Wang Mingyuan can ignore Zheng Chan coming back, but he can't help but visit Chen Chao's wife and daughter. What's more, people's yards are still occupied by their own troops. Therefore, when Wang Mingyuan learned that Chen Chao's family had returned, he immediately rushed to visit Chenjiaya.

Chen Chao's family moved to Yizhou, and even Chen San's bereaved family and children were brought to Yizhou, and the Chen family's most luxurious two-entry courtyard in Chenjiaya was left to Wang Mingyuan's reserve forces. At that time, the reserve was just an empty shelf, and there were less than 100 officers and soldiers. Two years later, however, the reserve force now has a full-fledged infantry battalion, two infantry battalions with a lack of formation, a guard company, an artillery company, a cavalry communications company, an engineer company, and a baggage company.

The reserve forces are subject to exactly the same military regulations as the active forces, as are the uniforms. At present, the total strength of the reserve force has exceeded 3,000 people, scattered in the vast area centered on Zhengjiazhuang, and Fei County, as the earliest county seat occupied by the Mengshan Army, is currently stationed in the only full-fledged infantry battalion of the reserve force.

The members of the reserve are very special, and the main members are retired veterans of the main forces. In the winter of 1901, the first batch of about 700 officers and men withdrew from the main force and transferred to the reserves, and last year another 1,300 men withdrew from the main force. More than 2,000 people supported the skeleton of the reserve forces. Coupled with Wang Mingyuan's self-recruited recruits in Fei County, Zou County and other places, it has today's scale. As for the equipment. Although most of the weapons came from the equipment that the main force had withdrawn, since last year, a large number of new guns have also been allocated, two of the brand-new 75 guns and two of the 57 guns, plus the original two old 57 mountain guns, to form an overstaffed artillery company. The supply of ammunition and artillery shells for training was also sufficient, and hand grenades were successfully developed, and 200 grenades were immediately allocated for the reserve forces to study and use and explore tactics.

Wang Mingyuan estimated the tactical level of the first reserve battalion, which is mainly composed of retired veterans. Fight against any battalion of two active infantry targets. will not fall behind. In order to confirm his judgment, he offered to involve his troops in the main force confrontation exercises, but Long Qian did not approve it. The reserve forces also conduct exercises, but they are all conducted internally. And it is mainly a company-level confrontation. But. The exercises of the reserve received the attention of the headquarters. Generally, a supervision team will be sent to supervise and guide the exercise. The commanders of the main forces will also be sent to observe and give their opinions on the exercises.

Long Qian seemed to have deliberately hidden this growing force. It is impossible to hide, and many officers who graduated from the military academy with the battalion were assigned to the reserve. The movement between the main forces and reserve officers is also becoming more and more regular. For example, Deputy Commander Xiong Xun was transferred to Yibiao as a battalion commander.

According to the service regulations of the Mengshan Army. The term of service for infantry and baggage is three years. The term of service of the special services (artillery, cavalry, engineer and medical care) is four years. Particularly outstanding soldiers may be transferred to the ranks of non-commissioned officers upon their own application and approval by the troops. Non-commissioned officers, like officers, have no retirement period. Non-commissioned officers are divided into junior non-commissioned officers and senior non-commissioned officers. Junior non-commissioned officers are treated the same as deputy company commanders, and senior non-commissioned officers are divided into two levels, the first level is compared to the battalion level, and the second level is compared to the main company. But less than 1 in 10 soldiers can apply through non-commissioned officers, so a large number of soldiers leave the unit after three to four years of service. They have two options, one is to transfer to the reserve, which is treated exactly the same as in the regular army, and can also get the opportunity to be promoted to officers and non-commissioned officers. The other is to be completely discharged, and after receiving a discharge settlement payment, it has nothing to do with the army.

This regulation began when the Mengshan Army took over the two prefectures in Lunan Province, and after two years of trial implementation, the vast majority of retired soldiers were reluctant to leave the army. In this way, the reserves also have a stable number of soldiers. Moreover, it is better than that of the regular army. Lu Shan, Zhou Yi, Feng Guozhu and other "old men" with similar qualifications to Wang Mingyuan once joked that if this continues, the reserve force is the first elite of our army!

Without him, the veteran has many ears!

