Volume 1 Teacher Chapter 12: First Move
While Dai Jiliang was busy sorting out relationships and training his troops, China's political situation once again underwent major changes.
On June 15, 1912, Tang Shaoyi's cabinet, which had been in office for only three months, resigned en masse due to the Wang Zhixiang governorship incident.
On June 29, half a month later, Yuan Shikai appointed former Foreign Minister Lu Zhengxiang as the Prime Minister of the new cabinet.
On August 25 of the same year, the Tongmenghui and four other political groups including the United Republican Party merged into the Kuomintang. On the same day, their founding conference was held in Beijing, and Sun Yat-sen was elected as chairman and Song Jiaoren as acting chairman.
A whole month later, Lu's cabinet collapsed because it was unable to form a cabinet. On the same day, Zhao Bingjun succeeded him as prime minister.
"Brother, it's better for you to stay in Hongdong County and not worry about the wind and rain outside."
Zeng Zhisheng was drinking scented tea, peeling melon seeds in his hands, and still shaking his head in admiration.
"Unlike us, when there is any disturbance from above, the department will be in chaos."
"From what you said, why are you not doing well in the ministry recently?"
Dai Jiliang didn't like the strong taste of jasmine tea, so he held a light cup of Longjing tea in his hand. He was exhausted these days. He just got home and ran into Zeng Zhisheng when he came to visit, so he was half leaning on the chair, talking in a nonchalant manner.
"Didn't the new governor say he was going to build a hundred thousand miles of railway? It's going to be put to great use soon. Why are you complaining to me?"
"That's Sun Dapao."
Zeng Zhisheng curled his lips in disapproval.
"Does he know what a railway is? Does he know how much it costs to build one mile of railway? He talks about 100,000 miles, he thinks he is building his house."
"A great man, you must say something heroic, otherwise how can you deceive a little girl?"
Dai Jiliang's words were filthy. This political moron, who was later revered as the founding father by some party members, was just a typical person who liked the new and hated the old, and was fickle. His so-called perfection was just a need for propaganda, and of course it could only deceive those who came after him who didn't know the reality. It was really a case of a time when there were no heroes but a young man became famous! Dai Jiliang sighed secretly, but continued to speak.
"But no matter how many thousands of miles away it is, you should at least make up some stories to make it happen. Wouldn't that help you stand out?"
"Build a little? Big brother, let me tell you, we can't even build a mile. Two words: no money!"
Zeng Zhisheng smiled bitterly.
"It is said that the President is negotiating with the six-nation banking group about a loan, but right now there are only rats left in the treasury."
Aftermath Loan! Listening to Zeng Zhisheng's words, a special term suddenly popped up from memory, which means that the "Song Case" and the "Second Revolution", the two major events that changed the political direction of the early Republic of China, are about to happen.
Dai Jiliang suddenly opened his half-closed eyes. Of course, he was not a superman, and he neither knew nor had the ability to reverse the tide of history. However, as a time traveler, he foresaw and used this opportunity to gain some benefits for himself.
"Zhisheng, since the situation in the department is not good recently, you should take a few days off."
Dai Jiliang looked at the dazed person and explained.
"Go to Shanghai and help me deliver a letter to his uncle's house in Changqing.
No, not to Changqing, but to his uncle Xie Zhigeng, the comprador. Besides, I will give you some more money.
Don't get me wrong, it's for you to work in Shanghai.
Once the President reaches an agreement with the banking group, the money supply in the market will definitely loosen up, and prices will rise a little. While prices are low now, go to Shanghai to stock up a little, and you can make a small fortune, right? "
Actually, Dai Jiliang was planning a second revolution. Although this war would not begin until the middle of next year and would only last for two short months, once the war broke out, the price of supplies would inevitably skyrocket. Although this money would be national disaster money, it would be a waste not to make some.
The reason for letting Gu Changqing and Xie Zhigeng participate was, on the one hand, to leverage their financial resources, and on the other hand, to deepen their impression of himself and to take the lead in future arrangements.
"What Big Brother said makes some sense."
Zeng Zhisheng touched his nose and thought about it.
"Okay, I'll go to the department and ask for two months' leave. I haven't seen Changqing for a long time, and I miss him a lot. Well, I'll keep my word, big brother. I'm leaving now."
"Hey, what are you doing in such a hurry?"
Dai Jiliang looked at Zeng Zhisheng with both anger and amusement. The matter hadn't happened yet, and the content of the letter he just mentioned hadn't been finalized yet, but this guy had already gone to ask for leave. He was really excited.
"Don't be impatient. Let's eat first and then discuss this with you. This is not just my business. You should also take part in it and make money together. Don't think of slipping away..."
Of course, leisure time is short-lived and speculation is only a temporary impulse. Dai Jiliang's main energy is still focused on the task of training the Third Battalion of the Guard Army. The teaching team, which had been training for a month and a half, has been disbanded, and the team members have returned to their respective units. A large-scale training involving the entire battalion was then launched.
"Chew!"
The sharp whistle sounded in the sky above the barracks of the Third Battalion in the night, and then the former teaching team members, who were half asleep and half awake, issued a call of "Emergency assembly, hurry up, in less than three minutes, the whole class will be beaten with military sticks."
Then the sound of hurried footsteps was heard. The guards who were soundly sleeping got up in confusion, followed the crowd out of the barracks, and ran towards the playground with one foot high and one foot low.
