The Heroic Age of the Late Qing Dynasty

These words were vicious. Letting Shishimalefu see God would mean letting him die, wouldn't it? Upon hearing this, Liu Gongbu could no longer hold back his laughter. He hurriedly took two quick steps, not even glancing at Shishimalefu, whose face was flushed with anger, and shouted with a smile: "Report!"

Zhang Feng turned to look at Shishimalefu and said, "Your Excellency, Consul Shishimalefu, I have matters to attend to. Please go back first. I do know what you said. We will definitely hold a meeting as soon as possible. For the sake of the traditional "friendship" between our two countries, we will definitely give you a satisfactory answer."

Shishmaelfu ignored the irony of the words. He simply didn't want to be humiliated here any longer, especially with the blasphemer. It made him feel extremely uncomfortable. He snorted coldly and said, "I hope so."

After saying that, Shishmalef turned around and quickly left Zhang Feng's office. The guards quickly chased after him and personally saw him off.

Seeing Shishmalefu walking away, Liu Gongbu said, "Commander, I see that the Russian-run schools and other spy organizations are still there. Should we wipe them out now?"

"They're just like ants after autumn, they won't be able to jump for many days. Let them jump now. It would be best to draw out all the evil spirits. There's no rush. Come, tell me how your land reform is going."

"very good!"

After answering, Liu Gongbu immediately recounted the situation before and after the land reform, and talked about conscription and elections. Finally, he said: "As long as the land reform is completed in all places, the entire Outer Mongolia should be able to quickly stabilize. However, I think we have taken away so much gold, silver and other hard currencies from Mongolia, and Mongolia's financial situation may be in chaos for a while."

"Let there be chaos for a while. Greater chaos will bring greater order. It's not realistic to completely ban the circulation of gold and silver in Mongolia right now, but we must also enforce the use of our paper currency as soon as possible. Otherwise, there will undoubtedly be insufficient circulation of gold and silver, leading to a rapid rise in their prices and, consequently, soaring prices, which will harm ordinary people. However, I believe the key lies in the factories we've built and in our need to transport sufficient industrial products and consumer goods needed by herders. Only by forming a cycle will it benefit all parties."

Liu Gongbu was confused and scratched his head, saying, "I don't understand this!" Zhang Feng immediately laughed and said, "Haha, actually I don't understand it either. Then you should train the cavalry well and train them as soon as possible."

"Training soldiers is no problem, but can these Mongols also be trained as mounted infantry?" Zhang Feng thought for a moment, frowned again, shook his head and said, "What we need is the mobility of cavalry... Alas, I wonder what these herders' learning ability is like? Let's do our best to teach them. How about this, if these herders have a cultural background or are eager to learn, they can be trained as officers. Well... the prerequisite for training these Mongols as military commanders is not that they must know Chinese or be able to write Chinese characters, but they must be able to understand Chinese, otherwise they will not be able to communicate and command. The others can be trained as specialized cavalry, just knowing how to wield a lance and a saber will be enough. Well, they can also be mixed with the current cavalry. Anyway, we will teach everyone we can, and how much they learn will depend on their own ability. We should treat them all equally."

"The Russians previously claimed that the Qing dynasty controlled Mongolia economically and politically. What if our current promotion of Chinese language education is distorted by negative propaganda, saying we are destroying the Mongolian nation and culture and inciting ethnic hatred?"

"Haha, Comrade Gongbu is great. He asked such a profound question. It seems he has made great progress recently."

"Haha, it's mainly because of the language barrier. Once the people are incited by unknown forces, it will be very troublesome. They won't be able to explain themselves. This should be the reason for implementing ethnic autonomy, right? Ethnic regional autonomy can reduce countless troubles."

"Indeed, the Chairman has already said this a long time ago. A nation is an imagined community, so extreme nationalism has a market because it is just an imagined beauty. Therefore, we must promote the most extensive universal education so that all people can understand scientific principles and make their own judgments. What we want to build is a modern nationalist country, which means that all of us must participate in building this country. Only by building a good country in this way can everyone benefit and have a good life. What we promote is that we are all Chinese and members of the Chinese nation, whether you are Mongolian, Tibetan, or Chinese. We only promote science, democracy, and labor. Therefore, we do not actively seek to eliminate any culture, as backward cultures will automatically be eliminated and unacceptable to the people. We simply extract the essence and discard the dregs. We also do not eliminate any ethnic group; we simply promote intermarriage and freedom of marriage. What we uphold is social fairness and justice, which is what the Chairman has said about always upholding proletarian fairness and justice, allowing all people to live freely in this country. All ethnic groups, even races, respect each other's excellent cultures and traditions. We are all one family, so how can we control or eliminate them? Therefore, talk of economically and politically controlling Mongolia or eliminating certain ethnic groups and cultures is actually a false proposition..."

