The Heroic Age of the Late Qing Dynasty

Li Yong listened, forced a smile and said: "We have our road construction army behind us."

As soon as Li Yong finished speaking, he felt sick to his stomach. He retched a few times, but nothing came out. "Tell the soldiers to follow one by one. Be careful and try not to talk."

Suddenly, a cry of alarm came from the front. It turned out that the soldier walking in front accidentally stepped on empty air and fell off the cliff. There was no chance to save him. The soldiers could only watch him fall helplessly.

"Let's go, let's go."

The instructor's voice was hoarse, and blood was even seeping from his nose and eyes: "Comrades, keep going, keep going, don't stop..."

He was halfway through his words when his throat became shut off.

The brothers took one last silent look down the cliff, then walked forward silently.

No, it's not walking, it's crawling.

Chapter 306:

By the time we reached the third peak, the low air pressure and lack of oxygen in the mountains caused chest tightness, dizziness, and numbness in our hands and faces. Our faces and fingernails turned a crimson purple. Our breathing became rapid, our hearts pounding. Every ten or twenty steps, we had to stop to catch our breath and rest. Looking back, the surrounding mountaintops lay before us. We felt dizzy, our hearts racing, and many of us practically crawled. Even the yaks, accustomed to the plateau climate, began to pant.

"Instructor, I...I can't do it anymore. I can't do it anymore."

A female medical worker didn't even have the strength to wave her hands. She moved a few fingers and rolled to the ground, saying weakly.

"I really can't walk anymore. Please go away and don't bother me anymore."

"Get up, you little girl! I told you not to come, but you insisted on coming. Now I order you to get up!"

The instructor hit the medic with a branch in his hand and said, "I order you to get up. You are my soldier. If I don't let you die, you are not allowed to die!"

After just a few words, the instructor felt short of breath and couldn't say anything.

Li Yong said nothing, now was not the time to worry about gender differences. He and the instructor, one on each side, desperately pulled the medical worker up. The medical worker looked dejected.

Li Yong recognized this girl. She was a person with a strong personality. Since Li Yong knew her, he had never seen her like this.

"This damn snow mountain..." Li Yong cursed in his heart.

We have only climbed half of the way, and there is still nearly one-third of the mountain road to go. God knows if we can climb it, and God knows how many brothers will die here.

Perhaps, this snow mountain is the most difficult hurdle to overcome in the entire fight against the British army!

A member of the art troupe collapsed in the snow, unable to walk. Four comrades helped him up and carried him slowly on a stretcher, but he died along the way. One of the stretcher bearers, a large man with great strength, collapsed in the snow from the strain of carrying the stretcher and stopped breathing.

The revolutionary officers and soldiers did not like this snow mountain, they even hated it. Li Yong certainly did not like it either. He wrote in his diary: We paid a great price to cross the Danda Mountain. We sacrificed three comrades and lost six camels and horses. They gave their precious lives for the cause of liberating XZ. We should always remember them.

·……--

Time passed quietly, and after ten hours, the troops finally arrived at Chalasondo.

"It's out, it's out, I finally crawled out..."

The soldiers practically crawled out, their faces grim. Glancing back at Mount Danda, they all wore expressions of lingering fear. They were afraid they would never forget the horror of Mount Danda.

After checking the troops, they realized that this was their first time crossing the Danda Mountains, and without any practical experience, everyone was exhausted, not even able to cheer. If an enemy army were to attack them at this time, they would undoubtedly suffer heavy losses. This was one of the reasons why the revolutionary army had to leave troops in these places. If they were ambushed by the enemy in such a place, it would be fatal.

After dinner, despite fatigue, everyone immediately convened a meeting to discuss their experiences and reflections on crossing Mount Danda. The comrades agreed that this wasn't due to the mountain god's blessing, but rather to the collective effort of all levels to confront the difficulties head-on, make sufficient preparations, and provide excellent mutual assistance. Their concerted efforts to overcome the perilous snow-capped peaks exemplified the revolutionary army's fearless heroism.

