The Heroic Age of the Late Qing Dynasty

However, there is some information that these powers are not clear about or do not know. Although Russia is a giant on the surface, it is actually a clay-footed giant. This giant looks huge and is indeed very scary, but in fact, once this giant stands up and wants to show his power, his slender feet are poorly developed and cannot support his huge body at all. If he tries to do so, it will be like a clay Buddha crossing the river, and he will be unable to save himself. Once he falls to the ground, it will be even more difficult to get up again.

During the Russo-Japanese War, Russia not only spent two billion dollars on military expenditures, but also suffered a total of 27 casualties. Furthermore, a significant number of troops were currently tied up in suppressing the domestic revolutionaries. The Trans-Siberian Railway was in imminent danger of being cut off at any moment, and the revolutionaries had left no workers willing to transport supplies, leaving the Far East a mere shell. Furthermore, the Trans-Siberian Railway was still inoperable, and troops could only reach Irkutsk from Europe. Furthermore, the Trans-Siberian Railway's capacity was extremely limited, and Russia, now burdened with suppressing domestic uprisings, could not dispatch large numbers of troops to fight in Siberia. This was perhaps the Fifth Field Army's sole advantage: the ability to fight a war on equal terms with Tsarist Russia! If they truly lost, Zhang Yinghao would accept it!

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Chapter 598:

Russia's fiscal revenue was not small and had been increasing year by year, but this revenue came from the lower classes of the Russian people and the vast number of poor peasants. In order to make up for the fiscal deficit, the Tsarist government had repeatedly raised tax rates, making the people in the country suffer.

Tsarist Russia is still desperately suppressing the anti-tsarist revolution in Russia funded and instigated by Japan's genius spy Akashi Motojiro during the Russo-Japanese War, which has turned the Russian heartland upside down. The outbreak of the Russian Revolution in 1905 has caused Russia to be in a state of panic.

Since the suppression of the revolution in 1905, Russia has also suffered heavy losses. During the suppression of the revolution alone, the casualties were in the hundreds of thousands. Given the simple and brutal character of the Russians, how could they be considered to have finished without killing everyone and shedding a river of blood?

The revolution also triggered ethnic conflicts within Russia. For example, the Poles also participated in the revolution and wanted to split the Tsarist Russia, which dealt a heavy blow to Russia. In addition, the revolutionary party of Tsarist Russia was exactly the same as some revolutionary parties in China, and they were fond of assassinations. Many Russian military and political leaders were assassinated during the revolution, which made the situation in Russia even worse.

If Russia wanted to completely suppress this domestic revolution, it would absolutely not be possible without several years of effort. After a few years, the Forward Party was no longer the same party it is today, and the People's Liberation Army was no longer the same. Even if it meant a duel of attrition with Tsarist Russia, Zhang Yinghao believed he could afford it. It was precisely because of this that Zhang Yinghao ordered the Fifth Field Army to move north. Although the field army would have to endure some hardships and sacrifices, Zhang Yinghao believed that as time went on, the PLA's advantage would grow.

The news of the Fifth Field Army's northward advance and its actions in the Northeast reached the Qing Dynasty, and naturally it became an armed conflict between the Fifth Field Army and Russia. This news also made Cixi feel much better, and she was able to eat a full bowl of porridge. However, just as Cixi's spirits improved a little, a terrible thing immediately came to her.

"Can you tell me about the current situation between the Rakshasa Nation and the Red Bandits?"

"In reply to the old Buddha, I have already sent people to inquire with the British and American countries. They all agree that the Russian Empire has a huge advantage over the Red Bandits. The final result is that the Russian Empire will win and the Red Bandits will lose."

"What's your own opinion?"

"I believe that no matter who wins, the Qing Dynasty will be the one that benefits. If the Russian Empire wins, the Red Bandits will certainly be severely weakened. Even if the Red Bandits manage to win, the foreign powers will only become more wary of them, which will still be beneficial to the Qing Dynasty. Moreover, even if we defeat the Russian Empire, the Red Bandits' strength should be almost completely depleted, and that would be the best time for us to send troops to retake the north." Group ID: 775111838

Cixi nodded and said, "Does the palace guard have any ideas?"

