A.D. 1, January 1, 1936, January 1, the second year of Daming Yifu.

He resigned in 1935 and the world stepped into 1936. From this year onwards, the world situation became more tense, and there was one crisis after another, all the way to the Second World War.

But the most tense situation is now in East Asia. The Ming and Qing dynasties, the two great empires of the Far East, had been mobilized for war for a week, and all their reservists had been enlisted, and industry was moving to the wartime economy. The original civilian textile enterprises have switched to the production of military uniforms and quilts, the production of sickles and farm tools, and the production of bayonets. The plant, which produces tractors, is producing tanks. Some metal processing factories are now desperately producing steel helmets, kettles, lunch boxes, and cable factories, frantically producing large bundles of barbed wire......

According to national estimates, the original army of the Northern Qing Dynasty was 4 million to 4.5 million, and after a week of mobilization, it has now expanded to at least 7 million. The Nanming Army, originally 800,000 to 900,000, has now expanded to at least 1.5 million to 1.8 million......

The defense line of the Yangtze River in the Southern Ming Dynasty, the western and central parts of the Yangtze River are all relying on lofty mountains and mountains such as the Hengduan Mountains, Daxue Mountain, Daba Mountain, and Dabie Mountain, which are easy to defend and difficult to attack. Pillboxes and forts are often built on cliffs, and between the canyons are the rapids. In the face of such a moat, the Qing army had no intention of trying to attack at all, but just stayed behind with a small number of troops to monitor as usual.

But to the east of Dabie Mountain, after Anqing, the mountain defense line is no longer here, and only a wide and gentle Yangtze River remains. The Ming army lost its mountain barrier and had to rely on the strong fortifications on the south bank of the Yangtze River. Both sides know that whether it is the southern invasion of the Qing army or the northern expedition of the Ming army, they can only break through from this section.

At present, the Qing army has assembled 350 divisions and nearly 4 million people on the north bank of the Yangtze River, which is more than 400 kilometers long. On average, 10,000 people per kilometer. The density of troops is quite high.

Because the possibility of the Qing army breaking through from the west of Anqing is almost non-existent, the main strength of the Ming army is also placed in this section. In addition, the Ming army mainly relied on the defense line, that is, hiding in the reinforced concrete fortifications, using artillery, machine guns, barbed wire, and mines to meet the flesh and blood of the Qing army, which was more economical, so although the Yangtze River defense line was important, there were not many troops deployed on it, only thirty or forty divisions, and 60-80 divisions were placed dozens of kilometers behind the defense line, as a strategic reserve, ready to meet the Qing army that could break through the defense line. The remaining 30-50 divisions were deployed in Zhejiang, Fujian, and Guangdong, which were more than 100 kilometers away from the coast, and by virtue of the superiority of the inner line, they were able to guard against Japan, which might take advantage of the opportunity to land and loot.

In the face of the Qing army, which had absolute superiority in strength, the Ming army was overstretched.

However, because of the superior navy of the Ming Dynasty, the Qing Dynasty only dared to press half of its troops on the north bank of the Yangtze River, and the other millions of troops had to be deployed on the long coastline to prevent the Ming army from selectively landing.

The Ming Dynasty built a Shanghai-Kunming railway south of the Yangtze River defense line. From Shanghai all the way to Kunming, in the west of the mountains and mountains through the holes, water bridges, just through the mountain tunnels are countless, always parallel to the Yangtze River defense line. Nanming relied on this artery to deliver supplies and soldiers to the defense line in the mountains. In the past few days, the main artery of the railway has been running at almost full capacity, and many military columns are spewing black smoke and white fog every day, shuttling between mountains, cliffs and tunnels.

……

Today is Xiang Xiaoqiang's first day as commander of the People's Guard. He was in his commander's residence, his hands behind his back. Adjutant Snail was directing people to move furniture inside.

It's too fast. It has only been a long time since he went from the unlucky boy who was wet and almost frozen to death who had just crossed over, to the commander of the "SS" of the Ming Empire, and became a close minister of the Son of Heaven. The People's Guard, which is under its own command, is theoretically on an equal footing with institutions like Dongchang.

But bigger challenges lie ahead. In the eyes of the Empress, she was a high-ranking British intelligence officer, and if she had renounced her British citizenship and position to serve her hometown for allegiance, it was not a big problem to be in charge of such an institution. However, Xiang Xiaoqiang himself knows that he is just a small white-collar worker who is unwilling to do anything in an advertising company, and he relies on the pen to write advertisements and plan all day long, first fooling customers, and then helping customers fool consumers. I haven't even been a manager or a supervisor. Commanding an army equivalent to the SS, is it realistic?

