The Heroic Age of the Late Qing Dynasty

Zhou Baogui also knew that it was one of his own, so he quickly walked out and said, "Hello comrade, I am Zhou Baogui, the leader of this vanguard group. What is the situation in Yichang now?"

"Hello, Captain Zhou. My name is Ge Erbao. Stationed in Yichang are the 30th Regiment of the 15th Infantry Regiment, commanded by Yang Kaijia, and the new army soldiers of the 1st Battalion of the 8th Artillery Regiment, as well as three newly formed patrol battalions. Yichang was once a prosperous port, but after the Qing blockade of Sichuan, it became desolate, and the warships of the foreign powers also left Yichang..."

Zhou Baogui listened to the introduction of Yichang. Ge Erbao did not say anything about opening the city gates, because everyone now knows that city walls and gates are no longer useful in the face of modern warfare.

"Such a small place has a large army stationed there. Zhang Zhidong really thinks highly of us. What does this newly formed patrol battalion mean? How many people are there?"

"Hmm~ This is the new army formed by the Qing Dynasty last year. It's a reorganization of the Defense Army and the Reserve Army. Each battalion has only 301 soldiers. We used to hear the name Patrol Battalion from the Chairman. The Chairman referred to the Qing Dynasty's militia, brave battalion, and other miscellaneous troops as the Patrol Battalion. It's actually the same meaning, except that some of the old and weak were dismissed."

Zhou Baogui nodded and said, "I heard that your new army soldiers are now implementing a policy of separating guns and shells?"

"Haha, that's right. We only have guns now. Except for a few patrol soldiers who are issued a small amount of bullets, all other soldiers must surrender their bullets. This is the Qing Dynasty seeking its own destruction. The New Army has no bullets. If anyone gets some foreign aid and someone really revolts, it will force all the New Army soldiers to express their stance. Even if some soldiers don't want to revolt, they will eventually be forced into the revolutionary tide. If the soldiers had bullets in their rifles, the officers would immediately suppress the rebellion as soon as anyone revolted. Unless we can persuade the majority of the soldiers to revolt, it will be difficult for the uprising to succeed. If it weren't for the constant suppression by the central government and the corresponding orders, we would have revolted long ago."

Ge Erbao's words truly came true. The success of the Wuchang uprising in his previous life was truly thanks to Ruizheng. He believed there were secret societies within the army and enacted a strict policy of separating guns and ammunition. During a night patrol, sergeant Tao Qisheng discovered that Jin Zhaolong and his men had removed their guns and ammunition. He asked Jin Zhaolong if he was planning a rebellion. Jin Zhaolong shouted, "Yes," and his subordinate Cheng Dingguo knocked Tao Qisheng down with the butt of his rifle and shot him dead.

As soon as the gunshots rang out, other Qing troops rushed to suppress the uprising. However, due to the separation of bullets from guns, the Qing troops arrived armed with swords instead of guns. As a result, Cheng Dingguo shot and killed the rushing officers, including Huang Kunrong, the former captain; Zhang Wentao, the chief steward; and Ruan Rongfa, the acting commander of the Eighth Battalion, sending the troops into chaos. Taking advantage of the chaos in the barracks, Xiong Bingkun of the Tongmenghui fired a gun to rally the troops, officially launching the Wuchang Uprising and bringing down the Qing dynasty. Imagine if the Qing troops who arrived to suppress the uprising had all been armed. How could Jin Zhaolong, with just a few men, have been able to defeat the large number of Qing troops rushing in to suppress them? The uprising would have been delayed indefinitely.

After hearing what Ge Erbao said, Zhou Baogui laughed and said, "Haha, that's enough. Now we are here to liberate Hubei! You can't escape the credit. After we liberate Yichang, we will also eliminate all the strongholds along the Yangtze River, liberate Guizhou as well, ensure the smooth flow of the Three Gorges, and then prepare to welcome the landing of the large army. You have controlled the city gate now, right?"

"Yes."

"That's good. Now that the foreign powers' warships are gone, things will be easy. As long as we control the telegraph office and cut the wires, Zhang Zhidong in Wuhan won't get any news. We're also going to test a policy this time, which is to replace prisoners immediately."

"Capture and replace immediately?"

"Yes, that is, to eliminate the officers and diehards against the Qing Dynasty from among the prisoners, and to supplement the rest of the New Army soldiers into the various armies. This will not only strengthen the strength of our People's Liberation Army, but also indirectly weaken the power of the Qing Dynasty. Comrade Ge Erbao, you know the New Army best and know who the officers and diehards are. You will also need to mobilize the prisoners to defect, so your task is both glorious and arduous!"

Zhang Yinghao began experimenting with the practice of recruiting prisoners immediately because the PLA already had sufficient strength, and adding them to the old-style armies would not alter its character. Furthermore, the Hubei New Army was indeed a competent unit. Zhang Zhidong emphasized loyalty to the emperor, patriotism, and self-reliance in defense of foreign aggression in his military training. He personally composed and required his soldiers to memorize and chant a "military song." This song, while extensively praising the Qing Dynasty's "deep benevolence and generosity," urged soldiers to "resolve to repay the emperor's kindness," while also drawing on historical examples of rise and fall in China and abroad, repeatedly emphasizing the necessity of self-reliance.

