The Heroic Age of the Late Qing Dynasty

More than 5,000 Tibetan soldiers and militiamen fought bloody battles, using homemade guns, cannons, cold weapons and even stones to repel seven attacks by the British army.

During the battle, the Tibetan army even used the "Yellow Brother" cannon, which had been used by General Fu Kang'an during the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty in 1791. After three days of hard fighting, the Tibetan army defending Jiangzi Zongshan was almost completely wiped out, with only a small number of troops trying to break through.

When the British army entered the Dzong Mountain in Gyantse on July 7, hundreds of Tibetan soldiers persisted in hand-to-hand combat. After suffering heavy casualties, some Tibetan soldiers jumped off the cliff on the north side of the mountain, refusing to be captured.

During this period, the seesaw battle at Gyantse continued for a long time, with the Tibetan army constantly counterattacking. According to the account of the invading British officer Waldall, "We were suddenly awakened by the strange battle cries of the Tibetans. Hundreds of them shouted in a rough and shrill voice, 'Ki-hu-hu-wu-wu! Ki-hu-hu-ming-wu-li!' Such cries came from just a few yards away, outside our low wall. Then came the crackling of hundreds of muskets, bullets whirring in from all directions, and their guns and cannons spewed out long tongues of fire."

From April to July 1904, the defense of Gyantse lasted about one hundred days, and the Tibetans exhausted all their strength.

After the defeat at Gyantse, the main force of the Tibetan army was almost completely depleted. At that time, the population of Tibet was very small and scattered over a vast area, many of which were controlled by local chieftains and religious leaders.

In several battles with the British army, the Tibetan army lost about 10,000 people and was no longer able to fight.

In July, the British army advanced rapidly, starting from Gyantse and heading straight for Lhasa. At that time, the 7th Dalai Lama fled to Qinghai and then to Ulaanbaatar in Outer Mongolia.

After the occupation of Lhasa, a large number of precious Tibetan cultural relics were looted, and many temples with a history of thousands of years were plundered, which dealt a severe blow to Tibetan civilization. The so-called Tibetologist Lawrence Waddell purchased nearly 3,000 precious Tibetan cultural relics for a mere 10,000 Indian rupees, equivalent to only 5 rupees per piece.

Many of these cultural relics are considered priceless treasures and are currently mainly collected in the

Institutions such as the British Museum, Oxford University's Bodleian Library, and Cambridge University Press.

Although the British army occupied Lhasa, they also felt a headache.

The Tibetans were brave and good at fighting, and they were strong in character. They would never obey the rule of the invaders and attacked the British troops everywhere. As long as the British troops were left alone, they would easily be attacked by the angry Tibetans.

People were killed, even in the city of Lhasa.

The British army, having marched from India into Lhasa, had the support of seven or eight thousand civilians, but their logistical supplies were already scarce and they could not sustain a sustained battle. In this situation, it was better to withdraw while the going was good and leave after the British army had gained the advantage.

The 13th Dalai Lama's escape to Outer Mongolia and his initial contact with the Russian Empire also threatened the British. The British, who disregarded the Qing dynasty, were wary of Tsarist Russia's infiltration into Xinjiang. Tsarist Russia also harbored territorial ambitions in Xinjiang, and the British did not want the 13th Dalai Lama to collaborate with the Russians.

On September 7, Younghusband signed the Treaty of Lhasa with representatives from the Qing Dynasty. The treaty primarily stipulated the continued opening of Gyantse and other areas in the Qing Dynasty as commercial ports, the payment of war reparations to the British, the dismantling of fortifications built to defend against the British, and the granting of British privileges in the region, while also prohibiting other powers from interfering in the region. However, as the Qing Dynasty was part of China and had not signed the treaty, the treaty was effectively null and void.

In 1905, the Qing government sent Tang Shaoyi to negotiate the Treaty of Lhasa with Britain. Ultimately, the two sides signed the Sino-British Renewal of the Tibet-India Treaty, in which Britain recognized Tibet as Chinese territory, pledged not to invade Tibet, and refrained from interfering in Tibet's politics. The Qing government, in turn, guaranteed Britain certain exclusive privileges in Tibet.

The British Indian government awarded the Order of the Ritual of Xizang to those who participated in the Younghusband Expedition. Combat personnel received the Silver Medal, while support personnel received the Bronze Medal. Those who participated in the Battle of Gyantse Dzong received an additional Campaign Clasp.

