Chapter 945 (Third update, please subscribe)
February 3, 1877.
The Imperial General Staff issued an order - to enter Rio de Janeiro to celebrate the New Year!
This year refers to the Chinese New Year, which is February 13th AD.
That is to say, when the order was issued, there were still 10 days left until the Chinese New Year!
To capture a defense line 50 kilometers deep and defended by hundreds of thousands of troops within 10 days - this is simply wishful thinking!
From that day on, all the troops were gathering towards the Rio de Janeiro front. This gathering lasted for three days. During the past three days, there was no fighting on the front.
In the early morning of February 6, although it had not rained for a day and a night, the heavy rain the night before made the air still seem a little humid.
There was silence on the long front line.
Above the silent trenches, the fluttering military and national flags were blown by the breeze, pointing towards the enemy trenches in the distance.
After measuring the wind speed using an anemometer, the officer picked up the phone and reported the weather conditions at the front to the headquarters.
"The wind is 2 to 3 meters per second, from the east, 15 degrees north..."
This is the good weather I have been waiting for for three days!
Only a dozen minutes later, the order for the general attack was sent to the frontline troops on standby via telegram and telephone. As soon as they received the order, the gunners removed the gun covers, unscrewed the steel plugs at the warheads of the shells, screwed the fuses on the shells, and placed the shells flatly at a distance of only one meter from the gun positions. At the mortar positions at the front, shells were taken out of the ammunition boxes one by one and placed on the flat canvas. The safety pins of the fuses had been pulled out. As soon as they received the order, the gunners would use the most intensive firepower to cover the infantry's attack.
At the same time, in the trenches on the front line, although the battle was about to begin, the officers did not urge the soldiers to check their weapons. Instead, they distributed insurance policies and letter paper to them, and loudly reminded the soldiers of the importance of military life insurance policies.
As early as 14 years ago, after the establishment of Nanhua Insurance Company, Zhu Dadi, who was still the big boss, bought life insurance for the officers and soldiers of the company's security team. In the past ten years, this policy has been continued, and the insurance compensation has been continuously increasing. The pensions are enough for their families to live the rest of their lives without worries after their death. Officers have the responsibility to remind soldiers to fill out the insurance policies carefully before the battle.
"Everyone must fill out the insurance form carefully. If you die, the beneficiary will receive 600 yuan in insurance compensation. If you have no relatives, you can choose to donate to a foundation, such as the Imperial Military Survivors' Foundation, which is a foundation dedicated to caring for the survivors of fallen soldiers..."
"Everyone must fill out their will carefully and hand it to the squad leader..."
The insurance and pensions provided by the Ming Empire to its soldiers were extremely generous, and now exceeded 1,000 yuan, which is almost equivalent to the income of an ordinary person for 7 years. In addition to the bereaved family allowance, the Ming Empire provided the most generous pensions to the fallen soldiers according to its own financial resources. In addition, the Imperial Invalids Home was built as early as seven years ago, and disabled soldiers could directly live in the Invalids Home. Any disabled officers and soldiers who had fought for the empire could be taken care of there, and all expenses were borne by the royal family.
Soldiers are loyal to their country, and the country is filial on their behalf.
In the Ming Dynasty, it was never just a matter of words, and everyone knew it very well.
"Father, I hope you are well. I am here to pay my respects to you. Today, the troops received the order for a general attack. Although the troops have not yet moved forward, there is still a chance of death. If father reads this letter, I will surely have been enshrined in the Martyrs' Shrine, accompanying the loyal martyrs and enjoying the honor of being worshipped four times a year!
As a soldier of the Empire, I should be loyal. It is an honor for us soldiers to see you again at the Martyrs' Shrine! I can repay your Majesty and the country with my flesh and blood. It is my duty. Since ancient times, loyalty and filial piety cannot be achieved at the same time. I cannot be filial in my lifetime, but my father has suffered this incident at the age of sixty. I hope that my father will rebuke me for being unfilial after I die. If this can ease my father's sorrow, I will also smile in my grave..."
While writing his suicide note, tears flowed from Wang Qingshan's eyes from time to time. His father was Wang Jianyun, the prefect of Bingzhou, and his grandfather was Wang Youling, the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue.
Your Majesty has been very kind to the Wang family. He first saved my grandfather's life, and later he was very kind to my father.
Unlike the Qing Dynasty which emphasized the imperial examination, the Ming Dynasty emphasized military merit. The children of high-ranking officials would be looked down upon if they did not join the army. Like many children of high-ranking officials, Wang Qingshan was admitted to the military academy after graduating from high school. He had just been promoted to company commander a year after graduating from the academy. After the outbreak of the war, he had imagined more than once that he would die in the service of His Majesty and the country. But now that he was really facing such a war, he could not help but feel some concerns in his heart. However, at the age of 20, his life had just begun, so it was natural for him to have concerns and even regrets.
When the tears flowed down, he wiped them away when no one was paying attention, and then he regained his former confidence.
The trenches were quiet, with officers and soldiers lying there, writing their wills or filling out insurance policies. Perhaps this was the most proud thing about the Ming army - it was a cultured army. Whether it was the compulsory literacy program for new immigrants or the cultural classes in the army, this army became the only army in the world with all its soldiers having at least primary school education.
Elementary school, which is almost the fourth grade of primary school, seems to have a low level of education, but in this era when compulsory education has just been popularized in various countries, this army can be considered a "knowledgeable" army.
The atmosphere in the trench seemed a little depressing. No one spoke. Everyone was quietly writing their own letters. Finally, each will was put into an envelope and then into a waterproof oilcloth bag. Then they watched the messenger take the bag to the rear.
Soon, many of the letters in it will be sent out. No one knows how many there are, but they know that once the war breaks out, all they need to do is to attack the enemy without hesitation and with the determination to die.
Life or death is a choice for everyone.
“Brothers!”
Wang Qingshan looked at the brothers in the company and said.
"Finally, I would like to remind you of one thing - as a soldier of the empire, you should fight bravely and return your soul to the Martyrs' Shrine, where you will be respected by the world and bring honor to your family! Or you can live like a coward, be ashamed by the world and bring shame to your family. It is up to you brothers to decide. I hope to meet you brothers again at the Martyrs' Shrine, and use our flesh and blood to bring glory to the Suzaku flag of the empire!"
After saying this, Wang Qingshan saluted his comrades.
"See you at the Martyrs' Shrine!"
The soldiers answered in unison but in low voices.
I feel confused... anxious...
(End of this chapter)
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