"Foreigners often laugh at our country for being weak. If we don't strengthen ourselves, how can we escape from being divided? India's territory is not small, and slaves cannot escape from the cage. Japan's three islands are just a threat to our powerful country, and the whole world respects and praises them. We don't envy Japan's good use of ships and guns, but we envy the people's solidarity. Our country has 400 million people of the same race, so why is it difficult for them to work hard and become heroes? To protect the country, we must have elite soldiers, and the bond of the same race is difficult for foreigners to shake."

Such an exposition is thought-provoking and shows Zhang Zhidong's good intentions. At the same time, Zhang Zhidong also required the soldiers to possess these qualities: only by being loyal to the emperor and patriotic, and self-reliant to resist insults, can they defend against external powers and suppress the "rebel party" at home.

Under Zhang Zhidong's guidance, the Hubei New Army's ideology was much more advanced than that of the Beiyang New Army. Furthermore, Zhang Zhidong focused on developing "military intelligence," specifically seeking to improve the soldiers' cultural literacy. Most of the New Army's officers came from modern military academies and were therefore more educated than the soldiers themselves.

In recruiting soldiers, Zhang Zhidong made literacy a key requirement, not only explicitly stipulating it but also gradually raising the bar. In 1898, when he expanded the engineering corps into an engineering battalion, he stipulated that "only those under the age of 20 who could read and write would be admitted."

In 1902, he added the requirement that "half of the soldiers joining the army must be literate" as the first item in the "Essentials of Military Training in Hubei." Two years later, he further required that new recruits "be able to read and write and have a basic understanding of literature and science." These regulations fully demonstrate Zhang Zhidong's high regard for the cultural quality of the new army and his warm welcome to educated youth.

The Hubei New Army indeed recruited a large number of intellectuals, with "many talented scholars joining the ranks." Zhang Zhidong also placed great emphasis on the education of soldiers after they entered the ranks. In 1902, Zhang Zhidong established large and small lecture halls and newspaper reading rooms in each banner and battalion of the New Army, undoubtedly contributing to improving the soldiers' cultural literacy.

In particular, Zhang Zhidong's ingenious creation of the Hubei Army Special Primary School selected soldiers who were "fluent in both literature and science" and ordered them to "attend the school during the day to study academic subjects and return to camp at night," with students graduating and returning to camp in shifts. This "implemented universal education within military training." This significantly improved the soldiers' cultural level. The Hubei New Army, with its higher cultural literacy, naturally had more open mindsets and a greater ability to understand and accept new ideas.

Historically, in the autumn of 1906, the Qing government held its autumn military exercises in Zhangde, Henan. The new armies of Yuan Shikai, the Beiyang government's governor, and Zhang Zhidong, the Hubei government's governor, each participated in a large-scale exercise. Contemporaries characterized the two armies as superior: the Beiyang government's new army "victorious by courage," while the Hubei government's new army "victorious by learning." In China, learning naturally prevailed.

Since most of the generals of the Hubei New Army were selected from students of the Military Academy and military students studying abroad, and most of the soldiers were newly recruited, the soldiers were relatively simple and the generals were relatively open-minded. In addition, the environment was relatively relaxed, so the Hubei New Army became a good stage for the Forward Party to carry out propaganda and organizational activities.

In other words, the Hubei New Army lacked the trappings of a "warlord." Thanks to the careful propaganda of the Forward Party's infiltrators, the Hubei New Army now numbered only about 16,000 troops. However, hundreds of them had directly joined the Forward Party, while thousands were controlled and influenced by it. Those who fully sided with the Qing Dynasty, aside from a few military supervisors, numbered less than a thousand. Therefore, Zhang Yinghao had no concerns about the Hubei New Army. Furthermore, the Xinhai Revolution in his previous life had begun with the Hubei New Army, which gave Zhang Yinghao a higher regard for them.

Of course, Zhang Yinghao's "immediate replacement of prisoners" policy was partly to test the political commissar's ability. On the other hand, Zhang Yinghao's willingness to recruit the Hubei New Army was also because these soldiers were resilient and could indeed strengthen the PLA and the nation's defense, contributing to future wars.

After hearing the details of the "immediate replacement of prisoners" policy, Ge Erbao immediately said, "That's fantastic! I'll definitely complete the mission."

"Your officers and soldiers don't live together, do they?" "Separately."

"That's great, since you already control the city gates. And since the Qing doesn't trust the New Army and has implemented a policy of separating guns and ammunition, then you lead the way while we quietly enter the city. We'll split into several groups, seize the New Army's arsenal, capture Yang Kaijia and other officers, and take control of the barracks. Ideally, we'd force all the soldiers to surrender without firing a shot."

"Okay, with us leading the way and acting as an insider, there will be no problems."

……-

The fifth day of May was fast approaching. The lights in the combat headquarters were ablaze, and all personnel were busy. The troops on the front lines were also waiting for orders from the central government. Once they received the order to advance, they immediately rushed towards their mission objectives, striving to obtain a good start.

"Report, a telegram has arrived from Chongqing: Vanguard Comrade Zhou Baogui has liberated Yichang and Zhigui, and all enemy strongholds along the way have been eliminated."

"What about casualties?"

"No casualties were sustained. The comrades who were hiding controlled the city gates. The vanguard quietly entered the city and directly captured the commander, Yang Kaijia, and took control of the armory. The new army and the patrol battalion offered no resistance and were all taken prisoners."