"Empress Dowager, the rebels are a bunch of thugs. Wherever they go, they divide up land, confiscate property and exterminate families. If we can unite the gentry and landlords throughout the country, then the Red Bandits, relying on their peasants, will become the second Hong Xiuquan and Yang Xiuqing rebels. Such power will not last long. All we need to do now is to encourage the rest of the provinces to organize militias to prevent their expansion. At the same time, we should vigorously publicize the atrocities of the Red Bandits, and they will surely fall on their own."

"What do the foreigners say now?"

Upon hearing this, Yuan Datou's greasy face trembled. What he feared most now was that Cixi would mention foreigners. He was afraid that Cixi would discover something, and then suddenly change her face and drag him out and kill him.

Seeing that Cixi's expression remained unchanged, Yuan Datou immediately said: "Empress Dowager, the foreign devils are a group of barbarians who will not get up early unless there is profit. They are still doing business with the red bandits."

After saying this, Yuan Datou glanced at the IV drip still hanging by the bed, his face filled with resignation. Cixi had initially absolutely refused to have it, but after one session, she found it quite pleasant and now fully accepted it. Yuan Datou had also noticed that products produced by the Red Bandits were increasingly appearing in the capital. Not only in the palace, but even in his own home, toothpaste and toothbrushes were smuggled goods from merchants. Yuan Datou knew the identities of those merchants, and as a result, all kinds of Red Bandit-made products, related to food, clothing, housing, and transportation, were gradually flooding the capital's markets.

As for firewood, the capital city had honeycomb coal and small coal stoves. As for rice, the two lakes regions had been occupied by the liberated areas. Without the rice and flour supplies from these areas, the capital city would be starving. As for oil, the capital city had glass bottles of blended oil, peanut oil, and the like. Salt, needless to say, the finely ground, white salt was simply delightful. As for sauce, Shanxi vinegar, once so famous, was now in the hands of the Red Bandits. As for tea, the majority of tea-producing areas were now controlled by the Forward Party...

Every time he thought of this, Yuan Datou's face darkened, and he didn't know what to do. But he couldn't forcefully confiscate these goods now, otherwise the entire capital would immediately fall into chaos...

"Barbarians are barbarians. The Japanese suffered such a huge loss at the hands of the Red Bandits? And they just let it go? And the British suffered such a huge loss in Tibet and Yunnan? And they just let it go? Didn't they even bombard Sichuan? Why are they still doing business? Haven't they fallen out?"

"Queen Mother, these foreigners have come here from afar, they are here for money. Now the bandits are doing business with these foreigners, making them earn money, which naturally leaves these foreigners speechless."

At this time Tieliang spoke.

"Your Majesty, the price of grain in the capital has skyrocketed, and supplies are in dire straits. There are large groups of profiteers bringing large quantities of goods from the sea to the capital to sell. They're making a lot of money, and the court is in trouble right now, but they're selling so much, yet the court isn't making much profit. The only solution now is to manage all the grain supplies. The profits will not only provide income for the court, but also raise enough food, gold, and silver for the Eight Banners and the Beiyang New Army to suppress the Shandong uprising."

Cixi was naturally aware of the empty treasury. After listening to Tieliang's words, she nodded and said, "I'll leave this matter to you. You must ensure the logistical supply of the army and quell the rebellion in Shandong as soon as possible. Don't let the situation continue to develop..."

As time went by, the situation in Heilongjiang became completely clear and the situation had changed completely. Since Cheng Dequan transferred all the troops from all over Heilongjiang to several cities such as Bincheng (Harbin) and Longcheng (Qiqihar), the vast rural areas and other cities were quickly occupied by our troops from all over the country.

By the time Cheng Dequan realized something was amiss, it was too late. With the experience of Jilin and Liaoning provinces in mobilizing the masses and waging a nationwide war, the Qing troops concentrated in several cities were already trapped, their hands and feet completely confined. If the field army directly cut off the railways at both ends, or directly cut off the supply of materials to the cities, the Qing troops in these cities would ultimately starve to death.

"Commander, comrades on the front lines sent a telegram saying that the Qing forces in Heilongjiang have completely retreated to several cities including Bincheng."

"Commander, the layout of the stations on the Chinese Eastern Railway, such as Yimianpo, Hengdaohezi, Muling, and Suifenhe, has been completed. Our soldiers have reached the border with Tsarist Russia."

