The Qing Dynasty

Chapter 552 Worthy of His Salute

Compared with the baggy uniforms and dim swords and guns of the Green Camp soldiers and the Shaanxi-Gansu Cavalry, the troops following closely behind the Shaanxi-Gansu Cavalry were a new army that gave people a completely different feeling.

This is an infantry army. Although they don't have the support of iron-hoofed war horses, they can make everyone feel a strong shock!

This is a kind of thing that can make people feel an irrepressible passion surging in their hearts just by looking at it.

First came a blood-red flag with crossed sabers and rifles embroidered with gold thread. This large flag fluttered in the fierce autumn wind, and the sabers and rifles embroidered with gold thread sparkled in the sun.

As soon as this troop showed up, people couldn't help but feel that it was an army full of vigor and vitality, and an awe-inspiring and inviolable army!

Even anyone who just glanced at this military flag would feel their hearts moved and their spirits lifted.

This refreshing new army not only has bright and majestic flags, but the entire unit also has bright, neat and compact uniforms, showing their capable and mighty demeanor.

In the team marching in eight columns, all the men were not only tall, but also wore brand new iron-gray military uniforms, stiff wide-brimmed hats, and brass collar badges, epaulettes, and cap badges that shone brightly and were dazzling. Each man held a Mauser rifle with a sharp bayonet across his chest, wore neat gaiters, and wore black short-barreled military boots that were polished to a shine.

The most special thing is that everyone wears snow-white gloves.

As the team of nearly a thousand people marched, their steps and arm swings were in unison, and every time their military boots stepped on the ground, there was a distinct and uniform "click" sound.

It seemed that while marching, these tall and strong officers and soldiers only moved their legs, while no movement could be seen in their upper bodies.

Behind the standard-bearer holding the military flag high, there were two young officers wearing long combat boots, with pistols inserted in their hands and sabers hanging on their backs, following in a horizontal line.

Three feet behind the two officers was Teng Yuzao, riding on his white horse.

Teng Yuzhao was the only exception in the entire team. He was still wearing the military uniform without any rank or insignia on it.

A dozen feet behind Teng Yuzhao were twelve cavalrymen with sharp eyes, holding the reins with their left hands and their right hands on the handles of their pistols with the holsters opened at their waists. These people were Teng Yuzhao's personal guards led by Liu Ziwei.

The troops behind Teng Yuzhao were the battalion that Teng Yuzhao carefully selected and rigorously trained for more than three months.

The reason why Teng Yuzhao took such great pains to select this battalion was just for this day.

Of course, he was not trying to support Cixi or even Guangxu, nor did he want to show his own majesty. He wanted to demonstrate the power of the vanguard army.

It is not only to let the Chinese people see the style of the Vanguard Army, but also to let the world powers see the power of the Vanguard Army. It is inevitable that they will be defeated by such a disciplined army.

Teng Yuzhao was well aware that Cixi's return visit would certainly attract a large number of Chinese and foreign journalists, and that her appearance today would draw the most attention and thus play the greatest role.

Teng Yuzhao believes that today will definitely become the highlight moment of the vanguard army.

By deploying this force at such a sensitive time today, Teng Yuzhao even wanted to give a strong deterrent to those stubborn ministers in the court, including Cixi.

Teng Yuzhao wanted all those who were planning to attack him and the vanguard army to restrain themselves temporarily, so as to buy him enough time.

Today, even without Cixi's words, he would have brought this troop to show up. What's more, the idea of ​​bringing this troop out to help Cixi return to Luan to make for a more festive occasion had already been approved by Cixi through Zai Yi.

Sure enough, as soon as Teng Yuzao led this carefully prepared army out of the platform of Majiabao Railway Station, he not only immediately attracted everyone's attention, but even caused exclamations!

Although the green camp and the common people who were kneeling to greet them could only steal a few glances with shocked eyes, the envoys of the great powers, their female relatives, and even the Chinese and foreign journalists who rushed to the scene saw it clearly, and the exclamations came from the female relatives and some female journalists.

Immediately, the flashlights that the Chinese and foreign journalists had set up long ago flashed in unison. Such a neat and orderly formation was unique even in the military parades of the great powers.

Although his eyes were a little sore from the dazzle of the flash, Teng Yuzhao, who was riding on the horse, remained motionless, but his body kept rising and falling with the movement of the warhorse.

