"Your Majesty, are you going to do business with retired soldiers?" Zuo Zongtang felt a little embarrassed after asking the question. As Jin Liang, it was a little embarrassing for him to ask about everything before he could understand it. However, the embarrassment disappeared in an instant. The thirst for knowledge about the future had dispelled the last bit of Zuo Zongtang's dignity.
However, Vézé did not answer directly this time. He asked Zuo Zongtang, "Do you want to join the Restoration Party?"
"Huh?" Zuo Zongtang was stunned. The question was too abrupt.
Wei Ze changed the topic. "It's almost time for this year's civil servant exam. Old Zuo, have you considered participating?"
"Can I?" Zuo Zongtang asked awkwardly.
Vézé said, "I think you should cram for it. Otherwise, I'm afraid you won't be able to pass."
Zuo Zongtang carefully looked at Vézé's expression. He wanted to see if Vézé was sincere or not. However, after looking for a while, Zuo Zongtang still could not tell. Sometimes, Vézé was easy to see through. However, there were also times when people could not figure out his true feelings. For example, Zuo Zongtang could not figure out if Vézé was mocking him or if he really thought that Zuo Zongtang was not well-educated.
Since he could not figure out Vézé's true feelings, Zuo Zongtang answered hesitantly, "Your Majesty, didn't we agree on a two-year contract?"
Vézé thought for a while and then said to Zuo Zongtang, "Old Zuo, go to the Human Resource Department and ask for a copy of last year's civil servant examination questions."
When Zuo Zongtang asked for the examination questions, Vézé ordered, "Do this question."
Although Zuo Zongtang was puzzled, he also wanted to challenge the difficulty of the new government's examination. After all, Zuo Zongtang was a Juren and was well-read. He had been praised by many high-ranking officials of the Manchu Qing since he was young. Zuo Zongtang felt that he was not inferior to the people of the Liberation Army. Even if they passed the civil servant exam, they would only be the lowest-ranked clerks. In the Manchu Qing, he was no more than a lowly official.
One hour passed, two hours passed, three hours passed. Zuo Zongtang put down his pencil. When he looked at the question, 20% of his eyes were filled with anger, 20% were filled with fear, and the rest were filled with despair. Seventy percent of the questions were still blank, such as: How many continents are there on Earth? What are their names? How many planets were there in the solar system? What was the difference between a star and a planet? The relationship between the moon and the tides.
If all these were things that Zuo Zongtang had never learned. What was the difference between early rice and late rice? Please answer: How many months was the planting and harvesting period of early rice and late rice? Zuo Zongtang had a rough idea of the questions, but he could not remember the specific content when he answered them. This made Zuo Zongtang feel despair.
Zuo Zongtang wanted to criticize these as miscellaneous knowledge, but Jin Liang knew that it was just an excuse. The first part was the knowledge of astronomy and geography. This was where Zuo Zongtang felt that he was far better than the ordinary people. The second part was about the livelihood of the people. If the people could not plant according to the weather, they would not have a good harvest. At that time, everyone would have to starve.
These days, Zuo Zongtang admired Vézé more and more. Zuo Zongtang found that Vézé was very clear about this knowledge. Many times, Vézé's seemingly strange decisions were based on this knowledge.
In the end, Zuo Zongtang went to see Vézé with heavy steps. "Your Majesty, I'm still far from passing."
After hearing this answer, Vézé said, "Then you should cram. I think you have a good foundation, so you should learn quickly. "
Zuo Zongtang did not see any mockery in Vézé's expression, nor did he have the arrogance of "I knew you couldn't pass". If Vézé had such an attitude, Zuo Zongtang could refute Vézé. However, Vézé did not even give Zuo Zongtang this opportunity, which made Zuo Zongtang feel very depressed.
But since things had come to this, Zuo Zongtang could only accept it. He said, "Your Majesty, if I study, my salary should be cut."
"You should decide on the curriculum first, then discuss this with the accountant," Vézé replied.
After Zuo Zongtang left, Shen Xin came out from the room next door. "Commander-in-chief, are you going to train Zuo Zongtang?"
"What do the comrades think?" Vézé asked.
Shen Xin was silent for a moment, then said, "Not yet. But if Zuo Zongtang can quit his job as a secretary, I think there will be people who will be happy. "
"Don't you like Zuo Zongtang?" Vézé knew this beloved general very well. In fact, it was not only Shen Xin. The Liberation Army's current organization was very simple, and everyone had their own expectations. Therefore, the appearance of a person like Zuo Zongtang would inevitably attract attention.
Shen Xin said with a smile, "Commander-in-chief, I actually don't want to recruit a rebel at all. One Zuo Zongtang is enough."
Vézé did not respond. He really had no reason to guarantee anything to his subordinates. Therefore, Vézé asked, "Have you decided on the personnel to visit Europe?"
