Can you really be a shopkeeper who just throws money around? Don't even think about it, at least the people who report to him will increase because of this division of labor, after all, Xiangxi is still Wang Zhenyu's home turf.

  Wang Zhenyu had just sent off Song Xianfu, who had been following the old department since the new army period and was a bit annoying recently. In the Ma'an battle of the Hongjiang punitive war, although relying on Wan Yaohuang's on-site performance to win by luck, it also exposed Song Xianfu's lack of battlefield command ability.

  Although reluctant to leave the Tiger Travel, Song Xianfu was still sent by Wang Zhenyu to the Security Protection Department and became the commander of the Jingzhou Branch. Well, since you have a rice bowl, listen to others' arrangements, Song Xianfu gathered his iron rods and took office in the security protection system.

  What's the result? After great difficulty, the Jingzhou detachment was finally formed into a decent shape. Before he could even catch his breath, Song Xianfu received new orders again. The team he had built with hard work was handed over to Shen Zongyi, who suddenly appeared out of nowhere, and then returned to Hongjiang to report. Song Xianfu felt very uncomfortable, seeing Hao Bing become the security commander, while this system grew stronger day by day, but he, also a former general's subordinate, was once again marginalized.

  Arrived at Hongjiang, it was not easy to see the general, and he didn't get a few comforting words. The general gave himself a new task, and this time it was even more thorough. He became the commander of the railway construction corps, responsible for building the Antong Railway.

  Where is the railway? Song Xianfu was inexplicably sad, in just half a year, he had transformed from being the majestic Tiger Traveling Brigade Captain to becoming a road repair foreman, although his treatment hadn't decreased but rather increased, this feeling was also too embarrassing.

  But now the big officer is not like before, you can't talk terms with him, so, gritting your teeth and going to Anjiang to take office.

  After seeing off Song Xianfu, Wang Zhenyu took Yang Wangu and Xu Yuanquan to Anjiang to inspect Zhao Dongsheng's Jingwei Troop. This troop was newly formed today, but the quality of the soldiers is absolutely better than other troops.

  Commander Zhao Dongsheng, Deputy Commander and Chief of Staff Tang Hairong, First Battalion Commander Yu Zuobai, Second Battalion Commander Liao Ke, Third Battalion Commander Li Pinxian led all officers and soldiers to line up to welcome General Wang Zhenyu for inspection. When Wang Zhenyu saw that the three battalion commanders were from Guangxi, his eyelids twitched involuntarily, he had to be careful not to create a new "Guangxi clique" under his own command.

  Then the whole team conducted a three-hour attack and defense exercise, which made Wang Zhenyu shake his head.

  However, he did not scold anyone, but instead let his deputy officer Zhu Cihuan go to the Xiangxi Army Officer School which was under construction to invite Wan Yaohuang over.

  As soon as Wan Yao Huang came over, Wang Zhenyu scolded: "For the past few months, I've been busy with local affairs, thinking of ways to raise military salaries for you soldiers, and you've trained into this state?"

  Wan Yao-huang, Hsu Yuan-ch'uan and Yang Wan-kuei looked at each other in dismay: "May we ask the General to enlighten us, what is wrong with this drill?"

  Wang Zhenyu was furious: "Alright, alright, you might as well change careers and become directors. Do you know what a movie is? It's that moving picture thing foreigners play with. You go do that, then specialize in war movies, specifically about beating up Japan. Alas, with your training methods, the troops would be invincible in the universe on screen, and everyone who watches the movie will sympathize with Japan."

  Everyone was still in a daze, Wang Zhenyu completely blew up: "Zhao Lao San, gather the troops together, General Ben will personally review."

  Historically, Wang Zhenyu's first self-proclaimed title of "Da Shuai" resulted in everyone around him being scolded.