His eyes were always searching for Duan Qirui and his Wuwei Right Army subordinates. He now wanted to take this opportunity to give the Wuwei Right Army officers and soldiers an additional strong shock, in order to warn this new army which also had a certain combat effectiveness not to be instigated to offend the vanguard army.

His vanguard army cannot be challenged by anyone.

Finally, at the end of the group of Green Camp soldiers kneeling on the roadside to greet them, Teng Yuzhao saw the figure of Duan Qirui, dressed in a neat grey military uniform, with his neck raised stubbornly and his head and chest puffed out in a saluting posture.

From Duan Qirui's location all the way to Yongdingmen, there were soldiers of the Right Army of the Wuwei Army wearing gray military uniforms and carrying German-style cowhide backpacks.

These soldiers of the Right Army of the Wuwei Army not only had uniforms similar in color to those of the Vanguard Army, they also wore the same leggings and wide-brimmed military caps. They even carried German-style cowhide backpacks, which were also part of the Vanguard Army's equipment. However, due to the Vanguard Army's rapid expansion, the German-style cowhide backpacks could no longer meet the needs of the troops.

At that time, there was no large-scale beef cattle farming in the country, and oxen were the apple of the farmers' eyes, so they would not kill them for meat. This resulted in a shortage of cowhide products in the country.

However, Teng Yuzao is ready to give up this cowhide backpack. He will not spend money to import these completely replaceable things.

The soldiers of the Right Army of the Wuwei Army behind Duan Qirui all stood solemnly by the roadside, holding their guns with a proud look on their faces and saluting.

These officers and soldiers of the Wuwei Right Army had every reason to be proud. You know, at this moment, all the people who were waiting on both sides of the road to welcome Cixi's return to the palace were kneeling. Only their stubborn and strong commander insisted that they stand up to welcome her even at the risk of being beheaded.

As for Yuan Shikai's statement that Duan Qirui insisted on standing and saluting in order to ensure Cixi's safety, Teng Yuzhao did not believe it. He thought that this was an excuse made by Yuan Shikai to exonerate Duan Qirui, or even himself. Yuan Shikai probably would not have said Duan Qirui's original words in front of Cixi and a group of noble ministers.

Teng Yuzao couldn't help but sigh inwardly. He remembered that in history, Duan Qirui was in charge of the Beiyang Third Regiment, and the two assistant commanders and four battalion commanders of the Third Regiment did not do much. Although Teng Yuzao was not sure whether these officers were eventually implicated by Duan Qirui because of today's incident, the two successors who succeeded Duan Qirui, Cao Kun and Wu Peifu, were both very successful. One was the president, and the other was a hero who appeared in the American Time magazine.

At this time in history, Cao Kun should have been the commander of the First Brigade of the Beiyang First Regiment, while Wu Peifu was still unknown and should have been working as a policeman in Tianjin.

When Teng Yuzhao thought that Wu Peifu was now the commander of the Fifth Town, he couldn't help but sigh inwardly at the cruel fate.

As he was getting closer and closer to Duan Qirui, Teng Yuzhao slowly raised his right hand, slightly turned sideways on his horse and always maintained a salute to Duan Qirui.

Teng Yuzhao did not want to demonstrate to Cixi at this time, but he deeply admired Duan Qirui's strengths. He seemed to see not Duan Qirui and his Wuwei Right Army subordinates, but himself and the vanguard army.

Teng Yuzhao believed that from now on, all new-style soldiers would no longer have to kneel down and kowtow to Cixi, at least he and his vanguard troops would never have to do so again. For this reason, Duan Qirui and the Wuwei Right Army in front of him were worthy of his respect.

When Teng Yuzao and his eye-catching troops came over with their heads held high as if in protest, Duan Qirui could not help but straighten his body. He could not afford to lose to Teng Yuzao, and certainly not to bring disgrace upon the reputation of the Wuwei Right Army in front of the world.

He believed that if he could withstand the power of Cixi, he could also withstand the power of Teng Yuzhao.

But Teng Yuzao's sudden action seemed to make Duan Qirui slightly stunned. He didn't understand why Teng Yuzao would support his almost foolish behavior at this time, even at the risk of angering Cixi!

But in an instant, he seemed to have thought of something, and then he felt his eyes getting hot!
Duan Qirui seemed to feel that his body suddenly had endless strength, because his actions today not only had the support of his subordinates, he also had the firm support of Teng Yuzhao and hundreds of thousands of vanguard soldiers!
Teng Yuzhao also saw the sparkling tears in Duan Qirui's eyes, and felt inexplicably ashamed in his heart.

