On the second day of February in the thirtieth year of Guangxu, the red flag of the large school field in the northern suburbs of Jinan was displayed, the gongs and drums were noisy, and the crowd was crowded. On this day, the imperial court inspected the army of the fifth town, and the gentry of Jinan Mansion received a gilded invitation, inviting him to go to the university to watch the ceremony at three o'clock on the morning of the second day of the first lunar month.

After the establishment of the fifth town, Long Qian sent sappers to carry out a comprehensive renovation, expand the area and add facilities. The seventeenth standard in Jinan Prefecture is held in Jinan Prefecture every month.

There was a simple review stand on the north side of the school grounds, but it was just a one-meter-high earthen platform, and there was not even a roof to protect from the rain. In order to meet the Qincha, the engineer battalion rushed to repair the viewing platform, and repaired the foundation of the original earthen platform with ashes, worried that the cold weather would affect the quality of construction, and more than a dozen cages of fire were lit around, day and night to ensure its temperature. The stage was covered with a wooden ceiling and painted white. In addition, on both sides of the main platform, the wings of the geese generally extend out of the two secondary platforms that can accommodate a total of 200 people, and these seats are reserved for the gentry of Jinan Prefecture.

The imperial court sent Prince Qing and the minister of the new army to supervise the training of the new army, led the team, and the Xiangli of the training department and the squire of the military department Manman Tieliang were the deputies, and brought the training office and several staff officers from the second and third towns to arrive in Jinan on the first day of February. As soon as he arrived in Jinan, Tie Liang, who looked like he owed him 200 yuan, asked for an inspection on the next day on the grounds that he was busy with official business. Probably he thought that Long Qian would feel embarrassed, but who knew that Long Qian agreed and said to King Qing, "If the prince is not afraid of the carriage and horses, then we will set it for tomorrow?" ”

King Qing, who has white hair, is an idealess, and Tie Liang, who has just returned from a military inspection in Japan, is deeply trusted by the Queen Mother. It is said that he is about to enter the main military department, "It's okay, I don't know how the dragon system is going to be inspected?" ”

"Lord Qiyu," Long Qian deliberately didn't look at Tie Liang, "The fifth town has been formed according to the posts approved by the imperial court, and the rosters of each ministry have been prepared. However, due to the fact that the troops were stationed in various places and it was not easy to assemble, only one battalion was transferred from each of the four infantry standards, artillery standards, and cavalry standards for review. If the prince needs to watch the actual combat exercises of the troops, he can also ......"

"Good, good. Thinking about it, the Queen Mother is relieved. Just do what you prepare. Yi Liang immediately complied.

It is said that the inspection should concentrate the whole town, but this cannot be done. Tie Liang couldn't make such an excessive request. Gathering more than 10,000 people in one place is not as simple as finding an open space where there can be place. And. Say it's a point check. It's actually a review. Because the Fifth Town had already been established, the monthly salary was paid in full through the Shandong Domain. The division of troops in various important places in Shandong has also been approved by the Ministry of War, and if all the troops are concentrated in the provincial capital, the promotion fee alone will be a large amount of money. The imperial court will not pay this money.

Originally, the troops to be reviewed were the 17th standard, one battalion each of the artillery standard, and the cavalry standard. But there are some different voices within the troops. It seems that the seventeenth mark is the number one main force. The rest are like second-rate troops. Long Qian adopted everyone's opinions. Long Qian knows it very well. An important factor in the cohesion of the armed forces comes from their sense of honor, and as commanders-in-chief, we should seize every opportunity that can increase the sense of honor of the armed forces rather than give up or arbitrarily deprive them of opportunities.

Since the number of reference troops is limited. Then there must be a reasonable arrangement for who will be read, and it is the fairest way to follow the ranking of the reading. Those who do not have the right to participate in the reading can only blame themselves for not doing well, which will stimulate their passion for military training in the future.

Fair rewards and punishments are the best means to maintain and enhance the combat effectiveness of the troops. In the end, it was adjusted to four step markers, and each battalion was sent out to be read. This brings us to the point of competition. The four infantry signs received orders, and all of them drew their most elite troops, in order to show their style.

Ten days ago, the troops scattered all over the country had gathered in Jinan. Just wait for this day to debut.

