The Heroic Age of the Late Qing Dynasty

"Your Majesty, we need to deploy at least 500,000 troops in the Far East. The railway isn't even finished yet, so we estimate we'll need at least half that much, or even more, for the war against Japan. So, prepare at least 1.2 billion rubles!"

"Very good. I don't care what method you use, you must raise 1 billion rubles. As for the remaining 200 million rubles, I will personally bear the cost. Therefore, this battle must be won."

1.2 billion rubles wasn't much for the Russian royal family, which had ruled Russia for so long. If Nicholas II had wanted to, he could have come up with that much money himself. However, asking Nicholas II to pay would have been like cutting into his flesh, so naturally he was unwilling to do so. His willingness to pay 200 million rubles was unprecedented, and it also showed how angry Nicholas II was at the time.

In fact, after the Russo-Japanese War, especially after its naval defeat, Russia was severely despised internationally. Germany and the Austro-Hungarian Empire, in particular, simply did not take Russia seriously. Austria-Hungary was increasingly intervening in Balkan affairs, clearly intending to compete with Russia there, something Russia absolutely could not accept.

At this time, the European public opinion also regarded Russia's defeat as a joke. They did not expect that Russia, as the steamroller of Europe, had fallen into disgrace since then. After being beaten by the Japanese, now in the Far East, anyone can bully the Russian Empire.

When these reports reached Russia, Russian officials were furious. Tsar Nicholas II even threatened to make those provoking the Russian Empire pay the price and teach them the consequences of offending the Russian Empire. Therefore, the Qing rebels had now provoked Tsarist Russia, which had actually touched its sore spot.

Foreign Minister Count Izforsky, who was very familiar with the international situation, said: "Your Majesty, the current international situation is complicated, and the Germans are pressing forward. This is completely unfavorable for us to fight a war with the Qing people in the Far East. Our allies will not be willing to let us invest our strength in the Far East. It is very difficult to get a loan from France now..."

The alliance Izforsky was referring to was the Franco-Russian Alliance, a secret military alliance formed between France and Russia between 1891 and 1893 to counter the Quadruple Alliance of Germany, Austria and Italy.

Because relations between Germany and Russia deteriorated sharply in 1887, the Tsarist government relied solely on France for the purchase of arms and the sale of government bonds. France took advantage of Russia's financial dependence and facilitated a Franco-Russian alliance.

On August 17, 1892, France and Russia signed a military agreement in St. Petersburg. Main contents:

① When France is attacked by Germany or Italy, or when Russia is attacked by Germany or Austria-Hungary, both sides will support each other with all their forces.

② If the Quadruple Alliance or one of its members mobilizes troops, France and Russia, upon learning of the mobilization, shall immediately deploy their troops to the border without any prior agreement.

③ France should deploy 130 troops against Germany, and Russia should deploy 70 or 80 troops against Germany. All these armies should be brought into the battle as soon as possible, forcing Germany to fight simultaneously on both the eastern and western fronts.

After hearing Izforsky's words, everyone fell silent. If they were certain they couldn't get a loan from France, the war would be essentially over. Just then, an aide arrived with a telegram. It was from the Russian ambassador to China, Nikita Kodi. After hearing the contents of the telegram, the Russian ministers immediately reached a consensus without further ado. The Russian army began to assemble, preparing to travel to Central Siberia by train. Russian diplomats began contacting the French, hoping the French government would provide Russia with an emergency loan...

Zhang Yinghao sternly rejected Russia's ultimatum, infuriating Jian Kedi. After confirming that the liberated areas would no longer recognize the treaties signed between Tsarist Russia and the Qing Dynasty, Jian Kedi naturally abandoned all diplomatic fantasies and immediately sent a telegram to report the situation to the country. All Russian ministers who saw the telegram knew the implications of the treaties they had signed with the Qing Dynasty, and everyone could clearly see that war was inevitable.