Chapter 534: First update!

At this time, Political Commissar Cai Zhonghe came in from the doorway. He had obviously heard Zhang Feng and the others' conversation, and he said as he walked in: "The Chairman said that we must make the whole country work as one, so there must be national economic complementarity and political equality. The Tsarist Russian propaganda that the Qing Dynasty controlled Mongolia politically and economically was not wrong, because the political status of the Qing Dynasty and Mongolia was unequal. It was a position of ruler and ruled, of oppressor and oppressed. In other words, the political status between the Qing Dynasty royal family and the people of all ethnic groups was unequal. The Qing Dynasty was trying to strengthen its rule, which inevitably led to problems of oppression and control. However, we are different. Our Forward Party is the vanguard of the proletariat. Our relationship with the vast majority of people of all ethnic groups is not one of ruler and ruled, but one of leader and led, of service and being served."

"The political commissar is back, and what he said is very correct. So the question of why someone is Chinese is also very crucial. China's territory has changed several times, and the land area ruled by the Qing Dynasty is also among the largest in history. So the Chairman said that we should go one step further and inherit the land ruled by the Qing Dynasty. Naturally, the people on the original land can all be Chinese. Even if the powers like Tsarist Russia took away our land, if we take it back, then the people on the land can also be considered Chinese, regardless of their original nationality. There is another problem here. If we only use modern nationalism to unify thoughts and propaganda, it seems to completely restrict the expansion of territory, especially those lands that China has not ruled in history. Can we still promote it in this way? We can't force those people to be Chinese, right? Chinese people also value inheritance!"

"Haha, Chinese is a conceptual term. You used to be a foreigner, but now you can be Chinese. Your ancestors could all be foreigners, but you can still be Chinese. So there are many ways to make a person Chinese. For those in the newly liberated areas, no matter what ethnicity they are, we give them a Chinese identity and they are Chinese. We give them political equality, and they are all one family. There is no oppression between people, and they can still live according to their original habits in the local area. No one will forcibly interfere with their lives, or they can live anywhere in China. The purpose of our Forward Party is to develop productivity and let everyone live a better life. Unless someone wants to be a privileged class and oppress the people, no one will oppose our service and leadership."

"What if someone objects?"

"That's the enemy. We must treat them with the same ruthlessness as a cold winter, using dictatorship... Haha, let's not discuss this, or it'll start to sound like, 'Those who follow me prosper, those who oppose me perish.' But precisely because of this, our Progressive Party must uphold its ideals while also firmly clinging to power and the military. Otherwise, the country will face internal friction due to economic, ethnic, racial, and regional factors, and even risk disintegration."

Liu Gongbu, who had seen countless dark things in China, suddenly said, "No matter how good the idea is, it may not be able to overcome selfishness!"

Zhang Feng and Cai Zhonghe exchanged a glance, and Cai Zhonghe immediately laughed: "Haha, the Chairman's answer to this question can be summed up in one sentence: The people have sharp eyes. Our ancestors had a saying: Children and grandchildren will have their own blessings, so don't be a slave to them. We just need to do our own generation's work well. We should uphold our own ideals to lead this country and work hard to educate the masses. As for the affairs of the next generation, let them handle them. Whatever problems the next generation will encounter, let them face and solve them themselves."

Liu Gongbu laughed when he heard this and said, "You two are quite relieved. Haha, but that's indeed the truth."

After Liu Gongbu finished speaking, a confidential clerk came in and said, "Commander, the Chairman has sent a telegram."

Zhang Feng took the telegram and began to read it. The content was relatively simple. It began with a notice about the Northeast's capture of Lushun, then inquired about the current situation in Mongolia and the construction of defensive fortresses. Finally, it demanded that Zhang Feng and his men be prepared for battle. If the Northeast Russian army attacked the Fifth Field Army, Mongolia was to send troops north into Russia, ready to blow up the Trans-Siberian Railway at any time to support the Northeast's resistance. They were also to be ready to attack the Qing Dynasty to the south, pinning the Qing army to the ground and not allowing any Qing troops to leave.

After reading the telegram, Zhang Feng was silent for a moment and asked, "Has the telegram reporting the situation in Tannu Uriankhai been sent back?"

Zhang Feng was relatively confident about the situation in Uliastai, Kobdo, and Chechen Khan. The only thing that worried him most was Tannu Uriankhai. It was too far away and close to Tsarist Russia, making it the most risky location. Thinking of the problems in Tannu Uriankhai, he thought of the insatiable Tsarist Russia. Zhang Feng looked north and clenched his teeth.

