Volume 2 King of the Northwest Chapter 58: Army Sergeants, Coal, and Medals
"Marshal, this is my classmate, Yin Tongyu and Yin Baihan, from the 7th Cavalry Division of the Army Corps."
Pei Mo introduced himself to Dai Jiliang.
"He is also a fellow countryman of the Marshal, from Wuxi, Jiangsu, and previously served as a counselor in the Army Department."
A graduate of the Army Academy, he couldn't make a name for himself anywhere and ended up being a small counselor in the ministry. It was obvious that Yin Tongyu was not doing very well. However, this was also the reason why he defected to Dai Jiliang. Otherwise, the strength of the Shaanxi Army would not be attractive enough for graduates of the Army Academy, even if they were students from Baoding.
"Welcome!"
Dai Jiliang held Yin Tongyu's hand tightly.
The invitation letter written by E Tao has fallen into oblivion so far, so Dai Jiliang will not let go if he can catch hold of Lu Shisheng.
"Welcome Bai Han to serve in Shaanxi. Shaanxi needs people like you right now.
So, how about being promoted to major for one year and then being a cavalry instructor at the Shaanxi Army Speedy Training School for two years? The system of the Shaanxi Army is different from that of other places. All officers who want to be promoted to colonel must first be teachers at the Speedy Training School for two years.
Bai Han has passed this test first, and promotion in the future is just around the corner."
"Bai Han knows."
Apparently Pei Mo had discussed this issue with him in previous correspondence, so Yin Tongyu was mentally prepared.
"Please rest assured, since we are in Shaanxi, Bai Han is willing to stand together with the Shaanxi Army."
"very good!"
Dai Jiliang looked very happy.
The first phase of military training at the Crash Course School was about to end, and Dai Jiliang was worried about the insufficient number of teachers. Naturally, Yin Tongyu's arrival made him overjoyed.
"Wait a minute and have dinner with me. Zhang Xuelian, go call Zhang Xiasheng over as well. They are both classmates of Lu Shi. Let's have a good chat."
"General, what are you talking about?"
As he was speaking, E Tao knocked on the office door and walked in.
"Pei Ziqing, this guy must be a top student in Lu Shi. I was wondering why there were so many magpies chirping outside the window today. This is good news coming one after another."
Having said that, E Tao handed the telegram in his hand to Dai Jiliang.
"Marshal, I have finally fulfilled my mission. Shou Ming will arrive in Xi'an at the end of this month. I have also brought Jiang Huang from the engineering department here. Now we have a class of the seventh term of the Shaanxi Army."
"Very good!"
Dai Jiliang laughed out loud. Now he had instructors for the Cavalry and Engineering Departments. Moreover, the more people there were in the Army Department, the stronger the ability to balance the Baoding Department would be. How could Dai Jiliang not be happy about this?
But he suddenly thought of something and his smile faded.
"Bai Han, what happened in Beijing? Deputy Director Xu has already organized three mixed brigades of participating troops in Xiaozhan. Why are you all running to Shaanxi when we need talents so badly?"
"See you, Marshal!"
Yin Tongyu smiled awkwardly, "Although we and Deputy Director Xu all graduated from the Army Academy, Deputy Director Xu seems to prefer graduates from Baoding, and we, the juniors, seem to be somewhat unimpressed."
After Yin Tongyu said this, Dai Jiliang understood. No wonder there were almost no students from Baoding coming to Shaanxi recently. So that's why.
Come to think of it, Baodingsheng's vision is not as broad as Lu Shisheng's, so it is naturally easier for Xiao Xu to grasp it. Thinking of this, Dai Jiliang couldn't help but sneer.
"Okay, Deputy Commander Xu, you don't need me to hire you. Our Shaanxi Army is eager to recruit talented people. As long as you make contributions to this group, I guarantee that you will be more successful than the participating troops in the future!"
"Marshal, the Tianjin Military Command called. The soldiers in northern Yunnan elected Ju Renlao as the president and passed a motion to continue military operations in the south. They also asked for our opinions on this."
When Shen Qianxuan pushed the door open, Dai Jiliang was dozing with his eyes closed.
Since the Shaanxi Army was in a cold war with the Beijing government, Dai Jiliang did not send anyone to attend the Tianjin meeting. Of course, the other party's telegram was not really for consultation, but was just a pretext to force Shaanxi to express its position.
"Reply! Mr. Juren is a senior Beiyang official, highly respected and will definitely be able to reconcile the interests of all factions. I have no objection. Our Shaanxi Army is willing to obey the orders of the Presidential Palace."
Having said that, Dai Jiliang was still furious. A few days ago, Beijing promoted Zhang Zili and He Oucai to major generals without his knowledge, and directly appointed three brigade commanders including Zhang Binnan as garrison commanders. It was obvious that Xiao Xu was acting recklessly behind Lao Duan's back.
Xu Shuzheng said on the surface that he would come to Shaanxi to explain, but he was secretly trying to split the Shaanxi Army. Fortunately, Dai Jiliang managed the Shaanxi Army like an iron barrel, and several brigade commanders came to explain to him in person after receiving the telegram from the Central Committee, otherwise Xu Shuzheng might have succeeded.
"Telegram Brigade Commander He again and tell him not to leave Wuchang Nanbu without my order. And let Director Chu talk to the Hubei Army. They are the boss, so we need to communicate well."
"Marshal."
Dai Jiliang didn't know how long he slept before he was woken up by the afternoon heat wave.
As soon as he woke up, his adjutant Zhang Xuelian came in with a towel and some cold tea.
"Marshal, Director Sima came just now, and left when he saw that you were not awake. Do you think we should notify him to come over now?"
"Xue Lian, remember this from now on. Don't worry about what I'm doing. If you have any problems, just knock on the door."
