The Liberation Army temporarily adopted the Western calendar, and the new government's call to replace it with a calendar was getting louder and louder. Although it was called January 1st, it was also the beginning of the New Year. However, such a commemorative day could not be compared to the Spring Festival in the eyes of the Chinese. At this time, Japan was far from being fully westernized, and they did not feel much about this day.
At Sheng Haizhou's residence in Kyoto, Sheng Haizhou, Zhou Xinhua, the deputy captain of the China Embassy Guards in Japan, and several leaders of the Shinsengumi held a meeting. Sheng Haizhou took good care of his Chinese guests. Everyone sat cross-legged on the cushion, unlike the formal kneeling in Japan. This made the China representative, Zhou Xinhua, heave a long sigh of relief.
"If you can't abide by the rules, we refuse to fight with you," Zhou Xinhua stared into Kondo Isami's eyes and said word by word.
As the nominal convener of the meeting, Sheng Haizhou looked a little nervous. The Shinsengumi director, Kondo Isami, had a hungry glint in his eyes, and Hijikata Suizo behind him was also murderous. In such a tense situation, Okita Soki's occasional coughing became the calmest sound.
Zhou Xinhua wasn't intimidated by the Shinsengumi's imposing manner. The Liberation Army had an embassy guard of 400 people in Japan. In fact, they served as a military exchange officer. In dozens of military exercises with the Shinsengumi, the Kondo Group, and even the shogunate's army, the shogunate only won a few battles in the beginning.
Zhou Xinhua knew that he had the Shinsengumi under his control since Kondo Isami kept his mouth shut. He continued in a deep voice, "You are all highly skilled in martial arts. You can kill an enemy with a single slash in melee combat. However, you still can't withstand cannon fire and rifle fire. If you want to fully unleash your superior melee combat ability, you must strictly abide by battlefield discipline and military commands. I know that the Shinsengumi has its own ideals. As a soldier, I can't accept ignoring military discipline just because of my so-called ideals or wishes. "
Kondo Isami finally spoke, "Are you sure you can let us fight in melee?" There was a strong obsession in his voice. It was his absolute trust in himself and his desire to kill to his heart's content on the battlefield.
Zhou Xinhua could only frown in his heart. The people from the New Selection Group thought highly of themselves. If they frowned in public, they would hold a grudge. However, the Shinsengumi's close combat skills were quite good, especially when paired with the Japanese katana provided by China. They were able to chop people like they were chopping melons and vegetables.
Zhou Xinhua calmly said, "If you're willing to completely obey the rules, you can enter melee combat. In other words, our firepower and battle arrangements are designed to allow you to approach the Curtains and break through their formation in the shortest amount of time possible. "
After that, Zhou Xinhua, who was a soldier, couldn't help but add, "Of course, I strongly suggest that you bring a rifle. Even if you don't bring a rifle, you must bring a pistol. Pistols are very useful in close combat. " The Shinsengumi were indeed good at using katanas, but the attack range of the katana was too short. The quick attack range of the lun gun was the real weapon in close combat.
When he heard Zhou Xinhua's suggestion, Kondo Isami's expression turned a little better. Although the Shinsengumi were extremely violent, lawless, and had strong personal beliefs, they were not people who did not know what was good for them. After so many military exercises with the Liberation Army, of course, they could understand how to have a higher killing efficiency.
Looking at Kondo Isami's expression of "facing death with equanimity", Zhou Xinhua couldn't help but sigh in his heart. The Liberation Army's Grand Marshal Vézé was a true expert. Everyone in the army knew that he could appear and disappear unpredictably with his long spear. In the early days of the Liberation Army, Vézé could lead a charge and kill the Qing Army, causing them to scatter and flee in all directions. It was also a matter of individual bravery. The Japanese were known for their bravery, but Vézé was able to create a well-disciplined, tactically advanced, and well-equipped Liberation Army. The shogunate did not have a high opinion of the shogunate, which was why Zhou Xinhua had more freedom to act. Zhou Xinhua's evaluation of the shogunate grew more and more pessimistic.
The shogunate's most resolute Shinsengumi rules were as follows:
1. Do not violate the samurai code
1. Do not leave the organization without permission
1. Do not privately raise funds or accept bribes
1. Do not sue for mediation
1. Do not fight without reason
Anyone who violated the above rules would commit seppuku as an apology. The Shinsengumi believed that all five rules were equally important, so they were all one. If this system was put in place in the Liberation Army, the person who made it would probably have been killed long ago. Of course, the Shinsengumi had implemented a cruel purge to get rid of all those who "destroyed" the system.
Zhou Xinhua felt more and more disappointed when he thought of this. He looked at Sheng Haizhou, who was from the liberal faction in the shogunate. "Mr. Haizhou, we'll have to rely on your troops in the early stages of this battle."
Sheng Haizhou nodded. This time, he had tried his best to create a mixed army. The 200 people in the Liberation Army were responsible for the artillery and command. Sheng Haizhou could mobilize 600 shogunate soldiers, and the 200 people from the Shinsengumi were responsible for breaking through the Tobaku's defense line and fighting in close combat. An army of 1,000 was not considered a particularly large force among the 15,000 shogunate soldiers. But compared to the 5,000 Tobaku soldiers, this force was 20% of their strength. This unexpected force could have a huge impact on the war.