"How's the situation in Manchuria?"

"There are no trains passing through the station anymore. We have seized all the trains along the way, and the supplies on them have also been intercepted by us."

"Okay, then let's first take down those Manchu cities that don't have the Russians, and then we'll liberate all of Heilongjiang bit by bit."

"Commander, isn't this battle a bit too big?"

"We can only tell if it's a big deal after we fight it. How are the bullets and shells stored now?"

"We have already put all the machines we captured to use. Although the supply is not sufficient at the moment, we have captured a large number of heavy weapons from Japan. Although the Japanese destroyed a lot of them, it is enough for us to use for the time being."

"Yes, even the supplies we seized in Shenyang are enough to last us for a while."

"We are now locked in a crisscross with the Russians, and are surrounded. I wonder if we should strike first?"

"We can't rush now. Steady and steady is the best option. We need to deal with the Patrol Battalion, the local tyrant, first. Only then can we focus on dealing with the Russians. How's the contact with Cheng Dequan going?"

"Report, Cheng Dequan's wife, relatives, friends, and subordinates are all within our scope of work. We have now reached the final stage of the attack and the showdown is imminent."

"Well, if Cheng Dequan rebels, it's a great achievement. Don't delay. Even Zhang Zhidong in Wuhan was able to rebel against the Qing Dynasty. We Sichuanese were born in poverty and it's impossible for us to not have revolutionary ideas. We must strive for it!"

"clear!"

Why was the Fifth Field Army so anxious? It was because it had already liberated much of Heilongjiang's rural areas. It had also rescued numerous miners. The conditions in Heilongjiang were much harsher than in Liaoning, and the miners there were almost all deceived. Furthermore, the Trans-Siberian Railway had a much larger labor force, forcing the field army to move quickly and tighten the noose even faster.

The Trans-Siberian Railway, known as the backbone of Russia, is renowned for its construction, but it was also stained with the blood and tears of Chinese laborers. To save costs, Russia recruited a large number of Chinese workers from Shandong, Henan, and other regions of Northeast China. Since then, large numbers of workers have departed from Yantai for Vladivostok annually, reaching peak numbers of over ten thousand per year.

The ingenuity and hard work of Chinese workers are recognized worldwide. Whether transporting materials or building railways and bridges, Chinese participation is indispensable. Even the Russians acknowledge that most of the Trans-Siberian Railway was completed by Chinese workers. However, disproportionate to their hard work, the Chinese workers' wages are appallingly low.

At the time, the Russians recruited a large number of Chinese workers under the guise of high salaries and generous benefits. However, upon arriving in Russia, the Chinese discovered it was all a scam. Not only did they not receive any cash, but their wages were only half of what Russians working in the same field received. They also had to pay a 30 ruble monthly food allowance, which in return consisted of corn kernels and black bread, which didn't even provide enough food.

Every year, hungry Chinese workers begin their work before dawn. Summer temperatures reach 40 degrees Celsius, and they live in sheds made of tree bark and wooden poles, exposed to mosquito bites, sun and rain, and work from 5 a.m. to 7 or 8 p.m. Winter temperatures drop to -50 degrees Celsius, and even without cotton clothing, workers still work about eight hours a day.

Near the station, you can often see hundreds of Chinese workers with pale faces, thin bodies, and half-dressed bodies, being monitored by dozens of Russian police with guns. These Chinese workers would follow the passing passengers, especially Chinese passengers, and beg them for food.

The Chinese workers involved in the construction were treated extremely poorly, with low wages and even basic living conditions denied, let alone human rights. They labored beyond imagination, yet the Russians treated them as inferior, slaves, and commodities, subject to arbitrary murder, torture, and even imprisonment without reason.

Once, the Russians threatened to further reduce the Chinese workers' wages, already unreasonable, leaving them no chance of survival. After a night of deliberation, several hundred Chinese workers decided to unite and resist. They went to negotiate with the Russian contractor, axes in hand. But instead of a face-to-face conversation, they were met with bullets from the police.

The ruthless Russian police mercilessly fired their bullets at the Chinese workers, killing many of them instantly and seriously wounding over forty others. The pitiful Chinese laborers were treated like slaves and livestock in Russia. When they fell ill, no one treated them, no medicine was given, and when they died, no one cared.

