You must know that in the whole of Fujian, except for the 11th Division, the main division of the three-regiment system, which has nine infantry battalions, the rest of the independent brigades, independent regiments, and independent battalions have a total of 12 infantry battalions, which adds up to the strength of 21 infantry battalions. It seems that 21 infantry battalions are not a lot, but the problem is that there are only three infantry battalions in the eight prefectures and one prefecture evenly distributed, not to mention the fact that in order to occupy the two large islands of Taiwan and Dongshan, the strength of four infantry battalions was used, and only 17 infantry battalions can actually be used on land, and the average number of battalions per province is only two.

In this case, every infantry battalion is extremely precious, not to mention that the infantry battalions that have been drawn must be old and reliable units with combat and can only be compared, compared to the new units that can only maintain the garrison and the rebel troops, and no one can think of where else can be made of another infantry battalion.

Sun Huzi showed a detail: "You won't borrow troops from southern Zhejiang, right?" Now the strength of southern Zhejiang is also limited, and in order to borrow an infantry battalion, it is not worth it......"

Although it should not be a big problem to borrow an infantry battalion from Wenzhou with Sun Huzi's relationship with Liu Chang, the entire Wenzhou Mansion is now only the strength of three infantry battalions - this can be said to be the result of a complete purge, but it seems that it is too difficult for the mobile strength of two infantry battalions to control the entire Wenzhou Mansion.

"It's not Wenzhou!" Qu Zhibin directly exposed his purpose: "Let's borrow it from the navy!" ”

"Marine Separate Battalion!" Sun Huzi exclaimed: "That's right, it's the Marine Independent Battalion!" ”

In order to plan the Taiwan strategy, Zhang Sigui had invested a lot of money before, and he obtained a marine infantry battalion from Liu Chang, and immediately equipped it with the best. Although he wanted to use this infantry battalion to carry out the landing on Taiwan, the 11 th Division easily captured Taiwan in the process of capturing the whole of Fujian.

The process went much smoother than Sun Huzi expected. Almost without firing a single shot, a Taiwanese soldier Dao Lin Wencha led the whole Taiwan to surrender, but the ensuing public security operations did not go well, and those people repeatedly launched attacks and were forced to occupy two and a half infantry battalions. Moreover, in order to completely control the whole of Taiwan, it seems that it is necessary to increase the number of troops.

Therefore, Sun Huzi had already set his sights on the idea of this marine battalion, and he had already promised Zhang Sigui to divide the whole of Taiwan into the Taipei garrison area and the Tainan garrison area, with Taipei handed over to the army and Tainan handed over to the navy, so that Taiwan would become a military port base for the navy. The Marine Battalion is responsible for security in the south.

This suggestion has been roughly agreed to by Zhang Sigui, the first person in the navy, and now he is ready to relocate the entire navy to Taiwan, because although the Zhoushan Islands obtained in the past are a good naval base, they are much inferior to Taiwan in terms of geographical location. Zhang Sigui was even ready to send the main force of the navy to Taiwan.

"Great idea! Good idea! Sun Huzi praised repeatedly: "Zhang Sigui can't just eat meat, why do you have to gnaw some hard bones, what is the level of their marine battalion?" ”

"Good equipment!" Qu Zhibin couldn't figure out the details of the independent battalion of the marines, so he didn't dare to guarantee the ticket: "And how can it be regarded as a big battalion, a large battalion of 900 people, except for the first division." Now there are almost no such large compilations! ”

"That's fine!" Sun Huzi revealed another piece of news that only he knew: "Now the Luzon Kingdom is preparing to send a second wave of reinforcements to Ye Mingchen, and it is said that there are 1,200 Yi soldiers in this round, including 250 Zhenyi. Nine hundred and fifty Filipino soldiers! ”

Although he has not fought with these Spanish volunteers, according to the experience of fighting near Shanghai, even if it is a Qing army, as long as it is trained and commanded by Western instructors, its combat effectiveness will have a qualitative leap, and Sun Huzi has more important news: "And Ye Mingchen is said to have mixed the first wave of 400 soldiers with more than 1,000 Qing goblins." Assemble a winning army ......"

These news have made it clear to everyone that the Guangdong strategy must be implemented as soon as possible. If Ye Mingchen is trained into a new army with combat effectiveness, Fujian will be in endless trouble.

They felt that they should listen to Zhang Sigui's opinion as soon as possible, and if they could get a positive answer from him, then the Fujian side would strive to transfer 2,000 people, plus the Navy's independent marine battalion, how could the strength of 3,000 people make Ye Mingchen eat a pot.

It's just that they didn't expect that Zhang Sigui actually mentioned such a counter-suggestion.

