The Heroic Age of the Late Qing Dynasty

The Boxer Rebellion, a movement opposing the Open Door policy and resisting Western powers, was suppressed by the Eight-Nation Alliance and the signing of the Boxer Protocol, which completely reduced China to a semi-colonial, semi-feudal society. Following the Protocol, Russia took control of the three northeastern provinces, a move that "ignited conflicts with Japan and the United States, leading to the outbreak of World War II—the Russo-Japanese War—as part of the imperialist redivision of the world."

So, from this perspective, there's a natural basis for a united front with the United States, and they could be the target of solidarity. However, what Zhang Yinghao wants most is the Americans' money. If he could get the American money, use it to buy supplies to defeat the Russians in one fell swoop and reclaim the territories they've taken away, Zhang Yinghao would wake up laughing in his dreams.

The outbreak of war in the Northeast made Germany and the Ottoman Empire very happy, so much so that Abdul Hamid II and William II both praised the war and provided a lot of assistance in the days that followed.

Just as the liberated areas were sending representatives to contact the foreign powers, William II seemed to have thought of something and suddenly said to Moltke the Younger: "The Chinese really didn't disappoint us. This war in the Far East is very beneficial to us. How are our talks with the Chinese going now?"

Moltke the Younger had also been following this matter closely; after all, it was one of his "political achievements," so he immediately commented, "It's somewhat unexpected, given the current situation. The bankers have actually contracted a large number of bonds, and the management department has also guaranteed them. It's precisely because of this that these bonds are very popular in the market. Subscriptions have already reached 200 million marks. If the current trend continues, the final amount raised could exceed 500 million or even 800 million marks."

Upon hearing such a large figure, William II was shocked and immediately asked, "Why is that? Even if the Ministry of Economics guarantees it, the bankers won't be kind. Aren't they afraid that the money will be wasted?"

"According to the Ministry of Economic Affairs, many factories need to upgrade. Now is the perfect time to replace old equipment with new, exchanging old plants for new ones. Factory owners are naturally willing to do so, and they'll repay the bank in the future, so the bank doesn't face any risk. No matter how much money they recover from the Chinese, it will be extra profit. Right now, those factory owners are eager to sell their factories to the Chinese. Furthermore, Your Majesty, once these factories' machinery and equipment are upgraded, our national strength will increase by at least ten percent. Therefore, with the participation and efforts of so many parties, Chinese bonds are selling like hotcakes. These factory owners are saying that the Chinese are here to collect scrap, and this perfectly solves their problem. As long as this bond can continue to be issued, it's like they've earned a free technological upgrade for their businesses."

In fact, banks don't need to spend their own money to issue bonds. After all, it's the German public who buys the bonds. These Germans may not even know what these bonds are for, but as long as they are promoted properly, who's to worry about no one buying them? Even if it's just a bunch of shit, if more people hype it up, it will become a hot commodity!

After listening to this, William II thought for a moment and said, "Who is the one who suffered the loss here?"

"No one loses out. Of course, if the Chinese don't redeem the bonds in the future, the people who bought them will ultimately suffer."

After hearing this, William II breathed a sigh of relief. Moltke the Younger knew without a doubt that William II absolutely did not believe that the Chinese would dare not redeem the bonds, so Germany would definitely not suffer any loss in this matter.

Moltke the Younger skipped this section and continued, "Now that the whole thing has the guarantee of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, that is, the government's involvement, the factory owners and bankers have no worries and all believe that this is a rare investment and opportunity. If they can use this opportunity to enter the Chinese market or use it to control China's financial market, they can reap endless profits..."

"Controlling China's finance? That's a good idea indeed. After all, how could those yellow-skinned monkeys possibly understand finance?"

Ignoring William II's mumbling, Moltke the Younger continued, "We currently have no other suitable partners in the Far East besides the Forward Party. Furthermore, the territory controlled by the Forward Party contains tungsten ore, bristles, tung oil, and sodium sulfate, all of which we desperately need. Even if we don't actively cooperate with them now, we will still have to purchase these things from the Chinese in the future. Therefore, trade with China is essential to the Empire and is therefore a key reason why the Administration is willing to provide guarantees."

