It is already the weather of the Mid-Autumn Festival, the yellow fallen leaves are falling, and the autumn wind is sweeping the earth with a hint of coolness, but there is no trace of depression on the land of Sufu Province.

Inside and outside the Hongqiao Railway Station, which was full of people, there were soldiers of the Taiping New Army wearing new military uniforms, surrounding the not very large railway station. On the edge of the platform paved with bluestone slabs, two young men wearing the uniforms of the Taiping New Military Academy stood aside, both of them were fully armed, watching several lieutenants not far away shouting loudly to order the whole team.

A young school officer took out a box of Xiaodao brand cigarettes produced in Su Fu Province from his jacket pocket and handed one to his companion next to him. Xiaodao brand cigarettes are the cigarettes produced by the Fujian gentry Wang De in the cigarette factory run in Shanghai, the gentry Wang De in order to commemorate the Shanghai Xiaodao Society after the failure of the uprising was slaughtered by the Xiaodao Society and specially named this Xiaodao brand cigarettes, Xiaodao brand cigarettes have a pure taste, and Guiyun cigarettes of Guiyun business name have a comparison.

His companion pursed his lips tightly, didn't reach out to pick it up, just frowned and said, "Brother Zhou, you said that we Weishenme don't go to Fujian but to Huzhou?" ”

That time, the eldest brother didn't answer immediately, he took out a match and lit a cigarette, and after taking a deep breath, he said lightly: "His Royal Highness the King of the West sent us, and we will go." Wang Kai, we are soldiers. ”

"There is no Qing Demon ...... in Huzhou County" Wang Kai muttered in a low voice, Brother Zhou glanced at him sharply, and said lightly: "You have studied the military school in vain in the past few months?" Anyone who stands in the way of our New Deal is an enemy! ”

Wang Kai asked in a tentative whisper, "Including Tianjing's allies?" ”

That big brother sneered and said, "Are they worthy of being called allies?" Have you ever seen a friendly army pulling back your legs? Have you ever seen that they pay taxes and food to them every year, and they still come to fight our allies? ”

Wang Kai was no longer silent, and the eldest brother of Zhou irritably loosened the wind and discipline button, took a deep breath and said: "Wang Kai, I know what you feel awkward about, you have the most problems when you take political discussion classes." You should know that after our new policy, there are already two completely different situations from Tianjing's side. In Sufu Province, we talk about freedom of belief, Neo-Confucianism, and the protection of private property, which article is not incompatible with the Tianjing decree? You went to Tianjing last year, don't you know what kind of life you lived there? is still eating in a big pot of rice in the holy treasury, and the family has no private property. Today's New Deal has allowed everyone to live a good life, and we are soldiers to protect the New Deal. ”

Wang Kai nodded and said solemnly: "I understand this, but Weishenme can't solve this matter peacefully?" Tianjing's side should see the benefits of our new policy, and they should also learn from us. ”

Brother Zhou smiled bitterly and patted him on the shoulder and said, "If one day the Qing Demon also learns our new policy." Can't you beat the demons? ”

Wang Kai was stunned for a moment and said: "Qing Demon and Tianjing friendly army are different......"

Brother Zhou smiled and didn't speak, Wang Kai was a little confused in his mind, if the Qing Demon really learned the new policy and let the people live a good life, then it doesn't seem to be an enemy.

Wang Kai was dull for a long time, and suddenly asked again: "I heard that this time it is because His Royal Highness the King of the West is not called to enter Beijing. Did Tianjing just send troops? ”

Brother Zhou snorted, glanced at him and asked, "Do you think the King of the West should go back to Tianjing?" ”

Wang Kai immediately shook his head and said, "No." His Royal Highness the King of the West cannot go. This is clearly the Hongmen Banquet. ”

Brother Zhou took a deep breath of his cigarette and said: "Tianjing's side is making it clear this time that the military horses are going to move our His Royal Highness the King of the West, and the 160,000 new troops and 270,000 township soldiers in the West Hall will not agree." If anyone dares to be unfavorable to His Royal Highness the King of the West, I, Zhou Huaiying, will be the first to refuse. ”

