Beiyang 1917

"There is no problem in equipping you with the firearms and ammunition of a model teaching group!" Xu Shuzheng said bluntly, and then changed the topic, "But there are some problems in the future, let alone the equipment of 12 brigades for the third division and six brigades, I am now A brigade does not have much ammunition and equipment!"

Wang Geng spread his arms and muttered dissatisfiedly, "What kind of soldiers did I recruit without guns or cannons? How can your army department figure out how to do this?"

"Yezheng, has there been any new progress in the past two days regarding the loan from the Japanese consortium?" Duan Qirui frowned when he heard this. In the short term, several domestic arsenals affiliated to them obviously cannot quench their thirst in the short term.

"Japan is now wholeheartedly waiting for us to declare war on Germany. That Nishihara Kameyama said that if the Chinese government does not declare war for a day, the subsequent loans and arms will not be discussed. He also said that if we do not declare war, the bonds issued by the Bank of Communications last time The mortgaged 500 million yen loan must also be taken back!" Xu Shuzheng's tone was obviously not relaxed.

"Prime Minister, Deputy Chief, how is the declaration of war progressing? Follow me... I will send someone for you to persuade President Li to quit!" Wang Geng mentioned this with a grin.

"This matter has already been started in the past few days. You don't need to worry about it. Bring me the 16th mixed brigade. It is your task to make up the third division and the sixth brigade for me!" Duan Qirui interrupted Wang Geng If he said that, he was obviously afraid that Wang Geng, a fearless guy, would really make trouble for him.

"Well, of course I need Japanese loans, but I don't plan to use Japanese-style equipment in the troops I am training! The little devils are helping us with arms, and I can't use most of them. Of course, the 75mm mountain gun is barely usable, and the 6.5mm I can't look down on the three or eight guns!" Wang Geng said suddenly!

"Huh? Then you plan to equip all the German Mausers? I have no place to get you the equipment for the 12 brigades! The European War is like this, and the rifles of Britain, France and Germany are not enough. The Ministry of War can at most I'll get you a German Mauser rifle from the teaching group, but the gun is a Mauser 98! It's better than the 88 imported in the early years and made in Hanyang!"

Xu Shuzheng was not surprised when he heard the words. Most of the Beiyang troops were equipped with German-made Mauser 88 rifles, and the rest were domestically imitated 88-style rifles, commonly known as Hanyang-made rifles. They all used 7.92mmx57mm Mauser rifle ammunition.The Japanese-style 6.5mm caliber [-]-gun equipment is more than that equipped by Zhang Zuolin in Fengtian, Northeast China.

"There are so many arsenals in Hanyang, Dezhou, Jinling, and Jiangnan under the Ministry of the Army. How can your majestic Army Department gather equipment for a teaching regiment?" Wang Geng calculated the time. Obviously, the arsenal in Gongxian County, Henan Province has not yet started production, and Zhang Zuolin's Shenyang The arsenal did not start until 1921.

"The domestically produced Mauser rifles are of better quality than the two factories in Hanyang and Jiangnan, but how many guns can be produced in a year, and the total is estimated to be less than 10. Your three divisions and six brigades with [-] people have to wait for them to make them." , the day lily is cold! And now it is difficult to import raw materials from Europe, and the output is even more unstable!" Obviously Xu Shuzheng never planned to use domestic rifles to support the scene!

"Brother Youzheng, what on earth are you thinking? Is it really like waiting for Japan to provide ammunition before arming my three divisions and six brigades? Let me tell you that the power of the three or eight guns is not enough. We will build direct-line troops for the Prime Minister and the Anhui Clan. Weapons must be the best! Japanese equipment is absolutely not acceptable! Especially rifles!" Wang Geng couldn't help shouting!

"It's really not possible. At that time, use the munitions and equipment aided by Japan to replace other troops! As long as you are willing to exchange old guns with new guns, this business will not be unpopular!" Xu Shuzheng has no choice.

"How can we do that? Let's create a brand new lineage army and use old guns replaced by others. This is absolutely impossible. I don't even have the face to go out!" Wang Geng shook his head and said!