Chapter 294:

At this time, Comrade Zhang Weiqiang brought a few comrades into the office. Zhang Yinghao stopped talking and directly spread out his large technology tree. Then he said: "How about it, Comrade Weiqiang, are there many comrades asking for money now?"

Zhang Weiqiang shook his head helplessly and said, "It's too much. There's a factory here, a mine there, and money needs to be allocated for reservoirs and canals. I'm fed up with all these reports. These comrades are driving me crazy."

Zhang Yinghao laughed heartily after hearing this and said, "You know how I felt at first, right? Those comrades saw that it was useless to ask the governor, so they came to me. Now that this matter is under the management of the State Council, they are naturally desperately looking for you. Now that all regions want to invest and are asking the central government for money, we can't approve everything. Not only are their reports unscientific, but there are also a lot of duplicate construction problems. If we build according to their reports, it will inevitably fail. But our investment and construction cannot stop. In the future, the central government will expand its investment, and a lot of funds will be involved, so I want to set up a new department to manage these assets."

After hearing Zhang Yinghao's words, Bao Shilin and Zhao Erni exchanged a glance, then immediately turned to look at Zhang Yinghao. Zhang Weiqiang, now the Prime Minister of the State Council, thought for a moment and said, "Chairman, the Ministry of Finance used to plan investments and they also had a budget. This should be the Ministry of Finance's responsibility, right?"

Bao Shilin, the Minister of Finance, was increasingly experienced. He nodded and said, "Yes, especially after the Three Determinations, all local construction projects will be allocated funds by the Ministry of Finance. Those who need funding from the Ministry of Finance must apply in advance. The Ministry of Finance will then make plans and allocate funds according to their priority."

"What we're discussing now isn't plans submitted by our subordinates, or existing plans, but rather our own proactive investments. Simply put, investment is about making money, and the Ministry of Finance is responsible for how the money is spent. If the Ministry of Finance is responsible for both making money and spending money, problems will arise sooner or later. The Ministry of Finance currently gives the impression of being frugal, which is a good thing—it's all about thriftiness! It would be great if the Ministry of Finance could properly manage how our money is spent. Of course, the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission remains under the Ministry of Finance's responsibility."

“Which department is in charge of this department?”

"This is a ministerial-level unit, a department under the State Council. We can't agree to all the construction investment requests from various regions, but we still have to invest. We need to concentrate our efforts on major projects, so we will carry out construction and national-level construction investment at the national level, and this new department will be responsible for it."

Zhang Weiqiang thought for a moment and said, "It's indeed necessary. Just like a big tree, its trunk must thrive. Building the trunk is the responsibility of the state, and local governments must now obey the central government. In the words of the Chairman, we are the ones who do the work. When we do the work, all other local governments will revolve around us. If local governments are left to build those minor details, it will disperse their strength and be detrimental. Chairman, what is the name of this unit?"

“SASAC.”

Zhang Yinghao replied, and then he simply wrote down the full name of the "State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission" on a piece of paper for his comrades to see.

"State-owned assets..." Comrades were thoughtful after reading it. We are not stupid. We know what it is about just by looking at the title.

Zhang Yinghao explained, "Yes, state-owned assets. In the future, our development of electricity, railways, oil, telecommunications, and other sectors will all be state-owned assets, and the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission (SASAC) will be responsible for their management. Of course, the SASAC will also be responsible for other investments and for preserving and increasing the value of funds. The counterpart to state-owned assets is private assets. Meishan City already has a lot of private assets, and there are also many private workshops that are private enterprises. Zhangjiagou, where we started, is also engaged in animal husbandry, so it can also be considered private assets."

"Is the Chairman planning to put Comrades Bao Shilin and Zhao Erni in charge?" "For now, it's just Comrade Zhao Erni. Comrade Bao Shilin has a new appointment. We've never established a central bank, but now that the conditions are ripe, it's time to establish one to oversee monetary affairs..."

"Chairman, can I?

“Central Bank?”

Hearing these two words, Zhang Yinghao said directly: "Comrade Erni, if you can't do it, who can? You must have confidence in yourself. Of course, since this is a committee, you won't be the only one. We will definitely assign you some more people, so don't worry."

