In the spring of that year, no edict was issued, nor was there any proclamation to spread to the world, but through specific and trivial administrative orders, a large-scale reorganization of the old army and the establishment of a new army were quietly carried out.

The reforms actually started a long time ago, but they were not noticeable before. The reduction of the Green Battalion continued the policy of the Xianfeng and Tongzhi periods, but the intensity and speed suddenly increased. As for the transformation of the military system and the unification of the power of naval construction to the central government, these are clear only to high-ranking officials.

Ding Yuntong once had the idea of integrating the Hunan Army and the Huai Army into the newly built Guards Army and fusing them together, so that the new army would be established faster. However, Zuihou felt that they should be separated, because the bad habits of the old army could easily edify the new soldiers, and many officers and soldiers in the Hunan and Huai armies had been in the army for many years and had become soldiers, and there were many riches from various rewards and looting, and they lacked the hunger to receive awards for meritorious service, which would affect the morale of the troops. If the two units are used separately and at the same time are treated equally, healthy competition can be formed.

Peng Yulin, the new director of the Ministry of War, is responsible for the reorganization of the old army and the establishment of the new army. The reason why Ding Yuntong chose him was because this person was not only one of the founders of the Hunan Army, but also had rich experience. And it is extremely noble and patriotic, and it is one of the very few people in history who does not love officials and money, and at the same time is selfless and selfless, which can be called a rare species. In terms of no selfishness, Li Hongzhang, Zhang Zhidong or Zuo Zongtang are not as good as him.

On June 15th, the West Warm Pavilion of the Palace of Nourishing Heart. Ding Yuntong has now moved the military aircraft department from the Longzong Gate to the Xinuan Pavilion, and he can come over at any time if he has something. The East Warm Pavilion is still used as the curtain of the Empress Dowager Ci'an. Although the queen mother rarely comes to the court meeting now, and the court meeting is no longer held every day.

At this time, Ding Yuntong paced and listened to Peng Yulin's report on army affairs: "The dismantling of the green battalion has been basically completed, most of them have been repatriated home, and about 100,000 elite battalions have been organized into patrol battalions to maintain law and order and patrol the border. ”

Ding Yuntong blinked, and Peng Yulin continued: "The new establishment of the army, in accordance with the emperor's will, has been formulated. The Guards are based on squads, with 18 men per squad. Three shifts are a row of 54 people. Three platoons for a company, 162 people. Three companies were a battalion with 486 men. Three battalions plus one artillery company are a regiment with 1,620 men, and the artillery company has 8 field guns. Three regiments plus a brigade command office, plus a guard company for a brigade, about 5,056 people, 24 field guns.

The division is the largest establishment unit, under the jurisdiction of two brigades, plus a heavy artillery battalion, a communications company, a cavalry battalion, an engineer company, a divisional guard battalion, as well as the division headquarters, health team and supply team, with a total strength of 12,116 people.

In addition, the heavy artillery battalion had 4 heavy guns and 12 field guns. The division had 4 heavy artillery pieces and 60 field guns. According to the emperor's decree, the German-made Krupp 210mm heavy howitzer will be selected for heavy artillery, and the Krupp 78mm light field gun will be selected for field artillery. The whole army uniformly purchased German-made Mauser 1871 rifles. ”

Ding Yuntong nodded, the reason why he chose these two kinds of guns, because in the history of the previous life, the Qing Dynasty also sent people to compare and test the advantages and disadvantages of various European artillery, thinking that the Krupp gun was superior to the British Armstrong gun, in this case, he didn't have to work hard, all chose the Krupp gun, and the unified use of these two models is also conducive to the training and use of troops. Moreover, the Krupp 78mm light field gun, which is relatively lightweight, is very suitable for mobile and mountain combat. As for this Mauser, after being improved in 1884, it also became the standard gun of the German army. But to be fair, this gun can't be said to be the best, but it is cost-effective, and German munitions have always been strong and durable.

