After signing the aid agreement for Yuan Shikai, Zhang Wei asked people to send the complete agreement to Xiao Xuguang and Du Shihui, and asked the two of them to start executing the action. Pen & Fun & Pavilion www.biquge.info

Xiao Xuguang ordered Lieutenant General Du Shihui to go to Fengtian once to negotiate with Duan Qirui and Xu Shichang, and at the same time arrange a senior staff officer in Fengtian to serve as a liaison between the two sides.

At the same time, Yuan Shikai also sent a telegram to Duan Qirui and Xu Shichang, to closely cooperate with the work of the Xia Empire and strengthen the military and economic strength of the frontier.

Duan Qirui studied military affairs in Germany and joined the army after returning to China. Now that I have the opportunity to expand the army, I don't have to worry about the shortage of weapons and equipment and military salaries, and I am only responsible for recruiting and training; Duan Qirui thanked Yuan Shikai for his kindness, and made up his mind that he must train a strong army and an iron army, at least to reach the level of the Xia Empire's National Defense Army; Moreover, in the Frontier Special Administrative Region, there are many fewer kinds of containment than in Zhili, and he can act according to his own will, and the Xia Empire also provides convenient conditions in all aspects, which makes Duan Qirui full of confidence.

Xu Shichang is a traditional literati, and he is determined to make a career in the frontier, not to mention leaving a name for the ages, but also to live up to what he has learned.

After receiving Yuan Shikai's telegram, both of them thought about the relationship with the Xia Empire, and neither of them said anything, but they would fully cooperate with the arrangements of the Xia Empire's staff.

Now Xu Shichang lives in the governor's mansion where Zhao Erxun originally lived, while Duan Qirui has been living in the military camp outside the city in order to facilitate the management of the army.

The last time the army was expanded, it was to expand the two towns into four towns, and each town was expanded from the original one association as the team, directly promoting the officers at all levels to one level, and the assistant commander of the four associations was promoted to the town rule, and Duan Qirui and Wang Yingkai no longer served as the town ruler.

On the morning of March 23, Du Shihui arrived in Fengtian, Xu Shichang and Duan Qirui personally greeted him at the train station, and washed the dust for Lieutenant General Du Shihui at Xu Shichang's official residence.

After lunch, in Xu Shichang's study, only Xu Shichang, Duan Qirui, Wang Yingkai and Du Shihui sat opposite each other.

Du Shihui spoke first: "I am a soldier and I don't like to beat around the bush, so I said directly, this time His Majesty the Emperor sent me mainly to assist the two of them in developing the military and economy of the frontier." ”

Xu Shichang and Duan Qirui hurriedly catered to him: "I have received a telegram from Lord Yuan, and I will definitely fully cooperate with General Du's work." ”

"Well, economic construction is mainly to build factories, build infrastructure, build schools, and train talents, which requires a lot of funds, in addition to the appropriations of the imperial court and the loans of the empire, we also need to be self-reliant in our border areas, develop the economy as soon as possible, and be self-sufficient; The military aspect is simpler, soldiers are recruited, rigorous training is carried out, and the empire will provide good weapons and a sufficient number of instructors. ”

Xu Shichang said: "Then please ask General Du to instruct, how should we cooperate?" ”

Du Shihui didn't ink, and directly began to arrange the work: "Whether it is recruiting troops or developing the economy, a large number of people are needed, and now the population in the border areas is still too small, and it is necessary to increase immigration, which is the most important work, listed as the first item; The second task is to start recruiting workers, the empire has to assist in the construction of nearly 100 factories in the frontier, at least 50,000 workers must be recruited, at most one month, the technicians, administrative personnel and machinery and equipment aided by the empire will arrive in Mukden one after another, and you can start to build factories, now after recruiting workers, first build roads, prepare wood, sand and gravel and other building materials, open brick and tile factories, run night schools, teach workers to read, etc.; These two tasks are very arduous, and they are completely in charge of Xu Gelao; The third task is to recruit troops, according to the instructions of His Majesty the Emperor, in the first half of the year, at least the existing 4 towns should be expanded into 8 towns, this matter will be in charge of General Duan, and 80,000 soldiers will be recruited and sent to my territory, and the empire will secretly train for you, and after passing the qualifications, it will be changed to 10 mixed associations, and this work will be in charge of General Wang; The fourth problem is to build the Fengtian Military Academy and the Fengtian Administrative Academy, from now on the construction of the school, recruiting students and other preparatory work, the military academy can open at any time, the administrative academy must wait for the empire to send teachers, it will take a certain amount of time to get here; At the same time, an army academy will be set up in Dalian to train grassroots officers of the Independent Mixed Association; As for the officers of the Biao, Xie, and Town, you sent a telegram to Lord Yuan, requesting that some of them be sent, some of them should be promoted from the current four towns, some of them should be recruited from all over the country, and some of them should be trained in the military academy, so that the needs of the officers could be met. ”