The next day, the soldiers set out again, still exhausted from the previous day's fatigue. Soon, they were all panting, and two of the horses had already rolled halfway up the mountain, with the camels hanging from the branches of the trees on the mountainside. After crossing Mount Danda, the soldiers were determined not to let these things be lost on the road again. One soldier went down the cliff to retrieve the camels, but the snow buried him up to his thighs, making it impossible to move up or down. The soldiers on the cliff could only use ropes to pull him down and slowly slide him down the cliff. Only then could they pull the men, horses, and camels back up.

At this point, Li Yong was no longer anxious. He had to first inquire about the movements of the British army and the top brass of the Communist Party before proceeding. Therefore, these supplies were extremely valuable now, and no further losses were possible. So the army continued its march towards Lhasa, gathering information as it went.

Jiangda Zong has a large population, prosperous towns and numerous shops. It has the famous Small Eight-Corner Street and four popular temples. It also has a Zong government, granaries, schools, post offices, hotels, restaurants, gold and silver processing shops, tailor shops, execution grounds, etc. Tibetans, Han, Hui and other ethnic groups and Nepalese merchants come here to do business and trade, and goods from all over the country can circulate smoothly. Local Tibetans have even begun to intermarry with people of other ethnic groups.

Since ancient times, there have been four routes from the mainland to Tibet: the Qinghai-Tibet Western Road, the Qinghai-Tibet Central Road, the Qinghai-Tibet Eastern Road, and the Sichuan-Tibet Post Road. All three, except the Qinghai-Tibet Western Road, passed through this area, leading to its prosperous economy and strategic importance for military and transportation. As a major city in Tibet, it naturally became a battleground for military strategists.

After the troops entered Tibet, their food supplies gradually decreased. Along the way, whenever possible, the comrades also purchased tsampa, the Tibetan staple. By this time, they had gradually adapted to this authentic Tibetan food. So, upon entering Jiangda Zong, they were excited to see a market similar to those in the interior, and immediately dispatched personnel to purchase large quantities of food for the soldiers. However, since there was a market, the comrades naturally had to resupply on the spot. Besides the portion consumed that day, they also packed the remaining food into buckets and carried it off on horseback.

During the march, the comrades often saw herds of cattle and horses, and peaceful pastures. A beautiful environment naturally begets beautiful love stories. A sixteen-year-old Tibetan girl, who had escaped from her slave owner's home and was secretly rescued by the revolutionary army, had a willow-like figure, a graceful figure, and a face as rosy as a lotus, making her particularly attractive. A soldier in the army always shared some of his food with this Tibetan girl. After spending some time with her, he seized the opportunity to propose to her, and she happily accepted.

After submitting the marriage application, the reply was that the engagement could be arranged, but the marriage would have to wait until the British were driven away. Even so, the soldier was thrilled. On the day of the engagement, drums and music were blaring. Seeing that soldiers were actually allowed to marry on this snowy plateau, and that they were allowed to marry Tibetan girls, the soldiers immediately saw a bright future for the bachelors.

The revolutionary army was still considering getting its soldiers engaged, but Lhasa was shrouded in a gloomy mood, a vision of doom and gloom. The arrival of the revolutionary army at Jiangdazong had already shaken the Lhasa region. The 13th Dalai Lama, Thubten Gyatso, was immediately panicked and hurriedly invited Yu Gang, then the Qing Dynasty's resident minister in Tibet, to a meeting to discuss matters. Yu Gang had long been concerned about how to transfer back to the capital, so how could he possibly know?

With the fierce fighting between Tibet and Britain now raging, even if they wanted to send troops to fight the revolutionary army, it would be impossible. When Li Yong led his large force to Jiangdazong, he immediately learned that there were no more Tibetan soldiers stationed in the Gongbu area, and almost all of the Tibetan troops had been withdrawn to the front lines.

Although Li Yong knew there were no Tibetan soldiers left in Gongbu, he still ordered his comrades to proceed with caution and caution. The revolutionary army maintained strict discipline and spared no harm to the local people. Located southwest of Jiangda Zong, Gongbu enjoyed a mild climate and abundant resources compared to other regions. However, under the oppression of slavery, the local residents had long suffered unbearable hardship.

The revolutionary army entered Tibet under the pretext of resisting British aggression and slowly advanced toward Lhasa. At each destination, they respectfully and formally summoned the local monks and laymen, explaining to them the unity of Han and Tibetan peoples, and further explaining that both sides shared a common enemy and that only by driving out the British could the Tibetans live and work in peace.

