Back to the Republic of China as a commander

Because of the Russo-Japanese War, the mortar in front of him immediately aroused Wang Zhenyu's interest.A tall, blond white man beside Ye Zuwen introduced Wang Zhenyu in blunt Chinese: "Dear General, this cannon weighs 800 kilograms, has a total length of [-] meters, and a high and low firing angle of [-] degrees to [-] degrees. The maximum range is [-] meters, and the infantry can disassemble their backs. This is already an improved product of our army."

The maximum range is only 800 meters, which is too close. If you encounter an opponent with heavy artillery, you will die.Wang Zhenyu slandered for a while, but thinking about it, this is better than nothing. With this thing, it is still possible to bully opponents who don't even have this thing.

Ye Zuwen can be regarded as a master of the sky, and he went to the Russian Concession to get this batch of arms.A total of 60 such [-] mm caliber mortars were obtained, with [-] rounds of shells, and [-] Russian-made wooden-handled grenades.Haha, it is estimated that the owner who was negotiating business with Ye Zuwen at that time was too drunk, and took all the goods at the bottom of the box to himself, and even sent six flower organs as a gift.

The price they charged was not too much. They only charged [-] oceans in total. In this era, it was only the price of a [-]-ton coal-fired passenger ship in Shanghai, and it was only the price of a six-acre manor in Jiangsu and Zhejiang. You must know that this is arms. At present, arms are something that has no market.

Speaking of freighters, Wang Zhenyu and Ye Zuwen are planning to set up a shipping company in Wuhan. After much deliberation, Wang Zhenyu believes that the transportation industry is the most reliable in this era.Don't even think about the railway, not to mention the state-owned monopoly, and in the event of a war, you have to be recruited by the commanders in turn.At present, it seems that the Yangtze River waterway, which is under the dual control of the British and Japanese, is more suitable for the development of the transportation industry, so shipping companies have been put on the agenda.The first step in shipping is naturally to order a freighter. Wang Zhenyu and Ye Zuwen have calculated that it is not too difficult to buy a ship, and there is ample supply in Shanghai.But this matter is not easy. After all, it is not enough to have a boat, and there must be people who can sail the boat. The recruitment and training of sailors is itself a problem.It's just that Wang Zhenyu, who is used to being a hands-off shopkeeper, doesn't spend time and energy thinking about these trivial matters, and after throwing them all to Ye Zuwen, he doesn't bother anymore.

Back to this batch of munitions, the Russians are really serious. Not only did they sell munitions, but they also sent a few instructors to teach them how to use mortars and grenades.

It's just that Wang Zhenyu's impression of these old Russian boys is very average. Apart from the fact that they drink a lot, their military quality is even a bit low-level.After three days, the mortars have barely taught their subordinates how to disassemble, disassemble and use them, and there will be no more. It is estimated that they themselves rarely play with this stuff.Therefore, it is very difficult to master it proficiently and train a relatively qualified artillery from it. It seems that you have to continue to explore on your own.

As soon as the grenade was pulled into the barracks, it became a hot commodity, and every battalion and company rushed to get it.Wang Zhenyu thought for a while, and each person was equipped with four, no more.However, the Russians promised to transfer another batch from China, so they can still be replenished, but it will take time.Naturally, Wang Zhenyu asked Ye Zuwen to be careful, this thing is a must-have weapon for infantry, whether it is defense or attack.

Because the number is scarce, all the newly added bombing training uses imitation grenades. Simply put, the explosives and fuses are removed.This kind of training can only allow everyone to practice arm strength and front sight, and it does not allow everyone to truly feel the power of this thing.

Bomb-throwing skills are still easy to master. Under the organization of Battalion Commander Xu Yuanquan, the First Battalion even produced several elite bomb-throwers through short-term intensive training. Put a basket 50 meters away, and throw these aces towards each other, and they can be thrown in nine times out of ten.That scene was similar to watching Ronaldinho's edited free kick highlights in later generations, which made Wang Zhenyu, who watched the training, feel extremely exciting.

For this reason, before leaving for Nanjing, Wang Zhenyu also specially decided to organize the whole brigade to throw live ammunition with one person and two bullets at a time.First to test the effect, and to let everyone get familiar with it and practice courage.As soon as this order was issued, all the battalions were boiling, and everyone wanted to see the power of this foreign thing.

Wang Zhenyu arranged the first live ammunition training of the Ninth Brigade on the first day of February in the Gregorian calendar.Prior to this, the whole brigade was ordered to carry out civil engineering work on the bank of the Han River for two days, digging out a large slope.The slope is at an angle of 45 degrees, the width is 20 meters, and the slope is 50 meters long.Then according to Wang Zhenyu's request, waist-high sandbags were piled up in a T shape to avoid accidents.

