The Heroic Age of the Late Qing Dynasty

Seeing Zhang Yinghao come in, all the comrades inside stopped and shouted, "Hello, Chairman."

Zhang Yinghao simply waved his hand, his eyes still fixed on Liu Qi. Liu Qi began to introduce the map to Zhang Yinghao: "Chairman, Lingbao and Lushi in Henan; Yunxian, Zhushan, Shinan, and Xianfeng in Hebei; Yongding, Wugang, and Chenxi in Hunan; Baise and Huaiyuan in Yunnan—these cities were all liberated while our army was willing to fight but not to."

Zhang Yinghao listened without changing his expression. He simply nodded and said, "There are militias established by landlords and gentry everywhere. Although we have liberated six provinces, the total number of Qing troops, including the militia, has not decreased, but increased. Although these militias may be able to maintain Qing rule, they may not be able to withstand the attack of regular troops. However, comrades on the front lines must know that the Qing army is not our main enemy. These ubiquitous militias are the enemies we should be most wary of. Hunan, in particular, must be cautious."

Zhang Yinghao didn't take these victories seriously. Instead, he poured cold water on the PLA troops on the front lines. This operation was thoroughly prepared, the comrades were full of fighting spirit, and they were using modern forces to attack feudal armies and cities. They had everything they needed. Furthermore, this era saw a surge in martial arts practitioners, including hunters. These individuals could easily enter special forces training bases, hone their skills, and become excellent soldiers. Hunters, in particular, were particularly well-trained to become sharpshooters. Unlike his previous life, when guns were completely banned, hunters were few and far between, and ordinary people who had ever fired a gun were few and far between. Now, the PLA had sharpshooters in every squad, even specialized units. The destructive power of these killers was simply beyond the comprehension and acceptance of the modern military. Imagine a burst of gunfire from the opposite side, and a large number of his men fell. A less determined unit would be astonished, perhaps even utterly defeated. If victory cannot be achieved easily in this way, then the PLA commander will really be sent to a military court.

As for Hunan, which Zhang Yinghao particularly emphasized, where was the strongest gentry in China? Hunan was undoubtedly number one. Initially, Hunan's gentry class was less developed than in wealthy provinces like Jiangsu and Zhejiang. However, after the Taiping Rebellion entered Hunan, a large number of the lower classes joined the Taiping Rebellion. After the Taiping Rebellion's departure, secret society uprisings broke out across Hunan, and bandits took advantage of the situation to loot. Zeng Guofan organized militia in Changsha. To suppress the bandits, he established a judicial body independent of the Qing government—the "Court of Cases," which gave the gentry the power of life and death. With such immense power in hand, the gentry naturally engaged in a frenzied land annexation, resulting in countless deaths at the hands of the "mob." After suppressing the Taiping Rebellion, the Hunan gentry prospered even more.

The Qing court viewed Hunan's deeply entrenched gentry as a thorn in its side, suppressing them on all fronts. However, the Qing's corrupt rule left numerous loopholes for them to exploit. The Hunan gentry, with their intertwined networks and mutual support, controlled virtually all of Hunan's government through tactics like bribery and the sale of official positions. The gentry were fundamentally dependent on the gentry for everything. Any Qing official assigned to Hunan had to show respect to the gentry; otherwise, their work would be impossible. Why did Jiao Dafeng and others from the Tongmenghui die tragically in Hunan during the Xinhai Revolution? It was precisely because the gentry were the foundation of local rule. After the uprising's success, Jiao Dafeng and other revolutionaries were comprehensively defeated in their struggle for leadership in Hunan, and ultimately, executed.

Chapter 400:

Zhang Yinghao knew that while the PLA's invasion of Hunan might be easy, implementing land reform would be far from easy. At that time, the entire province of Hunan was still under the jurisdiction of Zhang Zhidong, the Governor-General of Guangdong and Guangxi. Hunan had yet to formally establish its own new army. Zhang Zhidong had only stationed a battalion of Hubei New Army troops in Yuezhou, and Hunan Governor Duan Fang, upon receiving orders, had only just this year reorganized the four banners of the Gongzi and three banners of the Xiangwei into the First Brigade and First Battalion of the Standing Army. He subsequently recruited soldiers to form the Second Infantry Battalion and the Artillery, Engineering, and Logistics Battalions. However, these units were not yet formally established. The entire Hunan regular army numbered a mere 20,000 men, and local stability depended entirely on the local landlords and gentry, a formidable situation. Given the power wielded by the Hunan gentry and their complex intertwined relationships, future work in Hunan would be difficult. He even expected a chaotic situation in which a wave of gentry would oppose land reform and stage a collective rebellion.

However, speaking of Hunan, Zhang Yinghao suddenly asked: "Hasn't there been any news of an uprising at the Pingxiang coal mine in Jiangxi?"

The Pingxiang Coal Mine in Jiangxi is one of the places that Zhang Yinghao pays the most attention to. Zhang Yinghao started to lay out his plans here very early. The Pingxiang Uprising is related to the progress of the liberation of the two lakes and Jiangxi, so Zhang Yinghao cannot help but pay attention to it.

