This time, Guan Zhuofan went to Beijing, and among the "six foreign articles" approved by the imperial court, the fifth article was "permission to open a martial arts school".

In fact, according to his usual style, the preparations for this school were quietly carried out long before he asked for a decree. The last time at the military meeting in Fuya, when the establishment of the Songjiang Army was announced, he had already asked Ding Shijie to select a small number of officers from the defense forces in various places who could read some words for preparation, and this time, they would become the first batch of students of the Artillery Officer Academy.

The five Prussian instructors were specially hired by Lucas of the European Division, and when Libin reported to Guan Zhuofan three months ago, he said that he didn't know if he had boarded the ship, but he didn't expect that he had arrived now.

"Very good!" Guan Zhuofan asked happily, "Shijie, this is what you and Mr. Li should manage, where is the place?" ”

"Outside Jiading County, Taicang, there are ready-made houses, and the cannons they brought have also begun to be assembled." Ding Shijie said solemnly, "There are howitzers, cannons, mortars, as well as special long-barreled heavy cannons and short-barreled light Karen cannons. According to the commander's instructions, I also transferred four field cannons from Qibao. If it is used for teaching purposes alone, it is sufficient. ”

"Okay, it's called Jiading Artillery Academy!" Guan Zhuofan rubbed his hands and said excitedly, "Also, don't underestimate the Prussians, they have real things under their hands!" They can teach not only how to fire artillery, but how to use it in battle, or even how to fight—in short, this group of people is not easy to invite, they are all members of the Junker officer corps, and they are not the same thing as the training in our original army! Mr. Leigh has spent a lot of money, so don't be slow. ”

"Yes!" Ding Shijie had already been instructed. Seeing that he commanded again at this moment. It can be seen that it is attached to it.

"The one they took the lead. What is it called? Guan Zhuofan asked Libin.

"It's called Feng. Schmidt," Libin replied.

"Okay, you arrange it for me, I'm going to invite their consul Lyman and this Schmidt to dinner."

"Cheng, I'll arrange it," Libin nodded, "I did what you said last time, and I took the gift to Lyman." Now I am very at peace with him. ”

Guan Zhuofan said in his heart that this was not a matter of harmony or disharmony, but the first real contact between the Xuan army and the German soldiers.

They will not understand these things now, after all, at this time, Germany has not yet appeared.

"Mr. Liu," he began to ask Liu Xun, the general office of the Xuan Army, "the grain platform of the Songjiang Army." What's going on now? ”

"It has been removed from my main grain table, and it is divided into three layers." Liu Xun replied. "On the first floor of the legion, the general grain station is the American who turned out to be a foreign group, Bellinger, and he can speak Chinese very well. On the floor of each regiment, the people who served the grain station were either Americans or their own people with interpreters. As for the level of the battalion, there are many of them. ”

The grain station is roughly equivalent to the logistics department, which is not only in charge of the distribution of food and salary, but also has all affairs such as ordnance and equipment, tents and clothing, etc., all under its jurisdiction.

"The grain platform of the legion has to be subdivided." Guan Zhuofan said, "When I went to Beijing and returned to Beijing this time, I talked with Hua Laofu and the American minister Pu Anchen about a lot of military matters. As for Feng. Schmidt, I heard that their Prussian army has done a better job in this regard, and you and Shijie may wish to talk to him more in the future. Under their grain stands there were those who were in charge of food and wages, those who were in charge of provisions, those who were in charge of ordnance, those who were in charge of barracks, those who were in charge of pensions and relief, those who were in charge of clerical appointments, those who were in charge of medical care, and even those who were in charge of horses. In this way, the soldiers in front of them have no worries when they start a battle. ”

Liu Xunjiao and Ding Shijie nodded together, opening their eyes, both wondering if Xuan Jun himself could do the same.

"Sir, when it comes to medical treatment, this time Wall and the others have specially hired several foreign doctors from Margary Hospital and St. John's Hospital in the concession, all of whom have had experience in the war zone. There were also a dozen nurses, both men and women, ready to go with the boat. ”

"That's very good, you might as well give it to Wall, try to buy as many medicines as possible from the concession, and the money will come out of you first." Speaking of medical affairs, Guan Zhuofan's heart was a little uneasy, after all, the level of battlefield ambulance in this era is still very rough, "The foreign doctor's set is not the same as the Lang Zhong in our battalion......"

