The Qing Dynasty

Chapter 436 We Want to Expand Our Military

"The teacher is right."

Wu Peifu turned to the crowd and said, "In the battle at the Juma River, the Imperial Guards suffered greatly from the foreign devils' cannons. Not only were there a large number of foreign devils' cannons, but there were also many large-caliber cannons, and especially the foreign devils' cannons were very accurate."

"The overwhelming artillery shells fell, and many of the anti-gun holes on the hill were collapsed by the foreign devils' artillery fire. Even the trench fortifications in some places were flattened by the foreign devils' intensive and fierce artillery fire. In just a dozen minutes, a battalion on the hill lost nearly half of its troops."

Wu Peifu's words surprised all the generals. During this period of time, the vanguard troops had been using intensive artillery fire to bombard the Allied forces, so they did not expect that the foreign devils' artillery was equally powerful and deadly.

Seeing everyone's expressions, Teng Yuzhao knew that Wu Peifu's words had achieved their purpose to a certain extent. He waved his hand to signal Wu Peifu to sit down and continued.

"This time, the foreign devils underestimated us and divided their troops into three groups, which gave us an opportunity. Otherwise, even if they marched in two groups, we would not be able to attack them with our strength, and we might even suffer a great loss."

Teng Yuzao waved his hand and said, "In a word, our strength is still not as good as the coalition forces. This situation will exist for quite a long time, even if we completely drive the foreign devils away from Zhili this time. This requires us to use our brains and work harder on tactics and strategies..."

Teng Yuzao stood up and said, "In addition, we need to expand our military, and we need to expand it significantly. At least our military strength should be close to that of the foreign devils, or even exceed theirs."

When they heard Teng Yuzhao mention expanding the army, the generals, except Hu Dianjia, couldn't help but become excited and looked at Liu Changfa with envy.

Liu Changfa was even more energetic. Although he didn't dare show it on his face, his heart had already begun beating violently.

Before the battle, Teng Yuzhao said publicly that as long as Liu Changfa fought well in this battle, the Artillery Association would become an Artillery Town.

Teng Yuzao smiled and said, "In these two great victories, including the great victory on the night of the breakout of the capital, and our clean and neat ambush of the foreign devils' transport troops, the artillery corps played a huge role, even a decisive role, in each of these major battles."

"The Artillery Corps' achievements today are inseparable from Qingyun's hard work and diligent training and organization of the Artillery Corps. Moreover, since the Artillery Corps is very important to us, it is absolutely necessary for us to vigorously expand the artillery. Therefore, the first step in our military expansion is to expand the artillery."

"We need to build a strong artillery. For a long time to come, we must attach great importance to the development of the artillery. As long as conditions permit, the artillery will not only be an artillery town, but also a second, third, and even more."

Teng Yuzhao's words made the generals look at Liu Changfa even more enthusiastically. Not to mention that the commander of an artillery town must be Liu Changfa, even if there were more artillery towns, Liu Changfa would still be in charge of these artillery units. How could they not be envious?

After Teng Yuzao finished speaking about the artillery, he glanced at Duan Qirui intentionally or unintentionally. Seeing Duan Qirui's face flushed and his eyes looking at Liu Changfa passionately, Teng Yuzao sighed softly.

Originally, he really wanted to give this position to Duan Qirui, at least as the future Director of Artillery.

Although Duan Qirui did not have much ability to govern, apart from Yuan Shikai, among the few people who had governed the Beiyang government, Xu Shichang and Duan Qirui should be considered the few capable politicians in the Beiyang system.

Moreover, in Teng Yuzhao's view, the Anhui faction that Duan Qirui was able to build up was definitely not a name that came in vain.

However, at least for the time being, this person will not be used by himself, which makes Teng Yuzhao feel a little regretful.

Teng Yuzao said to the generals with hot eyes, "Don't envy Qingyun. Artillery is indeed very important, but the final victory or defeat in a war still depends on whether the infantry can fight, dare to fight, and are good at fighting, and whether there are enough of them."

"So, you all have a part in this expansion." At Teng Yuzhao's suggestion, Wei Jinghai took out a piece of rice paper with words written on it from the notebook and began to read.

According to the order announced by Wei Jinghai, the artillery brigade was expanded into an artillery town, with Liu Changfa as the first town commander; the first, second and third mixed brigades were expanded into infantry towns, with Liu Yuzhi, Li Xiance and Hu Dianjia as town commanders;
To everyone's surprise, the assault column was expanded into the Fourth Regiment, with Liu Nineteen as the commander; Wu Peifu's First Guards Association was expanded into the Fifth Regiment; two new regiments were formed, with Pan Jinshan as the commander of the Sixth Regiment;

Since the Seventh Regiment had been occupied by the Huguang New Army, the other regiment had to be reorganized into the Eighth Regiment, with Li Jinyu as the commander.

The generals whose names Wei Jinghai called stood up and responded happily.

A staff officer came in with a tray covered with gold velvet. When he lifted the velvet, he saw golden shoulder straps and collar badges neatly arranged on the tray.

The military ranks in the vanguard army, above the rank of major general, are all made of real gold, so they naturally shine with golden light.

Teng Yuzhao personally put on the golden general stars for these generals one by one.

When it was Liu Shijiu's turn to wear it, Liu Shijiu said with a smile.

"General, I want this military rank. As for the title of town commander, please keep it for me for now, so that I don't have to waste time arguing with the court."

Except for Duan Qirui and Yang Shixiang, everyone else knew what Liu Shijiu meant. He meant that the imperial court was quite wary of him, who came from the Boxer Rebellion.

Teng Yuzao said sternly, "In the past, those people in the imperial court and the Grand Council tried their best to suppress your military position because they were still enjoying a safe and secure life in the capital. Now the imperial court has been chased away to Shanxi by the foreign devils, and now they must have realized the hardships of being exiled."

"What's more, the assault column has repeatedly made remarkable achievements, and Big Brother has always been in the front line of the battle. Your achievements are also among the best in our vanguard army. No one can erase these."

"If the imperial court continues to engage in those shameful activities, it means that they don't want to return to the capital anymore, so they can only move the capital to Jingmen."

"Moreover, the officials in the Grand Council have either died or been dismissed. Now only Prince Duan is left. I will go and talk to him in person."

"So, no one will come to obstruct us anymore, please rest assured, big brother."

"I'm just reminding you, big brother. You are already a general commanding a huge army. You can no longer personally charge into battle. Your safety is not only related to yourself, but also to the life and death of all officers and soldiers in the army!"

Liu Shijiu saluted Teng Yuzao solemnly, "Thank you, Marshal!"

Liu Shijiu only said three words, "Thank you, Marshal!" and nothing else. However, Teng Yuzhao knew Liu Shijiu very well. Although he did not say any grand words or express his loyalty, that solemn military salute said it all.

With Liu Shijiu's opening speech, although Li Jinyu and Pan Jinshan were already so excited that their eyes were filled with tears, they followed suit and saluted Teng Yuzao with great respect.

(End of this chapter)