Pingxiang, Jiangxi Province, has a long history of coal mining, with the Anyuan and Gaokeng mining areas being the earliest discovered. Historical documents confirm mining as early as the Tang Dynasty. According to the "Continuation of the Complete Book of Ancient and Modern Events" written by Zhu Mu of the Southern Song Dynasty in 1246 (the sixth year of Chunyou in the Southern Song Dynasty), "Fengcheng and Pingxiang counties both produce coal in the mountains. The soil they dig is black and flammable."

The Qing Dynasty's development stemmed from the Hanyang Iron and Steel Works' steelmaking efforts, which led to the discovery of Anyuan's coal mines as suitable for coking. To address the Hanyang Iron and Steel Works' fuel needs, Sheng Xuanhuai, Minister of Posts and Communications and a businessman, boldly and generously introduced foreign investment, advanced technology, and equipment. He brought in foreign engineers and technicians, and introduced advanced management methods to extensively develop the Anyuan coal mine, resulting in an annual production capacity of one million tons of raw coal and employing over 10,000 people. This made Anyuan one of the first large-scale coal mines in China to utilize mechanized and electrified mining, coal washing, coking, and transportation.

At this time, the Pingxiang Coal Mine boasted a main tunnel, eight-sided shafts, and six-sided shafts. The Anyuan Coal Mine, equipped with world-class coal washing stations and coke ovens, produced coal coke, coal briquettes, refractory bricks, gangue, and stone bricks. The Zhuping Railway was also built, a bank was established, and the Pingxiang Coal Mine School of Mining, China's first night school for railway and mining workers, was established. Zhang Yinghao had long coveted this precious land of Pingxiang.

Liu Qi listened to Zhang Yinghao's question and said directly: "Chairman, the uprising in Pingxiang has already been successful. Our comrades have organized tens of thousands of people to launch this uprising. Although many people do not have the right weapons and the offensive is insufficient, the defense is more than enough."

Zhang Yinghao frowned slightly, but didn't say anything immediately. He knew that in his previous life, Anyuan was a sacred place for the Red Revolution. Historically, in May 1905, thousands of Anyuan railway and mine workers staged a general strike, a precursor to the early struggles of the Chinese working class. In 1906, Anyuan workers actively participated in the Pingxiang, Liuyang, and Liling Uprising led by Sun Yat-sen, marking the first large-scale armed resistance of the Chinese working class. Both Mao Zedong and Liu Shaoqi conducted work here and launched uprisings.

At this time, a comrade from the intelligence department responsible for providing intelligence communication saw Zhang Yinghao frowning. Thinking that Zhang Yinghao didn't understand the situation at the Pingxiang Coal Mine, he immediately said, "Chairman, when the Pingxiang Coal Mine opened, it was quite large, with more than 13,000 workers. The workers were from Hunan, 70%, Hubei, 20%, and only 10% from Pingxiang. The entire mine was divided into 46 sections..."

"part?"

"Underground mines are called sections, which we now call districts. Pingxiang Coal Mine has both foreign and earthenware coking furnaces, as well as power plants, machine repair shops, manufacturing plants, boiler rooms, and so on, with chimneys everywhere. However, life here is extremely difficult. A shift lasts twelve hours, and workers earn only a dozen cents a day. The supervisors are very strict with the workers. If they are not careful, they will either scold or beat them. If they talk back, they will be fired. Labor protection is very poor, with no labor insurance benefits, and accidents are frequent. It is common for dozens or even hundreds of people to die in a mine accident. The capitalists only rescue the wells and never care about the lives of the workers. They will not agree to rescue the dead. The local ballad goes like this: "Young men work in the charcoal shed, old men carry bamboo pipes. If you are sick, you are driven away, and if you die, you are worse than a dog." Pingxiang Coal Mine has experienced many strikes in the past, and almost all of them were suppressed by force, with no significant results. The two most successful strikes were just agreements signed with the capitalists, which yielded some benefits."

Zhang Yinghao listened and nodded, saying, "The more this happens, the more mature the conditions for revolution will be."

"The Chairman is right. Pingxiang Coal Mine in Jiangxi, as well as a series of other affiliated enterprises, including railway workers, are the best places for the Progressive Party to recruit personnel. After our Progressive Party went to Pingxiang, we began to actively develop grassroots organizations. The comrades we went to were all comrades with some education. Those workers saw that educated people were willing to work for us.

We rely on the Pingxiang Coal Mine Mining School, a workers' night school, to screen

Select outstanding comrades to join us...”

Seeing that this comrade didn't understand what he meant, Zhang Yinghao didn't bother to listen any further. He knew what the following content was without listening. So Zhang Yinghao raised his hand to interrupt the comrade's narration and said directly: "Changsha, the political center of Hunan, is located in the northeast of Hunan. The Xiangjiang River has been a convenient route for ships since ancient times. Changsha is located in the lower reaches of the Xiangjiang River. It connects Zhejiang and Jiangxi to the east, Sichuan and Guizhou to the west, controls Jingchu to the north, and leads Guangxi and Guangdong to the south. It is known as the "lips and teeth of Jingyu, and the throat of Guizhou and Guangdong". It has always been a battleground for military strategists. If you want to control Hunan, you must first control Changsha. Immediately give orders to the comrades in charge in Pingxiang, and ask them to leave a regiment to garrison the coal mine. Their troops will take the train to Zhuzhou in batches, and then immediately collect boats and take a boat to Changsha to assist the large army in liberating Changsha."