"At that time, I will use the Japanese loan to buy it in Europe. However, I think it is too bad, unless the European war ends soon, then the arms will probably be rotten and no one will want them! The question is can you afford to wait?" Xu Shuzheng frowned. .

Nima, it is only April 1917, and both China and the United States have entered the war. The European war will last for a year and a half. When the European war is over, the day lily will be cold!Wang Geng slandered in his heart.

"Wang Geng, what do you think, do you want to buy it from Americans?" Duan Qirui looked anxiously from the side, and couldn't help asking.

"The U.S. military's standard rifle is the m1903 Springfield rifle, also known as the Springfield rifle. It is also an improvement from the Mauser series. It is a good gun, but it is a pity that it uses 7.62mm rifle ammunition, which is different from our Beiyang 7.9mm rifle. The mm caliber is not uniform, how can this be used?"

Xu Shuzheng, the deputy chief of the army, is by no means in vain. He knows that the United States has strong industrial strength and the quality of its ordnance is also very good. It is not that he has never thought of buying arms from the United States.

In fact, after the start of the European War, more than half of the British rifles were produced in the United States, but Beiyang used 7.9mm Mauser bullets. How to solve the problem that the Springfield rifle’s 7.62mm bullets are not compatible?So I gave up this idea, and now watching Wang Geng's idea also hit the Americans, the issue of caliber still cannot be bypassed.

"The deputy chief is right, the caliber is a problem, but the Springfield rifle is improved on the basis of the Mauser 98, the production process and quality of the Americans are not inferior to those of Germany, not to mention that we can't buy the German-made Mauser 98 from Europe now Rifle, the 7.62mm rifle ammo is more accurate than the 7.92mm Mauser rifle ammunition, and the range is similar, but the production cost is lower, and it is lighter to carry!"

"I have done research in the United States. The Mauser 7.92 bullet weighs 23.75 grams, and the Springfield rifle 7.62mm bullet weighs 22.66 grams. That is to say, under the same carrying weight, the 7.62 caliber bullet can carry 7.92% more than the 5 caliber bullet!

Wang Geng took the trouble to explain the advantages and disadvantages of 7.62 caliber and 7.9 caliber for the Prime Minister and the Army Deputy Minister.

"The caliber is different, and the ammunition is not universal. This matter will be troublesome in the future!" Duan Qirui, an old Beiyang man, is also very familiar with military affairs and firearms.

"Prime Minister! Deputy Chief, our new army is equipped with Japanese 6.5mm caliber, isn't it the same as the 7.92mm caliber Mauser guns used by most Beiyang troops? Moreover, in the future, the production and supply of arms will be controlled by Japan. That being the case, the same caliber is not uniform, so of course we choose the American Springfield rifle, which is more powerful and accurate than the Mauser, instead of the worse Type [-]!"

Wang Geng’s words obviously awakened the dreamer, especially in the future, the supply of arms and ammunition will not be controlled by Japan, which will reduce a lot of constraints and restrictions. Moreover, if we want to get closer to the United States, whether it is arms transactions or loans, there are Once the basis of this business is established, it will be much easier to talk about!

Duan Qirui and Xu Shuzheng looked at each other, apparently convinced by Wang Geng, Duan Qirui couldn't help but said,

"Are Americans so reliable? They are supporting Feng Guozhang and Li Yuanhong right now!"

"Prime Minister, don't forget that I met the President of the United States before I came back from the United States. I have a lot of resources to borrow in the United States. Washington needs us more than we need them now!" Wang Geng said confidently.

"Youzheng, what do you think of Wang Geng's idea? Gu Weijun's secret telegram last night said that the U.S. Congress is still in session, but the situation of participating in the war will basically not change!" The Prime Minister turned his head and asked his beloved general Xu Shuzheng.

"It would be best to bring the United States over to support us, but you also know, boss, our Anhui Department is mainly close to Japan, and there is no one in the United States who can talk to it. Gu Weijun wants to see Wilson in Washington. If you want to see it, you can see it!"

Xu Shuzheng obviously lacked confidence. Diplomacy with the United States has always been the weak point of the Anhui faction. Besides, in order to check and balance the Anhui faction supported by Japan, Britain and the United States are now supporting Li Yuanhong and Feng Guozhang.