The Heroic Age of the Late Qing Dynasty

We are going to establish a railway academy to train railway professionals, so I hope Mr. Juancheng can come out and serve as the principal. In China right now, Mr. Juancheng is the only one who has this ability. What do you think?"

"Since the Chairman has said so, I will not refuse. As for whether it can be done successfully, I can only say that I will do my best."

"Haha, success or failure is a combination of both internal and external factors. No one else can be blamed. Mr. Juancheng, just do your best."

In fact, Zhang Yinghao knew that Zhan Tianyou died young. It can be said that it was caused by overwork, overwork, exhaustion, and the recurrence of old illness. So he asked Zhan Tianyou to teach more in school and let other young people contribute more.

It should be. In Zhang Yinghao's view, in today's China, Zhan Tianyou's greatest value should be realized in the classroom, not in the open air. If he could train a few engineers, that would be his greatest value, not just building the prestigious Beijing-Zhangjiakou Railway.

"Okay, I'll take on this burden." "Okay."

"Chairman, when will this road be built?"

"The sooner the better. I'd be happy to start work tomorrow. Mr. Juancheng, do you have any ideas for speeding up the process?"

"If we want to speed it up, we can do it in sections, but the workers are not yet skilled enough to start work in sections."

"That's easy. We'll start by learning by working in one place, and then we'll use the fission method. One becomes two, two becomes four, four becomes eight. It won't take long before we have a dozen or so basic road construction teams. But if we don't have enough rails, does Mr. Juancheng have any connections to buy them from the Wuhan Iron and Steel Plant? After all, if we buy from Wuhan, the meat will rot in our own pot. If we don't have any connections, we'll have to buy them from foreigners."

"Yes, I do. Let me ask first. If I can buy it, it will be considered a good deed."

"Yes, only when there is work in the factory can workers earn an income. If there is no work in the factory, everyone will be worried about their livelihood."

Zhang Yinghao himself remained silent because his own people had severely offended Hanyang Iron and Steel, poaching employees to such an extent that he even doubted the continued operation of the Wuhan steel mill. However, Zhang Yinghao had clearly underestimated the wealth of Hanyang Iron and Steel and the Wuhan people's fervor to defend it. Although production was reduced, it did not cease.

"Mr. Juancheng, we've already shipped the locomotive and train cars to Chongqing and sealed them up. Now it's up to you. But please take care of yourself. Leave the dangerous work to the young men. Your value is so high that I wouldn't trade it for any number of railways."

"Okay, I'll pay attention."

"Well, since we've built the Chengdu-Chongqing railway, let's build a road right next to it for convenience. Let's make a unified plan. Building a railway without a road would be too inconvenient."

"That's right. Wherever the railway is built, the road will be built. Of course, the train should follow. This way, large quantities of materials can be mobilized faster."

"That's the best. We don't have cars right now, so the efficiency is still too low."

"Yeah. But that's the reality. Let's see later." "Yes, let's see later."

After agreeing with Zhan Tianyou on the railway construction, Zhang Yinghao immediately organized public opinion and began to talk about the benefits of railways. In fact, any knowledgeable person knows the benefits of building railways.

Only those who are selfish and completely unreasonable will oppose this behavior. To describe it in two simple words, it is stupid.

This wave of publicity has indeed achieved the expected effect. Wherever the news is known, everyone is talking about it. Although there are supporters and opponents, the trend of building a railway is set. QQ Book Friends Group 775111838

The news that Sichuan was going to build a railway reached the Qing court. The Qing court was now unable to encircle Sichuan, but it could not give up, so the Qing court also announced that it would build a railway. As for which railway to build, it was still under study.

Foreigners were overjoyed when they learned that the Qing Dynasty was going to build a railway. How could they not be happy? Unfortunately, the Qing Dynasty was in a more difficult situation than in history. As for building a railway, they could only think about it for the time being. Therefore, foreigners could only find ways to persuade the Qing Dynasty to lend money to build the railway.

