The Combined Fleet, headed by five battleships including the "Republic," advanced about three miles from the desert island, and instead advanced in a horizontal formation, firing at the same time, several earthen forts on the island were instantly beaten to the ground, and the fleet sailed over the desert island and immediately turned back, and then bombarded with artillery on the other side, this time the earthen fort completely collapsed, and then the fleet sailed to the vicinity of the target ships, and sank all the dozen target ships in just one round of artillery bombardment.

There was a burst of cheers on the Lushun, but Meng Ke pouted: "What's so strange, it's the same thing as our cavalry and archery tactics, it's nothing more than one on land and one on the sea", Bolo next to him immediately nodded in agreement.

Li Yu set his eyes on de Knight, and the Dutchman shook his head: "The advance is too slow, the steering is even slower, and all the movements are slow!" This is just a non-confrontational strike at a fixed target, and if the naval battle is the same, it will suffer a big loss, this is not a battle line shooting, but waiting to be beaten. ”

There was even slower, the combined fleet had completed the exercise, and the federal navy had barely lined up the column, but when it turned to the horizontal formation, it was chaotic again, and several warships even collided, and Fujiwara Toshi, who was in charge, shouted in a hurry, and the formation became more and more chaotic.

"Don't stop moving forward, use the sail to slow down and adjust the formation," de Knight whispered as he walked over to Fujiwara's side, looked at the fluttering flag, and whispered, "Lower the mainsail tree spinnaker, hold down the rudder, take your time, turn left and move forward......

With de Knight's help, Fujiwara finally commanded the fleet to spread the battle line, and then followed the example of the combined fleet to complete the shooting of targets and target ships on the shore, and then he breathed a sigh of relief and bowed respectfully to his seniors.

"Young man, you have to treat the boat as your own woman, and you can make her obedient by making love often, your basic operation is not bad, keep working hard." De Knight patted Fujiwara on the shoulder and walked away.

The federal navy was embarrassed, and the generals who watched the exercise talked about it, Meng Ke was ashamed to be proficient in cavalry tactics, and he also learned to swim, and he was definitely no worse than the Japanese with the navy, and Bolo claimed to have commanded the green battalion sailors, and knew everything about water warfare, and it was most suitable to be the commander of the navy, and the two actually quarreled.

Li Yu ignored them and strode towards de Knight: "General, I am going to Xuzhou soon, I hope you can go with me!" ”

"It's a great honor!" De Nai nodded in reply.

Li Yu walked to Xixiang Youjiang again: "Mr. Xixiang, Hebei and Liaodong can accept Japanese immigrants, the more people, the better, one million, two million will do." ”

"The president is wise!" Saigo Yue was so excited that he burst into tears, this is the president's cultivation of strength for the establishment of an East Asian federation, Japan has hope!

Xuzhou, the main generals of the southern battlefield arrived one after another, and then the new Minister of Military Affairs Bai Xianzhi and Xue Xianguang, who led the affairs of the Metropolitan Governor's Office, also came, and everyone rarely got together, but they did not fight as before, but they all seemed to be preoccupied - the end of the war, the whole army must have a major adjustment, this is a major event that affects the future, and the major factions are making small calculations.

Bai Xianzhi and Xue Xianguang also seemed secretive, and during the day, they convened the generals to explain the international and domestic situation, discuss the deployment of the army and the strategy of the western expedition, and did not talk about anything else, but at night they found Zhao Ji, Ma Guangyuan, Zhang Ding, Sun Fuhu and others to hold a small meeting in a row, and the generals' nerves became even more nervous - this time the adjustment was definitely not small, and the president would not announce it if he did not arrive.

Li Yu finally arrived, and as soon as he entered the venue, he felt surprised, why these people had such a face, he immediately understood, and shouted to the generals: "Let me tell you a good news, the expedition team of the Great Academy of Sciences has found a large silver mine in Nebuchu, which is enough for us to mine for hundreds of years. ”

Li Yu was a little embarrassed, glanced at the generals and asked, "Why didn't Mao Yuanyi, the commander of Zhejiang Military Affairs, come?" ”

"Dead, Lao Mao returned to An's hometown to visit his family, he was so happy to return to his hometown, he drank too much wine and fell off the horse and died." Zhao Ji replied.

