Cai Ye had been unable to sleep that night, and the snoring of several young staff officers in the same shop also affected his rest. He kept recalling Long Qian's questioning of the Alliance's program and Sun Wen's assertion that it was difficult to succeed, and he didn't fall asleep until the early hours of the morning.

He was woken up by the melodious wake-up call, and found that several staff officers in the same bunk had gotten up and gone out, he hurriedly got up and packed his bags as quickly as possible (before leaving, he received the Mengshan Army standard backpack (including blankets, military uniforms, satchels and tableware), he has the experience of studying abroad in the Japanese non-commissioned officer school and is extremely skilled in sorting out the backpack, and soon he packed his bags, washed his face, rinsed his mouth, and was ready to go.

There were a lot of officers gathered in the compound of the carriage and horse shop that temporarily served as the headquarters, and they were discussing something around Long Qian, but Cai Ye did not come over. Just standing in front of the door and looking at it for a while, he recognized the chief of staff Situ Jun, who was in a straight uniform, and it was said that that person was Long Qian's most relied on in military affairs. Now, Situ Jun was reporting something, and Long Qian kept nodding his head in agreement.

Staff Officer Zhang told him that dinner would be served at seven o'clock and that he would leave on time at half past seven, and that the commander (the officers of the Fifth Town always called their supreme leader Commander) decided to take a staff group on the road today, and try to catch up with the forward troops in two days, which was already in Guide Province. If you want to go with the Commander, you can. Cai Yi thought about it and said that he would go too. With excellent riding skills, he never worries about galloping on horseback.

Cai Ye, who loves war horses, hurriedly went to the stable to take care of his war horse, and quickly wiped the horse's body with hay, so that the horse's blood could circulate better. The comfortable war horse affectionately touched his cheek with his mouth. This is a sign of recognition of the owner.

After breakfast, Long Qian took a staff group and a cavalry company to send out in advance, and went straight to Caozhou along Pingyin and Shouzhang, constantly surpassing the troops heading south from the fifth town along the way, and when it was time to eat, he would settle the problem with the nearest troops, and by the way check the situation of the troops' advances, and even ask the local government about the implementation of discipline in the troops' advances. The strings were very tight, and Cai Ye didn't have a chance to talk to Long Qian in depth. At night, Long Qian would talk to the commander of the army stationed there, and Cai Ye found that Long Qian's residence was always full of people coming in and out. Long Qian didn't talk to him alone anymore.

His attention turned to the Fifth Town troops, who had been marching long distances, and he noticed that every camp was well organized and orderly. A large number of people participated. The harmonious relationship between the military and the people, the security of the streets, and even the spontaneous labor of the common people also proved from another aspect that the discipline of the army was good. Cai found that the hired people were constantly changing. In about two days, the trip will change a group of people. The people who were replaced received their commissions and returned in groups.

"Shandong is indeed the nest of the fifth town. I don't know what to do when they leave Shandong? "With doubts, after a continuous march, at noon on the fourth day. Long Qian led his "forward command post" out of Shandong and arrived at Guide Mansion in Henan.

Wang Mingyuan, the Ninth Co-ordinator, was already waiting outside the city.

Seeing Wang Mingyuan standing solemnly on the side of the road, Long Qian jumped off the sweaty war horse, "I've been in a hurry for the past two days, and this beast seems to be a little unbearable." Long Qian patted the big dark horse and said to Wang Mingyuan, "If you don't enter the city, where is your headquarters?" ”

"Over there, there's a land temple about five miles away. Commander, you're walking so fast, I thought you'd be there tomorrow. ”

"Let's go, let's go to you."

"Governor Li of Guide Mansion wants to pick up the wind for you." Wang Mingyuan reported.

"Don't go. Oh, this is Cai Yi, the prison sent by the imperial court, get to know him. ”

"I've seen it in Jinan." Wang Mingyuan nodded faintly to Cai Yi.

"Really? Forgot. Staff Officer Cai is talented, and his future is limitless. Ha Luha, I think people have always been very accurate, don't believe it. Where has the national pillar gone? ”

"I have entered Bozhou, Anhui."

"What are you doing running so fast?" Long Qian seemed a little dissatisfied, "Inform him, slow down!" ”

"Yes."