Furthermore, the revolutionary army dispatched small teams to patrol nearby villages, inquiring about the suffering of those in need. They provided assistance wherever possible to the sick and those without means of livelihood. Those truly unable to support themselves were given financial subsidies. Laborers who supplied firewood and fodder to the troops were also paid. The political commissar and instructors repeatedly emphasized military discipline to their comrades, strictly forbidding officers and soldiers from trespassing into civilian homes or lamaseries for any reason. At the same time, the revolutionary army cracked down on Tibetan bandits and disruptive soldiers, rapidly improving local order. Many Tibetans were delighted, and people from near and far came to express their gratitude to the revolutionary army.

Almost half a year had already passed since we entered Tibet. The world we saw was alternately a world of snow-covered mountains and frozen ground. Furthermore, the harsh weather on the plateau, with howling winds all day long, was a depressing sight, leaving little time for reflection on the more pleasant things of the human world. As the revolutionary army continued its advance, we saw many Tibetans fishing in the river. Along the way, the comrades recalled that the fish had eaten human flesh, and it had been a long time since they had tasted the delicious flavor of fish.

Li Yong quickly sent someone to investigate, and only then did he realize that many rules were merely rules for others. Li Yong also saw that the river was wide, deep, and had a rapid flow, certainly not comparable to the mountain streams he had seen before. Naturally, they joined the fishing and had a delicious fish feast.

The propaganda efforts of the various troops were highly effective. When the troops arrived at Gongbu Jiangda, local monks and laymen lined the streets to welcome them, offering khatas, wine, and food to the troops. The Tibetans called wine "qiang" (a traditional Chinese ritual), which they carried year-round in a specially made long tube tied with a leather belt. Before offering a toast to a guest, Tibetans first poured a small amount of wine into their palms, took a sip themselves, and then offered it to the guest to show that it was non-toxic.

Perhaps due to the climate, the people of Gongbu were very simple and honest. After the revolutionary army arrived, they employed policies designed to communicate and appease the people, quickly bringing peace to the people. Relationships between Han and Tibetan people also improved. Local Tibetan officials, such as lamas from temples, would frequently visit the revolutionary army camp, under the pretext of assessing local customs and praising the benefits they had brought.

Chapter 307:

Li Yong and his men immediately asked them about the situation on the front lines of the British invasion, but they did not get any specific information. However, there was no doubt that the Tibetans suffered heavy losses.

Those who were drawn to fight either never came back or escaped, or came back with missing limbs. They talked about how powerful the British army was.

Li Yong was also waiting for formal negotiations from the Dalai Lama. The revolutionary army came to XZ to fight against the British, not to start a fight with Wang Lun.

Zhang Yinghao knew that rallying the people's hearts and minds was one of the most important priorities for the troops entering Tibet. Tibet, a region where politics and religion coexist, possessed a strong religious atmosphere and unique ethnic customs. To strengthen close ties with both Han and Tibetan people, the revolutionary army prioritized understanding and mastering Tibet's customs and practices before entering Tibet, while also establishing a code of discipline for the march.

Before its formation, the mixed division was stationed in Ganzi and Batang areas of Xikang to investigate the specific situation in Tibet, unite the Tibetan people, and recruit Tibetans to prepare for the large-scale entry into Tibet. Zhang Yinghao also specifically proposed strengthening political advocacy efforts for this entry into Tibet. By uniting patriotic figures in the upper echelons of Tibet, he encouraged Tibetans to support the leadership of the Forward Party, divided the upper echelons of Tibet, and took advantage of the British invasion to expel foreign invaders from Tibet.

The mixed division launched an anti-bandit campaign on the Sichuan-Kang border and deployed troops to repair roads. This not only provided convenience for people's lives and the revolutionary army's entry into Tibet, but also promoted the general public's understanding and support for the revolutionary army's entry into Tibet.

The revolutionary army's entry into Tibet made the upper echelons of Tibet extremely uneasy. They knew the policies of the Forward Party and knew that if they gained a foothold in Tibet, their doom would be nigh. However, they could not refuse the Forward Party and the revolutionary army's march into Tibet to resist the British, as the British were already close to reaching Lhasa.

