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Volume One: Fierce Battle in Changsha Chapter 397: Troops Move to Huzhou

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    It is already the weather of Mid-Autumn Festival, with yellow leaves falling piece by piece, and the autumn wind sweeping the earth with a hint of coolness, but there is no trace of desolation on the earth of Su Fu Province.

    The Hongqiao Railway Station, which was bustling with people, was filled with Taiping New Army soldiers wearing new military uniforms, and the small railway station was surrounded by water.  Beside the platform paved with bluestones, two young men wearing the uniforms of the new Taiping Military Academy were standing aside. Both of them were fully armed, watching several lieutenants not far away shouting orders to form the team.

    A young school official took out a box of Xiaodao brand cigarettes produced in Sufu Province from his coat pocket and handed one to his companion.  Xiaodao brand cigarettes were produced by the cigarette factory run by Fujian gentry Wang De in Shanghai. The gentry Wang De named this kind of Xiaodao cigarettes in memory of the Xiaodao Hui who were massacred after the failed Xiaodao Hui uprising in Shanghai. Xiaodao cigarettes have a pure taste.  It is comparable to Guiyun cigarettes from Guiyun Store.

    His companion pursed his lips tightly and did not reach out to pick it up. He just frowned and said, "Brother Zhou, why do you think we go to Huzhou instead of Fujian?"

    Brother Zhou did not answer immediately. He took out a match and lit a cigarette. After taking a deep breath, he said calmly: "His Royal Highness the King of the West sends us, so we will go. Wang Kai, we are soldiers."

    "There is no Qingyao in Huzhou County" Wang Kai muttered in a low voice. Brother Zhou gave him a sharp look and said lightly: "Have you spent the past few months in the military academy in vain? Anyone who obstructs our new policy  Everyone is the enemy!¡±

    Wang Kai asked in a low voice tentatively: "Including friendly forces in Tianjing?"

    Brother Zhou sneered and said: "Do they deserve to be called friendly forces? Have you ever seen friendly forces that are holding back? Have you seen that we pay taxes, money and food to them every year, but they still come to attack our friendly forces?"

    Wang Kai stopped saying anything. Brother Zhou irritably let go of the Feng Ji button, took a deep breath and said, "Wang Kai, I know what's wrong with you. You had the most problems when you were in the political theory class. You should know  After our New Deal, we are already in two completely different situations from those in Tianjing. In Sufu Province, we talk about freedom of belief, New Confucianism, and the protection of private property. Which of these are not incompatible with the Tianjing government? You were in Tianjing last year  Jingxiaguan, don¡¯t you know what life is like there? They are still eating from a big pot in front of the Holy Treasury, and every household has no private property. Today¡¯s New Deal has made everyone live a good life, and we who are soldiers are  Protect the New Deal.¡±

    Wang Kai nodded and said solemnly: "I understand this, but why can't this matter be resolved peacefully? Tianjing 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: "If one day Qingyao also learns our new policies, will you still fight Qingyao?"

    Wang Kai was stunned for a moment and said: "Qingyao is different from Tianjing's friendly forces"

    Brother Zhou laughed and said nothing. Wang Kai was a little confused. If Qing Yao really learned the New Deal and made the people live a good life, then he would not be considered an enemy.

    Wang Kai was dull for a long time, and suddenly asked again: "I heard that this time it was because His Highness the King of the West refused to be summoned to the capital. Did Tianjing send troops?"

    Brother Zhou hummed, glanced sideways 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 Highness the King of the West cannot go. This is obviously the Hongmen Banquet."

    Brother Zhou took a deep breath from the cigarette and said: "Tianjing has made it clear this time that the army wants to attack our King of the West. The 160,000 new troops and 270,000 rural soldiers in the West Palace will not agree. Who would  If you dare to harm His 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. Without His 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 finally stamped out the cigarette butt.  He said in a deep voice: "Many school officers and lieutenants have been discussing this matter recently. They have as many ideas as you. In the end, everyone came to the conclusion that if our King of the West sat on the throne of the King of Heaven, wouldn't the world be at peace?"

    Wang Kai said without hesitation: "I also think that the seat of the King of Heaven should be given to His Highness the King of the West." At this point, he paused and said with some embarrassment: "But this will definitely lead to a fierce battle with the friendly troops of Tianjing.  ¡±

    Zhou Huaiying was silent for a moment and then said: "Remember the order of the Military and Political Department, the West Palace soldiers will not fire the first shot, but if the Tianjing soldiers dare to take action, we will fight back resolutely!"

    Wang Kai nodded solemnly. At this time, the train whistle sounded, and a tanker truck filled with soldiers slowly drove out of the train station. Wang Kai watched the train leave and murmured: "First Battalion  The people have left, and the second battalion is getting ready to board the train."

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

    Wang Kai?He laughed and said: "It's already settled. The people of the second division will leave by boat. They were delayed for two hours at the dock last evening. Our first division will leave by train. It's already on time."

    Zhou Huaiying frowned and said: "Wang Kai, you are in the munitions department. I heard that there is some shortage of supplies this time?"

