America 1881: They Call Me Legend

Minister of War Ai Jie was a little confused.

Although in his subconscious mind he also believed that there must be a war between the United States and Spain.

But when the war came, the former Northern Army officer was at a loss.

The active army has only 8000 people, and at least half of them are on the border.

One of them had been beaten to pieces by the New Mexico militia not long ago.

And there are a full 15 Spanish troops stationed in Cuba!
Ai Jie sat in his office with a melancholy face.

After thinking about it, he still hung up on the president's call.

"William, are we really going to war with the Spaniards?" On the phone, the Minister of War asked hesitantly.

There was silence on the other end of the phone for a few seconds, and then McKinley's voice without any emotion came:
"Yes, Ajay, we are facing a war!"

"But a few weeks ago, Sherman told me that this war will not happen for the time being!" Aijie said dejectedly.

"The situation is different. The Maine sank. Aijie. Congress will soon pass a bill that will trigger the war." The voice on the other end of the phone was still calm, "It's not up to us."

"But we don't have soldiers yet! New guns and ammunition are still being produced on the production line in the arsenal! We don't even have a battle plan!"

If it wasn't for the need to hold the microphone in his hand, Ai Jie would probably want to grab his hair now.

"Then you can start to formulate it now. I will call the Army Commander Nelson Miles to set up a command."

The other end of the phone paused and continued.

But this time, it was more like an ultimatum than a communication.

"Don't forget, everyone in our country is a fighter, it's something that runs in our blood, so I don't think it's an issue."

"After the war, the navy will first perform their duties. You have one or two months to prepare for the battle. I think this time is enough."

Immediately, the phone was hung up.

Aijie sat down on the chair.

He was a little desperate.

Why can such cold words be spoken from a mouth of 36 degrees!
One or two months, to put it lightly.

The first thing to do is to recruit enough soldiers.

Then they need to be trained, otherwise, they will die on the battlefield.

Finally there are their guns, ammunition, clothing, food.

How could it be ready within a month or two?

He somewhat regretted his hesitation and listened to the damn Secretary of State.

Ai Jie half-lyed on the chair, thinking about the next countermeasure.

Suddenly, a person appeared in his mind.

His good friend, Chen Jianqiu.

Although he is a Chinese, in Aijie's impression, he is no different from a wise and enthusiastic American businessman.

Chen always has a way to help him.

He saved himself from bankruptcy by transporting out the stockpiled lumber for himself in the Rocky Mountains.

If he hadn't encouraged himself to participate in the political investment in McKinley, he might still be just a lumber merchant in the west.

Chen Jianqiu is his "lucky star"!
He is the largest arms dealer in the United States, and he has a group of Chinese under him, so he will definitely find a way.

Aijie sat up abruptly:

"Charlotte! Charlotte!"

He called his assistant in.

"Go to Roosevelt next door and ask, where is Chen recently, I want to see him."

The assistant led the way.

He returned soon with news.

Chen Jianqiu "happens" to be in Washington, and not long ago he talked with Roosevelt about the ammunition order.

The next day, Mr. Chen showed up at Ai Jie's office.

Wearing a suit, he walked slowly into the office of the Secretary of War.

"Chen, you're here."

Ai Jie, who had just signed the recruitment order, handed the document to Charlotte and motioned him to leave the office.

Chen Jianqiu took off his hat, revealing his short hair, which made him look leaner.

"Please sit down."

After the assistant left the office, the minister stood up, walked to the door, closed the office door, turned his head and said to Chen Jianqiu.

Unlike Roosevelt's office, Ajay has a large sofa here.

He sat opposite to Chen Jianqiu.

"Are you calling me so urgently because of the order for the Clark rifles from the Springfield Armory?" Chen Jianqiu smiled, "By the way, can you smoke here?"

Ai Jie didn't speak, got up and walked back to his desk, bent down and took out an iron ashtray from the drawer, turned around and handed it to Chen Jianqiu.

Chen Jianqiu took out a cigar and lit it carelessly, and handed another one to the minister.

But the minister took the cigar and put it directly on the table.

He stared at Chen Jianqiu intently:
"Mr. Chen, are you willing to fight for America?"

Chen Jianqiu looked startled.

"Mr. Minister, why do you say that? Of course I am willing to fight for the freedom and dignity of this country." He sat up straight and said "righteously".

