小站练兵的起点考辨

Textual Research of the Starting Point of Training Troops at Xiaozhan

小站练兵是我国近代军事史上极为重要、影响巨大的历史事件,学术界对小站练兵的研讨成果颇多,但是对于小站练兵的起点即开始时间的问题,却始终没有形成一致的说法。我们认为,1877年周盛传在小站正式操练盛军应为小站练兵的起点,他们的实践为后来的胡燏棻、袁世凯等人的练兵留下了宝贵的物质基础、部队基础和精神遗产。

Training troops at Xiaozhan is an important historical event with great influence in the modern military history of China. The academic circle has turned out a number of research achievements with respect to training troops at Xiaozhan. However, as far as the starting point, i.e, the starting time of training troops at Xiaozhan, there is no agreement. We are of the opinion that 1877 when Zhou Shengchuan trained the Sheng troop at Xiaozhan should be the starting point of training troops at Xiaozhan. Their practice left over treasured material foundation, army foundation and spiritual legacy for Hu Yufen and Yuan Shikai to train troops at the later time.