The content of the notice of Yuanqi's regimental training post election and the corresponding treatment and assessment competition quickly spread in the various barracks of the Huadi battalion, and the ambition and desire of the regimental warriors were immediately aroused. A battalion has four companies, 12 platoons, 36 squads, and more than 100 positions, and 10 battalions are more than 1,000. Six classes! Doesn't this mean that even the following positions will be bravely held by them? There is even a chance to compete for company commander!

The non-commissioned officer corresponding to the squad leader has a monthly salary of three or four oceans, and the platoon commander corresponds to a lieutenant, and the monthly money is five or six oceans, which is higher than the monthly salary of Yuanqi staff, after all, the regimental training is a package of food and clothing, and the food is good and the clothes are good, not to mention the company commander, as long as he can compete for the platoon commander, even if he is the squad leader, it can also give the family a long face!

The group bravers, who were originally indifferent to the job election, immediately became enthusiastic, and the squad leaders and class deputies and the group braves who had a little prestige and ability and a little ambition began to take action one after another.

When the scholars returned to their respective tents, they were still excited and discussed, Lu Canwen lit a few candles on the candlestick, and the tent became bright, and he glanced at everyone, and then he smiled and said: "The situation of the Russian Empire, who knows?" ”

Russia has never had a merchant ship come to Guangzhou, although it borders the Qing Dynasty in the northwest, but a group of people really don't know about the situation in Russia, and after a little muttering, Feng Renxuan said: "You should have heard of the Treaty of Nebuchu, it was signed between Emperor Kangxi and Russia, although we don't know about the situation in Russia, but since the dynasty, the northwest has been restless. Russia has covetousness. Not surprisingly. ”

said. He glanced at Lu Canwen and said: "The current situation of the Eight Banners Green Battalion, everyone is clear, this time to start a war with Yingli, if Yuanqi can stand out from the crowd, can the imperial court not pay attention to it?" It is very likely that the Western-style training will be imitated, and if a big war breaks out again, it will be like Lingyan Pavilion. Scholar Wanhu Hou, it's really not a lie! With that, he got up and said to Lu Canwen, "Come out." ”

The two of them got out of the tent and walked to a secluded place before Feng Renxuan spoke: "Brother Guizhen, don't be the one who is suspicious of the neighbor's axe thief." ”

Suspected of stealing an axe from a neighbor, Lu Canwen couldn't help but be stunned, this allusion says that someone lost an axe, and suspected that the neighbor's child stole it, look at the child's words and deeds, every move. No matter how you look at it, it looks like you stole the axe, and when you find it, the axe is recovered. Look at the kid again, and everything is normal again.

He now suspects that Yuan Qi has bad intentions, and he is suspicious of Yuan Qi's unconventional group practice, and he is suspicious of the words of the big shopkeeper Yi Zhizhi, how similar it is to the person who lost the axe.

Feng Renxuan glanced at him and said: "With the talent of your true brother, sooner or later you will be able to take charge of a battalion of Tuanyong, if you can't let go of the doubts in your heart, it is best to leave Yuanqi Tuan Lian as soon as possible, otherwise, it will be a curse rather than a blessing." ”

"Brother Xie Jirong dialed." Lu Canwen said solemnly, he finally survived, and seeing that he could lead a battalion and a company to practice, where would he be willing to leave at this time.

Seeing that he was reluctant to leave the group practice, Feng Renxuan said slowly: "The big shopkeeper is just a businessman, and he is weak in his age, but he can be appreciated by Deng and Lin successively, what is the reason?" Just because he has learned both China and the West, is familiar with the West, has a broad vision, and has a long-term vision, has Brother Guizhen thought about it, if we can all advance to the official career, soar and soar, what will the big shopkeeper be?

Let's talk about Yuanqi, although Yuanqi is big, but there are many shareholders, all shareholders, either gentry or Jia, the big shopkeeper but if there is a trace of clarity, there will be no misdeeds, otherwise Yuanqi will collapse in an instant. ”

"What Brother Ji Rong said is reasonable." Lu Canwen said with a smile: "The recruit training is coming to an end, which means that we are about to add Yuan Qi, and it is also out of caution, that's it." ”

"That's very good." Feng Renxuan said with a smile, pointing to a brightly lit tent, and said with a smile: "I don't know how many people can't sleep tonight." ”

Lu Canwen smiled and said, "Two months later, we will have to compete with the big camp on Henan Island, I don't know where they are." ”

Different from the Huadi battalion, the Henan battalion is peaceful, the reason is very simple, the platoon and the positions above the platoon have no part of the regimental bravery, all of them are held by a group of veterans of the merchant group, and the regimental brave can only serve as the squad leader and squad deputy, and after a month of recruit training, the squad leader and squad deputy of each squad have already been decided, and the group of regimental warriors have no hope, and they are naturally as calm as water.