Zhang Yinghao had no idea that his words had actually united the Russian elite in their wartime thinking. Of course, even if they knew, Zhang Yinghao wouldn't have cared too much, because these things couldn't be concealed. Even if the Russian elite didn't unify their thinking this time, they would soon realize it. With the vast expanse of Siberia, Zhang Yinghao had no fear of the Tsarist Russia finding out now. With the arrow on the string, unifying their thinking wouldn't have much meaning.

Zhang Yinghao, having resolved to prioritize the Russian issue, naturally had no hesitation. He immediately sent a telegram inquiring whether the Northeast could still fight. After receiving a positive response from the Northeast, Zhang Yinghao immediately instructed them to conduct sufficient propaganda and, if conditions permitted, to take immediate action.

For Zhang Yinghao, fighting foreign troops on his own land was a matter of course. No one had the power to stop him, and there was no need to declare war. He did not recognize the treaty signed by the Qing Dynasty. Wouldn't declaring war be a disguised acknowledgement that the foreign powers had occupied these territories? Therefore, the People's Liberation Army did not need to declare war. They could enter these territories openly and expel foreigners. They did so with confidence and justification. On their own land, the army had freedom of action. If they refused to leave, they could only use weapons to drive them away.

After receiving Zhang Yinghao's telegram, Liu Wenxiu and his colleagues had a clear idea in their minds and held a meeting immediately. "We must have complete control of the Chinese Eastern Railway. Our attack on Russia's Far East must rely on the Chinese Eastern Railway to transport troops and supplies. Otherwise, the huge pressure of logistics will directly crush us." Liu Wenxiu said seriously.

The Fifth Field Army was thoroughly prepared. To eliminate some of the Russian troops hiding in fortresses and bunkers, the Fifth Field Army even dismantled several heavy artillery pieces from Port Arthur, all destined for the assault. The dismantled fortress guns from Port Arthur were loaded onto trains and converted into railway artillery. Heavy artillery required enormous logistical support. Without railroads, transporting shells weighing 100 to 200 kilograms to the front lines would have been nearly impossible relying solely on manpower.

"Commander-in-chief, all the units have already been deployed and are ready. With just one order, we can launch the attack immediately. None of those old Russians will be able to escape." The frontline commander assured, patting his chest.

The Chinese Eastern Railway is directly related to the supply of the entire Far East battlefield, so Liu Wenxiu cannot help but pay attention to it!

"Well! To prevent the Russians from blowing up the railway, we must act first and launch a surprise attack."

Since we have already decided to go to war with the Russians and have received the telegram from Zhang Yinghao, there is naturally no need to worry about other things.

"Commander-in-Chief, our battle with the Russians has not actually stopped. Now it just depends on who will start the attack first. The sooner we act, the less damage we will suffer. The Russians still need to transport troops from Europe, so they are naturally forbearing now. It is best for us to end the war early before their reinforcements arrive. We must at least ensure peace in the Northeast so that we can develop production with peace of mind and create a good situation for the future long-term war." Lian Chengjue said.

"Okay, let's make it this way! Strike first and gain the upper hand. Now, all troops should carry out the final war propaganda according to the plan..."

What was the final war propaganda? No need to ask, it was naturally the propaganda about the numerous crimes committed by Tsarist Russia against the Chinese in the Far East. There is no need to look for information, the reality is everywhere. It inspired the army's hatred towards Russia, and their combat effectiveness and desire to fight would naturally increase.

Zhang Yinghao, who came from later generations, naturally paid great attention to propaganda. This was not only carried out in Northeast China, but also in the entire liberated areas and even the entire country. He focused on the massacre of the Chinese people in Northeast China by Tsarist Russia, which would more easily arouse people's anger against Tsarist Russia and make the entire Chinese nation more awakened.

Therefore, Zhang Yinghao immediately used newspapers controlled by the Forward Party to vigorously publicize the Russian atrocities. Simultaneously, the political commissars and instructors of the various units of the Fifth Field Army were explaining to the soldiers the importance of this battle. They also highlighted the hatred between the Chinese and the Russians. The Great Massacre at Blagoveshchensk and the Great Massacre at Jiangdong Sixty-Four Villages became key points. This kind of hatred-mongering would ignite the soldiers' hatred of the Russians and boost their fighting spirit.

