Halfway through the banquet, Yajima Haruka gave Xiao Yi a cup of tea, and after putting down the wine glass, he asked with interest:

"Xiao Jun, we are all surprised, you have not gone through formal military theory study, nor have you gone to study in the book and European military powers, but you have a military theory level and far-sightedness that surpasses the vast majority of Chinese counterparts During the co-authoring of the book "Shooting Teachings" with Xiao Jun, Xiao Jun's erudition, diligence, rigorous and realistic style, and superb translation level left a deep impression on me.

"Xiao Jun, several of our colleagues admire your personality and talent very much, and often wonder, why is Xiao Jun happy with the status quo instead of pursuing a stage where he can give full play to his talents? Can you tell us why? ”

Xiao Yiming knew that the main drama was coming, put down the wine glass and thought for a while, and replied very frankly:

"Yajima-kun, Zhujun, it's ashamed to say, but also a little helpless, in fact, I really want to go to this or European power to study, but I come from a humble background, I am young, I have not had a chance before, in order to change my fate, I have made a lot of efforts, fortunately admitted to the army police academy, this is where I am now.

With the help of my friends in England and Germany, I read a lot of books on various European [***] things and industrial technology, and the new knowledge opened my eyes and filled me with a sense of crisis, so I stopped pursuing the opportunity to study abroad, and turned my energy to self-study and translation.

"Doing this, although I lose the opportunity to improve myself quickly, but it can also allow me to learn and apply it, slowly accumulate some experience, and frankly, through this, it can also allow me to gradually establish my own reputation and honor, after all, there are not many people in China who are engaged in translation work, and even fewer are engaged in the translation of military books, and it is easy to succeed All of this is due to my selfishness."

Everyone smiled understandingly, secretly admired Xiao Yiming's frankness, and Miss Michiko Tsukamoto, who was proficient in Chinese, even had a little star in her eyes.

Kuriya Kan, the sturdy artillery section chief, raised his glass and said loudly in the unskilled Chinese official dialect:

"Xiao Jun, I never easily praise a Chinese [***] person, not to mention that you are still so young, but today I have to praise you, because you are honest, frank, and not pretentious at all! You have been very supportive of my work over the past few months of cooperation, and you deserve my praise and respect in every way! Come, Xiao Jun, please drink this glass of wine. ”

"Thanks for the compliment, please!"

Xiao Yiming raised his glass and drank it all, not because of the arrogance in Kuriya Kanichi's words, he couldn't help but let the full seat take a look at him.

Yajima smiled and led the topic to a happy place: "Xiao Jun, do you have a sweetheart?" ”

Xiao Yiming was stunned, and said apologetically after a while: "Yajima-kun, I'm still young, let's talk about it in a few years." ”

Everyone laughed, and Yajima pointed to Miss Tsukasa Yuan beside Xiao Yiming, and joked: "Xiao Jun, Michiko is very beautiful, she has all the advantages of our woman, didn't Xiao Jun see it?" ”

Xiao Yiming subconsciously turned his head to look, Michiko Tsukamoto's pretty face turned red and shrank behind him, causing a lot of good-natured laughter, and the Tsukagen couple also covered their mouths and laughed happily.

Xiao Yiming turned to everyone and pretended to be serious and said:

"I don't feel worthy of the beautiful Miss Tsukamoto, please Yajima-kun stop joking, otherwise I will be cranky and unable to sleep when I go back, and the consequences will be very serious."

Everyone burst into laughter, feeling that Xiao Yiming was so humorous and cheerful, so amiable, without the slightest restraint of Chinese young people, and very temperamental to everyone.

Genjiro Tsukasa finally spoke:

"Don't listen to Xiao Jun's jokes, Xiao Jun is richer than me, Chengdu women like him a lot, the business between him and the British is getting bigger and bigger, two months ago and the British Johnson joint venture to open a business house specializing in civil machinery and accessories, just two months, this has not moved into the new address of the firm, has become the largest sewing machine dealer in Chengdu, I heard that Shaanxi, Qinghai businessmen have established a cooperative relationship with this firm. I've been wondering, if Xiao Jun went all out to engage in business, would he be more successful than joining the army? ”

"Not necessarily, I personally think that Xiao Jun has a better future in the army, which is determined by China's national conditions."

Sakai is worthy of being the highest-ranking old fox and sees the crux of the problem at a glance.

Several other instructors nodded thoughtfully, and Yajima asked, "Xiao Jun, are you interested in introducing a large number of weapons and equipment?" ”

Xiao Yiming hesitated for a moment, and according to the truth:

"Yajima-kun, this problem is far beyond my ability, I remember that a year ago, the Governor General sent Cheng Qian, chief of staff of the Sichuan New Army, and others to your country to buy 8,000 30-year-old rifles and 24 infantry artillery pieces at a time, and there are still 3,000 rifles stored in the warehouse, and it is estimated that no more weapons and equipment will be purchased until the expansion of the 17th town of the Sichuan Army is completed.