Hong Ren? He was doing very well in Europe. Currently, only Britain, France, and Russia had the ability to extend their hands to China. Moreover, these three countries were China's neighbors on land and at sea. Although France was a little far away, France had forced Vietnam to sign the Treaty of Hue and cut off the land in the south of Vietnam.
Other European countries had established formal diplomatic relations with China for the first time, so Vézé formed a delegation to visit Europe. In addition to civil officials, there were also military officers. It would be very useful to know the level of Europe's military in the future.
"The personnel has been selected. The vaccines and living habits are all being adjusted." Shen Xin reported his work. Those who could visit Europe were all first-class talents. If something happened to them due to illness, it would be a big loss.
Vézé did not say much. This was not the 21st century, where all kinds of vaccines were available. For example, the BCG vaccine to prevent and treat tuberculosis was cultivated on a cow bile potato medium for more than 20 years before it was made into a vaccine. So far, the Liberation Army had only completed the development of the smallpox vaccine and started mass inoculation. The plague and cholera vaccines had been tested using the captives of the Jiangnan Barracks and had just succeeded. "After you go, have a good visit. Focus on Britain, France, and Prussia. Of course, the Netherlands and Spain should also collect more intelligence. In less than ten years, we will be at war with these two countries. "
"Understood." Shen Xin replied.
"Oh, I have another question." Vézé's face was gloomy at this time. "On the islands in the South China Sea, we will probably need to slaughter the natives. If we use the Xiang Army and the Huai army in this area in the future, will it be appropriate? "
This was the first time Shen Xin heard Vézé mention the concept of slaughter, and it shocked him. Moreover, to be able to force Vézé to consider using the Xiang Army and the Huai army, this scale was not just to kill and intimidate the local area.
It took a lot of time to calm his emotions, and it took a lot of Shen Xin's willpower to keep up with the situation. After a while, Shen Xin said, "Commander-in-Chief, let's not talk about whether the Xiang Army and the Huai army are willing to listen to our orders. I just want to ask, what should we do after we use them?"
Vézé nodded. "That's a good question."
"Do we really want to kill all the natives on the islands in the South China Sea?" Shen Xin continued to ask.
Before the rise of industrialized medicine, or rather, before international medical standards were reached in the 1960s, the population of the islands in the South China Sea had always been at a high level of birth and death. However, after medical standards improved, the population of the islands in the South China Sea soared. Vézé realized that his options were actually limited.
However, this topic was really beyond Vézé's moral bottom line, so he could only think about it in such a simple way. After speaking the truth, Vézé also felt that he was a little impulsive. In fact, if he really thought about it, there should be a better way. So, Vézé waved his hand. "Forget it, this is completely my imagination. Don't take it to heart. "
Shen Xin heaved a sigh of relief. Even in an era of war, a large scale massacre had crossed his bottom line.
After a few days, Zuo Zongtang came to look for Vézé. "Your Majesty, I've already read the syllabus. I want to participate in the full-time study. It's faster that way. "
Vézé replied, "You can quit your job as a secretary, and I'll give you a sum of money. It should be able to support you for about a year or two. Finish your studies well. "
Zuo Zongtang was very grateful for this, but he shook his head. "I want to participate in the clerical exam, so that I can get a salary. I want to work and study at the same time. "
Zuo Zongtang's backbone surprised Vézé. There was a big difference between a civil servant and a clerk. If he had to describe them, they were established and temporary workers. Although the salary of a clerk was low, the examination for a clerk was much simpler and fewer. More importantly, the examination for a clerk could be exempted from the civil servant exam for the next two years. Could Zuo Zongtang really put down his pride and start from the bottom? His boldness was really not ordinary.
Vézé frowned as he thought about something. Zuo Zongtang also did not say a word and quietly waited for Vézé to speak. Vézé finally made up his mind. He gritted his teeth and said, "Old Zuo, I want to give you a mission. Gather all the people in the Chu army who dare to fight and kill. I have something I want you to do. But this mission is too murderous. If you refuse, I won't blame you. "
"Your Majesty, please tell me!" Zuo Zongtang answered.
The next day, the military commission meeting was silent. Vézé's suggestion was too unusual. The comrades of the military commission were dumbfounded. In reality, the problem of the natives in Lanfang was very obvious. There were many cannibals there, and the military conflict between the two sides was very intense. Including the early era of the Lanfang Gonghe, the Chinese had tried to recruit the natives. But the natives were not united, and the feuds between different tribes were very intense. It was wishful thinking to hope that the natives would gradually expand after recruiting them.
If the Chu army formed a troop that dared to kill, they would take on the mission of extermination. Not just in the present Lanfang Province, this special force would carry out extermination missions in the future.
After a moment of silence, Wei Changrong asked, "What if we can't control this troop in the future?"
The members of the military commission nodded. This was what they were most worried about. Vézé did not know if he should be happy or disappointed at such a reaction.
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