~.-~    The cold wave that went south from Siberia for three consecutive days finally ended, and the freezing rain mixed with tiny hail stopped. Although the sky was still covered by clouds, the mist that covered the mountains and rivers of Shandong finally dissipated, and the earth began to show some vitality.

Mazhuang, west of Dahong Mountain, was originally just a remote village with only more than 100 households living in. Like most villages in southern Shandong, in order to protect themselves, the people of Mazhuang used stones and sanhe soil to build a fort with a circumference of more than 500 meters.

At present, the fort has been surrounded by more than 200 large and small marching tents from the bandit suppression troops on the south road. Looking up, there were bandit suppression officers and soldiers wearing steel helmets and live ammunition everywhere. After arriving at Mazhuang two days ago, they ran around and took photos around.

The local villagers heard the kind soldiers and said that these people were "reporters" from China and abroad, which really made the Mazhuang people feel fresh. Soon they found that among the "reporters" wearing various coats and photo boxes hanging on their chests, there were fifty or sixty foreigners with strange looks and extremely coquettish foreign women. This made the Mazhuang people who climbed up the walls of the fort every day stunned and shouted that it was more enjoyable than watching the show.

Mazhuang is not far from Xiji Town, where roads and railways pass to the west. The straight line distance is only fourteen kilometers. However, under the continuous mountain barrier, the fourteen kilometers distance becomes a winding twenty-two-kilometer mountain road. This mountain road that can only pass a carriage is so long in the eyes of all mountain people, but it is not worth mentioning in the eyes of soldiers who come to Mazhuang.

The platform opposite the south exit of the fort was originally a large drying floor. Now there are nine large green tents on it. The tents are arranged neatly, and there are also camouflage nets that are enough to mix with the decaying grass and dead trees on it. There are guards with guns and ammunition standing in front and behind the three tents in the middle. Anyone can see the importance of this place at a glance.

The three large tents to the west live in more than a hundred Chinese and foreign journalists interviewed by the army. The large tent near the central command is the residence of a joint investigation team composed of military officers and diplomatic officials from 12 European and American countries in China.

At this moment, dozens of foreign journalists and more than a dozen diplomats are holding routine symposiums every day. The opinions and investigation results of these people are extremely important. They will not only affect the reputation of the Chinese government and the military, but also affect the attitudes of the great powers towards China, as well as the future relations and adjustments to China's policies.

On the side and back of the camp consisting of nine tents, there are two wooden houses made of tree trunks and pine bark. The people of Mazhuang still don’t know why there are people coming in and out every day. There are men, women, soldiers and journalists. It seems very important, but there are no guards on guard. Even Mr. Ma who stayed in the main hall of the fort all day was confused by the news of gathering. After two days, he still didn’t understand, so he had to send his eldest son who had been with him for more than 20 years and stayed here to hide from his enemies and inquire with the gentle officers responsible for the logistics and military supplies of the officers.

The people of Mazhuang and Mr. Ma knew that these two ordinary wooden houses were just men's and women's toilets, but these two temporary but extremely solid, clean and convenient toilets were heated by more than 100 Chinese and foreign journalists and more than ten European and American diplomats who came with the army. Many journalists and diplomats from Britain and the United States rarely praised this. In the gradually and enthusiastic discussion, the meaning of these two toilets has been raised to a height that no one could have imagined.

They generally believe that from these two toilets and more than 30 identical toilets all over the temporary military camp, the "Nanjing Camp ** Second Division" is completely an elite division that is different from any country's (fastest updated) army. Every move shows the good quality of this army and its unique temperament that is different from any army. It is a brave and warlike army, an excellent army with advanced military thoughts and inner spirit, and its comprehensive strength is by no means below the army troops of the great powers.

The elite troops directly under the Nanjing camp have always been mysterious. Even the Japanese who are omnipresent Japanese have not figured out the details of the organization, equipment, training and combat effectiveness of the troops directly under the Nanjing camp. Therefore, all the officials in the world have shown strong concerns about the direct troops who have made great achievements under the direct troops under Xiao Yimin's direct leadership. Based on the performance of the elite German mountain troops and assault troops in the world war, the British and Western countries have combined various intelligence and the research summary of the Chinese team captain for ten years, they have come up with a command.

European and American officials found it incredible to conclude: "The elite troops under Xiao Yimin's direct leadership are basically the same as those of the German mountain division. Moreover, since the founding of the army, they have received systematic education and training from German instructors. This army has easily won the past ten years of civil wars in China and has extremely rich experience in conquest. Although they do not know that their overall number is maintained, their weapons, equipment and strong combat effectiveness are likely to reach the level of German elite army divisions."

In this joint bandit suppression operation, the Nanjing camp publicly demonstrated their most elite armed forces to the outside world for the first time through the excellent performance of the "Second Division", leaving a profound impression on all those who came with the army. A week ago, reporters and diplomats were amazed by this army of 15,000 temporary bandit suppression, believing that this army far exceeded Shandong's bandit suppression troops and Beiyang armies in either aspect.

