Time Travel to 1859: The Iron-Blooded Soldier King

Guo Songtao was adept at handling government affairs and could naturally handle them well, but military affairs had to be handled by Liu Ye himself.

Senggelinqin left all of Liu Ye's 300 elite soldiers in Dong'a, leaving Liu Ye's men stretched to the limit. The people he brought from Baoding Town are now less than 60 people. Zhu Hai went to Huairou and took away another 30 people. Now, including Gao Qi, Gao E and others, there are only 30 people left.

It is very difficult to organize militia.

However, we must start even if it is difficult! Time waits for no one!

Liu Ye called Gao Qi, Gao E, and Luo Bicheng together and said, "Brothers, now is the time for you to show your skills. Organize a group training. From now on, each of you must cheer up!"

Gao Qi immediately became excited and shouted, "Sir, if we organize militia training, does that mean we don't have to learn foreign languages?"

"Bullshit! From now on, you will train and build the Lu Army during the day, and at night, continue to learn foreign languages. If you can't learn it, forget about becoming a captain. I will only make you a fireman!"

Gao Qi grinned and thought, it’s over, he has to continue learning.

Liu Ye continued, "Due to our limited financial and food needs, we only need to form an army of 3,000 people, divided into two regiments. I will personally serve as the commander of the Lu Army, and Zhu Hai will serve as the deputy chief of staff. Gao Qi will serve as the commander of the first regiment, and Gao E, you will serve as the counselor, and your title will be chief of staff. Yan Chunyu will serve as the commander of the second regiment, and Ding Ruchang will serve as the acting chief of staff. We will form a cavalry battalion with Luo Bicheng as the battalion commander. The battalion commander of the artillery battalion is currently vacant. We don't have any cannons. We will form another one after the Americans sell them to us."

Three thousand people are just a drop in the ocean compared to the huge army of 700,000 in the entire Qing Dynasty. It is too small. However, Liu Ye is confident that the Lu Army, which he has built completely independently, will become a powerful army that surpasses the elite troops of Baoding Town!

Liu Ye continued, "Listen carefully. You all understand the recruitment standards. According to Baoding Town's recruitment standards, the old, weak, sick, and disabled will not be accepted. Those who have received education will be given priority. Wait for Xiao Hai to return. All veterans will rush into each battalion to serve as instructors. We are too short of manpower, so you will have to work hard. You must train me hard. As long as no one dies, it will be fine. In addition, you will be given a death quota of five for each battalion of two regiments. If no more than five people die during training, I will not blame you. I have only one goal: I want elite soldiers! Do you understand?"

Liu Ye's face was solemn, and his brothers certainly knew the seriousness of the matter. Ding Ruchang on the side opened his mouth but said nothing.

Liu Ye asked, "Ding Ruchang, if you have anything to say, just say it directly. Don't hesitate. We are all brothers!"

Ding Ruchang scratched his head and replied, "Sir, I've just joined our army and have very little experience. I'm sure my abilities are somewhat different from those of my brothers. It's really a bit difficult for me to lead the Second Regiment alone..."

Ding Ruchang had just arrived and was suddenly promoted to a high position, so he was naturally a little nervous. If he couldn't lead the team well, it would be really embarrassing!

Liu Ye nodded and replied, "Don't worry, Xiao Hai will be back in a few days. When he comes back, let him temporarily serve as the commander of the Second Regiment. You are not very familiar with our military tactics and weapons yet, so you must strengthen your training during this period. If you want to make your brothers one step ahead, you must first be one step ahead yourself. Whether it's foreign rifles, foreign cannons, or firearms strategies and tactics, you need to learn them quickly. If you don't understand something, ask your brothers for advice, or you can ask me directly. I'll give you one year to reach the level of Gao Qi and Gao E!"

Ding Ruchang was relieved at this point. Suddenly, he said, "Sir, I can recommend a talented person to you..."

Liu Ye was stunned. Ding Ruchang actually wanted to recommend talents to him! Didn't he just escape from the Nian bandits not long ago? Could he be familiar with Shandong?

"What kind of talent?"

"Sir, this man is Zhang Chunping, commander of the Left Wing Battalion of Dengzhou Town, one of the three towns in Shandong. He's incredibly talented and made numerous military achievements during battles against the Nian Army. However, due to a falling out with Dengzhou Town's General Ke Zhenhai, he resigned from all his posts in anger and returned to his hometown in Jinan. I've fought him several times on the battlefield, with both sides winning and losing. However, the Green Camp soldiers of Dengzhou Town were weak, so he was only half as strong as me. It's a shame to abandon such a talented person in the wilderness..."

Liu Ye asked in confusion: "How do you know he is in his hometown of Jinan?"

Ding Ruchang smiled bitterly and said, "The other day we were wandering around the street and ran into him. I remember him, but he doesn't quite remember me. However, he seems to be in a bit of a state of decline. He lost his job, and his family has lost their income. It's really tough. If you give him a chance, maybe he can become your right-hand man."

Liu Ye was immediately attracted. He never complained about having too many talented people, but only about having too few. Anyone who could make Ding Ruchang admire him must be a talented person.

Ding Ruchang continued, "Also, sir, I heard that he used to work in the navy, and was the commander of the Shandong Green Camp navy. Because of his hot temper, he also offended the Shandong navy commander, and was banished to Dengzhou Town. However, his temper has not changed. He is really a troublemaker..."

A troublemaker? Liu Ye laughed heartily and said, "Yu Ting, sir, I like troublemakers like this. People without ability naturally won't be troublemakers. Being arrogant and conceited is the nature of capable people. I'll accept this person!"

"But," Liu Ye asked, "how can I find him?"

Ding Ruchang quickly replied, "Sir, he lives on Qingshui Street outside the south gate of Jinan Prefecture. I followed him to his doorstep and just left. However, this person is not easy to approach. I'm afraid, Sir..."

Liu Ye pondered, "That's true. Oh, isn't the current Dengzhou Prefecture Governor Li Junfeng still in Jinan? Gao Qi, immediately take my visiting card and ask Lord Li Junfeng to come see me. They're both stationed in Dengzhou, so they must have known each other before, right?"

Gao Qi agreed and turned around to go out and invite Li Junfeng.

When Li Junfeng heard that the governor wanted to see him, he naturally put down what he was doing and ran to the governor's office in a hurry.

"I, Li Junfeng, pay my respects to the Governor. I wonder what instructions the Governor has for me?"

"Prefect Li, I want to ask you about someone. Zhang Chunping, the commander of the right wing battalion in Dengzhou Town. Have you heard of him?"

Li Junfeng was stunned, wondering why the governor would ask about this person. "Sir, I don't know how you know this person. This guy is as stinky and hard as a stone in a toilet. He has offended almost all of his colleagues. He is really a difficult person to reason with..."