Chapter Seven, Yuan Shikai

Old Yuan did not agree directly, but kept muttering repeatedly.

Duan Qirui rarely showed a hint of a smile

Zhi Quan, your thoughts are quite profound for a junior!

Old Yuan also employed the strategies of imperial rulers, maintaining balance and throwing out bones, a conventional approach that has been passed down from the previous Qing dynasty

Old Yuan pondered for a moment and then gave his instructions

I ask you, do you know about the figure of Dai Jiliang

Mr. President, the Ministry of the Army has many tasks to undertake at present. In addition to the planned renaming of the various units from Town - Coordination - Standard - Battalion - Team - Squad - Shed to Division - Brigade - Regiment - Battalion - Company - Squad - Class, in order to unify the national numbering system, we also need to address the replenishment of personnel and equipment for our Beiyang troops, the reorganization of the First Town, the Twentieth Town, and the Twenty-Third Town, as well as the elevation of the Northeast Patrol Camp to form the Twenty-Seventh and Twenty-Eighth Divisions, all of which will require a significant amount of funds. Aside from the military forces of the Democratic Party, which we neither manage nor concern ourselves with, every aspect here demands financial resources, and the Ministry of Finance has been lamenting incessantly.

Old Yuan and Old Duan are both individuals who operate at a pace of several million per minute, so many matters require swift resolution

Lao Yuan was quite surprised. Although Wang Pingqing had already faded from the core of the Beiyang Army, and both Feng Guozhang and Duan Qirui had their own groups of disciples, it was rare for Duan Qirui to seriously recommend someone privately. This made him feel invigorated.

Napoleon, Washington

According to the customs of the Beiyang government, Duan Qirui also began by lamenting before addressing the main issue. Old Yuan listened quietly, wearing a smile on his face, without interjecting, allowing this General Duan to continue speaking.

Duan Qirui nodded slightly, indicating that it was permissible for various parties to suggest a few names. Therefore, it was likely that he would not refuse if he himself proposed a candidate.

Old Yuan believes that power is truth, and his current pretense of cordiality with the legislators is merely due to his insufficient strength. Therefore, the most important task for the Ministry of the Army at present is to adjust the existing structure and train new troops. This is also one of the reasons why Duan Qirui dares to guarantee to Dai Jiliang.

Old Yuan furrowed his brows; people in Beijing often say that Yuan Shikai is the reincarnation of a toad spirit. Sitting in the chair, with a frown, he indeed bears a resemblance to that.

Duan Qirui found it quite appealing, as he had always believed that what was learned from Japan was merely superficial, while true knowledge resided in Germany

Yuan Shikai is predominantly viewed negatively by later generations, primarily due to his suppression of the so-called revolutionary forces associated with Sun Yat-sen, as well as his ultimately insane decision to declare himself emperor.

At the end, Old Yuan finally asked a question that he was most concerned about

Have Langzhai come over

According to the records left by those who returned with Lu Shi, Dai Jiliang is a typical character who is serious in class and wild outside of it, although there have been no reports of any connections with the Kuomintang

Lu Jianzhang rubbed his head, going over it in his mind again and again, and finally managed to recall it.

Recruiting soldiers is simple, but we are short on cadres

That is also acceptable

The claims made by Manchu revisionist scholars regarding the betrayal of the reformists and the assassination of Guangxu during the Wuxu Coup are merely a political self-preservation tactic, later used as a scapegoat by a woman with superior political acumen. The other assertion is also a conjecture made by those with ulterior motives, lacking any substantial evidence.

Xu Shuzheng is the one wielding a white feather fan beside Duan Qirui, and Dai Jiliang naturally takes note of this obstinate and petty individual, thus he responds with caution and prudence

This time I would like to recommend another one

Do not say that you do not have it in your bag

It is rare to find someone like you who is not ostentatious. Rest assured, I will speak on your behalf to the President.

Lu Jianzhang managed the intelligence and security system of Beiyang, dealing with complex affairs; it is already remarkable to have such a name in one's mind.

You, oh you!

You have ambition

The President is correct

In summary, how can one easily judge the President when the opinions of ordinary people are often light and insignificant?