"time up!"
Dai Jiliang looked at the stopwatch and three minutes passed in a flash.
"Those who haven't arrived yet, run around the playground twenty times later."
He gave orders to the officer on duty.
"Each company shall report the number of people present and the commander of each company shall check the equipment of other companies in turn. Anyone who is not fully armed or dressed properly shall be removed from the line."
Soon, there were only a few people left in the queue, most of whom were members of the original teaching team.
"Sima arranged for the brothers in the team to have a midnight snack."
Dai Jiliang gave instructions to the new battalion quartermaster whom he had selected.
"The rest, led by this battalion commander, will do fifty push-ups."
Most people are not worried about scarcity but inequality. Seeing others slurping up noodles with soybean paste while they can only do physical exercise honestly, their mentality suddenly changes.
"Why are you not convinced?"
Dai Jiliang was the first to finish the required number of tasks. He stood up, dusted off the dust, and asked with gritted teeth.
"You still have the nerve to be unconvinced?"
Suddenly Dai Jiliang exploded.
"Don't gossip. From now on, as long as you do what this battalion commander requires, you will have the opportunity to eat delicious food and drink spicy drinks. If you don't do it ...
Dai Jiliang pointed at the few people who were still circling weakly.
"See? Just like them. Do you understand?"
"yes!"
Once there is a comparison, people will naturally have ideas, and those who were originally cursing suddenly became energetic.
"If you listen to your superiors, you will have good food and good drinks. If you don't listen to your superiors, you will go around in circles."
"very good!"
Dai Jiliang waved his hand, and several people who had eaten their fill returned to the queue one after another.
"Now, go back, put on your clothes, put your guns back, and return to the playground within ten minutes. Dismissed!"
Seeing the team dispersed all of a sudden, Dai Jiliang waved his hand and three company commanders and deputy company commanders ran up to him.
"This is the result of the statistics from the duty officer just now."
Dai Jiliang raised a board. This was part of the battalion's daily briefing. The company also had it, so the three troop commanders were naturally familiar with it.
"As a result, I won't report it. It doesn't matter which company is first and which is last, but."
Dai Jiliang raised his eyebrows.
"I want to tell you something. Your promotion depends on how well you lead your troops. If you can't get the rank you deserve, or take off the hat you deserve, don't blame me for not saying hello to you today."
Looking at the serious expressions on the faces of several troop commanders, Dai Jiliang smiled with satisfaction.
"I don't care about anything else but the results. Okay, the competition between you has begun. Whoever has the best company will get the first chance. Now return to the team!"
The pressure has been reduced, but Dai Jiliang is looking forward to what the final result will be.
"To train soldiers, one must first train their courage."
Ten minutes passed, and looking at the neatly-lined team, Dai Jiliang nodded.
"Here are the maps and missions. I will give them to your respective company commanders."
Dai Jiliang handed the tasks to the company commanders in turn.
"Let's go now, our destination is the mass graves west of the city."
Suddenly everyone's face turned pale.
"What? You want to disobey my orders? Listen to my command and march!"
The team started moving under the drive of Dai Jiliang.
"Old Li, what mission did Dai give us this time?"
Although Second Company Deputy Sheng Baoting had some complaints about Li Guo, who was acting as Ding Baonian's replacement, they were acquaintances after all, and he was quite polite to him in person.
"Let me open it and take a look."
Li Debiao looked up at the dark sky, struck a match with a crackling sound, and opened his command with the help of the starlight.
"Spread out in squads, keep in touch, launch surprise attacks on other companies, and prevent being ambushed by other companies. The company that suffers the least losses and achieves the greatest results within two hours wins."
"What kind of mission is this? Playing hide-and-seek in a cemetery, this is going to scare people to death."
Sheng Baoting slapped his thigh and said, "Asshole, how about we quit and let Dai do the work instead?"
"Lao Sheng, I know you have a conflict with the battalion commander, but this is a military order after all."
Li Guo sighed.
"I've heard of this when I was in Japan. It's just to train our courage. We have to go to the battlefield eventually. It's better to let the brothers grow some courage now than to risk their lives later."
"I finally understand. You and Dai both came back from Japan. You are like-minded. Otherwise, why would you be appointed as the acting commander of the Second Company?"
Sheng Baoting's face drooped and he spoke angrily.
"You want to follow Dai all the way to the end, I won't stop you. So, I'm leaving. If you can't stay here, there will be other places for you."
"Lao Sheng, don't be like this. We are already miserable enough being trapped by the Guards. If we go out, where can we go?"
Li Guo persuaded.
"Captain Dai is not a bad man. There are not many leaders who can share the joys and sorrows with their subordinates. He is not targeting you alone. Why bother?"
Li Guo pointed to the location of the camp.
"Deputy Battalion Commander E and Ma Kang also know that the battalion commander really wants to train the soldiers. Look, they are all happy to obey orders. But you alone..."
"Dai did this just for his own sake."
Sheng Baoting couldn't listen, "People with different ideals cannot work together."
He said the words he heard from the opera, and bowed, "Brother, I am leaving. Say hello to Mr. Lu. We will meet again one day in the future."
"Lao Sheng, hey!"
Looking at Sheng Baoting's resolute back, Li Guo sighed slightly. This long night has just begun. Two people have already fallen behind. Can he hold on to the end? He was in a trance!
