Dominate the Country

Nanjing after the night rain is like a stone lion washed clean of dust, with a touch of moist water town freshness in the ancient vicissitudes of history.

The heat of many days has subsided a little, and Chen Ming, accompanied by many members of the Ottoman delegation, walked towards the Central Military Academy outside the city. Raindrops are still hanging on the eaves and tiles on both sides of the road, neatly arranged together, as if collectively recalling the feeling of the rain just now, until one of the drops falls to the ground under the heavy burden and merges into the puddle. Through the reflection in the puddle, it expresses the sadness of parting with the companions above. And in the vacant position above, new nostalgia is condensed, and it continues to interact with condensation and falling.

Dark clouds cover the dark clouds, and the summer rain falls majestically.

Selim likes this rain very much. The heavy rain in the thunder and lightning washes the sky and the earth, and it feels particularly cool when you get up in the morning.

During the few days since he came to China, Selim was very satisfied with the hospitality of the State Guesthouse. The majestic Nanjing city walls and defenses, huge factories and prosperous streets were completely in line with his imagination of the capital of China, a huge empire.

He had a very deep impression of Chinese cities - they were so clean and tidy.

There were no beggars at all. Although he could see some people in simple clothes on the streets, and from the docks to the State Guesthouse, he could see many people engaged in "low-class" industries, but he could feel the vitality of the city. This was the biggest difference from Istanbul, which was full of twilight.

But Nanjing did not completely satisfy Selim, because the climate here was hot. For Istanbul, where the highest temperature throughout the year would not exceed 25°, Nanjing was obviously too hot.

If there was no ice basin, Selim would not believe that he would experience real torture in Nanjing.

Many members of the Ottoman delegation had the same feelings as Selim. Although Istanbul, where they came from, was not far from Iraq and the Arabian Peninsula, which were completely deserts in the minds of later Chinese people, the Mediterranean Sea made Istanbul warm in winter and cool in summer.

Chen Ming certainly didn't like the heat, otherwise he wouldn't go out to escape the heat in summer.

"It's late, a rain washes away the dust, and there is no heat." The world after the rain is so beautiful. The smell of soil is like the fragrance released by flowers. When you are in it, every cell in your body seems to be immersed in infinite freshness and coolness.

In the middle of the team, a large car, the dragon chariot that Chen Ming was riding, Selim was holding a cup of sour plum soup in his hand and chatting with Chen Ming about the army.

What should a strong army be like in Selim's mind, and what makes up this strong army?

What should a strong army be like in Chen Ming's mind, and what makes up this strong army?

Selim couldn't explain it clearly. He was a diplomat, not a military strategist. What is said is nothing more than very external factors such as discipline, fighting spirit and wise command.

"In China, in the military textbooks of the Chinese Military Academy, we divide the army into three categories."

"With the establishment of the military education system as the dividing point, before that is the ancient army, after that is the modern army, and then the army I expect - the army of the future."

This is actually the division between the feudal army, the modern army, and the modern army.

But Chen Ming knew in his heart that he couldn't say it like this, right? Although this is just Chen Ming's own division!

"What is the ancient army like? What is the modern army like?"

"Officers are just one of the differences between the two, but not the only difference."

"In my opinion, the biggest difference between the ancient army and the modern army is discipline." This view is very popular. Chen Ming continued, "Measured by the entire army, the modern army's requirements for discipline far exceed those of the ancient army."

"Of course, this does not mean that the ancient army did not attach importance to discipline. In the Eastern military system represented by China, during the military golden period of a certain force, the army at that time also paid great attention to discipline.

From Sun Wu killing Wu Fei more than 2,000 years ago, to the brave Qin who defeated the six countries, and the Huns Maodun Chanyu's patricide, the Xiliu Camp in the Han Dynasty,..., the Yue Family Army that was easier to shake than the mountain, and the Qi Family Army in the late Ming Dynasty..."

Selim certainly did not know the allusions that Chen Ming mentioned. The translator beside him quickly explained these historical allusions to Selim while Chen Ming was speaking. While Selim was sighing at the colorful history of ancient China, he could also better understand the meaning of Chen Ming's words.

The ancient army highly respected the bravery of soldiers and attached great importance to the combat power of a single unit, but this does not mean that they did not attach importance to war. At least in the East.