Wang Mingyuan's initial feeling of being idle by Long Qian disappeared, and he and his assistants worked extremely hard, determined to build a "secret" elite for Commander Long.

The reason why I say secret is that the reserve does not exist at all in the sequence of the formation of the right wing of the Wasion Army.

By the time this winter, the reserve will be expanded by one infantry battalion after it has been reinforced. The total strength of the whole army will exceed 4,000 people. According to Long Qian's order, the direct recruitment of recruits to the reserve has been stopped. Long Qian also no longer recruited new recruits from the old base areas, and more young people from the old base areas entered the two major industrial groups of Huayuan and Zhongxing.

Wang Mingyuan stepped into the courtyard gate of the Chen family, "Chen Xian, Chen Xian, you won't squeak when you come back?" ”

"Brother Mingyuan, haven't we just arrived? Oh, you've lost weight......" Chen Xian came out with a curtain and smiled at Wang Mingyuan.

"Don't do it! I arranged for someone to sweep the house out. Where's your mother? Except for Chen Chao and You's bedroom, which was not occupied by the army because there were a few boxes of sundries that were not brought to Yizhou, the rest of the rooms were requisitioned by the army, Wang Mingyuan saw that Chen Xian was covered with dust, "If they are in the way, I will let them move out of the city first!" ”

"Don't, what's going on? They are all soldiers of our own team, so let them live. You Shi heard Wang Mingyuan's voice, she liked the steady and honest Wang Mingyuan very much, and had the idea of matching Chen Xian with Wang Mingyuan, but Chen Xian fell in love with the handsome and dashing Ye Yanbing......

"Then we'll have to get them out of the inner courtyard."

"Mingyuan, it's not easy to see you now. Do you have a crush on anyone's girl? If it's from our country, let my aunt tell you to go to the matchmaker! ”

"No, no, no hurry." Wang Mingyuan said with a smile.

"How can you not be in a hurry? A few good brothers of Long Qian, you are the only one left who has not married a daughter-in-law! Is it a commander with a high vision? Let me tell you, it's still our country girl! Those girls in the city......" She glanced at Chen Xian and sighed.

"Aunt Chen, come back this time, stay longer! Our base has changed a lot, you need to take a look. Wang Mingyuan diverted the topic.

"That's right! There are so many houses built on the vacant lot east of the wooden bridge. You built it? ”

"Yes, they are all barracks of the army, and they can't always live in the homes of fellow villagers."

"Well, I'm also thinking about my family, otherwise I wouldn't have tossed so hard."

"Either so, let's go to my headquarters tonight and deal with it for one night. I'll have the house cleaned and you'll move back tomorrow. ”

"No, no. How can there be any reason to go home and live outside? In the summer, it's easy to do. ”

"That's it. Don't cook the meal, I'll have someone bring it to you. ”

That's a problem. Don't talk about rice, flour, oil and salt. Even the kitchenware was lacking. What's even worse is that. Their bedding was brought to Yizhou. I decided to come back and take a look, but I didn't think about it......

"Rest in the courtyard first. I'll arrange it. Wang Mingyuan turned around and went out, arranged for someone to clean the house for the mother and daughter, and asked someone to notify the logistics department to send kitchen utensils, bedding and food seasonings.

Half an hour later. When the yard is completely shrouded in twilight. Wang Mingyuan took the people from the logistics department. All the groceries were delivered, as well as hot meals.

"Brother Mingyuan, I know the rules of the Lu Dao team. How much do these things cost, you name it. ”

"Outside, aren't you? When the families of the troops come to visit their relatives, they are all entertained free of charge. This is also the rule set by the commander. Let's eat. His name is Qiu Jingui, he is a platoon leader, and he lives in the front yard. Tell him anything. Wang Mingyuan pointed to a tall officer beside him.

"Ah, Mingyuan is so thoughtful about you, you don't lack anything. You don't have to worry about it. ”

"Then, Aunt Chen, hurry up and eat and rest early. I still have something to deal with, so we'll see you tomorrow. ”

Wang Mingyuan returned to the headquarters of the Zheng family's mansion, and his residence was the same room that Long Qian used back then, and the furnishings had not changed. He originally wanted to go to the neighboring courtyard to visit Zhou Yi's wife next day, but felt that it was too late and inconvenient, so he dismissed the idea. After a light dinner, Wang Mingyuan continued to read the confidential report on the situation in Northeast China sent by the headquarters yesterday, and the content of this report was even more comprehensive and detailed.

