At around four o'clock in the afternoon, the court meeting ended. Other officials and generals left together, but the newly appointed four chiefs of the army and navy were left alone.
"The imperial army has increased by half. The burden on the shoulders of the army and navy is very heavy. The four of you must cooperate sincerely to ensure that there are no mistakes in the army expansion work."
"Your Majesty, don't worry, we will do our best to ensure that we complete the mission of military expansion."
The four people expressed their stance at the same time.
"Well, that's right." Li Mingyuan nodded and said: "The focus of the large-scale military expansion work is on the Army. In this military expansion work, I hope that the Army can learn from past combat experience and compile new plans based on the different terrains and climates in various parts of the country.
Train several troops for special terrain operations."
"The Special Forces Command has deployed a combat force to perform special tasks in Patagonia, the mountains and forests of the northern part of the empire, and the tropical rainforest. I plan to use the three forces as a template to establish a force dedicated to the snowy and cold areas.
, a regular army in mountainous, hilly and tropical rainforest areas.”
Following Li Mingyuan's words, Zhao Yongzeng replied.
"General Zhao has served in the Special Forces Joint Command for several years and is very familiar with the combat style and tactics of special forces. I believe that General Zhao should take the lead in the training of the special terrain forces of the National Defense Forces."
The new Army Minister Luo Linshan took the initiative to propose.
"I have seen General-in-Chief Zhao's performance during his tenure as commander of the special forces. It is most appropriate for General-in-Chief Zhao to lead the organization of the special forces of the National Defense Forces."
Li Mingyuan agreed with Luo Linshan's suggestion and continued: "Patagonia covers an area of more than 600,000 square kilometers. The local climate is cold and the fishery resources are rich. American and Canadian fishing boats often illegally cross the border and enter coastal areas to hunt.
In order to ensure the empire's control over the local area and prevent Western powers from passing through the Penguin Islands (Malvinas Islands), after the Han Dynasty occupied Argentina, it claimed to inherit Argentine territory and had sovereignty over the Penguin Islands and southern Antarctica.), Jianye (the Strait of Magellan) was blocked.
) Strait, the garrison strength in the Patagonia region needs to be strengthened in Africa."
"Does Your Majesty think it is appropriate to select suitable soldiers from the young people in Patagonia and reorganize a brigade-sized snow combat force?"
Zhao Yongzeng asked tentatively.
“The brigade level is too small, so three troops were directly selected from the newly formed infantry division and trained in combat methods suitable for snowy cold areas, mountainous hilly areas and tropical rainforest areas.
After the training was completed, the Snow Division was deployed in Patagonia to perform the task of defending the southern territory of the Empire, and the Mountain Division and Jungle Division were deployed in the southern border areas of the Empire to serve as sharp-edged troops fighting against Paraguay and the Republic of Brazil."
"Yes, Your Majesty, I will learn from the training model of the special forces and conduct targeted training for the three special forces."
"The combat missions of the three special forces are different from those of the special forces. The training methods and conditions can be partially changed, but the training standards must be maintained at a normal level and cannot be lowered too much than the training standards of the special forces."
"I will remember your Majesty's teachings."
"Also, although the number of missions performed by special forces has decreased in recent years, we cannot relax the management and training of special forces. Weapons such as airships, gliders, new guns, new grenades, and landmines can be given priority in equipping special forces.
troops, and in response to the operational requirements of special forces, the Ordnance Department of the Ministry of the Army must also cooperate with the Special Forces Joint Operations Command to develop special standard weapons."
"The Special Forces are a force created by His Majesty himself. The Army's requirements and support for the Special Forces have always been constant. There will never be anything that disappoints His Majesty among the Special Forces."
"High standards and strict requirements can create a steel-like army!"
In Li Mingyuan's heart, the special forces created by himself have always had a special status.
"The special forces were formed during the Peruvian uprising. At that time, the troops were poorly equipped and the environment was harsh. I and more than 100,000 soldiers, with a desperate mentality, traveled thousands of miles and sacrificed more than 10,000 soldiers along the way before arriving in Yangzhou (
Rio Grande do Sul).”
Recalling the more than 10,000 Chinese workers who died during the Peruvian Uprising and the Thousand Miles Movement twenty-one years ago, Li Mingyuan's emotions could not help but be affected.
“The location of the tombs of Han soldiers is the territory of Han!
Today, the loyal bones of more than ten thousand soldiers have been lost along thousands of kilometers of migration roads. In order to rush on the road, in front of each collective burial site, a simple grave mound was hastily built with stones.
Now, more than twenty years have passed, and the loyal souls of more than ten thousand soldiers have been waiting in the deserted land for more than twenty years!
