The Qing Dynasty

Chapter 639 Let the Bayonet See Blood
Zhang Xiyuan knew that Colonel Karl was neither from a German military academy nor an officer in the German active forces. As the leader of the German training team, he came from the German Army General Staff.

Probably because of the department he works for, Karl is very interested in all relevant information about the new army in the country, including the weapons configuration of the new army in each province.

This is especially true for the Zhi army. Any information about the Zhi army is of his greatest concern.

The guard team in front of him was the auxiliary force of the Zhi army, so he was naturally very concerned about it. The formation, attire, and even the weapons were all the things he paid attention to.

Zhang Xiyuan looked in the direction of Carl's finger, and saw that Carl was pointing at the two small teams on both sides of the escort team.

Because he was in a hurry to check the deployment of the escort team, Zhang Xiyuan did not notice the weapons in the hands of the two small teams of officers and soldiers.

At this time, after Karl's reminder, Zhang Xiyuan also paid attention to the weapons in their hands, but he couldn't help but feel strange after just one look.

I saw that the two small teams of officers and soldiers each had a strange-looking weapon in their hands. Although it was not very clear, the barrel, buttstock, and trigger were all complete, so it was certain that it was a gun.

The reason why the weapons in their hands are strange is that these guns are much shorter than the Mauser rifles in the hands of other guards, and the barrels of these weapons are also thicker, and there seem to be dense round holes on them.

Most notably, it has a circular magazine drum placed horizontally on the left side.

Zhang Xiyuan had never seen this kind of gun before, so naturally he could not respond to Carl's questions.

Although Zhang Xiyuan had also heard about the Zhili Army Ordnance Department having a research institute for new weapons for the army and navy, and that they were secretly developing new guns, new artillery, and naval weapons, he guessed that this strange-looking gun should be a new type of gun.

Although judging from the length of the barrel and the round hole on it, Zhang Xiyuan, who has been teaching for many years, can roughly judge that their range will not be very far, and even the length of the entire rifle is not enough. If they engage in hand-to-hand combat, they will definitely suffer a disadvantage.

Although Zhang Xiyuan was confused, since this was related to the new equipment of the Zhi army, Zhang Xiyuan did not dare to say much.

Zhang Xiyuan just shook his head in confusion and said, "Colonel Karl, this is the first time I have seen this kind of gun, and I don't know its performance and function."

Seeing that Karl looked unconvinced, Zhang Xiyuan added with a wry smile.

"They are the guards of the Arsenal. I guess they don't want to keep it secret from you. You can ask your engineers in the Arsenal when you have time."

The Baoding Arsenal was a joint venture between the Beiyang government and the Germans. It had two to three hundred German engineers and technicians. They not only participated in the manufacture of weapons in the arsenal throughout the entire process, but also served as teachers at the arsenal's technical school and were responsible for training the technicians there.

This technical school also has an affiliated primary and secondary school. It not only trains existing domestic workers, but also recruits young students from the society to teach them engineering and technical knowledge.

The teachers are not only German, but also domestic. Teng Yuzhao's older brother Teng Yuhu is currently serving as assistant director of this technical school.

In the year of Gengzi, when Teng Yuzhao was defending the capital and confronting the Allied Forces, in order to avoid the covetousness of foreigners, Teng Yuhu, his younger brother Teng Yubin, and his younger sister Teng Yumei were sent by Li Yaoting to Zhang Zhidong in Huguang, where they were secretly protected by Zhang Zhidong.

Influenced by Teng Yuzao's several patented technologies, Teng Yuhu and his sister Teng Yumei entered the Hubei Industrial School founded by Zhang Zhidong in Hubei. After the war, they used pseudonyms and were helped by people from the Huguang and Guangzhou Vanguard Army Support Association to study English at Zhiguang Academy and Gezhi Academy in Guangzhou respectively.

With the help of Kangge, he went to study in the United States, and graduated and returned to China at the beginning of this year.