Li Yu was stunned for a while, sighed and said, "Add a first-class world honor to Lao Mao, and the family will be properly settled", and then waved his hand to Bai Xianzhi.

Song Yihe was transferred to the commander of Zhili, and the center originally planned to let Yang Wenyue take over as the minister of military affairs, and the vacancy left in Sichuan was replaced by Ma Xianglin as a civilian official, but Yang Wenyue went to Datong and heard that he wanted to disarm and immediately regretted it, and would rather be idle than offend people, Li Jianji remembered that Bai Xianzhi was too stinky in the Jinlianchuan War, and it was likely that he would take off his military uniform on his back, so he nominated him to take over to the House of Representatives - so he asked Bai Xianzhi to pick up a military minister, but the errand on the cusp of the wave was not easy to do, he was weak in his heart, and read out the official document of the Prime Minister's Office with a smile on his face:

The Qing Dynasty was annexed, the north and the south were peaceful, there was no more war in the federal territory, and it was the right time to cast the sword into a plow, and the two governments and the two houses jointly agreed: our army was merged and reduced to 12 towns, and the officers and soldiers of each town should not exceed 3,500 people, and then the Yangtze River Water Army was set up three associations, and the officers and soldiers of each association should not exceed 1,000 people, and each department reassigned the station, and divided the nearby troop source areas for preparation for war, and the new navy was discussed separately according to the facts; Governor's Offices are set up in various parts of the frontier, Chengdu, Wuchang and Xuzhou in the south, Nebuchu, Shenyang and Ningguta in the north, Shigatse, Yarkand and Tacheng in the west, and Ryukyu in the east. The officers and men of our army have worked hard and made great achievements, and they should enjoy peace to the fullest, and all the officers and men who have been laid off and dismissed will be given the rank of one higher rank, so that the localities can be properly resettled......

The unprecedented disarmament, the 500,000 army has been reduced to more than 50,000, and eighty percent of the positions cannot be kept-the faces of the generals became more and more ugly, Bai Xianzhi didn't dare to read it anymore, and stuffed the official document into Xue Xianguang's hand: "The following are the regulations drawn up by the Metropolitan Governor's Office, and it is not about the Ministry of Military Affairs, so you should read it out yourself." ”

Xue Xianguang reluctantly stood up and explained the disarmament charter: The army has been reduced on a large scale, but its combat strength can only be strengthened, not weakened, and the Metropolitan Governor's Office has decided to set up five cavalry towns and seven infantry towns, and at the same time reform the establishment, with three infantry associations, one artillery battalion, one cavalry battalion, and one baggage battalion in each town of the infantry army, and three cavalry associations, one artillery battalion, one cavalry battalion, and one baggage battalion in each cavalry town, and more than 60 percent of the soldiers in each town equipped with firearms……

"Lao Xue, we know these in our hearts, let's be honest!" Monk cried impatiently, and the generals nodded in agreement.

Xue Xianguang glanced at Li Yu, gritted his teeth and continued to read out the order: Under the instruction of the Presidential Office, the Metropolitan Governor drafted a charter, which was submitted by the Ministry of Military Affairs to the Senate and the House of Representatives for voting, this order, Zhao Ji, Du Wenhuan, Terige, and Ma Guangyuan entered the Presidential Palace to participate in military affairs, Asari, Zhang Chuanjie, Zhang Ding, Haninga, Sun Fuhu, and Ding Qiming entered the Metropolitan Governor's Mansion to praise and paint military affairs, and designated Zhou Yuji, Hu Dawei, Ma Jinzhong, Arjin, Qin Yiming, Luo Dayong, Tian Jianxiu, Li Guo, etc. to enter the Senate, and granted:

