Chapter 8: Camp Construction

In my many years of service, I have trained thousands of recruits. Just give me three months, and I guarantee that I can transform your soldiers from farmers into true soldiers, General!" Hant continued speaking

After that, he wandered through various ports in the Far East, trying to find opportunities to get rich. However, as a retired officer who knew nothing but fighting, there were not many chances for him to make a fortune. After spending nearly all the remaining pounds he had in Shanghai, he heard that someone was offering a high salary to hire a military instructor, and without thinking too much, he directly ran to Yuyao.

The battalion includes a supervision training office, a battalion affairs office, a grain and provisions bureau, an ordnance bureau, a medical bureau, and one military school.

However, the servants beside them all displayed expressions of admiration, and even Madam Lin, who was nearby, showed a pleased expression and said: "My son looks handsome in official robes!"

He officially hired him as his personal military advisor, and as for the monthly salary, Lin Zhe generously offered a remuneration of one hundred taels per month

Students of the training camp were compelled to recruit individuals with a solid educational background from the entire Yuyao County, offering a substantial salary. Initially, a monthly salary of sixteen taels of silver was provided based on the standard for a platoon leader. After undergoing preliminary military skills training, selected individuals would be appointed as company commanders or deputy company commanders, with salaries increasing to over twenty taels of silver per month. Initially, a monthly salary of sixteen taels of silver was provided based on the standard for a platoon leader. After undergoing preliminary military skills training, selected individuals would be appointed as company commanders or deputy company commanders, with salaries increasing to over twenty taels of silver per month

At the same time, Lin Zhe made another promise to Hunter William, stating that as long as he trained his troops to his satisfaction and achieved victories, Lin Zhe would provide him with a substantial additional cash reward, specifying that this reward would be at least five hundred taels or more

To be honest, this salary level is quite high for this era; even the steward An, who manages most of the business of the Lin family trading company, earns only about 100 taels per month.

With the official document approved by the higher authorities, the "Yongying of Yuyao County" was formally established, with its headquarters located in the schoolyard in the eastern part of the county seat. This schoolyard had been abandoned for a long time, and half a month ago, Huang Peizhi designated this place as the base for the county's Yongying for stationing and training.

Although Lin Zhe is not a military professional, the insights of later generations are evident, and ordinary people truly cannot deceive him. The two ordinary French soldiers in front did not manage to get past him undetected

Upon hearing the high price quoted by Lin Zhe, Hante's heart began to surge. Although the salary level was within Hante William's expectations, the additional rewards mentioned by Lin Zhe made him swallow hard. Starting at 500 taels, if a great victory were achieved, the reward could exceed 1,000 taels. How much would that be in silver dollars? How much would it be in pounds? Starting at 500 taels, if a great victory were achieved, the reward could exceed 1,000 taels. How much would that be in silver dollars? How much would it be in pounds?

However, how one perceives the level of salary is crucial. Compared to the salaries of domestic military personnel, it is naturally higher. However, when compared to the salaries of foreign officers in the Six-Party Army of the 1960s, which was part of the Ever-Victorious Army, the figures are quite similar. The monthly salary for an ordinary Chinese soldier in the Ever-Victorious Army was 9 silver dollars, while a captain among the foreign officers earned around 200 silver dollars per month, which, when converted to taels of silver, is approximately 150 taels.

It is noteworthy that this appointment document was not a decree personally issued by the court under Xianfeng, but rather one directly issued by the Governor of Zhejiang, making it an internal appointment within Zhejiang Province. It cannot be compared at all to the formal appointments of regional military officials like Zeng Guofan made by the court.