A few days later, Liu Chang had already seen Zhang Sigui's suggestion on the desk, and he glanced at Ye Niangzi: "Zhang Sigui is also too big, right?" It's so adventurous! ”

Ye Niangzi rarely cares about naval affairs now, but this time she had to put forward her own suggestions: "It was originally a land march, and now it is a sea route, although it is a bit dangerous, but now it is winter, and it is the right time!" ”

There are often typhoons passing through in summer and autumn, with the technical conditions of this era, no one can estimate when the typhoon will come, so the use of ships in the coastal areas of the rainbow army can be said to be taking great risks, it is winter, it is the best time for the navy to use troops, but Liu Chang still reserved his opinion: "How long has the independent marine battalion been formed, and how much combat experience they have in front of the enemy!" ”

"Then you can borrow troops from the Marine Brigade!" Ye Niangzi feels that the Marine Brigade has essentially separated from the naval structure now, but in any case, they were all members of the Navy: "The Marine Brigade has participated in the landing in front of the enemy, and the number of infantry companies and infantry battalions is quite ......."

"I'll give Zhang Sigui an answer later!" Liu Chang didn't make a direct decision: "By the way, I want to attend the groundbreaking ceremony of the Hanghu Railway first." ”

Ye Niangzi smiled: "Can I go with you?" ”

"Let's come along!" Liu Chang took Ye Niangzi's hand: "It's all old husbands and wives!" ”

The groundbreaking ceremony of the Hangzhou-Lake Railway is always just a groundbreaking ceremony, a simple ceremony, and the official start of construction will not be completed until after the Spring Festival, until now, many preliminary works have not been completed, and even some line designs have to wait for the final confirmation of Western engineers.

But for De Mons, it was the most meaningful day, he was no longer the bankrupt bank clerk, but a real industrial tycoon, who planned, built and eventually operated the first railway in China.

Just two or three years ago, he Demons was just an arms smuggler who was not a famous person, but now he is the foreigner in the whole of China who is most concerned by Chinese and Westerners, and even the governor of Hong Kong does not have the power of him.

As long as the Hanghu Railway is completed, De Mons's career will reach another milestone, but it will take two difficult and tortuous years in between—yes, at least two years!

In two years' time, De Mons will encounter countless difficulties and obstacles, but De Mons proudly tells himself that you will definitely be able to build this sacred section of the railway!

The difficulties were much greater than imagined, the Russians, some American merchants, the Spaniards, the Dutch, the Portuguese, they were doing everything possible to hinder the final victory of the Rainbow Army, and they were also hindering any progress on the railway, just a few days before he had received an official notice from the British government that the British government would not provide any guarantee or loan of any kind to the Hanghu Railway, and everything had to be left to him De Mons to rely on.

The French, on the other hand, were much more ruthless, and after repeatedly selling to De Mons what they thought was the best narrow-gauge scheme, they had already announced that the French government would not only provide any convenience for the construction of the Hanghu Railway, but on the contrary, they would dissuade French businessmen from joining in the construction of the Hanghu Railway.

The reason for this is obvious, although the railway adopted the standard gauge scheme of the British, and the 1437 mm gauge satisfied the British, but the British found themselves to be a supporting role.

On this railway, this Dutch smuggler is the real protagonist, and the entire railway company has become his word, and what gauge, what standard, and what equipment he wants to use is almost all up to De Mmons alone, and they can't bear to let the two empires be at the mercy of a small person from a smuggler, so they will be so annoyed and angry.

But De Muns didn't mind, he thought that he was like the heroes who built the Yili Canal, and he would inevitably win the final victory in the midst of criticism, and the railway from Hangzhou to Huzhou was connected to China's most prosperous economic region, and as long as it was opened, there would be a steady stream of money, and it might even be crowded as soon as it was opened.

To this end, while raising the gauge to the standard gauge, De Mons even prepared the line space for the second line, and now the land was acquired, as long as there was enough passenger flow, De Mons immediately expanded the second line.

It's just that after great confidence, De Mons also has the slightest worry, he is not worried about the malicious attacks of those Westerners, or ruthless betrayal, he is worried about whether the Hongjun will remember his friendship when he gets more assistance from Westerners, you must know that the Hangzhou-Lake Railway is just a thing.

What should I do if I lose my friendship with His Majesty the Emperor? De Mons could no longer imagine such a day, and just when he was worried, doubting whether His Majesty the Emperor would be able to come to the site of the groundbreaking ceremony as promised, a young officer appeared in his field of vision.

He breathed a sigh of relief, this is Zhu Jinlei, one of His Majesty's most trusted subordinates, he immediately prepared to meet His Majesty the Emperor, although now this Majesty still calls himself King Yan, but De Mengs knows that this Majesty is the king of kings, the king of kings.

After a few minutes, Liu Chang shook Demons' hand: "It's a pleasure to see you again, Lord Demons!" ”

"It's a pleasure to meet His Majesty the Emperor!" De Mons said excitedly, "I will always be your most loyal companion? ”

"Your Majesty the Emperor?"