Chapter 59: Rectifying Military Discipline

  "Alright, everyone. We've discussed this for a long time now. I'm officially announcing that from now on, all military, police and security team officers above the rank of deputy commander must undergo at least six months of centralized training in the instructional battalion. After training, you will return to your units to reform them according to the training outline and military discipline regulations." In the cafeteria of Linglong Tower's 8th Battalion, Liu Mingjiu interrupted the lively discussion among nearly 600 people, including company commanders from all nine battalions of Jianbei Sixth Town, police captains and directors, as well as deputy commanders above the rank of platoon leader from the security teams, to present his own reform plan.

  Here is the translation:

  "As everyone stopped discussing and looked at him with various gazes, Liu Mingjiu continued: 'Firstly, I will announce the personnel arrangement and supervision of the teaching battalion. The first phase of the teaching battalion, the battalion commander will be personally held by myself, the chief of staff will be held by Han Geng, the ninth company commander, and the quartermaster will be held by Wu Tongjin. Two deputy battalion commanders will also be set up, respectively held by Luo Xiliang and Sun Jimeng, the deputy commander of the ninth company. Under the battalion, there are 18 companies in total, including five infantry, four cavalry, one artillery, and two engineering companies. Each company has a company commander, chief of staff, instructor, training officer, tactical officer, political officer, and inspector. Each company also has a cooking squad and a guard squad. The planned establishment is 123 to 125 people per company, with a total of 1,750 to 1,850 people in the first phase. Under each company, there are platoons established according to the rank system, with each platoon having a platoon leader and deputy leader. Under each platoon, there are squads established according to the class system, with each squad having a squad leader and deputy leader."

  Here is the translation:

  As he read to this point, he looked up and glanced around. The military and police officers below had already begun whispering to each other again. He cleared his throat softly and took a cup of tea handed over by Shen Fengyuan before continuing to read from his prepared plan: "Next, I will announce the relevant military discipline and regulations for the Instructional Brigade. The most basic ones are what you have all heard before - the 'Three Great Disciplines and Eight Points of Attention' that I first implemented in the 8th Company. I don't care what you think, whether you're a soldier or a policeman, as long as you take your salary and eat your rations, you must make obeying orders your top priority. Since I am fully responsible for the affairs of the six towns, you all must adhere to this most basic requirement. Secondly, there are 38 articles of military discipline, 24 articles of regulations, and 12 articles of guard rules. These principles will be the most basic and essential guidelines for the soldiers, police, and security teams in the six towns from now on. I don't care who you are or who is backing you - either find your backer and leave my jurisdiction quickly, or learn, use, and abide by these regulations as soon as possible. If you can't do that, if I'm still here today, I won't let you stay. General Liang gave me such a big mandate because he wants me to lead a team with strong discipline, quality, and physical ability. If anyone thinks they can go against the current or overthrow me, I'd be happy to accompany them. However, if I happen to win in the end, sorry, but not only will you not be able to stay in the military or police, but even the security team won't have a place for you - all you'll be able to do is pack your bags and go back home to farm."

  Liu Mingjiu said this, and then stopped, using his cold eyes to sweep the people below. A killer who doesn't blink, a lone hero who splits the bandits, and repels the Mongolian cavalry. Liu Mingjiu had already gained prestige in the hearts of these people, so when he swept his gaze, everyone below lowered their heads to avoid his sight.

  Liu Mingjiu saw the behavior of these people and knew that some would not be convinced, but he now had a strong enough backing. For their own interests, they would fight to keep themselves safe. So he continued to speak fearlessly: "The training battalion and the six towns' military, police, and security teams, regardless of soldiers, officers, police chiefs, or police officers, anyone who smokes will be transferred out of their jurisdiction and unit. The six towns will not retain 'double-quick soldiers', 'grandfather soldiers', 'mixed soldiers', and 'overlord soldiers'. Whoever wants to return to the original way, I'll let the team leader transfer you out. As for the old, weak, injured, and disabled, I've already obtained a sufficient amount of resettlement funds from above and with the support of the business community. But I won't distribute this money; instead, I'll gather them together and establish a military reclamation logistics unit. The name will be 'Military Reclamation Unit'. This unit's personnel will still receive their original salary and rations, but their task will no longer be training and fighting, but rather to cultivate the six towns' military fields for me. A well-equipped unit without strong logistical support cannot become a victorious army. The first batch of the Military Reclamation Unit will consist of 39 people transferred from the 9th Company; the list has been given to Han Geng and Luo Xiliang, hoping they can quickly do ideological work and let them report to the Military Reclamation Unit. For those who are unwilling to join the Military Reclamation Unit, sorry, you'll be given three months' worth of rations and dispersed on the spot. The first batch of 2,440 people from the Security Team will be transferred to the Military Reclamation Unit; the relevant lists will also be given to the heads of each security team by Wu Tong. Tell these brothers who have joined the Military Reclamation Unit that whether they can cultivate the military fields well or not will determine whether we frontline soldiers have food to eat, clothes to wear, and wine to drink in the future. Even whether we have a warm bed with our wives depends on them. So their task is not inferior to that of the frontline troops; in some ways, it's even more important. It's not shameful; rather, it's glorious."