Although Lin Zhe maintained a rather calm expression, the bearded Hante William sensed Lin Zhe's attention from the frequent questions he posed to him

Stabbed by the glistening silver, Hante William took office the next day, embarking on his mercenary career

With the full authorization of Lin Zhe, the Lin family steward made a one-time purchase of as many as 600 Mini rifles, intended to equip this county's brave battalion and for subsequent replenishment of battle losses

Another guard unit is established, consisting of one captain and twenty cavalrymen

The infantry section of the Yuyao County Volunteer Organization that Lin Zhe ultimately reported is a very typical British small infantry regiment structure, and it also bears a strong resemblance to the structure of the Xiang Army. The difference is that in the formal structure of the Xiang Army in later generations, one battalion oversees four posts, each post comprising eight squads, with each squad consisting of ten men. Compared to Lin Zhe's imitation of the British small regiment structure, it is short by two companies (posts)

When Lin Zhe put on the official robe signifying his status as a fourth-rank official and looked in the mirror, he felt just like one of those hopping zombies from Hong Kong movies

Such a salary is already considered quite decent for this era, yet the number of applicants is not substantial. This is because applying for this position implies joining the military and engaging in warfare. In this age, there is still a preference for civil over military pursuits. Many scholars would rather endure a diet of coarse grain and water to continue their studies in hopes of passing the imperial examination than abandon their pens to take up arms

Certainly, Lin Zhe's county infantry battalion has significant differences compared to other pure infantry regiments and the Xiang Army battalions. One notable distinction is that this battalion directly oversees cavalry and artillery. Although the artillery currently consists of only three old small cannons, they are still cannons. The cavalry, while primarily used as a guard unit, can nonetheless be employed for charging into battle.

As a result, only about seventy to eighty individuals applied, among whom some were either too old or did not meet the physical requirements, ultimately leading to the selection of around ten individuals.

After a brief conversation, he discovered that this Scotsman was indeed a former officer, capable of discussing some detailed contemporary infantry tactics.

However, the current Hant William has undoubtedly succeeded in capturing his attention

Two days later, Lin Zhe submitted the 'Regulations for the Establishment of the Yongying in Yuyao County' to the Governor of Zhejiang, providing a detailed explanation of the organizational structure of the camp

The total number of the entire camp is five hundred and eighty-three people

Huang Peizhi, as a responsible and conscientious corrupt official, fully exemplified the principle of using funds obtained through illicit means to conduct business. After spending more than half a month with the hard-earned fee of over one thousand taels of silver given by Lin Zhe, he finally succeeded in securing Lin Zhe's official position.

Moreover, it was stated that this is only the salary for the probation period. After three months, if Hante William demonstrates his value, Lin Zhe promises to provide a monthly salary of up to 150 taels.

However, two years ago, while serving in India, I had a conflict with a lieutenant colonel. This conflict was quite clichéd, stemming from a woman, who was a prostitute. After a night of heavy drinking, Hunter William and that lieutenant colonel got into a fierce fight over this prostitute. It was irrelevant who ultimately won the fight; the key point was that he had severely offended senior officers, and the very next day, he was expelled from the barracks

Accompanying the documents sent by the authorities was an appointment letter issued by the Governor of Zhejiang regarding the supervision of the affairs of the Yongying in Yuyao County. At the same time, Huang Peizhi also received an appointment letter for the co-management of the Yongying affairs in Yuyao County

This detailed charter can be said to provide a complete explanation of the organization of the Yuyao Township Brave Camp

Although these ten or so individuals come from different family backgrounds, they share a common characteristic: none of them have achieved any academic distinction. All are scholars who have toiled for many years without even passing the examination for the title of "xiucai" (a degree in the traditional Chinese education system). Their ages generally range from twenty to thirty.

The sixth company consists of a company commander and a deputy company commander, with eight squads under each company. Each squad is led by a squad leader and comprises nine regular soldiers. In total, the battalion includes one supervising officer, one administrative officer, three committee members, six company commanders, six deputy company commanders, forty squad leaders, and four hundred thirty-two regular soldiers

These more than ten individuals became the earliest students of this mobile military academy. Lin Zhe held considerable expectations for them, planning to have them study military technology while also gaining practical experience. The future company commander would need to be selected from among these individuals

Hanter William has experienced some misfortune in recent years. Born in a poor area of Wales, England, he enlisted in the military as a teenager and, following the British Army's global campaigns, has traveled to Africa, the Middle East, India, and the Americas, gradually rising from a private to the rank of lieutenant.