Li Guoying was the governor of Chengdu and governed the fourth town of infantry

Hou Shijie is the governor of Wuchang and has jurisdiction over the fifth town of infantry

Jin Guoding was the Ryukyu Admiral and governed the seventh town of infantry

Boluo was the governor of Xuzhou, with jurisdiction over the fifth town of cavalry and the sixth town of infantry

Subutai was Admiral Nebuchu

Shahrhuda was the Admiral of Ningguta

Ge Kuli was the governor of Shenyang and governed the first town of cavalry

Yuan Lie was the governor of Shigatse

Sun Shoufa was the governor of Yarkand, and governed the second town of infantry

Ah Shu is the admiral of Tacheng and has jurisdiction over the third town of cavalry

Jin Guoding was the Ryukyu Admiral and governed the seventh town of infantry

The Metropolitan Governor's Office directly governed the second and fourth towns of cavalry, and the first and third towns of infantry

The sequence of all departments and commanders of our army

The first town of cavalry, the town commander Tu Lichen, and the deputy town commander lost the martyrdom

The second town of the cavalry, the town commander Chaolu, and the deputy town commander Guo Xiu

The third town of the cavalry, the town commander Jida, and the deputy town commander Xiao Sigui

The fourth town of cavalry, the town commander Qiu Xian, and the deputy town commander Bao Junge

The fifth town of cavalry, the town commander Gartu, and the deputy town commander tower

The first town of infantry (horse infantry), the town commander Tie Biao, and the deputy town commander Jin Shengheng

The second town of infantry (immediate infantry), the town commander Cao Bianjiao, and the deputy town commander Bai Chengzu

The third town of the infantry army (horse infantry), Qin Hu, the deputy town commander, Zhou Wang

The fourth town of infantry, the town commander Daniel Zhang, and the deputy town commander Ma Hutou

The fifth town of infantry, the town commander He Zhen, and the deputy town commander You Renjun

The sixth town of infantry, the town commander is loyal to the town, and the deputy town commander is Yuan Zongdi

The seventh town of infantry, Liu Tichun, the town commander, and Hao Shaoqi, the deputy town commander

Chongqing Water Army Association, co-commander Tian Hu; Wuchang Water and Military Association, co-commander Lin Feiyu; Chongming Water Military Association, co-commander Ogawa Yingjian

Western Expeditionary Army: Metropolitan Governor Batur, Left Governor Hadari, Right Governor Li Dingguo, Zanhua Political Affairs Wang Fang, Ma Qi, Zanhua Military Affairs Aishan, Chagui

The first town, the town commander Hadari, the deputy town commander Richard

The second town, the town commander Li Dingguo, and the deputy town commander Rabudu

The third town, the town is Tongaobai, and the deputy town is Dasu

The fourth town, the town is unified with Chilie, and the deputy town is Liu Shuangxi

The fifth town, the town commander Darhan, the deputy town commander Sun Tianqing

Xue Xianguang finished reading it in one bite, and he didn't dare to look at the generals and lowered his head and said: "The list of commanders above the co-commander is attached to the charter, you can see for yourself, we really can't find a talent who understands naval warfare, and the commander of the navy can't be sure for the time being." ”

The intensity of disarmament is really great, most of the commanders at the town unification level have changed, people in their forties and around 40 are in their early teens, and the generals of the Western Expeditionary Army are even younger, all around 30 years old, but the new gang of people are also battle-hardened and outstanding generals, and they have taken care of all ethnic groups and factions, and no one can say that it is unfair.

