King of Beiyang

The 1st Marine Division of the Beiyang Fleet is intensifying its training. Although it consumes a large amount of supplies every day, it spends money like water.

Although a lot of money was spent, the results were very significant.

Even when it's snowing heavily, the Marines continue their training.

The harsh environment forged the indomitable will of these officers and soldiers.

Li Jingyuan was also very satisfied with the performance of the officers and soldiers.

"Commander, the weather is getting colder and colder, which is greatly affecting the training of all units. Fortunately, you purchased a large amount of cold-weather clothing from overseas, and the food supply is also plentiful. Otherwise, training would not be able to proceed at all."

Wang Shizhen, deputy commander of the 1st Marine Division, said as he looked at the soldiers who were training.

Li Jingyuan nodded: "The performance of each unit is quite good. In another two months, they will basically be able to form combat capability."

However, troops that have never been on the battlefield, no matter how well-trained, are still just greenhorns.

We still need to find a way to make our soldiers see blood!

Although Li Jingyuan had never been on the battlefield, had he never seen a pig run even if he had never eaten pork?

Which elite force didn't fight its way out of mountains of corpses and seas of blood?

No matter how good the training is, training and the real battlefield are completely different.

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Wang Shizhen nodded repeatedly, agreeing with this viewpoint.

However, he, as the deputy division commander, and most of the other generals and officers of the 1st Marine Division, had never been on the battlefield or seen blood!

"Once spring arrives, mobilize all units. Organize them into battalions or companies to eradicate the 'bearded' forces in Fengtian Province and throughout the entire Northeast region."

Throughout Northeast China, beards are everywhere. These beards are a menace to the villages, killing countless people; they must be eradicated.

This is also a good opportunity to train the soldiers properly and let the brothers see blood.

In this way, even if war breaks out in the future, the brothers won't be so terrified that their rifles become useless sticks.

Li Jingyuan made a decision.

"Yes, sir!" Wang Shizhen also thought it was a good way to train soldiers.

"Zhiquan, the division staff should make the relevant plans. Each time, half of the troops will be deployed to the mopping-up operation against the 'Bearded Men' in the Northeast. The rest of the troops will remain to guard the area and continue training."

I hope that by next June, the entire 1st Marine Division will have transformed into a battle-hardened elite force!

Li Jingyuan gave the order.

"Yes, sir!" replied Chief of Staff Duan Qirui.

Li Jingyuan knew that even in the operation to suppress bandits, there would inevitably be casualties.

Even so, it's still much better than having our soldiers fight the vicious Japanese devils in the future without any preparation.

In addition, Li Jingyuan plans to expand the army again by the middle of next year.

At that time, two regiments, along with some cavalry, artillery, engineers, and supply troops, will be drawn from the 1st Marine Division to form the 2nd and 3rd Divisions.

We will spend another year training to develop combat capability.

By the time the war broke out, the Beiyang Marine Corps had three divisions, totaling more than 3 men.

Even if we were to directly confront the Japanese army, it shouldn't be a problem.

If the Beiyang Fleet wins the naval battle, the war will be won for sure.

Meanwhile, the Beiyang Marine Corps was training in full swing.

But the other troops on the Liaodong Peninsula could only watch helplessly.

Lu Shun, Yi Zijun military camp.

Song Qing, the Governor-General of Sichuan Province, who also held the title of Junior Guardian of the Heir Apparent and was the Commander of the Yi Army, was warming himself by a fire with General Ma Yukun.

Outside, snow was falling heavily, and the Yi-character army's daily training had long since ceased.

The soldiers were all resting by the fire in the barracks.

Even the generals were equally idle. Aside from playing cards and gambling, they spent their time drinking.

Song Qing is seventy-two years old this year, and his hair has turned white. But he is one of the most famous and fierce generals in the Beiyang clique.

In another timeline of the Sino-Japanese War, Song Qing also displayed great bravery, leading his troops in numerous fierce battles against the Japanese. Even though he made mistakes in commanding the troops, he was far better than the Qing generals who fled at the first sign of trouble.

"Admiral, things are quite lively in Pulandian! Even with this heavy snow, those little rascals are training with great enthusiasm."

However, their food was really good; they ate meat at every meal. The aroma was so enticing, it could be smelled from miles away.

Fortunately, our military camp was 200 li away from Pulandian.

Otherwise, the brothers would be starving!

Ma Yukun's eyes were full of envy.

They were both soldiers from the Beiyang Army, so why did the Marines enjoy a life of luxury while the Marines lived a miserable existence?

"Lord Zhongtang is grooming the Third Young Master as his successor. Otherwise, he wouldn't have become the Vice Admiral so soon after returning from abroad."

However, as far as I know, although the Marine Corps consumes a lot of supplies every day, it doesn't rely on military pay.

Song Qing said.

"Does Your Excellency mean that the Marine Corps has additional income?" Ma Yukun asked, looking puzzled.

"I don't know. But what's certain is that His Excellency wants to train an elite army. If that's the case, His Excellency's position in the court will be even more unmatched!" Song Qing guessed.

Ma Yukun nodded repeatedly. They were all generals from the Beiyang faction and were considered loyal to Li Hongzhang.

"How about this, we'll set off early tomorrow morning to Pulandian to see if we can get some money from the Third Young Master."

Since we're all serving the Grand Secretary, if the Third Young Master's subordinates get to eat meat, we can at least have some soup!

Song Qing made a decision.

"Yes, Admiral!" Ma Yukun nodded immediately.

If we could get some meat from the Marine Corps to improve the troop's meals, it would be very helpful in boosting morale.

Early the next morning, Song Qing and Ma Yukun, under the protection of their personal guards, headed to the Marine Corps.

Although the distance between the two places is only two hundred li, or one hundred kilometers.

But the wind and snow were blowing hard, and the roads were covered in snow.

Even though they rode horses all the way, the two didn't arrive at the Marine Corps headquarters until the afternoon.

When Li Jingyuan received the report and learned that Song Qing had come to visit, he was also very surprised.

It should be noted that, in addition to the Marine Corps, the troops stationed on the Liaodong Peninsula also included the Ming and Qing armies of the Huai Army system, as well as the Yi army of the Beiyang Army system.

However, Li Jingyuan looked down on the Ming and Qing armies.

Because in another timeline of the Sino-Japanese War, these two forces performed terribly, they were nothing more than a rabble that collapsed at the first touch.

But the Yi-character army dared to fight the Japanese to the death, and even inflicted a lot of casualties on the Japanese, which made Li Jingyuan think highly of them.