Chapter 43: Who Says Soldiers Are Unrefined?

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  Yang Xing shut his mouth, and the prophecy stopped. Zhang Lan, of course, knew that the military affairs of eliminating bandits could not be taken out for public discussion. He immediately stood up and said: "Director Yang is indeed a young talent in northern Sichuan, and the plan to eliminate bandits he has proposed is feasible. Now, as the Proclamation Commissioner, I announce an important case: Yang Xing is appointed as the Director of the Shunqing Military and Political Bureau, fully responsible for the affairs of eliminating bandits in Shunqing."

  At that time, Sichuan was divided into 5 pacification commissioner jurisdictions. The northern Sichuan pacification commissioner had jurisdiction over 26 counties, including the present-day Nanchong, Guang'an and Bazhong areas. Shunqing (now Nanchong) was an important town in northern Sichuan and became the head of the Shunqing Military and Government Office, which was a real vacancy.

  Everyone listened and looked at Yang Xing with a strange gaze. The officers who followed Yang Xing to the Proclamation Office were naturally overjoyed, clapping their hands in celebration.

  Yang Xing did not expect to be entrusted with such a heavy responsibility. Yang Xing came to Shunqing, mainly because Shunqing is relatively rich and suitable for military training in the surrounding areas of Sichuan. In the history of the Republic of China, Liu Cunhou, Xiong Kewu, Liu Xiang, and Yang Sen all fled to northern Sichuan to regroup after their defeats, but unexpectedly, he was entrusted with such a heavy responsibility as soon as he arrived.

  He stood up immediately and said calmly: "Mr. Zhang, I am still young and my knowledge is shallow. I have not established a reputation in northern Sichuan, so it's hard for me to take on such an important task. Xian Zhuang is my senior fellow student, who has participated in the Railway Protection Movement and the Independence Movement, and his name is well-known far and wide. Moreover, he has helped you a lot, so it would be better if he took the position of head of the Shunqing Military Government Bureau."

  Xian Ying repeatedly waved his hand to decline, Zhang Lan also interjected: "Zheng Dong, a great man should be brave and take on responsibilities, absolutely cannot retreat. Xian Ying was born with a special gift, has already decided to follow me to the capital, now has applied for the fourth term of advanced studies at Beijing Military University, after graduation prospects are boundless."

  Yang Xing declined again: Mr. Zhang, the battalion commander of our first battalion, Wang Huixu, is a native of Xichong and was also a former Qing Dynasty holder. He is also my senior fellow student. I suggest that Wang Huixu take over as the head of the Shunqing Military Government Bureau.

  Next to him, Wang Houxu repeatedly pushed back and said: Captain, just let it be. The captain is not only a military genius, but also a good hand at governing the local area. As for me, Captain, rest assured, I'll still serve as your aide in the background.

  Upon hearing this, he naturally accepted the position and immediately declared his oath of office as the head of the Junqing Military Government Bureau.

  Now that the new official has taken office, the three fires must be lit. After reporting to Zhang Lan, it was decided to launch a major campaign to annihilate the bandits before the end of the year, in order to boost morale.

  Before that, of course, the county team was reorganized. Five days later, after the army settled down and camped, Yang Xing convened a meeting with the county magistrates and team leaders of Shunqing as the head of the military government bureau.

  The central issue of this meeting is the reorganization and bandit suppression of various troops. This is a big deal, since the establishment of the Republic of China, there has never been a formal meeting to discuss bandit suppression.

  When Yang Xing ordered each county and city to eliminate the bandits within their jurisdictions within a year, these county heads and militia commanders were in an uproar, crying out that they had no weapons, while many of the bandits were former Qing government troops who were well-equipped. How could they possibly contend with them? They said that the local militia's pay was low, and if the soldiers didn't collude with the bandits, it would be impossible to eliminate them.

  Anyway, there were a lot of problems, and in the end, Zhang Lan came forward and threw out that only a small number of armed police would be retained in various places, and the rest of the militia training would be trained by the model team, and the model team would be responsible for reorganizing and guiding the bandit suppression work. The local leaders felt that something was wrong.

  What to do if things go wrong? Suppressing bandits is a common understanding, and no one will oppose suppressing bandits. Moreover, the young battalion commander unexpectedly threw out the idea of accepting reorganization, with military pay borne by each county and Shunqing together, and the model battalion even had hundreds of leftover Hanyang-made guns, which are really good stuff, and can kill people from a distance.

  If they did not accept the reorganization, and could not eliminate the local bandits within the time limit, then both the county magistrate and the commander of the militia would be held responsible.

  Then several of them couldn't sit still and said, "We can eliminate the small bandits, but hundreds or thousands of bandits wouldn't want us militia to eliminate them, would they?"