Seeing Zhao Erni nod silently, Zhang Yinghao continued: "Well~ The People's Bank of China is a state-owned central bank and an important tool for the state to intervene in and regulate the development of the national economy. Under the leadership of the State Council, it is responsible for formulating and implementing the national monetary and credit policies, has the exclusive right to issue currency, and implements financial supervision. Maintain currency stability, prevent and resolve financial risks, maintain financial stability, and strengthen macroeconomic regulation functions. Unlike commercial banks, commercial banks borrow money from the central bank to carry out various commercial investments. In theory, the People's Bank of China does not have any commercial operations. The central bank is only responsible for the issuance of currency. After all, our banknotes have always been printed with the words "People's Bank of China". Haven't you noticed?"

"Haha, Chairman, you really are such a fool. I used to think the Chinese people were great."

"Of course the Chinese people are great."

"Chairman, it seems that the only commercial banks we have now are the Rural Credit Cooperative and the Export-Import Bank of China."

"Yes, so we will establish a financial system led by the central bank, with commercial banks as the main body, and with multiple financial institutions coexisting and working together."

After conferring with Zhao Erni and Bao Shilin, Zhang Yinghao announced two personnel changes the next day. Zhao Erni would become the director of the newly established State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission, responsible for recent industrial investment. Simultaneously, the People's Bank of China was being established, with Bao Shilin transferred to serve as its Party Secretary.

The establishment of these two departments has rapidly created countless new job opportunities and opened up numerous positions, but talent remains a challenge. This personnel shuffle has also shocked the comrades. Considering the mayor and the finance minister, the transfers were made on the spur of the moment. Furthermore, Zhao Erni and Bao Shilin were both highly regarded individuals under Zhang Yinghao. Such a single order could have persuaded them to relinquish their most coveted positions. It truly exemplifies the saying, "I am a brick of the revolution, ready to be moved wherever needed."

After that, the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, the Agricultural Bank of China, the China Construction Bank, the Postal Savings Bank of China, the Bank of Communications, and the Bank of Foreign Exchange Administration were all established and directly managed by the central government. They then represented China's most powerful financial capital force, which broke out of China and went global.

Meanwhile, Liu Wenxiu and his fellow villagers were desperately digging tunnels and building trenches. The Japanese had once again sent troops to Wujiabaozi to discuss another attack on the Russians. Of course, it was impossible to work without payment, so the Japanese offered over a thousand taels of silver. Liu Wenxiu accepted it without hesitation and promised to attack the Russians in the near future. Seeing the Japanese's attitude, Liu Wenxiu knew that the Russo-Japanese War was not far away.

The north wind blew the white grass to the ground, and snow fell in August. Soon, heavy snow fell in the Northeast, covering the ground with snowflakes, and everyone began to hibernate. In the blink of an eye, preparations for the New Year were about to begin. However, just as everyone was preparing for the New Year, news arrived: the Russo-Japanese War had begun. Liu Wenxiu and Lian Chengjue could not help but sigh inwardly: The Chairman is truly a god.

At this time, the people of Northeast China still held little ill will toward the Japanese; they even held a favorable impression. Because the Russians were now oppressing them excessively, and the Japanese were at war with them, many believed Japanese propaganda and felt grateful to the Japanese for driving out the Russians. However, these rosy fantasies were short-lived, as they soon saw that the Japanese were even more greedy and brutal than the Russians, and that they were birds of a feather. Liu Wenxiu and his men remained indifferent to foreign affairs, while training and study in the military camps reached their peak, as they made final preparations for war.

While preparing for the Lunar New Year, Zhang Yinghao finally heard the news of the Russo-Japanese War. He couldn't help but burst into laughter. If the butterfly effect of the Russo-Japanese War remained unchanged, the pressure in the future would be much less. Then he ordered the logistics department to speed up the transportation of supplies to Batang and Kangding.

After Zhang Yinghao read the Qing Dynasty's declaration of "neutrality," he immediately published an article titled "The Russo-Japanese War Begins, the Qing Dynasty's Bizarre Neutrality," pointing out that the Qing government chose a position of "neutrality" during the Russo-Japanese War, which took place on Chinese soil. It's like two bandits fighting over your property, and you say you'll stay out of the fight and remain neutral. Is there anything more absurd than this?

The Qing Dynasty's "neutrality" was tantamount to abandoning the people outside the Great Wall, allowing the people of the three northeastern provinces to be ruthlessly slaughtered by the invaders like chickens and sheep. This is undoubtedly the best example of the Qing Dynasty's betrayal of the people.