People living in the interior of China naturally don't know what life is like for people outside the Great Wall, but they can all empathize with the oppression of the great powers, especially the Qing Dynasty. The great powers treated the Chinese like livestock, letting them slaughter them. Anyone who is human will feel the same kind of grief.

On June 3, 1896, Li Hongzhang signed the Treaty of Mutual Assistance against the Enemy (also known as the Sino-Russian Secret Treaty) with the Russian Empire. This agreement permitted Russia to build a railway through the Chinese provinces of Heilongjiang and Jilin to Vladivostok. Russia was authorized to use the railway to transport wounded soldiers, food, and military equipment, both in wartime and peacetime.

Under the guise of joint defense against the enemy, the Sino-Russian Secret Treaty coerced and defrauded China of the privilege of transiting through the border and constructing a railway, sowing the seeds of disaster for China. This railway, known as the Chinese Eastern Railway, plunged the entire Northeast into a state of devastation during its construction. The brutality of the Russian massacres, the vast territory invaded, and the sheer scale of their conspiracy were truly appalling.

In July 1900, the Russian Empire, taking advantage of the Eight-Nation Alliance's invasion of Beijing, launched a massacre against the last remaining Chinese settlements on the north bank of the Heilongjiang River, the towns of Blagoveshchensk and Jiangdong Sixty-Four Villages. Nearly 7 unarmed villagers, including infants, women, and children, were murdered. At that moment, Chinese blood dyed the Heilongjiang River red, and the surface was littered with floating corpses, a horrific sight. This was a truly unprecedented and horrific tragedy. These two massacres are collectively known as the "Boxer Rebellion Russian Disaster," which horrified the world.

The Russian bloodbath at Hailanpao and the Sixty-Four Villages of Jiangdong was merely a prelude to the suffering endured by the people of Northeast China during the Eight-Nation Alliance's invasion of China. The ensuing catastrophe was the Russian invasion of Northeast China, followed by its rampant burning, killing, and looting. Now, it was time for revenge, and so, alongside the promotional campaign, the "Kill Mao Jin" order had been issued, much like the original "Kill the Japanese Order."

Zhang Yinghao was very clear that this war against Russia might be a war that would last for many years, so the people had to be mobilized comprehensively. At this time, Zhang Yinghao had no desire to start a war and let the people fall into the war.

The evil deeds this northern nation has committed against China are truly too numerous to list. Even during the Soviet era, it deployed millions of troops on the Sino-Mongolian border, eyeing China covetously. It openly annexed Tannu Uriankhai, pressured China to recognize Mongolia's independence, openly invaded Zhenbao Island and Tielekti in Xinjiang, and even attempted to launch a surgical nuclear strike against China... The Soviet Union was the first country to recognize the puppet state of Manchukuo...

Only some Russian fans don't care about their ancestors. They only worship the powerful, and don't care even if the powerful slaughters their ancestors. This is the slave face of a sadist. They are really afraid of Russia to the extreme. It's disgusting!

Chapter 609:

Just as Liu Wenxiu and his men were making final preparations for the war, Zhang Feng in Mongolia also received a telegram from Zhang Yinghao. The content was very simple, requiring the Mongolian troops to prepare to send an elite squadron northward. The purpose was self-evident, which was to cut off the Trans-Siberian Railway, block the Russian army's logistical supply, delay the Russian army's actions, and turn the Northeast and Far East regions into isolated battlefields, buying time to deal with the Russian army in the Northeast.

Zhang Yinghao has always remembered what Taizu once said: "With food in hand, there is no need to panic." Napoleon's view on war is that the first thing you need is money, the second is money, and the third is money.