After hearing this, William II nodded a little unhappily. After all, it was normal to feel unhappy when he heard that the things he needed were controlled by others.

Moltke the Younger thought for a moment before saying, "I remember that Chinese man said that China and Germany have a common enemy. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that. However, for the Chinese, no matter how powerful Germany is, it is still in Europe. No matter how inferior Britain and France are to Germany, they are still powerful enemies right in front of them. Why should they offend their neighbors right in front of them for a distant ally who is powerless to help them?"

But now China is indeed willing to act, even to the point of starting a war, and we need China to share our pressure. Since they dare to spend so heavily in our country, it means that China will stand with Germany from now on. I believe that a China that can contain Japan, Russia, Britain, and France in the East is extremely important to Germany, so we should appropriately increase our support for China...

Chapter 613:

Regardless of the great powers' views and actions regarding the Sino-Russian War, it was inevitable, and Zhang Yinghao had no intention of compromising. War was a catalyst for technological advancement, and Zhang Yinghao intended to use this immense demand as a means to develop productivity, regulate production relations in the liberated areas, accelerate the advancement of production capacity, and complete the implementation and upgrading of technology as quickly as possible.

After Zhang Yinghao received the telegram announcing the capture of the Chinese army in Northeast China, which had liberated Bingcheng and seized the Chinese Eastern Railway, a smile instantly spread across his face. Zhang Yinghao had known this would happen. Even though many Chinese people online later described the Russians as a nation of warriors, Zhang Yinghao scoffed. While Zhang Yinghao knew that Russians were generally tall and strong, the power of organization was undoubtedly greater than that of individuals. Furthermore, from what Zhang Yinghao knew of Russian history, aside from the later Soviet Red Army, the Red Army was only formidable during the Soviet Union's brutal civil war. Russian armies in other periods were never truly formidable. Without its vast numerical superiority and vast strategic depth, Russia would have no claim to world power. Of course, Russia's vast territory wasn't due to its inherent strength. Beyond the technological gap in weaponry, it was also a significant bargain. After all, such land was a burden to agricultural China, and the Qing government simply disdained it.

In reality, once the Russian army encountered a well-equipped and well-trained force, those composed of serfs would often collapse instantly. Zhang Yinghao, a man well-versed in later history, was well aware that the Russians' performance in both World War I and World War II was not particularly good. The losses in both world wars, especially in the early stages, were devastating. Had it not been for Russia's vast population, which far outnumbered its enemy, and its vast territory, along with its extensive defenses in depth that made the country resilient, Russia might have been annihilated long ago.

The PLA's current weapons aren't particularly impressive, but why is its combat effectiveness so formidable? It's because the PLA has been engaged in constant warfare since its founding. Warfare is ingrained in the PLA soldiers, and knowing the laws of war, how could they not win? In the past, the PLA defeated American aircraft and artillery with just millet and rifles. This was because the PLA troops who participated were elite troops forged through years of war, possessing extensive combat experience. While their weapons may be inferior, they were at least world-class!

Zhang Yinghao was far away in Wuhan and could only provide some strategic guidance for the war in Northeast China. No matter what was happening on the front line, Zhang Yinghao did not dare to interfere easily. He could only give unconditional support and trust his comrades. Soldiers, as long as they have completed the education of the people's soldiers, are a group of the most lovely and respectable people. So, at this time, Zhang Yinghao came to the military hospital to inspect the soldiers who were injured in the liberation of Wuhan and other places. Of course, as a military hospital, it is natural to assume the medical services for the general public. After all, doctors can only master real skills through constant practice, just like performing surgery. If you don't do it for a while, your hands will become unfamiliar. So the question is, which company has the best excavator technology...

"Let me help you!"

Zhang Yinghao was about to enter a rehabilitation facility after inspecting the hospital when he heard a gentle voice. He turned the corner and looked up to see a young nurse, plain-looking but gentle, supporting a patient as they walked slowly. Zhang Yinghao recognized the patient from a distance as Long Tongxu, the idiot who refused to leave the hospital.

"She is...?" Zhang Yinghao said, looking at the girl not far away.

