Long Qian, who had returned to Jinan after finishing the confrontation exercise in Laizhou, was already four days after Yang Shixiang took office.

Long Qian hoped that the scale of the confrontation exercise with the German troops stationed in Qingdao was proposed by the Germans, and Long Qian hoped that the scale would be larger, such as dispatching a whole regiment, but the Germans seemed to have some scruples, and finally the two sides spent two days in a saline-alkali field east of Laizhou near Qingdao to carry out a confrontation exercise, in addition to each dispatching an infantry battalion, there was also an artillery company to participate, but no heavy artillery was used, and the largest caliber was only a 57mm mountain gun.

The subjects of the exercise were pre-set, with the German army attacking and the Mengshan army defending. Long Qian personally examined and approved the exercise plan drawn up by the German army. Long Qian said to Major Meier, who came to contact him, that it was better not to set up a plan, just demarcate the area. Major Meyer disagreed, explaining that such an exercise would certainly cause unpredictable casualties and that the Germans did not want to see that situation.

It is necessary for the two sides to send experienced staff officers to form a joint referee group for the exercise, otherwise it is difficult to determine the results of the offensive and defense. In order to facilitate communication, Situ Jun personally served as the head of the referee team.

The troops participating in the exercise of the Mengshan Army were selected by Wang Mingyuan, the commander of the Ninth Association, and the first battalion of the 17th standard of the Fengguo Pillar was selected, which was the veteran unit of the Mengshan Army, which could be traced back to the fourth company when the Mengshan army was reorganized, and the company commander was Feng Guozhu.

The first battalion was selected not on the basis of seniority, but because the battalion had won the first place in the eight infantry battalions of the Ninth Association in the most recent inspection. It was determined that the troops participating in the exercise would be sent by the Ninth Association, and Wang Mingyuan designated the 1st Battalion of the 17th Standard to serve as the unit, and there was nothing to say within the Ninth Association.

Officers above the battalion level of the relevant departments and directly subordinate units of the Fifth Town Command, including cavalry, artillery, engineering, and baggage. Zhou Yi's 10th Joint Staff Section and the 19th and 20th Bid Commanders all came to Laizhou to observe the exercise.

It is difficult to judge the outcome of the exercise. The German artillery was the first to win, and after accurately measuring the position of the artillery company of the Mengshan Army, it first destroyed the artillery of the Mengshan Army. The referee team ruled that the artillery of the Mengshan Army was completely destroyed. Then the main German attacking force, under the cover of accurate and dense artillery fire, launched a continuous attack in the form of wave attacks, penetrating the positions of the first battalion and three companies, but was blocked by the company acting as a reserve in front of the second line. The Germans turned decisively and concentrated the forces of two companies to flank the positions of the fourth company on the right flank, seizing the first-line positions carefully constructed by the Mengshan Army, and due to the simplicity of the second-line positions, the German victory was in sight. But time is running out. Because the timing of the termination of the exercises was predetermined. However, under the personal leadership of the deputy battalion commander, the death squad composed of more than 50 elite soldiers selected by the first battalion took advantage of the night to penetrate behind the German army, destroying the German artillery positions in one fell swoop and recovering a point for the Mengshan army.

After the end of the exercise. The two sides conducted a diagram deduction. It was decided that the two sides were in a draw. It's a joy for all. The high-level observation group of the Mengshan Army greatly appreciated the offensive tactics of the German infantry detachment, and Long Qian especially spoke highly of the tactical level of the German artillery detachment, believing that the gap between the Mengshan Army and the Mengshan Army in terms of artillery was obvious. The implication is that he is quite satisfied with the performance of his infantry. The speech of the Supreme Commander of the German Army, Colonel Strauss, also expressed his appreciation for the infantry of the Mengshan Army. It is considered a matter of pride to hold the line tenaciously without the cover of artillery fire. In particular, he expressed his admiration for the field construction work of the Mengshan Army. It is pointed out on the defense of infantry detachments. The Chinese army has something special.

It was rare for the German Army, which swept across Europe to defeat the French army, considered the strongest in Europe since Napoleon, to publicly praise an Asian army. Colonel Strauss said to Long Qian with a smile, the brave assault of your assault detachment has flattened the gap between the two sides. If it were not for exercises but in real combat, it was impossible for the Germans to defeat your troops. The referee decided that the draw was fair.

The lower-level officers who participated in the battle were somewhat unconvinced, and they all thought that the stipulated time was short. If there is another day, we will be able to defeat the other party.

Feng Guozhu was even more unconvinced, believing that his first battalion commander was clumsy in attack and defense, and if he sent the 18th Standard 2nd Battalion (formerly known as the 2nd Battalion with Wang Mingyuan as the battalion commander), which was the best at defense, he would definitely not be broken through the first line of defense by the Germans.

