The Qing Dynasty

Chapter 215 Elites Need to be Cultivated

Although Teng Yuzhao already had an idea in his mind, he still wanted to listen to everyone's opinions and brainstorm, which might help him make up for the shortcomings and loopholes in his plan.

Teng Yuzao has always believed that any overconfident, even self-righteous time traveler, in the late Qing Dynasty and early Republic of China, an era of rapid transformation of old and new ideas, any behavior that despises the thinking and consciousness of the elites of this era will cause great harm to this time traveler, and this harm may even be devastating.

Teng Yuzhao was also very clearly aware that he was not a god. No matter where he came from, he was just a mortal with advanced consciousness.

Teng Yuzao also believes that the saying "elites emerge in troubled times" does not mean that elites only emerge in troubled times, but that peacetime wipes out the talents, personalities, and edges of these people, and there is no stage for them to display their talents.

Teng Yuzhao listened attentively to the arguments of these generals and observed their expressions from time to time. He wanted to understand as much as possible about the generals' mentality and temperament through their daily actions, so as to better control them in the future.

For example, if there had been no chaos at the end of the Qin Dynasty, or even if the First Emperor had lived to be over eighty years old like Kangxi, would there have still been chaos at the end of the Qin Dynasty? Would Emperor Gaozu of Han and his large number of historically famous civil and military officials such as Xiao He, Zhang Liang, and Han Xin still have been able to create so astonishing achievements, be recorded in the annals of history, compose a magnificent chapter of history, and become god-like figures revered and worshipped by later generations?

If this were true, Teng Yuzhao estimated that most of these people would be drowned in obscurity in the long river of history, and might not even make a ripple.

Emperor Gaozu would have spent his entire life lingering in the streets and wine alleys, Xiao He might have worked hard in the Qin officialdom all his life, Zhang Liang would have wandered around the land of China like a free and easy cloud and wild crane all his life, and the god of war Han Xin might have carried the heavy burden of humiliation under the crotch all his life. The names of these people would at most become ordinary names like Heifu on the Qin Dynasty bamboo slips discovered by archaeologists.

In a word, it is the strong winds and huge waves of the times that create talents and allow the world to see the brilliance of gold. Among these people, there may appear people who will be praised as military strategists or gods of war by future generations. These all need Teng Yuzhao to discover and give them a stage to display their talents.

Or we can say that elites need to be cultivated.

Seeing that everyone had almost finished arguing, Teng Yuzao turned to look at Wei Jinghai who had been frowning and thinking, "Ningbo, what do you think about this matter?"

When Teng Yuzhao spoke, everyone stopped arguing and looked at Wei Jinghai.

Wei Jinghai glanced at Teng Yuzao and said, "Both Captain Hu and Captain Li's opinions are possible, but I am more inclined to agree with Captain Li's opinion."

"Why? Tell me your reasons."

Teng Yuzhao said this without any expression, and started smoking again, walking slowly.

"I tend to agree with Captain Li's opinion for two main reasons."

Wei Jinghai pondered and said, "First of all, the foreign devils will definitely think that after we withdraw from Tianjin, we will rush to Beicang to join Yu Zhongtang. If we want to rush to Beicang, breaking out from the west of the city is closest to Beicang. As long as we rush out, we can join Yu Zhongtang and others in the shortest time. At least in the short term, we won’t be chased by the foreign devils anymore;" "Secondly, although there are only more than 10,000 Japanese devils in the east of the city, there are many rivers in the east of the city, which is not conducive to our troops quickly leaving the battlefield. It is easy to be entangled by the devils. In that case, no matter whether it is the foreign devils in the city or the south of the city, they will immediately launch an outflanking siege on our breakout troops from the city and the south of the city. The tens of thousands of foreign devils in the north of the city will also surround us from the north at the same time. If we can’t rush out in time, we are likely to be surrounded by the foreign devils in the water network area in the east of the city."

Liu Yuzhi nodded first and said, "Sir, I agree with the deputy chief of staff. Although there seem to be only more than 10,000 Japanese devils in the east of the city, it is actually very difficult to break out from there. Once we are entangled, we will have little room for maneuver, which will make it easier for the foreign devils to surround us."

Teng Yuzao looked at the others one by one. Liu Shijiu nodded and said, "Although what Captain Hu said makes sense, I still agree with the deputy chief of staff. However, I suggest that we break out from the east of the city."

Liu Shijiu's point of view was very innovative, and Teng Yuzao couldn't help but become interested. "Brother, tell me why we broke out from the east of the city."

Liu Shijiu shook his head. "Since the foreign devils think that it is most beneficial for us to break out from the west, they will naturally not be unprepared. Moreover, the foreign devils have more soldiers now, so there is no need for them to play the empty city trick with us. They must have a large number of troops ambushed in the west. Even if the number is not 40,000 or 50,000, it will definitely not be less than 20,000. It is not impossible for them to stop us. And their troops will also rush over to besiege us continuously."

"The foreign devils want to adopt the strategy of surrounding us from three sides and attacking one side, and they deliberately make us look uncertain, hoping to trick us and make us leave the street fighting in the city and fight them in the field where the situation is unfavorable to us."

Liu Nineteen sneered and said, "How can the foreign devils use the military tactics of our ancestors to fight us? I think the foreign devils are just trying to confuse us and lure us into the trap."

Teng Yuzao nodded and continued, "Just now Ningbo said that there are many disadvantages in breaking out from the east of the city. Then why did you say that we should break out from the east of the city?"

Liu Shijiu smiled slyly and said, "It is precisely because breaking out from the east would be very dangerous, that is why we have to go from the east."

Although Liu Shijiu did not explain further, everyone already understood what he meant. The implication of Liu Shijiu's words was that, precisely because the coalition forces also believed that if they evacuated from the east, it would be easy for the vanguard troops to break out of the encirclement quickly due to the complex water network and would be easily surrounded by them, they might be careless in defense.

Teng Yuzao's eyes swept across everyone's faces one by one, and saw that everyone was either nodding frequently in agreement with Wei Jinghai and Liu Shijiu's analysis and suggestions, or frowning and thinking hard with their heads down in silence. Teng Yuzao's eyes finally fell on Wu Peifu's face, who was sitting at the end of the conference table next to Wang Decheng.

Historically, Wu Peifu was known for his skill in training troops, but there was little to write home about in terms of strategy and tactics. However, since he became Teng Yuzhao's student, all this had to change. Arranging a seat for Wu Peifu at meetings attended by senior generals of the Vanguard Army was an arrangement made by Teng Yuzhao to train Wu Peifu.

"Zi Yu, tell me what you think."

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(End of this chapter)