"But this period of time will not be too long. This kind of military golden period that maintains its heyday cannot last too long. When the military golden period of the ancient army has passed, looking at their military rules and discipline, the gap compared to the current army is obvious."

"You would say that the modern army also has a military golden period. Then take the British Red Shrimp as an example. Are the current Red Shrimp different from the Red Shrimp during the Seven Years' War and the Red Shrimp in the past? Since the British chopped off the head of Charles I, the British Army, which was built on the model of Cromwell's Model New Army, has not had much fluctuation in combat effectiveness for more than a hundred years. Some fluctuations are more like the gap between British commanders."

"This is the biggest difference between modern armies and ancient armies. It can also be said that the emergence of muskets and artillery has led to the evolution of military theory. Today, the biggest feature and advantage of strong soldiers in various countries is team spirit. Now the army is more of a collective.

Emphasizing the absolute discipline of team spirit, relying on it can produce various flexible tactics and efficiently control the army. For example, when the enemy's attention is greatly tilted to the right wing, the front-line commander can easily use this weakness to attack from behind without sticking to the front right defense. Coordination, organization, and discipline regard the entire army as a whole rather than relying on individual combat power.

If the army is a killing machine, the modern army is compared with the ancient army. The steam engine replaces manpower, making the machine's lethality more stable and lasting."

"And the officer is the soul of an army, and the link that connects the entire army from top to bottom. The importance of officers is even more important in the army that emphasizes discipline and unity."

"Whether it is the British, French, Russians, Austrians, Prussians, or our China. The current army uses cruel corporal punishment and strict training to make soldiers gradually lose the ability to think for themselves, thus forming a conditioned reaction to orders. Shooting execution.

In plain words, it means that the soldiers are afraid of the punishment of the officers more than the threat of death.

In any powerful army now, the soldiers' fear of military sticks and whips is deeply rooted. The more afraid they are on the battlefield, the more they will mechanically execute orders. So they can stand in strict formations under artillery fire and march slowly to the enemy's position; so they can line up in an extremely neat team, at a distance, and keep pulling the trigger at each other. Even if their comrades fall one by one, they will still perform their actions without error.

The ancient military Without the charisma of the leading general, an army will be terrified if it loses 10% on the battlefield. If the battlefield loss exceeds 20%, it is not impossible to retreat and flee on the spot.

But what about the armies of the great powers now?

The armies of Britain, France, Prussia, Austria, Russia, and China can generally withstand 20% losses.

Modern armies can bear the casualties of war better than ancient armies. The cruelty of general conflict wars is also greater, and the rate of loss of the army is correspondingly increasing. "Think about the Napoleonic Wars in history, how much blood was shed throughout Europe." In this case, the importance of a military education system that can quickly train officers above the standard line in large quantities can be imagined. "

Modern wars are more cruel than past wars.

The organizational structure of the feudal army needs no further explanation. Individual bravery is calculated by head count and looting (especially for nomadic tribes) is used to maintain morale. Therefore, the ancient Chinese military tactics repeatedly emphasize the saying that returning troops should not be stopped and besieged cities must be closed, hoping not to force the opponent to fight desperately.

In Chen Ming's eyes, modern armies don't have these sayings. They are all consumables anyway, so just fight until they are exhausted. When calculating the outcome of a war, the number of armies and the density of firepower on both sides are largely considered. When the density of people is higher than the density of bullets, there is a greater chance of winning the war. Soldiers are just insignificant numbers, and they are mindless zombies on the battlefield.

Because of this, modern military began to have larger-scale reserve forces, and mobilization mechanisms appeared and became increasingly important in the overall war.

After Chen Ming had strength, he had a certain understanding of the Western military of this era.

The reserve force has been around in the West for many years. To express it in a specific word, it is militia. However, no country has officially started to work on the reserve force. China can be said to be the first to try it out in this regard.

In the first year of Chengtian, Chen Ming promulgated the "Reserve Force Regulations".

In the North American colonies of the last century, people called the people's armed forces "a gun next to the fireplace".

Chen Ming estimated that the prototype of the modern reserve system should have started during the French Revolution. At that time, there were a large number of organized militias in the military sequence of the Gallic Rooster. Isn't it the compulsory military service system? Later, the reserve service of the old United States was based on the militia system, including the National Guard and the Federal Reserve. It is the second armed force of the country. And the reserve service of more countries is mainly based on reserve troops, which is the "reservoir" of the regular army.