His younger sister Teng Yumei now works in Li Yulin's Ordnance Department, while Teng Yuhu was arranged by Teng Yuzhao to be an assistant in the Technical School of Baoding Arsenal. The general manager was Wu Huanrong, a member of the fourth batch of Chinese students studying in the United States.

In terms of knowledge, what Wu Huanrong learned in the United States decades ago is definitely not as good as that of Teng Yuhu, a newly graduated master's degree holder.

In the mind of Teng Yuzhao, who does not value qualifications but only ability and knowledge, he originally wanted to open an engineering university. He even contacted Kanger, and Kanger has agreed to help contact several universities in the United States for help. This engineering university is the most suitable place for Teng Yuzhao.

But Teng Yuhu was his younger brother after all, so he still needed to be cautious and had to let him work in this school temporarily.

Zhang Xiyuan's answer did not satisfy Carl.

In Baoding City, there were restaurants and pubs opened by the Germans, and even a four-story hotel run by the Germans. Both the Germans in the arsenal and the instructors in the military academy would spend every weekend there.

Karl was not only sent by the General Staff to lead the instructors, but also as a representative of the relevant German departments, he had the right to coordinate the engineers and technicians of the arsenal.

He met with the German-led teams at the arsenal every week, but he didn't hear last week that the Zhi army had been equipped with new guns.

Karl was hesitating and thinking whether to test Zhang Xiyuan again, when a German instructor suddenly shouted in German.

"Colonel, the Shuntian Army is coming!"

Carl quickly raised the telescope again and looked towards the end of the market in the distance.

Zhang Xiyuan also graduated from the Beiyang Military Academy, so he could naturally understand German. When he heard that the Shuntian Army was coming, his heart was lifted up again, and he quickly raised his telescope to watch.

Sure enough, from afar, at the entrance of the market, one could see the vanguard troops of the Shuntian Army turning the corner and marching in formation towards the Military Academy along the market streets that had long been deserted.

The dense and orderly queues marched along the stone pavement of the market, especially the bayonets flashing coldly in the sun, which gave people a strong sense of oppression. Even Zhang Xiyuan, who had never experienced a battle, felt a palpitation.

Although Zhang Xiyuan joined the Zhengding Training Army under Ye Zhichao in his early years, he entered the Zhengding Training Army Yuguan Military Academy for further studies in the second year. He was classmates with Bao Guiqing and Tian Zhongyu.

It was not until the 17th year of the reign of Emperor Guangxu that Zhang Xiyuan transferred to the Beiyang Military Academy in Tianjin.

After graduation, Zhang Xiyuan became a teacher at the cavalry school of the Huai Army stationed in Kaiping under the command of Nie Shicheng, the governor of Zhili.

According to historical records, he and Wu Peifu had a teacher-student relationship.

In the 20th year of the reign of Emperor Guangxu, the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895 broke out. Nie Shicheng led his Huai Army into Korea to fight against Japan. The Kaiping Cavalry School was closed, but Zhang Xiyuan did not follow the army into Korea to participate in the war. Later, Zhang Xiyuan moved with the army to Beitang.

In the 21st year of the reign of Emperor Guangxu, Zhang Xiyuan was appointed as the instructor of Hu Jufen's Dingwu Army.

After that, Yuan Shikai organized a new army based on the Dingwu Army, and Zhang Xiyuan was appointed as the deputy commander of the 1st Battalion of the new army artillery.

The following year, Zhang Xiyuan was appointed as the head of Hubei Military Academy.

It was not until the spring of the 25th year of the reign of Emperor Guangxu that Zhang Xiyuan became a teacher at Nie Shicheng's Wuwei Front Army Military Academy, and later returned to the Wuwei Front Army's camp school to serve.

In other words, Zhang Xiyuan had neither participated in the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895, nor had he directly participated in the previous war against the Eight-Nation Alliance. He had also never led troops himself. How could he not be nervous when he saw the dense army formation approaching?

