Chapter 287 Baoding Arsenal

For those reports asking for money, he occasionally adds a few words: transfer them to the Ministry of Finance to deal with it, which means that I, Zhao Dongyun, approved it in principle and agreed to take money from the central finance to support it, so I asked you to ask the Ministry of Finance for money, but in fact, in order to maintain the war and the operation of the government, there is now there is leisure there. The money is given to many projects of various departments. Basically, it can be delayed, and it can't be delayed. Anyway, it's just two words: no money!

As for those reports that can really get money, Zhao Dongyun will usually write a special note for the Ministry of Finance to give priority or discretion. Without this note, he will not want to get a dime from the Ministry of Finance that leaks everywhere.

In the report on the continuation of the Beijing-Zhangjiakou Railway transmitted by the Ministry of Communications, Zhao Dongyun was not easy to make a decision.

The construction of the Beijing-Zhangjiakou Railway began in 1905. At the beginning, the construction funds were drawn from the operating income of the railway, that is, the Beijing-Feng Railway, every year. However, after Zhao Dongyun took control of the Beijing-Feng Railway in October last year, he naturally intercepted the operating income of the Beijing-Feng Railway, which led to the construction of the Beijing-Zhangjiakou Railway this year. The source of funds was lost and once fell into a shutdown.

Now that after Zhao Dongyun moved into Beijing, those who planned to build the Beijing-Zhangjiakou Railway naturally want to resume the construction of the Beijing-Zhangjiakou Railway, and they did not say that the central government would pay for it, but hoped to return to the previous fundraising model, that is to use the operating profits of the Beijing-Feng Railway to continue to build the Beijing-Zhangjiakou Railway.

However, Zhao Dongyun is a little embarrassed, because the operating profit of the Beijing-Feng Railway this year has actually been misappropriated to the Yingkou Railway and Fushun Railway branches. I'm afraid it will be difficult to squeeze out money to support the construction of the Beijing-Zhangjiakou Railway, but the Beijing-Zhangjiakou Railway will not be repaired. Even if Cixi of the former Qing Dynasty commits it again, He also knew that he wanted to build a railway to develop the economy and consolidate national defense. Zhao Dongyun actually became this family, and the matter of railway construction naturally had to fall on him.

And he not only intends to continue to build the Beijing-Zhangjiakou Railway, but also plans to build the historical Jinpu Railway, but where does the money come from? This is a big problem.

The secretariat's opinion on the Beijing-Zhangjiakou Railway is still old-fashioned, that is, not to approve it, but Zhao Dongyun rejected the secretariat's opinion and asked them to draft it again.

Although the central government has no money, it will also be used to expand the army and fight. Anyway, don't expect the central government to directly pay for the construction of the railway. In addition, the operating profit of the Beijing-Feng Railway is gone, but the railway still has to be repaired. As for how to solve the funds, it is something that the people need to consider, otherwise there are so many government officials. What do you eat? It's used to look good.

After the preliminary approval of these reports, Zhao Chenbin was also led in by Li San. After sitting down one after another, Zhao Dongyun first said, "In the past two months, the situation of Fuchang is still relatively gratifying, and the production capacity has been much higher than before, but the number of ordnance needed for combat by our army is also increasing day by day, especially on ammunition. The consumption is getting more and more day by day, and we still need to work harder in this regard!"

With the gradual expansion of the Feng army, especially after the incorporating many troops of the direct army, the number of field troops in the Feng army today has reached two cavalry brigades of the sixth division and six mixed brigades. In addition, there is also an independent heavy artillery battalion, three independent mortar battalions, the Middle East Railway, the Beijing-Feng Railway Protection Team, the Yingkou and the coastal defense department of Huludao Although the combat strength of the team and the small navy are different, and some troops are not satisfied with the personnel, the total number of regular troops in active service has exceeded 150,000. If you add more than 30,000 patrol troops from the original and newly incorporated in the three eastern provinces, Zhili, Rehe and other regions, The Tianjin police force and other auxiliary forces, so the total number of armed forces that Zhao Dongyun wants to raise has exceeded 200,000.