To solve the problem of transporting coal from Pingxiang to Hanyang, Zhang Zhidong initiated construction of the Liping Railway in 1899, but construction was soon halted. The railway from Pingxiang to Yangsanshi in Liling was finally completed in 1903. Pingxiang coal was transported by train to Liling, then loaded onto ships at Yangsanshi and carried down the Zaojiang River. After entering the Xiangjiang River at Lukou, it was transported downstream through Dongting Lake to Hanyang. However, it soon became apparent that the Lujiang River, with its narrow and numerous shoals, lacked sufficient transport capacity. Consequently, the Liping Railway was extended to the Xiangjiang River north of Zhuzhou Town and renamed the Zhuping Railway. With the assistance of the Forward Party, the railway was successfully completed early, spanning 89 kilometers. Pingxiang coal was transported by train to Zhuzhou, where it was loaded onto ships for transport to Hanyang. However, this coal transportation route now served as the route Zhang Yinghao ordered his troops to advance and liberate Changsha.

"Yes."

"Is there any other uprising team in Jiangxi that we can contact?"

"There's almost a division of troops in the Jinggangshan, Yongning, and Yongxin areas." Jinggangshan! Zhang Yinghao immediately recalled it. This was due to his own immaturity back then, just like sending Comrade Li Tong to the Dabie Mountains to develop the country, he'd emphasized key areas for development. According to Zhang Yinghao's current thinking, these areas really shouldn't be expended so much effort now. After all, the previous Emperor Taizu had no choice but to choose Jinggangshan. And what about himself? The Qing Dynasty, while not a weakling, had many areas more promising than Jinggangshan. However, there was no right or wrong in this matter; after all, liberation was inevitable. Furthermore, the fact that the comrades who went to Jinggangshan were able to establish connections with the Central Committee proved that the comrades there were naturally well-developed.

Zhang Yinghao nodded and pointed at the map. "You County is located in southeastern Hunan, at the middle foot of the Luoxiao Mountains. It connects to Guangdong to the south, Changsha, Zhuzhou, and Xiangtan to the north, and is protected by Hengyang Nanyue to the west. It borders Pingxiang and Lianhua, Jiangxi, to the east. It was once known as the 'Gateway to Hengyang and the Gateway to Xiangtan.' Let the comrades from Jinggangshan lead a brigade westward to liberate Chaling Prefecture and You County."

"Chairman, Pingxiang can also allocate some troops to march into Youxian."

Zhang Yinghao listened, glanced at the map, nodded, and said, "Immediately contact the comrades in Pingxiang and Jinggangshan, and execute it immediately if it's feasible."

Map expansion is so simple and capricious!

"Yes."

Zhang Yinghao was not worried about the lack of weapons among the workers of the Pingxiang Coal Mine Uprising and the comrades in Jinggangshan. Such a large coal mine might lack many things, but it would definitely not lack explosives. With explosives, they might not be able to deal with the new army, but as long as they organized people, there would be absolutely no problem dealing with the patrol battalion and other Qing troops.

Indeed, the Pingxiang coal mine workers weren't on strike this time; they were in an armed uprising. Organized by the Forward Party, the well-prepared comrades launched a surprise attack at night. After a brief, relatively unintensified battle, they easily seized the weapons of the mine guards and police, effectively securing the uprising. The Forward Party then organized the miners into simple groups, quickly forming a division-sized force. They then launched offensives, capturing other coal mines and strategic locations, and have now completely stabilized the local situation.

Pingxiang had no shortage of explosives. Workers used dynamite, detonators, and fuses to create improvised grenades and explosive packs, forcing the Qing army to avoid them. When farmers and workers from Liuyang, Liling, and other areas heard about the Pingxiang uprising, they flocked to join them. The uprising quickly grew in size.

At this moment, they were feeling lost, their hearts trembling as they looked around, finding no enemy to match them. They had just planned to ask the Party Central Committee for instructions on their mission, but it had already given them the order: to immediately gather their troops, take a train to Zhuzhou, and then divide up to liberate Changsha and Youxian. Meanwhile, comrades in Jinggangshan and other places also quickly took action after receiving the order, and the flames of war quickly spread across the border area between Hunan and Jiangxi.

The various PLA armies were targeting Changsha, but their ultimate goal was still the Wuhan area. Such a long march was a completely logistical exercise. This is one reason why peasant uprisings by the end of the Qing Dynasty had virtually no chance of success. The ancient machete-like conquest of the world could no longer be successful. No matter how powerful the machete, it couldn't stop bullets or artillery shells. With the advent of machine guns, given the generational gap in weaponry, numbers were no longer the key to victory in war. Furthermore, even with the leadership of the Forward Party, without Zhang Yinghao's orders, if the rebels had remained in Pingxiang, waiting for the Qing to assemble its forces and encircle and suppress them, even if the miners had mastered explosives, the uprising would have ultimately failed. This is the tragedy of having no goal.