  "Standing in a military posture is neat, what's the use? When attacking, you're actually playing with formations, waiting for the enemy's machine gun to sweep, right? Skirmish line, skirmish line, why not pay attention to dispersing? And even more ridiculous, the rear troops' performance only paid attention to dispersing, why didn't they form an attack angle? You just scattered like ducks, what's the use? No collective coordination, no depth cover, where is the attacking power? Just imagine it for yourselves!"

  "There's also firepower support, where's the machine gun firepower support? It all relies on human waves charging forward. Do you know how much heart and soul parents put into raising a soldier from birth to adulthood? Are you just going to stupidly charge forward with your lives to break through defenses? What's the point of me training you then? I might as well recruit a bunch of wild bulls that only know how to charge forward, they're not worse than you. And what about hand grenades? I bought these things for you to use to enhance your own firepower, but you're treating them like decorations. It's not just the attacking side that doesn't use hand grenades, the defending side is also being gentle. Are you guys acting? This is basically a performance, and who are you performing for? Is it for me? I give you military pay every month, feed you with rice and bread, expecting you to be like men, working together with me to create something worthy of our ancestors and future generations. But what about you? You're playing around, being reckless. Don't just shout slogans here, on the battlefield, it's all about putting your words into action. If you die, that's not a big deal, but if the person who kills you gets to live a life of luxury, sleep with your wife, and beat your kids, would you be okay with that? Tell me, are you willing?"

  The officers and men were all scolded by Wang Zhenyu until they were red-faced and ashamed, and when the general asked, they immediately shouted: "Unwilling!"

  Wang Zhenyu finally vented some of his anger, saying "Nainai, that's too much. From the Battle of Hongjiang, it's been over a month now. But looking at my own troops, they haven't made any progress at all. Do I really have to spend my own money to bring in some German instructors who don't care about face to discipline these good-for-nothings?"

  "Alright, it seems you haven't become complete military brats yet and still have some shame. Everyone sit down and listen to me tell you how a soldier should be trained."

  The officers and soldiers suddenly sat down neatly in front of Wang Zhenyu, despite the fact that it had just rained lightly in the morning and the training ground had been trampled into a muddy field. However, as a result of long-term training, these soldiers didn't even frown as they sat down.

  Wang Zhenyu nodded in satisfaction, his spirit still intact. Frankly speaking, the dogs under his command were not bad, and even if they were to face the most elite Beiyang Army, they would still have a fighting chance. Was he being too harsh on them? But then again, should he be content with just defeating the Beiyang Army? If he didn't demand more from them, how would they deal with the increasingly powerful enemies in the future, like the Japanese and Russians? It was clear that there was no room for compromise; even a moment's hesitation would make everything disappear into thin air.

  "What is war? Simply put, it's a group of people engaging in unlimited death matches. Either you're afraid to die and don't go, but once you do, you must face death - it's either you or me, no conditions apply. The more you fear death, the faster you'll die. Only the brave, only those who are not afraid of death have a chance to survive. But can just having the bravery of an ordinary man, just having brute strength win a war? Can it keep you alive? That's nonsense."

  Wang Zhenyu paused for a moment before continuing: "Fighting is like mending shoes or building walls - it's a craft. Those who are skilled at this craft not only can survive but also make money. However, if one is clumsy at this craft, they can only watch others make money while they themselves go to their deaths. Therefore, never equate war with training as the same thing. Training must be close to actual combat, and killing must be done without any reservations or limitations. Don't just follow the rules and regulations rigidly, word for word, when fighting!"

  "What is a regulation? It's just the experience of our predecessors. Soldiers must learn to use their brains to fight, not be bound by conventions. Take your defensive position just now, for example. I saw that the trench you dug on the mountain was making me anxious. Why is the slope in front of the trench still a slope? Can't you flatten it into a vertical surface? When the enemy infantry charges up, they will face our heads directly, do you know that? It's just a simple matter of digging a trench, and the action is quick. What is the purpose of our digging trenches? Is it to hold this mountain head, or to dig graves for ourselves? As a result, I looked around, and it was all like a cemetery, were you preparing to bury me inside?" The soldiers below couldn't help but laugh, and the atmosphere on the scene eased slightly.

