The Heroic Age of the Late Qing Dynasty

Chapter 616:

The Russian Lieutenant General Vasily, currently the commander of the Russian Far Eastern Military District, was stationed in Pogranichny. Of course, the Far Eastern Governor-General, Ruzynski, was the highest military and political leader of the entire Far East. Ruzynski was currently stationed in Vladivostok, while Vasily personally went to the front lines.

Pogranichnoye and Suifenhe were the eastern gateways for China and Russia at the time, and their respective ports were open for trade. This region records nearly a century of trade exchanges between the two countries. Originally part of China, this region was occupied by Tsarist Russia until the 1858 Treaty of Nuanhui, signed between the Qing government and Tsarist Russia, took over a vast area north of the Heilongjiang River. On November 14, 1860, the Sino-Russian Treaty of Jingcheng was signed, which took over 40 square kilometers of land east of the Ussuri River. On October 7, 1864, Tsarist Russia forced the Qing government to sign the Sino-Russian Agreement on the Demarcation of the Northwestern Boundary, ceding another 440,000 square kilometers of Chinese territory. This is how the border region was ceded to Russia.

Of course, the names of these cities are now named by Russians, but after these lands are recovered in the near future, the names of the cities will naturally need to be changed back.

Given that the Far Eastern Military District could not be replenished in a short period of time, Lieutenant General Vasily believed that once the Fifth Field Army invaded the Far East, the Russian army would be in an extremely disadvantageous position. Therefore, Lieutenant General Vasily believed that the Fifth Field Army should be blocked at the border.

Vasily once assured Governor-General Ruzynski: "Our solid fortifications will make those yellow monkeys bleed. This has been proven in the Russo-Japanese War. The defensive force composed of machine guns, trenches and barbed wire is difficult to break through. It has long been proven in the Russo-Japanese War..."

Although the Russian army suffered a crushing defeat in the Russo-Japanese War, it also allowed the Russian army to gain a lot of war experience. The defensive positions deployed on the Pogranichny front were a group of fortifications painstakingly constructed by the Russian army.

However, these old Russians were clearly slacking off when it came to building their fortifications. As the leaders assumed the Chinese wouldn't dare come, coupled with a shortage of supplies, these Tsarist minions naturally slacked off whenever possible. Most armies exhibited similar behavior in this regard.

These fortifications were destroyed one after another by the Fifth Field Army's fierce bombardment. Even if many fortifications survived, they would probably not be able to play a significant role. The Fifth Field Army immediately took advantage of its interspersed tactics and took the initiative to attack and separate all the Russian troops piece by piece.

If Zhang Yinghao knew about this situation, he would immediately think of the phrase "penetration warfare." After all, this was the pinnacle of the PLA's light infantry tactics in the past, with penetration tactics and division and encirclement being fundamental. Taizu once said that no army is unafraid of penetration, and the current Russian army is certainly not the army of the Red Russian era. Without the encouragement of a political commissar, everyone fears death, especially on the battlefield. Therefore, once these armies are surrounded, the probability of surrender is very high...

Hearing the rumbling of artillery in the distance, Lieutenant General Vasily got up immediately. However, he was still in a good mood and continued to do his work meticulously. After all, in his opinion, the front line was well prepared and could withstand the attack of the Fifth Field Army. But while he was still washing up, his adjutant rushed in and said in panic: "General, the Chinese have launched an attack. Our defensive positions and barracks on the front line have been fiercely bombarded by hundreds of Chinese artillery... Our troops have suffered heavy losses, and the defensive positions on the front line have been destroyed... It is expected that the Chinese infantry attack will begin soon."

Pogranichny is not far from the front line. Once the front-line defensive positions are broken, the Chinese Fifth Field Army will definitely come to attack.

"What? Why didn't our troops resist?"

Lieutenant General Vasily was stunned, feeling completely incredulous, as if he had just heard a joke. However, he knew his adjutant would never dare to joke, so he quickly wiped the foam from his teeth with a towel, put on his clothes, and headed straight for the operations room.

However, upon reaching the war room, bad news arrived. The Russian defenses along the Ussuri River to the north were also under heavy bombardment from the Fifth Field Army. Caught off guard, the Russians suffered heavy losses, and the entire defense line threatened to be breached at any moment.