As Li Yong patiently waited, Hou Yanbing and his men finally traversed the mountains and reached Gongbu, where they reunited with Li Yong's team in triumph. Yan Bing, without even a moment's rest, immediately led his vanguard battalion comrades to Lhasa to meet with the 13th Dalai Lama, Thubten Gyatso. Historically, Thubten Gyatso would have fled to Outer Mongolia before the British arrived, but this time, with the revolutionary army entering Tibet, Thubten Gyatso was naturally in no rush to escape.

However, Yan Bing and his companions did not meet Thubten Gyatso himself, but met a group of Tibetan officials. Yan Bing immediately discussed with them about meeting with Thubten Gyatso to discuss the resistance against the British.

The Kashag government officials immediately began speaking in Tibetan. Yan Bing, listening to the translation, frowned. Regarding the meeting with Thubten Gyatso, the Dalai Lama's officials proposed a "enthronement" ceremony, with Yan Bing then present. The "enthronement" ceremony was a traditional meeting between a feudal emperor and his subjects. This arrangement was a subtle provocation to Yan Bing and his group.

Yan Bing had not expected that at such a critical moment, XZ officials would have such a ridiculous request, which was full of temptation and competition from the very beginning.

Before Yan Bing could say anything, Chief of Staff Ye Chen was already upset. We are here to save China from disaster and to resist the British, not to join you, the Dalai Lama.

He immediately said, "What do you mean? Political Commissar Yan Bing is the representative of Chairman Zhang Yinghao, the great leader of the people of all ethnic groups in Sichuan and Shaanxi. He has come to join the brave Tibetan people in resisting the British invasion. Your Dalai Lama, Thubten Gyatso, should have gone thirty miles out of the city to welcome him. Thubten Gyatso is sitting on the throne, and you want us to offer him a khata. This is truly outrageous."

After listening to this, Yan Bing did not say anything, but continued to listen to what the Xz officials had to say next.

The revolutionary army's entry into Tibet in this life wasn't as arduous as in the previous one. In the previous life, China, with the support of the great powers, was seeking to establish a new nation, even declaring that the two countries would not invade each other, with the Jinsha River as the boundary. Therefore, the troops entering Tibet could only use force to force peace. The revolutionary army, however, was committed to the greater good of resisting the British, and except for a few checkpoints, they were able to pass through without hindrance.

After the PLA arrived in Lhasa, the Tibetan government issued a directive prohibiting the sale of food, cattle, and sheep to the PLA, attempting to starve them out of Tibet. However, the Kashag government was already struggling to cope with the revolutionary army entering Tibet, leaving no resources to deal with it. Furthermore, the soldiers who remained along the route were already clearing land and planting potatoes. Tibet, with its abundant sunshine and large temperature swings between day and night, is particularly suitable for potato cultivation. Potatoes have a short growing cycle and high yields, reaching 3,000 kilograms per mu. Potatoes essentially ensured a vegetable supply for the troops, and with them, starvation was averted.

The British invasion had already gripped Lhasa. The revolutionary army, coming to resist the British, was naturally welcomed by the Tibetans, making united front work easy to accomplish, and the vast majority of Tibetans expressed their support for the revolutionary army. The revolutionary army even established a mint specifically to produce silver coins for the troops entering Tibet. In Tibet, all purchases were made with silver coins or bartered with tea and salt. The troops went shopping for food and even if they couldn't eat or use all the food immediately, they stored it for future use.

Yan Bing and his team sternly rejected the Dalai Lama's unreasonable demands. They weren't simply a matter of personal dignity; they reflected the relationship between the Forward Party and the Revolutionary Army and the Communist Party. Ultimately, Yan Bing and the Communist Party officials agreed that the Dalai Lama would not sit on the throne, but rather in a reclining chair in his bedroom. Yan Bing also found a reclining chair, and the two of them sat down to discuss the matter.

Thubten Gyatso was very young, only twenty-eight or twenty-nine years old at this time, and was wearing a robe made of bright yellow satin.

Yan Bing and his colleagues were well aware of what the upper echelons of XZ were thinking at the moment. These upper echelons also knew what the Forward Party and the Revolutionary Army had done in Sichuan and Shaanxi, so they were naturally full of concerns about the Revolutionary Army.