Zhang Yinghao listened and checked the time. It was already past ten o'clock in the evening. He suddenly felt that it was meaningless. After being in this world for a long time, he was used to going to bed early and getting up early. He gritted his teeth and suppressed the urge to yawn. He blinked hard to prevent the tears from flowing out of his eyes. He said lightly: "Order them to act according to the plan. Yidu is only a few dozen kilometers away from Yichang. Be careful of the counterattack of the Qing army. Immediately mobilize the local people to build an airship berth overnight. Order the Chongqing airship brigade to be ready. After the airship berth is repaired, if conditions permit, take off immediately to support the front line."

"Chairman, the airship brigade has only been formed a few days ago and is inadequately trained. Are we really going to let them participate in this battle?"

In response to this question, Zhang Yinghao thought of the Chinese Air Force and Armored Corps in his previous life. They were also immediately deployed to the Korean battlefield after being formed. They rose from fledglings to veterans in one step, and still produced many combat heroes! Zhang Yinghao glanced at Cai E and said again calmly: "There is no rainbow without wind and rain. Training a thousand times is not as good as actual combat once. Of course, if the great powers do not interfere in our Liberation War, we will just use airships to transport supplies. What if the great powers' warships bombard us? We will immediately bombard them with artillery and bomb them with airships. Okay, now you can send telegrams to the various troops and tell them to act according to the plan. There is no need to call me unless the news is particularly bad. You can handle it yourselves."

After saying that, Zhang Yinghao turned around and went back to sleep.

In reality, the command room wasn't the right place for someone as busy as Zhang Yinghao. Giving orders was easy, like marking territory on a map—a swipe of the finger could cover tens or even hundreds of kilometers—very simple. But the troops on the front lines had to cover tens or even hundreds of kilometers, covering them in less than a day. In other words, once a commander issued a marching order to a unit, it might take until the next day for them to issue another order. Therefore, the staff were extremely busy before a battle, calculating various data and possible scenarios. However, after the battle began, they had less time, and the command ability of the officers on the front lines was essentially the sole responsibility. Only in emergencies, when the plan deviated significantly from the staff's original plan, would they immediately adjust it.

Zhang Yinghao had waited for a perfect start, and after issuing the order to advance, he had essentially nothing to do. Staying at the headquarters would only hinder the work of other comrades. The PLA's advance was naturally accompanied by a constant flow of good news, but if Zhang Yinghao had to listen to all that good news, he would be better off getting more sleep and conserving his energy. Good news no longer needed to be reported to Zhang Yinghao. Only when unexpected bad news arose, requiring him to step in and clean up the mess, would Zhang Yinghao personally step in again.

Seeing Zhang Yinghao turn around and leave, many comrades breathed a sigh of relief in their hearts. It seemed that Zhang Yinghao had brought them a lot of pressure here. All the comrades immediately seemed to become less busy, and the scene immediately became quiet. Only the radio machine was still making a "ticking" sound.

In reality, Zhang Yinghao didn't need to issue orders to the airship brigade. Liu Chengqian and his crew were already in Chongqing, conducting final inspections and preparations. Numerous porters were also busy loading supplies onto the airships. When Zhang Yinghao organized the construction of the airships, Liu Chengqian had been a test pilot. He had stood out from the many brave and courageous pilots and was now appointed captain of the airship team.

At the time, the Three Gorges' transportation capacity was still quite limited, and many areas were extremely dangerous. This was one of the reasons why Zhang Yinghao wanted to use airships to alleviate some of the logistical pressure. While the total transport capacity of ten airships of varying weights wasn't huge, each could carry at least several hundred to a thousand kilograms. Airships could fly at altitudes exceeding a thousand meters at an average speed of around 30 kilometers per hour, much faster and easier than carrying people or horses. If all airships were used to transport munitions, it would significantly reduce the logistical pressure on the front lines.

Chapter 395:

The plan for this attack was very simple: to crush the enemy all the way, attack, attack, and attack again, and attack continuously, so that all the previous deployments of the Qing Dynasty would be invalid. Strategically despise the enemy, but tactically take the enemy seriously.

Two armies from Yunnan and Guizhou provinces launched an offensive into Guangxi, advancing through Guilin and heading straight for Wuzhou, then through Baise and on to Nanning. The main force in western Hunan marched eastward, aiming for Changsha and liberating Hunan. The Chongqing and Shaanxi armies attacked from west to east, while those in the Dabie Mountains attacked from east to west. These three armies combined to liberate Hubei with overwhelming force. The northern Shaanxi army crossed the Great Wall and entered the Ikh Ju League, also known as Ordos in the past, immediately liberating Inner and Outer Mongolia. The central Shaanxi army crossed the Yellow River at various ferry crossings, traversing the entire Lüliang Mountains, and marched towards Taiyuan to liberate Shanxi. The southern army marched eastward from Tongguan, aiming to ambush and eliminate the main force of the Beiyang Sixth Regiment led by Wang Shizhen. If they failed to do so, they would resort to defensive maneuvering to tie down the Sixth Regiment. If they are eliminated or defeated, they will immediately split into two groups. One group will join forces with the comrades in Zhongtiao Mountain, Luliang Mountain, and Taihang Mountain to attack Taiyuan and join the ranks of liberating Shanxi. The other group will directly enter Henan to cut off the Qing Dynasty's north-south connection and tie down the Qing Dynasty's military strength.

