Walking on the snow-covered path, Zhang Zuolin seemed to feel like he had returned to his hometown in Liaodong, but the Prussian-style buildings around him told him that this is Germany, one of the best countries in Europe, and where he is, he can even remove one or two words.

Because here is the pride of the whole of Germany, the best army school in the whole of the European continent, the Prussian Army Academy.

After the last war, he and twenty-nine other chosen companions came here for a year of study, and like all the foreign cadets who came here, the most difficult thing to overcome was not the means and skills of command, but the language.

Fortunately, the young master had been prepared in this regard, and accompanied a special language interpreter for the thirty of them, and after arriving here, he also invited some local Chinese to give them language guidance.

Although he was well prepared, this kind of learning still made him feel very difficult, but it also made him understand what a real army is and what it means to be a soldier.

A year of study not only made him, but also his companions feel as if they had been reborn, and their eyes suddenly extended from a few acres of thin fields under their feet to Europe, the Far East and even the whole world!

It turns out that this world is so big!

Zhang Zuolin took a deep breath, the cold mist made him, a person who came out of Liaodong, tremble, rubbed his hands vigorously, and walked towards the library, he wanted to take advantage of these last few days to enrich himself, after all, such an opportunity was too rare.

You must know that whether it is the naval officers sent to Britain, or the people who came to Germany to study, they are all places donated by the young master at a great price, and it is said that the cost of 30 of them here for a year alone is enough to buy a torpedo ship, or arm 5,000 army infantry.

Moreover, I heard the minister stationed in Germany last time entertain them and say that none of the money came from the Government Council, let alone from military spending, but was subsidized by the young master himself.

Thinking that the young master actually took out his own pocket to subsidize his own people, Zhang Zuolin felt that he should not waste every minute, so he sped up a few steps on his feet, but before he could reach the library, the shouts of his hometown suddenly sounded behind him.

"Brother Zuolin."

"Brother Jiugong."

"Haha, I knew that the place where I could find you on such a snowy day must be the library." Sun Jiugong smiled, shook the snowflakes on his body, and pulled Zhang Zuolin under the eaves.

Sun Jiugong also got the opportunity to study abroad because of his good performance after the end of the last war, and Zhang Zuolin didn't expect that the two not only walked out of the land of Liaodong together, but also joined the Pacific Army together, and finally came to Germany to study because of their outstanding performance.

This experience alone has made the two good friends who talk about everything.

"Whew." Zhang Zuolin took a hot breath, looked at Sun Jiugong, who was red from the cold, and said with a smile: "Brother Jiugong, what are you looking for me?" ”

"There's something I want you to do for me." Sun Jiugong glanced around and found that there were two of them under the eaves, so he took out a cigarette from his pocket, handed one to Zhang Zuolin, and said, "Brother Zuolin, I can't go back with you." ”

"Why?"

Zhang Zuolin, who had just lit a cigarette, was taken aback by these words, you must know that although they came out to study, they are still soldiers, and in the discipline manual of the Pacific Army, desertion is one of the most serious crimes! Moreover, according to the plan, in three days they will set off with the visiting German Far East Fleet, and if they are gone, it will be a great fun.

"Where do you want to go, is my Sun Jiugong like a deserter?" Seeing Zhang Zuolin's expression, Sun Jiugong knew that he was thinking about something, and hurriedly added: "I just received an appointment from the General Staff, and now I am going to leave for Cuba." ”

"Cuba!"

Zhang Zuolin's brows furrowed suddenly, it stands to reason that the attention of the Pacific Army at this time should be concentrated in the Far East with the Russians, not to mention that there will be two years at most, and the First World War will be reopened, it is the time to employ people, how could Sun Jiugong be sent to Cuba? What's there? Defend the cigarette roll to go?

"What are you doing in Cuba? What is the appointment? ”

"Helped the Cuban Revolutionary Army and awarded the first class of operational staff officers." Sun Jiugong stepped closer and replied in a low voice.

"First-class staff officer!"

Although Zhang Zuolin didn't know what kind of unit the Cuban Revolutionary Army was to help and how large it was, he was really surprised by the military rank of first-class staff officer, who knew that this was a unique military rank in the Pacific Army, and the status of the first-level staff officer in the staff headquarters was second only to several chiefs of staff!

Unexpectedly, his seemingly honest friend had reached this point all of a sudden, and even he was a little envious, and the idea of comparison could not help but rise in his heart.

