RPAGF Chapter 293 Shock
Chapter 293 Shock
This Zhai Hongming, like himself, came from two different examination systems, but he was an official in a local government while Zhai was in the central government. He hadn't really taken him seriously before, but he hadn't expected the old man to rise so quickly in the new dynasty.
Seeing his polite manner, Lin Shaonian felt a little relieved. He had only been transferred from Yunnan last year, and although the new dynasty had not pursued his crimes and allowed him to remain in his post, he was still somewhat apprehensive.
"Brother Zhai, let me introduce you to the officials of this province." Lin Shaonian said, preparing to pull Zhai Hongming forward.
"Lord Lin, wait a moment! Let me introduce someone to you first." Zhai Hongming waved his hand.
"General Zhang, General Zhang!" Zhai Hongming turned around and called out.
Zhang Tieniu and Tian Shuyao were watching the soldiers disembark when Zhai Hongming called out to them, so they had no choice but to come over.
"General Zhang, Shuyao. This is Governor Lin of this province!"
"Your Excellency, this is General Zhang Tieniu and Colonel Tian Shuyao! They are here to reorganize the military affairs in Guangxi."
"Greetings, Lord Lin!" Zhang Tieniu and his companion stood at attention and saluted.
"Hello!" Lin Shaonian nodded. These military officers had never been considered important by him, the provincial governor.
Zhang Tieniu frowned but remained silent, while Tian Shuyao smiled and said, "We'll inevitably encounter some troublesome situations as we reorganize military affairs. We hope the Governor will provide strong support!"
"Of course!" Lin Shaonian stroked his beard and nodded.
"Brother Zhai, come! Meet the officials of this province!" Lin Shaonian turned and walked away.
"General Zhang, let's go! Let's meet these officials together; you'll be dealing with them quite a bit in the future!"
Although Zhai Hongming was not clear about their specific military affairs, the Emperor had personally instructed him to assist Zhang Tieniu and his men before he came, so he dared not be careless.
After exchanging pleasantries at the dock, the officials prepared to return to the city.
"Clap clap clap," the sound of orderly footsteps rang out, and a squad of new army soldiers marched in neat formation.
Although it was only a group of a few hundred people, they disembarked so quickly and sailed in such an orderly fashion, which greatly impressed the officials.
Looking at these soldiers in uniform, carrying new rifles, and with resolute expressions, the officials who had just been exchanging pleasantries fell silent.
"Reporting, General! The First Battalion is in formation. Please give instructions!" The soldiers stood at attention, and a major came forward, saluted, and reported.
"At ease!" Zhang Tieniu returned the salute.
"Admiral, are our camps all arranged? A large number of our personnel and equipment will be arriving soon!" Zhang Tieniu asked an old general in his fifties or sixties.
"That's all arranged! I've already arranged a camp for the army after receiving the imperial decree. It's not far from the city. I'll have someone lead you there right away."
Ding Huai, who had initially been somewhat resentful, saw this well-equipped and menacing elite force. His initial grudges faded away.
He was transferred here from Yunnan last year and is also a veteran who has seen combat. He originally had a bit of arrogance.
According to the official documents from the imperial court, after Zhang Tieniu successfully handed over his military duties, he would return to the capital and be given another important post.
What do you mean by "re-appointing" him? This is nothing more than stripping him of his military power! It would be strange if Ding Huai didn't have any objections to a general who had commanded troops for decades being replaced by such a young upstart.
As a veteran, I could naturally tell that these were elite soldiers who had experienced countless battles, not just for show. Add to that their new rifles, heavy machine guns, and cannons.
Forget it! Don't make yourself miserable. The Qing Dynasty is gone now, and I'm a Han Chinese too; I don't want to be buried with them.
Zhang Tieniu sent a company of soldiers into the city to take over the camp, while he stayed behind to support the main force.
As for those local officials, let Tian Shuyao deal with them!
Seeing that Zhang Tieniu wasn't going into the city, Ding Huai decided to stay as well. Since he was leaving anyway, there was no need to continue socializing with those officials.
If those two didn't leave, the other dozens of officers certainly didn't dare to leave either! Almost all the officers above the guerrilla rank in the province were here.
According to the imperial court's records, Guangxi currently has two garrisons and fifty battalions, totaling approximately 30,000 troops. However, this is only a figure on paper; given the corruption of the Qing Dynasty, the actual troop strength would be a blessing if it reached half of that.
If some of the old and weak are eliminated, Zhang Tieniu estimates that he will be lucky to have a few thousand men left.
He didn't care; the army's benefits were so good, he could just recruit new soldiers later. Guangxi had seven or eight million people, especially the ethnic minorities, who were known for their fierce and warlike nature. He could easily recruit 200,000 soldiers.
Two hours later, the main force arrived.
Seeing the armored vehicle rumble off its small wheels, the officers gaped in astonishment. It was the first time they had ever seen such a legendary armored vehicle. The two massive, dark cannons at the front of the vehicle looked incredibly ferocious.
To protect Zhang Tieniu's safety and also to intimidate these former Qing Dynasty officers, Shen Lian specially arranged two armored vehicles for him. He also provided him with twenty trucks.
Two thousand soldiers disembarked, and trucks rumbled down, each towing a cannon. A general-purpose machine gun was also mounted on the front of each truck.
"This, this..." The officers exchanged bewildered glances. Some of the initially unruly men had planned to give the new army a hard time and try to gain more advantages.
Seeing this heavily armed army, everyone felt a chill of fear. Thank goodness they hadn't launched an attack; that would have been suicidal!
That's truly a powerful army that even wiped out Japan! They're incredibly awesome!
"Everyone, let's head into the city together! Would you like to get on board and experience this kind of truck?" Zhang Tieniu thought to himself with a smug satisfaction.
"Good, good!" The officers nodded vigorously; they were also eager to ride in this iron contraption they were seeing for the first time.
"My lords, this way please!" After the officers boarded the truck, Zhang Tieniu led Ding Huai and the two generals to his car.
He's now been promoted to major general and is eligible to have a car.
Two armored vehicles escorted the sedan at the front, followed by twenty trucks. Two thousand soldiers marched forward in orderly steps.
The impressive procession's entry into Guilin caused a huge sensation. Citizens flocked to the streets to watch, keeping the officials in charge of maintaining order sweating profusely, fearing they might disturb the invading army.
"My lords, I hope you will cooperate fully in this military reorganization! His Majesty is magnanimous and greatly appreciates soldiers who fight for the country. When you return to the capital, the court will certainly not treat you unfairly." Zhang Tieniu took out cigarettes and offered one to each of the three men, speaking sincerely.
"Your Majesty is a man of exceptional talent, unmatched not only in military prowess but also in governing the country with remarkable ease. It is our honor to serve Your Majesty," Ding Huai said, nodding.
He's getting old and has no other ambitions now; he just wants to retire peacefully.