When Lin Zhe was training soldiers and establishing a camp school, he was engaged in the preliminary preparations for the Yongying of Yuyao County

Eight days after the establishment of the Yongying in Yuyao County, the steward of the Lin family and Anders returned to Yuyao, bringing back a large quantity of Mini rifles

Hante William, however, earned a full one hundred taels of silver during the probation period, not to mention that after the probation period, his salary reached as high as one hundred fifty taels

Moreover, I have just discovered that you, General, are severely lacking in qualified officers. From a professional perspective, all of your officers are unqualified. Personally, I can impart all the skills and honor required to be an officer to them

In this day and age, the low literacy rate made it impossible for Lin Zhe to select a few individuals from the military to serve as clerks. Reluctantly, he had no choice but to continue undermining his own family's business, directly reallocating a few managers from several trading firms and warehouses in Yuyao and Ningbo to assist with the administrative tasks within the camp

In addition, the aforementioned refers to the combat troops and battalion personnel. During wartime, like armies in other eras, it is necessary to hire porters or have specialized logistics units provide logistical support. Such a battalion would require at least two hundred porters to undertake logistical transportation tasks during wartime.

Upon hearing Hunter William so earnestly recommend himself, Lin Zhe had no intention of continuing idle chatter with him. It was already quite difficult to find a qualified foreign officer, and Lin Zhe certainly would not let him go easily. He made a decisive decision on the spot.

Compared to other officers and soldiers in the army, the salary is also quite high. In the salary regulations of the Yongying in Yuyao County, the monthly salary for a company commander is 30 taels of silver, for a deputy company commander it is 25 taels of silver, for a platoon leader it is 16 taels of silver, and for a soldier it is 4 taels of silver, which is generally comparable to the salaries of the Xiang Army

Seeing the frequent inquiries from the young man before him, Hant Wei and Tu Shulian realized that their opportunity had finally arrived, and securing a job should not be a problem. What Hant was now considering was how to persuade the young man in front of him to offer a higher salary.

When he presents his salary requirements, he must also demonstrate his value to Lin Zhe

He knew that this time coming to Yuyao was the right decision. If he could secure the employment of this young man, who was said to possess a fortune of several million pounds, he could finally put an end to his more than a year of wandering and perhaps even make a considerable profit.

Accompanying them back was another foreigner, an Englishman named Hunt William, approximately thirty-five years old, who was very tall and dressed in a worn military uniform. According to his own account, he was once a distinguished lieutenant in the British Army, but he resigned after a conflict with his superior. While in Shanghai, he heard that the Lin family in Yuyao was planning to establish a purely Western-style army and was actively recruiting Western officers, so he came over to seek a position.

In the artillery battalion, establish one platoon, appoint one platoon leader, and include thirty artillerymen

Adopting the British Army's organization and weaponry, if one does not learn from the British Army and merely engages in a line-up for execution, would that not be a waste

With the formal official title established, Lin Zhexun swiftly organized a series of institutions. After all, although the county militia is small in number, as an independent army, it must ensure that even a small sparrow is well-equipped in all aspects.

This organization, combined with the mini rifles that Lin Zhe plans to procure, establishes the most fundamental tactical philosophy of this army, which is to execute by firing squad in an orderly manner

In order to cultivate qualified officers on his own, Lin Zhe established a military school. Initially, he intended to select competent soldiers directly from the army to study in this school. However, he greatly overestimated the literacy rate of the time, as out of more than five hundred individuals, he could only find a mere thirteen who could read, and all of them recognized no more than one hundred characters.