The Qing Dynasty

Chapter 421: Senator Duan is both surprised and envious
This time, Yuan Shikai sent Duan Qirui here, probably because he wanted to follow the footsteps of Li Hongzhang and Zhang Zhidong and show his goodwill to the court by helping him.

However, Yuan Shikai's approach was inferior to that of Li Hongzhang and Zhang Zhidong, who provided real help to the vanguard army.

Yuan Shikai only borrowed him for use, and not only did he not return him, he also had to observe and understand his vanguard troops closely. How could Teng Yuzhao be willing to give Yuan Shikai a good face?

Teng Yuzao said with some regret, "Brother Zhiquan, since you are going back, I can't give you a real job. To be honest, I originally invited you to the Vanguard Army because I wanted to ask Brother Zhiquan to serve as the Chief Artillery Officer of the Vanguard Army."

Teng Yuzao then said with some boasting, "The artillery here is very large, with hundreds of large and small artillery pieces, and it will soon be expanded into a town. I wanted to ask Brother Zhiquan to help me manage such a large number of artillery matters, but since Brother Zhiquan is going back, this matter can only be abandoned."

"How about, Brother Zhiquan temporarily serve as a senior counselor in the Vanguard Army and assist me in military affairs."

"If Brother Zhiquan doesn't mind, I will report this to the court immediately after the battle. Is that okay with you?"

When Teng Yuzao said that he had "hundreds of artillery pieces of various sizes, and they would soon be expanded into a town", Duan Qirui's hand trembled slightly. Obviously, his words caused a huge shock in Duan Qirui's heart.

You know, even without talking about his rank, Duan Qirui studied artillery and furthered his studies in Germany. He had a deep understanding of the German artillery thinking. Just this point alone would make Duan Qirui envious and look forward to being able to control hundreds of artillery pieces.

Teng Yuzhao just wanted to lure Duan Qirui. As for the final result, although he would be happy to see it happen, he no longer cared much about it now.

Duan Qirui paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "Everything is subject to Marshal Pingfu's orders."

Entering the headquarters, Teng Yuzao said to everyone, "This is Duan Zhiquan, the director of the artillery team of the Wuwei Right Army and my classmate and friend. He is the senior of most of you. You should all come over to meet him. Before the war against the foreign devils is over, Brother Zhiquan will serve as the senior counselor of our vanguard army and assist in military affairs."

Although Wei Jinghai already knew that Teng Yuzao had written to invite his classmates to join the Vanguard Army, and even knew that Duan Qirui was included, he was surprised to hear Teng Yuzao say that Duan Qirui did not come to join the Vanguard Army but was just here to help temporarily.

He glanced at Teng Yuzhao worriedly, and seeing that there was no unhappiness on Teng Yuzhao's face, but a look of joy, he felt relieved and greeted Duan Qirui with a smile.

Then, Teng Yuzhao personally introduced everyone to Duan Qirui.

Duan Qirui was surprised and envious when he learned that most of these staff officers, including Wei Jinghai, were left-behind students rescued by Teng Yuzhao from the Beiyang Military Academy a few months ago.

What surprised him was that Wei Jinghai, who was still a student a few months ago, had already held the rank of major general, while those staff officers were almost all majors or lieutenant colonels.

Although Duan Qirui had never thought of joining the Vanguard Army, he had studied the relationship between the military ranks and official positions of the Vanguard Army, and had also studied the relationship between the military ranks and official positions in the Vanguard Army and the official levels of the court.

Knowing that Wei Jinghai, at such a young age, had already reached the second-rank military position after only following Teng Yuzhao for a few months, how could he not be surprised and envious when he was still a third-rank official?

After introducing everyone, the staff officers were not disturbed by Duan Qirui's arrival, but immediately began to work busily.

Although Duan Qirui had studied military affairs in Germany, he did not have the opportunity to intern in the German army. At this moment, looking at the busy and tense appearance of those staff officers, he couldn't help but feel very curious.

However, before he could look closely at these staff officers, Teng Yuzao had already pulled his hand and led him to the map hanging on the wooden frame.