I especially remember the promise I made back then, that wherever the horse treads, it will be Han territory.
Even if the loyal souls of the soldiers cannot return, we must give them a resting place!"
When Li Mingyuan talked about his excitement, he turned his attention to Zhao Yongzeng and ordered: "Twenty-one years ago, it was the special forces that found a way forward for the entire army. And in the future, I also hope that it will be the special forces that will lead the army to make a thousand-mile turn."
Start by collecting and burying the loyal bones of the soldiers left behind during the migration along the way you left!"
"The burial place of every fallen soldier is recorded. I guarantee to Your Majesty that the remains of a fallen soldier will never be left in the wild!"
"Okay! Very good! I hope that in my lifetime, I can work with you to complete the task of welcoming back the remains of the soldiers and collecting the burial ground of the soldiers as the territory of the Han Dynasty, instead of leaving this task to future generations."......
In the meeting hall, Li Mingyuan's conversation with the four chiefs of the army and navy continued, while outside the palace, there were more than a dozen young naval officers between the ages of 20 and 30, who generally studied and trained in Western powers.
, gathered together to discuss the topics in the court.
"I heard that the German naval instructors are about to leave the ship and hand over the command of the warship. Who do you think is most likely to serve on the two Vanguard-class ironclads (two 3,500-ton armored cruisers built locally, initially with German naval officers on board to assist the locals)
naval officer command) captain's position?"
"It's hard to say. He Linshu, Yang Jiannian, Chen Binshi, Wang Jinyong, Yang Guangzong, Xu Zhixuan, Lu Wenhui, Chen Jurong... The Navy Ministry has recommended a total of more than ten reserve candidates. Who knows which two will be selected."
"According to me, He Linshu, Yang Jiannian, Chen Binshi and Wang Jin have the best chance of using them."
An officer with the rank of major on his shoulder said.
"Why? Is it just because of their seniority and high status?"
"Haha, Brother Wang, don't be dissatisfied. The four of them are the fifth batch of overseas students from the mainland, and they are also the first batch of seniors with experience in serving in the German Navy fleet. It is not normal to select them as captains of the Pioneer-class armored cruiser.
Does it fit?"
"That's not necessarily true. Your Majesty has always advocated meritocracy and not the practice of ranking based on seniority. Just having seniority without any merit will not make you the captain of the main battleship of the Imperial Navy."
"Brother Chen is right. In terms of capabilities and military exploits, Major Yang Guangrong is the captain of the Yongxing-class ship No. 1, Major Xu Zhixuan is the captain of the No. 5 ship, Major Lu Wenhui is the operational staff officer of the Chaoyang (Zhenyuan-class improved version), and Major Lu Wenhui is the operational staff officer of the Chaoyang (Zhenyuan-class).
Class improved version) main gun commander Major Chen Jurong is not worse than the four of them, why must He Shulin and the others be the captain?"
"That's right"......
More than a dozen young navy officers were divided into two groups, each arguing.
"Okay, everyone, stop arguing about who will be the captain of the first and second ships of the Pioneer-class armored cruiser. Before the Navy Department officially appoints it, there is no point in arguing. In my opinion, we might as well make a bet.
Let’s bet on who can guess the captain of the two ships, what do you think?”
"Chen Laosan, it's not like you don't know that gambling is prohibited in the military. If you are caught by the military police gathering people to gamble, you will suffer the consequences!"
"Chen Shiding, it doesn't matter if you have itchy hands and are caught gambling, don't implicate everyone else!"...
Everyone felt that Chen Shiding had come up with a bad idea, and they all crowded around.
"What are you talking about, brothers! I, Chen Shiding, am also a top student who graduated from Charlottenburg University! How could I lead everyone to gamble!"
"Come on, Chen Laosan, the dominant subject of Charlottenburg University is metallurgy. Your kid joined the navy after graduating from Charlottenburg University. No one in the navy knows your details!"
A young officer who had a good relationship with Chen Shiding shouted.
"What's wrong with the navy who joined the navy in the middle? We joined based on our true talents and learning. When it comes to maritime combat command, we are no worse than you, Major Sun!"
Chen Shiding retorted loudly, then put on a smile and continued: "Haha, everyone has misunderstood. What I mean is that we make a bet on who will be the captain of the two Pioneer-class ironclads. The person who guessed wrong
Accept the bet and admit defeat, and invite everyone to drink at Zuixian Tower in the capital. What do you think, brother?"
"This is a good suggestion, I agree,"
"I agree"……
More than ten of them were major-level officers. They received a lot of military pay and subsidies from the Navy every month. They were not short of money. They all agreed to Chen Shiding's suggestion...