"Chairman, this young nurse is the one who takes care of Comrade Long Tongxu. Comrade Long Tongxu seems to be dating this young nurse now."

When Long Tongxu organized his troops to charge, he was met with a desperate counterattack from the Qing army. He was eventually injured and fell unconscious on the front line. He also injured the bones of his calf. He did not receive good care at the time, so he is still recuperating. Unexpectedly, he had romantic luck while in the hospital.

"How do you feel?" The female nurse quickly helped Long Tongxu walk a few steps. "Thank you!" Long Tongxu bounced his feet.

"Okay, from now on you should go out and walk more often every day, so you can get better faster! You sit here for a while, I will come over and help you in later." The nurse smiled gently again.

"Yeah!" Long Tongxu answered softly. Then he watched the nurse, whose smile wasn't particularly pretty, but could make people feel at ease, go into the ward.

"It's very suitable!" Zhang Yinghao whispered these three words, and then his face was full of smiles.

The guards looked at each other, somewhat puzzled by the Chairman's words. "What do you think of that girl?"

Zhang Yinghao asked with a smile, but he didn't wait for the others to respond. He said directly: "I think this girl is very suitable for Comrade Bronzebeard!"

After saying this, Zhang Yinghao's smile widened, and he sighed, "You all know Bronzebeard's violent temper. Just imagine what kind of woman could live with him? Look, now!"

Zhang Yinghao pointed at the somewhat silly Long Tongxu and said, "It's true that there's always something to overcome something."

“No way?”

The guards suddenly realized something and opened their mouths wide, looking at Zhang Yinghao in surprise, wondering why Zhang Yinghao suddenly remembered this. Suddenly, they all shouted in unison, "Chairman, are you going to be a matchmaker?"

"Yeah, that's right!"

Zhang Yinghao replied affirmatively, then he exhaled and sighed, "Comrade Long Tongxu is already quite old. The previous struggles have scarred him emotionally. He needs a gentle, honest girl like this!"

He then laughed again and said, "With her, I believe Comrade Bronzebeard will be even happier in the future! Haha!"

"But, but will Comrade Bronzebeard like it?" the guard whispered. Zhang Yinghao interrupted the guard and said directly: "That's because you haven't married yet, which means you haven't matured yet. A mature man won't pay too much attention to appearance. It's like buying shoes. Only the ones that fit your feet are truly suitable! And a pair with countless advantages may not be really suitable for you!"

"Well, that's the truth!"

The guards seemed lost in thought, probably wondering what kind of woman they were "suitable for"!

Zhang Yinghao walked to Long Tongxu's side and said, "Don't look at it anymore. It's too far away. If you look at it any more, your mouth will water."

Hearing the voice, Long Tongxu finally reacted. Seeing that it was Zhang Yinghao, he immediately stood up and saluted.

"Hello, Chairman. Dragon Bronzebeard reports to you."

After Zhang Yinghao returned the gift, he said, "How about it? Do you know how to pursue girls? Do you want me to teach you?"

Long Tongxu blushed and was speechless at that time.

Zhang Yinghao glanced at Long Tongxu before saying, "There's nothing to be embarrassed about. Men should get married when they're old enough, and women should get married when they're old enough. But as men, we have to take the initiative when pursuing girls. As a leader, don't you know that? Only by attacking can we achieve the final victory. Girls nowadays worship heroes the most, so you should tell her about your heroic deeds in battle..."

Zhang Yinghao repeated what Zhao Gang had said in the game "Drawing Sword" when he saw Li Yunlong pursuing Tian Yu. He then patted Long Tongxu on the shoulder and, while Long Tongxu was stunned, entered the sanatorium to comfort the comrades inside. Many of those who had been injured for such a long time and had not yet been discharged were seriously injured. The Forward Party naturally could not ignore these people. After they recovered and were able to work, they would arrange a job for them. For those who were completely unable to work, the Forward Party would also provide for their lifelong support. They had all made contributions to the liberation of the country, and the country had the responsibility and obligation to support them for the rest of their lives.