Wang Zhenyu was very dissatisfied with the civil engineering work ability of the whole brigade.Because according to the standards of later generations of engineers, 1000 people dig the soil, and the basic completion volume in 8 hours should reach 9000 square meters.But now it took two days for 6000 square meters.Thinking of this, Wang Zhenyu couldn't help biting his lip. This level of engineering capabilities cannot meet the needs of modern warfare.It seems that I still have to go to Nanjing to find a way. When the new army was established in the late Qing Dynasty, the engineering army was built as an important project.Almost every town has an engineering unit directly under it, and there is a clear German-style equipment.However, the new army on the Hunan side did not have this condition, because of financial difficulties at that time did not form engineers according to German standards.In this regard, Wang Zhenyu's plan is to go to Nanjing to see if there are any relevant talents, take advantage of the opportunity of demobilization to recruit some, and then find a way to form his own engineers.

With an idea, Wang Zhenyu in a good mood took Zhao Dongsheng and other guards to the training ground.

There are no female students to cheer up today, as early as a few days ago, Wang Zhenyu sent these grandparents back to the concession under the pretext of leaving.But even so, the scene of the live ammunition training was still very lively. With the throwing of the first grenade, the officers and soldiers of the whole brigade quickly completed the transition from dumbfounded to eager to try. It's a fight with the children of later generations who blow up the firecrackers during the New Year.

But Wang Zhenyu thought about the current live ammunition throwing training, with two bullets per person, a total of more than 900 people. After this one time, almost two thousand bullets will be reimbursed at one time.There is no way, who made the grenade itself a one-time reimbursement product, for the sake of the combat effectiveness of the army in his hands, now he can only grit his teeth and endure the pain in his heart.

Since the training had been reported to the Hubei military government in advance, and the Qing army on the opposite side of the Han River also received a military liaison notice, such an earth-shattering scene did not attract much attention.

Wang Zhenyu thought it might be better to test fire the mortar together, it would be a joke if this thing really came to the battlefield and cramped for a while.There are a total of twenty mortars, two of which were assigned to the teaching team, and the remaining eighteen mortars were given to each of the three battalions.Whether it is Xu Yuanquan, Song Xianfu, or Hao Bing, they are still Zhibing, so when the mortar is divided, these people's eyes immediately shine.These days, as long as I have free time, I will go to the newly formed battalion artillery team of the battalion to watch the practice of disassembly and simulated launch, but it is a pity that I have no chance to test fire.Now that Wang Zhenyu said that each door could test shoot five rounds, they were naturally overjoyed, and immediately took Wang Zhenyu's note and took their hands, and rushed to Ma Xicheng to get the shells.

The mortar is really easy to operate. Almost after the third firing, these mortar soldiers who have been converted from veterans with strong learning ability have initially figured out the temper of this gun, and most of the second rounds behind it hit accurately target 600 meters away.

Wang Zhenyu was very satisfied and took the lead in applauding these artillerymen.Then it was publicly announced that the forty artillerymen would be rewarded with ten oceans each, which naturally aroused cheers.

After the mortar test firing was completed, the live ammunition throwing training of grenades continued.To be honest, even though he figured out the joints, it still hurts the stingy Wang Zhenyu to let these grandsons throw away two-fifths of them all at once.But there is no way, if you don’t throw a few real bombs out, you can’t just throw fake bombs every day.When it comes to the battlefield, soldiers who are usually trained extremely well will most likely cause accidents due to fear or nervousness.If it really didn't blow up the enemy, but blow up one's own people, it would not be a joke but a tragedy.

Looking at the things thrown out by the excited soldiers, Wang Zhenyu felt that they were not grenades, but his own white ocean.Hehe, fortunately, Wang Zhenyu has already determined to make a career, and the heartache is over.

After bursts of explosions, the entire training ground was covered in white smoke, and the air was filled with a very choking smell of gunpowder.Afraid of accidents, Wang Zhenyu originally wanted everyone to rest and wait for the ashes to dissipate before continuing, but he also thought that there would be so much more to be paid attention to when he was actually going to the battlefield, so he held back and didn't open his mouth, and then an accident happened. up. . .

According to the order, it was finally the turn of the third battalion. Hao Bing was already itching in his heart seeing the brothers in the front throwing them happily.So in the bombing practice of the third battalion, he, the battalion commander, was the first to stand on the throwing position, and then unceremoniously threw out the two strings that belonged to him. , it’s much more enjoyable than the firecrackers during the New Year’s Eve when I was young.”

As a result, Wang Zhenyu rolled his eyes, "Damn it, your firecrackers are so valuable." . .

The company commander of the 20rd Battalion and [-]th Company*** has been in a good mood recently. He was originally just a deputy squad leader because of the appreciation of the brigade commander.This poor boy from the countryside of Nanxian County, Yiyang lived for [-] years and never imagined that he would be a military officer, and he was also the company commander in charge of Brother Bailaihao.Looking at the development of this team, as long as he works hard, the company commander is probably just a start.

Therefore, after becoming a company commander, *** works very hard. Every day, he must be the first one to wake up in the whole company, and the last one to fall asleep at night. Wan Yaohuang's training plan is meticulously strict in his hands. implement.Because he didn't like to laugh very much, in just a few days, the platoon leader and soldiers below had an inexplicable awe towards him.Respect him because he is strict with himself, and fear him because he is too strict.After a long time, everyone secretly nicknamed him "Cold-faced Tiger".

Li Wenbin knew it soon, but he didn't care about it. The daily work and training was still done by his nephew playing lanterns—as usual.