If you want to raise so many people, the financial pressure will not be mentioned first. It will be difficult to prepare the required weapons and equipment alone. Otherwise, Zhao Dongyun will not let the 1st Division, the 1st Mixed Brigade and the 11th Division continue to use Japanese rifles. It's not that he doesn't want to change into a unified 88 rifle. Instead, it is impossible to produce enough Type 88 rifles to equip them in a short period of time.

In addition, the continuous combat on the front line is also a great challenge to the large consumption of ammunition!

And ammunition is actually more expensive than artillery and rifles. The ammunition money from the Feng army fought in the battle of customs is enough for the Feng army to train several artillery regiments. It is inappropriate to spend huge ammunition on imports. At the beginning, Wang Yingkai was trapped in the absence of arsenals and could only rely on imports, and was cheated by foreign countries. Less money.

The price of ammunition in Fuchang is much cheaper than that of imports, so in addition to the previous import of a batch of 70-nine bullets, Zhao Dongyun is more willing to invest in Fuchang to let them expand production.

Zhao Chenbin said, "Now the Fu factory has full production day and night. In addition, Shenyang Arsenal has also started small batch production in advance. I'm afraid it is very difficult to increase production capacity in a short time!"

Zhao Dongyun said, "I know all this. It's not for this matter that I asked you to come here today. I plan to raise funds to build another arsenal to imitate Shenyang Arsenal. In terms of funds, I have let the Ministry of Finance prepare it. At that time, it will be a joint venture between the Ministry of Finance and Fuchang, and this The new factory is ready to be built in Baoding!"

"Do you want to run another factory?" Zhao Chenbin said doubtfully.

Zhao Dongyun nodded: "Well, today's Fu factory is still relatively limited, and there are too many projects. I suggest separating the business. In the future, Tangshan Fu factory will still focus on the research and development and production of technical weapons, while expendable ammunition will be slowly transferred to the new factory in Baoding. What you have to do is Convince the board of directors to support this plan!"

Although Zhao Chenbin had other ideas in his mind, Zhao Dongyun naturally nodded and said, "Since the government and the military have this idea, it should not be a big problem for Fuchang!"

Although Fuyuan Machinery Factory is a factory, it has more and more projects involved over time, from bullets to naval large-caliber shells, rifles to field guns, and even bullet bags to military knives. The excessive number of projects and the expansion in recent years have also made the institutions of Fuyuan Machinery Factory appear. Bloated.

Of course, Zhao Dongyun and the military don't care much about these. What they care about is that all the eggs are now placed in the Fuyuan Machine Factory. In case of any accident in this arsenal, it is not a heavy loss, but to be described as a disaster.

Therefore, in line with the idea of sharing risks and expanding the production of ordnance, the military has always hoped to build more arsenals and reduce its dependence on Fuyuan Machinery Factory. The establishment of Shenyang Arsenal is also the product of this situation. Now it is reasonable to build another Baoding Arsenal.

However, in contemporary China, especially northern China, to plan a new arsenal or start again, which is unrealistic for Fengjun, which continues to expand the production of ordnance, so there is only one way left, that is to continue to joint venture with Fuyuan Machinery Factory and use Fuyuan Machinery Factory's funds and technology to expand production.

The preparation of Baoding Arsenal is the product of a series of reasons, and the positioning of the factory is also relatively clear, that is, the ammunition factory, mainly based on smokeless drug factories, bitter acid medicine factories, the 77-nine bullet production line and 75 mm shell production lines, and mortar shells will be added in the future. Production line of large-caliber shells.

However, the factory will not produce rifles, artillery and other weapons.

The funds are jointly funded by the Ministry of Finance and Fuyuan Machinery Factory, and the technology and management of Fuyuan Machinery Factory.