Among them, the evaluation of the US military officer, the military officer in Jinan, Lieutenant Colonel Lidell is the most representative: "Compared with the most common marching, the Shandong army and even the elite Beiyang troops have fallen far behind the Nanjing camp army. When the Beiyang army marched, it was disconnected from the front and back and was in chaos. Even the marching team of two thousand people could not maintain an orderly manner. It would be great if the daily marching speed could reach 30 kilometers; "In contrast, the troops in the Nanjing camp are well-trained and have strict military disciplines. In addition to the slight collision of mas and metal during the marching, there was absolutely no noise. This army was well-equipped, and the weight of officers and soldiers was more than 20 kilograms. However, their marching speed reached a shocking level: fifty kilometers a day, and it only took eight and a half hours.

"In the joint bandit suppression operation last week, two infantry regiments of the Second Division were equipped with a large number of light and heavy machine guns and mortars, fighting for three days and three nights, during which time, they fought more than 150 kilometers, and they were all marching and fighting in rugged and complex mountainous areas. Nine of the twelve bandit strongholds that had been completely destroyed were eliminated by these two regiments, and each battle did not last more than four hours.

"Every time we, the members of the investigation team who were riding in the vehicle, were one step late to the battlefield. They saw burning houses, towering fences and corpses everywhere. Not only that, under the outstanding command of the division commander Major General Xiao Fei and the special bandit suppression commander Major General Wang Qian, they drove the fleeing bandits and bandits within a hundred kilometers around to Dahong Mountain, and then beautifully completed the encirclement of Dahong Mountain!

"So, I feel it is necessary to express my opinion honestly: the comprehensive strength of the army directly under the Nanjing camp far exceeds my previous expectations and imagination. This is a modern army with strong combat effectiveness and tenacious fighting spirit, advanced military ideas and excellent command system. In addition to not seeing their heavy artillery and infantry artillery, it even surpasses the most elite main division of our US Army in other aspects.

"It is very regrettable that so far, we do not know how many elite army divisions are under the leadership of the Nanjing Camp, but I firmly believe that it is definitely not just the ** Second Division we have seen so far."

Foreigners were hotly discussing in their tents. The combat meeting held in the temporary command center in the middle of the tent had quietly ended. The commanders of each regiment and the battalion commander of each battalion quickly returned to their own troops. The deputy commander of the Second Division and the chief of staff of the Second Division also brought his own staff to the east and north of Dahong Mountain. In the wide tent, only the bandit suppression commander Wang Qian, the commander of the Second Division, Xiao Fei and a staff officer were still surrounding the sand tables that were urgently built and whispered.

Xiao Fei pointed to a stream south of Dahong Mountain on the sand tray and asked in confusion: "Senior Brother, why let go of this side? Are you obviously going to make contributions to that guy Peng Ziyue?"

"What? I'm jealous?"

Wang Qian habitually held his right arm that had been successfully picked up after being blown up on the French battlefield. Now, several years have passed, and his three fingers are still unable to move. When eating, he can only pinch the spoon with his right thumb and index finger. It can be said that his entire right arm is half-crippled. However, Wang Qian's spirit and his entire temperament have not been damaged at all. Instead, because of the command talent and calm personality he developed after he recovered from his injury, he has made the whole person a qualitative improvement and leap.

This outstanding commander who participated in the battle against France, Britain, and the United States as a German Army lieutenant. Before returning to China, he not only had the rank of lieutenant colonel in the German Army, but also one of the three heroes who received the letter written by the German emperor and awarded military medals. He had a good reputation and extraordinary reputation among the German army.

This time, Wang Qian was appointed as the commander of the bandit suppression of the South Road by Xiao Yimin, which means that he has fully gained Xiao Yimin's trust and heavy use. It is very likely that after the bandit suppression operation is completed, he will be responsible for training and commanding the three ace divisions directly under the Nanjing camp on behalf of Xiao Yimin.

In response to this, Chen Lanting, the commander of the first ** Division, and Xiao Fei, who were stationed on both sides of the Nanjing River, all agreed with Xiao Fei. Now, only Wang Qian or Zeng Chaoran, who had a higher prestige, can replace Xiao Yimin to command the only three ace divisions in the entire army.

Seeing Xiao Fei smiling but not answering, Wang Qian explained very seriously: "Although the special forces brigade of your second division is very strong, there is still a big gap compared with Chen Lanting's First Division and Wei Changfeng's Nanjing Weixu Division's Special Forces brigade. This may be related to your second division's lack of systematic and advanced scientific training in Chaoshan District, Guangdong for many years.

"In view of this, I asked the commander to transfer Colonel Peng Ziyue, the chief instructor of the Ya'an Base Special Forces, and use this bandit suppression operation to let Peng Ziyue lead your special brigade and hone it."

Xiao Fei really didn't expect that Wang Qian was so thoughtful. He immediately lowered his head and admitted his mistake: "Sorry, senior brother, I'm too petty, don't be angry, I understand in my heart!"

Wang Qian smiled and said, "It's good to understand... After this battle, I'm afraid you will be able to study in the Nanjing Military Academy for one year. Seventy retired German instructors and commanders hired high salaries in the British and American instructors have arrived in Nanjing. All textbooks and many examples of the world war have been compiled. Starting next month, the commander and Chief of Staff Zeng will serve as the head and deputy head teachers of the first general class."

"Ah!? Oh my god... can you not go?" Xiao Fei got a headache when he heard about reading.

"Okay, if you are not afraid of the commander transferring you to the headquarters, don't go."

"No! This doesn't work, I won't leave the Second Division even if I kill you... Can't I go? Alas... I'm so worried..."

~.-~
Chapter completed!