The group got on their horses again, turned off the road, and headed east along a sparse locust forest.

"Commander, Han Ziying intercepted a person, you have to see it." Wang Mingyuan lowered his voice.

"Who?"

"When you see it, you know the way."

"What kind of fame?"

Soon arrived at the land temple, "Let's talk about your troops first." ”

Wang Mingyuan pointed to the map hanging on the wall, "The cavalry has left Bozhou and is heading towards Wuyang, and it is expected to arrive in Wuyang tomorrow." The seventeenth standard is near Bozhou, and the eighteenth standard left Guide yesterday, and I am currently followed by the direct detachment...... By the way, Chi Chunxian had already met with the liaison personnel sent by the Huguang Governor's Office, and they were urging us to speed up the march. ”

Long Qian didn't seem to care about the news from Huguang, and was still looking at the map marked with the number of the troops, "Hmm, hmm, it seems that you planned in advance?" Long Qian turned around and looked at the staff officers.

"The cavalry mark and the seventeenth mark are about a day's journey ahead of the Ji Lu. The rest of the troops were marched according to the plan. A middle-aged staff officer reported.

"Some people in the Tenth Association say that we might as well take the train to Wuchang, which can save at least seven days. What about you? Also thinking this way? ”

"Yes. From Wuchang to Jiangxi, it is more labor-saving than this. Wang Ming said from afar.

"Stupid! This is a rare opportunity for the whole army to conduct training, and it is necessary to test the situation of the troops' long-distance march and conscientiously sum up the problems that have been exposed. For at least ten years, the march will still depend on the two legs of the soldiers, and if you can't walk, you can't fight. This should be made clear to officers at all levels. How many of the Nine Associations are left behind? ”

"Only a few sick people were sent back."

"What about deserters?"

Wang Mingyuan glanced at Cai Yi, "Out of Shandong, there will be no more deserters." ”

"That means there are still some in Shandong, have you counted them?"

"It's 79 people in total."

"Not much. Looks like you're in good control. It is necessary to strengthen the ideological education of soldiers, and we must not just use a hard hand. It is necessary to educate the soldiers, and our Mengshan Army will travel all over the country in the future, and we cannot just guard the land in Shandong. It is about to enter the south, and it has to cross the Yangtze River. It is important to know that the dividing line between the north and south of China is not the Yellow River. It is not the Yangtze River, but the Huai River. Once you cross the Huai River, you will be in the south, and the terrain, climate, and diet are very different from Shandong. It is necessary to gradually get used to the climate and diet of the south, so that there will be no major non-combat attrition. ”

"Understood. We carefully studied the notice sent by the General Staff Office about the meals of the marching troops in the south, and it was also transmitted to every company. ”

"This matter is very important, you have to ask about it personally, and Lan Xinzhi has to spare a lot of energy to check this matter. What about the mind? Why didn't you see him? ”

"He's with the Eighteen Standards."

"How's the food and grass for the troops?"

"I'm about to report back to you. That method can be used, Chi Chunxian has already sent back a report, there are always people selling flour, rice and vegetables along the way, and there is no problem in buying them on the spot. I have about seven days of grain and grass in my hands......" Previously, Long Qian instructed the logistics departments of all units to openly purchase grain and grass at a price 10% higher than the market price. Feed on the people. The commanders of the units expressed skepticism. Worried that he would not be able to buy grain and grass after leaving Shandong, he asked the logistics to bring more supplies, but Long Qian thought that as long as the price was fair, there was no reason why he could not buy supplies. The troops are required to keep five days' worth of grain and grass.

"People deliver news much faster than you think. As long as the troops give cash. And maintain military discipline. Naturally, it will have the support of the people. Ha Luha, now you believe it, right? ”

After asking a few more specific matters, Long Qian instructed Wang Mingyuan after the most reluctance. The marching speed of the Ninth Association can be controlled at about fifty miles a day.

"That Huguang is ......"

"Leave him alone."

Cai Yi was relieved, and Long Qian once again expressed his attitude towards counterinsurgency.

"Okay, I'll order it immediately." The cavalry that came out of the front is now under the jurisdiction of the Ninth Association.

"By the way, you just said ......"