The generals stared at Bai Xianzhi and Xue Xianguang and were silent, Meng Ke was with Li Yu when he was in Shenyang, and he was still a member of the Li family, and he was bold and bold with his special identity, so he jumped up and attacked: "I don't accept it, who is older in the army than me?" Who has more merit than me, how can I not have my share in the reward for meritorious deeds? ”

"You go to Liaodong with me." Li Yu replied lightly, stood up and glanced at the generals and said, "I don't read much, but I also know the evil deeds of the slaughter of heroes in previous dynasties, and the one-man thief Zhu Chongba is an example, and the reason for this is the struggle for power. Your merits are great, but there are worlds and lands that can enjoy the honor for generations, compared to those brothers who died in battle, there is nothing to be dissatisfied, why take things outside your body too seriously, you give up your authority, I will also retreat, we will pass on the bloody country to the next generation together, whoever is not satisfied will go to Liaodong with me, where the world is very big, and you can fly to the sky if you want to. ”

The president is also going to retire, so what else is there to say, the generals closed their mouths, and after a while, Ma Xianglin complained in a low voice: "I have no opinion on returning to my hometown in Sichuan, but I just don't want to change to a civilian official." ”

"That's it, I've fought all my life, I don't know a few big characters, but I want to be a senator and mix with literati, isn't this a duck on the shelf?" Hu Dawei was also very dissatisfied.

Bai Xianzhi immediately said: "This is easy to do, the Prime Minister's Office has agreed to change the military generals who have changed to civilian officials to permanently retain their military status and rank, and the Senate and House of Representatives will also set up military affairs advisory offices, and the marshals can wear military uniforms to discuss military affairs in the House of Representatives." ”

The generals turned their heads to each other, and Ma Guangyuan shook his head slightly and said: "I have no opinion on disarmament, but I think it's too hasty, just like the Western Expedition is related to the national fortune, can those dolls do it?" It's safer for the president to take us old guys to fight. ”

"We have also been young, haven't we come over the same way, let the young people do it, it doesn't matter how many defeats there are, the national strength of the Rakshasa country is not as good as the Qing country, sooner or later it will be defeated, just use it for young people to practice." Li Yu waved his hand and replied.

Ma Guangyuan was not angry, and Meng Ke continued to mess around: "I don't want to go to Liaodong, I want to be a naval admiral, I have learned to swim." ”

"I am a Manchurian, I don't want to stay in Xuzhou to manage the Han people, I also want to be a naval admiral." Bolo also shouted.

"I think I'm very capable, can I play with your warship? If you don't want to do it, go home to farm and herd sheep," Li Yu was unceremonious to his family Meng Ke and Bolo, and pointed to De Knight behind him and said to the generals, "I will be the Admiral of the Navy, this is Admiral de Knight of the Netherlands, I will promote him to the rank of Governor and Governor of the Navy, and his orders will be my orders in the future." ”

De Knight was startled, and hurriedly stood up and saluted Li Yu: "It is a great honor to serve the Datong Federation, I, I can sign a contract with His Excellency the President, and promise to faithfully fulfill my promise with military honor." ”

I had long noticed this yellow-haired and blue-eyed Tessie, and I didn't expect the president to hand over such an important post to him - the generals were in an uproar, and they screamed, Li Yu slapped the table and said loudly: "Don't be petty, think about how you came to Datong, my Datong Federation is tolerant, whoever has the ability will use whom, and whoever is not satisfied will compare with General Knight!" ”

Almost all of the people present are halfway to Datong, and they are absolutely not innocent, and the landlubbers will be dizzy when they go to sea, and the Dutch who started sailing are not asking for their own hardships in naval battles, and the generals will not dare to quarrel anymore and shut up.

"President, I am a thief, I was able to do military affairs in the Wuchang Governor's Mansion two years ago, but I can't stand being with scholars every day, I don't want to be a senator, so I just go home and farm." Li Guo suddenly shouted, and Luo Dayong, Tian Jianxiu and others immediately echoed.