Dai Jiliang wiped his face, raised his head with the water dripping from his head, and spoke kindly to Zhang Xuelian, who was blushing because of his words.
"This won't happen again. Let's forget about it this time. Go and call Sima over."
Soon, Sima appeared in front of Dai Jiliang.
"You know my habits. You should teach the newcomers more. I'm not that spoiled."
Dai Jiliang took a sip of herbal tea, refreshed himself, and then asked.
"What's up?"
“Two things.
First, Qi Hua just sent a telegram saying that he has reached an agreement with several former Qing beiles, and a sum of about 2 million will be remitted through the Bank of Communications in a few days. However, this sum of money is specifically used to open a coal mine in Yaozhou, what do you think? "
Sima smiled. If it was an emergency, he would do it regardless of the consequences. But since it was urgent or not, he would not disturb Dai Jiliang's sweet dream easily.
“Second, it’s also related to the previous incident.
The reserve report of Yaozhou Coal Mine came out. Mr. Wang Zuochen spent two months to conduct a rough survey and concluded that the area of Yaozhou, Yijun, Xunyi, Zhongbu, Pucheng and Baishui is a large coal mining group. The conservative estimate of the mining volume can reach at least 200 million metric tons.
Once the mine is opened, it will take less than two or three years for the annual output to reach more than 800,000 metric tons.”
"200,000 metric tons mined, 800,000 metric tons produced annually."
Dai Jiliang slapped his forehead. He only knew that the Shenfu Coal Mine in the north was one of the largest coal mines in China, but he didn't expect that there was a golden baby in front of him.
"Isn't that higher than Hanyeping's output?"
"That's true, but the coal mines in Shaanxi are too widely distributed, not as concentrated and easy to mine as in Hanyeping."
Sima apparently also discussed this issue with Wang Chongyou.
But no matter what, once it is mined, Shaanxi will inevitably have a huge source of wealth.
"In addition, limestone for making alkali has been discovered in Jiangjun Mountain in Yaozhou. The quality is extremely good. We in Shaanxi can establish our own alkali industry company."
Although the good news that came one after another had made Dai Jiliang dizzy with joy, Sima had not finished speaking.
"Mr. Zuo Chen said that he would go to Tongzhou. He believed that there was a large coal seam belt in the north of Wei. The coal reserves in this area were far more than what he had discovered now."
"Very good!"
Dai Jiliang stood up.
"Let the provincial government give Mr. Zuochen an award. I think the award should be 10,000 yuan."
Having said this, Dai Jiliang stopped and seemed to be thinking about something.
"Sima, let Shanfu Company handle this matter. Wait a moment."
Dai Jiliang opened the door.
"Xue Lian, call Secretary Wang and Director Wang to come over."
Then Dai Jiliang looked at Sima.
"This pie is too big. I'm afraid that Shanfu will choke if it eats it alone. You should talk to Secretary-General Wang and others later. The focus of the second half of this year is how to develop Yaozhou coal."
Of course, it would be better for this matter to be coordinated and handled by professionals. Dai Jiliang gave up his office and let the three equally excited people plan carefully, and then he paced to E Tao's office.
"Brother Zhi, call Brother Park Chu. I have something to discuss with you."
Almost an hour later, Zhang Zilii, who had hurried over from the 28th Brigade Headquarters, finally arrived.
Before he could sit down properly, Dai Jiliang immediately said something that shocked him and E Tao alike.
"You all know that the Central Committee awarded me the second-class Dabaoguang Jiahe Medal not long ago. I think the medal and honor system should also be implemented in our Shaanxi Army. What do you think?"
"Medals and honors? Marshal, are you confused? If this gets out, what will the central government think? "
Of course E Tao objected.
You must know that from the Qing Dynasty to the present, only the central government can grant these two types of rewards. If Shaanxi does the same, it would be a blatant peeping at the artifact, and the central government might respond immediately.
"I think there is nothing wrong with the Marshal's idea. Germany has the first and second class Iron Cross, and the United States also has the Medal of Honor. In order to boost the morale of the soldiers, why can't the Shaanxi Army have its own honor system?"
Zhang Zilii appreciated this very much.
You must know that the rewards for middle and lower-level officers in the country were too simple and only focused on giving money. This was not conducive to cultivating the martial spirit in the troops and was also too costly.
As Zhang Zilii , he had long wanted to tell Dai Jiliang about this matter, but unfortunately he was delayed due to busy work. Now that Dai Jiliang brought it up himself, he naturally agreed with both hands.
"As long as we add the word Shaanxi to the medals and awards, there shouldn't be any problem."
"I want to go one step further."
Dai Jiliang waved his hand and said, "I will not use any of the titles of the country's medals and awards now, and I will not call it a medal, I will just call it a medal.
What about medals of bravery, arms combat medals and battle medals.
Of course, what Brother Park Chu said is not wrong. Now we should just add the word Shaanxi. In addition, the medals should be awarded in grades.
List the grades A, B, C, and D. Later, the eldest brother will take the lead in making it clear what level of medals can be awarded for each step. Since it is to inspire people's morale, we would rather have nothing than something mediocre. "
"Well, you all are breathing out of the same nostril, what else can I say?"
E Tao shook his head.
"Since we are going to do it, I think we can print a batch of commemorative medals first. Some commemorative medals for suppressing the (Bai Lang) bandits, some commemorative medals for suppressing the (Chen Shufan) rebellion, and some commemorative medals for the Northern Shaanxi (War). Anyway, as long as everyone who participates has one, it will be better to distribute it earlier and hang it on the chest to satisfy our Marshal's craving."
"Brother Zhi is still reasonable."
Dai Jiliang smiled.
"Okay, it's getting late, Park Chu, don't rush back. Let's have a quick meal together and discuss the next steps for the Shaanxi Army."
