Chapter 9: Taking Over the Old Marshal's Guard Cavalry Regiment!
“Ugh! He wouldn’t even send a telegram. This cheap old man has no idea of the effort I’m putting into reviving the Zhang family!”
Seeing Zhang Zuo Lin nearly driven mad by him, Zhang Xue Ming wasted no time. He immediately rushed out of the Marshal's Mansion and dragged Yu Feng Zhi towards the northern military camp.
There were too many constraints within the city of Fengtian!
He didn’t want to stay there for even a minute longer.
“Xue Ming, where are we going?”
“Out of town! To Songjiang Prefecture!”
To Songjiang Prefecture?
Didn't we agree to go back to your family’s place?
Yu Feng Zhi was completely baffled.
As soon as she entered the Zhang family's home, she was locked in the bridal chamber. The constant shelling made it impossible to distinguish day from night!
Now, she was just pregnant, and she didn't even know which direction the Marshal's Mansion faced.
We are leaving already?
Damn it, so marrying into the Marshal's Mansion was just a single-player game of a mansion’s bridal chamber!
However, she soon became even more confused!
As soon as they reached the northern military camp with Zhang Xue Ming!
They saw the camp was bustling with activity, the horses were neighing!
All the soldiers were busy breaking camp and setting off.
Just as Yu Feng Zhi was about to approach her husband to find out what was going on.
She saw a sturdy man riding a chestnut horse galloping towards her, dismounted, and saluted with a standard military salute.
“Report to the Young Marshal, I am Ma Mao Xun, the commander of the First Division Guard Cavalry Regiment of the Fengtian Army!”
“The entire regiment, with 1103 soldiers, is ready to deploy!”
“Please give your orders!”
Ma Mao Xun looked to be in his forties. Because he was a frequent rider, he had slightly bowed legs, but his square face was full of furrows, and his hands were full of calluses, clearly a veteran of many battles.
Clearly, before their arrival, the cavalry regiment had received an order from the old Marshal, prepared to ‘monitor’ their return to their father-in-law's house for a visit.
This cavalry regiment was the direct elite guard of Zhang Zuo Lin.
Their supplies were plentiful, and their morale was high.
Not only did they have a horse for each man, but they also had four Maxim heavy machine guns and two mountain cannons.
They were fully armed, to say the least.
Especially Ma Mao Xun, he was wearing a bandolier, and on both sides of his waist hung two Belgian-made Browning M1900, 7.65mm pistols.
This gun, because of the pistol logo printed on the handle, was nicknamed "Gun-Brand Pistol" by the Chinese.
However, Zhang Xue Ming also noticed that although the cavalry regiment was armed with guns, their weapons were a motley collection. Some were carrying domestically produced Hanyang rifles, while others were carrying Japanese Type 38 rifles!
There were even Romanian-made Mannlicher MD.1892 rifles!
This was a rifle produced in 1892, nearly 30 years old!
He didn’t know where his cheap old father had obtained them from!
A real multinational collection!
The total number of rifles in the entire unit could open a rifle museum!
There was no way around it.
Due to international arms embargoes!
During the Republic of China, domestic weapons were basically all smuggled.
To not have to rely on big knives and spears was a blessing, who cared if they were new or old guns?
Zhang Zuo Lin was located in the Northeast, with a very long border, so it was easy to smuggle.
At least everyone was armed.
The other warlords in the inland were much worse off, three or five people only had one gun, and they were all old-fashioned, unreliable pistols.
“This won’t do!”
Zhang Xue Ming's excitement immediately cooled by a third.
Domestic military industry was in decline!
The most important indicator of heavy industry, steel production.
The United States of America produced 43.46 million tons, the old British Empire produced 9.13 million tons, and even Japan had 600,000 tons!
But, what was China’s total annual steel production in 1916?
45,000 tons!
Not even a fraction of others!
When brave soldiers were fighting against foreign invaders, it was truly blood and flesh against steel.
With a mortal body, they stood shoulder to shoulder with gods!
Zhang Xue Ming's heart was even more determined to build his family!
He waved his hand, “Everyone, follow me to the armory!”
Upon Zhang Xue Ming’s order, Ma Mao Xun was taken aback for a moment, then immediately signaled to the military officer beside him.
The officer hurriedly made a phone call.
Then, he returned to Ma Mao Xun’s side and whispered a few words.
After that, Ma Mao Xun nodded and ordered the troops to set off.
All this, Zhang Xue Ming observed carefully.
He knew that Ma Mao Xun must have gone to report to Zhang Zuo Lin.
However, he didn’t reveal it.
Anyway, after they left the city.
He had his own way!