Zhang Yinghao had traveled through time for so long, rising from an unknown figure to the most powerful man in China. He understood the meaning of this more and more. Napoleon had mentioned money because his soldiers didn't fight for themselves, but for Napoleon and his ruling class. Therefore, the soldiers were still fighting for money. But under Taizu, having food was all that mattered.

Because as long as there's food, people can survive, work, and even fight. History is created by the people, and labor creates everything. Since we're working for ourselves, whether we're paid or not is another matter. As long as policies are properly publicized and implemented, and officers and soldiers are united, then the army only needs food to feed itself.

This is also why the Progressive Party led the masses in building roads, bridges, and water conservancy projects, with labor costs so low, with many people even volunteering. Now, Zhang Yinghao has begun publicizing the Russians' actions. War cannot be won simply by saying so; it is natural to gain the support of the people.

Zhang Yinghao, a later figure, understood this better than anyone. While the Forward Party and Russia hadn't officially declared war yet, domestic propaganda had already begun. Zhang Yinghao certainly wouldn't hype up the abolition of unequal treaties with the great powers; that would have completely turned Britain and the United States into hostile forces.

Countless tragedies occurred in Northeast China, and these events occurred only four or five years ago. During the Russo-Japanese War, two bandits slaughtered people in Northeast China only a few months ago. After these contents were publicized, the whole country was shocked, and the whole country was calling for the fight against Russia.

In this era of resurgent nationalism, this kind of hate propaganda is incredibly effective. It's especially painful for promising young people who deeply feel the pain of their nation. However, Zhang Yinghao knows how to strike a balance with this kind of hate propaganda. It's best to focus on patriotism and territorial integrity. Otherwise, if nationalism suddenly escalates into xenophobia or racism, it could be a serious problem. Especially in a multiethnic country like China, stirring up racism is not a good thing. It didn't take long for the propaganda to completely polarize public opinion across the country, but public sentiment was gradually mobilised.

The conflict between the Progressive Party government and Russia naturally attracted worldwide attention. The major powers were closely watching the situation in Northeast China. When Zhang Yinghao rejected Russia's ultimatum, the Western powers realized that war might be inevitable.

Everyone knows that war is a money-eating beast, and even massive amounts of supplies thrown in will be completely consumed. So now all Zhang Yinghao has to do is desperately do business with the foreign powers in exchange for supplies, and then find a way to transport the supplies to the north to support the Sino-Russian War.

Reactions to the impending war varied widely. For the United States, the Forward Party, a political party that advocated for trade, held an open market far greater value than the semi-enclosed Qing Dynasty. Currently, the Forward Party's trade with the United States far surpassed that of countries like Britain and Germany. Even with the substantial sums it received from Germany, its trade volume remained smaller than that of the United States. When the United States directly questioned the Forward Party's future policies in Northeast China, Zhang Yinghao clearly informed them.

"We've said before when we met that you can invest throughout China, but that's not possible yet because many places are still unstable. But our policy is consistent. We encourage free trade. As long as you abide by Chinese laws and regulations, you can engage in trade activities freely. Isn't the ever-increasing trade volume between our two countries the best example of this?"

“So when can we invest in Northeast China?”

"That's definitely not possible now. It's a war zone, and we need to rectify Northeast China. As you know, there are many bandits in Northeast China, and the safety of business people is not guaranteed. I don't think you want to go to a turbulent area and encounter all kinds of uncontrollable dangers, right? After we have completed the relevant rectification, we welcome American investment in China."

"So, how long will it take?"

"The Manchurian forces haven't been eliminated in the Northeast yet, and Russia is also interfering in our affairs in the Northeast, so it's really hard for us to determine the specific time. If Russia can't restrain itself and launches a war against us, then we can only wait until the war is over before we can determine the specific time."

Some countries believed the Kadima Party was courting its own destruction, while others naturally hoped it could teach Russia a lesson. The Ottoman Empire and Germany even privately expressed their support for the Kadima Party. However, they held little hope that the Kadima Party could defeat Russia; their greatest hope was to divert some of Russia's energy.