"Huh." Knowing that he had made a lot of money this time, Sun Jiugong couldn't help but feel a little proud, touched his head and smiled: "Don't you come to your staff officer!" You have a better brain than me, help me think about why the General Staff wants me to go to Cuba, and what should I do when I go there? ”

Zhang Zuolin was also happy for this guy, but he also knew that Cuba was not a familiar place after all, and the most fearful thing about being a soldier to fight was in an unfamiliar environment, so after thinking about it, he said: "Cuba is too far away from Honolulu and separated from the mainland, so this time I must be assisting." ”

Sun Jiugong nodded, and continued to listen to Zhang Zuolin's analysis: "Since it is assistance, then there are some things that you can't let your temper do, you have to figure it out slowly, and only after you find out the specific situation can you let it go." ”

"And Cuba is now Spain's territory, and our fleet now has no ability to fight across the ocean, so the young master asked you to definitely assist the Cuban Revolutionary Army in launching the Reading Power War, what is your intention?" Zhang Zuolin thought about it, and suddenly his eyes lit up: "The young master is eyeing Luzon!" ”

Sun Jiugong took a deep breath and hurriedly said: "Zuolin, you are simply a roundworm in my stomach, and I want to go together, I also think that the young master is also going to take Luzon, so Cuba is needed." Grandma, Cuba Luzon, those Spanish old soldiers, occupy such a good place for nothing! ”

Zhang Zuolin smiled and continued to analyze: "Although you know the goal and know how to do it, you can't be too hasty, according to me, the young master's primary focus is still in the Far East, if the Russians really dare to enter the Great Qing Kingdom, he will definitely not stand idly by, so if you launch it too early, it will not be conducive to containment." ”

"In my opinion, the best time should be before the war with Yuben, at that time, the warship needs to return to China, and it will definitely go through the Nanyang transit, and the young master will never let them go back so smoothly, so I think he should also do it at that time!"

Hearing Zhang Zuolin's final analysis, Sun Jiugong also had a bottom in his heart, smashed his fist on his chest, and laughed: "Brother Zuolin, then say goodbye, when I come back from that place, I will catch up with you again, and I will definitely not get drunk and return at that time!" ”

"Good! I'll wait for you to come back. ”

"Haha." ――

"Stand!"

"Lie down!"

"Stand upright!"

"Lie down!"

"Risaki"

Li Daniu gasped and quickly got up from the mud pile with his comrades, but before he could stand firmly, the company commander ordered to pounce again, so he threw himself into the muddy water straight like a gannet, sweat and mud mixed together, as if a layer of mud scab was applied to his face.

He couldn't remember how many times he had pounced, and although he was already convulsed from exhaustion, the company commander didn't seem to have any signs of shouting to stop. He didn't understand why the soldiers of the Pacific Army were different from those of the Great Qing Kingdom? They all carry guns, but from the first day he entered here, he was required to do the same training every day with his comrades, starting with running in the early morning and training in basic tactical movements in the afternoon, it has been a full three months.

Although I fired a gun in the first month of enlistment, I haven't fired a few bullets so far, as if it was a burning stick, and every time I ran around on my back, this is being a soldier?

In fact, it's not just him, the recruits don't say it, they all complain in their hearts, how can they be soldiers and practice these things in these years? Carrying a gun and practicing shooting is the main thing! However, complaining is complaining, and no one dares to slack off on their usual training, especially when they see those veterans also training behind them, and the complaints are also choked in their stomachs.

Poof!

Li Daniu only felt the muddy water pour into his mouth violently, and hurriedly spat wildly, hoping to clean up the mud and sand in his mouth to meet the next action, when he only heard a piercing whistle, and suddenly felt a little paralyzed.

"Quick, assemble." The comrade-in-arms next to him pulled Li Daniu, who was out of breath and in a daze, he quickly got up and ran to the edge of the quagmire, and followed everyone to form a team.

When everyone lined up, Li Daniu found that at some point, a green car was parked next to the team, and a man in military uniform on the car, led by several staff officers, was walking towards them!

Commander, it's a commander!

Beside him, several comrades-in-arms saw the man and the car, and they excitedly exchanged their heads and ears. This car is well-known to everyone in the Ryukyus, and it is said that it was a special gift from the young master to the military commander.

"Stand upright!"

In the past few months, a company commander with a black face saw everyone lined up, and actually showed a rare smile, even if the army commander was coming over, Li Daniu still felt a chill in his heart, you must know that the last time the company commander laughed, it happened to be the time to train the military posture, and as a result, everyone stood under the sun for more than half a month.

The company commander walked into the queue, looked around his comrades carefully, and saw that it was about to be his turn, and Li Daniu couldn't care about the army commander, so he straightened his waist again.

"Not bad."

After checking each recruit, the company commander walked to the front of the team and suddenly shouted: "Today I want to congratulate each and every one of you!" The company commander's eyes lit up, and his face was excited: "You are the third batch of recruits I have ever led, and you are also the best batch!" No one quit, and no one was left behind! ”

"You're all good!"

The company commander's words of praise made everyone's heads higher, everyone straightened their waists, and even the tiredness just now seemed to be a little lighter.

After the company commander finished speaking, he immediately turned his head to the approaching commander, saluted and reported loudly: "Report, the seventh company of recruits, 270 people for training, and 270 people for training!" All recruit training has been completed! Please give the commander instructions! ”

Zhao Long saluted in return and walked quickly in front of the recruits, his gaze sweeping over the faces of each of the soldiers.

Looking at the faces stained with yellow mud, watching drops of sweat slip down the jaws of the soldiers, and looking at the posture of standing still like green pines, even after two hours of training, they still stood still, as if they had been measured with a ruler, no matter from which angle, they were all straight and hard military lines.