During the Liberation War, the PLA's all-encompassing, indiscriminate offensive truly dispersed its forces. To military officers from industrialized Europe, such military action would have seemed child's play and unwise. However, in a vast nation like China, such an offensive would have left the Qing Dynasty vulnerable to numerous attacks, making it impossible for the Qing to concentrate its forces against the PLA and forcing them to engage in scattered engagements. Furthermore, the Qing army was clearly no match for the PLA, a situation that presented a dilemma for high-ranking Qing officials.

After years of painstaking development, Hubei, under the Manchu rule, boasted the only steel mill in Hanyang, Hubei, a powerhouse unrivaled in the nation. Upon receiving the Army Ministry's telegram, he immediately sent a telegram to the Yichang garrison, but received no response. A sudden pang of anxiety struck him, and a misguided thought immediately formed in his mind. He immediately sent another telegram to the garrison at Nanjin Pass in Yichang, but again received no reply. He was now completely certain that Yichang, the bridgehead he had meticulously built to defend against the Red Bandits, had fallen completely into the hands of the Sichuan Red Bandits, despite receiving no intelligence at all.

Zhang Zhidong suddenly felt dizzy, but he forced himself to concentrate and immediately issued orders to thoroughly investigate the Red Bandits' incursion into Hubei. Zhang Zhidong's long history in Hubei was no joke. It wasn't long before he learned accurate information about the Red Bandits' multi-pronged attack on Hunan and Hubei. The Governor of Huguang was instantly bewildered. What was going on? Were the Red Bandits not only advancing from Yichang? What surprised him even more was that these troops from the Dabie Mountains were also Red Bandits. Although he had always known that there was a powerful bandit group in the Dabie Mountains, he had never expected that they were also Red Bandits.

What should we do? What should we do? What kind of fighting style is this? Which military book has recorded such a fighting style? What should we do now? Send troops everywhere to put out fires? But the Hubei New Army has only more than 16,000 people in total, and only about 10,000 combat-ready soldiers. Moreover, the troops are newly formed, and he still knows that their combat effectiveness is not very good. Concentrate troops to put out fires? That will not be very efficient. After saving one place, Wuhan may be lost. Is there any need to save it then? But divide the troops to put out fires? That is a tactic of adding fuel to the fire, which is just a case of adding fuel to the fire. At this time, Zhang Zhidong suddenly felt that he had too few combat-ready soldiers. Unfortunately, even if Zhang Zhidong wanted to raise more soldiers, his financial conditions did not allow it. It was too expensive for the Qing court to raise soldiers and make them work.

Zhang Zhidong thought about asking for help from foreign powers and borrowing troops. However, he remembered that the foreign soldiers stationed in Wuhan had participated in suppressing workers' demonstrations and committed the Wuhan Massacre. After returning to Wuhan from the capital, he killed all the foreign soldiers.

The troops have been sent away, and now you want to borrow troops? The foreign soldiers have been transported from other places for thousands of miles, but the opportunity has already been lost.

Since there was no good solution, the only thing they could do was to resist the PLA's attack. Zhang Zhidong immediately ordered Zhang Biao, commander of the Eighth Regiment, to lead his troops to fight against the Red Bandits coming from the Dabie Mountains. He also ordered Li Yuanhong's troops to fight against the troops heading west from Sichuan and Shaanxi. However, as soon as the order was spoken, he realized that this arrangement would definitely not work. With such a division of troops, the troops at hand would be completely stretched to the limit and would not be enough. What should he do?

"Hum~"

Zhang Zhidong, furious, simply rescinded his previous order and began recalling all troops. He also sent a telegram to withdraw the troops stationed in Yuezhou, Hunan, preparing to concentrate all the new troops to defend the three towns of Wuhan, turning Wuhan into a war fortress and ultimately defeating the Red Bandits. After defeating the Red Bandits, the Hubei New Army would then take the initiative to attack and reclaim all the land occupied by the Red Bandits, perhaps even counterattacking Sichuan in one fell swoop and completely put an end to the Red Bandit Rebellion.

If this plan worked, then all Zhang Zhidong had to do now was to preserve the foundation he had built in Hubei. As long as it remained, he had a chance to turn the tables. As for the fate of Hunan, Zhang Zhidong could no longer care about it. Of course, there was one thing Zhang Zhidong would not forget to do: immediately report the situation to the Qing court and ask for help.

It’s a pity that the capital has no time to take care of Wuhan’s affairs. The bad news received by the Ministry of the Army at this time was no less than that received by Zhang Zhidong. On the contrary, as time passed, the capital received more and more bad news.

Chapter 401:

Two great engineering feats are carved into the vast land of the East: the winding Great Wall, stretching from east to west; and the serene, straight Grand Canal, running from north to south. At its northern end lies the capital, a sacred place for the Chinese people. Since the 11th century BC, Beijing has served as the capital ten times: during the reigns of Ji, Yan, Former Yan, Great Yan, Liu Yan, Liao, Jin, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties.

The capital was run along a central axis from north to south, with the Imperial Palace at its center. Its layout was rigorous, with a clear distinction between primary and secondary. Its walls comprised the Palace City, the Imperial City, the Inner City, and the Outer City, arranged in four overlapping square formations. Originally designed to be square, these were all designed, but due to financial constraints, the Outer City could not be enclosed in a square configuration. The entire city was enclosed, with layers nested within layers, a strict hierarchy, and clear boundaries.