The fifth town has a peculiar origin, and it is the most special of the six towns in Beiyang. Since the establishment of this army, the imperial court has not been equipped with a military uniform, a gun, and all the weapons are all raised by Long Qian. Therefore, after receiving the edict of the imperial court, how to accept the review, there are some different opinions within the fifth town, Chen Chao, Ning Shijun and Situ all advocate taking the opportunity to cry to the imperial court, after all, the imperial court owes a lot in military expenses, especially weapons purchase fees. However, Fang Shengyuan, Wang Mingyuan and Zhou Yi advocated that the best weapons and the best troops should be put on display.

Long Qian accepted the second opinion.

Now, more than 3,100 people who have been read have entered the school grounds, and according to their respective numbers, they stand solemnly in front of the viewing platform. All officers and men wore new dark yellow winter uniforms, beautiful large-brimmed hats, and leather boots. The infantry was in the east, according to the team (company) as a unit, lined up into 16 squares, divided into two rows, in front of each square to the left stood an officer wearing a pistol and a flag bearer holding a military flag, the soldiers wore snow-white gloves, and held the German rifles with bayonets on their sides. With the artillery battalion in the middle, their squadron looked a little thinner, and the twelve Krupp 75mm mountain guns on their horses were wiped spotlessly. The cavalry battalion was in the westernmost part, and the riders stood solemnly beside the horses with the reins, and the horses were carefully cleaned, and the saddles were bright and spirited.

In front of the parade phalanx, on the left side of the viewing platform, there is also a military band, all of which are Western instruments.

Celebrities from all walks of life who received the invitations entered the school under the guidance of the guide officer at three o'clock in the morning, and sat on the viewing platforms on both sides according to the designated positions. Today's main protagonist has not yet appeared, and most of the guests are seeing this kind of scene for the first time, and they can't help but let out bursts of exclamations.

"Oh, you see, they stand so neatly, they don't move......"

"It's the first time the old man has seen such a magnificent military appearance...... You know the way, right? These are all our Shandong children......"

"Look at those horses, why are they so obedient? They were also motionless......

"Ah, look, the eighteenth mark, Dezi is in that mark, why can't I see him? They are all the same size, so powerful...... You still oppose Dezi being a soldier, look at how magnificent these soldiers are! ”

Xu Wenfu and Xu Xue sat in the first row of the viewing platform on the right. On Xu Wenfu's left is Zhou Xuexi, who couldn't stand his daughter's request, so he asked for a ticket through Zhou Xuexi and brought his daughter to watch the ceremony.

"See? This is the hallmark of a strong army. Chunru, don't look at this station. The average person simply can't stand motionless for such a long time...... If it had been me, I would have squatted down and rested. Long retreats to govern the army and govern the people, what a rare talent! Zhou Xuexi praised.

Xu Wenfu also noticed that the infantry phalanx in front of him was really motionless, without a trace of noise, let alone officers and soldiers talking to each other.

"Yes, why don't you start yet? Isn't this a toss for these soldiers? Xu Wenfu muttered.

Xu Xue's eyes kept wandering around the military band, but she didn't expect them to have a Western band, and I don't know what tunes they would play...... Xu Xue is passionate about music and painting. See the shiny instruments. There is more than a little fascination.

At some point, an officer wearing snow-white gloves and holding a scepter-like object came to the military band, waving a "scepter" and pulling out a beautiful flower. The audience's eyes all fell on this capable officer. Suddenly. The silent school field suddenly sounded with passionate music. The snare drum sounded, followed by a loud trumpet, and the band played the "Welcome Song".

"That's so good!" Xu Xue's heart jumped violently! I really didn't expect it. I actually heard such a beautiful music...... She was completely immersed in the beautiful melody, and did not notice the commotion of the spectators on the viewing platform on the left side of the officer, and a dozen horses with two sedan chairs poured into the school yard and went straight to the review stand. The riders dismounted one after another, and the audience could see clearly that the riders, except for a middle-aged man wearing a gray squirrel-colored fur coat, were all wearing military uniforms and armed belts, and they looked like soldiers. The sharp-eyed audience unexpectedly found that there were three foreigners wearing military uniforms, high noses and deep eyes.

The uniforms of the soldiers came in three colors, and three of them wore the dark yellow uniforms that the audience was already familiar with, and at first glance they were officers of the Fifth Town. And the other seven or eight people were all gray in their uniforms. Carefully distinguished, the color of the military uniforms of the three foreigners is slightly darker than the others. The specifications are different, too, and it is easy to distinguish them from a military cap.

