African Nationhood

Chapter 134 Internal Affairs-Military Reform (Please subscribe!!!)

After the war in the Kingdom of Matabeleland ended, Shi Jintang held a military reform meeting at the nearby Fort Français (Fort Francesco) in Dongjin District.
  Shi Jintang had wanted to hold this meeting for a long time, but the military operations of the Matabeleland Kingdom had not stopped, so it was postponed.

There are two main topics at this meeting, one is: military rank and honor field, and the other is: troop expansion.

After sitting down, several military leaders found the document in front of them, which listed two problems and the direction of reform.

When the Nanhua Company was first established, the only armed force was the Walvis Bay Guards, a total of dozens of people, which had neither deterrence nor authority.

The escorts recruited from the United States were all placed at the Rand Farm for planting.

It was not until the Nahua gold mine was discovered in Southwest Africa that Shi Jintang began to form the first controllable armed force-the slave-catching team.

At that time, the establishment was only 100 people, and there were not many immigrants.

When the advance battalion was established, the army had a strength of 500 people, and later the first, second, third and fourth advance battalions were established one after another.

Five years later, the military strength owned by Nanhua Company: the total number of regular troops (5, 2800, 48150, and advance battalions): , and the total number of militiamen from various places: .

In terms of raising the army, Nanhua Company actually saves money.

Nanhua Company's soldiers have low military expenses, which is based on low military pay for soldiers and the land system.

Nowadays, there are many soldiers who have been in the army for more than 2 or 3 years. They have already saved enough military service, and their monthly salary has not increased, so they will definitely feel unbalanced.

Will the army's establishment be expanded in the near future? Even if it is expanded, the positions will be limited and most of the soldiers will still not be able to take their turn.

Therefore, Shi Jintang plans to introduce a military rank system to increase the economic income of lower-level soldiers and give most people a better psychological balance.

As for the plans, they are all ready-made. The military rank system in Europe and the United States is already very complete, so just adopt it directly.

According to the military rank system, new recruits who join the army are directly classified as private soldiers, and their military pay is 100 yuan in military coupons per month. After joining the army for 2 years, they are classified as upper class soldiers, and their military pay is 150 yuan in military coupons per month.

Those who have served in the army for 5 years or have served as a first class soldier for 3 years are classified as corporals and receive a military pay of 200 yuan in military coupons.

Those who have been in the army for 7 years or served as a corporal for 3 years can be promoted to sergeant, and the military pay is 250 yuan per month.

Those who have been in the army for 9 years or have served as sergeants for 3 years can be promoted to staff sergeants, with military pay of 300 yuan per month.

The squad leader and squad deputy are automatically promoted to corporal to stimulate lower-level soldiers.

By analogy, the platoon leader, first platoon deputy, and second platoon deputy enjoy sergeant-level treatment, with military pay of 300 yuan per month.

The company commander, Dalian deputy, and second company deputy enjoy second lieutenant-level treatment, with a monthly military pay of 350 yuan in military coupons.

The battalion commander, first battalion deputy, and second battalion deputy enjoy lieutenant-level treatment, with a monthly military pay of 400 yuan in military coupons.

In addition, military uniforms and individual soldier equipment will be upgraded.

From 3 pounds per capita when the advance camp was established, it increased to 8 pounds per capita.

New equipment includes bullet belts, leather bags, grenade belts, belts, leather shoes, water bottles, etc.

Because the current establishment only reaches the battalion level, the gap between officers and soldiers is not large. After the army expands, the gap will become wider and wider.

In addition, Shi Jintang plans to introduce a medal system, which can boost the soldiers' sense of honor and save money in disguise.

For meritorious service in war, no large rewards are given, only medals and small bonuses.

The medal system is temporarily divided into four categories:

1. Victory Medal, this kind of medal is the most common and easiest to obtain.

2. Military Medal. This kind of medal is not easy to obtain. Only those with outstanding military exploits can obtain it. It is divided into levels one, two and three.