After listening to Du Shihui's arrangement, the three of them were all enthusiastic, and promised to do these things well.

In the afternoon, Du Shihui arrived at the barracks, and in Duan Qirui's office, Duan Qirui, Wang Yingkai, Du Shihui, and the staff team brought from Dalian began to discuss the specific matters of expanding the army.

Du Shihui spoke first: "The 80,000 officers and soldiers of the mixed association in charge of General Wang, you are only responsible for recruiting troops, and then form the mixed association after the training is completed. For the four towns that General Duan is responsible for expanding, after the expansion, the combat effectiveness will decline, and it is also necessary to ensure a complete establishment, so it is now necessary to determine commanders at all levels. ”

After thinking about it, Duan Qirui decided: "Now the 4 towns were just formed a year ago, and the combat effectiveness is not good, but the establishment is complete, my opinion is to select 4 associations from these 4 towns, and directly expand them to 4 towns, and these 4 associations temporarily serve as the acting town rulers, and then become regular after passing the training, and the following newly promoted standards, battalions and other officers are also implemented in the same way, I don't know what General Du wants?" ”

"Yes, but immediately send a telegram to Lord Yuan, asking him to send some officers to take up the post, but if all the officers feel that they are not competent during the training, they may be recommended to demote them or return them to Lord Yuan for arrangement, you must explain it clearly to the officers at all levels in advance."

Duan Qirui replied very happily: "Please rest assured General Du, this time it is definitely necessary to refer to your country's military management model and strengthen the management of military discipline. ”

"Well, now we are discussing the conscription work, we want to recruit 50,000 soldiers on the surface, and another 80,000 soldiers secretly, the task is very arduous, what do you suggest?"

Wang Yingkai hurriedly replied this time: "General Du, my opinion is to recruit troops from Shandong, Henan, Shaanxi, Shanxi, Zhili, and border areas. ”

"Does General Duan have any other suggestions?"

"General Wang's method is very good, but it is best to get the approval of the imperial court or Lord Yuan, so that you can cover people's eyes and ears and hide from the world."

Wang Yingkai said: "Duan Jingjun is too worried, now you are a frontier general, you have completely arbitrary power, you can use the frontier general's seal, just report to Lord Yuan and the court in advance." ”

Du Shihui felt that what Wang Yingkai said was good, and said: "I agree with General Wang's opinion, you should use the seal letter of the frontier general to recruit troops, and you should inform Lord Yuan as soon as possible, one is the matter of recruiting troops, and the other is to send officers." Duan Jingjun was responsible for expanding the existing 4 towns into 8 towns, and was responsible for preparing for the construction of the Fengtian Army Academy; General Wang was in charge of recruiting troops, and sent people to Shandong, Henan, Shaanxi, and other places to recruit troops, and the new recruits from Shandong and Henan could be transported to Dalian by ship from Yantai, and the necessary military expenses were paid in advance from my governor's palace. ”

The two of them are very happy, now they can let go of the bold expansion of the army, they must make a career, you must know that Lord Yuan has trained in the small station for many years before forming 5 towns of officers and soldiers, and now it only takes 1 year, and the officers and soldiers who are responsible for the training of the two are all more than 5 towns, but with the help of the Xia Empire, the two are full of confidence, and hurriedly promised: "Please rest assured General Du, we will definitely complete the task in the shortest possible time." (To be continued.) )