More than ten years ago, the imperial court was severely defeated by the six-nation coalition.
Li Hongtang and a group of other reformers were ordered to form a new army for the imperial court. However, because the new army was relatively expensive, only 150,000 people were formed due to wrangling between the parties.
And it is spread over tens of millions of square kilometers, which is really a drop in the bucket.
A city as important as Haicheng can only place a patrol battalion of 1,500 people.
"You really have a dark heart! Can you even take a fancy to a patrol battalion of 1,500 people?"
Li Hongtang couldn't care less about his usual solemnity. Gao Shaoyi was really ugly.
"Don't worry, old man. I didn't ask for you in vain. It's the type of rear-fire gun used by the Junkers Empire army. If you exchange one gun for three of you, you won't suffer a loss, right?"
Gao Shaoyi also has an ace in his hand. The price of a single-shot rifle is about 160 silver coins. Gao Shaoyi only needs fifteen merit points and 500 guns to replace this patrol camp. No matter what, we will make a profit.
"You have such a dark heart. Five hundred guns only cost 80,000 silver coins. The annual military expenditure of this patrol camp is 50,000 silver coins. That's no good."
At this moment, Li Hongtang doesn't have the demeanor of a military minister. He is just like a hawker on the street.
"I don't want all the equipment in the patrol camp. You can find someone to take it all away, plus a thousand guns."
After hearing what Gao Shaoyi said, Li Hongtang's face looked a little happy.
Although the patrol battalion uses old-fashioned flintlock guns, the kind with separate gunpowder and projectiles, they cost a lot of money back then. Now they can be used in a makeshift manner, but of course they are already outdated internationally.
These one thousand guns cost hundreds of thousands of imperial silver coins, so it seemed like a good deal.
"If you give me another thousand guns, I will give you an idea, and I can increase the number of ten thousand people by keeping them."
Li Hongtang rolled his eyes and immediately made a new deal.
Although Li Hongtang is a minister of military aircraft, this is a sale of two thousand rifles, which adds up to more than 300,000 imperial silver coins!
Just by moving your upper and lower lips, you can earn hundreds of thousands of imperial silver coins, so why not?
Ten thousand people?
"Please give me some advice, sir."
Gao Shaoyi immediately became interested. The most difficult thing now is that there is no establishment. As long as there are 10,000 more troops, what does a thousand broken guns mean?
"Next door to Haicheng is Wu County. Because of the war in the past few years, this place is extremely poor. The county magistrate has been empty for three months. If you are willing, I will give you a thousand guns and a hundred thousand rounds of ammunition.
Get active."
Li Hongtang pointed to another place on the sand table.
This place is located in the north of Haicheng. It was the main battlefield of the last war. It is not an exaggeration to say that there is no grass growing now. The population in the area has decreased by more than 50%. No one is willing to take this hot yam.
"What does this have to do with an army of ten thousand men?"
Gao Shaoyi still didn't quite understand, after all, he didn't know much about these places.
"I really don't know what to say to you. Can you learn more about the surroundings in normal times? Wu County has a strength of 10,000 green soldiers. How you arm and train them will not be your own business."
Li Hongtang said angrily.
Gao Shaoyi slapped his forehead and just stared at the new army. Why didn't he think of the huge number of green soldiers?
The Green Camp was the most common army of the Daqian Dynasty, and it was also the most corrupt. Take the Green Camp of Wu County as an example. Although it has a strength of 10,000, it would be good to have 2,000 people.
"These two thousand guns are worth a lot of money, right?"
Li Hongtang patted Gao Shaoyi on the shoulder, looking like a cunning old man.
"It's not a loss at all. It's just that the county magistrate should be placed on Liu Shan. I can't be two county magistrates by myself."
Gao Shaoyi thought for a while and said, this guy also knows how to avoid suspicion.
"If you still have some brains, I will go back to the capital to run it for you. I have to take away these two thousand guns first."
Li Hongtang is also a master who does not let go of the hawk when he sees the rabbit.
"I can't go back to the capital for a while, so I hope you can take more care of me. I've prepared two tricycles for you, and I've also prepared two for Prince Ding..."
Gao Shaoyi may have to stay here for a while. The capital is also a powder keg. Although Liu Shan's career is not challenging, he has too little experience at the top, so he has to feed all these people.
"You have some conscience. Your uncle is worried about you."
The uncle Li Hongtang mentioned was naturally not the current emperor, but the prince Ding.
"This is natural. I all know this very well. If anyone in your family wants to serve as an official, just send him to me. As long as he has talent, he can start as a company commander and then he can become a regiment commander by the end of the year.
."
Reciprocity is a courtesy, and people have done something for themselves. In addition to the benefits to the New Army, Li Hongtang must also have some benefits.
"If you don't tell me, I've forgotten that my second son got into trouble in the capital just like you. You two usually have a good relationship. I'll call him over later, and you can just give him a position."
As soon as Li Hongtang spoke, Gao Shaoyi thought of Li Kunyi in his mind. This boy was indeed his former little brother. Because he was a concubine, he didn't do well in the whole family. Thinking of the old brotherhood, it was indeed necessary to pull some strings.
Bundle.
"I remember that brother Kunyi carries the rank of fifth-grade Yunqi Lieutenant, right?"
Li Hongtang had a total of four sons. Li Kunyi was the only concubine son. The others all had the title of viscount, but this son only had a fifth-rank Yunqi Lieutenant. In this era, the concept of concubine was still very clear.
"Yes, that's the emperor's grace. Otherwise, based on his status, he wouldn't be a seventh-grade cavalry captain."
Li Hongtang felt a little proud when he said that among all the concubine children in the capital, his son was probably the only one with a fifth-grade title.
But the smile on Li Hongtang's face immediately disappeared. Gao Shaoyi is a little fox, and every word he says has a thought. Could it be that he starts to miss his son now?
Fifth rank Yunqiwei?
According to Daqian regulations, a fifth-rank military officer can be awarded. With Li Hongtang's ability, it is really not a big deal to get a fifth-rank military officer for his son.
But Li Hongtang cherished his official reputation and always let his son wander around on the street.
"There are many green soldiers in the capital. Let brother Kun Yi bring a battalion over. I only need a name, and the rest will be mine. This little money will be used as travel expenses for brother Kun Yi."
Sure enough, as Li Hongtang thought, the most basic unit of the Green Battalion is the battalion. Each battalion has 1,500 people. Li Kunyi's title is enough to take office...??