With this marching plan, Zhang Yinghao was not afraid that the Qing army would concentrate its forces to annihilate one or two units of the People's Liberation Army. Even if a province was not liberated, the Qing army would not be able to completely wipe out the PLA that invaded. As long as the troops were scattered across the vast countryside, the Qing army would be at a loss.

In his previous life, in 1912, during the heyday of the Beiyang government, Bai Lang of Henan launched a peasant uprising. He did not follow Jing Tingbin's example of defending one place, but instead followed Li Zicheng's example of roaming around, avoiding the strong and attacking the weak, making a feint to the east and attacking in the west, and attacking the enemy quickly and by surprise. The Beiyang Army dispatched more than 200,000 people to fight, and it took three years before it was wiped out.

The Forward Party possesses a clear platform, a tight organization, strict discipline, and the ability to mobilize the masses through policies like land reform. It also boasts a vast rear base. Zhang Yinghao simply cannot believe that the Forward Party, relying on a single main force, could be completely annihilated despite such superior circumstances. Of course, a temporary defeat is possible, but such a loss would also provide lessons for subsequent troops. Therefore, this is the current plan. Whether or not the plan can be fully realized depends on the specific capabilities of each unit.

Of course, Zhang Shiyinghao was forced to send troops like this, because Zhang Yinghao had no way or ability to quickly concentrate troops at that time. Whether the troops in Shaanxi were concentrated in Sichuan, or the troops in Sichuan were concentrated in Shaanxi, they could only rely on two legs to walk. Not to mention the time wasted in the middle, the consumption of the army along the way was an astronomical figure. Zhang Yinghao felt that he really couldn't waste manpower and material resources like this.

After traveling through time, Zhang Yinghao discovered a startling fact about this era: ordinary Chinese people believed that the rebels were right, as their lives were too difficult, and deep down they longed to break free from the world they faced. However, they also believed that the government's suppression of the uprising was also correct, and they hoped that neither the rebels nor the government would disrupt their current miserable lives. As long as they were not absolutely forced into a desperate situation, they would still be willing to live in misery, lacking the courage to break anything.

This is a strange and deeply contradictory way of thinking. The masses don't really know who to follow to benefit them, or who can guarantee their livelihoods and well-being. Zhang Yinghao hadn't previously grasped this mass consciousness. It was only when he realized that the revolution was struggling to spread in many areas, that the masses were apathetic, unable to mobilize, and indifferent to the work of the Forward Party and the People's Liberation Army that he realized this. He understood that this was a method the masses had used for centuries to protect themselves. They didn't really care who ruled them, they simply hoped their rulers would treat them well. They simply wanted to survive and reproduce in peace, willing to be the silent majority, waiting for the final victor. This sentiment and approach of the masses is understandable, as no one can directly foresee the future. Ultimately, the masses obey the will of the ultimate victor, the power of force. Ultimately, they believe in strength, and the importance of power. The winners are kings, and the losers are the losers.

The attack order issued by Zhang Yinghao was transmitted to all the troops in an instant through radio waves. The officers of each unit had been preparing for a long time. After receiving the attack order, even though it was late at night, in order to catch the enemy by surprise, each unit still rushed to gather troops and rushed towards their predetermined targets. The beacon fire instantly spread across the entire land of China.

"Report to the commander-in-chief, the commander-in-chief sent a telegram."

Zhao Liang took the telegram from Zhang Feng and read it. He said, "Order all river crossing assault teams to remain completely concealed and cross secretly at night. With resolute and agile speed, capture enemy bunkers, cut off power lines, and control forward positions and flank protection positions to ensure that subsequent troops can cross the river in an advantageous position to support the enemy. If a secret crossing is discovered, immediately force a crossing."

"Yes."

The first shots fired in the Liberation War were fired by troops secretly crossing the Yellow River. Although officers everywhere had issued the same orders as Zhao Liang, who guarded Tongguan, the numerous crossings along the 800-kilometer-long Yellow River meant there was always the possibility that the PLA would be unwittingly discovered by the Qing army, thus turning a surprise attack into a forced assault. Although Zhou Baogui's vanguard regiment had achieved a victory, the overall goal of liberating Hubei required the capture of Yichang. The only place where a surprise attack was truly necessary to minimize PLA losses was the natural obstacle blocking the PLA's eastward advance: the Yellow River.

At this time, the Sixth Beiyang Regiment was stationed in Shanxi, commanded by Wang Shizhen in Taiyuan. He was in charge of the command and mobilization of all Shanxi troops. Wang Shizhen knew that the PLA would inevitably advance eastward through Tongguan into Shanxi and Henan, so he established three lines of defense outside Tongguan. Numerous blockhouses were built in Yongji, Ruicheng, and Lingbao. Fenglingdu was even more tightly sealed, with fortifications built and artillery aimed at the opposite bank, forming a strategic angle with the infantry on the other side. Lu Jianzhang, commander of the 11th Infantry Brigade, was in direct command from Jiezhou, with full authority to prevent the PLA from advancing eastward through Tongguan.

