group of people with a red face and cursed, "What the hell are you talking about? Your hair and body are given by your parents, and they can't be cut off easily. Your lives were given by your parents, so why are you still following me to the battlefield to kill foreign devils? Aren't you afraid of losing your lives? You will be even more sorry for your parents!"

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(End of this chapter)