Amidst the tranquility of the capital, a heavily guarded area was brightly lit. This was the Qing Army Headquarters. Inside, a vast map of the world was marked with arrows, pointing directly at key provincial capitals. These Qing officials were not entirely foolish; based on the few telegrams they had received, they had already grasped the predicament facing the Qing. While there were undoubtedly many uncharted routes of attack, they fully understood that Shanxi, Hunan, Hubei, and Guangxi were all under a simultaneous, all-out assault by the Red Bandits.

Faced with this situation, Tieliang, Yituan, and other Qing officials were already pale and at a loss. Their only option was to rush to the palace and ask the wise Empress Dowager Cixi for a decision. They knew that if they couldn't resist the Red Bandits' attack, the entire empire would be taken away by their former slaves.

Meanwhile, Empress Dowager Cixi convened a meeting of the Imperial Court in the Yiluan Hall, still ruling from behind the curtains from her high seat. But now, Cixi was gaunt and worn, her age evident, her eyes sunken and her face etched with worry, clearly consumed by the "state's affairs." Looking over the memorials on her desk, she felt a sudden loss of energy. For years, a telegram had arrived, one announcing a riot here, another a rebellion there. Even though Cixi had no military acumen, she had been forced to become a semi-military strategist. However, facing this new attack by the Communist bandits, she was completely at a loss as to what to do.

Next to her, a large map of the Qing Dynasty was covered in red circles. It was clear that the circled areas had been the sites of recent uprisings. The provinces liberated by the Progressive Party were marked in an unusually bright red. If Zhang Yinghao had seen this map, he would undoubtedly have been impressed by the Qing Dynasty's resilience. It was true that a centipede persists even after death! Perhaps Cixi had already realized that only Heaven could save the Qing Dynasty. She desperately hoped that the Red Bandit leader and his colleagues would all perish immediately. Perhaps only in this way could the Qing Dynasty's crisis of extinction be averted.

Cixi glanced at the ministers kneeling in the hall. Many of them couldn't hide their anxiety and hesitation, even a flicker of fear. Cixi could only see their hunched backs. Her expression remained unchanged as she gazed at the ministers kneeling on the ground. They all touched their foreheads to the ground, awaiting Cixi's order to stand. As for the pitiful Emperor Guangxu, he remained imprisoned, deprived of any freedom. Even in the face of such a dire situation, Cixi had no intention of releasing him. It was truly absurd: the Manchu civil and military officials were being trampled under the feet of an old woman, unable to move an inch.

At this point, Cixi hated the Sichuan Red Bandits. She knew that if the Qing Dynasty fell at her hands, her posthumous reputation would be ruined; it would undoubtedly be smeared and she would be labeled a scourge to the nation and its people. This was a fact not difficult to imagine. Just like why Cixi had killed Guangxu in her previous life, if Guangxu had come to power, would he have been grateful to Cixi or resented her? If Guangxu had returned to power, Cixi's entire lineage would have been liquidated, and she herself would have been left with no good historical legacy. Precisely because of this understanding, Cixi now suffered from nightmares, constantly waking up, making her look even more haggard. This also led to her resentment towards the incompetent civil and military officials of the court. Seeing the ministers kneeling on the ground, Cixi was furious and showed no intention of asking them to stand.

After waiting for who knows how long, a group of ministers from the Ministry of War, led by Tie Liang, finally hurried over. After arriving at the court, they immediately knelt down and shouted, "Long live the Empress Dowager, long live, long live!"

Cixi did not ask them to stand up, but immediately asked: "Yuan Shikai, what is the situation now?"

Cixi still held Yuan Shikai in high regard; otherwise, after Li Hongzhang's death, the position of Governor-General of Zhili and Advisor to the Beiyang Army would not have fallen into his hands. Regarding military affairs, although Cixi also favored Tieliang, who was "knowledgeable about military affairs," and even supported Tieliang to fight against Yuan Shikai, the reason was simply because Tieliang was Manchu, while Yuan Shikai was Han. Of course, she also knew that Yuan Shikai was far superior to Tieliang in military affairs, so she did not ask Tieliang directly, but instead asked Yuan Shikai. After hearing this, Tieliang's face suddenly turned pale, but at this time he could only kneel down, not daring to make any rash moves.

"In reply to the Empress Dowager, the Red Bandits are currently advancing from Shaanxi, Sichuan, Guizhou, and Yunnan towards Shanxi, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, and Guangxi..."

Regardless of Cixi's military knowledge, Yuan Shikai simply recounted what he knew so far. All the officials listened quietly, many feeling as if their end had arrived, and several even choked up in sobs. However, they dared not utter a single sound, fearing that Empress Dowager Cixi would disrupt the military's morale and drag them out to be sacrificed.

Cixi looked at the map and listened to Yuan Shikai's story. Suddenly, she felt a little dizzy. After listening, Cixi pretended to be calm and said, "Does your family have any plan to repel the enemy?"