Speaking of this, I suddenly remembered something.

"By the way, you will go and tell Wall and Bellinger tomorrow that this class of foreign doctors will immediately get a 'health regulation' for the legion, and from now on, it will be strictly enforced!"

This matter is very important, and Guan Zhuofan's face is extremely solemn. Although the level of medical care in this era was not high, a strict health regulation could greatly reduce the non-combat attrition of the troops.

After thinking about it, I deliberately added one more sentence.

"Violators, military law punishment!"

"Yes." Although Liu Xunjiao still didn't understand what this "health regulation" was going to contain, when he saw that the marshal said it so solemnly, he hurriedly responded.

"In the past two days, please get busy, and I will also hand over the official affairs in the yamen to Brother Zhusheng's side first." Guan Zhuofan raised his glass, "Shijie, you inform Huaer that you will come to my Qin mission the day after tomorrow to hold a military meeting." ”

*

*

After eating a coarse tea and light meal, the self-striking bell in the hall had already struck nine times. Guan Zhuofan personally sent them to the sedan chair, and then he breathed a sigh of relief and returned to the backyard to see Hu Qingqing.

It was a little tiring to run all the way and be busy for a whole afternoon and an evening, but I was still refreshed when I saw the brightly lit wing room in the backyard.

Hu Qingqing and Wan'er really didn't sleep, they had already heard the sound of the soldiers outside the courtyard saluting from a distance, and they were standing at the door of the main wing room waiting for him at the moment.

"Master," Hu Qingqing had of course already learned that he was going to sail to sea, but his face did not show any special worry and sadness, he saluted him with a smile on his face, and said gently, "You are back." ”

"Well, these two months, hard work." Guan Zhuofan bowed his body, which was considered to be a return of the salute, looking at the crimson single jacket on her body, lining her white face, he was moved for a while, and said with a smile: "You are so beautiful today." ”

Hu Qingqing smiled and turned her face slightly to the side, meaning that her sister is still here, don't talk nonsense.

Wan'er followed behind her, but she was wearing a pure white dress, with a ribbon tied with a bow on the lace on her chest, a close-fitting standing collar, wrapping the soft neck, the waist was thin, the hem was wide, and the most unusual thing was that she actually wore a white beveled hat, with her beautiful melon seed face, which looked even more luxurious, as if it was a Western princess of any country, and suddenly ran to the backyard of this "Qin Cha Xingyuan".

Guan Zhuofan was stunned for a moment, and said in his heart that his sister's dress like this had robbed her sister of the limelight.

"Sir." Wan'er is also like her sister, lowering her eyes and making a fortune.

"Wow! That's pretty unusual. Guan Zhuofan shook his head and said with a smile, "How did such a beautiful foreign girl come out of our family?" ”

"Look at what you said." Hu Qingqing smiled, "Wan'er is almost seventeen, wearing a few beautiful clothes, what's all the fuss?" ”

Guan Zhuofan thought to himself, Hu Qingqing grew up in the concession, so he didn't think it was strange. This is Shanghai, and there are many young ladies from large families who like to wear Western clothes, like the daughter of Yang Fang, that's it.

He saw that there were a lot of things in the big bags and small bags on the case in the main hall, all of which he brought back for them in the capital, presumably the two sisters were taking them out just now, so he asked, "Wan'er, do you have anything you like?" ”

"Everything is novel, and the things in Beijing are different from ours."

I haven't seen her for two months, Wan'er seems to have grown up again, and she is probably used to the environment here, although there is still a trace of restraint, but compared to the beginning, she is much more lively and cheerful.

"It's different," Guan Zhuofan quipped, "It's like if you wear this outfit and go to the capital for a stop, and the streets and alleys will be a sensation." ”

"My sister took me to the foreign market to buy it." Wan'er smiled shyly and said, "Sister said that the master must like it when he sees it." ”

Guan Zhuofan glanced at Hu Qingqing, who was smiling and silent, and muttered a little in his heart.

I like it, so what?

*(To be continued......)