After defeating the advance of the official army for the second time, the Mengshan Army entered a new period of rest and recuperation, and also entered a new period of development. A large number of poor peasants from Zhaojialou, Shiyuan, Shuanglou, Qiucun, and the newly occupied areas joined this vigorous and disciplined new-style army. They not only came for the military salaries and food given by the Mengshan Army, but also because of the policies introduced by the Mengshan Army to give preferential treatment to military dependents and to reduce rents and debts. Approaching the end of the year, landlords and creditors will definitely come to the door to collect debts, and the degree of debt forcing is different, but joining the army can avoid this suffering.

Only about 100 of the captured officers and soldiers joined the Mengshan Army for various purposes. Long Qian had a huge army of prisoners of war in his hands, and of course he hoped that these people would join the Mengshan Army like Shi Dashou and Zhang Yulin, so that the combat effectiveness of the troops would be doubled. But Long Qian also knew that now he didn't have time to do the transformation work like in Mengshan, and forcibly swallowed it, in case there was a battlefield against the water, it would be a big trouble. Therefore, after studying the composition of the prisoners of war, the Mengshan army gave a different policy.

The first part is the soldiers of the Yizhou patrol battalion who were captured in the first attack, this part is small, and the vast majority of them are Yizhou children, with low combat skills, and they are not professional soldiers. Long Qian promised them that they would be released as long as they did hard labor for a month according to the instructions of the Mengshan army. These people are all children of peasant families, and they are not afraid to work, and after Mengshanjun guaranteed their safety, they worked very honestly and hard in the coal mine and digging ditches. After the second attack was crushed, Long Qian fulfilled his promise and gave each person a tael of silver, all of which were released.

The second part is the soldiers of the Armed Guards in the first invasion and suppression, which is quite numerous, and there are dozens of artillery among them. Not all of them are from Shandong, half of them are from Zhili, especially from Tianjin. Long Qian knew that they were the old foundation of the new army and the foundation of Yuan Shikai's force. Long Qian did a division treatment, all the ancestral hometowns of Shandong, as well as the artillery, Long Qian gave better treatment, and did a lot of meticulous work, such as asking the artillerymen to teach shooting and maintenance techniques, promising to release them after learning the skills. For those veterans who are directly under the government, the policy is relatively strict, solitary confinement, punishment as coolies, and no food if the quota is not completed. Long Qian made up his mind not to let these people go, once they returned, they would be the backbone of the official army. Moreover, they have been in the new army for a long time, and they have a strong sense of belonging, and there are many people who are not convinced by the defeat. Regarding the Mengshan army's appearance and sincere solicitation, the artillery and Shandong soldiers defected, but the vast majority of the Zhili soldiers ignored them, which proved that the original estimate was correct.

The third group was the officers and soldiers captured in the second battle, and the Mengshan army did not have time to do more work, but only preliminarily screened the officers and prisoners, and detained them separately. At first, the officers thought they were going to shoot them, and they cried and scolded. This was also affected by the mass shooting of the river beach, and then it was quiet. Long Qian took Ning Shijun, Ye Yanbing, Wang Mingyuan, and others to take the time to talk with the officers and ask them what they thought of the defeat in the battle. The highest position among the officers was a team officer from Qingzhou, surnamed Wang, called Wang Shouren, with the same name as a great Confucian in the Ming Dynasty. This person spoke Tangshan dialect and was very unconvinced, saying that the Mengshan army was a traitor, and if it was a dignified and upright military duel, it would never be like this. Long Qian was amused by what this Tianjin-speaking officer said, so he described in detail the deployment of the Mengshan army. When Officer Wang learned that there was only one battalion that blocked the attack, he said that he would not believe anything. He thought that there were at least six or seven hundred Mengshan troops in front of him, not the three hundred or so people Long Qian said. Long Qian gave the topic to Wang Mingyuan, and when the Wang team officer listened to Wang Mingyuan's position layout and the tactical arrangements for defeating the attack of the official army, this Wang camp officer was very interesting, and even proposed to go to see the battlefield. Long Qian agreed to his request, saying that he could go to the scene to discuss it when he had time.

Ning Shijun and the others understood what Long Qian meant, and he always regarded the transformation of prisoners as a major event. Because of the example of the old fourth company, Ning Shijun and the others didn't think that Long Qian was doing useless work. However, whether it is Ning Shijun or Wang Mingyuan, they have defeated the official army twice in a row, and they are a little proud in their hearts, and they don't care much about whether they can recruit these captive soldiers.

The officer of the royal team said bluntly, I see that you are quite well-behaved, not an ordinary ringing horse. What kind of battalion and company system does an ordinary ringing horse have? Now that you have won the war, and you have also seized the weapons and money, is it time to release them?