  Yang Xing laughed and said: "Eliminating bandits is a matter within the duty of military personnel. If they do not accept reorganization, harboring and supporting bandits until the end, using the excuse that the bandit forces are too strong to eliminate, isn't that dereliction of duty by the military? Therefore, those who accept reorganization will have the model regiment take charge of eliminating bandits; those who do not accept reorganization will have the local county magistrate and militia leaders take charge of eliminating bandits within a limited time."

  There is no way, under Yang Xing's strong promotion and Zhang Lan's strong support, the reorganization work of various teams was successfully completed.

  Immediately dispatched more than 30 battalion commanders and company commanders to lead several military cadres to various counties in the local area, reorganized the local militia of each county, and cleaned up the troops.

  This caused a great stir in the Model Battalion, and Wang Xianxiao, Cheng Peng and others were deeply moved. They did not want to let go, knowing that since the Republic of China was established, military officers have been in short supply, and if they were released, the Model Battalion would be even more lacking in officers.

  Yang Xing explained: "When we first arrived in Shunqing, our model regiment had no foundation at all. Although both Zhi Yi and I are from Shunqing, it was still a completely unfamiliar place for us. Although we let some of the military officers go, on the surface it seemed like a big loss for us, but actually we gained something real. By releasing those officers, we firmly controlled 9 counties in Shunqing, which is a very cost-effective deal."

  Wang Xiu shook his head and said: "Captain, when we were in Chengdu, Wang Lingguan took away 6 of our companies. If we send out a few dozen more officers now, the strength of our model regiment will be greatly reduced. How can we suppress the bandits then?"

  Man said carelessly: Zhiyi, do you think that as soon as we arrive in Shunqing, we will immediately eliminate these bandits? To eliminate the bandits, it still depends on the militia of each county. This seems to be a problem that is difficult to solve even after a thousand years. Is it better for the water in the rivers to be full or the water in the ocean to be full? I think it's better for the water in the rivers to be full. Let's send these military officers down to train the militia.

  Immediately dispatched more than 54 officers and over 100 soldiers to reinforce the militia in various counties.

  As a traverser, Yang Xing certainly understood the importance of political ideology work. When dispatched to various counties for militia training, in addition to one military commander, there was also a Strong Nation Society propagandist. Before departure, Yang Xing demanded that everyone strengthen control and reform of the county militias.

  Taking this opportunity, Yang Xing also sent capable officials to Huaying Mountain and Yilong, where the bandit situation was more severe, to investigate Wang San Chun and Huang Qingyuan's bandit lair.

  After consulting with Zhang Lan and others, the result was to first solve the problem of Huang Qingyuan's bandit gang. Not only did this gang commit many evils and have a notorious reputation, but more importantly, it had been entrenched on Mount Hua for a long time, separating the Model Brigade from the Fifth Division led by Xiong Kewu. Moreover, this group of bandits had long controlled various mineral transactions in Mount Hua, seriously disrupting economic order, and were extremely wealthy.

  When it was heard that Yang Xing was going to suppress bandits, Mr. Zhang Lan asked to eliminate Huang Qingyuan's local bandit group first.

  So, under the pretext of reorganizing the militia in various counties, Yang Xing sent Yang Daniu, the captain of the guard company, to lead a company to Huaying County, on the one hand to reorganize the local militia, and on the other hand to investigate the den of Huang Qingyuan's bandits.

  Everyone saw that Yang Xing had sent out his own guard company commander, and the officer he sent was also a artillery battalion officer who originally served under Yang Xing as regimental commander, so the opposing opinions were not so strong.

  But on the surface, Yang Xing remained still and supplemented the vacancies of Wang Ling's troops, supplemented the vacancies after dispatching to various counties for militia training, every day except for drilling each army, was visiting the gentry, merchants and other circles in Shunqing.

  On that day, Yang Xing gathered Wang Huixu, Cheng Peng, Liu Ergou, Zhu Sanmin, Wang Sima and He Erchuan, and told them his ideas.

  As the Model Army split in two and also dispatched large numbers of officers to the county Trained Bands, all regiments recruited many new soldiers who would take several months to become battle-ready.

  After some training methods had been deeply rooted in people's minds, Yang Xing handed over the daily troop training to Wang Lingji.

  Yang Xing told everyone that our model regiment should also get rid of its illiterate state and change the situation where many soldiers are illiterate.

  Soldiers are soldiers, why should they read and write? As soon as Yang Xing made this proposal, Wang Si's face wrinkled up into a "川" shape.

  Of course, I know there may be resistance. Laughing, he said: Fourth Ma Zi, didn't you often say that many soldiers below are stupid? Many things have been taught many times, but they still don't understand?