Feng. Colonel Strauss was even more alarmed by the results of the exercise. With equal troops, the German Army, which prides itself on being the first in the world, cannot even win the army of a third-rate country! Before the exercise, Strauss had objected to the framing of the exercise, arguing that an exercise with equal forces would be an insult to the great German Army. However, the Governor of Tolpar, out of political considerations, insisted on a cooperative and friendly attitude towards the exercise. The Governor was his superior, and orders had to be obeyed. Now it seems that if you send two companies to challenge the opponent, you must be the one who will be disgraced.

Major Meyer had praised the Fifth Town of Qingguo more than once before, but he didn't care at all. Colonel Strauss had participated in the assault on the Qing capital four years earlier, but he had been reinforced later and did not take part in the humiliating Battle of Xigu, in which an entire battalion of German troops was defeated by a gang of bandits and suffered heavy casualties. And the unit that had defeated the Germans developed into a whole division in a few years! Moreover, even the Armament Bureau of the General Staff in Berlin knew about the amazing results that were repeatedly withdrawn in the development of weapons! If, Colonel Strauss remembers, if the Qing State had such a division four years ago, the coalition forces would have suffered huge losses between Tianjin and Beijing! Their progress is rapid, their equipment is excellent, and especially the mental state of the soldiers is intimidating! As an experienced officer, Colonel Strauss paid special attention to the performance of the opponent's troops after the exercise, and they showed a kind of unconvincing energy, which worried Strass the most. An army can be optimized for equipment and perfect training, but it lacks a kind of courage that is not afraid of death and is invincible, and it will never become a first-class strong army!

Thank God, at least now they are not opponents of Germany. As the commander of the army at the Qingdao base, Strauss was relatively well aware of the direction of the Kaiser's policy toward Asia, and Germany's main competitors were in Europe, France in the southwest, Britain across the sea, and Russia, known as the "steamroller of Europe," all of which were formidable opponents blocking Germany's advance. Due to naval problems, Germany did not have the strength to compete for hegemony in Asia. Therefore, the policy of the German government in Asia, especially in the Qing Dynasty, was to support the pro-German forces. Wait and see how the situation changes. The Qing court's attitude towards Germany was vague, and they were more concerned with the faces of Russia, Japan, and England. It was the French, because they had seized Annam, a vassal of the Qing State, and they had a heavier weight in the Qing State than Germany. Under these circumstances, the German Government paid close attention to the Mengshan Army, which had extremely strong military strength in Shandong, and decided to make every effort to win over and support this relatively alternative army. The Jiaoji Railway, which is about to be opened to traffic, is an important measure for Germany to penetrate its forces deep into the hinterland of China, and this railway is surrounded by the Mengshan Army, and the regular army of the Mengshan Army in Laizhou, Qingzhou and even Jinan is no less than 10,000 people, and Germany is unable to increase its troops in Asia on a large scale. It was in Germany's strategic interests to maintain and strengthen friendship with the Mengshan Army. That's why Germany sold a large number of ordnance to the Mengshan Army. The transfer of weapons manufacturing technology and equipment, the dispatch of military instructors, and this joint military exercise.

Where's the alternative? Strauss finally found the answer. The supreme commander of the Mengshan Army turned out to be a Chinese American who had returned from the United States. Its chief of staff graduated from the Berlin Military Academy! Such an army led by a senior commander with the vision of the world will of course show a quality that is different from that of the Qing army.

After the exercise, Long Qian hosted a banquet for the German officer corps. The atmosphere was quite friendly. Although the exercises also caused minor losses on both sides. It's hard to avoid. Colonel Strauss expressed satisfaction with the exercises. Commit to holding a larger scale in due course. For example, offensive and defensive exercises at the regimental level. Regarding Long Qian's request to send additional artillery instructors, Strauss agreed at that time. Instructors selected to train artillery in the Mengshan Army will be dispatched within two weeks, with no less than 10 people.

News from Jinan came. Long Qian immediately left Laizhou and hurried back to Jinan. He did not first go to the governor's yamen to meet with the new governor, but first listened to the reports of Hu Zongyu, who rushed back to Jinan to listen to the reports of Hu Zongyu, who led the first part of the patrol battalion to strengthen the river embankments in the counties of Wuding Prefecture, and Chen Chao, who was promoting the work of villagers' autonomy in Wuding and Jinan.

Hu Zongyu's report was not yet over, and Ouyang Zhong reported that the political envoy Bai asked to see him.

"Please." Long Qian stood up, "You guys sit down, I'll go and greet you." ”

Chen Chao stood up and followed Long Qian out of the room. He knew that because of the engagement between Bai Ruiting's youngest daughter and Wang Mingyuan, Bai Ruiting completely stood on the boat of Mengshan Army.

"Bai Gong is so well-informed," Long Qian, who was dressed in civilian clothes, bowed his hand, "What's the hurry, send a small servant to tell you that Long will definitely come to the door to listen to the training." ”

Because of Wang Mingyuan's relationship, Long Qian consciously regarded himself as a junior.

"Don't dare." Bai Ruiting returned the salute and saw Chen Chao at a glance, "Isn't Mr. Chen in Wuding Mansion?" When did you come back? ”

"Just arrived. Please come in. Chen Chao lifted the curtain with a smile, the climate was already hot, and the Mianmen curtain was replaced with a bamboo curtain by Chen Shu, who was afraid of heat.