Long Qian smiled and said, you are prisoners of war. When will the prisoners of war be released? After the end of the war. So, stay quiet. As long as you obey my rules, life is assured. Of course, there is also a special situation, we are very poor, we lack everything, if you value you at the top, take money to redeem it. The price has been set, they know.

Officer Wang immediately became depressed.

Long Qian smiled and said, "Don't be discouraged. I have always believed that as long as you are Chinese and do not do unforgivable things that hurt nature and reason, there is no unresolved grievance. As for you, you are the highest-ranking officer in the army captured this time, and I will make you a special one, with two guards, so that you can walk around the various prisoner of war camps. Calm down your brethren. First, don't make trouble, you must be punished for violating my rules. Second, if there are any requests from your subordinates, you can ask for them. What I can satisfy, I can negotiate and satisfy. ”

"So, can I redeem myself?"

Long Qian became interested, "What do you mean?" ”

Wang Shouren said that his family has quite a lot of industry in Tangshan and also has a business in Tianjin. If he is allowed to write to his family, they will pay for him to return.

"Ha Luha, Captain Wang, I'm going to say that you are not righteous. Are you an officer, leaving behind your brethren and spending your own money to redeem yourself? I advise you to be your captain and take care of your brothers. In the future, if I let you go, they will be grateful to you as a boss. If you run away on your own, your future in the new army will be ruined. ”

"Oh, that's the lesson of the master." Wang Shouren has some energy.

"Okay, Chief of Staff, you arrange for the guard platoon to send two people to follow Officer Wang, and he can walk around."

"Yes." Ning Shijun replied.

Transforming captives was not something that happened overnight, and Long Qian didn't expect to see results right away. The expansion of the Mengshan Army is a top priority. The enlistment of local peasants and the surrender of prisoners enabled the Mengshan Army to not only replenish the old company after the war, but also expand three companies in one fell swoop, namely the third, ninth and twelfth companies with vacant numbers. This makes each of the four infantry battalions a battalion with three infantry companies.

The establishment of infantry companies was further standardized, with three platoons per company, three squads per platoon, and ten men per squad. There is also a food class with six people. The infantry company has an additional establishment of medical personnel, with two medical personnel in each company, who are responsible for the treatment of the battlefield. However, the two medics were all men, and the women remained in the medical team under the command of the Logistics Section. Long Qian explained that the medical staff of each company are responsible for first-aid bandaging on the battlefield, and the wounded will be immediately sent to the medical center for further treatment after being treated urgently on the battlefield.

The cavalry company expanded a platoon and became a cavalry artillery company with a strength of 120 people, which had a newly organized cavalry artillery platoon, one of the six artillery pieces captured in the two battles was completely damaged, three of the remaining five were equipped with cavalry artillery platoons, and the other two were incorporated into the newly established artillery training team directly under the headquarters.

A large number of captured weapons once again improved the equipment of the Mengshan army, after the end of the battle, less than one percent of the unarmed soldiers, but the situation of firearms, especially the standard bayonets, was seriously damaged, and the logistics section became the busiest department after the war.

Considering the supply of ammunition supplies in wartime, Long Qian consulted with several officers of the headquarters, especially solicited the opinions of Song Jinguo, and established a transport company, which was under the jurisdiction of the logistics section. This company is responsible for the transportation of baggage supplies during the operation of the troops, as well as the task of transporting ammunition to the front line and evacuating the wounded during combat. A number of soldiers who were wounded and affected by normal military training and recruits who were not physically fit were integrated into the company. The current number is 83 people, with 15 seized rubber-tyred carts and 20 or so trolleys. There were also dozens of mules and horses.

After the completion of the expansion, the entire Mengshan Army (including the wounded who did not return) reached 1,530 people, with more than 1,200 rifles of various types and 5 artillery pieces, which became a formidable force in central and southern Shandong.

With the addition and reorganization of the troops, the territory actually controlled by the Mengshan Army was also increased, and the Mengshan Army vigorously expanded its forces in the south, west, and north directions by eliminating Qiucun, which was directly opposite Feixian County and had twice become the front line of the decisive battle. Seven or eight more villages were included in the scope of the Mengshan army's power. However, most of them are mountain villages, with few people and barrenness, and in addition to increasing the strategic depth and manpower support for the Mengshan Army, the burden on the troops is increased economically. There is only one exception, and that is Zhangqianzhuang, twenty-five miles north of Shiyuan.