  "This trench is just an example, you should think about it during your usual training. Think about how we can make the most of the situation and make our enemy feel uncomfortable and out of luck. While we become more and more comfortable with each battle. Ah, I'm telling you, this war is already won. For instance, this trench, if you make it difficult for them to run or lie down, they'll only get beaten when they charge at you, isn't that right? I think it's completely possible. So why don't we just be practical and dig the trench according to our needs instead of following the textbook requirements?"

  Wang Zhenyu's speech after the Jingwei Corps was later quoted by Wan Yaohuang many times in his lectures at the military academy, and the five words "use your brain to fight" also became the school motto of the military academy.

  After the speech, Wang Zhenyu said to Xu Yuanquan, Wan Yao Huang and Yang Wanguo: "I'm not trying to pick a fight today, but your thinking has already led you into a misunderstanding. You are different from those mid-level military officers, you are directly under me, the high-level officials of the Hǔtǔ Travel and even the entire Xiangxi region. If their brains get flooded, they will only lose their own lives, if your brains get flooded, it will harm many brothers!"

  Yang Wanguo hastily took the lead in making a statement: "We know we were wrong, and when we get back, we will definitely summarize it well."

  Wang Zhenyu waved his hand: "What I want is not a summary of one or several people, don't play that kind of formalism, it's not difficult to deceive me with a copy of the materials, can you deceive the enemy's bullets? Oh, those bullets will turn around when they see you, what a good thing, teach me first."

  "Old Song and Old Hao have left the field army due to personal reasons, I hope you don't end up like them. I hope you can keep up with my pace and not be left behind. There is a brighter future ahead, each of you has an opportunity, and it's possible for you to leave your mark in history. Think carefully, spend some time, don't waste this chance, or you'll regret it later. After we return, Old Yang will take the lead, using this Jingwei team as a model, mobilize the officers and soldiers together, summarize the experience from training and actual combat, turn the good experiences into regulations, and promote them throughout the army. From today on, the Jingwei team is a model team, I want to see an invincible elite force that can fight well. You think about it carefully, three months later, I'll come to inspect. If it's still like this, I won't say anything else, Old Yang, you'd better prepare yourself, and this chief of staff might as well quit too, take a look at whether he should go to a non-combat unit for work, otherwise, there's no need to wear this military uniform anymore. The four administrative offices in western Hunan are all empty without directors, when the time comes, you Old Yang can choose whichever one you want, as long as you don't think it's too idle."

  Next, in Guizhou City, when inspecting the Guiyang branch team, the team leader Tian Shouhai was also scolded by Wang Zhenyu until he was covered in dog blood. As soon as the news came out, all the military officers were in a state of panic, from morning to night, they were busy drilling their soldiers, deeply afraid that one day the commander would come for a surprise inspection and they would be caught off guard, which would be disastrous for their future prospects. Whoever wants to sit on the director's chair of the Administrative Office can go ahead, we're not interested anyway.

  This time, the training also affected another person, that is, He Wen-huan, a 15-year-old groom who followed Wang Zhenyu. Before following Wang Zhenyu, He Wen-huan's greatest ambition was to become the leader of a gang like his brother-in-law, but now he has developed a strong interest in fighting skills.

  On August 6, according to Wang Zhenyu's request, the military supply department of Maxi Cheng designed two sets of uniforms. One was blue-gray in color and issued to field troops. The other was black-gray in color and issued to security troops. All police officers were required to wear white shirts with blue pants as their uniform. The reason is simple: Wang Zhenyu thought that the police looked very kind when wearing this uniform, although he knew that good or evil depends on the system, not on the style of clothing or color tone.

  On August 7, Chen Shao was summoned by Wang Zhenyu. With an extremely excited heart and a yearning for a bright future, he completed the handover of work at the fastest speed and rushed to Hongjiang after feeding mosquitoes in Jingzhou for three months.