When Yuan Shikai heard Cixi address him as "Your Majesty," he said generously, "Your Majesty, I am willing to lead the Beiyang New Army to a decisive battle with the Red Bandits. I will follow the example of Zuo Wenxiang, who carried his coffin and marched forward. I will not withdraw my troops until the Red Bandits are wiped out..."

Before Cixi even uttered a word, Tieliang and other ministers immediately jumped out to stop them. What a joke! Who were those Red Bandits? Even their former lackeys, Yuan Shikai, were no different from them in their eyes. If they let Yuan Shikai pull the troops they controlled to the front lines, the consequences would be disastrous if Yuan Shikai and his troops betrayed them. Wouldn't they become lambs to be slaughtered? Furthermore, Tieliang had already realized that with only the tens of thousands of Beiyang New Army they had trained, it was too late for them to rush to various locations to wipe out the Red Bandits.

"Yuan Shikai, are you also comparing yourself to Zuo Wenxiang?"

"Your Excellency, telegraphs are now so fast that military information can be transmitted instantly. We can completely remotely control the operations of the Beiyang New Army through the Ministry of War."

After hearing this, Tie Liang immediately said, "Your Majesty, this is absolutely unacceptable. We need to think things over carefully. The Red Bandits' mobilization will inevitably seriously harm the interests of the great powers in China. We should immediately inform the great powers and ask them to send troops to help the Qing Dynasty suppress the Red Bandits' rebellion. This is the best policy. Your Majesty, the Qing Dynasty can also order the gentry to form a group to jointly encircle and suppress the Red Bandits..."

Tieliang was certainly no incompetent, and he immediately offered several feasible suggestions. At this point in the Qing court, aside from ambitious fence-sitters like Yuan Shikai, the loudest voices for war were from the younger generation of the Qing dynasty. After all, the ultimate losers from the Red Bandit Revolution were the princes, beile, and iron-hatted royal families. As for the vast majority of other ministers, they were essentially submissive, awaiting the Empress Dowager's ruling. The truly principled officials had either been executed in Cixi's initial declaration of war against the Eight-Nation Alliance to unify their cause, or again in the post-war peace talks to appease the foreigners.

After Tieliang finished speaking, the court quickly turned into a market again. Cixi did not speak at this time, but just watched the people below argue quietly. After listening for a while, Cixi became impatient. What time is it now? The Qing Dynasty is about to end, and the officials in the court are still fighting for power and profit, especially those young and vigorous people. They are not good at anything, but fighting for power and profit is their top priority. After so much shouting, no one is willing to lead the troops to fight in person. Finally, Cixi could no longer bear it. She put her hand on her forehead and glanced at Li Lianying. Li Lianying immediately shouted: "No noise is allowed in the court."

After hearing this, everyone quieted down, and Cixi asked, "Do you have any other plans?"

Seeing that no one was talking, Cixi immediately said: "Yuan Shikai, I order you to immediately prepare your army for war, formulate a plan, and choose a date to march."

"Weak minister, I obey the order."

"Yizhu, your Ministry of Foreign Affairs must immediately explain the situation to all foreign nations, borrow money from foreigners, and ask them to send troops to help us jointly encircle and suppress the Red Bandits. No matter what conditions they ask for, you can agree to them."

"Sir, obey the order."

"Order all localities to vigorously support the establishment of militias and jointly combat the communist bandits that are harming the country."

"The old Buddha is wise."

Yuan Shikai and Yizhu left the palace and just as they were outside, they heard a messenger calling them with an anxious look on his face. Yuan Shikai immediately walked over and asked, "What's going on?"

"Sir, this is urgent military information, but I can't get in here. Could you please tell me to let me in?"

Yuan Shikai, upon hearing this, seemed to smell, perhaps unimaginatively, a stench of decay permeating the capital, the heart of the ancient empire. He looked around again: the city walls, palaces, altars, temples, gardens, government offices, temples, marketplaces, houses, pavilions, towers, and the intrigues of the people—a truly magnificent spectacle.

Retracting his gaze, Yuan Shikai said directly: "I am Yuan Shikai. If you have any military information, you can tell me."

"Yes, Mr. Yuan, the coal miners in Jingxing, Zhili, rebelled and occupied Niangzi Pass in Shanxi..."

Upon hearing this, Yuan Shikai's blood rushed to his head and he saw stars. Shanxi was home to his Beiyang Sixth Regiment, led by Wang Shizhen himself. The Red Army was attacking Shanxi, and now Niangzi Pass was occupied by rebellious coal miners. Wouldn't this mean the end of the Beiyang Sixth Regiment?

Yuan Shikai no longer had the will to hesitate. No matter what the future held, he knew he had to preserve the Beiyang government, the foundation of his existence. This was his most important bargaining chip. Without it, he, Yuan Shikai, would be nothing. If the Beiyang army in Shanxi were completely wiped out, it would be a huge, even fatal, blow to him and the Qing Dynasty.

Yizhu was even more unbearable at this time. His legs were shaking and he looked at Yuan Shikai with a face full of fear and expectation. In Yizhu's opinion, the person who could save the crisis now was none other than Yuan Shikai.

Yuan Shikai calmed down and said, "Prince Qing, please find someone to take him into the hall to report the military situation to the Empress Dowager. I need to go and deal with this urgent military matter now."