After visiting these injured comrades, Zhang Yinghao immediately called a meeting with the relevant comrades from the Women's Federation and the army. The Fifth Field Army had recruited many female soldiers, and the factories had also recruited many female comrades. Since these female comrades dared to work, Zhang Yinghao naturally did not want them to return to their previous secluded lives. Therefore, he naturally cared about the marriage of these comrades.

Zhang Yinghao explained the situation of Comrade Long Tongxu and the others, then asked for the opinions of the Women's Federation. He then said, "Since these comrades have chosen to follow us, we cannot ignore their future. We will leave the marriage matters to the Women's Federation and the comrades in charge of retired military personnel. Although we advocate free love, we still need to let these men and women get to know each other. As for whether it will be successful, that depends on their own abilities."

"Chairman, do you want us to be matchmakers?"

"That's pretty much what I mean. Although it's impossible for female comrades to actually join our field army, we do have quite a few female soldiers. When they recover, we can't just ignore them. You're responsible for finding them partners and finding them jobs. We can't let them return to their previous lives, or be controlled by feudal ethics and clan ties again. If we don't support our own comrades, who will support our female comrades?"

Comrades in the military should also pay attention and ask our demobilized soldiers about their intentions. Now that some comrades have begun to demobilize, they cannot be allowed to return to their previous lives once they enter society. They must make good arrangements for their subsequent work. We are currently lacking talent everywhere. Those who have served in the military should at least know simple addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. There should be no problem for them to become elementary school teachers or workers, right? There should be no problem for them to join our engineering corps, right? These comrades are all excellent comrades, and we encourage them to get married first and then fall in love... "

Zhang Yinghao felt like he was going crazy. Why did he suddenly talk about these things? This was a typical forced matchmaking! Free love and freedom of marriage had actually been thrown out of the window. But let's just force a matchmaking, it's better than these comrades being single and not getting married. Men, only when they have enough sense of responsibility can they truly mature and stable. The most important reason why so many people lie flat in their previous lives is that they didn't get married. If they were married, how could they lie flat?

While Zhang Yinghao was considering the fate of his retired comrades, the war in Northeast China gradually extended to the Greater Khingan Range. Meanwhile, Liu Wenxiu and his colleagues were discussing the data they had collected on the Greater Khingan Range, primarily data on Russia and the Amur region established by Russia.

The presenter said, "According to our current investigation, in the second half of the 19th century, the Tsarist Russian government conducted surveys on gold, silver, lead, iron, copper deposits, coal fields, oil fields, and other underground resources in the Far East. The areas richest in mineral resources are Sakhalin Island, Poshet Bay, and the Olga, Preobrazhenye, and Vladimir Bay regions.

According to currently available data, Russia's pig iron production in 1897 was 1120 million tons, accounting for just 5.5% of the world's total, far behind countries like Britain and the United States. The underdeveloped metallurgical and mining industries failed to provide sufficient raw materials for heavy industry, hindering its development. In particular, the machinery manufacturing industry, which plays a leading role in heavy industry, experienced very slow development. Most of Russia's machinery had to be imported. Even today, the majority of machines used in Russia are foreign. The backwardness of domestic industry inevitably led to a reliance on foreign capital, leading to a rapid increase in foreign investment in Russia.

In 1900, foreign capital accounted for approximately half of all Russian stock capital. In particular, in heavy industries such as metallurgy, mining, and machine building, foreign capital accounted for as much as 74%. Between 1895 and 1904, foreign companies earned profits in Russia exceeding 800 million gold rubles. Meanwhile, the Tsarist government borrowed heavily from abroad. By 1903, Russia's total foreign debt had reached 3 billion gold rubles, with annual interest payments reaching 130 million gold rubles... Therefore, foreign capital's plunder and control of Russia not only became a major factor in the country's slow industrial development but also caused enormous economic difficulties for the country. Furthermore, according to recent intelligence, after the news of our war with Russia broke, Russia's bonds were immediately slashed, and naturally, Russia would not have enough money to fight the war...

"So, there are a lot of foreigners in places like the Greater Khingan Range?"