Ai Jie breathed a sigh of relief:

"Then Mr. Chen, I hope you can take your Chinese soldiers to Cuba to defeat the Spaniards there."

After hearing this, Chen Jianqiu frowned.

He puffed on his cigar, hesitation on his face.

"Mr. Minister, there are no problems with guns, ammunition and supplies, but I don't have anyone on hand."

After a long time, Chen Jianqiu said.

Minister Ai Jie waited for a long time, and he almost couldn't hold back when he heard such a sentence from Boss Chen who was opposite him.

"Mr. Chen, you and I both know that not long ago, your militia had a conflict with the border guards!" He simply said it directly.

Anyway, they are all his own people, and they are also the parties concerned. He is not ashamed of the matter of the Ministry of the Army.

Chen Jianqiu shook his head:
"Mr. Minister, you are wrong. Those are not my soldiers. Although they are all Chinese, they are the militia of New Mexico, under the command of the governor of New Mexico."

"I'm just a businessman from New Mexico."

Ai Jie almost fainted out of breath again.

Who do these Chinese people listen to? Haven’t you figured it out yet?

Chen Jianqiu stood up, took two steps back and forth, and sighed:

"It's not that I don't want to serve our country. You know, many people have doubts about whether the Chinese can fight for this country, but in fact, this is our home."

He looked up at the ceiling of the Office of the Minister of War at a 45-degree angle, with a melancholy expression on his face:
"I put my heart on the bright moon, but the bright moon shines on the ditch!"

".Eight hundred miles of fire under the command, the sound of fifty strings turning over the fortress, autumn soldiers on the battlefield."

Ai Jie could hear the pain in his temple, he couldn't understand what Chen Jianqiu was talking about, so he had to interrupt the latter:
"Mr. Chen, sorry, I don't understand what you are talking about."

Chen Jianqiu turned his head and looked at the minister:

"What I mean is that my desire to serve the country cannot be satisfied, and it attracts people's suspicion all day long."

"Don't pay attention to the nonsense of those congressmen, the president and I believe in you!" Aijie quickly waved his hand, "I will give you a regiment name, and it will be called the Second Volunteer Cavalry Brigade! You go to gather the troops by yourself, and just follow the orders of the headquarters."

"How about the number of people?"

"The more the better, but you have to find your own way of equipment, ammunition, and supplies." Aijie replied, walking back to his desk to sign the order.

"Who is the First Cavalry Regiment?" Chen Jianqiu asked suddenly.

"Theodore, he came to me not long ago and said that as soon as the war started, he would resign from the post of Deputy Minister of the Navy and lead the team to fight against Cuba." The minister had already picked up a pen in his hand.

It didn't take him long to sign the pledge.

By the time Chen Jianqiu left the office of the Secretary of War, he was already Lieutenant Colonel Chen, the commander of the Second U.S. Volunteer Cavalry Brigade.

Chen Jianqiu, who had successfully obtained the serial number from the Ministry of War, immediately returned to Roswell.

More than 1 of his soldiers are massing there.

Most of these soldiers are Chinese, and some Indians, Mexicans and blacks.

The force is well equipped.

At least a third of the soldiers were armed with automatic and semi-automatic rifles in addition to fully loaded bolt-action rifles.

There are about two hundred Maxim heavy machine guns.

This firepower was extremely terrifying in the era when each army had only a dozen heavy machine guns.

Plus, they brought freshly baked mortars with them.

The power of money is indeed powerful.

The designers at the Roswell Ordnance Factory not only designed the mortar within three months, but it took only five months to complete the optimization, parts finalization, and mass production.

By the time this volunteer army was officially formed, there were already more than 100 mortars and corresponding ammunition available for use.

The cavalry brigade also has logistics and medical units under it.

Although the name given by the Ministry of War was the Cavalry Brigade, Chen Jianqiu did not intend to take the horse ashore.

From the designation, Chen Jianqiu knew that these gentlemen in the U.S. Army were all amateurs.

It is very likely that none of them have sent anyone to Cuba for field inspections.

The location of the battle will basically be on the coast of southern Cuba.

It's kind of stupid to fight on horseback in that place.

In addition, Chen Jianqiu also arranged to purchase a large number of single clothes for the 1 soldiers under him.

These unlined garments are long-sleeved, but light in texture, airy and cool.

In order to fight this battle, Chen Jianqiu recalled all his experienced generals, including Xu Ajiu in Hawaii and Asuka in Juarez.