Zhao Ji laughed: "I'm a thief, why should I, who has been a horse thief, be annoyed in the Presidential Palace, Hanmin, I'll go to Liaodong with you." ”

"No, you must obey the arrangement," Li Yu stood up and walked to the middle of the generals, and said in a slow tone, "You will understand that it is most dangerous for the entrepreneurial generation to hand over power to the second generation, the battle of Jingjing in the Ming Kingdom, and the competition between the four major Baylors of the Qing State is a lesson from the past, although the Datong Federation has taken precautions to formulate the "Constitutional Law", but the danger of turmoil still exists, old brothers, you go to the center or the place not to enjoy the blessings of the Qing, but to keep an eye on Datong with me, and be ready to defend our Federation and our "Constitution" at any time ……”

"Veterans will never stop fighting, everywhere are men with steel and iron bones!" Li Yu finally solemnly gave a military salute, and the generals suddenly felt their blood boiling, and at the same time stood up and waved their fists and shouted, "Willing to serve the Federation."

Three days later, the generals reluctantly said goodbye to each other, each went to take up his new post, Li Yu sent a letter to his brother Li Huai in Yangzhou, and rushed to Youzhou before they had time to meet - it was already the beginning of August, and the departments of the Eight Banners must leave the customs as soon as possible, and strive to settle down in Liaodong before the winter.

On the day of Li Yu's arrival, Li Yu convened all the officials to discuss the matter, and Cai Ruxun, the commander of Liaodong and the political envoy of Hebei, reported: After the reorganization of the Eight Banners Army of Jinlianchuan, some of them volunteered to go to Hami to participate in the Western Expedition, and the rest took the road outside the pass to Liaodong, and the old and young of the Eight Banners in the pass were also assembled in Yongping, and the grain and grass and the old and weak were ready to go to Lushun by sea, and the others were all by land and could set off at any time.

Li Yu nodded, saw Li Jiantai among the officials, stepped forward and asked, "Sir, I said that Datong doesn't have to send someone to see you off, what are you doing at such an old age?" ”

"The Li family in Yulin and the Li family in Pingyang are one, and the Li family in Pingyang will follow wherever the president goes" Li Jiantai got up and saluted, waved his hand and continued, "Don't look at my age and good health, going to Liaodong will definitely come in handy." ”

Sonny interjected: "Mr. Li has not been idle in the past two days, and he has selected promising young people from the Eight Banners to bring him to Datong to study, including Tuhai, Bahai, and my family's third Suo Etu, more than 100 people!" ”

"This is a great thing, okay, Mr. will go to Liaodong with me, and we will build a university in Shenyang in the future," Li Yu helped Li Jiantai sit down, turned his head and said to Mo Rige behind him, "Big brother, you have suffered with me all these years, and you are old when you are injured, go back to Datong, the Metropolitan Governor's Mansion will arrange a good errand for you." ”

"I can't read, my brain is stupid, I can't do anything but run around with you, forget it, just throw this old bone in Liaodong," Mo Rige smiled honestly, and pointed to Li Xuan and Charib and said, "Young people want to go to the west to make meritorious contributions, but they are embarrassed to say to you, I beg for a favor, let them go!" ”

Li Yu waved his hand and said: "Okay, let them break through, and all those who are willing to participate in the Western Expedition of the Flying Tiger Battalion will be released", Li Xuan and Chalibu excitedly pulled their legs and ran.

"President, I also want to go to Liaodong!" Yan Jizu did not dare to attack the gentry, so he simply resigned from the post of commander of Shandong and asked Li Yu for another errand.

"You go to Liaodong first to act as a political envoy, and then go back to Datong if you can't endure the hardships," Li Yu nodded in agreement, waved his hand and said to the officials, "We will go to Yongping tomorrow and seize the time to take the people on the road." ”

On the 10th day of the first month of August, the flags were unfurled outside Yongping City, and the soldiers and civilians of the six or seven hundred thousand Manchurian Han and Mongolian Eight Banners were ready to go.

Erniu, Su Tai and their children were already waiting by the car, Li Liao made a grimace at his father, and Xiao Bailing broke away from his mother's hand and ran to Daddy.

Li Yu hugged his beloved daughter and kissed her, waved her hand and shouted to the people: "Folks, let's go home!" ”

"Go home!" The rolling flow of people rushed to the north, and countless tricolor eagle flags fluttered in the wind.