Advocates of national salvation

General Cai E

Cai E asserted: "If military nationalism is not popularized by 400 million people today, China will really perish. . [14] To implement “military nationalism”, Cai E believes: “If you want to build a military and a people, you must first cultivate the soul of the country. "[15]. As for the specific content of "National Soul", Cai E thought hard but failed to answer. Despite this, his exploration was still meaningful. At that time, a new army was being organized and trained in the country , the upsurge of reforming the military system, regarded military training as the "first priority" to save the country, while patriotic young people such as Cai E believed that martial arts required not only swords, but also spirit, and resisting aggression required not only guns and guns, but also the soul of the country. Carry out military education and training to improve the quality of the people. [16]

Military theory

While waiting to take over his new post, he wrote a book at his desk, discussing "selecting generals". " At that time, Cai E admired Zeng and Hu's idea that "the way to be a general is based on conscience and bloody nature" and believed that this was a "succinct exploration of the basic theory." He said: "We are in military positions, not

Cai E's calligraphy (4 photos)

Dafa volunteered for the purpose of saving the country, and tried his best to return home, but it was not enough to save his compatriots from suffering and put the country on a smooth road. "[17] Expressed his ambition to sacrifice his life for the country. When it comes to running an army, Cai E believes that "the key to running an army is to strictly enforce rewards and punishments." It is better to lose the strictness" and advocated "to use a bodhisattva's heart and use thunderous means". [18] At the same time, he also advocated "harmony" between officers and soldiers, so that the soldiers regarded the military camp as a "second family". He especially admired Zeng Guofan The saying "Leading troops is like a father and brother taking care of his children", believes that if the leader "can have this intention, then all the ancient and modern maxims of leading troops can be burned into flames" [19]

About combat. Guidance, Cai E believes: "Strategies and tactics must be adapted to the circumstances of the time, and the situation must be assessed in order to be appropriate. There must be no stagnation. If you do not follow the original principles and only want to imitate others, the trend will be like a lame man's race. Kneel. "Starting from this ideological principle, he neither fully affirmed Zeng and Hu's idea of ??"focusing on defense rather than offensive", nor was he influenced by the "extreme attack" ideas of Western military scientists at that time. Instead, he based on the Chinese army and military expenditure , transportation and other conditions, he put forward the strategic idea of ??luring the enemy deep into the country. He said: "If China encounters a military conflict with other countries within a few years, it is better to adopt Poya tactics (referring to guerrilla tactics) to take advantage of the danger." To defend, to defend step by step, with the whole army and the old enemy divisions as the main ones, once they penetrate deeply and can no longer continue, they will be wiped out in one fell swoop. "

Cai E took a full-body photo without a hat

At the same time, Cai E saw that "the British are peeking into Tibet, and the French are peeking into Yunnan, Guizhou, Guangdong and Guangdong. Volt. If the screen and feudal vassals are not strong, the country will not be a country. " (Preface to the "Five Provinces Border Defense Plan") For this reason, he personally served as the chief editor and drafted the tens of thousands of words of the "Five Provinces Border Defense Plan", that is, the Southwest Border Defense Coordinated Operation Plan. The plan pointed out that although the Republic of China has been established, " "Internal strife is not yet settled, foreign troubles are brewing", and the great powers are determined to invade China. In addition to Tsarist Russia and Japan repeatedly provoking troubles in the eastern and northern border areas, the British invaders also continue to use force to intervene in Tibet from India, and France also sends more troops to Vietnam in an attempt to Invading Yunnan and Guangxi. Under this situation, "the southwest is in particular danger, and the overall situation of the Republic of China is extremely precarious." Therefore, Cai E called on the five provinces of Yunnan, Sichuan, Guizhou, Guangxi, and Guangdong to implement military alliances in order to fight against the British and French invaders at any time. To prevent military aggression and defend the new Republic of China

This draft plan is divided into three parts and ten chapters, which respectively deal with the strength formation, combat areas and coordination methods of the five-province coalition army, and the concentration of the army. , deployment and combat steps, as well as pre-war preparations, military station settings, battlefield construction and other major issues were elaborated and specified. Although it was not implemented at the time, it fully and concretely embodied Cai E's theater strategy. With the purpose of maintaining unity, he was a supporter of Yuan Shikai's decision to make Beijing the capital. He defended Yuan Shikai many times during the peace talks between the north and the south, and took the lead in issuing charity bonds in Yunnan to ease finances. Difficulty. [20]

Strict military discipline

Cai E has strict military discipline and leads by example.

During his tenure as the Governor of Yunnan, he ordered the General Staff to review Chinese and foreign laws and regulations and promulgated the "Concise Military Code" with 47 articles, which were divided into "rebellion", "expropriation of power", "disgrace of duty", "disobedience" and "riot". Eleven chapters including "coercion", "insult", "escape", "damage to military items", "plunder", "crimes regarding prisoners" and "violation of orders". The "Army Handbook" was also issued, emphasizing that soldiers should "be loyal to the country, be faithful, be frugal, observe discipline, and be brave." It is clearly stipulated that "it will be implemented after it is announced." It also forwarded the order of the War Department of the Nanjing Provisional Government on strictly prohibiting private solicitation for military pay.

The command knife used by Cai E

The National Guard Army had strict military discipline when it went out, requiring "military discipline to be strictly observed, order to be maintained, and order not to be lost"; not to "enter people's homes randomly"; "Purchases must be made public and must not be based on the situation." Such an army. It is deeply supported by the people, and there is a touching scene of the army and the people being as close as one family: The First Army of the National Guard "has not recruited any soldiers indiscriminately or collected any money indiscriminately since the expedition. Wherever the division has gone, the soldiers have not taken any grass or grass from the people." "Wood." Therefore, in the battle in southern Sichuan, the troops had "no pay for five months, and the soldiers did not receive a single payment, and the Shu people loved them as if they were flesh and blood." Zhu De also pointed out: "From Yunnan to Shu. Everyone is greeted with food." Later, President Li Yuanhong also praised Cai E in his memorial text for his state funeral: "The king was originally poor, and he only had good food and clothing, but he was keen on learning, and he served as a royal official, and he was assigned to support the army. "The soldiers are strict and kind, and they are all willing to die." Cai E's spirit of hard work and leading by example inspired the vast number of officers and soldiers who fought for peace and victory against Yuan Dynasty.