In fact, it wasn't just Tongguan that was being fortified by the Qing. After the People's Liberation Army liberated Shaanxi, and especially after the PLA defeated Wang Yingkai's forces in the Second Beiyang Regiment, the Qing sealed off the natural barrier of the Yellow River. Along the 800-kilometer Yellow River stretch, from Hequ and Baode in the north, to Yonghe and Daning in the middle, and Hejin and Yongji in the south, the Qing conscripted civilians to build over 2,000 forts and enclosures in areas accessible to river crossings. Each location was stationed with one or two tents of the New Army or patrol battalion, and at key crossings, a sentry or platoon of soldiers were stationed to prevent the PLA from crossing. However, the Qing lacked funds, and while they did build a few reinforced concrete forts, the majority were constructed of earth and stone, and the forts and enclosures were spaced far apart, effectively serving only as a support system, not as a means of creating crossfire to prevent the PLA from crossing.

Even so, the total strength of the river defense line reached four regiments, though over seventy patrol battalions alone were employed. This significantly stretched the Beiyang New Army's manpower, directly diluting its combat effectiveness. Important towns along the eastern bank of the Yellow River, such as Sanjiao, Qikou, Wanrong, Jundu, Hejin, Jixian, and Yonghe, were also heavily garrisoned, forming a second line of defense to resist the PLA's advance in depth and readily supporting the various river crossings. To compensate for the shortcomings of the first and second lines of defense, New Army troops were deployed to Ningxiang, Linxian, Xizhou, Jiaokou, and Shilou, relying on the key mountain passes of the Lüliang Mountains, forming a third line of defense. Meanwhile, the provincial capital of Taiyuan in Shanxi was left with few defenders. In the words of Wang Shizhen, if the natural barrier of the Yellow River and the three lines of defense were breached, holding Taiyuan would be meaningless.

To compensate for the shortage of its main force and to intimidate the local population, the Qing government implemented a reign of terror, known as the baojia system. If one person colluded with bandits, their entire family and entire baojia would be implicated. Hundreds of local militias, known as anti-bandit defense corps, were established in counties along the Yellow River. Landlords and wealthy individuals built fortresses in every household to protect themselves from harassment by PLA comrades in the Luliang Mountains. The Qing government further divided the area into thirteen defense zones, taking advantage of the terrain, and harshly suppressed local residents and progressive figures. Many innocent people and small vendors visiting relatives and friends in Shanxi were brutally murdered. Under this reign of terror, the people dared not speak out. Militia leaders, aware of the policies of the Progressive Party, treated the people harshly, fearing future retribution.

However, the Qing Dynasty's perverse actions in Shanxi not only failed to intimidate the people, but instead ignited their strong desire for the People's Liberation Army to cross the Yellow River. Under the leadership of the local Party organization in Lüliang, Shanxi, a fearless struggle was waged. Many people risked their lives to scout the enemy, transmit intelligence, transport guns and ammunition, and post slogans and leaflets. Some passionate young people even secretly crossed the Yellow River to join the People's Liberation Army.

After the liberation of Lanzhou, Zhang Feng had already returned to the main force. Furthermore, after the liberation of Shaanxi, he knew the PLA would eventually march eastward to liberate Shanxi and Henan, and had already conducted numerous river-crossing exercises. The PLA had already stockpiled considerable military supplies along the Yellow River, with cadre deployments, military depots, and hospitals fully prepared. Even the provision of ferry boats and the recruitment of civilian laborers had been meticulously arranged. Upon receiving the central government's order, the PLA troops marching eastward quickly and covertly gathered on the banks of the Yellow River to make final preparations for the crossing.

The order to cross the river was officially issued, and the battle officially began. The PLA forced their way across the Yellow River from numerous ferry crossings, starting from the west entrance of Hequ in the north, through Goukou in Suide and Hekou in Qingjian, and ending at Pujin Ferry in Yongji in the south. Fang Xiaohu and his troops were already at Pujin Ferry. Thirty brave assault warriors, led by temporary captain Liu Fushou, paddled their boats from the small river fork into the Yellow River, heading straight for the river defense fortress on the opposite bank. Today was the second day of the fourth lunar month. There was no moonlight in the sky, and all was silent, save for the gentle, vigorous paddling of the assault team members.

Several small boats finally glided to the other side, but there was still no reaction from the fort. Liu Fushou was the first to jump off the boat, crouching, raising his rifle and aiming it at the fort. He then quickly ran forward a few steps to make room for the comrades who were disembarking later. After the remaining team members had all disembarked, two remained to meet the follow-up troops and help the main force build a pontoon bridge. The twenty-eight of them immediately surrounded the earthen fort.

There was still no reaction from inside the earthen fort. Liu Fushou felt a little sweat on his forehead at this moment. The unknown was the most terrifying thing. Because he knew that if bullets were suddenly fired from the fortress at this time, they would inevitably suffer casualties.

"Sure enough, there is an essential difference between actual combat and training."

Liu Fushou said this silently in his heart, but he still did not hesitate or stop. He patted the shoulder of his comrade next to him and pointed in another direction of the fortress, indicating that his comrade should go around from that direction while he went from the other direction. They had already studied this fortress and knew that the entrance to the fortress was at the back. QQ group 813175933

At this point, Liu Fushou had already sensed that the Qing troops inside the fortress were probably fast asleep, so he immediately broke into a sprint and, turning to the fortress entrance, saw a dark wooden door tightly shut. The team members from the other direction had also reached the door. It was incredibly easy, without a single incident.