If the factory can be successfully put into production, it will greatly increase domestic ammunition production, and at the same time, Fuyuan Machinery Factory can free up more energy to focus on the research and development and production of firearms.

When Zhao Dongyun integrated troops and developed military industry in the rear, the war on the front line also intensified with the increase of contact between the two sides.

In the direction of the Beijing-Han line, after the First Army went south to reinforce Shijiazhuang, Wang Ruxian and Wang Shizhen were successfully counterattacked by the main force of Meng Enyuan's First Army. Although Wang Ruxian and Wang Shizhen's troops did not lose much, in order to avoid being surrounded and annihilation, they directly withdrew from Nanzhili along the way and contracted in Anyang, Henan Province. The line uses Wang Ruxian in the area to build a defense line for more than half a year for deployment.

After the end of the battle in Shijiazhuang, Wu Fengling hurriedly led his troops back to Shanxi. The 19th town of Zhao Erxun in Shanxi has continuously captured many important towns in the southwest of Shanxi. If he does not return, I am afraid that the situation will not be easy to deal with in the future.

Before Wu Fengling returned to Shanxi, Zhao Dongyun generously fulfilled his promise. He appointed Wu Fengling as the tour envoy of the three provinces of Shaanxi, Gansu and Jin, with Shanxi, Shaanxi and Gansu. Of course, except for most of Shanxi, which is under the control of Wu Fengling, the others are still in the hands of Zhao Erxun of the Southern Federation. Whether they can grab them from Zhao Erxun is his matter of Wu Fengling.

Of course, as a reward for Wu Fengling's turn to Zhao Dongyun, this kind of false reputation is not enough for the three provinces of Shaanxi, Gansu and Jin. They want real gold, silver and guns, so Zhao Dongyun directly gave him 3,000 Fu-made rifles and a batch of ammunition, and promised to sell another 5,000 to him at a preferential price within half a year. Rifles, and then extremely important artillery, Zhao Dongyun directly sold half and gave him a total of 16 guns in a Japanese artillery battalion.

Of course, if Zhao Dongyun wants to repent and not give these ordnances, it is okay, but Wu Fengling estimated that he would have to deal with Zhao Dongyun with Duan Qirui and Wang Shizhen the next day.

In this situation, it is a good choice to attract Wu Fengling with some gun interests. At least, it can attract an ally. If it fails to attract Wu Fengling, so many warlords in China are all enemies of Zhao Dongyun.

When Wu Fengling returned to Shanxi to fight for his inspection of the three provinces of Shaanxi, Gansu and Jin, Meng Enyuan led the first army to continue to go south quickly. After completely controlling Nanzhili, he entered Henan. At present, it is on the front line of Anyang and Wang Ruxian's and Wang Shizhen's allied forces. After the soldiers and ammunition are replenished, the first army estimated The plan will launch a large-scale offensive, so in general, the first army operation on the Jinghan line is relatively smooth.

Compared with the smooth operation of the First Army, the Second Army's march into Shandong will be much more difficult. Because there is no railway, the second army will march on foot, and then the subsequent transportation can be transported by the canal, but it is not as convenient as the railway, which leads to the second The army is slow to go south.

When they were still on the road, Zhang Huaizhi's troops had successfully returned to Jinan. If they failed to grab Jinan's second army, they could not ignore Jinan's continued to go south, so they were ready to launch the Jinan Campaign, but they needed to prepare a large number of ammunition and reserve troops to launch a large-scale offensive battle, and these It is difficult to solve it by relying on the Second Army itself, and we have to rely on the command and the command to deal with it.

When the second army's tentative attack on Jinan failed, Zhao Dongyun ordered the first mixed brigade to go south to Jinan to reinforce in the face of the second army's request for help. At the same time, he also increased the supply of ammunition to the second army.

Under these circumstances, the Battle of Jinan officially broke out!