Wang Kai nodded solemnly and said: "I don't agree either, if there is no His Royal Highness the King of the West, can our West Palace Army still be called the West Palace Army?" ”

Zhou Huaiying took a few more deep breaths, and Zuihou stepped on the cigarette butt. He said in a deep voice: "Recently, many school officers and lieutenants have been discussing this matter, and they have the same thoughts as you, and everyone has come to a conclusion, if our King of the West sits on the throne of the King of Heaven." Isn't the world too peaceful? ”

Wang Kai said without hesitation: "I also feel that the seat of the Heavenly King should be sat down by His Royal Highness the King of the West." Speaking of this, he paused and said with some embarrassment: "But in this way, he will definitely meet with the friendly army of Tianjing." ”

Zhou Huaiying was silent for a moment and then said: "Remember the instructions of the Ministry of Military Affairs, the soldiers of the West Palace will not shoot the first shot, but if the Tianjing soldiers dare to make a move, we will resolutely fight back!" ”

Wang Kai nodded solemnly, at this time the whistle of the train sounded, and a stuffy tank car full of soldiers slowly drove out of the train station, Wang Kai watched the train leave, and muttered: "The people of the first battalion have left, and the second battalion is about to prepare to board the train." ”

Zhou Huaiying took out his pocket watch and looked at it: "It's five minutes later than the timetable." ”

Wang Kai said with a smile: "It's already considered haode, the people of the second division left by boat, and they were delayed at the dock for two hours yesterday evening, and our first division took the train to leave, which is already on time." ”

Zhou Huaiying frowned and said, "Wang Kai, you are in the quartermaster department, I heard that there is a shortage of materials this time?" ”

Wang Kai shook his head and said: "The materials are there, but they are transported to Wenzhou, the movement of Tianjing soldiers and horses has made our quartermaster department and transportation department messed up, but fortunately, there are still many materials in Suzhou, and the king of the west has ordered to use the materials in the reserve warehouse first." ”

Zhou Huaiying frowned and said, "No, I'm asking if there are not enough guns?" ”

Wang Kai spread his hands and said, "You are already the fifth person to ask me this question, I really don't know." ”

Zhou Huaiying snorted and said: "You kid just continue to keep your mouth tight, don't let me know, when I was assembled a few days ago, the focus was on the linear queue tactics of the smoothbore gun a few times, and Jack's Yankee moved out of the old-fashioned queue shooting tactics to practice repeatedly, I guess the guns may be insufficient, maybe we will use smoothbore guns." ”

Wang Kai said without blinking: "That's the problem of your combat troops, I just need to distribute the supplies." ”

Zhou Huaiying glanced at him and said lightly: "If you don't show your brother the bottom, you won't want to see my sister in the future." ”

Wang Kai laughed dryly twice, and said in a low voice: "I really don't know, Brother Zhou, but I heard that the staff Jihua is the vanguard unit that gives priority to rifled guns, and the troops on the flank and rear flanks will be equipped with smoothbore guns used by township soldiers, and your first division will take the train over." I guess it's an avant-garde force. But I can't say for sure, everything depends on the decision of Jihua of the General Staff and General Lin Fengxiang. ”

Zhou Huaiying breathed a sigh of relief and said with a smile: "Count you kid smart, our first division must be an avant-garde unit, most of us are Zhenjiang soldiers, and we can be regarded as General Lin's old subordinates, who does he not need us to use?" ”

Wang Kai didn't have the heart to listen to his ramblings, and asked in a low voice, "Brother Zhou, is Huaixiu going to go on the expedition this time?" ”

Zhou Huaiying nodded and said: "Of course, they are health soldiers and have to go with the army, but the third division is behind, so they should also take the train." ”

Wang Kai breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Fortunately, it is in the third batch." Maybe when the third division arrives, the Tianjing soldiers will also retreat. ”