Those light gray military uniforms should be the inspectors sent by the imperial court, but I don't know where the foreign officers are. The audience on the viewing platform was talking with great interest......

Where there is a difference, there is a contrast. The audience couldn't help but compare the advantages and disadvantages of the two military uniforms. Put it together, and make a judgment. Whether it is the texture or style of the military uniform, the Fifth Shock has suppressed the Beiyang Army. Although the officers in gray uniforms had yellow trim on their bodies, and the three officers in the fifth town had nothing but a piece of cloth with red edges and a white background sewn on their chests, their tall figures set off the crispness of their uniforms and looked particularly energetic.

"I don't know what kind of material is used...... Xu Xue muttered. She finally pulled out of the music and began to pay attention to the guests. Obviously, the music that is now lowered is played for these high-ranking officials.

This soft self-talk fell into the ears of Zhou Xuexi on the other side of Xu Wenfu, leading to a large part of his words, "The eldest niece, the cloth is a product of ZTE, and Lord Long personally selected." As for the military uniform, it was made by Huayuan, but the style was basically from the hand of Lord Long. Have you noticed? The officer's jacket had four pockets, while the soldier had only two on the chest. Even the buttons were bought from abroad, but now they can be made in-house. Now that textiles and clothing have been merged, they will be ready to open this fall...... How about it, it's stronger than the Beiyang Army, right? He seemed to have forgotten that once upon a time, he was also a close confidant of Yuan Shikai, and he was full of awe and admiration for Yuan.

"It would be better if it was accompanied by a military rank...... Xu Wenfu compared the similarities and differences in clothing with German officers.

"What's that piece of cloth?" Xu Xue couldn't see clearly.

Xu Wenfu glanced at his daughter, no wonder, soldiers do not enter the campus, she really did not have the opportunity to observe the unique ornaments of the officers and soldiers of the Fifth Town up close, "That is their identification, written with the number of the unit, position and name." ”

"Oh, interesting......"

Now, the riders dismounted and gathered around the palanquin, and the horses had been taken away. Zhou Fu came out of the sedan chair carried by four people first, and the audience basically knew their parents. Zhou Fu walked to the luxury sedan chair carried by sixteen people, lifted the dark blue curtain, and picked up an old man, the old man with a big red crown with dazzling eyes, wearing a sea blue prince's robe embroidered with a four-clawed golden dragon, the robe was covered with a yellow coat, a string of pearls hung on his chest, a white beard, and a white braid hanging from the back of his head.

He is Prince Qing.

It was not easy to meet the prince up close. Yixuan's appearance caused a slight commotion among the audience. But Xu Xue's eyes were scanning the three Fifth Town officers in front of the stage, all of whom were quite young, but they didn't know which one was the Dragon Admiral of Yunwen and Yunwu that his father often talked about.

"Lord Wang, please! Squire-sama, please! Long Qian guided King Qing and Tie Liang up the red carpet leading to the viewing platform.

"Hehe, it's quite interesting to think about it." Yi Liang tried to straighten his waist, but to no avail, he stared at the military band for a while, "This is the first time this king has seen such a grand military parade." Yi Qian is an old "friend" of Long Qian, and since Gengzi, he can't remember how much silver he got from Long Qian. Now that he can see that Tie Liang has the idea of picking thorns, Yixuan must support Long Qian.

Today's main owners ascended to the viewing platform from the right side of the subjective platform, and it was naturally the prince who walked in the front, who was in front and who was behind, it couldn't be messed up, Xu Xue understood this, she finally recognized which of the three elite officers was Long Qian, it turned out to be the guy with a black face and a tall man who looked very rough, why was it not the white-skinned officer who stayed under the stage? This big black guy is the commander of the fifth town and the governor of Shandong who made his father admire? Xu Xue's attention has always stayed on Long Qian......

On the table was a long table covered with red silk, and behind the long table were three chairs, one of which was taller. That was obviously reserved for His Royal Highness, and the other two were obviously Zhou Fu and Tie Liang's seats. The rest, including the three foreign officers, had no choice but to stand.

For this arrangement, Tie Liang can't find anything that is not true.

After Yixuan Tieliang Zhou Fu and the others sat down, Long Qian walked in front of Yixuan, "Lord Wang, can you start?" ”

"Hehe, let's get started." Yi Liang is very satisfied.

Long Qian made a gesture below. (To be continued......)