The weak and incompetent Qing government was unable to use diplomatic means to aid these workers abroad. Many suffered agonizingly and ultimately died in exile. A Russian engineer wrote to his family about the treatment of Chinese workers: "They were given only corn to fill their stomachs, no beef, no butter, not even enough corn kernels." Despite their inhumane treatment, they displayed superhuman strength and unparalleled willpower.

It was thanks to these Chinese that the Trans-Siberian Railway was able to advance at an unimaginable pace every day. Indeed, it was these Chinese workers, armed with primitive tools, who overcame vast expanses of permafrost, countless rivers and towering mountains, enduring the immense difficulty and intensity of construction. Countless Chinese workers were injured, disabled, and even died as a result.

After liberating part of the Chinese Eastern Railway, the Fifth Field Army naturally would not allow such a thing to happen again. There were many conflicts here. For these Russian old Russians, the Fifth Field Army did not tear their faces for the time being, so they only rescued the Chinese laborers.

However, in this way, the contradictions quickly intensified, the interests and contradictions of both sides quickly developed to an irreconcilable point, and local armed conflicts were inevitable.

The Russians looked down on the yellow-skinned Qing people, so naturally, the two sides engaged in fierce fighting across the Northeast. As for who fired the first shot, this matter can only be left to historians to slowly study. At this time, the Russian army along the Chinese Eastern Railway was facing the same situation that the Japanese had faced. All Russian strongholds were separated. With just one order, the Russian Chinese Eastern Railway would immediately face the same fate as the South Manchuria Railway.

Cheng Dequan

Cheng Dequan was born on July 22, 1860, in the tenth year of Emperor Xianfeng's reign. He came from a family of scholars in Yunyang County. The Cheng family had once been a prominent family in Yunyang, but by the time of Cheng Dequan's father's generation, the family's fortunes had declined, leading to a very difficult early life for Cheng Dequan. His father was a scholar who earned his living as a teacher. Cheng Dequan followed his father to school, but due to the family's poverty, he began assisting with teaching at a young age, spending much of his time away from home.

The Cheng family, once a large, four-generation household, was devastated by a severe famine in eastern Sichuan during the first year of the Guangxu reign (1875). They were forced to divide their property and live separately, each seeking their own livelihood. At the time, Cheng Dequan was in Kuizhou preparing for the county examination. Returning to his newly moved home, he found nothing but a clay pot, bamboo chopsticks, and a few cans of grain. His mother was often ill, and his younger siblings were young.

In 1878, Cheng Dequan married. His capable new wife took care of the household, but he remained poor and unable to support himself, so he continued to teach. Soon, the family's rented house was repossessed, leaving them with nowhere to go. His wife observed the terrain and discovered that building a shack beneath a cliff would provide shelter from the elements. One year, a flood destroyed the shack, but his wife's quick thinking helped the family escape. After his mother's death, his younger siblings had grown up, easing the family's burden.

In 1890, the 16th year of the reign of Emperor Guangxu, Cheng Dequan entrusted his family affairs to his wife and traveled from Sichuan, hoping to escape his impoverished life. Born a student of imperial scholarship, he traveled to Beijing to study at the Imperial Academy. However, his poverty persisted, often suffering from hunger and cold, even being unable to leave his home due to starvation. While studying in Beijing, he witnessed the crisis in Northeast China and devoted himself to studying the region's problems. This opportunity presented him with a chance to change his fate.

Shoushan, a bannerman, learned that Cheng Dequan was familiar with Northeast issues, and after they met, he admired Cheng's talents.

In the 17th year of the reign of Emperor Guangxu (1891), Cheng Dequan was recommended by Shoushan to work as a staff member in Northeast China, and his livelihood problem was solved.

In 1895, after experiencing the Sino-Japanese War, Cheng Dequan was recommended as an alternate magistrate of Anhui Province. In 1896, he was able to bring his wife and children to live with him.

At the end of the 25th year of the reign of Emperor Guangxu (1899), Cheng Dequan served as the staff member of Shoushan, the deputy governor of Heilongjiang (in the Aijun Army).