The vast majority of Chinese people have a love-hate relationship with the Progressive Party. Those with "insight" naturally feel that the Progressive Party, driven by a desire for fame, is willing to drag the country into war. Warmongering leads to destruction, and if the country is handed over to this revolutionary party, it will inevitably drag the people into the abyss of war. Naturally, threats and intimidation like "the country will be destroyed and the family will be ruined" are on everyone's lips...

The vast majority of young Chinese were naturally enthusiastic about the Progressive Party's efforts to drive out the Japanese from Northeast China and fight against Russia. They naturally hoped to drive out all the powers that bullied China, overthrow the Qing Dynasty, and establish a free, prosperous country. Therefore, these young people naturally expressed their support for the Progressive Party.

However, those so-called revolutionaries overseas do not mean this. They criticize the Progressive Party for not overthrowing the Qing Dynasty and for going to war with the foreign powers... Thousands of words can be summed up in one sentence: why are these troops not mine? If they were mine, then this and that...

Although Russia is facing some internal and external troubles now, its overall strength and size are there. Even now, it cannot be compared with Japan, a pseudo-power.

This time, the entire northern region is very likely to face an attack by a million Russian troops. With both sides deploying such huge forces, it may once again evolve into a new "Russo-Japanese War."

At the British Embassy in Dongjiaominxiang, Beijing, the British Minister to China, Sir John Sawyer, was holding a meeting with the French Minister to China, Lucien Favreau.

In the early 20th century, as the conflict over colonial issues intensified, the Anglo-German conflict became the primary contradiction among imperialists. Britain was forced to abandon its policy of "splendid isolation" to maintain equilibrium on the European continent and, first, to align itself with France, Germany's arch-enemy. Simultaneously, the Franco-German conflict also prompted France to move closer to Britain.

On April 8, 1904, Britain and France signed the Treaty of Friendship in London, resolving their differences over the division of African colonies and other issues. From then on, Britain and France established a de facto alliance. At this point, the two men's conversation focused on the impending war between the Kadima Party and Russia.

Russia and Britain were sworn enemies. To limit Russian expansion and jeopardize British interests in the Far East, Britain, along with the United States, supported the Japanese in the Russo-Japanese War. But now, facing the aggressive Kadima Party, the British, deep down, hoped that Russia and the Kadima would fight to a mutual defeat in the north.

The British Empire absolutely did not want Russia to continue expanding in the Far East, as this would pose a serious threat to British interests there. However, Britain also did not want the Kadima Party to continue to grow in power, as this would also seriously harm British interests. The British Empire is now caught between a rock and a hard place, facing an increasingly aggressive Germany. Europe is now the center of the world and the foundation of Britain, so Britain still hopes that Russia will focus its attention on Germany rather than the Far East.

So generally speaking, the British still hoped that Russia could win the war, but it had to be a pyrrhic victory with both sides suffering losses, or even losing the war in the end. In this way, Russia would have to shift its attention from the Far East back to Europe.

"Your Excellency, Minister Luban, it seems war in the north is inevitable, and I predict it will break out within a month. Regardless of whether the Kadima Party wins or loses, there will be no peace in the Far East from now on."

Sa Daoyi, as if picturing the aftermath of the war, spoke with regret. After all, regardless of whether the Forward Party ultimately won or lost, the Qing Dynasty might no longer be necessary for them. This war was difficult, as neither Tsarist Russia nor the liberated areas could attack the other's core areas. Ultimately, it came down to resilience.

"Yes, Sir, this is indeed a frustrating situation." The French were under immense pressure and naturally hoped that Russia would focus its attention on the Western Front to alleviate the pressure from Germany. However, this was not the case. Russia had just concluded the Russo-Japanese War and was about to face another war. Russia would inevitably withdraw troops from the Western Front to the Far East, which was completely against France's interests.