He hurriedly looked at the guards led by Liu Zhengang outside the courtyard wall, and saw Liu Zhengang still pacing in front of the queue leisurely, waiting for the arrival of the Shuntian Army. He breathed a sigh of relief and looked at the approaching Shuntian Army. The officer leading the Shuntian Army's vanguard must have seen the guards lined up in front of the military academy, and immediately waved to the Shuntian Army vanguard to stop, and he turned around and ran out of the street and turned the corner to run towards the main road.

Soon, more than a dozen horses ran into the street, and the officer leading the vanguard army also ran back panting following the horses.

Although Zhang Xiyuan could not clearly see the face of the officer surrounded by the horsemen, he still confirmed from the officer's golden collar badge that the officer was Ma Longbiao.

At that time, the general rank of assistant commander was still colonel, but Ma Longbiao was a little surprised, his rank was major general.

This is because Ma Longbiao not only joined Li Hongzhang's Huai Army in his early years and went to Taiwan with Liu Mingchuan, but also worked in the Beiyang Navy. During the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895, his warship was sunk and he swam ashore by himself. Later, when Yuan Shikai formed a new army in Xiaozhan, he joined the Wuwei Right Army. He had a lot of experience, so he was the only general in the Henan Army who held the rank of major general as an assistant commander.

It seemed that Ma Longbiao realized that the soldiers lined up in front of the Military Academy blocking the gate were not students of the Military Academy. He hesitated a little, but finally trotted towards the gate of the Military Academy.

The Shuntian Army, which was marching in formation, also ran behind him under the orders of the officers.

A hundred meters away from the escort team, Ma Longbiao reined in his horse, and the Henan Army troops following closely behind him began to quickly line up behind Ma Longbiao without any orders from him, and the more than 3,000 people who followed also began to line up immediately afterwards.

The troops of the Malong Biao Third Brigade also began to form the same horizontal rows as the escort team.

Ma Longbiao, who had been carefully observing the escort team for a while, turned around and looked at a lieutenant colonel on horseback who came behind him and gave him a few instructions.

The officer galloped out of the line, reined in his horse, and shouted loudly.

"We are here at the Military Academy on official business under the orders of the Army Department. Where are you from and why are you blocking our way?"

At this time, Liu Zhengang had stopped and answered loudly to the lieutenant colonel.

"We are the Baoding Arsenal Guard. I am here on the orders of Marshal Teng to protect the safety of the military academy."

Upon hearing that it was the Baoding Arsenal Guard and that they were following Teng Yuzhao's orders, the lieutenant colonel immediately shut up.

Not to mention that Teng Yuzao was the Beiyang Minister, the former Zhishan and the temporary governor-general of the three northeastern provinces, even the position of president of the Zhi Army was something that a lieutenant colonel like him could not achieve.

Moreover, not to mention him, even his assistant commander Ma Longbiao could not reach Teng Yuzhao. The only ones in the Henan Army who could talk to Teng Yuzhao were their old superior Yuan Shikai and several of Teng Yuzhao's classmates in the Beiyang Military Academy.

The lieutenant colonel looked back at Ma Longbiao, only to see that Ma Longbiao had been standing on the horse for a long time before he waved to him, signaling him to return to the team.

Ma Longbiao shouted from his horse, "Major, we are following the orders of the Army Department to enter the military academy to arrest the GMD. Marshal Teng must not know the reason. You should get out of the way and let us in. Don't cause unnecessary trouble for Marshal Teng."

"I'm sorry, Commander Ma, I'm just following the order of Marshal Teng. It's my duty and I have no choice but to do this. I hope Commander Ma will understand."

Seeing that Liu Zhengang was unmoved and kept saying that he was following Teng Yuzhao's orders, Ma Longbiao couldn't help but get angry.