When the Western powers learned that a railway was being built in Sichuan, they almost laughed to death.

The yellow monkey actually planned to build a railway on his own. Didn't they lose their composure after Zhang Yinghao announced the route and start date?

The consuls of Britain, France, the United States and Japan all visited the current mayor of Chongqing, Lin Zhenghong.

Lin Zhenghong had been with Zhang Yinghao since his days in Guang'an, and had been working in government departments. He had been mayor of Chongqing for quite some time and was very familiar with the city's situation. Previously, with Zhang Feng in charge, his responsibilities were relatively small, but now that Zhang Feng was gone, much of Zhang Feng's work had shifted to him. The British consul saw Lin Zhenghong, pointed at the newspaper in his hand, and said, "Mr. Lin, your newspaper says they're going to build a railway? Is that true?"

"Yes, we plan to build a railway from Chongqing to Chengdu."

"Mr. Lin, you know, building a railway is not easy. Do you have the technology now?"

“No, but you have to try to know.”

"Mr. Lin, our British Empire has very mature railway construction technology. We can build a railway for you."

“Is it free?”

“Mr. Lin, don’t joke. We will definitely offer a very favorable price.”

Chapter 215:

Lin Zhenghong slumped his hands together, looking helpless as he said, "Alas, it's because we don't have the money that we have to fix it ourselves. If we had the money, we would definitely ask you to fix it. Your technology is mature, and you will definitely fix it quickly and well."

When the foreigners heard this, their faces lit up. As long as they got involved, it would be easy to deal with. The most frightening thing was not having the opportunity to intervene.

"Mr. Lin, I think we can do this. We'll lend you the money, and then you can hire us to repair it, right?"

"You don't know, Sichuan is suffering from a drought right now, and many people can't even afford to eat. Borrowing money is easy, but paying it back is difficult, so we don't dare to borrow money!"

"Mr. Lin, our interest rate is very low. Your bristles can be used as collateral."

"That's fine. We'll send people to the consulates later to discuss the loan. But you won't be repairing this one, but this one."

After Lin Zhenghong finished speaking, he took out a map and pointed it at the foreigners. Zhang Yinghao had long known that the foreigners would intervene in the construction of the Sichuan railway, and he had already made preparations. The Sichuan Plain is so vast, how could only one railway be enough? At least two railways were needed to surround Sichuan. Moreover, there were the Sichuan-Han Railway and the Sichuan-Shaanxi Railway. As long as the foreigners were willing to build them, Zhang Yinghao would dare to lend them money and ask them to build them. There was nothing to be afraid of. The built railway was within Chinese territory, and he could overturn the table at any time. Everything was still his own decision. It was only because the Qing Dynasty was incompetent that the foreign powers dared not say a word.

Zhang Yinghao saw borrowing money as a no-brainer. He needed so many things right now. If he borrowed money to buy them, he could earn several, dozens, or even tens of times the return in the future. He wasn't worried about not being able to repay the loan, as the bank already had a substantial inventory of precious metals. And his base was only going to grow stronger, so Zhang Yinghao truly wasn't afraid of not being able to repay the loan.

Zhang Yinghao, who came from a later era, knew that debtors were the bosses. He had all the guns and cannons, so what could he do if he didn't pay them back? At most, his country's reputation would be damaged. Furthermore, capitalist countries are known for their willingness to pay back debts. The Soviet Union defaulted on countless debts from the Tsarist era, only to be saddled with debts when the Soviet Union implemented its New Economic Policy. New China also defaulted on countless debts from the Qing and Republican eras. Didn't the foreign powers come back after reform and opening up?

Zhang Yinghao issued paper currency, which was not freely convertible into silver. Furthermore, every town in Sichuan had at least one supply and marketing cooperative to collect the paper currency from the people. To further collect more paper currency, Zhang Yinghao also established a tobacco and alcohol monopoly in Sichuan. The number of smokers in Sichuan is now increasing rapidly, and this is undoubtedly due to Zhang Yinghao's efforts.

