Chapter Fifty-Seven: Our Spring is Coming

  This train also brought 6 new-style armored vehicles, a batch of fuel and coal. After Mei Xiang and the others left, the officers and soldiers at the base began to transport these things. The temperature has dropped rapidly recently, and Nan Kou area is also a wind tunnel, so this batch of coal arrived very timely, and the boiler room does not have to worry about running out of coal reserves all day long. Before the arrival of severe winter, the heating supply of the base was guaranteed.

  Kang Fan jumped onto a war chariot and took it for a spin on the training grounds of the base, feeling very satisfied.

  This armored vehicle uses an improved full-tracked tractor chassis, with the original engine replaced by a more powerful new diesel engine, and its maximum speed can exceed 50 kilometers. The enclosed body is welded with armor steel plates, which can withstand the impact of rifles, machine guns and shell fragments from modern strong teams. In the middle of the vehicle, an improved 82mm field gun was installed on a closed armored turret that could rotate 360 degrees. On top of the turret, as well as in front and rear, a Type 96 general-purpose machine gun was mounted.

  The vehicle was developed and produced by the Taiyuan Automotive Manufacturing Enterprise Defense Division under the guidance of Kangfan. These six are the first batch of trial production models, which were specially sent to the Nankou base for performance testing by the Mechanized Brigade.

  "From today on, call up your soldiers and drive this car to the desolate wilderness where there's no road, drive recklessly until it can't be driven anymore, and fire guns and cannons wildly." Kang Fan said to Zhou Team Leader.

  Comrade Zhou saluted with a standard PLA military salute and departed to carry out his orders.

  Kang Fan felt that he was indeed similar to the kind and respectable comrades in his memory, and he couldn't help but feel a sense of affection for him. He called out to him again: "Bring pen and paper, and carefully record every detail of each test run for each vehicle. After summarizing and organizing them, hand them over to me."

  "Understood, Principal." Zhou Tuanzhang replied and ran off.

  In no time, 6 tanks rumbled onto the training ground, formed a line and accelerated, kicking up clouds of dust as they sped out of the base gate, soon disappearing into the desolate wilderness amidst the biting wind. First update in real-time.

  "It's a pleasure to fight with this kind of weapon against the foreigners!" Kang Fan couldn't help but feel itchy and eager.

  Kang Fan's time in Beijing, Shou Shan, Nie Shi Cheng, Song Qing and others visited the Nan Kou base one after another. Nie Shi Cheng came from Tianjin every time, so he spent the most nights at the Nan Kou base.

  "The Jin army's reputation for being impenetrable is spreading throughout the world. Now that we want to test it, can we?" Nie Shicheng asked with a smile.

  Kang Fan smiled, "I know that seniors are suspicious, but the Jin army is not like the Boxer's deceptive tactics, it is actually the power of technology."

  At that time, a soldier presented a chest armor worn by the Jin army. "This is cast from fine steel and is very effective in withstanding handgun fire and bayonet thrusts. However, it cannot effectively withstand rifle fire for now." Kang Fan said as he demonstrated it briefly.

  Nie Shicheng was extremely surprised, holding it in his hand and examining it carefully for a long time. He said: "I have personally seen the 'knife-proof' trick of the Boxer rebels, which is actually loading the bullet first and then the gunpowder. After firing, the gunpowder ignites first and the bullet is carried out by inertia, not pushed out by the gunpowder, making it impossible to harm people. I was very angry at that time, so I exposed their trick and killed him with one knife."

  Kang Fan smiled and said, "Nie senior has a discerning eye, I admire him greatly. However, to kill a peasant who was about to use cunning tactics out of anger is excessive."

  Nie Shicheng also smiled, "The Boxer rebels' hatred for me started from this. However, I have fought against foreigners several times and deeply understand the great disparity in strength. How can the Boxers possibly 'overthrow the Qing and destroy the foreigners'? They will bring disaster to our country and harm our people!"

  Kang Fan agrees.

  "Lord Kang's ruthlessness is well-known, and everyone who hears about it is shocked. However, when dealing with the Boxer Rebellion, he showed mercy and kindness, I wonder why?" asked Nie Shicheng.

  Kang Fan said: "Nothing else, our country and people should be preserved."

  Nie Shi stroked his mustache above his upper lip, seemingly deep in thought.