"Indeed, there are quite a few. In fact, gold mining is relatively easy in the Far East's mining industry. This is because the Far East's placer gold deposits are widely distributed, high-grade, require simple equipment, have a short production cycle, and quickly return on investment. Therefore, capital from countries like Britain, the United States, France, Germany, and Austria has actively infiltrated the gold mining industry. Gold mining sites are spread along the Amur, Zeya, Bureya, and Amgun rivers.

以阿穆尔省为例，1892年它的采金量为418普特，1893年—―431.8普特,1894年――408.8普特。1894-1895年间，阿穆尔省的采金量已经位于俄国前列，现在这些金矿合并成了一些大型资本主义公司。”

“Which country has the most foreigners?”

"Britain has been a forerunner among the large influx of foreign capital into the Far Eastern gold mining industry. Currently, there are over 50 British companies engaged in gold mining in Russia. British industrial and financial capital has shown great interest in the exploitation of gold and other mineral resources in the Urals and Siberia, and is striving to gain a monopoly.

Germany followed, but German capital entered the Russian Far East mining industry on a larger scale much later. Furthermore, cooperation between Germans from Germany and those in the Russian Far East was a key characteristic of German enterprises. Starting in the late 19th century, several of Germany's largest banks developed a strong interest in Russia's gold mining industry. In particular, banker Wolff acquired 166 gold mines in Primorsky, Brynsk, East Baikal, along the Amur River, and elsewhere, establishing his own gold mining operations.

Next came the United States and France. American monopoly capital also invested in the Far Eastern mining industry, albeit modestly, with considerable enthusiasm. Even in the mid-19th century, when the Russian government imposed various restrictions on foreign investment in gold mining, American capitalists sought ways to circumvent these restrictions and infiltrate the Far Eastern gold mining industry. Some capitalists sought Russian citizenship, while others secretly partnered with Russian gold miners and invested in gold mining operations.

French capital began penetrating Russia's gold mining industry in 1862. In 1896, French capitalists purchased the Russian entrepreneur's Amgon gold mining company for 500 million rubles. They also acquired the Newlondukon gold mining company on the northern shore of Lake Baikal, the Polezhaev gold mine in the Barguzin district, and gold mines along the Amur River. According to statistics, French capital invested a total of 1756 million rubles in gold mining in Siberia and the Far East between 1897 and 1905.

There is also the coal mining industry in the Far East... The majority of the laborers in these gold mines, coal mines, and other mines are Chinese, and their living conditions are extremely difficult..."

Chapter 614:

The influence of the great powers is everywhere. The Far East now involves a large number of the great powers' interests and the contradictions are extremely complicated. Once these things are not handled properly, the great powers will have an excuse to interfere.

However, Zhang Yinghao believed that these workers were the ones most in need of rescue by the Forward Party and the People's Liberation Army. Therefore, one of the most important tasks of the forward troops was to contact the laborers in these mines, so that they would be ready to protect the mines from being destroyed, or even to revolt in response.

According to the battle plan previously formulated by the Fifth Field Army's General Staff, the Fifth Field Army would initiate the offensive. The battlefield was divided into three sections. The Fifth Field Army would use its overwhelming superiority to attack the Russian forces in Vladivostok, Khabarovsk, and Chita.

However, offense and defense also have their priorities. In the early stages of the war, the troops deployed in the direction of Manchuria would be on the defensive, guarding against the Russian attack in the direction of Chita. The main force of the Eastern Front would focus on attacking Vladivostok and Khabarovsk.

The main Russian forces deployed in the Far East are also concentrated in Vladivostok and Khabarovsk. Vladivostok, in particular, serves as Russia's main port in the Far East and was once the base of the Russian Pacific Fleet. The entire city has been practically transformed into a fortress. Capturing Vladivostok will undoubtedly be extremely difficult. It is expected that the only option left to deal with the Russian forces stationed in Vladivostok is a siege.

Compared to Vladivostok, Khabarovsk's defenses were far weaker. Located at the junction of the Heilongjiang and Ussuri rivers, it was also a crucial Siberian node constructed by the Russians. If Khabarovsk fell to the Fifth Field Army, the entire Far East and East Siberia would be cut in two. All troops deployed in the Far East would be trapped.