The sight of toiling laborers enjoying themselves puffing away, or a cheap blended liquor after a hard day's work, was a perfect choice. Zhang Yinghao felt that tobacco's refreshing properties made sense, and promoting it was crucial. Most importantly, smoking was far superior to opium and other drugs. Furthermore, Zhang Yinghao now felt that the tobacco and alcohol monopoly had merit. Take tobacco, for example. If unscrupulous vendors added even a little bit of something, the customer might end up paying for it for the rest of their lives.

Not to mention alcohol, even methanol was sold as alcohol in later generations, and many people went blind from drinking it. Therefore, it's essential to implement a monopoly on alcohol and tobacco. Rather than allowing something to spread privately, it's better to regulate it and establish a national monopoly. After all, every pack of cigarettes still has the words "Smoking is harmful to health" on it! And by the time Zhang Yinghao arrived in this world, weren't there already fewer and fewer people smoking?

Currently, inflation in the base area hasn't reached a critical level. If excessive banknotes are issued in the future, Zhang Yinghao has a solution: issuing government bonds. Issuing government bonds can significantly reduce the amount of banknotes in circulation. Furthermore, as long as economic growth exceeds the interest paid on government bonds, the government will profit from borrowing money.

The day for the railway construction finally arrived. Zhang Yinghao personally attended the groundbreaking ceremony and delivered an important speech.

Zhan Tianyou watched the workers working hard to dig the foundation, but in his heart he recalled Zhang Yinghao's previous speech: "Comrades, railways are a result of the modern industrial revolution and can be said to be a symbol of industrial civilization. Since the rise of the industrial revolution, European and American countries have been frantically building railways.

It can be said that the rise of the great powers is closely related to the rise of railway civilization. However, it is interesting to note that building railways costs a lot of money. The great powers not only built railways in their own countries, but were also keen to build railways abroad. For example, during the Qing Dynasty, the great powers competed to help China build railways. You had to let them build railways. Many people can't help but wonder why the great powers rushed to build railways for China in the late Qing Dynasty.

Let me tell you, first of all, the great powers built railways because they saw the economic benefits they could generate. Building a railway is undoubtedly a massive undertaking, and the returns can be high. Since the Qing government was financially strapped and had no money to build railways, it had to borrow from the great powers.

These loans were substantial, with interest rates as high as 5%, representing a significant income. Furthermore, the Qing government required collateral and various additional conditions to borrow from the foreign powers. Furthermore, in many cases, the foreign powers did not provide cash, but instead exchanged their own machinery and equipment for the money, essentially exploiting China in various ways.

It can be said that the profits from China's railways almost entirely repaid the principal and interest of the loans from the great powers. When the great powers built a railway for China, it was like raising a goose that would lay golden eggs.

Secondly, the great powers often attached various political conditions to the construction of railways, through which they brought the areas along the railway lines and even the provinces where they were located into their sphere of influence. This was because the great powers not only controlled the railways, but also seized the rights to mine, cut wood, and station troops along the railway lines.

The German consul once revealed the secret: wherever the railway is built, that is Germany's sphere of influence! If you don't obey, we will directly transport the army over through the railway network and deal with you in minutes.

The Western powers are the kind that will not do anything without profit. They are fighting for the right to build roads in order to seize their sphere of influence, so they are fighting tooth and nail for the right to build roads.

Finally, the great powers built railways for another reason: to plunder the resources and wealth along the railway lines. After the Germans occupied Jiaozhou Bay, they invested heavily in building the Jiaoji Railway in Shandong. The most important reason was to facilitate the transportation of Shandong's mineral resources and the sale of their industrial products to China.

The imperialist powers were typical invaders. They didn't come to alleviate poverty; they helped China build railways for their own selfish purposes. This was a key reason why the Qing government and the Chinese people were so opposed to the railways. The Qing government repeatedly attempted to reclaim the railways, even starting to build them themselves, as a way to resist the invasion of the imperialist powers.