"As it should be, Xiangcheng, take care."

Yuan Shikai hurried away. He didn't want to see the expressions of the ministers inside after hearing about the Red Bandits' appearance in Zhili. He knew his immediate task was to dispatch troops to retake Niangzi Pass. Regardless of Shanxi's loss, he had to protect the Sixth Beiyang Regiment. Yuan Shikai returned to headquarters and immediately telegraphed Duan Qirui, commander of the Third Beiyang Regiment stationed in Baoding, Zhili, to dispatch troops to immediately recapture Niangzi Pass and secure the Sixth Beiyang Regiment's retreat route.

Yuan Shikai didn't let Duan Qirui send all his troops, not even deep into Shanxi. He had just received news that coal miners in Luanzhou had declared a general strike, and officials in Datong, Zhangjiakou, and other places had also reported the presence of local bandits. If Duan Qirui led his troops deep into Shanxi and was held back by the bandits, then the entire southern Zhili region would be in danger. With no troops left to defend, the situation would inevitably deteriorate. Even at this point, Yuan Shikai was still a little confused, because he couldn't understand why the bandits could launch such a large-scale attack. How could they possibly afford so many troops?

Now not only Yuan Shikai was confused, but all the Western powers were also confused about what was going on. Why would the Qing rebels launch a large-scale attack on the Qing court at this time? What made the powers even more upset was that only the French consulate in Chongqing had not withdrawn, and no other country had a formal communication channel with Sichuan.

Faced with this situation, British Minister Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary in China, Sir John Sauder, immediately convened an emergency meeting with French Minister Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Lupin, American Minister John Conger, Russian Minister Resar, Japanese Minister Uchida Yasuyasu, and the ministers of Italy, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Spain. Sauder's prestige was still unwavering, and all the ministers hurriedly gathered to discuss countermeasures, how to deal with the revolution in Qing China and the new Sichuan regime. The great powers must reach a consensus and adopt a unified attitude towards the revolutionaries.

But perhaps Sadowie forgot that it's easy for the great powers to talk about unification, but it's hard to get them to unify through actual action—the Russo-Japanese War wasn't over yet! Millions of troops from both sides were grappling with each other in Northeast China. Any attempt to form an Eight-Nation Alliance would obviously be without two key players. The PLA's advance into Yunnan, Guizhou, Guangxi, Hunan, and Hubei would severely harm Britain and France, who naturally wanted to take a hard line against the Progressive Party and crush it while it was weak. The United States, with its relatively small interests in China and still advocating for an open door policy, didn't care at this point. Germany wanted to expand its interests in China and sell its products. Furthermore, the Yangtze River basin was the British's sphere of influence, and the US, Germany, and other countries might be eager to drive the British out of the river so they could take over. Even though Tsarist Russia was fighting a life-and-death battle with Japan at this time, Minister Resar also knew the interests of his country. He knew that if the Forward Party entered Xinjiang, Mongolia and the Northeast, it would inevitably pose a threat to Russia's vested interests. Naturally, he also hoped to take a tough attitude towards the Forward Party. The same was true for Japan. As for small countries like Italy and the Netherlands, they were purely there to make up the numbers.

It has only been more than four years since the Boxer Rebellion ended, but the interests of various countries have already undergone tremendous changes.

Sa Daoyi was well aware of the interests involved, so after a brief exchange of greetings, he said, "Judging from the current situation, it's only a matter of time before the Qing Empire will be overthrown by the Forward Party. Perhaps the Qing Empire is about to end. But who will inherit the Qing Empire's legacy? This is something worth discussing. Let's all talk about what we should do now."

The British Empire has no affection for the Progress Party, and the Progress Party shows no sign of friendship towards the British Empire. A Progress Party ruling China is not in the interests of the British Empire or the Western powers. Furthermore, a strong China is not in line with British interests in Asia. A Progress Party ruling the central government would inevitably jeopardize British interests in China. Therefore, as far as Saddam is concerned, he absolutely does not want the Progress Party to become part of the central government.

German Minister Mummer was the first to speak out: "Germany's interests in China must not be violated, otherwise the Empire will use any means."

The implication is obvious: Germany's interests have not been harmed much at present, and this matter has nothing to do with them for the time being, but no matter which force infringes on Germany's interests, they will not hesitate to resort to force.

After hearing this, French Minister Lupin said directly: "This country will inevitably undergo great changes in the near future. After the Qing revolutionaries overthrow the current central government, how can the new regime ensure that our interests in China are not harmed? This is the main purpose of our meeting here today."

Sa Daoyi interjected, "Everyone must understand one thing. The Sichuan Revolutionary Party has repeatedly stated that it will absolutely not recognize any treaties signed between the Qing central government and us. This is absolutely unacceptable to us."

The American Minister, Conger, said, "Didn't they say to maintain the status quo?"

Sadao glanced at Kang and said, "Gentlemen, the Sichuan Revolutionary Party has a typical and strong nationalist sentiment, just like Japan after the Meiji Restoration."

