Yuan Su had always had some thoughts about Reynoldson's sudden proposal for cooperation. After the last meeting, he was finally able to confirm Reynoldson's identity and at the same time realized that this was indeed an opportunity.
However, it is obvious that this matter cannot be rushed. The last meeting was just the beginning. To truly establish cooperation, the two sides will inevitably need to go through more detailed negotiations.
Fortunately, he was able to realize that the British wanted something from him this time, so he was the one who had the initiative. Next, it would be up to him to see how Renoldson prepared the details of the cooperation. He just had to sit back and wait for bargaining.
A few days later, Yuan Su took the time to visit the Luanzhou Reserve Command.
Although the name of the place has been changed, the signboard of the Supervisory Training Office has not been replaced in time. The soldiers and instructors in the training camp are accustomed to calling it the Supervisory Training Office. The name of the Reserve Command is just an official adjustment.
.
After meeting with Ge Jinzhang and other officers, Yuan Su briefly learned about the second phase of militia training.
The second phase of militia training is more troublesome. It is the busy farming season now, and most of the militiamen have to help their families with farming. There are not many people in the training camp during the day, and the training is usually conducted from four o'clock in the afternoon to about eight o'clock in the evening. During this period, if it is in local villages and towns
The militiamen have to rush back home in advance, and the militiamen in the city may stay in training camps, or return home after training.
Ge Jinzhang told Yuan Su without any concealment: "Compared with the first period, the training effect of the second period will be much worse. However, these farmers' children are strong and in good physical condition. They are just training to master the application of firearms and other basic skills."
It’s just military skills. Generally speaking, it’s just okay.”
Yuan Su originally had no intention of training the militiamen. The current training as a reserve force is enough. [ ] After the first mixed brigade officially starts training in a while, he will focus on the overall quality training of the regular army. As for the training of the regular army,
The militia can completely take a back seat.
Later, he asked about Gao Shun's situation and found that Gao Shun was not present today.
Ge Jinzhang sighed slightly, frowned and said: "I don't know why, but after the Supervisory Training Office was changed to the Reserve Command, Gao Jianyang never came to the camp again. Anyway, we are busy here, so we just
Ignore this matter."
Yuan Su looked thoughtful, it seemed like he had to go find Gao Shun himself.
He stayed at the Supervisory Training Office until noon, and after giving some instructions or giving instructions on some official matters, Yuan Su left. He did not return to the Brigade Headquarters compound, but went directly to the Chen family mansion in Beicheng to find Gao Shun.
Earlier, Yuan Su had come to Chen's house for the purpose of joint military-civilian defense. After knocking on the door and asking questions, he found out that Gao Shun was not in the house at the moment, but was busy working in the textile factory in the northern suburbs.
He declined the Chen family's offer to stay and immediately left the city by another route.
After asking around in the northern suburbs for a long time, I finally found the location of the textile factory. It was a fairly small factory, with four large and small factories in a large courtyard. As you can see through the glass windows, the factory not only has old-fashioned wooden
Textile making machines, as well as steam-powered automatic machines. It is now the working period, and all kinds of mechanical noises can be heard from all the factories. It is not difficult to imagine that the textile factory is operating quite well.
A guard found the gatekeeper at the gate of the compound and asked him to report it quickly.
When the gatekeeper heard that Lord Yuan Su, the escort envoy, was present, he was surprised for a while before he realized what he was doing. Then he trotted towards a small house in the west. Not long after, the gatekeeper led Gao Shun to the door to greet him.
Although Gao Shun rarely met Yuan Su recently, he still maintained his habitual politeness. When he came to Yuan Su, he bowed politely and then said hello politely.[ ]
Regarding Gao Shun's series of actions, Yuan Sufei did not feel the other party's sincerity, but on the contrary, he felt angry.
"Brother Jianyang, I haven't seen you for a long time. How are you?"
"Mr. Labor Guards, please remember. How can I be ill? I have been busy with garment orders for several large shops during this period, so I have no time to worry about anything else. I don't dare to trouble Sir Guards to stand around, so please move to the small room in the house.
Sit down." Gao Shun said politely.
Yuan Su nodded slightly, ordered the guards to stay in the yard, and followed Gao Shun alone into the small house on the west side.
There were several civil servants in the house who were settling accounts. When they saw Gao Shun and Yuan Su walking in, everyone stood up and saluted.
Yuan Su nodded slightly in response, and then Gao Shun led him to an independent office inside, where he ordered a clerk to prepare tea, and the two sat down opposite each other.
"Is it possible that the Lord Protector came here this time for the purpose of going to Changli to take up the post that Brother Boji mentioned some time ago?"
Gao Shun was not a person who liked to beat around the bush, so he immediately took the initiative to ask after he sat down.