  The two men have finalized the defensive matters in the Tianjin area. The Dagukou fort and the Jin army stationed on the Tianjin coast are managed by Kang Fan in peacetime, and during wartime, they will be combined with Nie Shicheng's Wuwei Army inside the city of Tianjin under Nie Shicheng's command. The two armies will also provide extensive assistance and cooperation in communication liaison, information exchange, logistics support, and key defense areas to jointly consolidate the defensive work in the Tianjin area.

  The Jin army won two battles against the Japanese and Russian armies in a short period of just a few months, achieving an extremely good deterrent effect. Not only did it prompt domestic and international situations to rapidly stabilize, but also strengthened control over the crucial Beijing-Tianjin region, realizing Kang Fang's strategic vision.

  After the situation in Beijing eased, most of the Inner Guard troops withdrew to Shanxi, but the number of regular soldiers from the Jin Army stationed at the Nan Kou base increased to over 10,000. The cavalry units under its command conducted armed patrols around the clock in the suburbs of Beijing, bringing a strong sense of security to local residents. In this gathering place for elites in Beijing, the Jin Army was widely acclaimed by the people as a righteous and powerful Qing dynasty army, and its influence spread rapidly across the country.

  In mid-December, Kang Fan returned to Shanxi. The newly completed highways were made of a mixture of cement and gravel, and the fresh moisture could still be felt. The highway was wide enough for two sx2300 cars to drive side by side, not very wide but sufficient to be flat and hard. By today's standards, there may not be many kilometers of such standard highways in the world, yet Shanxi is currently forming a network between several major cities, truly an impressive achievement!

  Perhaps due to the reason of the twelfth lunar month, on the way, except for seeing 2 large buses with not many passengers, there was no one else at each station. The only companions were the white poplars standing densely like soldiers on both sides of the highway, stretching out their bare branches in the cold wind, waiting.

  "Don't worry, spring will be here soon." Kang Fan exclaimed excitedly in his heart.

  In the distance, the majestic Taiyuan City stands tall and upright in the vast expanse of white snow. The city wall, over 10 meters high, stretches for tens of miles, with flying eaves and carved dragons and phoenixes on the large gate towers standing high and lined up neatly. Enemy buildings, city battlements, and green bricks are clearly visible. Under the gate tower, the city gate is open, with a constant flow of carriages, horses, and people.

  Looking at all this, a strong sense of satisfaction surged in Kang Fan's heart: the largest city in western Shanxi, after experiencing thousands of years of vicissitudes, has been dominated by a group of young people from later generations and is starting its new life. And under her leadership, the land of Sanjin, the Qing Empire, and even the entire world will be shaken! What an experience this is! No matter who it is, if one can have such an experience in their lifetime, it's worth dying for!

  Kang Fan was ready to enter the city from the new south gate on the southeast side of Taiyuan City. The guards on the gate tower had already seen his car, and when Kang Fan drove up to the outer city, the soldiers were already lined up in the moat city to welcome him. The soldiers' military posture was standard, their uniforms neat and tidy, directly reflecting the strict daily management of the troops. Moreover, just now on the car, Kang Fan had seen that these soldiers were polite and courteous when dealing with passing pedestrians, although he couldn't hear what they were saying, but it could be determined that they were not being arrogant. Kang Fan was very satisfied, and his mood became even better.

  Drove into the city, carefully inching along on the crowded streets, it took almost 2 hours to arrive at the Provincial Governor's Mansion.

  "In the city, it's still better to ride Red Hare. For more and faster chapters, please go to sx2300. It's too big." Kang Fan muttered to himself.

  The yard was quiet, Kang Fan stood for a while, heard the sound of Chi Tu's sucking, and his heart was delighted. He walked into the horse house on the east side of the courtyard, and saw Chi Tu inside, raising its head, trying to struggle free from the reins that bound it.

  "Missing me, huh?" Kang Fan walked over, untied the reins, and gently stroked Chi Tu's shiny horse mane.

  The red rabbit kept rubbing its nose against him, his head grinding back and forth on his body.

  "Where did they go, Chì Tù?" Kang Fan asked, but then immediately fell silent with a laugh. Could Chì Tù talk?

  Let the red rabbit out and let it roam in the yard. The snow in the yard was swept very clean, and there was even a snowman piled up in the lotus pond, which was very interesting. Suddenly feeling hungry, but the door is locked and can't get in. Looking at the watch, it's not yet time for dinner, and there won't be ready-made food in the cafeteria either. Can only take out a can of fish from the car to eat. The red rabbit came over and touched his hand. He took out a handful of roasted peanuts from the car and patiently peeled off the skin one by one to feed the red rabbit.