The name "Uriankhai" appeared in the Qing Dynasty. Its ancestors were "Wenlianggai" and "Wulanggai" that appeared in Chinese history books; "Dubo" and "Dubo" in the Tang Dynasty; "Tubasi" and "Tuba" in the Yuan Dynasty, which were later translated as "Tuba". There are rivers and lakes in Tannu Uriankhai, with abundant water and grass and a large population.

In order to consolidate its rule in the Tannu Uriankhai region, the Qing Dynasty promulgated the "Mongolian Laws" and "Regulations of the Lifanyuan" formulated for ethnic minority areas in the Tannu Uriankhai region, and regarded the people of Tannu Uriankhai as the same as Mongolians.

The Tannu Uriankhai region was far from the Qing capital. Although the Qing dynasty granted it a degree of autonomy and a different administrative system from that of the interior, it did not abandon its management of civil affairs. Detailed records exist of the region's geography, its directions, the number of acres of farmland and pasture, the division of territories between banners and their respective commanderies, the resolution of pasture disputes, household statistics, and surveys of social conditions.

To ensure social stability in the Tannu Uriankhai region, the Qing Dynasty implemented strict border management systems and a closed-off policy. They established garrisons to separate the settlements of the Tohuite and Tannu Uriankhai peoples, established entry and exit regulations, and limited the number of people entering and leaving to minimize disputes. They also instituted a closed-off policy, restricting trade between mainland merchants and the Tannu Uriankhai people to the city of Uliastai for three days. In short, the Qing Dynasty's rule over the Tannu Uriankhai region was direct and effective.

Tsarist Russia occupied large tracts of territory in the northwest by signing the Treaty of Burlinsk, the Sino-Russian Treaty of Beijing, the Sino-Russian Treaty of the Northwestern Boundary, the Uliastai Boundary Treaty, and the Kobdo Boundary Treaty. It also infiltrated the Tannu Uriankhai region through predatory trade, illegal gold mining, and illegal immigration.

At this time, Tsarist Russia had 43 industrial, commercial and mining companies in the Tannu Uriankhai region, 86 settlements, and more than 2,000 immigrants. It appointed border officials to manage immigration affairs, and established churches and schools.

The sudden arrival of the People's Liberation Army completely disrupted the existing situation. Leading the advance into Tannu Uriankhai was none other than Xiao Hao, commander of the cavalry brigade, who had made notable achievements during the Gansu campaign, including leading troops in the fatal shooting of the Ma Qi and Ma Lin brothers. Knowing he was unfamiliar with the area, Xiao Hao secretly captured several clerks from inland merchants in Tannu Uriankhai and asked them to lead the way. Tannu Uriankhai was divided into five banners: Tannu, Sarajik, Tojin, Khuvsgul, and Kemuzik.

The daily security and defense of the Tannu Uriankhai region's border with Russia fell to the Left Deputy General of Dingbian, who primarily relied on Uriankhai soldiers and Qing troops stationed in the countryside. Their primary responsibilities included patrolling the Sino-Russian border, garrisoning the Karen region, guarding against foreign invasions, and quelling internal rebellions. Consequently, these Qing troops were not only weak in combat effectiveness but also relatively dispersed.

Xiao Hao saw through their weakness at a glance and seized the opportunity, making full use of the mobility of the cavalry and the combat effectiveness of the mounted infantry, sweeping across the entire Tannu Uriankhai region at lightning speed. None of the Tannu Banner Chief Gongbudorji, Sarajik Banner Chief Baljinnima, Tojin Banner Chief Lobsangjinba, Kusugul Banner Chief Keshikejirgal, and Kemuzik Banner Chief Bayanbadarhu escaped, and all of them were captured alive by the People's Liberation Army who arrived on horseback before they received the news, creating another classic example of surprise attack tactics.

The Qing army has always been a headless snake. The general manager was captured, and naturally almost all the soldiers under him were forced to surrender. The People's Liberation Army took over the entire Tannu Uriankhai region without much firing.

After Xiao Hao took over Tannu Uriankhai, he established a commercial trading point here. At the same time, he lifted all restrictions set by the Qing Dynasty and allowed people to travel freely to the mainland for trade. Everything else remained as it was for the time being. He did not overly stimulate the Tsarist Russian government for the time being, as if nothing had happened.

Although Tsarist Russia had already been aggressively infiltrating the Tannu Uriankhai region, intending to annex it, it had not yet sent troops there. Of course, Tsarist Russia at this time was also unable to send troops into Tannu Uriankhai. Furthermore, Tannu Uriankhai still had a large number of mainland businesses, meaning it was still under Qing rule, and the overall situation had not changed significantly. After the People's Liberation Army fully took over, they did not immediately change the situation. Instead, they gradually fell silent, began to carefully study the data, and quietly observed.

