After the welcome ceremony, the distinguished guests were ushered into the reception room.
Military attachés and garrison commanders from various countries were invited to attend the anniversary celebration.
Most of the people present were European and American military personnel with high noses and sunken eyes.
The only exception was sitting in the corner talking and laughing in low voices.
A group of dwarfs in yellow woolen military uniforms.
Those were officers of the Imperial Japanese Army stationed in Tianjin.
Their European and American counterparts looked down on them, and they looked down on the Chinese, so they had no choice but to amuse themselves.
Chen Zikun ate too much iced watermelon on the train.
At this time, he felt anxious.
He took a chance and slipped out to find a latrine.
In the main camp of the 3rd Division, the latrines were usually dug into a large hole for each company, with a straw hut built on top to protect them from wind and rain.
Every morning, the soldiers took turns squatting next to the big hole to go out, and when they were finished, they would just use a piece of garbage or a blade of grass to wipe it with.
It goes without saying that the sanitary conditions in the latrines are generally extremely poor.
On a hot summer day, you can catch a handful of flies with just one hand.
The soldiers' favorite thing at one time was to use urine to flush out the white maggots in the manure pits.
But Chen Zikun ran around in the American military camp and couldn't find a familiar cesspool.
It happened that Captain Stilwell came out to smoke, which solved Chen Zikun's urgent need.
It turned out that the toilet in the military camp was located indoors, with a row of Western-style toilets covered with iron sheets, and there was a pull-string water tank on top.
The cement floor was wiped spotless.
It sounds nice, it's cleaner than the kitchen in the Third Division.
Adjacent to the toilet is the bathroom.
Stilwell said: "It was inconvenient for the boys to take a bath in the basement of the bathroom hall, so they often complained.
Later, the colonel installed shower facilities in every building."
Chen Zikun secretly sighed, there were no bathhouses in the barracks of the 3rd Division, and the soldiers didn't have the concept of hygiene.
It was common to go without a bath for two or three months, and there was a handful of mud balls in the crotch.
No one kept dozens of them.
A flea is too embarrassed to say hello to others.
After relieving the pressure on his bladder, Stilwell offered to show the guests the entire barracks.
Chen Zikun readily agreed and toured this modern American barracks under Stilwell's guidance.
The military camp is a Western-style building, a three-story brick-concrete structure with a semi-basement below and an attic above.
Each building accommodates two companies of soldiers, and each soldier has his own bed and personal wardrobe.
What's even more outrageous is that each squad There is even a Chinese servant who is responsible for making beds, shining shoes, and wiping armed belts and helmets.
Chen Zikun thought to himself, are you here to be a soldier?
Or are you here to be a master?
The building has heating, electric lights, running water and flush toilets; the kitchen, warehouse, canteen are located in the basement, and all equipment is in order, clean and tidy.
On the west side of the barracks, there are stables, livestock stalls, and carports; a small ice factory, a bakery, a veterinary hospital, a store, and a blacksmith shop.
At the gate of the military camp, dozens of rickshaws are lined up, and the drivers squat under the shade of the trees.
As long as people appear at the gate, they will swarm forward and enthusiastically solicit business in Tianjin-style English, but this one is Chinese and foreign.
The two officers had no intention of taking the car.
Stilwell pointed to the garden house in the shade of trees in the distance and said: "The officers live there with their families, housekeepers, servants, chefs and drivers."
Chen Zikun secretly calculated that even if the price of Chinese servants was low, the monthly expenditure for five servants per family would be a huge amount, and it would be unstoppable for even one hundred yuan.
It was hard for him to imagine how these officers could maintain such luxurious salaries.
In our daily life, it is even harder to imagine that military camps can be so advanced and comfortable.
In contrast, the Beiyang Army's barracks still remain in the pre-Qing era.
Stilwell's next words made him even more emotional, "Compared with the Yongbei Barracks in the United States, the quality of Tianjin Barracks from design to construction is a mess.
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This is probably the only regret of the 15th Regiment, but they have a worthwhile The boast is that there is a shooting range on the seaside of Qinhuangdao where you can go to cool off every summer. " Looking at Stilwell's expression, it didn't look like he was showing off or boasting.
It seemed that Americans were born to eat food and serve as soldiers.
Chen Zikun couldn't help but ask: "Your army spends all its military expenses on construction, how about military pay?"
Can we guarantee that it will be distributed on time?”
Stilwell laughed loudly: "Dear friend, do you think the US military will deduct military pay?
Of course not.
Military pay and overseas service allowances will be fully paid to the soldiers' accounts every month.
If the soldiers are willing, they can exchange them for In American gold dollars or Chinese silver dollars, a corporal in his second year of service can get thirty dollars, which is equivalent to one hundred and twenty oceans, which is enough for him to drink and find women."
As he spoke, Stilwell threw a shiny object over, and Chen Zikun grabbed it.
It turned out to be a gold coin, much smaller than Yuan Datou, with exquisite patterns, clear lines, and shining with the brilliance of gold.
Holding the American gold dollar in his hand, Chen Zikun was fascinated.
Gold was used as currency, the military camp was as luxurious as a hotel, and the salary of ordinary soldiers was as high as that of university professors.