The Russian army currently has approximately 200,000 troops in the Far East, a significant shortfall compared to the Fifth Field Army's intended deployment. For Zhang Yinghao, numbers are one of his strengths. Using the many to defeat the few, using the strong to bully the weak, is the way the army should fight. The army needs heroism, but isn't bullying the weak appealing? There's no need to resort to such servile tactics as evenly matched forces and endlessly devising ingenious strategies.

Many of these Russian soldiers were veterans of the Russo-Japanese War, and their fighting capacity was quite strong. However, many had been captured and subsequently released by Japan, making their fighting spirit undoubtedly the weakest. Furthermore, Russia had been developing very little military in the Far East during this period, resulting in a shortage of weapons and supplies. Therefore, while these troops were undoubtedly strong in combat, their stamina was lacking. It was foreseeable that if the Russian army, without supplies, faced an attack from the Fifth Field Army, its victory would be inevitable.

While this war was intended to eliminate the Tsarist Russian Far Eastern armies, the more important task was to eliminate the Russian civilian population. These foreigners had to be driven out, and if they resisted, they would be eliminated on the spot. Therefore, this war was destined to be a war of large armies interspersed with smaller ones, rapidly interweaving to undermine the Russian grassroots regime...

The Treaty of Aihui, signed by the Qing Dynasty, ceded over 60 square kilometers of territory north of the Heilongjiang River and south of the Greater Khingan Range, known as Outer Manchuria, to Russia. Only in the Sixty-Four Villages east of the Yangtze River did the Qing government retain permanent residency rights for Chinese residents and jurisdiction over them. After the Treaty of Aihui, Tsarist Russia accelerated immigration to the Heilongjiang River's left bank. However, since the initial immigration was primarily driven by military occupation, it primarily consisted of Cossacks and retired soldiers, with a small proportion of farmers.

Furthermore, not only could the immigrants not provide supplies for the garrison, but rations had to be transported from as far away as Irkutsk. However, the fertile land and abundant grain production in areas like Jiangdong Sixty-Four Villages naturally made them a cheap source of supplies for the Tsarist Russian immigrants. Consequently, the majority of unskilled labor in these areas was undertaken by the Chinese, who supplied the Russian residents with various foods and even helped with household chores, even receiving legal protection. It was precisely because of this economic dependence that the Tsarist authorities allowed the Chinese to survive and thrive in the two areas for a period of time.

However, after 1882, the number of Russian immigrants to the Far East increased significantly, while the proportion of military personnel decreased and the proportion of farmers increased significantly. This increase in the number of farmers led to a corresponding increase in the demand for arable land. However, the Greater Khingan Range and other areas were mostly forested, wilderness, and swampy, leaving only the upper and middle reaches of the Heilongjiang River suitable for cultivation. Coupled with the Tsarist authorities' accelerated Russification of the Far East and their ambitions for China's Manchuria and Mongolia, the arable agricultural land of Jiangdong Sixty-Four Villages became a target of Russian covetousness and encroachment. The construction of the Trans-Siberian Railway also led to a surge in Russian immigration to the Far East, exacerbating the land crisis in the region.

This is also one of the reasons why Tsarist Russia created the "Boxer Rebellion". After all, the Russians no longer needed the Chinese to work for them, and the Russians needed land. Killing the indigenous people was naturally the quickest way to obtain land, and Russia did get what it wanted.

However, the Trans-Siberian Railway had not yet been completed, and the number of Russian troops was indeed not very large. Therefore, the Fifth Field Army was very lucky and did not have to worry too much about the problem of people's war in the Far East, because the Tsarist Russia did not have many people in the Far East, and the main competition between the two sides was still the strength of the army.

Moreover, the grain crops in the Northeast only harvested once a year. If the grain-producing area of ​​Outer Northeast was destroyed this year, it would be extremely difficult for the people here to survive. As long as we persist for a few years to eliminate the remaining enemy forces, add immigration, and use the model of settlement and reclamation, then this place will inevitably become Chinese territory again.

