The officers and soldiers were very aware that those who could survive the battlefield would receive a lot of silver rewards this time, and the officers would also be promoted to official positions.

Immediately, all parts of the town began to get busy, smoke was rising everywhere, and people in all the military camps were happily washing rice and cooking it. They began to cook red stuffed horse meat on the stove, and some used horse meat as stuffing to make dumplings.

Or make it into big meat buns.

The Zhejiang Army's field troops have plenty of food, but the most lacking thing is meat, because they have not yet established their own pig farms. They have horse ranches, but they mainly have war horses.

Along the way, hundreds of horses were killed in battle, and the sergeants skinned and deboned them and gathered them up as meat reserves for the troops.

After half a month, I still haven’t finished eating on the way, and I still brought back almost half of it when I returned to Meishan Town.

In fact, horse meat is fresh and tender, has less fat, is rich in nutrients, and contains a lot of protein, vitamins and minerals.

In winter, eating horse meat is very beneficial to the physical recovery of soldiers, especially the sick and wounded.

Kazakhstan uses horse meat as a national dish, and Japan, Mongolia and other Central Asian regions are major horse meat consumers.

In China, the Kazakhs and Mongolians in the north are famous for cooking horse meat.

South of the Yangtze River, horses are like cattle, and people have special feelings for them. The old, sick, and dead are generally buried, so there is no habit of eating or buying and selling horse meat.

But it's a different matter for horses killed in large-scale battles.

For the sergeants who had been busy all day and traveled long distances to eat only dry food, this was a big temptation. Some of them were already sweating and waiting by the big pot of stewed meat.

The scent of horse meat wafting everywhere made everyone, who had been hungry, salivate.

Unlike other places in the military camp where people were gorging on food, the gate of Chen Tianhua's headquarters was much more gentle and quiet.

In the restaurant on the first floor of the headquarters, there are three dining tables, where officers of battalion level and above, heads of various departments in the headquarters, and British representative Ian are all sitting.

Of course, the main leaders of Meishan Town, Shaler, Peng Zuo and others accompanied him.

After drinking for three rounds, his face was a little drunk. Chen Tianhua put down his chopsticks and said to everyone at the table:

"Everyone, our winter offensive, especially the battle on Yingzui Mountain, has achieved unprecedented success with everyone's concerted efforts. Not only did we eliminate several groups of horse bandits along the way, but we also defeated our mortal enemy, Hong.

The tiger divisions of the Mentaihu Gang have eliminated potential safety hazards for the construction of the Changniu Railway this winter and next spring. Here, Chen would like to thank you all in advance."

After saying that, he stood up and bowed his fists to everyone.

Of course, everyone did not dare to neglect, and they all stood up and returned the greeting: "This winter offensive depends entirely on the commander's power."

"My Meishan Town also relies on the commander-in-chief to be here to protect the environment and the people, so that the devil Jin Tianlong does not dare to come and cause trouble. On behalf of the people of the whole town, Sha Mou wishes you a glass of wine."

Mayor Shaler stood up very respectfully and toasted Chen Tianhua, and Peng Zuo and others also stood up and joined in.

"Over there, it is everyone's responsibility to protect the environment and the people, and of course it is everyone's contribution. How dare Chen take the lead?"

Chen Tianhua held the glass with both hands and drank from the glass. "Everyone, please sit down!" After he asked everyone to sit down, he continued:

"Although we have won this battle, Hongmen Jin Tianlong and his behind-the-scenes masterminds will not give in. It is now the twelfth lunar month, and in twenty days it will be the New Year. Chen will also return to Hangzhou to report on his work in a few days.

Everything here depends on the protection of Mayor Sha and Captain Peng, especially the safety of Ian and other British friends here."

"Of course, please don't worry, Commander." Shaler, Peng Zuo and others expressed their opinions one after another.

…

From the day after the welcome banquet, Chen Tianhua and others immediately entered into another 'battle', which was the year-end summary, commending and rewarding people and things that performed well and punished those who did not work well.

Regarding the deaths, disability pensions, etc. of various units of the Qing army's suppression of bandits during this winter offensive, each unit reported to the Administrative Office for statistics, and the Ministry of Planning and Finance allocated special funds in a timely manner for payment.

Chen Tianhua sent special personnel to deliver pensions to every household of the deceased. This work must be completed before the year to comfort the deceased.

All officers and soldiers during the winter offensive were to be rewarded based on merit. Chen Tianhua, Sun Yong, Li Xinghong, etc. were busy for several days, submitting the list and details of rewards based on merit to the commander of the town, Li Cunzhi, waiting for approval.

A few days later, Lord Li Cunzhi's approval came. In addition to agreeing with the list and details reported by Chen Tianhua and others, it also attached a new order.

The order includes personnel arrangements and troop dispatch.

Sun Yong got a new military position and was promoted to the first assistant commander of the first town of Zhejiang New Army.

This loyal and confidant general who was well-trained in actual combat finally became Li Cunzhi's right-hand man.

The various security teams under the jurisdiction of the Changniu Railway Headquarters were formally organized into a mixed standard by the New Army. They are permanently stationed along the Changniu Railway and in the Niutoushan mining area. They have jurisdiction over three battalions and a machine gun company.

Li Xinghong was promoted to the title of "Master Biaotong", which made many officers at the same level envious of him.

The Bidding Department is located in the headquarters compound of Meishan Town. It is subject to the control of Commander Chen Tianhua on specific matters. All military expenses are of course borne by Changniu Construction Corporation.

The temporary reinforcements for the winter offensive were brought back to their original base by Sun Yong.

Zuo Gang lost an eye and remained in the main force of Huncheng Biao, still in charge of the First Ranger Battalion. Jiang Wu lost an arm and was transferred from the Ranger Battalion to serve in the Logistics and Transport Department of the Biao Department.

Chen Er, Shi Jin and other military positions were all promoted one level.

Song Xiaoniu was originally transferred to him as deputy team officer, but he did not want to leave Chen Tianhua and remained by his side as the guard platoon leader.

When Chen Tianhua and his party returned to Fucheng, Hangzhou, it was already the 22nd of the twelfth lunar month, only eight days before the New Year's Eve.

This year's New Year's Eve, Chen Tianhua is planning to spend it in Hangzhou. His wife Qianhua is very pregnant. She is more than eight months pregnant and is almost nine months old. She will be pregnant in another month and her movements will be bumpy and inconvenient.

Arrangements have been made to notify the mother and sisters of Shuangqi Town and the family to come to the small island in the middle of the lake in Hangzhou to celebrate the New Year. It would be great to reunite together.

…

On the 26th of the first lunar month, Li Shuzhen finally gave birth to a baby at Mary Mission Hospital in Hangzhou, a fat boy weighing eight and a half pounds. The whole family was very happy.

After Chen Tianhua returned from Meishan Town, he stayed in Hangzhou with peace of mind for more than a month. In addition to handling some important matters of Fengzhong Bank, he spent most of his time with his wife Li Shuzhen and his mother.

It is a must to walk with Li Shuzhen on the tree-lined avenue of the small island in the middle of the lake every evening.

In the hours before giving birth, Li Shuzhen was in excruciating pain on the delivery bed because it was her first child.
Chapter completed!