"Then please prepare for battle!" Zhou Xinhua said.
On the 2nd of January, Zhou Xinhua specially inspected this mixed army. The 200 Chinese troops were accompanied by 600 Japanese shogunate soldiers. These 600 people were all capable youths selected by Sheng Haizhou. No matter where they came from, they were now all basic soldiers. The officers in the shogunate were all shogunate samurai. Those who originally thought that they were superior to the commoners naturally had all sorts of problems when they became officers. In order to allow the Japanese to learn the latest military technology from China, Sheng Haizhou could be said to have exhausted all his resources to obtain these 600 people.
When the Liberation Army accepted these 600 people, they also received their personnel rights. According to the tradition of the Liberation Army, naturally the most capable people would be selected to be the commanders of various levels after basic training. Of course, the authority of these Japanese commanders was limited to the various levels of Chinese commanders. They were responsible for passing on orders, not personally giving them orders.
"Yamada-san, has the food been distributed?" Zhou Xinhua asked Yamada Ryuichi.
Yamada Ryuichi saluted and replied respectfully, "Zhou-san, it has been distributed!"
Zhou Xinhua said, "The battle is about to begin. Be sure to let everyone eat more meat, otherwise they will not have the strength!"
The ship could unload a large number of supplies at one time, and China's canned rice was sufficient to supply the mixed army. After listening to Zhou Xinhua's instructions, Yamada Ryuichi saluted again. "Please rest assured, Zhou-san, there will be no mistakes in this work. But we have something to ask of Zhou-san. "
"Oh? What is it? "Zhou Xinhua asked.
It could be seen that Yamada Ryuichi had mustered up his courage to speak. Because of excitement and worry, the young man's face was red. "The amount of food is fixed every day, and it must be finished. But the soldiers want to save the canned food and give it to their families. I don't know if Zhou-san can agree to this? "
For the Chinese team, as long as the transportation conditions were not particularly difficult, the canned meat and fruit could be guaranteed. There was also no shortage of cigarettes and alcohol. There was no shortage of water in Japan, and the soldiers could also bathe with soap every day. For the Japanese soldiers, perhaps the emperor and shogunate could enjoy this level of enjoyment.
"You seem to be from Edo and Aizu?" Zhou Xinhua asked.
"Yes!" Seeing that Zhou Xinhua might agree to this outrageous request in Yamada Ryuichi's eyes, Yamada Ryuichi was so excited that his face became redder.
Zhou Xinhua said, "So, we will send some canned food and rice to Edo and Aizu by boat. Write a letter to your families, and we will send it together. When the time comes, let your families pick it up. "
Although his mouth said that, Zhou Xinhua still sympathized with the Japanese. China already had a relatively complete military welfare law, and the families of the soldiers could get considerable preferential treatment from the policy. They would also receive condolences and gifts during the New Year. China's young people were eager to join the army, and this was undoubtedly an important reason. In Japan, there was no social welfare for ordinary soldiers, and the treatment of the grass-roots soldiers was equal to zero.
"Really?" Yamada Ryuichi's eyes were already full of tears. When they joined the Chinese army nearly a year ago, they were very uneasy. In the Japanese army, there were already all kinds of superiors bullying their subordinates. If they fell into the hands of foreigners, they were afraid that it would be even worse.
Unexpectedly, after joining the army, their food and drink were completely guaranteed, and their personality was even more respected. Although they were also beaten, the reason for being beaten was not because the officers were unhappy, but because they really did something wrong. Their attitude in military training was not correct, or they were not focused enough. Anyway, after a few blows, their buttocks felt hot, and they were in high spirits. As individuals, as standard Japanese people, they did not feel that they had been mistreated at all. The military's pay had not been deducted, and the food was so good that they had no regrets.
Saving things from their own mouths to give to their families already required China to provide transportation. According to the characteristics of the Japanese, this was a great trouble for others. This time, China provided material preferential treatment to the families of the Japanese soldiers out of their own pockets, which Yamada Ryuichi did not expect. No longer caring about the requirements of the army, Yamada Ryuichi knelt on the ground and bowed his head to Zhou Xinhua according to the etiquette of the Japanese people, and shouted with tears, "Thank you very much!"
Zhou Xinhua was 22 years old this year, and his origin could be seen from his name. When his parents joined the Liberation Army in Anhui in 1853, this guy was only 7 years old. His name was given by his school teacher. After that, he started from elementary school, and after graduating from elementary school, he continued to attend the Guangzhou Infantry School. After graduating with excellent grades, he went to the Artillery Academy for a year after serving in the army for two years. After serving in the army for another two years, he went to the Nanjing Military Academy for further study.
With such experience, Zhou Xinhua also had times when he was so hungry that he wanted to eat a cow, but he did not have to live a life of hunger. Seeing that Yamada Ryuichi was so excited, Zhou Xinhua's first feeling was a little scared. In the Liberation Army, soldiers kneeling was a very big event. It was also at this time that Zhou Xinhua spontaneously gave birth to a sense of pride in his heart. This was the strength of China, and this was the status of the middle class. In the new China, it was a matter of course, but in Japan, it could make the Japanese kneel and cry.
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