Chen Ming wants to maximize the combat effectiveness of the Ottoman Empire, so he always has to take out some dry goods. The reserve service system is one of them!

For a country with its headquarters stationed in Istanbul and the Sultan under the eyes of the Guards, if a Sultan wants to truly eliminate the huge threat of the Guards, then it is necessary to build a stronger army.

The reserve system will provide a good opportunity for the Ottoman Sultan. As long as this system is implemented by the Ottomans, perhaps the end of the Sultan's personal soldiers will not have to wait until the distant 1826.

Selim very respectfully asked Chen Ming what the future army is. Because Chen Ming clearly told him that one of his lifelong wishes was to see a brand new Chinese army the day he closed his eyes. That would obviously not be a Chinese army that had degenerated into an ancient army.

"The combat effectiveness of the current army depends on strict training and requirements in normal times. A large part of the soldiers' fighting spirit on the battlefield comes from their fear of military rules and discipline.

So I hope to have an army that has strong fighting spirit and tenacious spirit without the constraints of military rules and discipline.

If the current army is a walking corpse, then give them soul and thought.

Whether a modern army can become the army of the future depends on whether it can gather thoughts and spirit.

For China, judging from the situation in the surrounding areas, there is no external threat to China. China has chosen peace, and I don’t think anyone will take the initiative to start a war against China. The greatest value of the army and soldiers no longer exists.

I have reduced the military pay and treatment of soldiers. Many professions in society have gained much more than the military, which has greatly frustrated the desire of our people for the military.

And this has also brought hope of transformation to the Chinese army.

The transaction between the country and the soldiers is no longer an "equality" or "overflow" transaction with high treatment. The actual wealth given by the country is not more than the soldiers' contributions, but less than the soldiers' contributions. In this case, if a person chooses to join the army, it is dedication.

It is to give up one's personal interests in exchange for the interests of the entire country and the entire nation.

The country and the government can only give them another spiritual reward. ”

In addition to the tangible material, the future Chinese soldiers may also get spiritual rewards - I am honored to be a soldier.

"Both the Ottoman Empire and China are big countries. We have a huge land area. If outsiders invade our land one day and occupy our land, our army will be defeated again and again on the front battlefield, the main force will keep retreating, and a large number of stragglers will fall behind the enemy. ”

Chen Ming painted a picture for Selim: "What will the performance of ancient and modern armies be in this situation?"

"Is it possible for them to spontaneously unite, restore their firm fighting consciousness, and continue to fight the enemy tenaciously behind the enemy?" Chen Ming explained to Selim what guerrilla warfare behind enemy lines is.

"I am afraid that more ancient and modern armies will become bandits and stragglers who burn, kill, and loot?"

"And the future army I envision is a force that can continue to organize in this environment, protect the people of the country, attack the enemy's back, and firmly launch guerrilla warfare behind enemy lines. "

"They are loyal to their country and nation. Even in desperate situations, they would rather die in battle than surrender. Even after being captured, they will not immediately confess the military secrets of their own army, let alone serve the other side and fight against their own people."

"Such an army is not necessarily strong in combat effectiveness. Because the army is composed of not only people, but also armaments and logistics."

The speed of the dragon chariot was decreasing. Chen Ming lifted a window screen and looked outside through the glass. He found that the Central Military Academy was already in front of him. He talked to Selim for so long.

There was also a bowl of sour plum soup on his hand. Chen Ming picked it up and drank it all. Finally, he said to Selim: "The army armed with ideas is the most powerful army. The Ottomans should have their own ideas and spirit. You are responsible for the future of the entire Arab world!"

"You are the only remaining powerful country in the Arab world. When the Ottomans fall, the entire Arab world will be divided and eaten by the powers! "

Think about the Arab world in the last time and space, it really fell down and never got up again.

Even if some countries in the Middle East in the 21st century are very rich, they have indeed earned some weight in the international community with oil, but seriously speaking, there is no powerful country in the entire Arab world.

What is Iran? An enhanced version of the golden sun?

What is Saudi Arabia? A fat sheep?

Turkey is not even a regional power.

Every move today has far-reaching impacts.