Liu Fushou didn't hesitate any longer. He reached out and grabbed the hand of his teammate. The two of them understood each other and simultaneously kicked the wooden door with all their might. The thin wooden door couldn't withstand the kicks of two commandos. With a loud bang, the door flew back. As expected, all the Qing soldiers inside were fast asleep. The loud noise startled the sleeping Qing soldiers so much that they jumped out of bed, shouting, "Who the hell is this bastard who shot the monkey? You're scaring me to death!"

Liu Fushou didn't care whether the Qing soldiers in the patrol camp were scared to death or cursing, he rushed in and shouted: "Don't move, the People's Liberation Army will treat the prisoners well."

"Ah~ Don't move, grandpas, we won't move, don't shoot. We won't move..."

Liu Fushou knew immediately that these patrol battalions had already studied the PLA. They knew how to deal with it and were aware of its policy of preferential treatment for prisoners. Regardless of the patrol battalions' pleas for mercy, Liu Fushou and his men didn't hesitate. They dragged each Qing soldier out of the fortress and threw them to the ground.

"Don't move, anyone who moves will be killed." "Don't move, no one will move, we won't move..."

Ignoring the captives, Liu Fushou took out a match and lit a candle, then picked up a pile of dry wood and lit it. Fang Xiaohu saw the flames and immediately understood what they meant. He immediately gave the order: "The opposite fortress is under control, and a pontoon bridge is immediately built to cross the river."

"Yes."

Fang Xiaohu's surprise attack here went very smoothly, but in many other places, river crossings weren't so smooth. Yet, they still managed to cross the river simply and successfully. Just after Fang Xiaohu gave his orders, he heard faint artillery fire from the lower reaches of the Yellow River. Hearing this, Liu Fushou felt a pang of dismay. He knew it was the sound of artillery fire after a failed assault by the commandos. Where was the planned attack? All his previous efforts had been in vain...

Liu Fushou glanced at the pale-faced captives and said unhappily, "You are so lucky! Sleeping saved your lives."

The prisoners were stunned and had no idea what Liu Fushou was talking about. However, when they heard the faint sound of artillery fire in the distance, they suddenly seemed to understand something and their faces turned even paler.

A little further downstream, Ma Long's troops were crossing the river. When the assault team reached the center of the Yellow River, they were spotted by the Qing troops on the other side, and both sides immediately engaged in a firefight. To minimize unnecessary casualties, Ma Long, looking at the opposing firepower point, said, "Since our surprise attack has failed, and these Qing troops are determined to resist desperately, let's just use our artillery to send them to hell and pledge their loyalty to the Qing! Order the artillery to fire."

"Yes."

The order reached the artillery, who, without further ado, simply pushed the shells back into the three already calibrated gun barrels and fired. With the sound of three artillery explosions, the fortress opposite collapsed with a bang, and no more bullets were fired from inside.

After crossing the river, the commandos immediately ran to the fort to check on the situation. They found that the fort had completely collapsed. The commandos removed the bricks and stones of the fort, and all the Qing soldiers inside were dead. Several commandos sighed, and the captain said, "When they continue to shoot at us, they are doomed to die. Let's dig a pit and bury them directly."

If Zhang Yinghao had seen these so-called fortresses built by the Qing Dynasty, he would have laughed his ass off. These fortresses were built solely to meet construction orders issued by the Qing court, completely devoid of scientific reasoning. The Yellow River isn't thousands of meters wide, yet the Qing Dynasty built fortresses along its banks. Not only were they within the PLA's artillery range, but the fortresses weren't built underground, leaving only a firing port, but were instead built high and massive. The masonry turrets seemed to be afraid the PLA wouldn't see them. Perhaps these fortresses appeared fortified to the militia, just like the Japanese turrets built in previous generations—they were simply exploiting the Eighth Route Army's lack of artillery behind enemy lines. Even with a few artillery pieces, they wouldn't have been able to withstand the PLA's arrogance.

If the Forward Party had not been motivated by humanitarianism, and wanted to save the lives of these Qing troops and achieve a surprise attack, as well as to test tactics and train soldiers, why would the People's Liberation Army need to cross the river secretly to attack? They could have directly used cannons on the opposite bank to blow up the fortress on the other side.

If Zhang Yinghao saw this situation here, he would immediately feel that this was not a war, but just a game. Moreover, the enemy was a bunch of weak rookies, so it would be difficult for him not to win!

Chapter 396:

The sound of gunfire from Malong informed the Qing Dynasty that the Liberation War launched by the Forward Party had begun. Soon, Lu Jianzhang in Jiezhou received news of the Shaanxi Red Bandits' eastward expedition. Without delay, he immediately telegraphed the PLA's eastward advance to Wang Shizhen in Taiyuan, reporting the PLA's advance. He also prepared to mobilize troops to meet the PLA crossing the river.

Anyone who could read a map knew that if the People's Liberation Army crossed the Yellow River from Hejin and other places, his command post in Jiezhou would be completely unsafe. His retreat would be cut off at any time, and he would face the danger of being attacked from both sides and annihilated. As for the artillery and forts stationed in Fenglingdu and other places, they were basically just decorations.

After receiving Lu Jianzhang's telegram, Wang Shizhen probably guessed that the People's Liberation Army must have sent a large army eastward out of Shanxi. He did not dare to delay for a moment and immediately sent the telegram about the Shaanxi Red Bandits' eastward movement to the Ministry of War. At this time, the nationwide telegraph network had basically been laid out. Even in the middle of the night, the Ministry of War still had people on duty. After receiving Wang Shizhen's telegram, the people in the Ministry of War did not dare to neglect it in the slightest. They immediately sent people to inform the Qing ministers such as Tie Liang, Yi Tuan, and Yuan Shikai of the news of the People's Liberation Army's deployment. The ministers who received the news did not dare to neglect it in the slightest. They got up from their beds one by one, hurriedly put on their clothes, and took sedan chairs to go straight to the Ministry of War.