Zhou Huaiying glared at him dissatisfiedly and said, "Look at your little bit of talent, you are also a major quartermaster, in charge of a regiment's food, drink and Lazar, why are you so afraid of going to the battlefield?" ”

Wang Kai snorted and said, "My lord, what am I afraid of?" I'm worried about Zhou Huaixiu. She is a woman who goes to the battlefield with the troops, and I am always a little worried. ”

Zhou Huaiying patted him on the shoulder and said, "Don't worry. Huaixiu was in the Third Division Hospital. It's safe to be with the division. ”

As he spoke, another column of stuffy tankers came out, and the soldiers of the second battalion of the new army boarded the cars after they began to collect supplies, and each of them received all the necessary supplies for individual equipment, including shoes and socks and military thorns, as well as three days' worth of dry food and drinking water. But there were no firearms. The commander of the second battalion shouted loudly and ordered the soldiers to board the car quickly, and hundreds of officers and soldiers crowded into the stuffy tanker wagons with only wagons, and even dozens of soldiers sat on the roof of the car.

Zhou Huaiying tidied up his military uniform and said, "The second battalion has boarded, and I will go back to the third battalion immediately." Are you going with the regimental headquarters? ”

Wang Kai shook his head and said: "No, our quartermaster department will finish sending this batch of materials at the railway station, and then we have to wait for the sea ship from Ningbo to come over, and the other side will send back a batch of materials hoarded in Wenzhou, and we will go to Huzhou after receiving them." ”

Zhou Huaiying nodded and said, "Then I'll see you in Huzhou." After that, he stood upright and saluted Wang Kai, and Wang Kai immediately returned a military salute, and Zhou Huaiying turned his head and went to the area where the third battalion was assembled.

When they came to the assembly area of the third battalion, the soldiers of the third battalion, who had been sitting on the ground and resting, had already stood up and lined up under the orders of the deputy battalion commander and the captains of each company. As soon as the order of the formation was called, the assembly place where there was still laughter and laughter immediately became silent, and all that could be heard was the sound of footsteps and the orders of the commander.

Zhou Huaiying nodded with satisfaction, but saw that Jack, an American who was also wearing a Taiping Army uniform, was also standing aside. Zhou Huaiying frowned and looked at Li Jiheng, the camp trainer who walked to the side, and asked, "Why is Jack here?" ”

Before Li Jiheng could answer, the blonde Jack immediately walked over with a smile and said, "Zhou, I am also an officer in the third battalion now." ”

Jack's Chinese was still very lame, and Zhou Huaiying snorted and said, "You are an American, how can you be an officer of our Taiping Army?" ”

Jack took out a few pieces of paper stamped with the seal of the Navy Political Secretary and handed them over, and said with a smile: "This is the document for me to join the nationality of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, and the letter of appointment of the officer signed by His Royal Highness the King of the West, do you still have any questions?" ”

Zhou Huaiying looked at it incredulously, and Li Jiheng said in a low voice: "Jack and his wife have joined us, and there are two of them in the first batch of foreign immigrants issued by the Military and Political Department this morning. The officer's letter of appointment was also issued this morning, and Jack had been an instructor in our 3rd Battalion, so he insisted on coming to the 3rd Battalion as a battalion staff officer. ”

Zhou Huaiying said dissatisfiedly: "This old boy was annoying to death when he trained us in the past, and now he wants to go to the battlefield with us?" Hell knows if he's ever seen a dead man! ”

Jack understood, he smiled and stretched out his hand to signal to shake hands, and said: "Zhou, we are now citizens of a country, and we are still comrades-in-arms, you can't dislike me." I fought with the Indians in the United States, and I will fight the Tatars with you. ”

Zhou Huaiying snorted and said, "This time it's not to fight the Qing demon, you just do your part!" Although he said this, Zhou Huaiying's hand and Jack's hand were tightly clasped together. (To be continued......)