"Who is this?" Bai Ruiting saw a handsome officer in the room standing up and saluting him, but he didn't know him.

"Hu Zongyu. Chief of Staff of the Patrol Battalion. A few days ago, he led his troops to strengthen the river embankment in the Wuding area, which can also be regarded as military training. ”

"Hard work. Bai received a report from the Wuding Mansion that the army worked extremely hard and achieved outstanding results, and the people praised him. For the sake of the people along the river, Bai thanked General Hu here. ”

"It's the military's business. Don't dare to take credit. Hu Zongyu replied lightly. The Mengshan Army is already the de facto Shandong Army, no more than in the past, Long Qian's bans are getting more and more days, one of which is that it is strictly forbidden for subordinates to make friends with the government, of course Hu Zongyu does not dare to disobey the order.

"The effect of the army's embankment repair is good, which is also because of the strong cooperation of Wuding and Jinan counties along the river. Bai Gong, please take a seat. Sit down and talk, "The guest and the host sit down, "Bai Gong, Wuding's experience should be promoted, Long has given an order to the Caozhou garrison, and Zhou Xietong will make arrangements when he goes back." Strive to renovate the river section before the flood season comes. Make sure you survive the floods this summer. ”

"Lord Long's worries about the place, which is really the blessing of Shandong. However, Bai is afraid that his words will not work. ”

Long Qian knew the meaning of Bai Ruiting's words, "Bai Gong, this time Mingyuan's troops fought very well, although they did not defeat the German army, they did not fall into the prestige of my Shandong soldiers. At the time of parting, Mingyuan asked me to bring something to Bai Gong, and I don't know what it is. Ha Lu Ha. ”

Ouyang Zhongzao took out a package and put it on the coffee table in front of Bai Ruiting.

At the wedding ceremony of Ye Yanbing and Chen Xian, Bai Ruiting took his youngest daughter Bai Ling to a banquet and got acquainted with Wang Mingyuan. Although Wang Mingyuan and Miss Bai only met once, they fell in love with each other, so it was logical that they held an engagement ceremony a month later. It is said that Bai Ruiting is a "deputy provincial" high-ranking official and a scholarly family, while Wang Mingyuan is just a child of a peasant family in Caozhou, but now Bai Ruiting completely ignores his family background.

"Hmm, Mingyuan has a heart." After getting engaged, Wang Mingyuan is his son-in-law, and it is natural to accept a little filial piety from him.

"Zongyu, you go down and rest, sort out the work during this time, and write a report to me to guide the embankment repair work in other places." Long Qian didn't want Hu Zongyu to get involved in political affairs.

"Yes." Hu Zongyu saluted Long Qian, Bai and Chen respectively, and turned away.

"No, Mr. Chen is not an outsider, please stay." Bai Ruiting saw that Chen Chao was leaving, so he hurriedly opened his mouth to stay.

"Mr. Koshiyuki sits down. Just reported to Bai Gong about the villagers' self-government. Long Qian turned to Bai Ruiting and said, "I heard that someone Yang stopped funding for schools and road repairs?" ”

"Exactly. It's not good. Bai Ruiting lowered his voice, "Bai Mou listened to the meaning of Yang Futai's words, and seemed to be dissatisfied with the expansion of the patrol battalion by adults." ”

"It doesn't matter. The soldiers will block, who will drown. As long as we have a clear conscience. Vigorously building county-level middle schools and renovating trunk roads is a matter of great profit. As long as Yang Shixiang is not a fool, he will not fail to see the benefits. Rest assured, I expect him to take his life back. ”

Next, Bai Ruiting 1510 told Yang Shixiang what he had done in the past few days. It's like a subordinate reporting to a superior. The political envoy is the third grade, and Long Qian is the first grade, but the civil and military affairs are different, since the Ming Dynasty, the status of civil officials is higher than that of military generals, and it must not be measured by the level of supplies. Bai Ruiting is Zhou Fu's person, transferred from Guizhou to Shandong, although it is a horizontal transfer, but Guizhou is not as good as Shandong, Bai Ruiting is naturally grateful to Zhou Fu and is willing to drive for him. In the past few years, he assisted Zhou Fu in governing Shandong, and had many acquaintances with Long Qian, and deeply admired Long Qian's foresight in revitalizing industry, setting up transportation, and clarifying finances. It is determined that Long Qian will soar into the sky, and the future is limitless. In addition, he invested in Huayuan and ZTE two major groups, and he had already tied himself to Long Qian. Not to mention the little girl's marriage to the senior general of the Mengshan Army.

"Ha Luha, I have long heard that Yang Shiqi is Yuan Shikai's chief staff, and I didn't expect that as soon as Brother Nai arrived in Shandong, he would be angry for the Yuan family. Regardless of him, Bai Gong and relaxed. Let's listen to the effect of Mr. Yue Zhi's trial implementation of villagers' autonomy in some counties in Wuding and Jinan. (To be continued......)