Expanding the army to 550,000 is a key point in Wu Haoxuan's army building. Of course, this is definitely not all. In addition to the number of standing armies, reserves are also very important. The most important thing is to establish a sound mobilization system in the seven northern provinces. This will allow the Northern Army to mobilize more troops after the outbreak of war.

In this era, the number of troops is still a key factor in determining victory or defeat. Even if it's cannon fodder, you have to have it. If there are no people, no matter how many advanced weapons are produced, they will not be of any use.

In addition to the army, the navy is also another direction that Wu Haoxuan attaches great importance to. The situation of having no sea and no defense can no longer be sustained. However, after the defeat of the Beiyang Naval Division, the whole of China has completely declined. The current navy is just a look.

In the war with Japan, the combined fleet of the Japanese Navy used giant ships and cannons to cover the landing of the army, so that the Jilin Army had to avoid its edge. If the Jilin Army also had a strong navy, it would not have fallen into such a predicament. It's just that the Navy is not comparable to the Army. Army soldiers are ready to go into battle after months of recruit training. Not so with the Navy, even though with the advancement of technology, the requirements for sailors in the Navy are no longer as strict as in the days of sailing. But it is still not possible to form combat effectiveness in a short period of time.

In addition, the navy is also extremely expensive. The cost of a former dreadnought is as high as millions of oceans, and after entering the era of dreadnoughts, the cost is even higher. If you want to build a fleet that can compete with the combined fleet of the Japanese Navy, the cost of building warships alone may require hundreds of millions of oceans. After that, the training of personnel, the consumption of weapons and ammunition, are also not a small amount. More importantly, the Northern Army lacked talent in the naval side.

If the Northern Army is going to build a navy. The candidate Wu Haoxuan is Yisa Zhenbing. It's just that now Sa Zhenbing is the prime minister's Nanbeiyang Navy Division and the Guangdong Navy Commander, and he may not be able to look down on the navy of the Northern Army. Wu Haoxuan had already written a handwritten letter and sent someone to send it to Guangzhou. If Sa Zhenbing can be the commander of the Northern Army and Navy, it will undoubtedly be the best. If Sa Zhenbing is unwilling to give in, then he can only find other talents. Of course. Among the reserve candidates, Cheng Biguang is also a very suitable candidate. In the First Sino-Japanese Naval Battle, he was the pipe band of the Guang C ship. And in the end, it was he who handed over the instrument of surrender to Ito. Unfortunately, in another time and space, he was assassinated in 1918.

To build a navy, you need not only people, but also warships. Now China simply does not have the ability to build warships. Large warships, in particular, can only be ordered from outside. Wu Haoxuan also plans to order a batch of warships from the United States, Germany, and Britain in the next three years. As for the path of development of the Navy. He already had a plan in mind. But we still need to wait for the commander of the navy to take up his post before consulting with them.

On November 14, 1906, Wu Haoxuan went to the Political Affairs Committee to attend a meeting, which was a simple military-political joint meeting. In addition to the officials of the Government Council and several provincial governors of Mongolia and Xinjiang, the subordinate chiefs of the General Staff Headquarters will also participate. The theme of the meeting was the development plan of Mongolia. Compared with the three provinces of Fengtian, Jilin and Heilongjiang. The situation in the four provinces of Mongolia and Xinjiang is undoubtedly more complicated.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the four provinces of Mongolia and Xinjiang. The area is vast, but the population is sparse. In particular, Mongolia Province covers an area of 1.8 million square kilometers (plus Tangnu Ulianghai), but its population is only a few hundred thousand. Rehe, Chahar, Suiyuan and other Inner Mongolia regions have more populations. But the reason for geographical conditions and traffic factors. Relatively poor, the herders live in poverty. Therefore, if we want to establish our rule in Mongolia, we must give full consideration to these factors. Wu Haoxuan said solemnly.

Tang Yulin, Yu Zhongying, Wang Yongjiang, Sun Liechen and other governors of the four provinces of Mongolia and Xinjiang also nodded their heads again and again. Compared to Mukden and other provinces. The pressure on a few of them to serve as governors of several provinces in Mongolia and Xinjiang is undoubtedly much greater.

"Young marshal, in the Mongolian region, the Mongol princes have a lot of power. Especially in the various ministries of Outer Mongolia, most of them have ties with Lao Maozi. It will be hostile to our rule. Mongolian Governor Sun Liechen said.

Wu Haoxuan nodded: "This is not unexpected. However, we can divide and disintegrate. There are still many Mongolian princes who are patriotic and intend to split, and those who are bewitched by Lao Maozi are just a small number of people. For those patriotic Mongolian princes, we must support. As for those who intend to split, they will be severely cracked down. The army will next form several cavalry brigades, which will be stationed in the Mongolian region. The army will be your backup. ”

"Yes, young marshal." Sun Liechen nodded. With the army as a backing, then the problem is relatively easy to solve.