"Of course, as the quartermaster chief of the military academy, I am very willing to apply for the purchase of more shells and rifle bullets, and I have already submitted the purchase application report to the supervision and training department of the governor's palace, and other affairs are not something that I, a small lieutenant section chief, can participate in."

"Didn't the Yanjing Military Department approve the plan for the construction of three divisions of the Sichuan New Army?" Sakai asked, puzzled.

Xiao Yiming smiled:

"It was approved four years ago, but it has not been established until now, the real new army is only General Zhong Ying's 33rd Association, which is actually an infantry brigade, the so-called 16th Town, 17th Town, and 18th Town, the three new army divisions, are still in the plan, and you also know these situations."

Yajima showed a look of regret: "It's a pity, Sichuan is a province with a large population and resources, and it can't be a new army with only one brigade!" ”

"I feel the same way."

Xiao Yiming nodded and listened.

Sakai obviously didn't want Xiao Yiming to just be an audience, and after proposing that everyone have a drink, he asked Xiao Yiming again: "Xiao Jun, what do you think of the alliance between Sun Wen and Mr. Huang Xing?" ”

Xiao Yiming was unprepared for this question, so she couldn't help but put down the cup and pondered, and it took more than two minutes before she sighed:

"Gentlemen, I know that there are already members of the League lurking in the military academy, and I can only turn a blind eye to this and tell the truth, I myself do not advocate severe suppression, on the contrary, I am willing to see the emergence of advanced ideas, and I am willing to see students and military colleagues thinking about new ideas.

"However, all new ideas should not be embodied in the form of violence, this is also the thing I am most worried about, it is not easy for us to establish this military academy, and we have made great efforts to do so, I think you all already know so, I sincerely hope that the military academy can always develop normally and healthily, and train more soldiers with modern military knowledge, rather than politicians."

A group of people looked at each other, and Sakai praised loudly: "Well said, Xiao Jun, soldiers should be pure, I agree with your point of view." ”

"Thank you! It's just that I am afraid that it will be difficult to realize your wishes, because China's soldiers have risen to a certain status, and there is no one who does not become politicians, which is also the sorrow of China for thousands of years! ”

After Xiao Yiming finished speaking, he picked up a glass of wine and drank it all in frustration, which made Michiko on his side worried.

Seeing this situation, Tsukasa Yuan came forward to make a round and said some light topics, and it didn't take long for the guests and hosts to disperse happily.

After sending Xiao Yiming away, he returned to the wine table to continue the discussion.

Yajima said helplessly:

"It seems that it is difficult for us to complete the task, but we can not relax the work of Xiao Jun, although Xiao Jun is young, but he is deeply trusted and respected by the governor of Sichuan, the Manchurian general Zhong Ying treats him like his own brother, Zhong Ying's guards and many troops of the border army are now equipped with Mauser pistols, all through Xiao Jun's contact with the German side, and the British Huayang Company directly purchased from Germany I guess that Xiao Jun is likely to have a stake in this Huayang company opened by the British."

Murayama, the chief of the engineering section, said dissatisfiedly:

"I don't think the focus should be on the young Xiao Jun, who is just a lieutenant officer in charge of the development of military training plans, and has no real power at all."

"Nope! Murayama-kun, you're wrong. ”

Yajima interrupted Murayama's words: "Sakai-kun and I both believe that in no more than five years, the young Xiao Jun will definitely become an important and outstanding figure in the Sichuan army, even if he does not have much real power, the people in power will not despise his opinion. Ladies and gentlemen, please think about it, we have all been stationed or working in China for more than five years, and have come into contact with the local army in Northeast China, the new army in Tianjin and Beizhili, the new army in the Huai River Valley, the new army in Hubei, and now the new army in Sichuan. ”

Everyone thought back slightly, and couldn't help but nod their heads in agreement with Yajima's words.

Yajima continued: "We have gained a lot from communicating with Xiao Jun tonight, and we can at least draw this conclusion: first, Xiao Jun respects our soldiers and has a good impression of the Great Empire; Second, Xiao Jun has no good impression of the Alliance that our country secretly supports, so we cannot rashly agree to the request of the Alliance, otherwise it is likely to cause Xiao Jun to be disgusted with us; Third, Xiao Jun has great development potential, which is worthy of our struggle and covert support. ”

"I agree with Yajima-kun." Sakai spoke loudly.

The other four instructors then stated, "We agree." ”

Sakai nodded with satisfaction: "Okay, then I'll report it like this, gentlemen, please have another drink!" ”

"Please—"

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