Now that the People's Guard has just been formed, there is only one place, and there is even a shortage of manpower, and at present, there are only a few commandos of their own, and all the crew of the original Grasshopper who just came with the empress. That's just over 20 people.

Father-in-law Qiu Laohu's Heaven and Earth Society is a force, but it is still unrealistic to really use it as a people's guard. It's not that those underworld can't train soldiers, the main thing is that the water can't quench the thirst of the near.

When we had a royal banquet together last night, Zhu Yourong specially explained to Shen Rongxuan, the first assistant, that he must vigorously support the People's Guard. At that time, the core members of the imperial party were in a harmonious mood, and Shen Rongxuan patted Xiang Xiaoqiang on the shoulder very affectionately in front of Zhu Yourong, like an elder, asking him to work hard and not to live up to His Majesty's trust. Xiang Xiaoqiang was humble and respectful like a primary school student, calling himself "Shen Gong", calling himself a "student", listening to the teachings, and being a junior.

On the day of the rescue meeting, Xiang Xiaoqiang wanted to worship under him and enter the East Factory. Xiang Xiaoqiang knew that Shen Rongxuan also thought he was a hairy boy at that time. But now the hairy boy has become the commander of the People's Guard, a great contributor to the empress's ascension, and he faintly looks like he has carved up the empress's trust with him. Xiang Xiaoqiang understood that he must behave humbly and deferency at this time, and even pretend to be stupid. Shen Rongxuan was originally the boss of Dongchang, and now he is the first assistant, one person is above ten thousand people, if he is jealous of himself, it will be over. Whether it's power or skill, the two are not in the same heavyweight class.

Although the current appearance of the People's Guard is nothing to be afraid of, if you look at the "setting" of Zheng Gongyin and Zhu Yourong, then at least in theory, the People's Guard has the potential to swell into a second East Factory.

According to the degree of closeness to the empress, there are three forces that are the closest.

At the top of the list were the Praetorian Guards. The Praetorian Guards can see His Majesty in the palace all day long. But although it is close, it is only a private bodyguard, and has no power.

In third place is the East Factory. Dongchang is a very mature intelligence agency, with a large organization, comprehensive system branches, complete talents, and rich experience. Before the coup d'état of 1230, Dongchang was responsible to the government, and only secretly got close to the emperor. Now it is publicly accountable only to the Empress. However, no matter how powerful it is, it is only an administrative body, not an armed force, and it does not have the nature of "the Son of Heaven and the army". It is armed with only a few agents, killers, and a small number of pistols and explosives for mission use.

In the middle is the People's Guard. According to Zheng Gongyin's thinking, the People's Guard Force has two major missions:

The first is to share power with Dongchang. In order to make up for the disadvantages in manpower and experience as soon as possible, Jung Kyong-in gave it a lot of power. First of all, its nature is an army, and it is the pro-army of the Son of Heaven, which is very similar to the previous Jinyi Guard. However, Jinyiwei is now a military intelligence bureau, mainly responsible for external intelligence, so the People's Guard will now make up for this part of the internal situation. Internal intelligence and reconnaissance used to be done by Dongchang, but now the People's Guard Force overlaps with it, so that the purpose of "decentralization" can be better played.

The second is to supervise the rest of the regular army. The nature of the People's Guard is that it is an elite army directly under the empress, and it can be pulled out to fight when necessary. It should not only be able to supervise the loyalty of the armed forces at all levels, but should also be a benchmark that can fight tough battles, gnaw hard bones, and set an example for other armies.

To put it simply, the relationship between the People's Guard and the regular army is the relationship between the gendarmes and ordinary soldiers.

So how does Xiang Xiaoqiang look at it, how does he feel like an SS. He knew that such a thing, if it really developed, it was quite unbelievable.

But are you the material? Xiang Xiaoqiang thought about it and secretly laughed to himself: Himmler used to be a chicken. Not even this piece of material.

People, opportunities matter. A lot of times you look up at a position and think I can't do it, I don't have that ability, I'm not this material. But if you really put you in this position, you flutter a few times, choke a few mouthfuls, and you will find that you can barely hold on. After a while, you'll find that you're doing a pretty good job. After a while, it may be full of confidence.

But Xiang Xiaoqiang had a faint question in his heart: why did they let themselves sit in such an important position. Yes, he rescued and planned a coup d'état twice, proving his ability and enthusiasm. But can it prove loyalty? Also, they don't know themselves. Don't they have a better fit?

……

Xiang Xiaoqiang instructed the snail to keep staring, and then shouted:

"Someone."

"Yes!"

The guard behind him replied in a loud voice.