  The room below was still quiet, not a sound was heard. After listening to Liu Mingjiu's words, the officials and attendants below had various thoughts in their minds, but they didn't dare say another word. They all knew that when Liu Mingjiu's business opened, Jiang San Gongzi came in person, later he got two medals of honor, and now it was Liang Shizhang who personally authorized him, so if anyone wanted to confront him, they really didn't know what kind of disaster would befall them.

  Liu Mingjiu took another sip of water, looked at the officials below who were comparable to his own father, and continued: "Regarding the older brothers in the army, there will also be some changes. After the 9th Regiment was transferred to the Military Colonization Department, there were no more old soldiers, mainly in the Security Regiment. Above the company level, the age cannot exceed 35 years old, above the platoon level, it cannot exceed 30 years old, and the squad leader and deputy cannot exceed 27 years old. The age limit for soldiers is between 17 and 25 years old. Those who have reached the age limit and cannot be promoted will be transferred to the Military Colonization Department on the spot. Brothers in the Military Colonization Department can apply for retirement after reaching the age of 50, and the General Affairs Office will provide corresponding settlement fees based on their length of service. For military officers and those who retired due to injuries sustained during official duties, the General Affairs Office will provide a monthly allowance, which will be paid until the end of their lives. For brothers who died in battle, in addition to providing a one-time consolation fee to their families, the General Affairs Office will also provide 15 taels of silver as a monthly condolence fee, but only the spouse can receive it, and the payment will stop after the spouse's death. Those receiving allowances or condolence fees must personally go to the General Affairs Office every three months to collect them, and no one else is allowed to collect on their behalf. For those who are too old or have mobility issues, the General Affairs Office will send someone to deliver the payments to their homes regularly. From now on, any brother who goes to the battlefield doesn't need to worry about what will happen to his wife and children if he dies in battle, nor does he need to worry about how he will be taken care of when he gets old. As for whether I can fulfill this promise, I believe it's not necessary for me to say more, everyone knows that the financial resources of Liuhe are sufficient to support these expenses."

  The more than 600 people under the stage went wild, applauding frantically after hearing Liu Mingjiu's words. In this era, when soldiers died in battle, their families were left with no support and were extremely miserable. Those old soldiers who were eliminated from the army after growing older had no other way to make a living except by relying on the money they saved while serving as soldiers. Liu Mingjiu's system, which was completely copied from his own era, naturally received the heartfelt support and gratitude of the majority of officers and soldiers.

  Liu Mingjiu smiled slightly, waved his hand to interrupt the applause of the crowd, and after taking another sip of water, he continued to speak: "Now that we have given everyone so many benefits, it is natural that we will also require everyone to do something. From now on, within the six towns, no military unit is allowed to use official power for personal gain, no military unit is allowed to privately purchase or sell arms, and no military unit is allowed to forcibly recruit soldiers. Recruitment of soldiers will be uniformly arranged by the General Inspection Office, temporarily set at once every half year. At the same time, brothers who have retired from the military and public security teams and cannot be resettled will be given priority to enter the police training team for retraining before joining the police force. The six police stations will all implement the Linglong Tower's previous regulations starting today. Those who should retire will retire, those who should resign will resign, and those who should be cleared out will not be left behind. From now on, whoever thinks that wearing a police uniform gives them the right to bully the people, I'm sorry, but the people won't forgive you, and I, Liu Mingjiu, will be the first to settle with you. If there are any brothers in the military or public security teams who violate military discipline, it's even more unforgivable - don't blame me for being ruthless, killing you is no more difficult than killing a chicken."

  Another stir in the audience. This eighteen-year-old general inspector, it's clear that he wants to discipline the military and police. Some officials who were used to exploiting and bullying civilians heard his words and turned pale with fear.

  Liu Mingjiu naturally saw the behavior of those people and didn't bother to look at them again. He continued to say: "As for those who have violated military discipline, deducted military pay, exploited the people, oppressed the commoners, protected prostitutes and gamblers, and colluded with bandits in the past, you can submit your resignation reports after the meeting. The General Administration will provide you with a certain amount of severance pay. For brothers whose offenses are relatively light, you can continue to be employed, and we'll see how you behave in the future."

  Those who had committed evil deeds under the stage, upon hearing this sentence, were again led by Meng Da to applaud. However, Liu Mingjiu soon interrupted them: "Within three days, all members of the Teaching Brigade must join the team. The Military Reclamation General Team will be headed by Han Xinfeng as the General Team Leader, with He Yishan, the original leader of the Guxi Sub-branch Security Regiment, as the General Team Staff Officer, and Zhu Xinmo, the original leader of the Twelfth Deburg Security Regiment, as the First Deputy General Team Leader. Ba Ke Ba La, the original leader of the Xishan Gen Sub-branch Security Regiment, will serve as the Second Deputy General Team Leader. I will personally serve as the General Supervisor of the Military Reclamation General Team, Wu Tongjin as the General Coordinator, and Han Geng as the General Training Officer. The seven of us will form the Six Towns Military Reclamation Patrol Office. Alright, after the meeting is dismissed, everyone please go to Wu Tongjin's place for the list of items and documents. The meeting is now adjourned."

  Liu Mingjiu finished speaking, turned around and walked down from the stage, leaving the crowded cafeteria of the Eighth Company. After returning to his own office, he fell onto his kang and started snoring loudly. Having spent three days arranging these matters, Liu Mingjiu finally felt relieved after completing all the tasks. With his nerves having been running at high speed for three days, he soon fell into a deep sleep on the warm kang head heated by the cooks, entering a dreamland.