Northeast China was the so-called "birthplace" of the Qing Dynasty. Ceding it to Japan was already a disgrace. With the full support of three "friendly nations," the Qing government naturally wanted to reclaim Northeast China. Including the 30 million taels of silver, Japan received a total of 230 million taels of war reparations from the First Sino-Japanese War. This war reparations was equivalent to the Qing government's fiscal revenue for three years and Japan's fiscal revenue for seven years.

The Japanese government and the public were delighted by this. Foreign Minister Mutsu Munemitsu said happily: "Before this indemnity, we had never expected to receive hundreds of millions of yen. The country's total income was only 80 million yen. Now that 350 million yen has rolled in, both the government and the private sector feel incredibly wealthy!"

The three powers intervened to return Liaodong. The Qing court gained face, Japan benefited from the war, Russia, Germany and France all gained advantages, and the only ones who suffered were the 450 million Chinese people.

Then again, at the end of 1895, the Qing government was raising indemnity while gradually recovering Northeast China. Later, it was discovered that the Russians had ulterior motives in helping the Qing government return Liaodong, and they used this as an excuse to first occupy Lushun and Dalian Bay.

In 1900, they suppressed the Boxer Rebellion and sent troops to occupy the three northeastern provinces. At this point, the Russian invaders' true colors were fully exposed. Of course, the Qing government could not agree. How could the entire "dragon's birthplace" be given to anyone just like that? However, no matter how you negotiated, the Russians just refused to leave, and the Qing government had no way to deal with it.

Northeast China was originally Japan's sphere of influence. Tsarist Russia intervened and "returned Liaodong," but why did you take it all for yourself? Naturally, Japan couldn't sit idly by, so war broke out. The Qing court was weak and incompetent, and after driving out one bandit, another came. They remained neutral, not offending anyone.

I want to ask the Qing Dynasty: Did you ask the people of the three northeastern provinces about your neutrality? Did you ask the 2 million people of China? What's your basis for choosing neutrality? When the Russo-Japanese War broke out, the battlefield was primarily on Chinese territory. After the Russo-Japanese declaration of war on February 12, 1904, the United States, Britain, France, and Germany quickly responded by declaring neutrality. The Qing court also subsequently declared "neutrality." Do you have the nerve to do that? And you still have the nerve to designate the area east of the Liao River as a "battle zone" for the Japanese and Russian armies.

The Manchu Qing court was so weak and incompetent, so cowardly, so humiliating to the nation, and so disregarding its people, that it must be overthrown to appease the people's anger. The people of Sichuan and Shaanxi are ashamed to associate with such a traitorous court, so cruel and treacherous. We despise you, the traitors.

Zhang Yinghao's playful, invective-filled essay instantly caused a sensation, selling like hotcakes in Luoyang. The so-called literati not only found the vernacular unbearable but were also horrified by the outrageous language within. Ordinary people were also buzzing with discussion, with some claiming the Qing would not let Sichuan and Shaanxi off the hook, others that Sichuan and Shaanxi were too bold, and even some claiming the Qing would soon perish. Those who suggested this were immediately silenced.

Chapter 295:

The Qing Dynasty was also panicked by the article, unsure how to respond. They could only desperately refute it, accusing the Communist bandits of being uncaring and sabotaging the country. They feared a rebellion, forcing them to resort to such measures. They also accused the Communist bandits of seizing land, digging up ancestral graves, and practicing communal marriages. However, Sichuan subsequently ignored the Qing Dynasty, allowing them to continue their own affairs.

Sun Zhongshan, Huang Xing and others who were far away overseas were also very excited after seeing this, thinking that the opportunity for uprising had come, and once again took risky actions. In fact, these revolutionaries did come to Zhang Yinghao, but when Zhang Yinghao saw a revolutionary, he actually proposed to discuss important matters with him. Zhang Yinghao was disgusted and didn't bother to see them anymore.

Those willing to stay were given jobs and opportunities to learn. Those unwilling to live under someone else's roof and endure the arduous work left after a few days or after hearing about the work, feeling that the Sichuan Revolutionary Party had neglected them. They saw it as a "If you can't stay here, you'll find another place to stay." If you can succeed in the revolution in Sichuan, we can too.

However, Zhang Yinghao knew that the histories of many of these people had been altered. Some should have been overseas, but were now in Sichuan. There were even some who were supposedly deceased but were still alive and well. In Zhang Yinghao's view, the entire nation was his predecessor, so there was no need to give them special treatment.

