Volume 1: Army University Chapter 8: Preparation Phase

  These days, the news about the competition with Baoding Military Academy has been circulating in the Army University. The regular class of the fourth period of the Army University has only more than 200 students, most of whom are soldiers who have served in various troops and were selected and recommended to be transferred to the Army University for further study. For these former soldiers, this kind of competition that only students would be interested in is unattractive to them.

  However, for the specific commendation of the General Staff and a bonus of 120 yuan, these more practical things are still very appealing. The General Staff did not announce the content of the commendation, leaving all students in suspense, perhaps this commendation is simply verbal praise, but it may also be a recorded employment by the General Staff, or even granting military rank while in school.

  All students who have served in the army before entering the military academy will have their own rank and position, but after entering the military academy for further study, these ranks and positions are suspended. In other words, they are now nothing, just a military officer student. If you participate in this competition and win, the General Staff will award an in-school rank, which means that after graduation, you can directly obtain a military uniform that matches your rank.

  And if the reward of the General Staff is a recorded use, it's even more worth participating in. Recorded use is equivalent to being able to be directly assigned to work at the General Staff as long as you graduate smoothly from the Army University. Working in the central government is much better than serving in local troops, not to mention that local troops are of warlord nature and often have military friction between two places. In contrast, working at the Central General Staff not only provides more opportunities for promotion but also allows contact with many high-ranking national figures, which is a relatively stable job.

  On the sixth day after the notice was passed down, the bulletin board at the entrance of the college dormitory finally posted the specific arrangements for this competition. On that day, after class and training ended, many students crowded around the bulletin board, looking at the rules of the Baoding Military Academy competition while discussing and expressing their opinions.

  Xu Shao Wen had just finished his horse riding training at the racecourse and returned to his dormitory, drenched in sweat. However, he encountered dozens of people crowded at the entrance of the quadrangle courtyard, which was really unbearable. He originally wanted to squeeze through the crowd, thinking that he could check the bulletin board after dinner, but after trying several times, he didn't even know where to start.

  Li Zhenning, who was following behind, also couldn't help but sigh at the sight. Although he had been to the Army Middle School, as a rich family's son, his temperament hadn't been completely worn off and there was still some pampering left in him.

  "What's going on now? Why are so many people here?" Li Zhenning's tone was clearly somewhat displeased.

  Guo Songling, who was standing at the back, smiled with a look of indifference and said: "I heard that in the past two days, the Dean of Studies and the General Staff have jointly revised the regulations of the Military Academy, it seems to be resisting the monopoly of foreign teachers on teaching at the Military Academy, maybe the bulletin board is just announcing this news."

  "So that means Instructors Schmidt and Adler will be dismissed?" Li Zhenning's eyes lit up, he had a deep hatred for these two Germans.

  "Modify the Army University Articles?" Xu Shaowen was stunned, and his mind quickly recalled some historical data. Indeed, in April 1914, the General Staff Headquarters made up its mind not to let foreign instructors monopolize teaching, and thus formulated a brand new set of regulations for the Army University. The most important one was that the General Staff Headquarters renegotiated contracts with the Japanese and German governments, and from the fourth term of the regular class, teaching would be presided over by Chinese instructors.

  However, what Xu Shaowen remembers more deeply is that this revision of the regulations also clearly stipulates that from the fourth period of regular classes onwards, students must take an examination to qualify for admission to the Army University. All students of the Army University must first study at a military academy and then serve in the army for two years or more. It seems that students like him and Li Zhenning who entered the Army University directly from military middle school are the last generation since the fourth period of regular classes.

  "What's wrong, Wen Yuan? You're so concerned about the overall situation, haven't you heard of this matter?" Guo Songling thought Xu Shaojun's dazed expression was due to not having heard the rumors about the reform regulations of the Army University, and asked with some surprise. "I remember that Renchu didn't tell us a few days ago?" He said, looking back at Duan Yunfeng.

  "Where did Old Mo say he was going? You were discussing this matter when I was in the tea room, and when I came back, Wenhan did mention it, but I didn't pay much attention." Xu Shao quickly explained, feeling that if they continued to dwell on this issue, his transmigrated identity might be exposed. He hastily changed the subject, "However, I always feel that if it were our school's reform regulations, it wouldn't attract so many fellow students to gather and watch. These educational decrees are just for looking at, no need to discuss them one by one."

  Just then, a figure squeezed out of the gate of the quadrangle courtyard. It was Lin Wei from the Riding Department. He had originally squeezed into the crowd to look at the notice board, but after hearing Xu Shao-wen and Guo Song-ling's voices outside the gate, he immediately retreated.

  "Ah, Wen Yuan indeed has insight, he guessed it right. This is not some ordinary notice on the bulletin board about the reform of the Military Academy," Lin Wei said as he took off his military cap and brushed away the dust that had accumulated on his body from the crowded area, walking towards Guo Songling and others.

  "Lin Wei, you're really something else, going in personally to take a look? Come on, come on, quickly tell us what's the latest scoop on the bulletin board." Guo Songling strode forward with a big smile, putting one hand on Lin Wei's shoulder, looking like an old buddy.

  Lin Wei hastily pushed away Guo Songling, with a scolding expression, saying: "You've just finished training horse riding, and now you're covered in stinky sweat, yet you still lean on me. You're really a troublemaker!"

  "Everyone is so familiar with each other, and yet Brother Weiwen still holds a grudge?" Guo Songling laughed heartily and asked again, "Quickly tell me, what's new on the bulletin board?"

  "It's not exactly fresh news, but it's about the competition with Baoding Military Academy that was announced last time," Lin Wei replied. "This time, the specific arrangement of the competition has been announced. It is said that the participants will be recommended by the class leaders and then selected by the principal and the dean of studies. Today is the 26th, and on the 30th, the list will be finalized, and we will make arrangements to go to Baoding."

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