Ding Yuntong once thought about equipping the troops with machine guns, but he gave up after thinking about it. At this time, the Maxim machine gun had not yet been invented, mainly the Gatling machine gun, which was called the Grimm gun in China, which belonged to the primitive machine gun, and its performance was not satisfactory. It is particularly easy to jam, the cooling effect is extremely poor, the structure is too precise, and the weight is too large, which puts great pressure on logistics support. Moreover, the failure rate is extremely high, China lacks maintenance technicians, and it will be scrapped if something goes wrong in the war. The price is extremely expensive, and the lack of troop equipment is not the top use, and the financial resources of more equipment are unbearable, so they simply do not need it.

Ding Yuntong asked again: "How about the purchase contract for guns?" This time, he asked about Vice Foreign Minister Xu Jingcheng, who had already left for Russia at the beginning of the year to negotiate the recovery of Ili.

Xu Jingcheng hurriedly replied: "Li Fengbao and Xu Jianyin have been asked to go to Krupp Company and Mauser Company respectively. A Mauser gun costs 55 marks, which is equivalent to 11 taels of silver. Together with the ammunition required for each gun, as well as the cost of transportation and the reserve of repair parts, it was amortized to 20 taels of silver per gun. The initial intention is to order 120,000 pieces for a total of 2.4 million taels. A Krupp 210mm heavy gun costs 16,000 taels, and a field gun costs 3,650 taels. The order of 40 heavy artillery pieces and 600 field guns, plus transportation costs, required a total of 3.5 million taels of silver. The total number of guns was 5.9 million taels. ”

Ding Yuntong thought for a while and said: "It is equally important to hire German experts and workers, after all, the guns are still made by themselves when they arrive in Zuihou, and they are controlled but not controlled by others, and purchasing them is only an expedient measure after all." ”

Another vice minister of foreign affairs, Zhang Yinheng, stepped forward and said: "What the emperor said is very true, the matter of hiring German experts and technicians has been discussed with the German side several times, and the salary will be as generous as possible. ”

Ding Yuntong asked Li Hongzhang, Minister of Industry, again: "How is the Hanyang Arsenal built?" ”

"According to the emperor's will, it has been basically completed. In the future, the Jiangnan Manufacturing Bureau and the Hanyang Arsenal will be mainly responsible for the imitation and development of guns. The Ministry of Industry has sent Wang Chengrong and others to Krupp for inspection and study, and selected Bian Changsheng, Liu Fangpu, Zha Lianbiao, Yuan Yuchun, Yang Deming, Zhu Yaocai, Wang Desheng and other technicians to study in Germany with German expert Li Lixie. ”

Ding Yuntong turned around and asked Peng Yulin: "How is the recruitment of the Guards?" ”

"The emperor said that the recruitment of soldiers of the Guards has already begun in the provinces. Everywhere carefully selected simple and strong people, can read and hyphenate better. After that, they were secretly gathered in various places. According to the emperor's will, the southeastern soldiers gathered in Jinggangshan, Jiangxi, the southwestern soldiers gathered in Zunyi, Guizhou, the northwest soldiers gathered in Yan'an, Shaanxi, and the North China soldiers gathered in Menglianggu, Shandong. Armament schools were set up in various places to teach the basic principles of ordnance, as well as its use and maintenance. And learn the way of loyalty to the monarch sooner or later, and clearly state the regulations on rewards and punishments on the battlefield. All training conditions are strictly confidential, and special passes are required from the General Staff Headquarters to enter and exit the training camp. ”

Ding Yuntong thought to himself: As long as the rewards and punishments are clearly distinguished, the combat effectiveness of the troops will naturally be greatly improved.

There was a story in the previous life, saying that in the Celestial Empire's Volunteer Army to aid Korea, there was a soldier who failed to make meritorious service for a long time. The family wrote to say that many people in the neighboring villages have made meritorious contributions, and the family has been divided into land, and you have been in the army for several years, why has there been no movement at all? This soldier was greatly stimulated, and in the next battle, he charged like crazy, rushed through the 38th parallel, blocked more than a dozen American vehicles, and captured an American officer alive with his own hands, not even knowing that his shoes had run off.