"You come with me." Wang Mingyuan pulled Long Qian out of the house.

"What kind of fame is it about?"

"You can see it at a glance."

When the young soldier raised his head from the bookcase, Long Qian opened his mouth in surprise, but he couldn't make any sound.

"What's wrong? Don't know each other? ”

"Why are you here!" That young man is Xu Si who is wearing the uniform of the Mengshan Army!

"Why can't I be here?" Xu Si stood up, took off his military hat, and his hair hung down.

"You're alone?" Long Qian seemed to understand a little, "You, you ran out behind your back?" ”

Xu Si was silent.

"It's just nonsense! Mr. Xu doesn't know what to do in a hurry! ”

Xu Si turned around and sat back on the chair just now, and fell on the table and cried.

"Mingyuan, Mingyuan," Long Qian shouted outside the house.

"Don't try to send me away! Otherwise, I will die for you! Xu Si looked up and screamed.

Long Qian saw Wang Mingyuan's figure, turned around and went out, "You, what's going on?" ”

"Commander," Wang Mingyuan saw that there was no one around, and the staff officers all hid back in the house, "Commander, Miss Xu is also quite pitiful, knowing that you are determined to send troops, she asked Huang Yu from the hospital to get a small military uniform, and hired a donkey cart all the way south...... The inspection team of the eighteenth standard caught her in Guide Mansion and thought she was a spy. She said that she came to find you, and Han Ziying didn't dare to call the shots, so she handed over the person to me......"

"W-what's this called?"

"Commander, two ways. As for one, I sent someone to send her back to Jinan. But you have to write a letter to Mr. Xu. The second one, you write a letter to Mr. Xu, and she will follow my headquarters. I take full responsibility for security. ”

"Do it according to Article 1." Long Qian waved his hand, "I won't write any letters anymore." But you have to keep her safe. ”

"No, I'm not going back! No one will want to drive me away! Xu Si pushed open the door and shouted.

"Well, you go back first." Long Qian frowned. He looked at the other rooms in the courtyard, and most of them were broken, but this one was the most complete.

"Commander," Wang Mingyuan grabbed Long Qian, "why bother? It's not easy for Miss Xu, looking for a husband for thousands of miles, you can make up a drama. Why do you have to suffer like this? What kind of status will be talked about in the future. My sister-in-law is not an unreasonable person, as for Mr. Chen, I will tell you what happened. It's really not good, let my father-in-law come forward, Mr. Chen always has to give face. ”

"It's just nonsense! When did I get involved with her? Long Qian's heart was pounded, Xu Si's appearance of leaning on the door and yelling just now touched the softness in his heart, "Nonsense!" He left Wang Mingyuan, turned around and went back to the house.

"You, you're not a man!" Xu Siyun was crying.

"How come I'm not a man? Miss Xu, why is this? ”

"I've written you so many letters, why don't you even reply to them?"

"When did you write to me?" Long Qian was confused.

"You really didn't get it?" Xu Si didn't seem to be a fake when he saw Long Qian.

"Really, how can I not reply to the letter I received? No matter how busy you are, you have to reply. When did you write to me? What's the matter? ”

"It must have been detained by your tigress!" Xu Si's white and tender cheeks were suddenly dyed red, "Shame on the dead!" I will never go back to Jinan again! ”

Long Qian seemed to understand a little. Otherwise, why did Chen Shu repeatedly tell him the night before departure, if you are begging outside, you must not hide it from me!

"To whom did you give your letter? Was it sent from the post office? How many are there? ”

"Don't ask! Do you like me?! Tell the truth, fast! "Xu Si, who has always been gentle and virtuous, now looks like a shrew.

"This ......" Long Qian felt overwhelmed for the first time.

"If you don't like me, why do you want to write me songs? Did you know? That poem, that tune, stole my heart all at once. I can't tolerate anyone anymore. Xu Si pounced over and hugged Long Qian tightly, "I don't care if you like me or not!" I just want to follow you, follow you to the world, and watch you come out of the next Taiping realm! I don't want any name, I just follow you! Let's go down to the south of the Yangtze River...... Why not fireworks in March down to the south of the Yangtze River. Laugh at the flowing water under the bridge, the wind is light and the clouds are light......" (to be continued......