The guard was dressed in an army uniform, sergeant epaulettes, and a small golden sword emblem on a black collar badge. This is the emblem of the People's Guard that he designed. He intended to imitate the SS and the sticky pole, not to design the uniforms separately, but only to distinguish them in the collar badge mark. This not only saves time, but also makes it easier for the People's Guard to infiltrate other armies without having to be so eye-catching. This morning, the quilt factory just sent the first batch of collar badges embroidered. Now they are wearing the uniforms of dozens of them.

Xiang Xiaoqiang put on leather gloves and a large-brimmed hat, put on a military coat, patted the colonel's epaulette and the golden sword collar badge, touched the holster on his waist, and ordered:

"Prepare the car."

"Yes!"

The guard turned around and trotted away. Yesterday, a few small soldiers were transferred from Jinyi Wei to act as guards and drivers. Now they are all members of the People's Guard.

Xiang Xiaoqiang leaned on the wide leather seat of the car, smelling the faint smell of leather. At this time, the roof of the sedan was very high, not as oppressive as in later generations, and there were no harmful substances, which was very good.

"Go to the Naval Hospital."

He commanded.

……

Now there are only three "professionals" at hand, although all of them are from Dongchang, but they have a good relationship with themselves and should be reliable.

Stomach ache, Li Changgui, and ...... Xiuxiu.

Li Changgui must be fine, he has been working as a small undercover agent in the north, and after he came back, he was asked to come over before he went to the East Factory to report. …… It's a pity that it's just a small undercover agent, and it is estimated that his talent is limited.

He has a stomachache, is very smart, and looks very talented. There are a lot of things, and it is conceivable that this kind of person learns very quickly. But the key is that he was specially sent to him by the East Factory at the beginning. It's to help yourself, and undoubtedly to spy on yourself. But it shouldn't be a big problem. What he can give him, now Dongchang can't give it. He is a little shrimp in Dongchang, and if he follows himself, he can become a high-ranking official and backbone of the People's Guard. Dongchang gave him two levels at most, and it was still a small shrimp. The loyalty of small shrimp is very fragile.

On the contrary, it was Xiuxiu, and Xiang Xiaoqiang always felt that it was a mystery. I can't see through her, but I think she can see through herself. Moreover, she is still a member of Dongchang. Even if he is by his side, he is still a member of Dongchang. She is different from a stomachache, the identity of Dongchang with a stomachache is public, and if she wants him over, then he is not Dongchang but a member of the People's Guard. The identity of Xiuxiu East Factory is confidential, and only he knows. Her public identity is the Grasshopper Communications Officer, and she came to the People's Guard Force as the original Grasshopper Communications Officer, and she still retains her responsibilities for the East Factory.

But Xiang Xiaoqiang has an intuition that Xiuxiu will never be unfavorable to himself. That's for sure.

After returning to Nanjing, I haven't gone to the hospital to see Xiuxiu. This time, I want to talk to her about my thoughts and ask her about professional issues. Now that I have a shortage of talents at hand, professionals like Xiuxiu are very valuable.

In addition, it is necessary to strengthen the relationship and launch an offensive against her.

Like her, no way. Xiuxiu and Qiuqiu are two completely different tastes, Qiuqiu is as enthusiastic as fire, and Xiuxiu is as calm as water. Once Qiu Yu falls in love, he becomes a complete captive and will tell any secrets. But Xiuxiu, Xiang Xiaoqiang bet that even if she married her and entered the cave house, she would still remember the duties of Dongchang.

However, the warbler is fat and thin, so that they have their own taste!

……

"No," in the corridor of the Navy Hospital, the military doctor MM was wearing a large mask, his hands were in his pockets, and his head was shaking like a rattle, "No one can go in, and Shang Xiu doesn't want to see anyone." She's been bullied by you guys so pitifully......"

Xiang Xiaoqiang has already recognized that this is the military doctor MM last time, she didn't recognize herself. However, Xiang Xiaoqiang didn't want to point out that he was Xiang Xiaoqiang, the commander of the People's Guard, and he didn't want to explain that he was the dead-faced young man last time.

The medic MM stared at his colonel's epaulettes again. Slowly become vigilant: can such a young man be a colonel? It's broken, it's estimated to be fake again, you have to stabilize him and report it quickly......

Xiang Xiaoqiang struggled to say good things, and suddenly felt shocked in his heart and asked:

"Who did you just say that Shangxiu was bullied by pitifully?"

At this moment, the door at the other end of the corridor slammed open, and a voice cried out:

"Nurse, come on, help me get rid of him, don't let him pester me anymore!"

Then there was a cough.

…… It was Xiuxiu's voice.