Yan Bing produced a document drafted by the Party Central Committee, promising that the current system in Tibet would remain unchanged, the Dalai Lama's status would remain unchanged, and that officials at all levels in Tibet would continue to serve as usual. He also guaranteed the implementation of the policy of freedom of religious belief. Of course, Yan Bing also bluntly stated that Tibet's social system must be reformed in the future, but not now, and that no one would be forced to do so. Yan Bing then discussed the central document with Thubten Gyatso, who ultimately decided to accept the document.

Although Thubten Gyatso tentatively accepted the central government's draft document, he and local officials in Xinjiang understood that Xinjiang's feudal serfdom could not exist forever. Reform was inevitable, only a matter of time. The revolutionary army's entry into Xinjiang further panicked some officials. However, with the British army as a formidable enemy, all conflicts were buried under the surface.

According to the central government's document, the revolutionary army would be stationed in Lhasa and other parts of Tibet, and the existing Tibetan army would be gradually reorganized into revolutionary units. However, time waited for no one, and the Forward Party had not yet begun to implement the document's provisions before July 12th arrived.

Before the troops had rested, accurate news finally arrived from the front. The Battle of Gyantse had ended in defeat for Tibet, and now the British had begun their advance into the Lhasa area. They had learned of the revolutionary army's advance into Tibet, but they were unwilling to accept defeat and planned to engage the revolutionary army in a decisive battle. If they could defeat the revolutionary army, then all of Tibet would be at the mercy of the British.

Since Yan Bing and his team had concluded their negotiations, Li Yong wasted no time. Regardless of his soldiers' fatigue, he immediately raised the red flag and marched towards Lhasa. Meanwhile, the monks and nobles, though reluctant, were left with no other options. Faced with the twin powerhouses of Britain and the Progressive Party, the local tyrants like Xi Jinping could only silently accept the outcome.

Li Cheng, commander of the advance battalion into Tibet, led his troops into Lhasa and held a grand entry ceremony. All revolutionary soldiers, dressed in simple uniforms, formed a long line. Several young soldiers carried a portrait of Chairman Zhang Yinghao at the front of the procession, followed by a band and waist drum troupe. Red flags fluttered and military music blared through the main streets of Lhasa. The comrades of the advance detachment into Tibet were radiant with energy, their formation neat and imposing, and their presence majestic.

The local government of Xinjiang set up colorful tents and dispatched the local government of Xinjiang, along with civil and military officials, representatives from various sectors of Buddhism and Buddhism, to welcome the visitors. Tibetan monks and laypeople, dressed in festive attire, poured out of the city, embracing the ancient city of Lhasa in a scene of joy. Li Cheng and leading officials of the Kashag exchanged khatas. Following the Tibetan custom, the comrades distributed alms at various temples and met with the Dalai Lama, monks, government officials, and other prominent figures. Patriotic figures from the upper echelons of Xinjiang returned the greetings and hosted banquets.

When the main force of the revolutionary army reached the Lhasa River, ten miles from Lhasa, the people of Lhasa eagerly flocked to the revolutionary army's tents on the riverbank to see them. The revolutionary soldiers were no longer surprised by this. The Tibetans carefully observed the revolutionary army's every move, carefully examining the red star badges on the soldiers' hats, and even gathered around curiously to watch the soldiers eat and wash their faces.

The revolutionary army also allowed some Tibetans to visit the military camp. When the Tibetans saw the clean and tidy military camp, the neatly arranged daily necessities, and the tofu-like quilts, they shouted "Revolutionary Army Le Burger Hot" (which means very good in Tibetan) and expressed their admiration.

On the morning of the second day after arriving in Lhasa, the warm sun shone brightly over the Lhasa plain, casting a brilliant light on the golden dome of the Potala Palace. The revolutionary army's troops, having traversed thousands of mountains and rivers, entered Lhasa, the seat of the local government, amidst the welcoming of the people. Li Yong and his comrades frequently waved to the Tibetan compatriots lining the streets.

Division Commander Li Yong, Political Commissar Yan Bing, and Chief of Staff Ye Chen led the main force into Lhasa, thus opening a new chapter in the history of XZ.

The troops entering Lhasa marched past the Potala Palace, carrying red flags. The People's Revolutionary Army, entering Tibet, was welcomed by the masses. Countless Tibetans came out to see the valiant and high-spirited troops before them. The army left a small number of troops stationed outside Lhasa, while the main force marched in unison, chanting coordinated slogans, through Lhasa and headed straight for the front.