The regimental warriors were calm, but the squad and platoon company commanders were faintly excited, mixed with a hint of urgency and pressure, because the assessment competition in the next few months will determine whether they are promoted or demoted?

Yi Zhishu didn't care about the first election of the Huadi camp, it was not the time to care, for the group training, although he was attentive, but it was not easy to be excessive, otherwise a group of adults in Guangzhou should be suspicious again, and after explaining some precautions, he returned to Xiguan.

Two days later, in the morning, Yi Zhizu still went to Rongyuan on time, and just after listening to Kong Jian'an's daily report, the little servant Li Wang walked in quickly and said, "Guanjunmen is here." ”

Coming so early? Yi Zhixiang was a little surprised, and hurriedly got up to greet him, Guan Tianpei strode in in civilian clothes, and said loudly as soon as he met: "Contentment can make the old man miserable." ”

Yi Zhishu stepped forward with a smile on his face, and arched his hand: "Where did you start with this sentence of the military gate?" ”

"The salary of Yuanqi's group training is higher than that of the green camp, and the old man's ears have not been clean in the past two days." Guan Tianpei waved his hand as he spoke, and said, "Go in and say." ”

The two entered the room and sat down, and Yi Zhizhi said with a smile: "This is not necessarily true of the military gate, where is the salary of the regimental training worthy of the green camp." ”

"The military attache can't catch up, but the soldiers are generally high." Guan Tianpei said: "On the second and third of January, there is also food and clothing, and the weapons are also equipped with Yuanqi, and the sailors and soldiers are all red-eyed. ”

"It's not comparable." Yi Zhisan said with a smile: "Yuanqi's group training is temporary, and it has to be disbanded when the war is over, just like a short-term job, this salary is naturally higher, otherwise who wants to be a group warrior?" After a pause, he smiled and said: "The military gate is not here today to complain about grievances, Yuan Qi is now in internal and external difficulties, but he really can't help." ”

"Be content and rest assured." Guan Tianpei hurriedly expressed his position first, and then said with concern: "Domestic and external difficulties? What's going on? ”

Hearing that he didn't come to ask for silver, Yi Zhi's heart was relieved. said with a smile: "A group training costs a lot. Secondly. The war is gradually approaching, the gentry and merchants and the common people withdraw a large amount of cash, and the business is much colder, and there is no income, but they have to support so many people, this is not a domestic and external dilemma? ”

Guan Tianpei nodded and said, "Once the war breaks out." I'm afraid that the days will be more difficult, will they get through the past? ”

"Rest assured." Yi Zhizhi said with a smile: "It's a little tighter, but it's not so bad that it can't get through, Yuanqi has been deployed since last year and won't go out of business." As he spoke, he turned his head and said, "How is the training of those Western warships?" ”

Guan Tianpei has been busy training the batch of Western warships converted from Citi merchant ships in the past few months, and when he mentioned this, he immediately smiled and said: "There is nothing surprising about Western sailing ships, but there are more sails." The sailors recruited by the sailors are all living on the water since childhood, and they are very quick to get started. Now that he can barely maneuver, in two or three months, he can play at all. As he spoke, he said disdainfully: "A few warships in England dared to blockade Haikou and let them be arrogant for another two months." ”

Yi Zhishu reminded: "Since sail handling is not a problem, gunner training." As he spoke, he smiled and said, "The military gate came today to urge gunpowder and shells?" ”

"To talk to contentment is to be relieved." Guan Tianpei smiled: "Is there a problem? ”

"No problem." Yi Zhixin said without thinking: "Tomorrow, we will continue to provide gunpowder and all kinds of artillery shells to the sailors, and the military will only be able to focus on live-fire training, don't worry about the supply of gunpowder and shells." ”

"Happy!" Guan Tianpei said happily: "Contentment is really different. After a pause, he continued: "Yuan Qi is not rich now, the sailor has the cost of buying ammunition, and the old man will transfer it tomorrow, the amount is not large, and it can be regarded as a slight expression." ”

"Then I'll thank the military gate first." Yi Zhizhi said with a smile: "Solid bullets, the ammunition bureau is generous and open in supply, flowering bullets, the military door can save some, the process of flowering bullets is more complicated, and the production volume is not large." ”

Flowering shells, when purchasing artillery, a batch of purchases were purchased, Guan Tianpei has always been like a baby, refusing to take out live-ammunition training, listening to the ammunition bureau has been able to produce flowering shells, he was very happy, and said with a smile: "Since it can be produced, the old man can rest assured that they will be trained with live ammunition, rest assured, they will be saved." ”

Jin Ying brought the tea over at this time, and Yi Zhixiang stretched out his hand to ask for tea, "This is the big red robe I got from Old Man Wu, and the military gate will try it." ”

After tasting tea for a while, Guan Tianpei said: "Now there is news coming from the sea and Macao, saying that England is deploying troops, and many artillery pieces of Humen Fort have been allocated to those Western-style warships, which has been two or three months in the blink of an eye, but there is no good news of contentment. ”

Yi Zhizhi nodded, and said: "The military gate is not coming today, and you have to find the military gate in two days, the level of the Foshan Artillery Bureau's cannon casting, I really dare not compliment it, the iron cannon casting, the speed is too slow, I am afraid that I can't catch up, and I am ready to cast a batch of copper cannons to supplement the needs of Humen."