In February 1900, Shoushan went to Qiqihar to serve as the acting general of Heilongjiang. Cheng Dequan accompanied him and served as the general manager of the Heilongjiang Silver Dollar Bureau, and also handled the general's paperwork.

In late June of the 26th year of the reign of Emperor Guangxu (1900), the Qing government began mobilizing Russian troops for war. On July 21, Russian troops massacred Chinese citizens who had long lived there in Blagoveshchensk. Simultaneously, Russian troops invaded the Sixty-Four Villages in Jiangdong and massacred Chinese people. These two massacres occurred along the Sino-Russian border. On August 5, Russian troops occupied Aihui and launched a full-scale offensive into the northeast. After staunch resistance, the Chinese army was repeatedly defeated.

After the outbreak of war, Cheng Dequan, replaced by Heilongjiang General Shoushan as the head of the headquarters office, was sent to the front to supervise the troops. While en route to Boldo (present-day Nehe County), the Moner River was swollen, and tens of thousands of refugees were wailing and struggling to cross. Morgan (present-day Nenjiang County) had also fallen, and with fewer than a thousand soldiers stationed, they were dispirited and unable to organize a resistance.

For this reason, Cheng wrote to Shoushan, advocating for peace with the Russian army. On August 19, Shoushan received the Qing court's order to negotiate peace, and immediately appointed Cheng Dequan to negotiate peace with the Russian army. On the 22nd, Cheng Dequan went to the Russian camp three times to seek peace, attempting to stop the Russian army from advancing, but was rejected. Because Cheng Dequan begged for death and drew his sword to commit suicide, the Russian officer hurriedly grabbed Cheng's wrist to stop him: "Why do you have to do this?" The Russian army then agreed not to attack the provincial capital, not to kill innocent people, and not to loot property. Cheng Dequan immediately returned to Qiqihar, withdrew the army and military supplies, and prepared to give up the city peacefully. On the 24th, the Russian army crossed the Moner River and reached the outskirts of Qiqihar on the 28th. Jiang, who served as an interpreter for the Russian army, secretly lied to the Russian army and said: "There is an ambush in the provincial capital, and negotiating peace is to lure them closer to the city." The Russian army planned to fire artillery to attack the city. Cheng hurried out of the city to meet the Russian army, blocked the muzzle of the gun with his body, and begged the Russian army to stop the attack, so the Russian army stopped shelling.

He insisted on staying in the Russian army as a hostage to relieve the enemy's suspicion. On the 29th, the Russian army drove into the city and occupied Qiqihar. Heilongjiang General Shoushan committed suicide.

Nian Gangbofu entered Qiqihar and plundered extensively.

At the same time, the Russian army attempted to force Cheng Dequan to be the general of Heilongjiang, making him a Russian puppet. Cheng Dequan believed this violated the national system and refused the appointment. He committed suicide by jumping into the river to show his loyalty, but was rescued by the Russian army.

For this reason, Cheng Dequan wrote to the Russian Tsar, requesting Russia to withdraw its troops: "The cold winter is coming, and the emperor should withdraw his troops, so that the local area will be peaceful and trade will be prosperous. Yesterday, I received a call from Governor Boli saying that he would follow the emperor's decree and let me serve as a general. I am a person away from home, living in Heilongjiang. In this turmoil, I wanted to protect the safety of my people from the beginning. It was because of the emperor's focus on diplomatic relations that the provincial capital was safe and sound. Now the emperor wants me to make my own decision to serve as a general because of the martyrdom of General Shoushan, not to mention that he has not yet obtained the emperor's approval, so he dare not act arbitrarily, and I am already a minister who has escaped.

Son, how can you have the dignity to serve as a general if you are just trying to survive? The emperor doesn't know that I am extremely sad and barely alive. How can I handle local affairs? Considering that the situation in Heilongjiang Province is still not stable, your country must strive to maintain peace.

No more harm will be done to any living beings. I bow my head nine times on behalf of the millions of Qing Dynasty citizens and request: 'Do not harm any living beings; do not rob the people's property; do not rape women; continue to treat the Chinese people with the same preferential treatment; do not change the decrees of the Qing Dynasty; issue passports to officials and people who need to relocate; issue business licenses to people in cities and stations; go to Hulan and other places to shelter and comfort the people; and issue notices so that all people know.'"