"All of them."

"Gun to shoulder."

Suddenly, a drawn-out command was heard from behind Teng Yuzhao. Following the officer's command, all the vanguard soldiers in the queue, with sharp bayonets in their hands, except Teng Yuzhao who was riding on horseback, raised their rifles at the same time while marching. After the sound of rifles being clasped, all the soldiers' rifles were carried on their shoulders in unison.

Just as the reporters and the families of the powerful nations exclaimed in admiration, the major officer walking in the front of the team gave another command.

"Go forward."

After the major's command, the entire formation paused for a moment, and then there was the sound of thousands of short boots tapping the ground at the same time. All the officers and soldiers in the vanguard, including the flag-bearer and the two officers behind him, began to march in neat steps.

Although, at this time, the great powers had begun to imitate the goose-stepping of the former Prussian army and began to have their own styles of goose-stepping, and even when Yuan Shikai was training troops in Xiaozhan, he completely used the German training model, the Wuwei Right Army also marched in step, and it was possible for thousands of people to march in almost uniform step. This was by no means something that could be done casually.

Looking at the vanguard troops marching in neat step, their every move was in unison, their movements were powerful and majestic, their military appearance not only surprised the shocked envoys of the great powers and the Chinese and foreign journalists, but also Duan Qirui and his Wuwei Right Army subordinates.

But this was not the end yet, the major gave the order again.

"salute!"

Following the major's command, almost everyone simultaneously tilted their heads slightly to the left while marching, and at the same time saluted to Duan Qirui and the Wuwei Right Army on the left. Because of the snow-white gloves, the neat movements of the entire queue can be seen clearly.

Amid the flashing lights of the flashing lights, not only was there a scream of surprise, but also warm applause broke out among the ministers of the powerful countries and the crowd of Chinese and foreign journalists.

Such a wonderful scene not only attracted warm applause from the ministers of the great powers and Chinese and foreign journalists, but also made Guangxu, who was sitting in an open sedan chair at the back of the team, have a rare gleam in his eyes, and even his originally dull and sunken cheeks turned red with excitement.

Guangxu turned his head and looked around thoughtfully, as if he was trying to find his younger brother Zaifeng, but to his disappointment, since he saw his younger brother on the platform and got on the sedan chair, Zaifeng had disappeared again.

After a long time, the light in Guangxu's eyes dimmed again. He glanced at the back of Teng Yuzhao who was riding on the handsome white horse dozens of feet away. Then he looked carefully at the Yongding Gate which was getting closer and closer, and fell into a daze in silence.

The brilliant performance of the vanguard army led by Teng Yuzhao made Ronglu, Zai Yi, Yuan Shikai, Tie Liang and others who were riding horses beside Cixi's carriage stare in amazement.

Only Cixi seemed speechless. After seeing the vanguard troops in front, led by Teng Yuzhao, saluted the Wuwei Right Army headed by Duan Qirui, she squinted at Teng Yuzhao's back for a long time, then turned her head to say something cryptic to Ronglu.

"Zhonghua, these thousands of people can do it so neatly, it's obvious that Teng Xingfu has put a lot of effort into this welcoming ceremony!"

Ronglu nodded, and seeing that there seemed to be a hint of displeasure on Cixi's face, he hurriedly spoke.

"What the Queen Mother said is true. Teng Xingfu must have put in a lot of effort this time."

"Although the goose-stepping was first invented by the Germans, the European and American powers have also followed suit, and even have their own characteristics. It is conceivable that if thousands of soldiers can be trained to be as skilled as one's own arms, even the European and American powers would be reluctant to be inferior!"

Originally, she was just dissatisfied and chatted casually with Ronglu. She never thought that Ronglu actually knew the origin of the goose step. Cixi was a little surprised!
"Oh!"

Cixi said in surprise, "Zhonghua, it seems that you are also quite knowledgeable about the military affairs of Western powers!"

Ronglu smiled awkwardly and continued.

"Your Majesty, you are too kind. These are actually what Teng Xingfu told me when we were training the Wuwei Army a few years ago. Since Your Majesty mentioned it, I just said it casually."

Ronglu suddenly saw Yuan Shikai, who looked a little dejected on horseback, and suddenly said.

"Empress Dowager, Teng Xingfu once told me that the first person in the Qing Dynasty to train the goose-stepping technique was Yuan Weiting."

(End of this chapter)