Speaking of Japan, the great powers naturally knew that the little Japan had almost recovered the power it had lost. After hearing what Sa Daoyi said, Uchida Yasuyasu did not feel embarrassed at all, but instead had a proud expression on his face. Sa Daoyi glanced at Uchida Yasuyasu and continued: "If the revolutionary party in Sichuan eventually seizes the central government of China, the power we have gained in China will be quickly and completely lost. Therefore, we must act in unison and, if necessary, we can take all means."

Conger asked directly: "How do you plan to do it specifically?"

Chapter 402:

Sa Daoyi stated confidently, "Regardless of whether the Qing Dynasty can be saved now, the internal war must cease immediately and peace must be restored. The British Empire believes that we should support a force within Britain that is close to the great powers, rather than allowing the revolutionary party to directly overthrow the Qing Dynasty and seize central government. Currently, the only local officials in the Qing Dynasty are Zhang Zhidong, Governor-General of Huguang, Yuan Shikai, Governor-General of Zhili and leader of the Beiyang government, and Cen Chunxuan, Governor-General of Guangdong and Guangxi. However, as of now, only Yuan Shikai meets our requirements, so we should fully arm the Beiyang New Army, ensure that Yuan Shikai can achieve military victory, ensure that he has sufficient power to enter the central government, and then encourage Yuan Shikai to overthrow the Qing Dynasty. Of course, we will reserve the right to send troops if necessary."

The Qing court did not know at this time that a small meeting of the great powers had decided its future. How sad was it? Of course, even if it knew, the Qing court had almost lost all its blood and its energy was almost exhausted. It could only lie on the ground, struggle for a few times, protest a few times, and then close its eyes and wait for death.

However, the ministers were not surprised to hear that Sa Daoyi wanted to hand over power to Yuan Shikai. Looking around, they couldn't find a single force capable of replacing the Qing besides the Forward Party, leaving Yuan Shikai as the most likely candidate. Furthermore, Yuan Shikai was known for his versatility, and many ministers, swayed by his influence, naturally raised no objections. However, upon hearing Sa Daoyi's reservations about sending troops, everyone was startled, then suddenly delighted. Recalling the Eight-Nation Alliance's rampant plunder of the capital a few years prior, their gains multiplied tenfold in such a short period of time—it must have been incredibly easy. However, as experienced as they were, their expressions remained unchanged.

Lu Ban immediately stated: "We in France will take unified action with the British Empire on the issue of China."

Uchida Yasuyasu could barely conceal his excitement. God knew how much Japan was hoping to find a place to make some extra money and make a fortune, so he immediately shouted, "We, the Great Japanese Empire, promise to take unified action with the British Empire on the issue of China."

With France and Japan taking the lead, smaller countries like Belgium and the Netherlands also expressed their views. Finally, Conger and Mummer also directly stated: "Our country is consistent with other countries in its approach to China."

After listening to the statements from various countries, Sa Daoyi smiled and said, "That's right. Only when all countries act in unison can we safeguard the interests of all of us. Of course, sending troops directly is only our last resort. Now, please, Mr. Lu Ban, give orders to Mr. Andy, the Consul General in Chongqing, to convey our demands to the Forward Party in Sixiangchuan. The Forward Party must stop the war, otherwise the consequences will be borne entirely by the Forward Party."

"clear."

"We must act now and increase our support for Yuan Shikai. Within a year, we must provide Yuan Shikai with sufficient weapons, ammunition, and funds to give him enough power to successfully take over China. Then, we must eliminate the revolutionary parties across the country and return the situation in China to the track we have set."

Did Sardar abandon the Qing Dynasty? No, he was only strengthening the Beiyang government. If they ultimately determined that the Qing Dynasty was beyond salvation, they would decisively abandon it and support Yuan Shikai, allowing China to engage in a chaotic war and profit from it. If the Qing Dynasty could still be held hostage, they would naturally continue to support the Manchus' rule over China, as this would best serve the interests of the great powers.

With the dawn of a new day, the streets and alleys of the capital began to bustle. Mountain goods from the northwest were brought in, piling up in the market. The commercial streets outside Zhengyang Gate were filled with mule carts carrying both passengers and goods. When the cotton curtains of pawnshops and money houses were lifted, the aged scent of sandalwood counters and the warmth of charcoal fires drifted into the streets. Women wrapped in Manchu and Han Chinese cotton clothing strolled in front of the grocery stalls at Longfu Temple, as if repeating the same routine day after day.

By this time, the Qing court was in a state of panic, and many had sensed the eerie atmosphere within the capital. However, the people of Beijing, just as they had been during the late Ming dynasty, were still enthusiastic about the rebels, just as they had been before the Eight-Nation Alliance entered the capital. Everyone was still eating and drinking. Having endured so much hardship, the people of Beijing had forged a strong heart. Besides, according to reports from captured Beiyang soldiers, the rebels were Chinese and certainly not as brutal as the foreigners. After all, the capital was so far away from the rebels, so why rush?

Sa Daoyi watched as the meeting unified the attitudes of the ministers. Then, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yi Tuan, came to ask for an audience with Sa Daoyi. Naturally, the ministers were happy to see the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Qing Dynasty. It would also let the Qing Dynasty know that the great powers were united, so that they could seek more benefits. So Sa Daoyi said, "Bring him in."