After the order for land reform was issued, the army vigorously implemented it. Xiao Hao also dispatched his main cavalry unit to forcefully reclaim all mineral resources illegally seized by Tsarist Russia. Russian immigrants, both men and women, were conscripted into the military. Families without any soldiers were repatriated to Russia. Those willing to serve were allowed to move to places like Uliastai and Kobdo, dismantling Russian settlements. As for the churches and schools built by Russia, they were directly taken over by the army to open new schools, allowing the children of Tannu Uriankhai to begin learning science and technology...

Chapter 535: Second update!

Places like Tannu Uriankhai, facing invasion, face a very severe struggle, with complex interplay of enemy and friendly forces, and even the slightest carelessness could lead to war. Therefore, for new forces like the Forward Party and the People's Liberation Army, potential internal threats should be eliminated as early as possible. Immigrant Russians, for example, are a serious destabilizing factor and must be eliminated.

However, the existence of Russian immigrants is an objective fact. It cannot be denied that most Russians are not spies. They may really want to live in China. Perhaps some Russians are truly poor and serfs, with no place to live in Russia. In order to survive, they have no choice but to immigrate...

Regardless of the reason, as long as a family has someone willing to join the army, defend China, stay as a Chinese, and contribute to China's development, the Progressive Party and the People's Liberation Army cannot exterminate them. They must also leave these people a way out and give them a chance to serve the country. Of course, to prevent spies from entering the army, those who join the army will not be allowed to stay in Mongolia, but will be sent to serve in the mainland army to contribute their own strength.

Xiao Hao, who was processing documents, received a telegram from Zhang Feng asking about the situation. He immediately slapped his forehead, thinking he had been so busy that he had forgotten about it. Xiao Hao immediately replied that the operation was successfully completed, and that land reform, grassroots elections, and mineral confiscation were all progressing smoothly...

Zhang Yinghao also received Zhang Feng's telegram very quickly. He took a look at it and put it down. Zhang Yinghao didn't know the actual situation of what to do in Mongolia, so he couldn't give any advice personally. He could only give guidance in principle and provide some suggestions and supervision for other matters. The distance was too far.

However, after just one land reform and a simple redistribution of wealth, the entire Mongolian region felt completely transformed, and the people's spirit and energy were completely changed. Many merchants, having seen the enormous business opportunities here, began to take action. Many merchants even visited herders directly to purchase wool, lambs, and horses, while also bringing in salt, textiles, porcelain, tea, and other daily necessities for trade. The quality of life of many herders improved dramatically in a remarkably short period of time, and the situation in Mongolia quickly stabilized.

Liu Wenxiu and his men in the Northeast did not know the situation in Mongolia. Even if they did, they had no intention of discussing it, because the field army was already engaged in a firefight with the Japanese army on the front line.

The scale of the fighting in Northeast China grew larger and larger, not only between China and Japan, but also between Japan and Russia. This was because the Russian ambassador to China, Pukhodi, had informed the Russian side that Port Arthur had been attacked by unknown forces and that Japan had lost Port Arthur. Upon receiving this news, the Russian frontline officers knew that the Japanese army they were facing was no match for them. Even if they fought attrition, the Japanese army, without supplies and manpower, would be easily worn down.

This was a perfect opportunity to wash away the shame and give the enemy a good beating! So the Russian army immediately launched an attack. Of course, Russia also had another ambition, which was to march south again, recapture the Chinese Eastern Road and Port Arthur, so that the Russian Empire could regain an ice-free port and eliminate all adverse influences on the Tsarist Russia.

The Japanese army now faced its greatest crisis since its invasion of Northeast China. They were truly facing a two-front war, a desperate situation under attack from both front and back. Fighting on two fronts has been a taboo in military strategy since ancient times, especially now that the Japanese army had been cut off from logistics and support. The situation had reached a critical juncture, a matter of life and death. Given the current state of the Japanese army, even if Zhuge Liang were alive or Sun Wu were reborn, they would not be able to avert the inevitable defeat of the Japanese army.

Faced with the aggressive field army, the troops stationed in Changtu, Siping and along the line received orders to start withdrawing troops to the south for defensive operations. Yes, it was defense. Not only was it a complete defense against the field army heading north, but also against the Russian army. The Japanese army had already completely switched to defensive operations in the shortest time possible, in order to reduce the consumption of ammunition and supplies and extend the troops' ability to continue fighting.

At this time, the commander-in-chief of the Japanese Manchurian Army, Iwao Ōyama, was like an ant on the hot pan - running around in circles. He sent a telegram to contact the country, requesting tactical guidance, but the country had no way to solve their predicament. They just told them to persevere. Perseverance is victory, and there will be a turning point. The headquarters has been working hard...

Faced with these bullshit remarks, Oyama Iwao was naturally very angry. At this time, the front line had reached a life-and-death situation. Where was the time to wait? If he waited any longer, he would run out of ammunition and food, and would be waiting to die.