The only thing worrying the Fifth Field Army was undoubtedly the Russians' painstakingly constructed fortresses and fortresses, which could be easily destroyed if not carefully constructed. It was precisely for this reason that Liu Wenxiu assigned all of the Fifth Field Army's heavy artillery to the attacking frontline troops. Besides the heavy artillery at Port Arthur, even the heavy artillery at Shanhaiguan had already been transported to the front lines by rail. These artillery pieces would be deployed in the offensive against the Russians. It was believed that with these heavy artillery pieces, they could quickly break through the Russian defenses and completely annihilate the Russian forces in the Far East.

The Fifth Field Army had formulated a plan to defend the west and attack the east. However, if hostilities broke out, Zhang Feng's forces in Mongolia would immediately spring into action. Therefore, the primary pressure on the western front lay with the Russian forces already present in Chita. Furthermore, Liu Wenxiu boldly asserted that the Russians absolutely lacked the courage to enter Heilongjiang. This wasn't to say the Russians weren't courageous, but rather that, having witnessed the Fifth Field Army's combat prowess, they would not dare to venture beyond their own boundaries.

In reality, Russia, whether in the Far East or East Siberia, has no plans for an offensive. Before the subsequent forces are assembled and supplies are stockpiled to a certain level, the Russian army in East Siberia cannot fully exert its combat effectiveness. These troops can only defend at best; an offensive is simply impossible. Therefore, every time Russia threatened the Qing Dynasty to sign a treaty to cut into its territory, it was when the Qing Dynasty was preoccupied. Otherwise, if Russia were to mobilize troops to directly plunder these territories, they would definitely not have the courage to initiate an offensive.

However, if more Russian troops continued to arrive, the Russians would certainly launch an attack on the Mongolian steppes. However, what awaited them was the endless grasslands and the PLA cavalry's endless harassment of the Russian army's rear.

The Eastern Front would be the first battlefield where the war would break out. Facing the Fifth Field Army's attack, the Russian army could only rely on its well-prepared fortifications. Limited by manpower and the lack of a completed Trans-Siberian Railway, they could only passively defend.

Chapter 615:

Inside the Eastern Front headquarters in Mudanjiang, the lights were still bright. Staff officers bustled in and out, the sounds of telephones and radios filling the air, a scene of bustling activity yet orderly. After the war began, this would become the Fifth Field Army's headquarters on the Eastern Front. Of course, as the war progressed, the headquarters would be moved along the railway into Russia.

Comrade Zhao Yong, commander of the Eastern Front Command, was not feeling sleepy at all. The Eastern Front Command had already set the time for the attack: it would begin at 12:00 the next day, the time when people were most sleepy.

Zhao Yong was deeply excited as he commanded such a massive army for the first time, especially against a powerful nation like Russia. He also understood the importance of this battle to the Forward Party and the Fifth Field Army. A victory would elevate the Fifth Field Army to national renown, soaring to prominence and leaving a legacy of prestige and military exploits in history. On the other hand, a defeat for the Fifth Corps would not only incur heavy losses, but also further delay the unification of the country.

"Have all the units arrived at their designated positions? Have the battle preparations been completed? How is the concealment work going?" Zhao Yong asked.

"Commander, all units have secretly arrived at the designated locations. Battle preparations have been made, and now we are just waiting to start the attack." Chief of Staff Wu Bingjun reported to Zhao Yong.

Although this was the first time Zhao Yong had asked the same question, no one in the command room laughed at him. Everyone was excited at the moment. A battle like this was enough to keep everyone awake.

Zhao Yong nodded, then lowered his head to study the map again. The Eastern Front Command consisted of several hundred thousand troops. Aside from a cavalry brigade and an infantry division deployed in the direction of Manchuria for defense, the remaining troops were deployed in Suifenhe and Fuyuan. The offensive directions were Vladivostok and Khabarovsk. The troops attacking Vladivostok were the main force. Even if they couldn't capture Vladivostok quickly, they couldn't force the troops inside out. They had to trap the Russian forces in Vladivostok to death. The attack on Khabarovsk consisted of five infantry divisions and two artillery brigades, with two more infantry divisions in reserve, to be deployed later depending on the situation.

Time slowly slipped by, and the sky was just beginning to break. Light had dispelled the last trace of darkness, and the entire earth was about to be illuminated. However, for the Russians, today marked the beginning of a disaster.