The student of Lu Shi, who was sent by the Jiangsu government, did not return to the country later and went directly to study in Germany. Well, this year he should have returned to the country

As for the money, I will find a way, but the troops must be well trained for me.

Duan Qirui savored these two names and smiled in silence

Yuan Shikai made significant contributions to China's military and industrialization

Mr. Duan recounted in detail the resume of Dai Jiliang, the recommendation from the German military attaché, as well as the content of the discussions and observations from these days, and concluded.

Old Yuan did not examine the document carefully, he smacked his lips and pondered for a moment

The twenty battalion commanders, along with the potential division and brigade commanders that may follow, where will such capable officers come from in the short term

Old Yuan waved his hand casually, indicating that there was still a place for Duan Qirui here, while Lu Langzhai could only stand upright.

Duan Qirui felt gratified that he had not misjudged the person, and thus he once again sought to negotiate with Old Yuan

Too few

Zhiquan, you have arrived just in time. These days, dealing with this president has truly been exhausting!

Without further ado, a division is equipped with fifty-four artillery pieces, a firepower configuration that even the German mechanized divisions of the late 1930s and the American reorganized divisions of the late 1940s could not achieve

Seeing Lao Yuan and Lao Duan in such a stalemate, Lu Jianzhang couldn't help but roll his eyes anxiously. He was also a person of great versatility, naturally knowing how to make choices.

Duan Qirui had just stepped into Yuan Shikai's small office, and this northern core, who was busy to the point of distraction negotiating with southern legislators to transform the provisional presidency into a formal presidency, hurriedly began to complain to this trusted minister.

Available, not necessary to use, unwilling to sit in the department, solely focused on seizing military power

Duan Qirui is waiting here

President Rong Langzhai pondered

Talents are hard to come by, and I kindly request the President to not hesitate in making full use of them

He is truly a flamboyant character. By the way, how is it that I still have an impression after all these years? Not long ago, Jiang Zuobin, the Deputy Minister of the Army of the Nationalist Party, went to Shanghai, reportedly to invite this person to join the Nanjing government, but he was unsuccessful. Later, several factions from the south also sent people to visit him, but he managed to slip away. Unexpectedly, he came to Beijing.

Not only has he returned to his home country, but he has also become an extraordinary figure

I am about to recommend a person

However, in Zhixiang's view, whether it is Washington or Napoleon, both are figures renowned in Western history. As long as China produces one such individual, it will be sufficient for our nation to stand tall among the nations of the world

"Mr. President, Chief of Staff, why don't you consider assigning this person to my guard unit?"

However, to effectively enhance the combat capability of our military, it cannot be resolved merely by sitting in an office; it is essential to start from the grassroots level and work diligently.

It is said that he is a dandy among flowers, skilled at playing cards, frequently visiting taverns and gambling houses in Japan, and has indeed achieved considerable success.

Dai Jiliang hesitantly answered Duan Qirui's questions. In recent days, he had been making progress every few days, and as a result, his relationship with this commander had improved significantly. However, he was still quite far from his own goals. It was evident that as long as Yuan Shikai did not give his approval, he would not be able to enter the core of the Beiyang faction in the near future.

I did not expect Senior Xu to still remember me, this unaccomplished junior.

Dai Jiliang restrained his excited emotions, as he did not wish to leave an unpleasant seed in Duan Qirui's heart

Duan Qirui handed the document to Old Yuan

Thank you for your cultivation, Director. I, Zhixiang, understand your kindness!

Zhiquan still cannot do without Youzheng, this left and right arm

His desire to establish a dictatorship in China is, on one hand, based on his own ambitions, and on the other hand, can be interpreted as a strategy to concentrate the nation's human and material resources, following the path laid out by Yuan. This approach is fundamentally aligned with the fascist doctrines and certain theories of centralization that developed in subsequent years, and it is also a path that many countries in the Third World, including those in Asia, Africa, and Latin America, as well as Germany, Italy, and Russia, chose during the mid-twentieth century

Before long, the commander of the Imperial Guard and the director of the Beijing Military and Political Law Enforcement Office, known as "Lu Tuba" or Lu Jianzhang, hurried over. Upon seeing Duan Qirui present, he first greeted him, and then respectfully saluted Old Yuan with a military salute

Let us discuss how the preparation of our military organization is progressing

However, it is precisely because Lu Shi recognized his own shortcomings that Zhi Xiang traveled all the way to Germany to study the most advanced military technology of today, not out of a deliberate intention to conceal his experiences, but simply because they are not worth mentioning

Is there any connection between this person and the Kuomintang?