The Chinese New Year is coming soon, and before the New Year, in order to make a New Year gift, the research department worked overtime and finally assembled a small truck with the diesel engine that had been successfully knocked out and run.

Zhang Yinghao, worried about the British's actions, stayed in Chengdu. After receiving the news, he immediately decided to visit these research departments this year. Although many parts for this car needed to be imported, Zhang Yinghao already had a large stockpile, so assembling several hundred vehicles would be no problem.

After Zhang Yinghao got in the van and drove around for a few laps, he realized this wasn't a vehicle for ordinary people. Without shock absorbers, the bumps and jolts were unbearable, and while the car couldn't go very fast, the brake pads wore out quickly. Seeing the driver brake like he was risking his life, Zhang Yinghao knew this car still needed improvement.

However, Zhang Yinghao was still very happy after getting out of the car. In Zhang Yinghao's view, as long as it can be driven, then his logistics support will be much easier, and improvements can be made slowly. As long as Sichuan has an outlet to the sea in the future, who will still be worried about the lack of machinery and equipment?

"That's great! Comrades, you've worked hard. Keep up the good work, comrades. I have only one request: everyone eat two more dumplings tonight. Next year, we will strive to produce more and better quality cars!"

This time, Zhang Yinghao specially invited his mother and Xueer to come along to make dumplings. After all, many of the comrades here are veterans, and many are married. Unlike in the military, there are a lot of singles, and it is not a good thing to show off too much dog food.

Zhang Yinghao hadn't celebrated the Lunar New Year with his family for two consecutive years, so this time he was able to reunite with his family and celebrate the Lunar New Year together. The dumpling-making activity was scheduled for the afternoon, leaving everyone baffled. Zhang Yinghao didn't explain, and when the gathering time came in the afternoon, he saw many comrades coming with their wives and children. Zhang Yinghao himself also brought his wife and mother. Those who came alone were either far from home or were single.

Seeing these singles, everyone started to joke around and offer to introduce them to someone. This left many of the singles blushing and speechless, and everyone else burst into laughter. Next came roll call. Workers were workers, the most disciplined group, and even simple tasks like lining up were perfectly executed. After everyone was called, Zhang Yinghao announced the start of the dumpling-making process.

Soon, the cafeteria was full of people. Some were kneading the dough. The fillings for the dumplings were simple: pork, corn, white radish, cabbage, carrots, but mainly cabbage and pork dumplings.

As it was getting dark, Zhang Yinghao suddenly turned on the lights, and in an instant, the entire cafeteria was illuminated. Everyone forgot what they were doing, and many people didn't even notice that their dumpling wrappers had fallen to the ground.

This was the emergency light Zhang Yinghao had the electricians install. Zhang Yinghao believed that the first places to use electricity would be research, military, and industrial departments. Vehicle research was currently a top priority, so the power lines were installed immediately. For the workers, installing the lights wasn't necessarily a good thing, as it meant the start of the night shift, a time when they'd work from sunrise to sunset.

After a moment of silence, the cafeteria erupted in activity. Everyone was buzzing with discussion. Some knew it was called a light bulb, while others knew nothing at all, simply curious children asking questions. The children were running around happily, showing no signs of rest.

And so, a simple dumpling dinner ended in bliss. Zhang Yinghao walked peacefully back home with his mother, Xue'er. Xue'er held her mother's hand as they chatted about trivial matters from the party, occasionally letting out a faint laugh. Zhang Yinghao could only walk beside them obediently, not disturbing them.

At this time, Xue'er suddenly said: "Yinghao, is there going to be a war?" "Huh? Who told you that?"

“Is that so?”

"No, whether or not there will be a war doesn't depend on us, but on our enemies. If they attack us, of course we must fight back. If they don't attack us, why should we rush? Every day that passes, we become stronger. Time is on our side."

"Oh."

Zhang Yinghao himself was puzzled. Why hadn't the British reacted at all? After so long, to say the British didn't know Sichuan knew about their invasion of Xizang and was already preparing for it was to underestimate their intelligence or to think they were fools. Yet, the British never took any action; everything remained the same.

Since the British were playing dumb, Zhang Yinghao happily played dumb too, allowing them to ship the necessary supplies to Sichuan via water. Zhang Yinghao decided that as long as the British didn't block the Yangtze River, he would continue playing dumb until he could determine the situation in Tibet. To date, there was no accurate information on the Sichuan-Tibet border, and there were even rumors that the British had retreated and the war was over.