  From afar, I heard Adolf's familiar shout. Raising my head to look over, behind Adolf, Mei Xiang's beautiful figure was walking through the layers of courtyards towards me, and a warm feeling rose up from the bottom of my heart.

  Kang Fan quickly swallowed the canned fish, wanting to finish it before Mei Xiang saw him, but there was still a lot of fish left, how could he finish it all at once? Throwing it away was really unbearable, and in his hesitation, Mei Xiang had already stepped into the courtyard.

  "Bring it here!" Meixiang snatched the can from his hand and threw it to Adolph, "Are you starving like this? Busy all day, on a cold day like today, you don't even know how to eat a hot meal!"

  Kang Fan smiled and looked at Mei Xiang's pretty face, which was frozen red, and chewed the fish meat in his mouth from time to time. Adolph ignored the can and squatted down beside Kang Fan, staring at him without blinking.

  "Come home with me." Meixiang grasped Kangfan's hand.

  Kang Fan obediently followed him.

  Although familiar people had already sent many New Year's goods in the twelfth lunar month, the governor's mansion canteen had also prepared a sumptuous feast, but Meixiang insisted on personally celebrating the new year with Kangfan and dragged him to the market and shops to buy this and that. Kangfan originally didn't like doing these things, but as long as Meixiang was happy, he was willing to accompany her in doing anything. For a whole year, he had been busy running around, and had neglected Meixiang.

  The current prosperity of Taiyuan City is no less than that of the Tianjin base, and its influence and scope far exceed those of the Tianjin base. Domestic and foreign merchants gather here in large numbers, with more Asians with black hair and yellow skin, Europeans with blond hair and white skin, Africans with black hair and black skin, Arabs wearing huge headscarves, and so on than in Tianjin. Cars, horse-drawn carriages, camels, bicycles, and hand-pulled carts are everywhere to be seen, and all sorts of languages, ethnic groups, cultures, and products are concentrated here. The shops and markets along the streets are filled with local, domestic, and foreign goods, dazzling and complete in variety. Compared with the desolate scene when I first arrived here, it is like the difference between heaven and earth!

  As the capital of Shanxi Province, Taiyuan City has done a great job in urban management. Public facilities, commercial areas, industrial zones and residential areas are all well-organized. The greening and beautification work is very fine, and everywhere looks lively and clean. Looking into the distance, the continuous mountain ranges in the distance are hidden among the green pines and cypresses against the backdrop of snow-covered mountains, set off by the blue sky, a beautiful scene that makes people yearn for the northern landscape!

  "Mountains and rivers are so beautiful, countless heroes bow their heads..." Kang Fan suddenly remembered a few lines of poetry from a great man, and couldn't help but mutter to himself.

  Mei Xiang laughed, "What's with the sentimental talk again? With a beauty by your side, you're still daydreaming?"

  Kang Fan's arms wrapped around Mei Xiang, almost putting his entire body weight on her shoulders.

  "You're killing me!" Meixiang said, but she grabbed Kangfan's hand that was hanging in front of her chest and refused to let go. The two of them walked shoulder to shoulder through the crowd, occasionally selecting goods they liked. Every time they stopped, the gazes of many passersby would converge on them, making Kangfan feel quite uncomfortable.

  "What a big change." Kang Fan sighed.

  "Mei Xiang gave him a cold glance, 'If you don't come back, I'm afraid you won't even be able to find your way home.'"

  Kang Fan smiled, "That doesn't matter. As long as I can find you, you are my home."

  Mei Xiang immediately felt pleased with herself, "This sentence is really well said."

  Met several classmates with plum fragrance on the road, all carrying big bags and small bags of New Year's goods, each one was joyful. After a warm conversation, everyone went their separate ways.

  Now, these college students who were once young and inexperienced have all found their own suitable positions in this era, and their efforts are quietly changing everything around them. Thinking back to the incident at the time, Kang Fan can't say whether it was a blessing or a curse for them, but one thing is certain - there will always be regrets, after all, there were many things they couldn't easily let go of in that era, such as family ties, friendships, dreams and dependencies, and perhaps some things would never be found again.

  "Do I really have to go back to that era?" Kang Fan asked himself in his heart.