The Chengdu-Chongqing Railway we are building today is the first railway designed and built independently by the Chinese. Today, we are breaking the imperialist monopoly on railway construction in my country. We are telling them with unequivocal force that we can build railways, too. We don't need you. You, too, are the creators of history, and history will record your glorious achievements.

This railway you are building will serve not just tens of thousands, but hundreds of thousands, or even millions of people each year. It will serve at least tens of millions. You will continue eastward until you reach Chongqing, and our pace of railway construction will not stop.

This railway didn't just fall from the sky. If the Western powers could build it, we can certainly do it too. In the future, when you and your children ride this railway, you can proudly tell them, "Guwa, this railway was built by us..."

Amidst the laughter and applause of the crowd, Zhang Yinghao finished his speech, picked up the shovel and dug the first shovel of soil, officially announcing the start of construction.

Zhang Yinghao also used the news of the railway construction to spread widely, and tried every means to spread the news throughout China. The reputation of "Zhengqi Road" quickly spread throughout China. At the same time, Zhang Feng also telegraphed Li Tong and Bai Jianyong, asking them to follow the plan. He also telegraphed Comrade Liu Xinsheng, asking him to make a move in Chongqing.

After receiving the telegram, Li Tong and Bai Jianyong immediately led a 2,000-man force down the Dabie Mountains and feinted an attack on the Wuhan area. This news quickly spread outside, and the telegram reached the capital directly via a small cable. The imperial family in the Forbidden City were now accustomed to hearing about rebellion, so they remained calm. They had no idea when such a large group of rebels had appeared in the Dabie Mountains, but they immediately ordered Zhang Zhidong to eliminate them.

By this time, Zhang Zhidong had returned to Wuhan. He had long known about the emergence of a rebel group in the Dabie Mountains. They had been hiding there, but he hadn't expected them to emerge. Zhang Zhidong immediately ordered Zhang Biao to lead his troops to suppress the rebellion. This attracted the attention of the foreign powers, who were eager to learn the true combat effectiveness of Zhang Zhidong's army.

Unfortunately, the rebels did not live up to the wishes of the great powers. They only came out for a short stroll before returning to the mountains. Zhang Zhidong could only order Zhang Biao to stay on the spot and take strict precautions, not daring to lead his troops into the mountains to pursue and suppress them.

Upon receiving the telegram, Liu Xinsheng immediately ordered his troops to march from Kuimen for a large-scale armed parade. Zhang Zhidong, upon hearing the news, immediately dispatched his troops to prepare for battle against the bandits. Upon hearing the news, Britain, France, the United States, and Japan were thrown into a frenzy in Chongqing, sending and receiving countless telegrams. They still had no idea what the Forward Party was up to.

Now these foreign devils really dislike the Sichuan Red Bandits because these people never consult with the powers before doing anything, which causes them to either be criticized or become nervously depressed because of Sichuan.

After the last massacre of workers by the great powers, in order to solve the problem of untimely intelligence transmission, the Forward Party could only secretly install wireless telegraph machines in various places along the Yangtze River to transmit messages, so that Sichuan could get some important intelligence in time.

Zhang Yinghao didn't care whether the foreign powers liked him or not. He then relayed his order to Xi'an via telegram, instructing his comrades there to immediately spread rumors that Sichuan's communist bandits were attacking Hubei. Zhang Yinghao also didn't care whether the governor-general of Shaanxi and Gansu relaxed his vigilance or sent more troops to Hanzhong. In reality, this message was intended to inform Zhao Liang and the others that Zhang Feng had secretly departed.

Before Zhang Feng sent out troops this time, he had already secretly transferred the relevant troops to Guangyuan, Nanjiang, Pingchang and other places, waiting for the order. Then the three armies would advance at full speed along Jinniu Road, Migang Road and Litchi Road at the same time.