Ding Yuntong tapped his fingers on the table and asked slowly, "How is the training progress of the new army?" ”

"With the current scale and progress, only one brigade can be formed at most and at the fastest in a year."

Ding Yuntong thought about it and felt that with the current conditions, especially the lack of teachers, such a speed was already rare.

"Those selected generals will also be trained, and I will also send some people to Europe to observe and study, don't think that you are generals who lead troops. Now the situation of the Shijie war is changing with each passing day, everything has to be learned from scratch, and it is in vain to train a new army, but without a new general. ”

"What the emperor said is extremely true."

"Well, the reorganized training army?"

"The military system of the training army is the same as that of the Guards, with 12,116 people in one division, and a total of 7 divisions plus a brigade. It's just that the armament of weapons and firepower has not yet been determined. ”

"Well, if they are all equipped like the Guards, the financial pressure is very great, and the training army is an auxiliary liliang, and it is a waste of money if the equipment is too good. The original firearms used in the training army are numerous and complex, but Enfeld still has the largest inventory of guns, and this gun is used as standard equipment, and the logistics support is also convenient. Artillery, on the basis of the original artillery, supplemented by the 57mm Grusen fast gun imitated by the Jiangnan Manufacturing Bureau, as far as possible to supplement the army's artillery establishment. Moreover, the training of the army also uses new methods to train and hire German troops to teach and train, and there must be no slackness in the slightest. There are many officers and soldiers who were born in the suppression of the Taiping Army and the Twist Army, and they are still brainless, and they will mislead the country and harm the people sooner or later. ”

"Your Majesty."

"There is also the formation and training of the Guards, which must be kept in the highest secrecy. No mention of government documents or external propaganda is allowed, and all activities related to the Guards are not allowed to be recorded in the documents of the War Department, which must be managed by an independent body established by the General Staff. The required materials and the silver taels spent must be withdrawn directly through Huaxia Bank through a separate secret account without going through the account department. All training officers and soldiers, including teachers and their families, are to be managed in a closed manner. All persons are not allowed to mention their true situation when communicating with others, and all correspondence must be strictly checked. Foreign spies, especially Japanese spies, are pervasive and have to be guarded against. The current situation, only a few of you ministers know best, if there is a leak, I can think that there are spies among you, then I have no choice but to kill a mistake, don't let it go. In the future, if any of you are confused, for the sake of petty profits, and want to be lucky, it is best to think about these six words. ”

"Wechen don't dare to die."

Ding Yuntong looked at everyone with a look of sincere fear, and asked Li Hongzhang: "What about the railway and telegraph, how is your Ministry of Industry doing?" ”

"The telegraph network has begun to take shape, and the major cities have opened the telegraph line. Construction of the Beijing-Guangzhou Railway Line and the Han-Shanghai Line has already begun, but the amount of money required for the project is really large. ”

Ding Yuntong calculated: To form the Guards, nearly 6 million taels of guns and artillery will be needed, plus the army's material supplies, clothes, shoes and socks, food, drink, Lazar, medical and health care, military salaries and horses, construction of barracks, training facilities, and teachers' salaries, and everything has not been done, and 10 million must be spent first, which is a conservative estimate. It also costs some money to train the army, and then it will immediately order a few warships for the navy. Huaxia Bank's more than 11 million pounds, equivalent to 40 million taels, is really very tight. If it is used to build the railway, it is estimated that the Guards will soon become a rice cooker. Private capital is still very weak, and it is okay to attract investment and set up factories, but it is only a drop in the bucket to build these two big railways.

So what to do? It seems that in order to speed up the construction process, we must find a way to borrow some foreign debt.

Thinking about it this way, Ding Yuntong said to Xu Jingcheng; "Immediately inform Ambassador Chen Lanbin to the United States, come forward to contact the US Government, and it is best to facilitate the visit of the US Government head of State to China, and if the trip can be carried out and accompanied by Deputy Envoy to the United States Rong Hong, I will say that I am very willing to talk with the US Government about the open door."