Zhao Long suddenly became angry in his heart! This is the new force of the Pacific Army, and it is the source of strength to participate in this great era in the future! He smiled and shouted, "Congratulations! You've completed three months of recruit training, which means you're now officially a member of the Pacific Force! ”

"Welcome aboard!"

Under the gaze of the recruits, Zhao Long suddenly put his legs together, raised his head and chest, raised his right hand obliquely, and saluted Li Daniu and these recruits with a solemn military salute! Beside him, the veterans and staff officers who were responsible for training themselves were also smiling and saluting them!

Seeing those ordinary veterans saluting themselves, even the army commander came to salute and congratulate them, Li Daniu and these recruits hurriedly returned the salute and shouted excitedly in unison: "Army!" Army! Invincible! ”

"Take a break."

Listening to the passionate slogans and watching the neat and uniform resting movements, Zhao Long nodded with satisfaction and continued: "I don't like to make great truths, what should be said, what should be remembered, your instructors should have said it." ”

"I just want you to remember one sentence."

"They have a slogan in the Navy, and axioms exist only within the range of artillery!"

"We are an army, there are no warships, but we have guns, we have grenades, we have artillery! Therefore, our army also has a slogan. ”

"The land of my feet is my soil!"

"Foot Ground! It's all my soil! ”――

Looking at the disbanded and resting recruits, the smile on Zhao Long's face suddenly became stiff, and he quickly got into the car and drove towards the headquarters.

Ryukyu Island is completely different from Oahu, although the area is about the same, the terrain is long, and although there are many good harbors around, the largest is still Bahai City, but unlike Pearl Harbor, which has a huge harbor, most of the piers are directly exposed to the sea, and there is only one waterway that winds from the sea to the center of Bahai.

The inward depression on the right bank of the waterway is now occupied by shipyards, steel mills, and other behemoths, and only on the left side of the peninsula there is a huge open space, where many foreigners and wealthy people built villas and private gardens because of the beautiful environment.

He said that he had all left, and the Ryukyus would never see half of him again, and the private garden and luxurious villa were naturally taken over by Master Li, and the remaining huge open space that stretched all the way to the sea became the headquarters of the Pacific Army in the Ryukyus.

Because of Master Li's words, the army led by Zhao Long has now regarded Ryukyu as an advance base, not only stationed two full regiments here, but also formed two reserve regiments here with Li Mo's permission, a total of 20,000 people, and established a separate army headquarters, instead of using the same building as the navy like in Honolulu.

Two three-story European-style villas, like twin stars facing each other, each covering an area of thousands of square meters, with 30 rooms, was built by a pair of Dutch merchant brothers, and later after the original was settled, they sold the villas to the local wealthy people, and now they are naturally cheaper than the bandits of the Pacific Army.

Two military flags are waving in the wind on the top of their respective villas, one is naturally the Pacific Fleet Navy Blood Cloud Dragon Claw Flag that has now spread all over the world, and the other flag is slightly different, with a red background and gold line, as bright as a drop of blood, in the center of the flag, two eagles stand side by side, the thunder and lightning flashing in the center of the eagle body, and the eagle's head turns to both sides It is the military flag designed by Zhao Long after seeing the naval battle flag, entangled with Master Li.

The double-headed eagle, Master Li shamelessly copied the most famous design of later generations, and with a slight modification, it became the battle flag of the Pacific Army!

In the gale, the two flags do not give in to each other, the fire clouds and evil claws, and the eagle is proud, which is the portrayal of the two major branches of the military today, forming a complete Pacific Army.

Jumping out of the car and looking at the fluttering double-headed eagle battle flag, Zhao Long's eyebrows fluttered a trace of pride, but when he turned around, he twisted into a Sichuan character and walked quickly towards the army command post.

The Russians are finally here!

If this news is about the Russian fleet that has just crossed the Strait of Malacca at this moment, then Zhao Long will not be worried, but this news is brought by Dong Dahai, who has just returned from the Vladivostok fortress, then the problem is very serious!

According to Dong Dahai, who went to reconnoitre, the Russians have now built hundreds of barracks in Vladivostok and Twin Cities, the two most important Russian fortresses in the Far East, and the number of garrisons has increased from 10,000 to nearly 20,000.

The most terrifying thing is that among the additional soldiers, Dong Dahai and they also found traces of Cossack cavalry in the Twin Cities for the first time, and according to the calculation of horses, there are as many as five thousand!

Cossack cavalry!!

No one knew better than Zhao Long the power of those Cossack cavalrymen wearing black cloaks, shouting the slogans of Ula, and wielding the special thick-backed broad-bladed sabers.

If they crossed the border on horseback, not to mention the decadent and rotten Eight Banners of Manchuria, even the rangers of the Mongolian nobles would not be their opponents!

And judging from the mountainous terrain of Korea, the Russians would not be stupid enough to use that precious cavalry for mountain warfare, then their only goal in the Far East can only be!

As soon as he thought of this, the blood in Zhao Long's whole body was about to boil, no one knew the young master's mind better than him, he would never watch the Northeast being occupied by the Russians!

Then, there is only one outcome in front of you!

"Go back to the Qing Dynasty, go back to Liaodong!"

"Go home!"

(To be continued)