"Russian Minister to China, Pukodi, hopes that we can put pressure on the Forward Party, but our country still believes that Russia should not focus on the barren lands of the Far East. They should focus on Europe and Germany, which is the most important. Russia's focus on the Far East has seriously damaged the interests of our British Empire. Russia has not learned enough lessons from the Russo-Japanese War. It seems that Russia will have to give up on the Far East completely before they will focus their attention on Europe."

"Yes, Sir, I completely agree with you. Germany is our main enemy, as is the Triple Alliance of Germany, Austria, and Italy. These countries have become a threat to the entire Western free world, so we must first contain Germany."

Germany and France are sworn enemies. Any action that is not conducive to confronting Germany is seen by the French as a betrayal of France. Containing Germany is more important to France than anything else now, and everything else has to be put aside.

"Mr. Minister, I heard that the French government is ready to provide a loan to Russia?" asked Sa Daoyi.

"Yes, I have no say in domestic affairs. After all, Russia is our ally, and we can't completely reject it. However, Russia wants a loan of 1 billion rubles, but we can only provide them with 0.1 billion rubles at most."

The Russian Empire was always burdened with foreign debts. Peter I refused to borrow money from foreign countries, but from the reigns of Catherine II to Nicholas II, Russia relied on external loans.

The first loans to the Russian Empire were to finance the various wars the government was involved in. In the second half of the 18th century, Russia went to war with Turkey. Russia needed ships to fight the enemy from the Mediterranean, but the treasury did not have the funds to buy a fleet.

Amsterdam, then the financial center of Europe, extended a loan to Russia. Dutch wholesalers received bonds worth 750 million guilders from Russia, with the loan backed by tariffs on Russian imports. Catherine II's son and eldest grandson repeatedly borrowed money from the Netherlands to finance the war, and Paul I vowed to repay the debt despite the war.

The Russian Empire had just begun to accumulate foreign debt, so the state's credit policy was relatively loose, and by 1824, the Russian Empire's foreign debt had exceeded 100 million silver rubles. The Crimean War also increased Russia's debt, and by the early 1880s, Russia owed the West more than 2 billion rubles.

The governments of Alexander III and Nicholas II (before the Russo-Japanese War) stabilized the country's rising foreign debt, which stood at just 24 billion rubles at the beginning of the 20th century, despite a faster increase in revenue. However, the Russo-Japanese War inflicted significant economic losses on the Russian economy, and from 1904 to 1905, Russia borrowed over a billion rubles from Germany and France.

France was now extremely wealthy, and they were obsessed with providing loans to countries around the world, hoping to reap lucrative returns. Russia was in a financial crisis, and the French were well aware of it. Having previously lent Russia so much money, France needed to be more cautious in order to counter Germany.

"Your Excellency, we have no objection to you offering loans to Russia, but when the Forward Party approached you about a loan, did you reject it?"

"Yes, Russia is our ally, so we naturally won't help the Progressive Party. Currently, the Progressive Party and our country have a major dispute in Guangxi and Yunnan, so naturally, we won't discuss loan issues with the Progressive Party anymore."

Sa Daoyi glanced at Lu Ban. He knew the Progressive Party had been insisting on maintaining the status quo, and indeed, it had reduced its influence in the border regions. However, France had always considered Guangxi, Yunnan, and Guizhou to be its sphere of influence. It seemed the French were making quite a few small moves in those areas.

"We believe that if the Russians win, they might retake Port Arthur and refocus their attention on the Far East, which would be very detrimental to containing Germany. The best outcome would undoubtedly be a mutual defeat for both Russia and the Forward Party, or even a narrow victory for the Forward Party. Only then would Russia truly turn its attention to Europe. However, judging by the current situation, the Forward Party is doomed to fail. If it loses too quickly, it will be too late for us to intervene."

Lu Ban nodded, naturally understanding what Sadaoyi meant. After a moment's thought, Lu Ban said, "A few colonial interests in the Far East cannot be compared with mainland France. I understand your point. Russia's attention must be focused on Europe. I will submit a report to the government. I believe the country will make the right decision on which is more important..."