They gathered in the city hall of Roswell and began to study the possible combat strategies after going ashore.

The information collected by the Border Detective Agency and the Cuban Rebel Army was placed on the table.

There was a cup of tea in front of Chen Jianqiu, and there was steaming white air.

On the wall behind him hung a map of Cuba, which marked the terrain in detail.

"I think the order given to us by the U.S. Army Command after the war should be to besiege Santiago." Xu Ajiu looked at the map of Cuba and expressed his judgment seriously.

"I think it should be Guantanamo." Li Sifu on the side expressed his dissent. "San Diego is heavily guarded. According to intelligence, the Spaniards have built a complete fortification there. It is difficult to fight. They should land from Guantanamo and fight from east to west."

"That's right, do you think those white skins will really make us comfortable? Let us take the lead and feed the bullets!" Xu Ajiu insisted on her opinion.

The two insisted on their own opinions and argued.

But Chen Jianqiu, who was sitting under the map, showed a smile on his face, watching the two people come and go, tit for tat.

"Boss, tell me, which side should we put our primary goal on?" Xu Ajiu looked at Chen Jianqiu, hoping for an explanation from the boss.

"If you ask me, you all think too much."

Chen Jianqiu picked up the teacup, took a sip, and then spit out the tea leaves in his mouth to the ground beside him.

"The white skins in the U.S. Army haven't fought a serious battle since the Civil War, and very few of them have experience."

"This group of people is still dreaming of their own dreams of being extremely brave and powerful. How could they give the opportunity to make contributions to us, a mixed-colored army?"

"They will only let us play support, such as assisting large troops to land or something."

He looked up at his two generals, and put down the teacup in his hand.

"In addition, let me remind you that besides winning this battle, the main goal of our trip is to obtain Cuba!"

Chen Jianqiu stood up, picked up a pen from the table, and stood beside the map.

He first circled two places in Santiago and Guantanamo Bay.

"According to our information, most of the Spanish soldiers in southern Cuba are huddled in these two strongholds."

He drew a route on the map with a pen.

"After the declaration of war, I will seek an order to send supplies and equipment to the Cuban rebel army."

"In this name, we took the lead in entering Cuba, cooperated with the local rebels, and wiped out all the Spanish strongholds in the south except Guantanamo and Santiago."

Chen Jianqiu threw the pen on the table.

"According to the mobilization speed of other army units, it is impossible to land in Cuba within two or three months. We must seize the most territory within this time!

"As for the two hard rocks of Santiago and Guantanamo, let the white skins grind their teeth first."

People in the chamber began to discuss this policy.

However, at this moment, a person suddenly broke in.

The people who came had white beards and hair, flushed faces, two or three guns hanging from their naked upper bodies, and two pistols pinned to their waists, looking menacing.

Everyone was shocked at first, and then took a closer look, who is not Zhang Danian?

"Uncle! You, where are you coming from?" Li Sifu stared at the old man dumbfounded.

"Why don't you let me go?" Zhang Danian stared at Chen Jianqiu, "I don't want to be an officer, I can be an ordinary soldier!"

Chen Jianqiu was full of smiles, and just about to open his mouth to speak, Xu Ajiu on the side had already replied:

"Uncle Da Nian, you're almost [-] years old, that damn place in Cuba is too hot, I'm afraid you won't be able to hold on, so you'd better take a rest."

"Fart you!" The old man was furious suddenly, "When I retreated to the Zanshan Mountain in the east of Guangdong, your hair hadn't even grown yet!"

Xu Ajiu saw that Zhang Danian started displaying his qualifications, so he didn't reply anymore, just muttered a few words in a low voice.

"Back when Lian Po was over 70, he was still in command, and old Huang Zhong was still able to kill the enemy. They all wanted to wield big knives. Why can't I pull the trigger?"

"Do you think my old eyes are dizzy, and I can't shoot accurately, or what? Do you want us to compete?"

The more Zhang Danian talked, the more angry he got, he took off the gun behind his back and pulled Xu Ajiu to make gestures.

Xu Ajiu was a little troubled.

It is only natural for him to win, but it is embarrassing and unworthy to lose.

Just when he was hesitating, Chen Jianqiu saved him.

Boss Chen took off his shirt and put it on for the old man.

He whispered to Zhang Danian:
"Uncle Da Nian, I have a more important task for you." (End of this chapter)