"Secretary-General, tell everyone about the plan we are going to implement in Mongolia, so that everyone can have a good idea in their hearts." Wu Haoxuan said. Last night, he discussed with Yang Du what kind of policy to adopt in Mongolia and how to strengthen his control over Mongolia.

"Okay, young marshal." Yang Du nodded.

"Ladies and gentlemen, we need to strengthen our control over Mongolia, which is mainly divided into the following aspects. First, transportation. The Department of Communications has already begun to make plans, and the construction of the railway from Jinzhou to Baotou and the railway from Shengjing City to Kulun will start next year. The railway from Zhangjiakou to Kulen will also start construction later. As long as these three railways are completed, our control over Mongolia and Xinjiang will be greatly strengthened. Yang Du said.

After the railway is completed, it will be much easier to send troops into Mongolia and develop its economy.

"Second, the economic aspect. I discussed it with the young marshal. Mongolia's economy is very backward, and the lives of ordinary people are also very hard. If we can make the economy of Mongolia and Xinjiang prosperous, the common people will live a prosperous life, and they will naturally support our rule. Starting next year, the Political Affairs Committee will carry out a large-scale sheep breeding program in Mongolia. Yang Du continued.

"Sheep farming? Can this make the people of Mongolia rich? Many of the provincial governors had suspicious expressions on their faces. After all, these herdsmen in Mongolia have raised sheep over the years, but they haven't become rich?

"Everyone must have doubts that the sheep raised by those herdsmen in Mongolia are goats. And what we want to promote is sheep. Sheep wool can be used for weaving, making sweaters or leather coats, which are very marketable. The army's winter coats alone require a lot of wool. Now the winter clothes of our army are all imported from abroad. If Mongolia can provide a large amount of wool, it will not need to import from abroad. Wu Haoxuan said. The winter climate in the north is cold, and soldiers fighting in the field are prone to frostbite, which leads to non-combat attrition. If it can be controlled, it will undoubtedly greatly enhance the combat effectiveness of the troops.

"We will set up some wool mills next year, when the wool of these herders' sheep can be bought at a high price. In the end, raising sheep is more profitable than raising goats or cows. As a result, the herders' lives will get better and better. In addition, after the construction of the railway, the supply of materials will be more abundant, and the economic ties between Mongolia and Xinjiang and Northeast China will become closer and closer. In this case, even if those separatists want to split the country, the people at the bottom will not respond to them. Yang Du also said.

Once the economic ties with Mongolia were strengthened, it would not be so easy for the opposing princes to split the country.

"Thirdly, there is the religious aspect. The Mongols are all religious, and if we can control the living Buddhas in Inner and Outer Mongolia, it will be easier to control the Mongols. However, the Living Buddha of Inner Mongolia can say that he is patriotic and will not oppose the country. However, Jebtsundamba VIII of Outer Mongolia is different. He had been co-opted by the Russians, and together with the separatist princes, he was bent on splitting the country. After Governor Sun arrived in Mongolian Province, he should pay special attention. When necessary, Jebtsundamba VIII can be dealt with! Yang Du, a scholar, also had a hint of murder flashing in his eyes.

Although he is a gentleman, he disdains to use those means. However, there is no need to pay so much attention to dealing with those who split the country.

"Wouldn't killing Jebtsundamba VIII cause even greater resistance from the Mongols?" Sun Liechen hesitated.

"Of course, we can't let the Mongols know that we did it, and we can frame it for Lao Maozi or other Mongolian princes. Also, find a way to establish a Jebtsundampa IX for them from Tibet, so that he will become a new living Buddha, a living Buddha in our hands. The problem can be solved. When the time comes, Lao Maozi will find that their demagogy is not as effective as a sentence of the living Buddha for the Mongols. A smile appeared on Wu Haoxuan's face.

In Mongolia, the influence of the Living Buddha is great. As long as Jebtsundamba VIII was removed, Jebtsundamba IX was again controlled by the northern government. Well, the Mongols at the bottom must be on the side of the northern government. Coupled with the economic policies promoted by the northern government, the Mongols all lived a good life. The Mongols weren't stupid, they naturally knew what to do.

Several provincial governors of Mongolia nodded their heads again and again, if these strategies were carried out one by one, the entire Mongolian territory would be controlled. Whether it is those princes who want to split the country, or Lao Maozi who wants to invade Mongolia, they will be resisted by the Mongols. Of course, the most important thing is that the Northern Army can defeat Lao Maozi. Otherwise, it's all empty talk. (To be continued......)

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