——

Do you want to ask the Huai soldiers and low-level officers whether they have the Qing Dynasty in their hearts? Lao Li can be sure that they will not do so in ten cases. The purpose of serving as a soldier and paying soldiers is the purpose of soldiers over 80 years old. Therefore, whoever pays them will listen to whoever pays them.

Don't listen to the Hunan Army and the Huai Army at all

It can be seen from Xuan Xuan. As for senior generals? Lao Li is not sure, but what is certain is that the Beiyang Navy has become somewhat disloyal. After all, after experiencing the stinginess of the imperial court in terms of funding, it has since

Nanyang earned 3

More than 000,000 taels of silver, after experiencing such a huge contrast, it is abnormal to have no idea!! As for the army? Lao Li is still very confident. After all, they are all under his old subordinates for many years. They have also enjoyed the favor of the imperial court.

.So, Lao Li decided to hold an internal meeting of the Huai Clan to unify his thoughts and strengthen the idea of ​​"loyalty to the emperor" in the minds of the Huai Clan bosses. However, it seems that Lao Li forgot that Beiyang is not only short of money.

Navy division, and land division!!

Lao Li spent a lot of time choosing the people for this meeting. The senior generals of the Huai Army near Zhili were naturally coming. Nie Shicheng of Wu Yi Army, Wei Rugui of Sheng Army, and Zhang Wenxuan, commander of the Beiyang Guards. Beiyang Water

The division's admiral Ding Ruchang, the right-wing commander Liu Buchan, plus himself

Zhang Peilun, the son-in-law of Zhang Peilun, a total of 6 people. As for Xu Jie, he was excluded from this meeting. It was not that Lao Li was afraid that he would disrupt the situation, but that if some of Xu Jie's words were spread, he would lose his head. And Sheng Xuanhuai

The others were not invited, because Lao Li valued the attitude of the army more.

Looking at the Huai people sitting on both sides, Li Hongzhang had mixed feelings. He had worked hard for decades and built up a huge family fortune. The Huai people were also scattered throughout the Qing Dynasty, and they were still alive until now.

These are the only ones.

"In the past year, Beiyang has changed a lot. It is not an exaggeration to say that it has been earth-shaking. Please tell me what you have gained in the past year." Li Hongzhang stroked his beard and said with a smile.

"Our Beiyang Navy has experienced great surprises and great joy this year. Is this a great surprise? Naturally, I did not expect that the Japanese were so prepared for war. If things go on like this, our Beiyang Navy will inevitably be defeated. And is this a great surprise? 1

With the help of Mr. Xu, I ordered new warships from Italy, and secondly, I obtained a large amount of funds from Nanyang. With this money and warships, I will have enough confidence to fight in Beiyang in the future." Liu Buchan said with a smile.

"If Mr. Liu says that the Navy is in for a big surprise, then I, the Land Division, will probably be shocked." Nie Shicheng said with a cold snort.

"Lord Nie is overly worried. This trip to Nanyang also relies heavily on Lord Nie's Wu Yijun. Naturally, our navy will not monopolize this benefit. And after Mr. Xu took over the Tianjin Machinery Bureau and attracted a large number of Chinese businessmen to set up factories, I believe that our Beiyang continent

The division will also update its equipment." Ding Ruchang said with relief.

"Master Ding's kindness is appreciated. But as Mr. Xu said, the Beiyang Fleet is at least the same level of opponent as the Japanese Fleet, but our Beiyang Army Division is not on the same level as the Japanese Army in terms of numbers, equipment, quality, organization, and tactics.

Not only that, but more importantly, our land division does not have the opportunity to expand its armaments like the navy." Ma Yukun said with a sigh.

"Ji Shi is proficient in maritime affairs and has a rough grasp of the army. Master Ma, don't worry too much." Hearing that Ma Yukun also wanted to expand the army, Li Hongzhang said with some displeasure. Did Xu Jie not have much contact with Ma Yukun? There has been no direct contact recently.

, why does Ma Yukun also support the reorganization of the army? Lao Li is very puzzled.

"Ji Shi is not only proficient in maritime affairs, but also has a lot of research on the army. When Ji Shi showed off the Italian weapons, I just felt that the equipment was sharp. But then, after practicing privately with the Italian Embassy Guards several times, I realized that this Westerner is very powerful.