Wang Shizhen could sense the panic in the capital at this news, but he couldn't care less. He simply dispatched messengers that very night to deliver the news and orders to the fortresses along the Luliang Mountains, informing them that the Red Bandits were attacking Shanxi and that all troops should strengthen their defenses and exercise caution. In that era, information transmission was extremely backward. Even if the fortresses and enclosures along the Yellow River were breached, Wang Shizhen, far away in Taiyuan, would have received no news at all.

"Report, the Sixth Brigade's crossing of the river was exposed, and they have now successfully forced a crossing."

Wang Liang heard this and immediately said, "Send orders to the Tongguan front. The Liberation War has officially begun. Immediately order the artillery to fire and the infantry to attack. We must tear through the Beiyang Army's defenses as soon as possible."

Before Lu Jianzhang could mobilize his troops, flares rose into the sky, descending slowly under a small parachute, emitting a dazzling white light that transformed the deep night into a sea of ​​white. The PLA's artillery shells also fell upon the Beiyang Army, and the infantry followed the shells and attacked forward.

Warfare is about striking first and then being defeated; it's about taking the enemy by surprise and attacking them when they're unprepared. During World War II, the United States had the world's highest overall national strength, yet it was still overwhelmed by a surprise attack by Japan in the early stages. The Soviet Union had the world's second-highest overall national strength, but Germany took the initiative, launching Operation Barbarossa and advancing all the way to Moscow.

At this time, the People's Liberation Army in Tongguan suddenly attacked, concentrating all heavy firepower, using machine guns and artillery to lead the way, and rushing and fighting all the way. The Beiyang was completely unable to withstand it, and the People's Liberation Army directly broke through the three lines of defense set up by Wang Shizhen in one breath.

"Report, our army has liberated Hejin."

"Report, Changxiang has been liberated by our army."

"Report, there have been unusual movements of Qing troops in Yongji, Ruicheng, Lingbao, and Fenglingdu."

Wang Liang laughed and said, "Give orders to Brigadier General Fang to immediately march towards Jishan, then attack Jiangzhou, and try to cut off the escape route of Lu Jianzhang's Beiyang Army to the north. Order Ma Long's troops to liberate Ronghe and then advance towards Yishi, pressing towards Jiezhou. We will see whether Lu Jianzhang intends to fight to the death or retreat. Order Dong Lianying and Zhao Dabao's troops to pursue and attack along the Yellow River, liberate Lingbao and Shanzhou..."

Zhao Liang's southern army advanced smoothly. The main force of the PLA Central Front and its headquarters personnel successively crossed the Yellow River at Yanshui Pass, Yonghe Pass, Macun Pass, Qingshui Pass, and Tieluo Pass. The soldiers fought bravely, advancing courageously and fearlessly, achieving remarkable feats. The first line of defense collapsed in a single assault, liberating large swathes of towns like Sanjiao, Xuecun, and Qinglong. The troops advanced directly toward the second line of defense, including Ningxiang, Yongning, and Xizhou. Hequ and Baode in the north were also liberated overnight, and the army continued its offensive. After liberating Wuning, the troops split into two groups. One group advanced northward, crossed the Great Wall, and joined forces with comrades liberating the Ikh Ju League to liberate Guisui. The two armies then joined forces to liberate Datong and Shuoping.

Wang Shizhen in Taiyuan was unaware that the entirety of Shanxi was in complete chaos. This wasn't just the Luliang Mountains, where the PLA was attacking. From Datong Prefecture in the north to Pingding Prefecture in the middle and Zezhou Prefecture in the south, all the comrades previously deployed on the Taihang Mountain side, upon hearing the news, rose up in rebellion, launching armed uprisings and seizing either a county town or a fortress. The most active were the workers of the Jingjing coal mine in Zhili. Organized by the Forward Party, they revolted and, in coordination with their Shanxi comrades, captured and liberated Niangzi Pass. It can be said that the actions of these comrades directly cut off the retreat routes of all Beiyang troops in Shanxi.

Chaos, chaos, complete chaos. Shanxi was like a tangled mess at this time. Even if the People's Liberation Army returned to Shaanxi immediately, it would be impossible for the Qing government to quell this riot in a short time. It can be said that by this time, the people of Shanxi had been mobilized. When the people wanted to be liberated, what force could stop them? At this time, if the Qing Dynasty did not intervene in time and forcefully, it would only be a matter of time for the People's Liberation Army led by the Forward Party to eliminate the Qing forces and liberate the entire Shanxi Province.

Li Fugui's troops, crossing the river from Heiyukou in Xing County and aiming to traverse the Luliang Mountains, completely ignored the local chaos. He kept repeating the words: Attack, attack, and attack again. Attack at all costs. He knew Taiyuan was completely undermanned. If only one of his brigades could reach Taiyuan as quickly as possible, he could secure the colossal achievement of liberating Taiyuan. By liberating Taiyuan, they could also conquer Shanxi.