Even Zhang Yinghao didn't know how to interpret this information, and the Tibetan soldiers guarding the Sichuan-Tibet border hadn't retreated and were still blocking the way. So Zhang Yinghao had already contacted his comrades in Guangzhou and Hong Kong, asking them to gather information.

In reality, the British still had no idea what Sichuan was up to. They had long since received news that Sichuan had completed the Chengkang Highway. They had also long since received news that the British had invaded Xizang. The problem was that Sichuan, apart from rumors, hadn't taken any action, leaving the British baffled.

Some British people speculated that it might be a problem with the Yangtze River waterway. Of course, some people also believed that Sichuan had a government similar to the Qing Dynasty, and that it would be weak at the sight of foreigners.

This matter was wasted. The British may be worried that Sichuan would be pushed too far and would give up. Anyway, the result is that both sides have not taken any action and are waiting for the other side to

Every time one side makes a move, they all think that time is on their side.

At this time, the Russo-Japanese War broke out, and all kinds of materials were consumed in large quantities. Japan was now only buying and not selling, so Zhang Yinghao was even more excited to sell his products. British and American cargo ships came in and out, all loaded with goods. After more than two years of rectification and development, Sichuan had made great progress in all aspects. Salt alone was a great harvest. After seeing that the possibility of Sichuan being blocked did not happen, merchants came to Chongqing in an endless stream to do business.

After the Lunar New Year, demonstrations erupted in Wuhan, Shanghai, Nanjing, and other cities, protesting the Qing government's policy of neutrality. The Qing government was now unable to express its grievances, resorting to various excuses or simply blaming the Communists. The Far East was in a state of turmoil, like a volcano about to erupt.

Zhang Yinghao, however, remained oblivious to the turbulent external situation, completely focused on farming. He was leading a group of Party members and cadres to watch a tractor plowing the fields. The tractor, equipped with a diesel engine, was what Zhang Yinghao preferred to call the "Iron Ox."

This design was originally drawn by Zhang Yinghao, and it resembles the model used by his family in his previous life. Factory personnel explained that this is a diesel version of the Iron Ox, with a standard operating power of 6 horsepower, a total weight of 90 kg, and a hand-cranked starter. The tillage depth is approximately 10 to 25 centimeters, and various tillage attachments can be replaced for improved tillage performance.

Zhang Yinghao didn't care about these specific numbers at all. In his previous life, when he first saw this kind of machine, he thought it wasn't much faster or better than a cow. Besides, there were rocks in the fields, so it would break easily from bumps and bruises, and it would cost money to repair. A cow at home would be enough. This thought persisted throughout his university years.

While Zhang Yinghao was in college, his family's cattle were stolen, prompting his father to buy an iron ox. Only then did he realize his mistake and what he had overlooked. The first was the issue of herding the cattle. Every morning and evening, someone was needed to either herd the cattle or mow the grass and tend to them. If that person could be used for other tasks, the repair and fuel costs would easily be recouped. So, back then, herding the cattle himself didn't count towards the labor cost.

The second is that cows can also get sick. Animals get sick differently from humans. Animals cannot speak when they are sick, so it is more troublesome and difficult to treat for animals to get sick than for humans. Once they get sick, the cost is also quite high.

The third is that the buffalo has limited strength, so you can only circle behind the buffalo with an iron pear, but the iron ox has several plowing tools, and different tools can be used for different needs, which greatly saves manpower and material resources.

And this is a hand-held pear harrow. If it were a crawler tractor, it could plow several acres of land in one pass. That's the tool you should use on the plains.

Of course, what Zhang Yinghao really wanted to see wasn't the iron bull itself, but the engine's performance. Tests had proven that the engine could plow the fields for an hour without stalling. Zhang Yinghao finally smiled knowingly, and his pursuit of overtaking on the curve had officially begun.

Everyone was very satisfied with what they saw and returned to the office in a good mood.

Just as Zhang Yinghao was about to breathe a sigh of relief after the spring plowing was completed, Kangding finally delivered the two pieces of news he had been waiting for. The first was that the Tibetan troops on the Sichuan-Tibet border had retreated, their whereabouts unknown. Upon receiving this news, Zhang Yinghao knew that the war between Tibet and the British had reached its most critical moment.