If there were a satellite in the sky at this time, you would see that the vanguard troops had already engaged the British, and the main force was on its way to the front line. Behind them, there was a large army struggling to cross the mountains and ridges, and transport teams continued to transport supplies to the U-Tsang region. And further behind, another construction army was desperately working to open mountains and build bridges.

Zhang Yinghao knew that in places like ×Z, the best way to transport supplies by carrying them on people's backs or on horses and camels was not for one person to carry it from beginning to end, but for one person to be responsible for a section of the journey. This way, the efficiency of round-trip transportation would be maximized.

In order to liberate Tibet and consolidate national defense, building roads became one of the most urgent tasks. The roads were difficult to pass and hindered the transportation of supplies. Zhang Yinghao had to build a road from Kangding to Lhasa and even Shigatse.

Zhang Yinghao barely remembered the general routes of the two Sichuan-Tibet Highways from his previous life. So, after Zhang Yinghao mapped them out, the brave exploration team, navigating high mountains, dense forests, and treacherous roads, compiled and analyzed the data, and finally created a blueprint for the Kangzang route. Due to the urgency of the task, the surveying and mapping team entering Tibet adopted a simultaneous surveying and construction approach. The infrastructure engineering corps worked tirelessly to build the road. Each station completed would ease the troop's logistics burden.

Food supply was also a major obstacle for the troops entering Tibet. To expedite the liberation of Tibet, Zhang Yinghao and the Mixed Division had previously proposed the "troops and horses move, and food and fodder go together" strategy. This strategy addressed the difficult terrain and long, winding roads, formulating a series of key principles, including "supply prioritizing combat" and "politics prioritizing military affairs."

The troops entering Tibet received food supplies primarily through two channels: first, mobilizing resources throughout the province to collect grain and transport it to the Dakang Highway, where it was then delivered by vehicle; second, rallying Tibetan compatriots, local officials, and monastery living Buddhas to actively assist the revolutionary army in procuring food and fodder. While this multifaceted food and fodder strategy alleviated food shortages to some extent, the complex terrain and inconvenient transportation in Tibet made it difficult to deliver food and fodder to the front lines, making transportation and supply a major challenge for the revolutionary army.

The revolutionary army's journey from Chamdo to Lhasa was over 2,000 kilometers, crossing 19 snow-capped mountains and the Hengduan Mountains, making it difficult to transport supplies. The revolutionary army could purchase food from Tibetans along the way, but they could not requisition it. Requisitioning food from Tibetans along the way might have created a sense of crisis among the already struggling Tibetans, hindering the implementation of policies related to the future liberation of Tibet.

Chapter 308:

Troops entering Tibet formulated "Marching Rules" and "Entry Discipline," striving for self-sufficiency. Each soldier carried an average of 60 to 70 kilograms of packs, even digging wild vegetables and catching ground rats to make up for food shortages. Whenever time permitted, troops entering Tibet also launched a large-scale wasteland reclamation campaign, aligning with the directive of "giving equal importance to production and road construction." Large numbers of soldiers were deployed to manually cultivate wasteland, which not only alleviated food shortages to a certain extent but also provided food and farming techniques to the local people.

The follow-up troops always insisted on respecting the religious beliefs of the Tibetans, and at the same time, they also vigorously helped the Tibetans solve their life problems, such as providing medical and health assistance, earthquake relief, carrying out production activities, and teaching writing.

Although class education was temporarily unavailable during the march into Tibet, the revolutionary army, under the banner of resistance against the British, remained united with the Tibetan people. Inspired by the Party's policies, the simple-minded Tibetan people assisted the army's advance, helping to feed the yaks and horses of the revolutionary army's transport team. Tibetan women helped mend soldiers' clothes and donated food and supplies. After the long journey, the revolutionary army forged a close partnership with the local Tibetans, further solidifying national unity.

Only after entering Lhasa did Li Yong understand why the British had been obsessed with this place. The Potala Palace alone was enough to keep these British robbers obsessed with robbing.