On the Fifth Field Army's positions, artillerymen were busy, pushing cannons into position. Not only were there 105mm howitzers and 75mm field guns, but there were also 155mm heavy howitzers. The troops attacking Vladivostok also had fortress guns mounted on trains.

However, these fortress guns did not appear in the first wave of the attack sequence. Those heavy guns were too heavy, and the shells were relatively expensive. They were only used when fighting against Russian fortresses and redoubts. They were not needed when fighting against ordinary defensive positions built by the Russians.

When the hands on the watch pointed to 6:15, the artillery commander gave the order. The 75mm field guns and 105mm light howitzers deployed on the Suifenhe front immediately began to roar, pouring artillery fire on the opposing Russian positions. At this point, there was no concept of saving ammunition.

At the same time, artillery deployed on the Fuyuan front also opened fire on the Russian positions on the east bank of the Ussuri River. For the Fifth Field Army attacking Khabarovsk, they needed to cross the Ussuri River before they could launch an attack on the Russian army. Therefore, artillery suppression was very important.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

The roar of fierce artillery roared across the Sino-Russian border, and shell after shell whistled towards the Russian positions. Violent explosions echoed across the battlefield. It was as if the Russian positions had suddenly entered the end of the world.

At this time, the Russian soldiers hadn't even gotten up yet. With the exception of a few soldiers observing from their positions, most were still sound asleep. Prior to the attack, the Fifth Field Army's reconnaissance units had crossed the border several times and had already determined the Russian troop deployment. Therefore, the longer-range 155mm heavy howitzers directly attacked the Russian barracks, while the 105mm light howitzers and 75mm field guns bombarded the Russian positions.

"boom!"

A 155mm heavy howitzer shell struck a dormitory within the Russian barracks. Hundreds of Russian soldiers were crammed into the dormitory. But when the shell pierced the roof and exploded inside, the dormitory collapsed. Hundreds of sleeping Russian soldiers perished in an instant.

Under the fierce bombardment of the Fifth Field Army, the entire Russian camp was reduced to a sea of ​​fire. Countless Russian soldiers, awakened by the shock, fled in all directions without even having time to put on their pants.

At the same time, the Russian defensive positions also came under heavy bombardment. The trenches dug by the Russians were blown up in the bombardment. The buried mines were directly detonated. The machine gun firing points and artillery positions that had been built were blown to the sky in the fierce bombardment.

Although the Russian army suffered a crushing defeat in the Russo-Japanese War, the experience gained from it came in handy when the Russian army was building defensive positions. The Russo-Japanese War can even be called a preview of the trench warfare in World War I.

After the Russian government declared war on the liberated areas, the Russian army relaxed its stance, but continued to actively prepare for war. The Governor-General of the Russian Far East, Ruzynski, ordered all Russian troops in the region to enter a state of emergency. Especially after the PLA seized the Chinese Eastern Railway, all Russians knew that war was inevitable.

The Sino-Russian border was a key defensive area for the Russian army. Because of the railway connection, Suifenhe was the focus of the Fifth Field Army's offensive, a fact the Russian army had anticipated long ago. Consequently, the Russian army deployed a full 50,000 troops in Pogranichny across the Suifenhe River, and 80,000 in the direction of Khabarovsk. Another 100,000 were deployed elsewhere and in reserve, so in reality, the total troop strength in Vladivostok was not very large.

When the Fifth Field Army launched an artillery attack, the Russian army was stunned. They had never expected that the Fifth Field Army would launch an attack at this time. After all, so many days had passed since the two sides declared war and there was no movement. More importantly, the Fifth Field Army actually played to death.

Immediately after the declaration of war, the Russian army raised its alert level to the highest level. However, the Fifth Field Army refrained from attacking for several days, and after revolutionaries appeared on their territory and began sabotaging them, the Russian army gradually relaxed its guard. The lower-level officers even assumed that the Fifth Field Army, like them, was assembling its forces, and that it would not attack until its forces were fully assembled. Consequently, they were completely unprepared for the Fifth Field Army's attack.