3. Meritorious Service Medal. This kind of medal is not easy to obtain. It is specially prepared for scientific researchers and officers in the military. Those with significant military merit and contribution can obtain it. It is divided into first, second and third levels.

4. Independence Medal. This kind of medal was established for the subsequent War of Independence and will not be announced for the time being.

This expedition to the Kingdom of Matabeleland is worthy of awarding each participating soldier a victory medal and a bonus of 50 yuan in military coupons.

The Military Medal is awarded to soldiers or groups who have made outstanding contributions in this battle, with a bonus of 150 yuan in military coupons.

The Meritorious Service Medal is awarded to officers with outstanding commanding abilities in this battle, with a bonus of 300 yuan in military coupons.    …

The hontian system continues to be adhered to, but it is linked to the military rank system.

For ordinary privates, the maximum field is 30 acres; for privates, 40 acres; for corporals, 50 acres; for sergeants, 60 acres; for staff sergeants, 70 acres; for second lieutenants, 100 acres; for lieutenants, 150 acres; and for captains, 200 acres.

At the school level, it starts with 200 acres, and at the general level, it starts with 500 acres.

In short, the higher the official position, the more honors there are.

After the founding of the country, the land conferment system should be abolished to avoid the embarrassing situation of having no land to grant in the future, and it will be replaced by direct monetary rewards.

……

Shi Jintang's military reform this time is beneficial to all officers and soldiers. Several senior officers readily accepted it, and their benefits were higher.

Several military leaders had no objections, and the resolution was passed.

As for the issue of military expansion, Shi Jintang also had troubles.

After all, raising too many troops will put a huge burden on the company's finances, but without expanding the army, there is no way to cope with the rapid expansion of territory.

Now the number of immigrants recruited by Nanhua Company has exceeded the 20 mark.

Moreover, the loot from the Matabeleland Kingdom this time was very rich, enough to support a large army.

Shi Jintang's army expansion plan was to establish four major garrison regiments.

1. The Namib garrison is formed with the fourth advance battalion as the backbone. The garrison has three battalions, each with 3 people.

The garrison area of ​​this regiment is the Namib region, and the garrison regiment is stationed at Golden Hook Port (Port of Lüderitz, Namib).

2. The Orange Grove Garrison Regiment was formed with the third advance battalion as its backbone.

The garrison regiment has 4 battalions, each with 500 men.

The garrison areas of this regiment are the Bechuanaland area, the Orange Grove area and the Land Fortress City.

The garrison is stationed in Hacheng, Fouca District (Gaborone, the capital of Bo) and Mafeking (Mefogen, South Africa) on the other side of the Limpopo River.

3. Matabeleland Garrison Regiment, formed with the second advance battalion as the backbone.

The garrison regiment consists of 3 battalions and an independent artillery battalion. Each of the three battalions has 600 men.

Independent artillery battalion, with a strength of 1000 people.

This regiment is stationed in the Matabeleland area and is based in Bulawayo City (Bulawayo City, Zimbabwe).

4. The Lunda garrison was formed with the first advance battalion as the backbone. The garrison consisted of 4 battalions, each with 500 men.

The planned garrison area of ​​this regiment is the Lunda Kingdom area.

After the Spring Festival, the Lunda garrison and the company's commercial port will work together to attack the Lunda Kingdom.

Strive to sign a territorial rights delivery contract with the Kingdom of Lunda before June of this year (1884).

This time the military expansion plan will be carried out slowly, and we will strive to complete the expansion within 2 months.

The leaders of the four major garrison regiments were directly promoted from the previous advance battalion commanders.

Shi Jintang himself still serves as the head of the Matabeleland garrison, while Ding He is responsible for the specific operations.

The matter of military expansion is left to the heads of regiments to negotiate with local governors. The recruitment of outstanding militiamen into the army will not affect local production and development.

After the military reform is settled, the next step is to negotiate with the Portuguese.

He had to find a port in the Indian Ocean, otherwise he would always take a detour through Cape Town, adding thousands of nautical miles to his journey, and he would also be particularly vulnerable to unnecessary risks.

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  (End of this chapter)