Soon after, Cheng Dequan was taken to Chita by Russian troops. Passing through Hulunbuyur (now Hailar), he fell ill due to the cold weather. He was treated by the Russian Red Cross and released, returning to Qiqihar on November 7. However, he contracted a cold from then on.

Cheng Dequan's actions in dealing with the Russian army earned him a reputation both within the government and the public. The people of Northeast China hoped to appoint him as the General of Heilongjiang as a temporary measure. However, Cheng Dequan's experience was limited. Moreover, according to Qing regulations, Northeast China maintained the traditional banner system, employing bannermen rather than Han Chinese to preserve the Qing dynasty's birthplace and its viable military resources. Appointing him as a general without prior notice was unthinkable. The Qing court rejected the proposal of the people of Northeast China. However, subsequent Generals of Heilongjiang and Jilin repeatedly urged the Qing court to re-employ Cheng Dequan.

In February 1901, the 2th year of the reign of Emperor Guangxu, Cheng Dequan was promoted by the Qing court to be the prefect of Zhili, and was awarded the flower feather and the third-rank title.

In September 1902, the 9th year of the reign of Emperor Guangxu, General Changshun of Jilin appointed Cheng Dequan to Sanxing (now Yilan) to handle post-war negotiations and fund-raising and arrest matters.

In the winter of the 29th year of the reign of Emperor Guangxu (1903), Tsarist Russia delayed its withdrawal from Northeast China, and the Russo-Japanese War was brewing. The Qing court urgently needed capable personnel to go to Northeast China. However, the Qing court's traditional rule in Northeast China had collapsed, and with a crisis approaching, it lacked personnel and was forced to make changes.

On December 28, Cixi summoned Cheng Dequan to inquire about Heilongjiang affairs. His answers pleased her greatly, and he was promoted to prefectural governor. The next day, he was given the title of deputy governor-general, acting as deputy governor-general of Qiqihar. The deputy governor-general was a military commander, and Cheng Dequan's appointment was both a leapfrog promotion and a break with the traditional practice of not appointing Han Chinese to Northeast China. It is said that before the appointment, Cixi entertained foreign guests, and the wife of the Russian ambassador praised Cheng Dequan in front of her, prompting Cixi to make this exceptional promotion. Subsequently, the Qing court appointed Cheng Dequan acting general of Heilongjiang, giving him full authority over the province's military and political affairs.

Chapter 599:

Zhang Yinghao knew that as long as the Fifth Field Army advanced into Jilin and Heilongjiang, a fierce conflict would inevitably break out with the Russians. This was a conflict of interests that could not be shifted by personal will. Zhang Yinghao also knew that in the Northeast, the Fifth Field Army must maintain an offensive posture. If it gave in in the slightest, the Russians, who bullied the weak and feared the strong, would inevitably take the initiative to seize the Tieling to Lushun section of the Chinese Eastern Railway and the Lushun military port.

At this moment, the field army absolutely could not afford to yield. In his previous life, Zhang Xueliang had fought a war with the Soviet Union to reclaim the Chinese Eastern Railway, but failed and suffered a severe blow from the Soviet Union. However, Tsarist Russia was now at its lowest point. If the Tsarist government could be compared to the Kuomintang in the past, then the revolutionary party in Russia today would be the Communist Party of Turkey. Zhang Yinghao firmly believed that since Chiang Kai-shek had diligently implemented the policy of pacifying the country before resisting foreign aggression, Nicholas II must have been even more aware that revolution was an absolute poison to imperialism and could not allow the revolutionary party to run rampant and erode the empire's vitality.

Due to the inconvenience of information and transportation, remote Chengdu was truly unsuitable to serve as the political center of a major country. Therefore, after a period of preparation, Zhang Yinghao was already on his way to Wuhan. Traveling from Chengdu to Wuhan was now convenient. One only needed to take a train to Chongqing, and then a direct boat to Wuhan. There was no need to worry about encountering warships from foreign powers on the way. The Yangtze River was now bustling with cargo ships, and trade was extremely busy.

Zhang Yinghao wouldn't have traveled with just two or three people, especially since this was the relocation of the political center of the liberated areas. Besides many high-ranking officials of the Forward Party, there were also quite a few young comrades, whom Zhang Yinghao had brought along to see the world. These comrades were all relatively outstanding, and they were already destined to be entrusted with important tasks after arriving in Wuhan.