Dashanyan could not let his troops sit and wait for death. He now knew the combat effectiveness of the field army, and naturally knew that the troops could no longer move south. Such a long distance, no train, no support, and the enemy kept attacking along the way. In order to move faster, they could not carry heavy artillery. In a few days, the troops would inevitably collapse due to lack of ammunition and food.

How to do?

Surrender? Surrender is impossible. The question of surrender has never occurred to Oyama Iwao.

However, Oyama Iwao knew he had to find a way out for the Japanese army. Ammunition was dwindling, and with no supplies, if they stayed any longer, these elite Japanese troops would be unable to escape, a loss the Empire of Japan could not afford. As long as these elite Japanese troops remained, there would be no shortage of firewood. As long as these elite Japanese troops remained, the Empire of Japan would have a chance to make a comeback.

This old devil, Oyama Iwao, was a true modern-day military strategist, a veteran of a lifetime, possessing the unparalleled courage of a hero who would sacrifice his own arm. Having carefully analyzed the situation, he was unwilling to wait any longer. He understood the principle that a general in the army is not subject to his sovereign's orders, and the most he could do was accept responsibility. He was one of the founders of the Imperial Japanese Army, and he did not want it to decline under his leadership.

Without much thought, Oyama knew that the only way out for the Japanese army was to retreat eastward, cross Changbai Mountain, and enter Korea, which would mean victory. Having made up his mind, Oyama ordered the Japanese officers on the north and south fronts to hold their ground and cover the retreat of the main force.

This was an extremely cruel order, but the Japanese officers who received the order naturally knew the situation the Japanese army was facing and the consequences of staying to block the enemy. However, these Japanese officers did not say a word and did not make any demands. They just replied: I wish the commander a smooth operation, the empire's military fortune will prosper, and long live His Majesty the Emperor.

At this point, Liu Wenxiu was completely unaware that the Japanese commander in Manchuria, Iwao Oyama, had already issued a drastic retreat order. He was still organizing troops arriving from all directions, interpenetrating the Japanese army and continuously attacking. In stark contrast to the Japanese and Russian armies, the field army had already seized most of the Japanese army's stored munitions through seizure, and coupled with the continuous production of ammunition by the base area, there was no immediate concern about ammunition and supplies.

Northeastern bandits!

Northeastern bandits, also known as "Huzi," were known for their "bandits." Calling them "bandits" to their faces meant a beating at best, and possibly death at worst. But calling them "Huzi" to their faces generally ignored them. Knowing the unflattering name "bandit," the Huzi adopted a new moniker, "Huzi," inspired by the facial features of their ancestor, Dharmathara.

Another theory is that during the late Qing Dynasty, bandits in Northeast China commonly used homemade rifles. Normally, they would plug the muzzle with a piece of wood tied with a red tassel. When ready to shoot, they would remove the wood and hold it in their mouths. From a distance, it looked like a red beard, so people also called bandits "Red Beards."

During the Russo-Japanese War, locals in Northeast China nicknamed the Russians "Red Beards" because they committed arson, murder, rape, and other crimes. Another theory is that bandits, fearing recognition, taped paper strips to their faces before committing crimes, creating the illusion of beards.

As the bandits grew in size, they needed someone to manage them. A clear division of labor gradually developed within the group. Core members each managed their own group, each performing their own duties. This kind of organization within the bandits was called "four beams and eight pillars."

The phrase "four beams and eight pillars" originally refers to traditional Chinese architecture, where houses were supported by four beams and eight pillars, representing the building's main structure. This term, later adopted by bandits, became a term for their organizational structure.

Bandit dens ranged in size. Large gangs had all the necessary "four beams" and "eight pillars," and were generally managed separately. However, smaller gangs weren't so particular. With so few members, they didn't need so many managers. Therefore, their positions were often intertwined, effectively one person handling the responsibilities of several departments.

Some gangs have only "four beams" but no "eight pillars," while others have "eight pillars" but no "four beams." Some have established posts, but the personnel may not be complete. For example, in "Taking Tiger Mountain by Strategy," there are eight great Vajras, each with their own responsibilities, but they do not have the complete "four beams and eight pillars."

So what are the "Four Beams"? They are "Tuotian Beam", "Dingtian Beam", "Yingtian Beam" and "Shuntian Beam". "Tuotian Beam" is the military advisor, responsible for making plans. He must understand astronomy, geography, the five elements and the eight trigrams. If there is anything that the others don't understand, they need to consult him.

"Dingtianliang" is like a general in a team. He must have superb martial arts and accurate marksmanship, and he is the one who leads the team in charging into battle.