Chapter 610:

Seeing that the whole country was energized, Zhang Yinghao immediately sent a telegram to Liu Wenxiu and Zhang Feng's two field armies, asking them to take immediate action to seize or blow up the railway to gain the initiative.

At the same time, the content of the propaganda also began to change immediately. The first thing they did was to publicize the Russian atrocities witnessed by our righteous People's Liberation Army during the liberation of Heilongjiang, as well as the tragic conditions of the Chinese laborers working in the Russian-occupied mines and the tragic conditions of the railway workers...

Then, the story goes that the PLA liberated these suffering laborers, but the Russians tried to stop the PLA's actions and continue to enslave the Chinese, leading to the fighting. The Fifth Field Army, forced to fight back, finally brought up the Russian ultimatum to Zhang Yinghao, pointing out that Russia wanted to invade Chinese territory. This Russian ultimatum, in particular, was a powerful tool to stir up hatred. You have to know that when the Fifth Field Army liberated Lushun, it was such an exciting event for the Chinese people. How could the people tolerate losing what they had gained?

However, anyone with a little political common sense would know that a war was inevitable in response to Russia's ultimatum.

In the end, all the newspapers published Zhang Yinghao's modern poem "I Love This Land" which plagiarized Ai Qing.

If I were a bird,

I should also sing with a hoarse throat: this land beaten by storms, this river that always surges with our grief and indignation, this angry wind that blows endlessly, and the incomparably gentle dawn from the forest... - Then I died,

Even feathers rot in the earth. Why are there always tears in my eyes? Because I love this land so deeply...

At the same time, across the vast land of China, the "March of the Chinese Nation" plagiarized by Zhang Yinghao was sung everywhere. This song has an unparalleled advantage in uniting the people in the fight against foreign invasion, and it can be said to be very appropriate.

Rise up, you who refuse to be slaves,

Let us forge our new Great Wall with our flesh and blood. The Chinese nation has reached its most perilous moment, and every one of us is forced to let out a final roar. Rise up...

For this war, Zhang Yinghao came up with the slogan: Everything for the front line, everything for victory.

Zhang Yinghao certainly knew that this war would be extremely difficult and protracted, but the more difficult it was, the more glorious it would be, and the more worthy it would be to be remembered in history...

Mobilized by slogans, all factories began working overtime, and the road-building troops began working furiously. Within the liberated areas, efforts began to tighten their belts to supply the front lines and donate money and supplies. All these measures were driven by a single goal: everything for the front, everything for victory.

War has its own rules, so after Zhang Yinghao sent the telegram to Northeast China and Mongolia, he immediately asked Comrade Shen Ruo of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to summon Luo Baifu of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The foreign powers saw the propaganda in the liberated areas, but they were so used to being arrogant towards the Chinese that many people hadn't changed their minds yet. Guo Luo Baifu couldn't wait to say to Shen Ruo when he saw him: "Mr. Shen Ruo, do you want to agree to our ultimatum? But it's too late now. His Majesty the Tsar is very dissatisfied with your ignorance. If you want to negotiate terms again, they are no longer the same as before and must be revised!"

During this period in Wuhan, Guo Luo Baifu was naturally not idle. He did not stop his actions of forming alliances, and even threatened and bribed people in private. Russian Foreign Minister Witte instructed him to bribe relevant personnel, so he naturally had a lot of interactions with Comrade Shen Ruo of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

After hearing what Guo Luo Baifu said, Shen Ruo was stunned. These old Russians had truly bizarre mindsets and incredibly rich imaginations. It had come to this point, so how could the Forward Party possibly compromise with the Russians? Aside from war, there was probably no other solution for both sides. With the current nationwide anti-Russian sentiment, how could the Forward Party dare compromise with Russia? Compromise would inevitably lose the support of the people, and that would be like hanging oneself.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Counselor, you guessed wrong. This meeting is not to negotiate terms. We want to formally inform you that the Russian Empire's army in the Northeast launched a shameful attack on our Fifth Field Army. Your army actually opened fire on our army. Therefore, the liberated area government announced that from now on, the Chinese Eastern Railway will be unconditionally recovered!" Shen Ruo said in a very serious tone.