Teng Yuzao smiled and said, "Brother Zhiquan, I think you should already know that there are about 50,000 foreign devils who are now chasing our Third Mixed Brigade troops. The retreating troops of the Third Mixed Brigade are about to approach here. Let Ningbo introduce the situation to you."

Only then did Duan Qirui free himself from his jealousy, shock and envy, and hurriedly spoke.

"Commander Fu, on the way here, we have learned that there are more than 50,000 coalition troops chasing after your Third Mixed Brigade."

"Faced with a strong enemy, I wonder why General Fu did not lead his troops to retreat, but instead led the entire army here to support the Third Mixed Brigade? What is the reason for General Fu's move? And how will he deal with the current crisis?"

Duan Qirui's words startled Teng Yuzao and Wei Jinghai. However, they both heard that Duan Qirui was really worried about the safety of the vanguard army.

Teng Yuzao smiled and said, "Brother Zhiquan, please listen to Ningbo's introduction to the battle situation first."

At Teng Yuzao's signal, Wei Jinghai began to briefly and concisely explain the situation to Duan Qirui. Just as he started, a staff officer holding a telephone receiver shouted.

"Marshal, Chief of Staff, the First Mixed Brigade called and said that the troops of the Third Mixed Brigade have withdrawn to the area they are responsible for. They are now less than five miles away from our frontal blocking position."

The staff officer's report interrupted Wei Jinghai's introduction, and Wei Jinghai said to the staff officer, "Tell the First Mixed Brigade to report the situation in a timely manner."

Because the battlefield was too long and narrow, Li Xianze's Second Mixed Brigade, which was responsible for the backup, was more than 20 miles away from the headquarters, and the vanguard army's telephone lines were not enough to connect all the troops.

Therefore, now only the mortar battalion's position and Liu Yuzhi's First Mixed Brigade's command post have telephone connections with Teng Yuzhao's front-line command post.

Teng Yuzao smiled bitterly and spread his hands, "Brother Zhiquan, the foreign devils don't give us time, so let Ningbo quickly inquire about the preparations of the various troops."

The distance of five miles is not really far. Not only can we hear the gradually approaching gunshots, but after just a short while, we can already see the retreating troops of the 3rd Mixed Brigade.

However, Teng Yuzhao could not bear to look at the miserable condition of the retreating troops of the 3rd Mixed Brigade.

At this time, the main force of the 3rd Mixed Brigade had already caught up with the first evacuating troops transporting the wounded. Among the thousands of people, the large number of stretchers and door panels carrying the wounded made Teng Yuzhao's heart twitch.

Duan Qirui took a deep breath.

He said worriedly, "General Fu, the Japanese and Russian coalition forces are coming fiercely. I'm afraid these retreating troops can't stand it anymore. General Fu, please reconsider whether we should not fight this battle! Let's take the defeated troops away and retreat."

Although Teng Yuzhao had no plans to retreat, he still wanted to meet Hu Dianjia first to comfort and encourage him. Otherwise, he was worried whether the troops of the Third Mixed Brigade could continue fighting.

"Someone, go and call Hu Dianjia to the command center."

As soon as Teng Yuzhao finished speaking, a staff officer ran out of the command center and ran down the hill.

"Commander."

Wei Jinghai walked up to Teng Yuzao and said, "Liu, the commander of the First Mixed Brigade, said that they are ready for battle. Please rest assured, Marshal."

"Artillery Commander Liu is in the artillery battalion now, personally commanding. He asked the Marshal not to worry, and he promised to blow the Russians to pieces."

Wei Jinghai obviously wanted to say the mortar battalion, but he didn't say it in the end. This kind of killing weapon is the trump card of the vanguard army, and Teng Yuzhao asked for it to be kept strictly confidential.

Before getting clear instructions from Teng Yuzhao, temporary personnel like Duan Qirui should still be wary of this killing weapon.

Teng Yuzhao naturally understood what Wei Jinghai meant, and wanted to say the name of the mortar, but finally gave up the idea.

The mortar was a very simple weapon. He was not worried that Yuan Shikai's Wuwei Right Army would know about it. He was worried that it would be discovered by foreigners inadvertently through some channel.

(End of this chapter)