"Ying Tianliang" was primarily responsible for logistics, managing the gang's food and clothing supplies, and taking care of all sorts of major and minor festivals. The "Liangtai" on Wohu Mountain was responsible for this.

"Shun Tianliang" is like the security captain. He is responsible for the internal duties, security, and sentry work of the stronghold. The ability of this position directly affects the safety of the stronghold.

If the "four beams" represent the core management, then the "eight pillars" represent the middle management. They are divided into the "inner eight pillars" and the "outer eight pillars." The "inner eight pillars" include the "sweeper pillar" (debt collector), the "heartless pillar" (financial accountant), the "white jade pillar" (horse breeder), and the "protection pillar" (responsible for the boss's personal safety). The "outer eight pillars" include the "insight pillar" (information collector), the "messenger pillar" (liaison officer), the "outer room pillar" (smooth talker, negotiator), and the "door pillar" (cultured person, letter writer, and other desk work).

The specific division of labor among the "four beams and eight pillars" within the gangs of the old society. These members generally have a unique skill. Before going up the mountain, they may have been elites in their industry, but they became bandits due to the chaos in the times.

Banditry flourished in Northeast China during the Xianfeng reign of the Qing Dynasty. Due to the Taiping Rebellion, most of the Eight Banners Army stationed in Northeast China entered the Great Wall to fight, leaving a vacancy in the outer regions, which allowed banditry to flourish. Following the defeat in the First Sino-Japanese War, the defeated Qing army fled into the Guandong region, where many took to the mountains and became bandits. Each "bandit" numbered from a few thousand to tens of thousands. The largest bandit in Northeast China was Zhang Zuolin, who later became the "King of the Northeast."

Chapter 536: Update 1!

The Japanese army defended stubbornly, but the field army was constantly rushing in from all directions to join the battle. From the fields and valleys along the mountain ridges, they penetrated and divided the Japanese army, defending them, and constantly attacked them from the side or the rear. The Japanese army had never seen such an attack method before, and naturally they were very uncomfortable. Even if the Japanese army defended with all their strength, they had to patch up the gaps everywhere, and they were exhausted. It was only a matter of time before the defense line was broken.

With the field army taking the lead, and the slogans created by the "Kill the Japanese Order" such as "Kill all the little Japanese", and its subsequent variants such as "Kill all the little devils" and "Kill all the Japanese" that resounded throughout the Northeast, almost all the armed forces in the Northeast were involved, and sooner or later, actively or passively participated in this war.

Northeast China has three treasures: ginseng, mink fur, and Ula grass. Later, as people's lives improved, they no longer needed Ula grass to make straw sandals, insoles, mattresses, and other items to keep warm. So the three treasures of Northeast China changed to ginseng, mink fur, and deer antlers.

But Northeast China also has another world-famous specialty: bandits. What is that? Bandits, of course. Across the vast black soil, these bandits ruled the mountains, plundering homes and robbing people. A ballad describes the life of a bandit as quite delightful: "Being a bandit is a lot of fun. Riding a horse, drinking wine, hugging a woman and eating steamed buns."

Bandits have been a constant presence in Northeast China since ancient times. When the Qing government faced internal and external troubles, especially after the First Sino-Japanese War, bandits took advantage of the situation and wreaked havoc. As the saying goes, "In troubled times, heroes emerge from all directions; anyone with a gun can become a king. Where do heroes come from? A gun on Poison Dragon Mountain."

During the Russo-Japanese War, due to years of war, tens of thousands of bandits swarmed everywhere. They made their own guns, and the great powers smuggled a large number of guns into the Northeast for profit. In addition, the gifts from Japan and Russia when they were trying to win over their forces and the guns that were scattered among the people led to the total number of guns owned by the armed forces in the Northeast reaching hundreds of thousands.

Of course, Liu Wenxiu and his companions didn't know that what truly turned Northeast China into a bandit paradise was the collapse of Manchukuo. A sudden political vacuum emerged in Northeast China. After the Japanese Kwantung Army surrendered, to sow chaos and reduce the number of prisoners, it issued Order No. 62 on August 19th, ordering the Manchukuo Corps, the "Mongolian King" puppet troops in Inner Mongolia, and various units stationed in Suiyuan to disband, leaving 100,000 puppet troops scattered across Northeast China.

At the same time, a large number of abandoned guns and ammunition by the Japanese and puppet regimes were dispersed, creating favorable conditions for banditry. For a time, banditry in Northeast China became rampant, with bandits such as "Butterfly," "Flying on the Grass," "Operating the Time," "Good Green Mountains," "Hun Tianzhu," and "Rolling Landmine" swarming in and wreaking havoc everywhere.