It's not just weapons." Ma Yukun said rather ashamedly.

"Mr. Nie also wants to have some sparring, but I didn't expect Brother Ma to walk in front of me. Please tell me what's going on?" Nie Shicheng urged.

"It's embarrassing to say that in the first game, we attacked from Beiyang and the Italians defended. We originally wanted to imitate the original tactics against the Nian Army and shoot in three rows. However, we didn't know that the Italians were hiding in the trenches and it was difficult for bullets to hit them.

, and preset positions on the flanks of our army’s attack, when

When our army was charging, the opponent's flank suddenly launched an attack. The 1889-style fast guns were combined with superb shooting. Our army collapsed immediately. And for the sake of fairness, the Italian Guards did not use the Maxin machine gun." Ma Yukun smiled embarrassingly at this point.

Said with a smile.

"In the second game, we defended and the Italians attacked. We also learned from the Italians and dug bunkers and trenches. We also adopted a linear layout. However, the Italian main force did not launch an attack, but eliminated small groups of people to test. And our side

I have no experience, and when the other party hits me, I

The whole front fired, and as a result, all the fire points were exposed. Then, the Italians used grenade launchers to clear them one by one. Then the Italians concentrated their attacks on one point. After the battle line was broken, the soldiers dispersed and could not regroup, so they were defeated again." Ma Yukun.

He sighed and said.

"Then I discussed this sparring with a German instructor. The German instructor said that the Italians' performance this time could only be considered acceptable in Europe. Both sides only used rifles and grenade launchers, and did not use weapons such as machine guns and artillery.

Once these are added, the entire battlefield will be more

It becomes more complicated. Whether it is the detours on the battlefield, the layout and supply transportation at the rear of the battlefield, or strategic decision-making, we are all lacking in Beiyang. Once the war starts, it will be a small thing for me, Ma Yukun, to die in battle, but the safety of the soldiers of Sheng Army will be a big deal.

Ah." Ma Yukun said with a sad face.

"I will write to the imperial court to replace the ordnance of our Beiyang Army Division." Li Hongzhang said embarrassingly.

"Our Huai Clan has been disbanding since the Nian Army was wiped out. We have raised the money to replace the weapons ourselves. Has the imperial court ever taken any care of it? Now the Huai Army is scattered in various places. Lord Zhongtang, Ma Mou is not right.

From what I heard, the only ones that Master Zhongtang can mobilize now are Sheng Jun, Wu Yijun and some training troops." At this point, Ma Yukun couldn't help but shake his head. His face was full of dissatisfaction and disdain for the Qing court.

"You are all important officials of the imperial court, how can you speak like this?" Lao Li felt that the situation was a bit out of control and couldn't help but yelled loudly.

"When you need me to work hard, I am an important minister of the court. When I don't need it, I will throw it aside. I, Ma Yukun, only recognize the master of the middle hall." Ma Yukun said angrily.

"Although Mr. Ma's words are a little harsh, it is true that our Beiyang Army Division is weak and urgently needs to be expanded. Otherwise, once a war breaks out in the future, our Beiyang Army Division will be defeated. I am afraid that our people of the Qing Dynasty will be in ruins again." Nie Shi

Cheng Yi saw something was wrong,

He immediately came out to dissuade us. These few words can be said to be a needle in the cotton. Once a war breaks out, Beiyang will definitely bear the brunt, and at this level, it will definitely be defeated. What will happen if we lose? Beiyang will definitely be finished, and the people will also suffer.

Li Zhongtang, it's up to you.

"Lord Zhongtang, no matter how much pressure there is, for the sake of the country, for the sake of the people of Zhili and Liaodong, our Beiyang Army Division will still expand. It is the duty of the ministers to stop foreign invaders for the imperial court. If we win the Beiyang War after the expansion of the army,

Naturally, it is a great achievement. If we do not expand the army and are defeated, I, Beiyang, will be the scapegoat. I hope Master Zhongtang will think twice about the serious relationship." Zhang Peilun, who had been silent for the whole time, stood up and said.

"That's all, it seems that we can't do it without adding a few more battalions to the Lu Division." Old Li was completely speechless. What was a normal internal meeting of the Huai Clan turned into a complaint meeting. It seems that the top Beiyang generals

The intention is also to expand the army, and in this case, as the boss, Li Hongzhang would not be justified if he did not express it.
Chapter completed!