    Wang Kai shook his head and said: "The supplies are there, but they have just been transported to Wenzhou. The movement of Tianjing's troops and horses made our munitions department and transportation department confused. Fortunately, there are still more supplies in Suzhou. The King of Xi has already  Ordered to use the supplies 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 keep being strict with your mouth. Don't think I don't know. During the assembly a few days ago, we focused on practicing the linear queue tactics of muskets several times. Jack, the Yankee, used the old-fashioned  We practiced the tactic of lining up and shooting over and over again. My guess is that there may not be enough guns, so maybe we will use muskets.¡±

    Wang Kai said without blinking: "That's your combat unit's problem. I'm only responsible for distributing supplies."

    Zhou Huaiying rolled his eyes at him and said calmly: "If you don't reveal your true identity to me, you will never see my girl again."

    Wang Kai laughed twice and said in a low voice: "I really don't know, Brother Zhou, but I heard that the staff plan is that the vanguard troops will be equipped with rifled guns first, and only the troops on the flanks and rear flanks will be equipped with muskets for the rural soldiers. You are the first  The First Division will go over by train. It should be regarded as the vanguard force. But I can¡¯t say for sure, everything depends on the staff¡¯s plan and General Lin Fengxiang¡¯s final decision.¡±

    Zhou Huaiying breathed a sigh of relief and said with a smile: "As smart as you are, our first division must be the vanguard force. Most of us are Zhenjiang soldiers, and we can be regarded as General Lin's old subordinates. Who should we use if he doesn't need us?"

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

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

    Wang Kai breathed a sigh of relief and said: "Fortunately, we passed by the third batch. Maybe when the third division arrives, the Tianjing soldiers will also retreat."

    Zhou Huaiying glared at him dissatisfied and said, "Look at your achievements. After all, you are also a major quartermaster, in charge of the food, drink, and toilet of a regiment. Why are you so afraid of going to the battlefield?"

    Wang Kai snorted and said: "My eldest man, what am I afraid of? I am worried about Zhou Huaixiu. I am always a little worried when a woman goes to the battlefield with the army."

    Zhou Huaiying patted him on the shoulder and said, "Don't worry. Huaixiu is in the Third Division Headquarters Hospital. It's safe with the division headquarters."

    While they were talking, another column of tank trucks drove out. The New Army soldiers of the second battalion began to collect supplies and boarded the train. Each of them received all the necessary items for individual soldier equipment, including shoes, socks and military spurs, as well as three  Daily amounts of dry food and drinking water.  But no firearms.  The major commander of the second battalion shouted loudly and ordered the soldiers to board the vehicle quickly. Hundreds of officers and soldiers crowded into the tank truck with only the skin, and dozens of soldiers even sat on the roof of the vehicle.

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

    Wang Kai shook his head and said: "No, our Military Supplies Department has to finish distributing this batch of supplies at the train station, and then we have to wait for the ship from Ningbo to come over, which will send back a batch of supplies stored in Wenzhou. After we receive it,  Let¡¯s go to Huzhou again.¡±

    Zhou Huaiying nodded and said, "I'll see you in Huzhou then." After that, he stood at attention and saluted Wang Kai. Wang Kai immediately returned the military salute, and Zhou Huaiying turned around and headed towards the area where the third battalion was gathering.  .

    Arriving at the assembly area of ??the third battalion, the soldiers of the third battalion who were originally sitting on the ground to rest had already stood up and lined up under the orders of the deputy battalion commander and the lieutenants of each company.  As soon as the formation order was given, the gathering place where there was chatter and laughter immediately became silent, and the only sounds that could be heard were the footsteps and the commander's orders.

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

    Before Li Jiheng could answer, the blond Jack immediately came over with a smile and said: "Zhou, I am also an officer of the third battalion now."

    Jack¡¯s Chinese was still very poor. 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 by the Admiralty Secretary of Shanghai and handed them over, smiling and saying: "This is the document for me to join the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom nationality, as well as the military certificate signed by His Highness the King of the West.Appointment letter, do you have any questions?  "

    Zhou Huaiying looked at it in disbelief. Li Jiheng said in a low voice: "Jack and his wife have joined us. They are among the first batch of foreign immigrants issued by the Military and Political Department this morning. The officer's commission was also issued this morning. Jack did  He was an instructor of our third battalion, so he insisted on coming to the third battalion as battalion staff officer."

    Zhou Huaiying said dissatisfied: "This old boy used to be annoying to us when we were training, and now he wants to go to the battlefield with us? Who knows if he has ever seen a dead person!"

    Jack understood. He chuckled and stretched out his hand to shake hands, and said: "Zhou, we are now citizens of the same country and comrades-in-arms. You can't dislike me. I fought with Indians in the United States. I  I will go with you to fight the Tartars."

    Zhou Huaiying snorted and said, "This time I'm not going to fight off the monster. Just do your part!" Although he said this, Zhou Huaiying's hand and Jack's hand were still tightly held together.  (To be continued, please search Piaotian Literature. The novels will be better and updated faster!
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