They pulled poles, seized territory, established team numbers, and occupied mountaintops, marking the peak of Northeastern banditry. A popular saying at the time went, "The rich fear kidnapping, the wives of women fear robbery, those walking fear robbery, and those leaving the house fear murder." Ordinary people lived in constant fear.

In the novel "Lin Hai Xue Yuan," there's a scene where the bandit Xu Damabang massacres Shanlan Station. Blood flows like a river beside his sword, and corpses are piled up in piles. Nine human heads hang from a tree, their ears pierced with wire. The entire village is a sea of ​​fire, with charred old people and children scattered everywhere...

This description in the novel is not fictional, but based on real events. In Northeast China, plagued by banditry, such tragic conditions were commonplace. During their robberies, bandits would kill at the slightest resistance to establish their authority, even massacring entire villages and towns, sparing no one, young or old. Some bandits alone killed hundreds of people, earning them the reputation of being murderous tyrants.

Countless people couldn't imagine why bandits could be so cruel and lack moral conscience. This was, in fact, the inevitable result of a lack of order. Therefore, even the worst order is better than no order at all, because without order comes no restraint, and without restraint comes no punishment. Without punishment, people can act recklessly, resorting to any means necessary for their own gain. This is why Zhang Yinghao constantly emphasized that after disrupting order, a new one must be established, and even better, peaceful means are often employed to change the local order.

Bandits rely primarily on robbery for survival, so it's useless to talk to them about morality and righteousness. Without the deterrent of government force, they have no constraints. Their robbery is often a plundering of feathers, often sweeping through villages and towns. Once they enter a village, they rob every household. They take gold, silver, jewelry, pigs, horses, cattle, sheep, grain, cloth, needles and thread—everything they can find.

The Heilongjiang bandit "Lao Zhanshan" once led his troops into the city of Jiamusi and looted it completely. Another important means for bandits to amass wealth was kidnapping. Once they captured a "hostage," they would brutally torture them, even cutting off their noses and ears to coerce their families into paying them. Many kidnapped families were left devastated by the extortion.

However, when the order seemed to be in jeopardy and when facing foreign invasion, there were also a large number of so-called righteous bandits. The current chief of staff of the field army, Zhao Yong, was a righteous bandit. There were also a large number of anti-Japanese and anti-Russian armed forces in various parts of the Northeast. If these forces were united, they would be a force that could not be underestimated. No wonder Japan and Russia were desperately trying to win over this force.

Of course, bandits today are far less brutal and rampant than they were in previous generations. The Field Army had been suppressing bandits since its inception, and was naturally very familiar with bandit forces. In the Northeast, they had even sent personnel to infiltrate these bandit groups early on to reform their minds. This was one of Zhang Yinghao's strategies: "Beat them in, pull them out."

Zhang Yinghao naturally knew that Northeast China's bandits were numerous, powerful, and well-known. Therefore, he had organized relevant personnel to study the bandit problem early on. His ultimate strategy was to send relevant personnel to infiltrate the enemy's ranks, win over some of them, and reform the bandit's ideology. Ideally, they would rise to high positions within the bandit group, and when necessary, pull out a group to completely divide and dismantle the bandit group.

After all, these bandits are Chinese, too, products of a unique era. Those who can be saved will be saved, but if they can't, those who commit countless evil deeds and those who are diehards will be eliminated in the future. There's no logic to this; the government and the bandits are inherently mortal enemies.

Zhao Yong saw a group of people coming over at this time. After seeing clearly, he hurriedly shouted: "Haha, Brother Liu, Brother Yang, you guys are here to join in the fun too?"

"Haha, Brother Zhao, you are so mean. Such a big operation has caused such a big commotion. You eat the meat, but you should at least give us brothers some soup, right?"

"Well, it's not a matter of eating meat and drinking soup, maybe it's about gnawing on hard bones." "Even if it's a hard bone, I, Liu Danzi, will also gnaw on it."

"Haha, me, Yang Yulin, too."

Liu Danzi and Yang Yulin were both heroes in the war against the Russians. They led the Loyalty Army, often ambushing during the day and raiding the camps on "cloudy, moonless nights." The Russians were unfamiliar with the terrain, and the Loyalty Army was unwilling to engage in a full-scale battle. Instead, they used skilled marksmen to sniper close to the enemy camp, using other soldiers to lure them out with gunfire. They would then "shoot when the Russians emerged" and "hid and wait for the enemy to surprise them" if they remained in ambush. As a result, the Russians suffered heavy losses. Ultimately, they were dispersed by the combined forces of the Qing and Russian armies, forcing them to retreat into the mountains and become bandits.