Zhang Feng brought with him several radios manufactured at the base. These were prototypes purchased from abroad, and while some accessories still needed to be purchased, the base already had most of the components to manufacture domestically. Zhang Yinghao issued strict orders to maximize the localization of wireless telegraphs, and a batch was urgently manufactured for trial use.

The food Zhang Feng decided to bring to Shaanxi surprised Zhang Yinghao. Besides a large quantity of compressed military biscuits, he also brought bags of potatoes and salt. After a moment's reflection, Zhang Yinghao felt this was a brilliant decision. In Shaanxi these days, as long as there was food, there was no shortage. Mashed potatoes mixed with salt made a delicious meal. At this point, the only thing holding Zhao Liang back was the unresolved food crisis.

The most important thing is that potatoes are planted in late August in Shaanxi and can be harvested after a growth cycle of more than 60 days. So Zhang Feng can imitate what Zhang Yinghao did when he was still in Zhangjiagou. After conquering Shaanxi, he can immediately start farming and there will be no problem in getting through the first winter safely.

Zhang Yinghao seemed to remember that during the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, the Nationalist government built a highway from Sichuan to Xi'an, called the Sichuan-Shaanxi Highway. Zhang Yinghao didn't know the exact route, but it was likely the Jinniu Road or the Micang Road, then the Chencang Road. After all, the idiom "openly repairing the plank road, secretly crossing Chencang" is still very famous. However, Zhang Yinghao now had no intention of undertaking this major project, as several projects required a large amount of manpower and resources, and there was no spare manpower to spare.

Since it wasn't a matter of life or death yet, Zhang Yinghao wasn't in a rush to build the road. When Zhang Feng set out, Zhao Liang also received news that Sichuan had sent troops to Shaanxi. He immediately dispatched troops to support Zhang Feng and prepare to capture Tongguan. Zhang Yinghao had no role to play in this; it all depended on Zhang Yinghao's own performance in Shaanxi.

Chapter 216: Thank you for your prompt reward and extra chapters!

After Zhang Yinghao destroyed the Green Camp in Gansu and Shaanxi, the Qing Dynasty's mobile forces in the region were reduced to a minimum. However, the Governor-General of Gansu and Shaanxi, Song Fan, still dispatched troops to garrison Hanzhong. However, as time passed, Sichuan showed no signs of an attack. He withdrew his troops. It wasn't that he didn't care about the Sichuan Red Bandits, but rather that his own backyard was on fire, and the fire was raging everywhere. If he didn't protect Xi'an and Lanzhou, he would be killed.

After Zhang Yinghao eliminated the Green Camp in Gansu and Shaanxi, given the current situation in Gansu and Shaanxi, it could be said that the biggest obstacle on the revolutionary army's northward march had long been resolved. Looking across the Sanqin land, it was completely empty. It was as if the sea was wide enough for fish to leap, and the sky was high enough for birds to fly.

Zhang Feng pointed at the map and said, "The current situation is that Shaanxi is extremely empty, and Sichuan is our rear area. According to the intelligence we got from our comrades who rebelled, the enemies in Gansu and Qinghai are completely trash. Otherwise, why are the swordsmen in these places so rampant? They are still at the stage of conquering the world with a machete, and they don't understand that times have changed.

Therefore, I judge that Gansu and Qinghai would not be so foolish as to dare to provoke us after knowing that we have arrived in Shaanxi. However, Gansu may send cavalry, so we need to be on guard. However, if we enter Shaanxi, we will most likely face the enemy at Tongguan. The enemy here will not be the enemy we have faced before, but the real new Manchu army."

Zhang Feng then ordered the Third Division and the Special Operations Detachment to depart at night to capture Ningqiang and Hanzhong. He also ordered the Fourth Division to capture Yuanba and Wangcang, and the Fifth Division to capture Nanjiang.