Zhangqianzhuang is a big Zhuangzi that is not smaller than Zhengjiazhuang, located in the traffic artery, from Zhengjiazhuang to the northeast and Pingyi, to the northwest and Zou County, all must pass through Zhangqianzhuang. On the third day after defeating Li Chunjin for the second time, Shen Wuxi, the largest landlord in Zhangqianzhuang, personally came to Zhengjiazhuang and asked to see Long Qian. The squire drove ten fat pigs, twenty sheep, and three carts of milled flour as a gift to the Mengshan army.

Of course the gift smiled. The Mengshan army is now lacking in everything. Long Qian and Lu Shan met Shen Wuxian face-to-face, and asked with a smile, "Shen Cai officiates at the ceremony, he must ask for something, if you have any requirements, just ask." ”

Shen Wuxian sneered, "Your army has repeatedly defeated the official army, and its prestige is far and wide, and Commander Long can't see a few broken guns in our village." I came to visit the commander today, and I brought some gifts by the way. These small gifts are for your army to celebrate the holidays. I really want to ask for your army, and by the way, I also want to do a little business with your army. ”

Long Qian motioned for Shen Wuxian to continue.

"This business means that we are willing to buy Shiyuan Carbon at a price twice as high as the market."

Long Qian raised his hand and interrupted Shen Wuxian, "Don't say it." Bing, I'm going to send it. The township corps must be disbanded. Weapons must be confiscated. The land rent of you and a few big landlords must also be lowered. The specific standards can refer to the level of Zhengjiazhuang and Chenjiaya, which may not be exactly the same. ”

Shen Wuxi's face immediately changed drastically.

"Mr. Shen, don't think about a few pigs, a few bags of flour can buy me. I have a gun in my hand, I want it, I will take it. To tell the truth, Zhang Qianzhuang is my target to take, not because of the little property you have to be sick, but because of the geographical location of Zhang Qianzhuang. In the future, when I go out of Zou County or Pingyi before my Mengshan army, I will need to fight Guizhuang. But there's a difference between you taking the initiative and me going first. Since you are knowledgeable, and I am not interested in it, I will not confiscate your land. First, immediately disband the village troops, collect their weapons, and hand them over to the troops I have sent. The safety of your village, as well as your safety, is the responsibility of our army. The township soldiers say they are guarding against thieves, but they are actually guarding against your villagers. Think I don't know? Therefore, this second article is to properly forgive the debts of the tenants, and also relieve the hatred of the poor buddies against you. Third, I went back to the landlords in Zhuangzi and discussed raising 150,000 catties of grain for our army. Do these three, and you will be safe. As for the reduction of land rent, we will wait until next spring. ”

Shen Wuxi suddenly looked like a deflated ball.

Long Qian looked at Shen Wuxian, who had no color on his face, "Lord Shen, you have to learn Chen Chao, don't learn Zheng Jing!" My Mengshan army can defeat Li Chun's army twice, just rely on your few township soldiers, put away your unrealistic fantasies as soon as possible. My artillery will go up, and two cannons will blast through your wall. Think about it, your small village can be compared to Fei County? ”

What Shen Wuxian was most afraid of was Zhang Qianzhuang, the garrison of the Mengshan Army, and wanted to argue a few words, but Lu Shan's eyes widened, "What else do you want to talk nonsense?" You don't understand what our commander said, or what's the matter? Believe it or not, I will lay down your Zhuangzi in half a day? Do as the commander commands, and at least you keep your family safe. Otherwise, Zheng Jing will be your end. ”

As the impact of the two battles spread, several members of the Mengshan Army were also known as the objects of discussion among the villagers. Lu Shan was originally the deputy commander, and the last battle of Chenjiaya was famous, and he looked mighty, looking fierce. Now that Lu Shan has put on a black face, the natural effect is obvious. Shen Wuxian didn't dare to argue anymore, and immediately said that he would do exactly what Commander Long wanted. There was only a small request, hoping that Commander Long would ensure the safety of him and the rest of the landlords after disbanding the township troops and confiscating the guns and ammunition.

"Those poor goods, but they are unreasonable." Shen Wuzhi cried with a sad face. He regretted that he had not transferred his property in time and fled from Zhang Qianzhuang. However, his main wealth is land, and he can't move it if he wants to.

"It's better not to say that." Lu Shan had a cold face, "Almost all of us are poor goods as you said." ”

Shen Wuzhi didn't dare to resist, so he could only disband his township army as promised. However, compared to Zheng Jing's family background, Shen Wuzhi is much shabby. His township army was only one hundred and ten people, only about twenty good guns, and the rest were all bird tubes and other things that the Mengshan army looked down on. There are quite a few cold weapons.

On the twentieth day of the lunar month, Feng Lun took the three battalions that had been reorganized and stationed in Zhangqianzhuang. At the same time, Deng Qinghua and others were stationed in the village, and their task was mainly to implement a series of local policies of Long Qian, mainly to raise food and funds.

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