Zhao Yong looked at the two former leaders of the Anti-Russian Loyalty Army, then at the group of people around them. Zhao Yong knew that the original recruits were mostly unemployed farmers, hunters, road builders, miners, lumberjacks, and small vendors. Many had served in the Qing army as soldiers, or had joined the outlaws and become horse thieves. Some also joined the remnants of the Boxer Rebellion, along with a few landlords and local thugs. These individuals joined the Loyalty Army out of necessity. Tsarist Russia had invaded Northeast China, committing murder and arson, atrocities, and other atrocities in its attempt to establish and strengthen colonial rule and ultimately annex the three northeastern provinces. Unable to endure its bloody repression, the people of Northeast China, the Qing army officers and soldiers, and the Boxers spontaneously organized armed resistance. However, without strong leadership and a political program, they ultimately faced defeat.

At this moment, Zhao Yong noticed that someone in the team suddenly made an imperceptible gesture to him, and then nodded, meaning that these people were indeed here to fight against Japan and Russia.

Zhao Yong understood what was going on and immediately laughed out loud: "Welcome, welcome! Let's kill the foreigners together and drive the Japanese and Russians out of our Northeast. Let them never dare to bully us again."

"Haha, well said!"

Liu Danzi and Yang Yulin were assigned to help. Then, another group of men, mounted on tall horses, arrived. Zhao Yong could clearly identify them from afar. Among them were Jiang Guiti, Wu Junsheng, and others. These were Qing troops coming to join the battle. Before the field army launched its operation, the Forward Party, adhering to the principle of united front work, naturally extended an invitation to patriotic individuals at home and abroad. These included Green Camp generals and Beiyang officers and soldiers. They were invited to join the fight in Northeast China, to resist Japan and Russia, and to further weaken the Qing forces.

Jiang Guiti, the commander-in-chief of the Liaoxi region, stationed at Shanhaiguan, believed that with unity, victory was inevitable in a war against the Russo-Japanese. Such officers, daring enough to confront the Japanese and Russo-Japanese, were naturally targets for the field army's united front efforts. There were also those like Wu Junsheng, a peasant from a farming family. Because the people of Liaoxi were suffering greatly, bandits were rampant, and they established themselves on the mountaintops, looting and plundering everywhere. Wu Junsheng often led the army in the vanguard against the Hu bandits (horse thieves) and the Mongolian bandits. Naturally, Qing army officers with numerous outstanding achievements were also high priority targets for united front efforts.

However, whether these armed forces obeyed the unified command of the field army or fought independently was no longer a concern for the field army. Numerous bandit armed forces had already appeared in various locations, and it was clearly unrealistic to reorganize them all. The only thing left was to fight the Japanese. Of course, none of these armed forces were given official designations, as giving a designation was easy, but taking it back was a hassle. Regardless of whether these bandits came to fight the Japanese or to take advantage, once they were involved and entered the fold of the Japanese invasion, they were no longer in control.

At this time, the Japanese were completely unaware that Oyama Iwao had already begun packing up his forces and preparing to withdraw eastward to Korea. However, after a meeting, the internal debate in Japan finally came to a conclusion: to send the Yalu River Army across the Yalu River and immediately enter the Northeast to open up transportation lines and support the frontline operations. At the same time, the Japanese side did not believe that Port Arthur had truly fallen, so they ordered the navy to immediately depart for Port Arthur and wait for an opportunity to recapture it.

Chapter 537: Update 2!

Looking at Chairman Zhang Yinghao's telegram, Liu Wenxiu quickly grasped the situation facing the Japanese on the front lines. Therefore, he chose not to engage in direct confrontation with the Japanese, nor to proactively attack them head-on, to avoid unnecessary losses. Instead, he focused more of his troops on digging trenches and strengthening the defenses in the rear, guarding against a sudden southward advance by the entire Japanese army, while also preparing for the Russians to follow.

After Zhang Yinghao's simple analysis, Liu Wenxiu naturally understood that fighting against Japan in the north was no longer their main task. What they had to do next was to preserve the fruits of victory they had obtained. In addition to guarding against the Japanese army and navy in the direction of Korea, they must also guard against Tsarist Russia taking the opportunity to seize the fruits of victory of the field army.

However, the field army also had to constantly fight the Japanese army in the north, so on this Songliao Plain, he commanded his troops to penetrate deeply and divide the Japanese army. As a result, the Chinese and Japanese sides did not engage in positional warfare, but instead engaged in a chaotic battle in which both sides were intertwined. He mobilized all forces to join the battle, quickly penetrate from any point, and strike the Japanese army from any point.

As time went on, the situation in Northeast China became increasingly clear. Everyone knew that the Fifth Field Army, posing as the Imperial Japanese Army, had traveled south by train and captured the Port Arthur fortress. The Japanese were also fully aware that the Fifth Field Army had already captured cities along the railway line, including Fengtian and Liaoyang, and was currently advancing northward. The Imperial Front's troops now had to engage not only the Russian army but also the Fifth Field Army itself.