Everyone was discussing the situation in Northeast China. "Chairman, if we move northward from Northeast China to overthrow the Qing Dynasty, will this provoke Tsarist Russia, causing the war to escalate and ultimately backfire?"

"This time we are overthrowing the Qing Dynasty. Our target is not the Russians. Northeast China is still our Chinese territory, so this is an internal matter of China. We and the Qing Dynasty are sworn enemies. No one can say anything nonsense."

“What if the Russians get directly involved?”

"Hmph, that's even better. Let's just solve the problem directly. Since we have decided not to recognize the unequal treaties signed between the great powers and the Qing Dynasty, then going to war with them is inevitable. It's only a matter of time. The only question is who to go to war with first."

"The Chairman chose to go to war with the Russians?"

"That's right. The Russians are the weakest of the Western powers. Moreover, Tsarist Russia has just experienced the Russo-Japanese War, which has cost a lot of military expenses. There are also revolutionary parties active in the country. They are the perfect target. Haha, otherwise why do you think I rushed Comrade Zhang Feng to the Outer Mongolia region as soon as possible? Whether a war breaks out between us and the Russians depends on the Russians. We are only protecting our own interests. It is just and glorious for us to liberate the miners in our own country and liberate the laborers enslaved by the Russians. But if the Russians forcefully interfere in our internal affairs, then we will have no choice but to take up arms and fight the Russians."

"Chairman, Russia is an established power after all. How big will the scale of this war be? Will the Russians unite with the Japanese?"

"The scale of the war doesn't depend on us, it also depends on the Russians. If the Russians don't invade on a large scale, perhaps only a few hundred thousand people will be enough to solve the problem. But if the Russians invade on a large scale, then everything will be different. We must be prepared to fight an all-out war with the Russians. As for whether Japan and Russia will unite, they are already exchanging prisoners to resolve their conflicts. As for whether they can eventually unite, this is not something we can decide. If the sky wants to rain, the mother wants to marry, and if they want to unite, then unite! Just fight. As long as we don't surrender and don't compromise, we will definitely be the winner in the end!"

"If we engage in a full-scale war with Tsarist Russia, will it reach the scale of the Russo-Japanese War?"

"Impossible. There might be a numerical advantage, but the intensity of the war wouldn't be as great as the Russo-Japanese War. After all, if we cut off the Trans-Siberian Railway, Russia would have no way of organizing an army of this size in the Far East. Although Russia has a standing army of over one million, the Tsar could immediately expand it to several million if he wished. Those serfs in Russia are known as the Tsar's livestock and are very good soldiers. Those serfs have been oppressed for years and are very obedient, and their physical fitness is also good, making them very good soldiers. However, no matter how powerful Russia is, it is only in Europe. The Far East is far away, and their ability to project power is still far behind. Of course, if a full-scale war breaks out with Tsarist Russia, then our hard times will begin."

Liu Qi thought for a moment and said, "Indeed, the possibility of a full-scale war breaking out is not great for the time being. The Trans-Siberian Railway is not yet fully open to traffic, and its transportation capacity is limited. So we are probably facing the Russian army in the Far East and the army that Russia has transferred by rail. Russia suffered heavy losses in the Russo-Japanese War, and many troops were transferred to suppress the revolution. However, we must also be prepared for a full-scale war. It is better to be prepared!"

"Yes, and the most crucial point is that we are fighting on our own soil. The Russians have much more difficulty in providing logistical support than we do. Their equipment is actually similar to ours, and they are also short of machine guns and artillery. If we cut off the Trans-Siberian Railway, the Russian troops in the Far East will be isolated, and the difficulties they face will increase exponentially..."

However, Zhang Yinghao knew full well that he absolutely could not let Tsarist Russia fall. If it fell and the Red Russians came to power, the consequences would be truly disastrous! What if the Red Russians refused to give up the territories they had occupied? At this time when he was still very weak, Zhang Yinghao was truly unsure of defeating the frenzied Red Russians. While Zhang Yinghao was not afraid of a duel of attrition with Tsarist Russia, he would be terrified if he fought the Red Russians. After all, Zhang Yinghao was well aware of the unleashed power of such a highly centralized state.