He shouted sternly, "You probably don't know yet, Marshal Teng has submitted his resignation to the Queen Mother and resigned from the position of President of the Zhi Army. This matter has been published in today's newspaper."

"From now on, all Zhijun towns and all related troops, including your arsenal guard, will be directly under the jurisdiction of the Army Department."

"I advise you to stay out of trouble, otherwise you, a young major, won't be able to bear the consequences!"

Ma Longbiao originally didn't know about this matter. He led the team on the train early in the morning. It was only when he got off the train at Baoding Station that he saw today's "Ta Kung Pao" and knew the whole story.

Ma Longbiao's words immediately shocked everyone, not just Liu Zhengang and the guards he brought with him, but also Zhang Xiyuan and a group of instructors who were standing on the rooftop observing the situation, all of them looked at each other in surprise!
For a moment, there was a rare silence at the confrontation scene.

The Military Academy also subscribed to newspapers. Not only Duan Qirui had one, but Zhang Xiyuan also had one. However, after the students started to make a fuss early this morning, Zhang Xiyuan had already ordered the school to be closed. The newsboys who came to deliver newspapers saw from afar that the fully armed instructors and the small team of guards of the Military Academy were already standing in front of the gate, so they dared not go forward.

Therefore, everyone in the military academy, including Liu Zhengang outside, was stunned!
The Ministry of the Army was to directly manage the affairs of the new armies in each province. It not only issued official documents to each province, but also directly announced them to the public in newspapers. Both Liu Zhengang and Zhang Xiyuan knew about this.

However, they did not take it seriously, because the imperial court had already tried it once before, and in the end it only took away Yuan Shikai's president of the Henan Army and incorporated the Henan Army into the Shuntian Army.

This time, the Russo-Japanese War outside the Great Wall had not ended yet, and they had not withdrawn from the three provinces outside the Great Wall. Therefore, they still believed that the court would not eventually take away Teng Yuzhao's military power.

Liu Zhengang, Zhang Xiyuan and others did not doubt Ma Longbiao's words, because they all believed that Ma Longbiao would never dare to lie casually in this matter, otherwise he would be in trouble.

Liu Zhengang's words even caused a commotion among the guards who had already lined up in an orderly manner and were ready for battle.

Liu Zhengang was stunned for just a moment, then he gritted his teeth, pulled out the pistol from his waist, and fired it into the air, then shouted fiercely at the guards.

"Calm down, everyone! Anyone who dares to move will be killed without mercy!"

Then he shouted at Ma Longbiao, "To tell you the truth, the Marshal has ordered the guards to stop you from entering the military academy. Before I receive the Marshal's revised order, no one can enter the school. Anyone who dares to trespass will be killed by my gun."

After yelling at Ma Longbiao, Liu Zhengang shouted to the guards.

"Listen up, everyone. Hold up your guns. If anyone dares to come close, I will make your bayonets see blood."

As Liu Zhengang's order was given, commands were immediately heard in the team, and then the guards quickly raised their rifles and pointed their shining bayonets at Ma Long's troops.

Liu Zhengang's action did not scare Ma Longbiao. On the contrary, it aroused the anger that Ma Longbiao had been trying hard to suppress, and he immediately turned around and shouted.

"What are you guys standing there for, you bastards? Are the guns in your hands firewood sticks?"

"Everyone, hold up your guns and follow me!"

After Ma Longbiao finished speaking, he dismounted from his horse, drew the pistol from his waist, and strode towards the gate of the military academy.

With Ma Longbiao's order, the officers and soldiers of the Third Regiment raised their guns, pointed their bayonets, and followed Ma Longbiao towards the escort team.

Seeing that both sides had raised their guns, Zhang Xiyuan on the rooftop panicked and shouted at the top of his lungs.

"Captain Liu, Commander Ma, please don't be angry. Let's talk it over nicely!"

But before Zhang Xiyuan finished shouting, a burst of rapid gunfire rang out from below.
(End of this chapter)