He then added: "A temporary victory for the army is not a victory. We must gain a firm foothold in Shaanxi and integrate with the local people. Chairman Zhang Yinghao has already told me that he will transfer some cadres from Sichuan to help us establish a local government. The Northwest is vast and sparsely populated, and without a grassroots government, it will not work.

The second is to form local garrison forces to be responsible for guarding key military points, freeing up the main force for maneuver and strategic direction.

The third is to establish police and armed police forces to be responsible for local household registration and public security issues."

Hearing these words, Political Commissar Cai Zhonghe said: "This is all necessary. With our current strength, we must first establish our rule in Shaanxi. In the short term, we must quickly capture Hanzhong, Xi'an, and Weinan. These places are the essence of Shaanxi. It will be very convenient to raise food and expand the army in the future..."

By the time Zhang Feng arrived in Nanjiang, the Third Division had already taken Hanzhong. Zhang Feng urgently ordered the Third Division and the Special Operations Detachment to rush to Xi'an, and at the same time ordered the Fourth and Fifth Divisions to advance quickly to Hanzhong. After arriving in Hanzhong, they would not stop and would move north to support the Third Division.

Hanzhong, nestled between the Qinling Mountains to the north and the Bashan Mountains to the south, enjoys the advantages and beauty of both north and south. It is home to four national treasures: the red parrot, the giant panda, the golden monkey, and the takin. It also boasts a rich cultural heritage dating back to the Qin, Han, and Three Kingdoms periods, and holds a crucial strategic position.

It was August. It was almost impossible to meet local people along the way. All the way to Hanzhong, the houses were dilapidated and deserted.

After entering Hanzhong, Zhang Feng said: "According to the investigation, Hanzhong is a good

This place has always been the granary of Shaanxi and a good base for replenishing troops. But look at what Hanzhong looks like now. There is no food to eat, and poppies are everywhere.

There is a lot of planting, but all industries are in decline and people are struggling to make a living."

Zhang Feng turned around and said to the Sichuan comrades who had followed the team to Hanzhong to take up their posts: "We are handing Hanzhong over to you now because we believe you can do a good job. You have two tasks: one is to develop production. Do you see those wastelands? More than two million people died in Shaanxi in the past few years, leaving a large amount of land vacant. After the land reform, there is a large amount of surplus land, and we can grow more grain to ensure the food supply for the local people.

The second is to train troops and ensure replenishment of the forces. We must develop the garrison regiment, armed police, and police. We must allocate time for training for these new recruits, and if needed, they must be deployed to the front lines. Chairman Zhang Yinghao once said, "We never worry about having too many people, but we must remember to develop our party members. Only when you manage the local area well can our morale be high."

"Make sure to complete the mission."

After capturing Hanzhong, the Third Division, with the help of comrades sent by Zhao Liang, arduously crossed the endless Qinling Mountains. Behind them was the 800-li Guanzhong Plain, the birthplace of the Qin and Han civilizations.

Zhang Feng was unwilling to stay in Hanzhong any longer. After leaving Hanzhong, he advanced along the Baoxiade Road from Baocheng to Liuba, preparing to cross the Qinling Mountains and advance to Xi'an.

When Zhang Feng arrived at the foot of Dingjun Mountain south of Mian County, he suddenly remembered that the tomb of Zhuge Liang, the Marquis of Wu, whom he admired so much, was right there. He ordered the troops to continue advancing, and he, along with his political commissar, chief of staff, and other comrades, went to pay homage.

Arriving at the tomb of Marquis Wu, it was desolate, but the basic structures were still relatively intact. The bamboo and trees surrounding the cemetery were already turning green, clearly the result of recent rain. Zhang Feng stood in silence before the statue of Marquis Wu for a moment, then turned and left. Once he had left the cemetery and mounted his horse, he said, "Marquis Wu led six expeditions to Qishan, ultimately dying of illness at Wuzhangyuan without ever succeeding in his northern expedition to the Central Plains. He dedicated himself to the cause, yet died a tragic death. It's also a cause for deep thought!"