The Potala Palace, built by Songtsen Gampo of Tubo in 631 AD on Mount Marpori, northwest of Lhasa, is over 1,200 years old. It is the world's highest architectural wonder, combining palace, castle, and monastery, and is the largest and most complete ancient palace and castle complex in China.

The entire building is made of stone and wood, built with square stones. The walls of the tall and spacious hall are painted with various colorful murals. The interior is decorated with hundreds of thousands of large and small Buddha statues carved from gold, silver, copper, jade and sandalwood. There are also countless treasures, cultural relics, statues of gods, paintings and utensils.

Yan Bing and his companions, of course, didn't know that in their previous lives, the British, upon entering Lhasa, had wantonly burned, murdered, and looted the city, plundering countless treasures, cultural relics, and religious texts. The approximately 1 loads of precious scriptures, images, paintings, and artifacts shipped to the British-Indian Museum took over four months, starting in Calcutta in January 1905, to catalog and catalog these books and artifacts. This clearly shows how much these robbers had plundered.

Standing at the foot of Red Hill, one can see the overall layout of the Potala Palace. From bottom to top, it comprises the "Snow," the White Palace, and the Red Palace. This fully embodies the Tibetan Buddhist theory of the "Three Realms" of the Desire Realm, the Form Realm, and the Formless Realm. Through the contrast, exaggeration, and embellishment of the architectural layout, the majesty of the Buddha's teachings is expressed. Even after millennia, the view still evokes a sense of awe in the heavenly realm of Buddha.

The sky was clear and the atmosphere felt dreamlike. Many soldiers were shaken. Many Tibetan soldiers recruited in Kangding would have immediately fallen to their knees if it weren't for the military discipline. As for the Tibetans who had helped the revolutionary army with transportation, they were already prostrating themselves in the square...

However, Li Yong also discovered a problem: XZ had virtually no industry, and agricultural production remained primitive. In many places, wooden plows and rakes were used to plow the land, turning only two or three inches of soil, failing to remove even grass roots or break up clods. In some places, a wooden stick was used to plow the land, barely scratching the soil. During harvest, slaves plucked the ears with their fingers, and threshing was almost always done by coaxing a herd of yaks into the ground.

This meant an extremely difficult war was imminent, and the battle against the British might just be the appetizer. Without delay, Li Yong immediately wrote a notice in both Chinese and Tibetan, explaining that the revolutionary army was coming to resist the British invasion and needed the help of the Tibetan people. Then, under the guidance of Tibetan soldiers, he quickly used the silver coins he had brought to purchase the necessary supplies and immediately assembled a production line for reloading bullets.

As soon as the temporary command center was established, various news began to pour in. Li Yong didn't know at this point that the Qing Dynasty had recently blocked the Yangtze River, and no merchant ships were entering or leaving the river. Seeing no signs of compromise in Sichuan, the British, under cover of darkness, rushed through Kuimen on the night of June 15th. The soldiers immediately fired warning shots, but the British ignored them. After sailing for a while, they frantically bombarded the moored civilian ships and civilians on both sides of the river, sending residents fleeing in terror and their cries of grief piercing the heavens. The British then launched incendiary bombs, burning down over a thousand houses. Ultimately, the death toll reached 604. This was the horrific Wanxian Massacre perpetrated by the British.

The British bombardment completely woke up the artillery that had been deployed earlier. The soldiers no longer held back and fired all their shells at the British gunboat. However, the soldiers' cannons could not penetrate the thick steel plates of the gunboat, so they could only use the method of bombarding the ground with shells, hitting the deck.

Finally, after a fierce battle, the revolutionary army put up a tenacious resistance and the British army was defeated. Fortunately, a cannonball damaged the propeller of one of the British gunboats, and the British gunboat finally broke through the encirclement with the current. Thirty-two revolutionary soldiers also lost their lives for their country.

After the Wanxian Massacre, Zhang Yinghao immediately instructed the relevant departments in Chongqing to close the British consulate and forcibly take over the Chongqing Customs. All British people were arrested and awaited further processing. At the same time, the news of the British bombardment of Wanxian was publicized, accusing the British of atrocities.

The Wanxian Massacre also made people from all walks of life indignant, and they severely condemned the British atrocities, especially the residents of Sichuan. Such a tragedy happened on their doorstep, and everyone was furious and strongly protested against the actions of the British army.