The commander has his eye on the Northeast. This must be a certainty. Tian Shubang, deputy director of the Intelligence Department, was sent back to his hometown, and he also knew that he must have carried out the relevant arrangements in the early stage. The order for the exchange of Deng Qinghua, chief of staff of the second standard, and Fan Deping was also officially issued. The current deputy commander of the reserves, Fan Deping, will go to the second standard to serve as chief of staff. Deng Qinghua took over as deputy commander of the reserve and became his deputy. Deng Qinghua was the earliest staff officer of the Mengshan Army, and he was very valued by Long Qian in business. In Wang Mingyuan's view, Long Qian has big plans.

Did Commander Long decide to transfer reserve forces to the Northeast?

But why did the commander go across the mountains to plot the northeast? In Wang Mingyuan's view, instead of plotting in the northeast, it is better to expand the occupied area of the Mengshan Army in Shandong. After comparing the military strength of Shandong in detail, except for the Mengshan Army, that is, the little soldiers in Feng Guozhang's hands, it is expected that there will be no more than eight battalions at most, and the equipment is not as good as the Mengshan Army, and the training is even worse. It is a reserve force, and soldiers fire no less than four live ammunition times a month, and each time is not less than 20 rounds. Artillery live firing at least once a month! The main forces are said to be more. If he wanted to seize Shandong, Wang Mingyuan firmly believed that in three months at most, Feng Guozhang could be completely expelled and the goal of dominating Shandong could be realized.

But that's not possible! After following Long Qian for several years, Wang Mingyuan roughly understood his lord's plan, that is, to quietly accumulate strength and wait for the opportunity. The commander was by no means loyal to the Manchu court, and Wang Mingyuan's heart was bright. He himself was very much looking forward to the day when the commander would raise troops to rebel as soon as possible. He firmly believed that as long as Long Qian raised the anti-flag, the Mengshan army would follow the commander without hesitation! Among the main officers of the Mengshan Army, almost none were truly loyal to the imperial court!

Where is the timing? In the spring of this year, the Mengshan Army Headquarters compiled a mimeographed secret internal newsletter called "Essentials of Intelligence," which was compiled in the name of the intelligence department and sent to senior officers who had the right to read it from time to time, requesting that it be destroyed in front of the personnel of the intelligence department after reading.

So far, only six issues of the magazine have been published. In addition to introducing the new policy measures of the imperial court, the changes of governors in various places, and the renewal of garrisons and equipment in various parts of the imperial court, the content devotes half of the article to the dynamics of overseas anti-Qing forces. Through this secret information, Wang Mingyuan learned about the difference between the royalist party headed by Kang Youwei and Liang Qichao and the revolutionary party headed by Sun Wen in terms of political views. I also learned about the general process of the Sun Wen faction's actions in the south, Guangzhou, and Huizhou in recent years. In Wang Mingyuan's view, the overthrow of the Manchu Tartars and the establishment of a new dynasty ultimately relied on a strong army, like Sun Wen's approach, which would not succeed if it was done a hundred times. However, Wang Mingyuan still had some admiration after learning about the feats of the revolutionary party of Sun Wen's faction, and his courage was enough, but he did not measure his strength.

The latest issue of the "Intelligence Bulletin" was sent to Zhengjiazhuang together with Deng Qinghua's order, and the whole article was an introduction to the political ideas of the "Su Bao" opened in the Shanghai Concession and the information of several main writers, and the names of Zou Rong, Cai Yuanpei, and Zhang Binglin were also known to Wang Mingyuan. The 75-page "Outline of the Military and Political Affairs of Northeast China" on the case gives a detailed account of the military and political strength and geographical and popular conditions of the Qing court, Japan, and Russia in the northeast region. To come up with such a piece of information, I don't know how much work it took to make Jiang Yun, a thief with a thief and a brain. If it's not a plot for the Northeast, why spend so much effort?

Putting down the report, Wang Mingyuan turned his mind back to the headache at hand, that is, the internal problems of the autonomous committee. (To be continued......)