Li Jingyuan's new army, though only three regiments strong, boasted a force of over ten thousand men.
Furthermore, the new army's organization differed entirely from the Huai Army and other Green Standard forces of the Qing Dynasty.
Li Jingyuan had modeled it after the military structures of a later era.
A standard infantry squad consisted of 14 men. Each was equipped with an 88-style Committee rifle and several grenades for combat. The squad leader and deputy squad leader were each given a pistol.
Three infantry squads, combined with a machine gun team, formed an infantry platoon. The machine gun team was equipped with a Maxim heavy machine gun. An infantry platoon had a strength of over fifty men.
Three infantry platoons, along with a heavy firepower team, made up an infantry company. The heavy firepower team was equipped with two Maxim heavy machine guns and two mortars. Each infantry company had over two hundred men.
In another timeline, the mortar was first invented by the Russians during their war against the Japanese.
But mortars were not particularly technologically advanced.
With Li Jingyuan's arsenal's capabilities, manufacturing them was a breeze.
However, the mortars currently equipping the new army had a caliber of 82 millimeters.
The arsenal was also researching the development of smaller calibers, such as the 60-millimeter mortar, and larger calibers like the 120-millimeter mortar.
Four infantry companies, along with a battalion headquarters, a firepower platoon, a reconnaissance platoon, and others, formed an infantry battalion. The firepower platoon was equipped with four mortars. An infantry battalion boasted a strength of over one thousand men.
Three infantry battalions, along with an artillery company, a reconnaissance company, a logistics company, a battalion headquarters, and others, formed an infantry regiment. The artillery company was equipped with six Krupp 75-millimeter field guns. An entire infantry regiment had a total strength of three thousand eight hundred men, equivalent to a full-strength Japanese infantry brigade.
The new army currently had three infantry regiments, along with an artillery battalion, an engineer battalion, a logistics battalion, a reconnaissance battalion, and a field hospital.
The artillery battalion was equipped with 24 Krupp 105-millimeter light howitzers.
After acquiring the relevant technology from the Germans, the arsenal had started manufacturing 155-millimeter heavy howitzers. As soon as they were ready, they would be deployed.
When combined, Li Jingyuan's new army had a total strength of over sixteen thousand men, roughly equivalent to a modern-day infantry division.
In terms of manpower, they still fell short of a full-strength Japanese infantry division. But in terms of weapons and firepower, they were undoubtedly stronger.
As a time traveler from a later era, Li Jingyuan also suffered from a fear of insufficient firepower.
Therefore, his efforts to strengthen the firepower of his troops were understandable.
"It seems our various units have developed considerable combat strength, and I am very satisfied. However, our forces are still too small. Starting now, each regiment will continue recruiting refugees and expand. Each regiment will be expanded into an infantry division."
"Each infantry division will be comprised of three infantry regiments. Additionally, there will be an artillery regiment, a cavalry company, an engineer company, a logistics company, a reconnaissance company, a field hospital, and more."
"After the expansion, each infantry division will have approximately eighteen thousand men!"
Li Jingyuan instructed.
Compared to the Qing Dynasty, which possessed nearly a million troops nationwide, his own force of only over ten thousand men was clearly inadequate.
Even if the Qing army was incredibly weak, their vast territory was a significant factor.
To control a landmass of over ten million square kilometers, a considerable number of troops were needed.
Wang Shizhen, Duan Qi Rui, and Feng Guo Zhang couldn't help but rejoice. As military leaders, they naturally desired to see their forces grow increasingly numerous and powerful.
"Lord, we have no objections to the expansion. But with such a significant increase in our numbers, even if we maintain secrecy, it's unlikely to be completely hidden."
"Once news leaks out, we are bound to face suppression from the Qing court."
Wang Shizhen reminded.
"Yes, Lord. According to your plan, after this expansion, our forces will exceed fifty-five thousand men. Such a vast army will be difficult to conceal."
Duan Qi Rui also expressed his concerns.
To maintain secrecy, they had been training in the mountains.
The outside world believed that Li Jingyuan's militia numbered only a few thousand men at most.
But in reality, they had already surpassed sixteen thousand.
"We can't worry about that anymore. We have ample weapons and equipment. As long as we recruit enough soldiers and give them basic training, they can form a basic fighting force."
"I've seen it for myself – the new army's soldiers are well-trained and have a solid foundation. Ordinary soldiers can even serve as squad leaders."
"Even after expansion and brief training, they will be far stronger than the Qing army."
"Through combat experience, they will develop even faster."
"They will become even stronger!"
Li Jingyuan insisted.
Li Jingyuan felt a sense of urgency.
The First Sino-Japanese War was less than six years away.
The Japanese were also expanding their forces at an incredible pace.
If they didn't seize this opportunity, they would be too late.
Li Jingyuan hoped that before the First Sino-Japanese War, he could both weaken the decrepit Qing Dynasty and establish a sufficiently powerful land and naval force to repel the Japanese invasion.
From this point forward, every minute was precious and couldn't be wasted.