The second piece of news was that the British army had carried out a massacre in Qumisin, and now, the British army had once again approached the Gyantse area, where fierce fighting had taken place. Zhang Yinghao knew that the war had reached a critical moment of victory or defeat, and everyone had to start making moves.

However, Zhang Yinghao did not want to wait any longer. If the British really entered Lhasa, Lhasa would face a catastrophe. So Zhang Yinghao immediately launched a propaganda offensive, claiming that the British army had invaded Xizang and carried out a massacre in Xizang.

Later generations say that if there are pictures, there's truth. But in this day and age, once Zhang Yinghao's report appeared, everyone believed the British had committed the massacre. Because it was commonplace, people were completely indifferent. The news spread quickly via telegram throughout the country, including the coastal areas, and finally reached the capital.

Regardless of the Qing dynasty's attempts to negotiate with the British, Zhang Yinghao in Sichuan was already ramping up his propaganda. He wrote in the newspaper: "Japan and Russia are engaged in a fierce battle for Chinese territory in Northeast China, and now Tibet is facing a British invasion. This is a crucial time for the survival of the Chinese nation. Those who do not want their motherland to be divided and enslaved should rise up and fight."

Here, I solemnly warn the British government to order the British troops to withdraw from Xizang immediately. Otherwise, they will be met with the bayonets of our People's Revolutionary Army. Do not say that I did not warn you.

Chapter 296: Update!

The news caused an uproar around the world. Saying "I didn't warn you" to the British Empire was like standing on its head. The intellectuals, upon hearing this news, had mixed feelings, mostly half-believing and half-doubting, but no one expressed displeasure. The students, on the other hand, were naturally delighted. After all, a Chinese had finally dared to confront a powerful nation.

The French sneered when they saw this. They were well aware of the British Empire's might. They could only lament that the yellow-skinned monkeys from Sichuan were provoking the British Empire, simply being reckless. The Americans, upon seeing this, expressed great interest. The Japanese, upon seeing the heavy casualties of the Russo-Japanese War, could not help but exclaim in delight, their faces filled with gloating.

The British were furious after seeing this. British Minister Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Sir David Saunders had long been dissatisfied with the Sichuan Red Bandits' behavior. While the British had considered sending troops to attack Sichuan, the British in India were so arrogant that they didn't care about a Qing warlord. They continued to send troops as usual.

Therefore, in order to buy time for the British army that was invading XZ, the British in China analyzed and believed that Sichuan's exports were so large that if Sichuan's trade was cut off, the Sichuan economy would inevitably collapse and quickly succumb.

If Britain could not send troops to defeat Sichuan, there was nothing else they could do. However, it was impossible for them to endure it. So they immediately protested to the Qing Dynasty. The Sichuan Red Bandits had no diplomatic relations with the British, so they had no place to protest and could only bully the Qing Dynasty. In fact, cutting off trade was not a matter of a word from Britain. However, cutting off trade would inevitably offend other powers. On this matter, the British wanted the Qing Dynasty to do it. So they immediately informed the Qing court to immediately cut off Sichuan's access to the Yangtze River estuary and prohibit Sichuan from conducting foreign trade.

The Qing Dynasty is now gritting their teeth in hatred. They have long wanted to cut off Sichuan's trade, but it was you British devils who obstructed them. However, they have no choice but to obey the orders of the British emperor.

However, the Qing Dynasty wasn't completely inactive. They launched a propaganda campaign, pointing out the Qing's difficulties. Their own routes to Tibet were already occupied, so how could they not face difficulties? They also pointed out that the Sichuan Red Bandits sat back and watched Tibet fall without taking action. The point was, it wasn't that I didn't want to do anything, but I was blocked by Sichuan and couldn't do anything. If you want to blame someone for the loss of territory, don't blame me. If you want to blame someone, blame the Red Bandits. We did our best, and the rest is up to the Sichuan Red Bandits.

Zhang Yinghao launched such a large-scale public opinion offensive that he did not hesitate to organize demonstrations along the Yangtze River.

Or march to force the Qing Dynasty, this is the result they want. The Qing Dynasty wants to pass the buck, and Zhang Yinghao is ready to take the responsibility. The Qing Dynasty also intends to let Sichuan clash with the British and Chinese, so the blame is passed quickly and accurately, and Zhang Yinghao also takes it quickly and well.

It was a perfect match.