It's not that Zhang Yinghao is stingy. He never even considered launching a world revolution or supporting Lenin, because he knew that this was still a period of vigorous capitalist development and that success would be impossible. At this time, even if Zhang Yinghao was targeted by all Western powers, he would never support the Russian revolutionary party in starting a revolution, or even overthrow the Tsarist government. Because Russia is a land border to the north, the pressure it puts on China is too great. It is certain that there will be more struggle than cooperation in the next hundred years. After China has recovered the lost land in the north and has made certain progress in industrialization, supporting the Bolsheviks will naturally be no problem. Now! Haha, for the benefit of China and the Chinese people, everything is just an object of exploitation.

"Chairman, if a full-scale war breaks out with Tsarist Russia and the Trans-Siberian Railway is severed, the real decisive battle might not take place in the Far East, but in Outer Mongolia. Especially the Russian Cossack cavalry. The Mongolian Plateau is a world of cavalry."

"Haha, isn't Comrade Zhang Feng in Outer Mongolia now? Also, don't you forget how Gansu was liberated? In the face of heavy firepower, the cavalry is already a lamb to be slaughtered. However, our army still needs to guard against the Japanese attack. That is to say, in addition to defeating the Russians, we must retain enough troops to deal with the Japanese provocation. But I dare to conclude that the Japanese will never dare to really attack us on a large scale. If they make a strong move at first, they will weaken at second and exhaust themselves at third. Japan will only face increasing difficulties in the short term. They are also fighting against the wolf with a stick, and they are afraid of both ends, unless Japan receives selfless assistance from the great powers. Therefore, as long as the Japanese dare to act rashly, we must resolutely fight back and never give the Japanese any chance, otherwise there will be endless troubles."

"Speaking of Outer Mongolia, I don't know where the Jebtsundamba Khutuktu VIII is, and how the Panchen Lama and the Dalai Lama are doing in Sichuan."

"Hey, how else can they live? It wouldn't be bad to let them write about the history of xz."

"These religious leaders left their lair, and a few years later, the world changed. In fact, Mongolia's greater significance lies in building a major railway from Northeast China to Xinjiang. This railway not only avoids natural obstacles like the Gobi Desert, which are difficult to overcome with modern technology in a short period of time, but also serves as a key route for troops to march out of Central Asia and fight against Tsarist Russia."

"Like the Trans-Siberian Railway?"

"Almost the same, but our railway should be much easier to build than the Trans-Siberian Railway. However, our current iron ore mining requires a much higher investment cost. So I hope that our comrades going abroad this time can purchase large-scale mining equipment. Currently, relying on blasting and manual mining, we have basically reached the limit of production."

"Aren't larger steelmaking furnaces being designed now?"

"Yes, that's right. There's no rush. Our comrades from the Ministry of Railways have already taken over the Chinese Eastern Railway. However, the current Chinese Eastern Railway is a dead-end road, a single-track railway with very limited transportation capacity. However, this railway can solve many problems in the Northeast. We should arrange for comrades to go to the Northeast to build a coal and iron complex. Only in this way can the fundamental problems be solved."

"Isn't Japan no longer at war? I think we should quickly design a steel mill in Northeast China. We can ship any equipment we need and then transport it by rail, and we can start production quickly."

"Well, that's the point. Then let's hand this task over to the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission for discussion. Let's see if it's feasible and have them act quickly."

During his journey, Zhang Yinghao would give lectures to his comrades during breaks. This time, he was talking about doing business with the Qing Dynasty. These comrades had been with Zhang Yinghao for a long time and were quite familiar with him. They also knew some of his teaching styles, so the atmosphere was relatively good.

"Why do we have to do so much business with those smugglers who transport goods to the Qing territory? Many comrades don't understand. In fact, the reason is very simple. On the one hand, we can't let ordinary people in the north starve to death. On the other hand, we must earn all the working money from the Qing Dynasty. What is working money? It is the money circulating in the market. Everyone should know that transactions in the Qing Dynasty are conducted with copper coins and silver. We have earned all the silver money. When there are no copper coins and no silver in the market, what do you think will happen to the Qing Dynasty? In our economic terms, is it deflation or disinflation?"

"inflation."

“Deflation.”