Copper, I have been asked to buy everywhere, but outside the purchase, one is that the quality of copper is not satisfactory, and second, the government is very strict about copper materials, and it is not easy to buy them, which has to be thought of by the military. ”

Bronze cannon! Guan Tianpei was a little embarrassed and said: "The cost of copper cannons is expensive, three or four hundred copper cannons, I'm afraid I can't afford it." After a slight pause, he asked, "Casting the bronze cannon, is it too late?" ”

"Of course it's time." Yi Zhizhi said: "Humen Fort plus twelve Western-style warships, even if the British army is overwhelmed, they will not dare to attack rashly, there is enough time." ”

Guan Tianpei nodded and said, "That is the case, the old man went to find Lin Butang." ”

Sending Guan Tianpei away, Yi Zhizu sighed lightly, the level of casting cannons in the Qing Dynasty has been stagnant, basically still in the Kangxi period, and Europe is completely incomparable, casting large-caliber iron cannons is almost impossible, and copper cannons are not suitable for casting large-caliber heavy artillery, because the copper is soft, thirty or forty pounds of shells fired a few times, the gun chamber will be deformed, and European large-caliber artillery is iron cannons.

He wanted to cast a batch of copper cannons, mainly because he wanted to cast a batch of land cannons -- the famous Napoleonic twelve-pounder cannon during the American Civil War.

As for the Humen Fort, it is better to have an arms dealer who is not afraid of death to deliver to the door, no, he is not afraid, cast slowly, there is time, crow. Although the war will break out in only two months, the war in Guangzhou will not start until next year, and he knows this, because he is not too anxious, and there is still plenty of time.

In fact, to catch up with the schedule, large-scale casting cannons, he is not without a way, iron mold casting cannons are suitable for large-scale rapid casting cannons, iron mold casting cannons were originally made during the Opium War, and it is not a novelty.

There are many advantages of iron mold casting cannons, one is time-saving, iron molds can be cast many times, suitable for large-scale rapid production, unlike clay molds that need to be dried for several months, and a clay mold can only cast a cannon, and then, iron mold casting cannons, cast out of artillery specifications are unified, the inner and outer walls are smooth, and the sales are better than mud molds, and the trachoma is less.

But Yi Zhishu knew that although the iron mold cast cannon looked good, it had a fatal flaw - it was easy to blow up, he didn't want to ruin Yuan Qi's reputation, let alone Yuan Qi's team practice using iron mold cast artillery, he didn't want the group to be afraid of artillery.

After returning to the study and sitting down, Li Wang reported again: "Huang Gongzi - Huang Dianyuan is asking to see him outside. ”

Huang Dianyuan is coming to Guangzhou again? Yi Zhishu hurriedly got up and greeted him, for this second master of the three-point meeting, he naturally would not slack off, not to mention that there are still thousands of miners in the Changhua Iron Mine, and if he wants to plot the coal mine in Annan in the future, he will also be able to use the possibility of the other party, how can you not be polite.

As soon as they met, Yi Zhicontent smiled and said, "When did Brother Rong come to Guangzhou?" ”

"Yesterday evening." Huang Dianyuan said and returned the salute, and said with a smile: "I heard that Contentment recently bought a garden? ”

"Brother Yourong doesn't want to give a congratulatory gift, right?" Yi Zhizhi joked with a smile: "The sea in Nanyang has been very lively recently, and there should be no less Brother Rong." He stretched out his hand as he spoke.

Huang Dianyuan said with a smile: "What we earn is hard-earned money, but we are not content." ”

Entering the room and sitting down, Yi Zhizhi said, "How can Brother Rong have time to come to Guangzhou?" ”

"I heard that there was a big drama about to be staged in Guangzhou, so I came here to join in the fun." Huang Dianyuan said with a smile, "The handwriting of contentment is really not small, Yuan Qi set up 10,000 regiments to practice, and the government will actually allow it?" ”

This guy is training for the Yuanqi group? Yi Zhi's content changed his mind for a moment, and said with a smile: "That's because the government knows that Yuan Qi will not make trouble." ”

Seeing that he blocked the conversation when he spoke, Huang Dianyuan smiled disappreciably and said, "What if the world is in chaos?" (To be continued.) )