Zhang Yinghao also took this opportunity to vigorously promote the idea of ​​saving the country through learning and science, pointing out that the best way to deal with cannons is to manufacture cannons that are more powerful than those of the British. He also explained that the British would join forces with the Qing Dynasty to blockade the Yangtze River and the liberated areas for a long time, hoping to starve the people in the liberated areas to death. Therefore, Zhang Yinghao called on the broad masses of working people to unite, rely on their own efforts, and work hard.

Overnight, slogans such as self-reliance and hard work appeared on countless walls in Sichuan.

Under Zhang Yinghao's direction, word of the British bombardment spread rapidly. Demonstrations erupted in cities like Shanghai, and ambitious young people from all over the country flocked to Sichuan. Researchers, like a sudden surge of enthusiasm, frantically engaged in research, aiming to build a better cannon than the British.

Zhang Yinghao had not expected this outcome. The British had indeed served as a teacher, letting the people of the liberated areas know what shame meant, what it meant that a weak country had no diplomacy, and that weakness was the original sin.

Sichuan is clashing with the British, and fierce exchanges of fire have already occurred between China and Britain.

Meanwhile, a heated debate erupted within British command: whether to attack or retreat—a matter of life and death. A heated debate erupted between Younghusband and John Claude White. Younghusband was a brilliant explorer, and he had long coveted Lhasa.

The revolutionary army stationed in Sichuan had little experience in major combat, and since entering Tibet, many soldiers had little time to rest and adapt. As a result, they suffered significant losses early on. Under British machine guns and artillery fire, they suffered heavy casualties. This intensified the British army's aggressiveness, and Younghusband and his men regained confidence in their march on Lhasa.

He was the chief commander of this invasion, and it was he who negotiated with the Tibetan army to withdraw its forces, leading to the massacre. He believed that Tibet was at its weakest, with nearly all its combatants wiped out by the British. If the Sichuan rebels fled upon their arrival in Tibet, it would undoubtedly bring shame upon the British Empire. A victory over the revolutionary army would allow them to capture Lhasa, which was within reach, and plunder it extensively, thereby recouping the losses incurred during the previous expedition.

So the British continued their offensive. After suffering losses, the Revolutionary Army immediately realized they couldn't confront the British head-on for the time being. They could only gradually retreat and change their tactics, employing what Chairman Zhang Yinghao called the strategy of "when the enemy advances, we retreat; when the enemy camps, we harass." During the day, the Revolutionary Army fired cold shots and artillery, while at night, they shouted all night, pounded drums and blew trumpets, and occasionally fired guns and artillery.

After being harassed, the British army was now extremely annoyed. At the same time, the revolutionary army had already begun to plan to cut off the British from their retreat. They finally decided to send the 5th regiment to bypass the battlefield and move to the rear of the enemy to cut off the British retreat and completely trap them in XZ. Even if they entered Lhasa, they would never be able to retreat from Lhasa.

The British had crossed the Yarlung Zangbo River and entered the Qushui area. The revolutionary army's offensive had clearly intensified. The people of Qushui had been completely evacuated by the revolutionary army, and this was the place they had planned to fight. By this point, the British were only a stone's throw away from Lhasa.

In fact, if Zhang Yinghao were here, he would definitely let the British advance, preferably annihilating the British outside Lhasa, or even allowing the British to enter Lhasa. However, Li Yong and his men were under certain pressure. If the revolutionary army lost Lhasa after its arrival, it would have a very negative political impact on the Forward Party and the revolutionary army. Therefore, they chose to fight in the Qushui area.

In fact, the comrades saw the British advancing alone, with logistical support extremely difficult. Now they had advanced to the Qushui area, and how much ammunition had they expended along the way? Therefore, Li Yong felt that the British were more likely to commit suicide. From a strategic perspective, it was extremely unwise for the British to not withdraw after the revolutionary army entered Tibet.

At this time, Yan Bing said: "The British army really thinks they are insignificant!"

The headquarters erupted in laughter. The revolutionary army now boasted comrades from all over the country, though those in the south couldn't comprehend how chives, once only chopstick-sized, could grow into giant plants over a meter tall in Shandong. Everyone was young these days, slow to learn other things but incredibly quick to learn curse words. So everyone immediately understood that the British were taking themselves too seriously.