NFBE Chapter 138 Receiving the New Army
Chapter 138 Receiving the New Army
The officials dared not meet Shen Lian's gaze and all lowered their heads. This was a warlord who had killed countless people in the capital; which official dared to provoke him?
"Shandong is going to develop rapidly in the future, and everyone has to contribute. Your carefree days are over, and you no longer have the opportunity to exploit the people."
"But as long as you listen to me and do as I say, I guarantee you can still make a fortune. Anyone who doesn't want to work and can't stop should submit their resignation and leave their position as soon as possible."
"I don't have that much time to play by those old rules with you. All those bureaucratic regulations don't apply to me. If I find anyone still defying the law, I'll kill them!"
"I have marked out the land and mines in each prefecture and county that will be requisitioned next. All of them must be requisitioned by the end of the year."
"I'll pretend I didn't know about those illegal logging operations and tell them to get lost. But my new army will deal with any disobedient ones!"
Shen Lian knew that illegal mining was rampant in various regions, and these were all controlled by influential figures. But could even the most powerful figures outdo him?
These small mines not only damage the environment, but are also mines of blood and tears. They must be severely cracked down on and left to those who are truly capable.
Shandong has very rich mineral resources, more than enough to meet Shen Lian's current needs. He had already gone back and obtained a map of the mineral resource distribution, and after analysis, he drew out the areas that were most needed and suitable for mining.
"You must begin widening the roads between the prefectures and counties immediately after you return. Take advantage of the current off-season for farming, which will make it easier for everyone to gather manpower. The rations and wages that are due must not be withheld. Anyone who incites a popular uprising will not only lose their official position, but also their head."
“Those former labor reformers from Taiwulin Circuit can now be put to use. I will also send new troops to your other prefectures and counties to suppress bandits. The captured bandits will be dealt with accordingly.”
"Alright, everyone disperse! Remember to report anything promptly. I've already contacted the telegraph office. They'll be connecting telegraph lines to every prefecture and county soon."
After finishing his business, Shen Lian dismissed the group of officials. He had too many things to do all day to waste time chatting with them.
"My lord, the Kong family has arrived," Yang Du reported quietly.
"Who? Weren't all the Kong family members dead?" Shen Lian frowned.
"Not a direct descendant of the Kong family, but a collateral descendant!"
"No way!" Shen Lian was about to confiscate the Kong family's land! How could he possibly see these people?
"The Marquis has arrived!" With a loud shout, Shen Lian, dressed in military uniform, walked into the conference room. The officers who had been waiting inside all stood up.
"Greetings, Lord Marquis!" The officers knelt on one knee.
"Get up, all of you! My First Division abolished the kneeling ceremony in the army a long time ago. You don't need to kneel anymore either." Shen Lian waved his hand.
"Thank you, Lord Marquis!"
"Sit down, all of you! I called you here today for only one thing!" Shen Lian said, holding up one finger as he stared at the group.
"Now that Lord Yuan has been impeached and dismissed from his post, the entire Shandong province is under my control. I would like to know your attitude."
"I will not force those who are unwilling to serve me, and I welcome those who are willing to join my new army!"
"I've thought it all through. My army has no military leaders. All officers can be transferred at any time, and I will also send people to reorganize your army. This may harm the interests of some people."
"However! I promise that from now on I will treat you and my officers equally. I will never show favoritism!" Seeing that they remained silent, Shen Lian continued.
He certainly wouldn't let go of these new troops that Yuan Xiangcheng had been training for a long time. This army was different from his own new army in terms of organization and other aspects, and necessary reorganization was also necessary.
Looking at these officers, many of whom would become influential figures in the future, Shen Lian hoped they could stay if possible.
"This humble officer is willing to serve you, sir!" Soon, an officer stepped forward. Then all the officers stepped forward.
Although Lord Yuan has treated them well, he himself is now in dire straits. These men must continue to serve in the army; who in the world could be better than the Marquis's troops?
"Hahaha! Welcome, brothers! Don't worry! You will definitely not regret your choice today!" Shen Lian laughed heartily.
By defeating this new team, our strength has increased even further.
However, there was still much to be done before that. Shen Lian first dispatched capable personnel from the General Staff to begin reorganizing the unit. A large number of political instructors and political commissars were sent down.
Shen Lian gave them the organization of five regiments to reduce the resistance of the officers and soldiers. The regimental commanders were all original officers, and Shen Lian only assigned them staff officers.
This gave him a force of 50,000, which was sufficient for the short term. The original First Division of the New Army was abolished, and the entire force was renamed the New Army. It comprised 27 regiments, and for the time being, no division-level units were established.
Shen Lian felt that his officers were still a bit inexperienced and lacked the ability to independently command tens of thousands of troops.
He has already reached an agreement with Germany on this matter, and the training team they will provide will arrive soon.
Including Mark and his team, as well as instructors recruited from several martial arts academies across the country, Shen Lian plans to establish a military academy, offering training for both mid-level and junior officers simultaneously.
After a year of professional study, it is believed that these individuals will see a significant improvement in their abilities.
Although the German army is not yet the invincible force it was during World War II, its current ideology and military development have surpassed those of most other countries.
With the addition of some data that Shen Lian brought from the modern world, he was quite confident in building an army that would lead the world.
Shen Lian directly named the military academy the "Chinese Army Officer School." Shen Lian himself naturally assumed the position of principal, a position he had long desired.
He also liked the title "Principal!"
"Greetings, Lord Marquis!" Several officials dressed in white naval uniforms looked at Shen Lian with excitement.
"Dingming, everyone! I've kept you waiting!" Shen Lian returned the salute and smiled as he invited them to sit down.
“Lord Marquis is very busy, so it’s only right that we wait a bit. We’ve waited for years, so we’re not in a hurry,” said Sa Zhenbing with a serious expression.
"On behalf of all the officers and soldiers of the navy, I thank you, Lord Marquis, for your care and support." Sa Zhenbing's eyes reddened as he spoke, as did the other officers.
Heaven has mercy! In the First Sino-Japanese War, the Beiyang Fleet was almost completely annihilated. Most of its main warships were sunk by the Japanese, and its naval commanders were also almost entirely wiped out.
After the war, the imperial court severely punished the navy, even dismissing and investigating the officer in charge of guarding the fort, Sazhenbing. It wasn't until two years later, when the navy was truly out of talent, that he was reinstated.
He is currently the Admiral of the Navy and has just been appointed Minister in charge of the Navy's preparations.