"This is just one of the reasons for coming here today. In addition, I want to know more about why Brother Jianyang has become so negative towards the Supervisory Training Office recently." Yuan Su also said directly.
"Haha, Sir Hujun said something. I can't say that I am negative. Originally, I was just assisting from the side. After all, things in the factory cannot be delayed. Now the Supervisory Training Office has been restructured into a reserve headquarters and is under the direct jurisdiction of Sir Hujun.
It's an official organization, and I can't enter such an occasion, so I thought of gradually withdrawing from it." Gao Shun said straightforwardly.
Hearing this, Yuan Su vaguely guessed what Gao Shun meant. He remembered that Wang Litong once introduced that after Gao Shun returned from studying abroad, he had always refused invitations from the Tianjin and Beijing governments to serve. The original intention of the Supervisory Training Office was to serve Luan
The governor has contributed to long-term peace and stability, so Gao Shun was invited to join it. Now that the "Supervisory Training Office" has become a "Reserve Command", the joint military-civilian operation has been changed to an official one, which naturally exceeds the bottom line of Gao Shun's principles.
"Brother Jianyang, you might as well tell me straight, why do you care so deeply about politics? Whether it is the Supervisory Training Office or the Reserve Command, the nature is the same, not to mention that it saves local donations to maintain training.
The expenses of the battalion. Is it because it is an institution of the military that makes you worried?" Yuan Su said in a slightly serious tone.
"Since Lord Protector wishes to speak frankly, I will not waste any more time arguing. For me, this is not a matter of the difference between government and private affairs, but that I, Gao Shunyi, am a white person. My mind is not on political affairs, and I have nothing to do with it.
I don’t want to have anything to do with this. Lord Protector may not understand my thoughts, and I don’t expect anyone to understand. It’s just a deep-rooted mentality.” Gao Shun said in a frank tone.
Yuan Su stared at Gao Shun, and he could only see an unswerving spirit in the other person's eyes. This was definitely not the look that a person outside the world should have. A hermit who really does not want to join the world will only express his emotions.
"Unswerving" means a person with a persistent will.
After a long period of contemplation, Yuan Su sighed slowly and asked earnestly: "Brother Jianyang, I can see that you have no hope for this country, or you can say that you are strongly dissatisfied. Maybe you
Studying abroad or seeing something or hearing something made him cynical. But haven't you ever thought that the more you can't stand the current situation, the more you should work harder to change it instead of condoning or succumbing to it?
.”
Gao Shun admitted that he was indeed quite dissatisfied with the authorities. Whether it was the previous Qing government or the current Beiyang government, he believed that there were too many people in politics who lacked conscience and determination, and the country would sooner or later fall to these people. He was not
A person who loves to say sarcastic words and empty words, he even keeps silent about his complaints in this area, and just keeps them in his heart.
He is self-aware that his own abilities are limited and it is absolutely impossible to shake the long-suffering authorities. He knows very well that if he accepts the government's invitation to work, he is likely to get himself into trouble, so for now he can only survive alone.
.
His original idea was to keep to himself. He would neither interfere with national affairs nor complain. However, as time went by, it seemed that his thoughts and ideas had weakened, and he had become accustomed to this kind of spiritual life of keeping to himself.
But in fact, deep inside, it aroused more and more dissatisfaction.
The more dissatisfied I am, the more unwilling I am to get involved, and gradually I develop the stubborn mentality I have now.
He didn't care if Yuan Su saw through this. In short, he had made up his mind and would not change it no matter what Yuan Su said. After slowly shaking his head, he said attentively: "Master Protector, I understand what you said.
After thinking about it, if I could really figure this out, there would definitely not be this conversation today. So I would like to ask Lord Protector not to say any more. With Lord Protector’s status today, Gao Shun is not that much of a person.
A stubborn person."
Yuan Su said solemnly: "Is this all you have to do?"
Gao Shun smiled and said: "I didn't intend to achieve anything, and the words of Lord Protector are obviously unreasonable."
Having said this, Yuan Su naturally couldn't continue to persuade him. He was increasingly confused about Gao Shun's temperament, but since the other party insisted on doing so, what could he do? He sighed again,
He said sincerely: "You have your own thoughts, which I can understand. Although I still feel sorry for you, I won't force it on others. In this way, you can think about it again, no matter how long you think about it, no matter what the result is.
So, I hope you can come and talk to me again."
Gao Shun was worried for a while, but did not rush to say anything. He just nodded deeply and said, "Thanks to the Lord Protector for being so generous, I will think about it again."
Yuan Su knew that this was just Gao Shun's words of agreement, but he believed that the other party would definitely keep his promise. Although the result would not change much, at least it would bring them closer to each other.