  Wang Si Ma let out a long sigh and said: "Squad leader, yes. We've been teaching that kid how to wipe down his rifle for over ten days now."

  He nodded and looked at the crowd, saying: "Are there any other idiots like this? Many things can't be taught, but when it comes to fighting, they're too brave, daring to play with their lives against the enemy?"

  Everyone burst out laughing. We were all military men, and there were too many of this kind of people. One by one, they started complaining: "This old man can't teach," or "That guy doesn't take care of me."

  After seeing the fire, Yang Xing smiled and said: "Everyone can see that most of these people are illiterate, but it's not that they don't want to learn, it's just that they didn't go to school in the past and couldn't learn many things. So, during battles, they fight with their lives on the line, trying to prove that although they may be inferior to everyone else culturally, they are absolutely no worse than others when it comes to fighting."

  He Erchuan shook his head and said: Oh, I see. Captain, your explanation is quite novel.

  Wang Si Ma shook his head and said: "Captain, I know you're dissatisfied with my lack of education. I only read for two years, while all of you graduated from elementary school. But Captain, I'd rather fight every day than pick up a pen!"

  Yang Xing laughed and said: Fourth Ma Zi, this may indeed be your inner thoughts, but if you were as knowledgeable as Deputy Commander Wang, how would you be?

  At the mention of this, Wang Si Ma shook his head and said: "Captain, this won't do. I can barely keep up with Deputy Captain Wang on horseback, how could I possibly have as much knowledge as him?"

  Wang Xiu said: "Fourth son, it's up to you. You're afraid of learning now because you haven't discovered the wonders of reading and writing. If a great master taught you, and you could read and write, how would that be?"

  King Si Ma Yan Fang Jin Guang Dao: Deputy Commander Wang, if that's the case, then my ancestors' tombs will emit green smoke.

  Taking over the topic: Fourth son, I just want your ancestral tomb to emit green smoke. As long as you do what I say, you will definitely be able to excel in both literature and martial arts in the future.

  As soon as Yang Xing said this, Wang Si Ma stood up and struck a pose, saying: "Commander Yang, look at me, can I be both literary and martial?"

  Everyone burst out laughing, and Yang Xing continued to persuade: Fourth Mazi, if you don't study, what will you do after retiring? Will you be like those rich family guards, helping people watch their houses? Or like those street hooligans, collecting protection fees? So, you should read more books. If you read good books, you can definitely become a county head or at least a police chief in the future!

  Everyone was delighted when they heard this.

  Yang Xing continued: Everyone compares hearts, we are all a team, usually brothers long and short, if they were your own brothers, would you let them read books?

  Wang Sima finally revealed his true feelings, looking at everyone with a slightly choked voice: Captain, brothers. To be honest, I'm afraid that everyone will say that I don't read much, so I usually pretend to be nonchalant. Captain, brothers, let me tell you the truth, my old man heard that I was serving as a company commander outside and kept asking me to transfer my younger brother into the army. I refused, and instead sent all of my monthly salary back home, asking my brother to study, finish elementary school, and then middle school. At that time, whoever dares to say that Wang Sima is uneducated, I'll let my brother compete with him.

  When Wang Sima said this, everyone's expression suddenly became dull and dark, thinking of the various experiences in their past lives. Yang Xing's eyes were also filled with emotion. After a long time, he finally restrained his inner excitement and scolded: You, Four Ma Zi, are usually so careless, how did you manage to make everyone feel strange and sad today?

  He rubbed his nose, feeling a bit sour, and smiled: "Who says soldiers are all rough men? The situation of the four idiots shows the importance of reading books. It shows that our younger brothers below are not unwilling to learn, but no one has taught them. Let's do this: each company and platoon will select some officers and soldiers who have graduated from elementary school to form our instructional company. Every evening, these people will teach everyone to write characters and read newspapers.

  Wang Sima shook his head and said: Captain, reading books can't be solved so easily. You have to buy the book itself, you have to buy a brush...

  Yang Xing laughed and said: Fourth Ma Zi, you don't have to worry about this. Everyone knows we've made a fortune. I plan to take out some money to buy textbooks and pencils. Later, each person will get one copy, and every night, we'll study together. Everyone knows that the nights are too long.

  Wang Si Ma heard this and burst out laughing: "Captain, this is great! In that case, I, old Wang, can also become a scholar!"

  Yang Xing smiled and said: You can become a reader of course, but you know, for academic performance, we have to take exams every month. Those who fail the exam will be suspended from work to study.

  Under such circumstances, the model troops trained during the day and studied cultural knowledge at night.

  "The Legend of Qin" is a novel written by author "Eastern Strange Knight", latest.

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