This is quite a significant resume, you might forget it too! Alright, wait a moment, I will go to meet the President. I understand your thoughts; you do not wish to be confined in this small temple of the Army Department. Let me speak on your behalf.

Yuan Shikai possessed the talent for governance and military capability, truly being one of the few pragmatic and capable officials in the late Qing Dynasty. From a young age, he trained in military affairs and eventually took command of the Beiyang Army. He also established new schools, advocated for the abolition of the imperial examination system, introduced Western theories, and formed a police force, thereby achieving the separation of military and police functions

Duan Qirui shook his head

The decline of the Beiyang government in its later years can be attributed, in part, to such a lackluster approach, which can be considered one of the reasons.

The total length is also here, Mr. President. Jian Zhang has been ordered to arrive. May I ask what urgent matter the President has summoned his subordinate for?

In the East Asian region, amidst the international power vacuum caused by the outbreak of the European war, facing the immense pressure from Japan as the sole dominant power, Yuan Shikai and the Beiyang government made every possible effort to resist the twenty-one demands imposed by Japan on China. However, a weak nation has no diplomacy; when Japan issued its ultimatum, not a single European or American country came forward to offer support, and even Russia intended to take advantage of the situation. Therefore, it can be said that this is essentially a crime of non-war.

Oh, which one does Zhiquan want to recommend

However, these words can only swirl in Dai Jiliang's mind at this moment; if he were to speak them, what would await him is naturally self-evident

Old Yuan reiterated what Duan Qirui had just said to Lu Jianzhang, and Duan Qirui also helped to fill in several omissions.

Langzhai, do not engage in such empty rhetoric in the future

Mr. President, it seems that this person is usable

Once the memory was unlocked, Lu Jianzhang found the contents of Dai Jiliang's file increasingly clear

The military strength of the Southern Kuomintang has not been completely dismantled, and we do not yet have full confidence, so the supplementary military preparations must at least be maintained at the scale of twenty cavalry regiments

Zhiqian, we do not know the background of this person at all

Old Yuan raised his hand to stop Duan Qirui's remarks

Moreover, we have endured quite a bit for some time now, so it is only right that a few of us be promoted to provide some justification

It seems that I have some impression

It is evident that the requirements for command personnel at all levels will also be equally stringent

Zhixiang, Youzheng has mentioned you to me before. I did not expect that you are also a graduate of Lushi. This is indeed your oversight, not telling me such an important matter.

As for the humiliating and disgraceful Twenty-One Demands, it is essentially a bucket of filth

Isn't that Director Xu from your department?

Lu Jianzhang spoke while revealing a hint of a light smile

I, the guard commander, oversee this vast city of Beijing, yet I do not have even a single decent battalion under my command. At critical moments, I am unable to mobilize any forces, which is truly unacceptable. If not, the Chief of Staff should assign me this person. I cannot temporarily hold the position of a regimental commander, but I would like to first train a battalion. Let me start as a company commander, and if that goes well, then I can be promoted further.

Duan Qirui glanced at Old Yuan, who gave a barely perceptible nod. Only then did he open his mouth to agree, saying, "Forget it, Xiao Dai, I have already done my best. The path ahead is for you to walk on your own."

The organization of the supplementary army has been established, currently consisting of three combined brigades, a total of six infantry regiments, one cavalry regiment, as well as several artillery, engineering, and transport battalions

The divisions and regiments of the Beiyang Army were not the small formations of the later Nationalist government era, where a regiment could be counted as one thousand men and a division as three thousand. These were genuine regular divisions and regiments modeled after those of Germany and Japan.