"Haha, didn't the Chairman say that long ago? After Shu Han lost Jingzhou, it lost the foundation for unifying the world. We can't follow the old path of Shu Han. We must gain a firm foothold in Shaanxi. Otherwise, the logistics pressure will be too great if we take all these routes."

"That's right, we don't need six or seven out of ten, just one out of ten will do."

"Haha, well said. High-spirited and full of fighting spirit. Let's go." After saying that, he whipped his whip and shouted, "Go!"

After leaving Wuhou Mausoleum, we headed onto the main road from Hanzhong to Xi'an. After crossing the basin, the terrain gradually rose. By the time we reached Liuba, it was already night.

Zhang Feng, looking at the mountains they were about to cross, immediately ordered his troops to camp and activated the telegraph to contact the various divisions. The Third Division had already passed Taibai and was about to attack Meixian. The two Qing garrisons in the Qinling Mountains had been annihilated, and Zhouzhi could be captured the next day or the day after tomorrow.

Zhang Feng examined the map and saw the Third Division's rapid advance. He immediately ordered the Third Division's troops not to stop after capturing Zhouzhi, but to rest briefly and disregard any enemy forces along the way. Their single goal was to storm Xi'an. With the cooperation of undercover forces in Xi'an, they could capture Xi'an with minimal effort, before the enemy could react. The entire city of Xi'an was temporarily sealed off, awaiting the arrival of the main force.

Reports from the 4th and 5th Divisions have also arrived, stating that they have passed Hanzhong.

Zhang Feng immediately ordered the Fourth Division to take the Chencang Road to capture Baoji and other places, and the Fifth Division to speed up its march and directly capture Xianyang and its surrounding areas after crossing the Qinling Mountains.

After issuing the order, Zhang Feng consulted with Political Commissar Cai Zhonghe and Chief of Staff Zhao Jinshan. Zhang Feng decided to form a second echelon, consisting of the Cavalry Regiment, the Guard Battalion, the Artillery Battalion, the Engineer Battalion, the Machine Gun Battalion, and the Medical Corps, and to rush to Xi'an. The Chief of Staff and Political Commissar arrived shortly afterward, carrying the baggage.

Zhang Feng called the cavalry regiment commander and the battalion commanders and said, "The soldiers of the Third Division need our help to take over. I know everyone is exhausted, but we are racing against time with the Qing Dynasty, so everyone should rest for a night and then march to Xi'an immediately. The cavalry regiment should spare some horses for the medical team. Now that we have occupied Xi'an, we can rest as much as we want."

"Commander, ensure the mission is completed."

"Everyone, don't worry. Chairman Zhang Yinghao and I have walked this road before. As long as we cross the Qinling Mountains and enter the Weihe Plain, we can get up to speed after a short rest."

After a long day of marching, everyone dozed off during the night's rest period, as the cool breeze blew. Zhang Feng woke up at just after five in the morning. After a quick wash, he ordered the troops to march. The cavalry regiment led the way, followed by the guard battalion, artillery battalion, medical corps, and engineers. They set out in order, heading north.

The continuous march was like crossing mountains and ridges, sleeping in the open air. When Zhang Feng arrived in Zhouzhi and was about to contact the troops, the 3rd Division had already marched towards Xi'an on the Weihe Plain. The Guanzhong Plain now has long lost the Qin and Han Dynasty

The land was once covered with lush vegetation, but now it is completely bare. The grass roots have been dug up and eaten by the hungry people.

It is bare loess.

The Qing Dynasty survived thanks to Emperor Yongzheng's policy of equalizing land tax and promoting the production of foreign crops like corn and sweet potatoes. The Qing population exploded to over 400 million, accounting for 20-30% of the world's population. In areas with particularly severe annexation, coupled with the Qing court's corruption and incompetence, the Qing government was unable to organize the victims and could only allow them to continue to roam the plains during this devastating year.