"What? Take back the Chinese Eastern Railway? Absolutely not! The Chinese Eastern Railway was built by the Russian Empire, and this was done in secret with your central government. You have no right to take it back."

After hearing this, Guo Luo Baifu jumped up immediately like a cat whose tail was stepped on. This was really a big deal. Although he knew that a war between the Russian Empire and the Forward Party might be inevitable, he never expected that the Forward Party would dare to strike first. What's more important is that Russia is definitely not ready for war yet.

Although the Forward Party spared no effort to publicize the atrocities committed by the Imperial Army in the Northeast to incite public sentiment, Guo Luo Baifu simply did not believe that the Forward Party would dare to go to war with the Empire. Guo Luo Baifu knew with his ass that the Russian Empire attacked first was just a political game to appease children. However, in the current situation, it was naturally known that this was not a simple statement, but meant war. Of course, the Liberated Area Government did not declare war on Russia, because the Liberated Area could not represent a country at present. Moreover, it was natural to eliminate the enemy on one's own territory. Why did they need to declare war?

"Haha, Mr. Counselor, you also said it was a secret agreement, and it was a secret agreement with the Qing court. We and the Qing are still in a state of hostility, so our liberated area government naturally does not need to recognize any treaties signed by the Qing. Moreover, Mr. Counselor, this is not to seek Russia's opinion, but to inform you that it is not Russia's turn to dictate China's affairs. If there is nothing else, you may leave."

"Assholes! You...you ignorant assholes, you simply cannot imagine the power of the Russian Empire. Humph, just wait, you will definitely pay the price for your arrogance. The imperial soldiers' boots will surely flatten the Northeast, and the three northeastern provinces will belong to Russia forever." Guo Luo Baifu said viciously.

Guo Luo Baifu was furious and completely lost. He knew that even if he passed the message back now, it would be too late. He couldn't understand why these yellow-skinned monkeys had the audacity to take the lead in attacking the Russian Empire. This time, these hateful yellow-skinned monkeys must pay the price!

After hearing Guo Luo Baifu's harsh words, Shen Cong immediately said: "Northeast China will always be Northeast China. This is a fact that no one can change..."

Shen Ruo was a young man, and he wanted to say some harsh words right away, but after thinking about it, he decided not to. Not to mention that saying harsh words might violate discipline, what's the point of saying harsh words to a diplomat? At this point, saying harsh words might even leak secrets, which is completely a loss-making behavior.

St. Petersburg's time was four hours behind Wuhan's. When Shen Ruo, director of the Forward Party's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, informed the Russian consul, Luo Baifu, that the Fifth Field Army would reclaim the Chinese Eastern Railway, St. Petersburg had already received fragmentary information. Even if the Forward Party had cut all telegraph and telephone lines, it would have been futile. Russia's communications capabilities were far superior to those of the Japanese, and their radio communications were far more advanced.

In St. Petersburg, War Minister Sukhomlinov and Foreign Minister Izvolsky both received the telegram, and their faces changed drastically after reading it.

"Damn it, damn yellow monkey, the Chinese Eastern Railway, the Trans-Siberian Railway, how can this be possible?!" Sukhomlinov's face changed drastically, and he thought of something in an instant.

"Come here, prepare the carriage immediately. I want to see His Majesty. Also, contact the Prime Minister, the Minister of Finance and others, and ask them to meet at the Summer Palace immediately." After Sukhomlinov gave the order in a hurry, he immediately went to the Tsar's residence.

The other ministers reacted similarly to Sukhomlinov, immediately dispatching carriages to the Summer Palace to report to Tsar Nicholas II. After all, the Chinese Eastern Railway had cost the empire a vast sum of money to build, and now these despicable yellow monkeys had actually taken action. Although their attack was limited to the Chinese Eastern Railway, it also meant war.