To implement Li Fugui's order for a rapid attack, the entire army carried only four days' worth of rations and a few ultralight artillery pieces, mortars, and grenade launchers that were easily accessible. They marched lightly and with great strides. After capturing Xingxian that night, they didn't pause, but marched straight through the city, unable to capture any prisoners. They fled faster than the fleeing troops, leaving the Qing army in a state of shock. Some towns and passes were captured by the sudden arrival of the People's Liberation Army without a single whimper. Li Fugui marched in this manner throughout the entire process, his focus being speed. He would only leave a small number of troops to collect the prisoners after the Beiyang New Army had been captured. He abandoned all other towns and passes after conquering them, focusing solely on Taiyuan.

Zhang Yinghao knew that the PLA currently held an overwhelming psychological advantage over the Qing. Furthermore, the PLA was at its peak, and he also knew that the PLA had its limits. Beyond these limits, his own strength would rapidly decline. However, Zhang Yinghao believed that if he faced difficulties, the Qing would surely face even greater ones. Now, the question became: which was greater, the revolutionary force or the counter-revolutionary and landlord class forces?

During the Liberation War, the most secure army was the one that set out from Chongqing to liberate Hubei. This was because it was the only army that had a constant supply of weapons and ammunition. Other armies relied on supplies brought in by logistics departments, or at most, only brought reloading machines, which could barely guarantee a small supply of ammunition and other supplies.

After the telegram about the Shanxi Liberation Army's eastward expedition reached the capital, the news was immediately passed on to the Governor-General of Guangdong and Guangxi, Cen Chunxuan, and the Governor-General of Huguang through a small telegraph line.

Zhang Zhidong, Liangjiang Governor Duan Fang and other Qing officials. But what use is it for them to get the news? The People's Liberation Army is at its peak.

Their goal was to quickly understand the full scope of the Red Bandits' actions so they could formulate a specific countermeasure plan. However, the subsequent developments were completely beyond their expectations.

The next morning, just after daybreak, Zhang Yinghao was awakened by the urge to urinate. He found himself with an erection, so he quickly got up and emptied his urine. He returned to bed but could not fall asleep. Perhaps it was because he had been mentally exhausted from the recent military deployment, or because he had finally let go of the burden after receiving the order to attack last night, or perhaps because he knew that the PLA troops advancing today would bring him a lot of good news. Suddenly, he felt a surge of desire and immediately became aroused. His penis was erected, and Zhang Yinghao said to himself, "Men are so unreasonable."

Turning his head, he looked at Xue'er, still sleeping beside him. Her neck was a pale white, the thin blanket half covering her chest slightly bulging. Every breath was filled with the allure of lust. Zhang Yinghao immediately and gently removed his pajamas and reached out to caress Xue'er's body, gently caressing her soft, silky touch. Zhang Yinghao knew that copulating against a woman's will was rape, so he slowly, gently, and patiently unbuttoned Xue'er's pajamas while flirting with her. His mouth didn't stop, gently licking the two little bunnies.

Being married is good. Sexually, it's incomparable to unmarried people. As for the claim that excessive sexual activity shortens life, Zhang Yinghao believes it's pure myth, like those monks and Taoist priests who never marry are immortal. Zhang Yinghao believes that while you're young, you should have sex more often. When you're old and your semen is gone, it's just a waste of time! Life is short in this world, so cherishing every moment is the right thing to do. Of course, engaging in sexual activity can lead to death due to excessive blood flow to both sides of your head, so it's important to drive carefully and according to your physical condition.

Zhang Yinghao sucked gently, choosing the left side if he wanted to, the right if he wanted to. This is something we learn from birth, satisfying the needs of a baby's life. For a man, besides that shiver, there's nothing happier than this. Why are cigarette holders made the size of a nipple? Many people crave cigarettes when they feel anxious, tired, or in pain. One reason is a sense of homecoming. Sucking on something the size of a nipple gives them a sense of security and an inexplicable comfort.

After stroking and sucking for a while, Zhang Yinghao felt Xue'er bend her right leg and gently turn her body toward him. Zhang Yinghao looked up and saw Xue'er had woken up without saying a word, knowing that Xue'er had tacitly agreed to his actions. Zhang Yinghao was encouraged, and with a slight pressure on the soft spot, he immediately kissed Xue'er's lips.

Some people might ask, "Isn't it okay to kiss in the morning without brushing?" Many people believe that brushing should be done in the morning, but this is a big mistake. The main purpose of brushing teeth is to remove food debris from between teeth, preventing it from forming acids and breeding bacteria that can corrode teeth. While it's ideal to brush after every meal, this isn't always possible. Therefore, it's best to rinse your mouth with water after every meal or eat some fruit, as fruit is less susceptible to spoilage. This reduces the amount of easily spoiled food debris in your mouth. Furthermore, the mouth is frequently open during the day, allowing for more air to flow, preventing food from spoiling and rotting. However, if you only brush your teeth in the morning, your mouth remains closed overnight, allowing food debris to become smelly and rotting, and bacteria to proliferate through anaerobic respiration, producing acid. This not only corrodes your teeth but also causes a foul mouth odor, leaving you with noticeable bad breath in the morning.

So if you only brush your teeth once a day, the best option is not to rinse your teeth in the morning, but to brush your teeth before going to bed. Of course, it's best to brush your teeth both morning and night. However, as long as you brush your teeth at night, generally speaking, there will be no bad breath in the morning.