How rich and powerful this country must be.
"Oh, I forgot to congratulate you.
You are now an officer.
Do you have any plans to further your education?
It would be a waste for a well-educated young man like you not to study abroad."
Stilwell said.
Chen Zikun's heart moved and he said: "I'm going to Japan to learn the army."
Stilwell shook his head: "Nonono, this is definitely not a good plan.
The Japanese Army's set of things was pieced together.
They learned from the United States, France, and Germany.
In the end, they learned nothing from each other.
If I'm not wrong, , you should be preparing to go to the Japanese Army Sergeant School."
Chen Zikun nodded in agreement.
Stilwell shook his head again: "I really don't understand why you Chinese love this shabby military school so much.
Moreover, those who return to China after completing their studies are usually promoted to generals in a short period of time.
You know, this is just a school for training low-level students.
In a military academy for non-commissioned officers, it would be strange if someone who has only learned squad and platoon-level combat is allowed to command thousands of troops
.
"
Chen Zikun nodded silently and had to admit that what he said made sense.
From the diary of Xu Shuzheng's expedition to Outer Mongolia, it can be seen that the commanding art of this Beiyang general who was born in the sergeant academy is still inseparable from the traditional conspiracy routines in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms.
As for command under hot weapons war, he knows nothing about it.
"Chen, I suggest you not to stick to the experience of your predecessors.
After the European War, the world structure is undergoing earth-shaking changes.
No one wants to repeat the tragedy like the Verdun meat grinder, airplanes, long-range cannons, and submarines.
The emergence of aircraft, tanks, and tanks is bound to change warfare.
The way of fighting, the army that does not realize this will definitely lose, because the set of things they master are outdated.
If you go to Japan to study, then what you learn can only be some obsolete medieval stuff.
The Japanese are willing to teach you.”
Stilwell's words were harsh, but true.
"So, where should I study abroad?"
In fact, Chen Zikun had vaguely guessed the answer, but he still asked this question.
"West Point, you have gone to West Point."
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Stilwell replied without hesitation, "The United States Military Academy is the best military academy in the world, bar none.
As for Sandhurst in the UK, St.
Cyr in France, and the Russian Army Longzhi and the like can only take second place.”
"What about Japan's military academies?"
Chen Zikun cooperated and played the role of praise.
"Not even worthy of carrying shoes."
When it came to disparaging the Japanese, Stilwell was not shy about using all the Chinese vitriol at his disposal.
Chen Zikun said with a smile: "I am very willing to go to West Point to study, but it is difficult for the commander-in-chief."
Stilwell said: "You don't have to worry about this.
I think the American minister will be happy to help."
"Thank you very much, Captain Stilwell, I hope we can become alumni."
Chen Zikun stretched out his hand.
"Call me Joe."
Stilwell's palm was broad and warm.
Back in the reception room, the banquet has begun.
It is an American-style buffet.
A variety of carefully prepared dishes and snacks are placed on the long table.
Chinese servants in white uniforms shuttle back and forth carrying trays.
Military officers and politicians They were in groups, chatting and laughing.
After Stilwell came in, he found Colonel Wilder and started whispering.
After a while, the two of them walked up to Wu Peifu holding wine glasses and started talking.
They talked about the friendship between the two countries and the two militaries, and then brought up the issue of exchanges between the two militaries.
"I sincerely suggest that General Wu select some outstanding young officers to study military affairs in our country in order to enhance exchanges between the two armies."
Colonel Wilder raised his wine glass.
"I'll think about it, drink, drink."
Wu Peifu seemed to have little interest and avoided the question in a few words.
Wilder wanted to say a few more words, but Wu Peifu politely said sorry and left with the wine glass.
Stilwell shrugged at Chen Zikun and spread his hands.
Chen Zikun smiled helplessly.
He naturally knew the commander's temper and would never be persuaded by him with just a few words.
That night, Cao Kun, Wu Peifu and his party stayed at the Cao Family Garden in Tianjin.
After dinner, Wu Peifu called Chen Zikun to him and asked straight to the point: "Japan or the United States, which country do you want to study in?"
Chen Zikun said without hesitation: "I want to go to the United States."
Wu Peifu nodded, walked back and forth in the room for a few steps, and suddenly stopped and said: "Those who butcher dogs in the countryside have nothing to do with food and clothing.
A brave man who has the power to kill tigers can be famous in the countryside, and has no worries about food and clothing.
Can a person who is skilled in dragon slaying be granted the title of lord and general, and be able to honor his ancestors?"
Chen Zikun was silent for a while, and what the commander meant was that what he studied in the United States was a useless dragon-slaying technique, because there were no dragons in the world, and what he learned at West Point was of no use at home.
"Commander, I still want to learn the art of slaying dragons.
Although there are currently no dragons in the sky, it does not mean that there will never be dragons.
Feng Zhang is expanding his army crazily and ambitiously.
He also has a powerful neighbor, Japan, who has been eyeing him for a long time.
He humbly asserts that within twenty years, The skies over China must be filled with evil dragons.”
There is no need to say much in the dialogue between smart people.
Wu Peifu waved his hand and said: "You go down and let me think about it again."
Although I haven't formally agreed yet, my tone has already softened
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