"Damn it! How could those yellow monkeys have such a strong attack power?" Lieutenant General Vasily was a little bit unbelievable. The battle had just begun, and the Russian troops on the front line had suffered heavy losses. It was obvious that if Russia wanted to continue this battle, it would be extremely difficult, and winning was even more of a luxury.

"Send a telegram to His Excellency the Governor-General and ask him to send us reinforcements as soon as possible. Otherwise, our defense line will collapse completely. Once the defense line collapses, the entire Far East will be in danger of falling." Lieutenant General Vasily knew the situation was urgent and gave the order immediately.

Unfortunately, the Russian army of this era implemented a one-sided defense, lacking the support of the theory of depth. All its forces were concentrated on a single front line, defending only the Fifth Field Army or controlling a few fortresses, while the interior and the wider areas were actually empty. Russia had few men in the Far East, and could only rely on these few points to control the situation throughout the Far East. Now, facing the attack of the Fifth Field Army, Russia's weakness in the Far East was directly exposed.

"Yes, General." The adjutant nodded and immediately went to send a telegram. The Fifth Field Army's fierce artillery bombardment had not yet ended, but the infantry had already begun their attack. Then the artillery shells began an extended bombardment, following the safe passages opened by the artillery, allowing the infantry to pass through the minefield unscathed and directly capture the original Russian positions.

"Hurry, hurry, get into position! Those yellow monkeys are about to attack." The Russian officers who had managed to survive the fierce bombardment began to urge the Russian troops to get into position. They drove the ordinary soldiers like cattle. In fact, those officers never regarded the ordinary soldiers of the Russian Army as human beings. They were just gray animals, disposable troops, expendable goods.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

Sporadic gunfire rang out, and the Russian infantrymen crouched in the destroyed trenches, firing outwards. However, some of the Fifth Field Army's infantrymen had already entered the Russian trenches through the breakthrough points, and more troops were then advancing through the newly opened passages.

After summarizing their battles with the Japanese, the Fifth Field Army's officers and soldiers now understood the principle of interweaving and maneuvering. Only through movement could they find the best opportunities for combat. The Russians were currently defending the front line. If any unit broke through their defenses, they could immediately attack the unprepared enemy from behind, causing the entire Russian army to collapse.

The Russian infantry had insufficient live-fire training, and their marksmanship was truly disappointing. The soldiers seemed to consider the mere act of firing the bullets a task, leaving the matter of where the bullets went and whether they would hit the Fifth Field Army's soldiers or not, all they had to do was rely on God's will.

The PLA had thoroughly implemented the concept of concentrated firepower, especially the use of machine guns and a group of sharpshooters. Without the threat of enemy artillery fire, they were simply head-reapers. Like a red-hot knife, they plunged into the Russian positions with all their might, slicing through them like a hot knife through butter...

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

The Russian firing also drew mortar fire from the Fifth Field Army. Less than a kilometer from the Russian positions, mortars were set up, firing directly at the Russian troops hiding in the trenches. The mortars' curved trajectory ensured that their shells landed directly in the trenches, killing and wounding targets within.

The shells exploded in the trenches, and in the narrow trenches, once the shells exploded, it meant that the soldiers inside could not survive.

"Da da da!"

The heavy machine guns of the Fifth Field Army also began to roar, directly shooting down the Russian soldiers who emerged from the trenches. Under the cover of the heavy machine guns, the infantry of the Fifth Field Army launched a full-scale charge.

"We need artillery support! The Chinese attack is too fierce, we can no longer withstand it!"

A Russian regimental commander shouted into the phone. His regiment, consisting of over 2,000 men, had lost nearly half its men in the previous bombardment. The remaining men were defeated in less than half an hour after being deployed to the battlefield.

However, at this moment, the Russian army was unable to provide artillery support to the front. The Russian artillery positions had been discovered by scouts from the Fifth Field Army before the battle even began. They had become the primary targets of the Fifth Field Army's artillery fire. As a result, the Russian artillery suffered heavy losses at the outset of the battle, with nearly all of their artillery being destroyed.

In just forty minutes, the Fifth Field Army broke through the Russian army's "solid" defense line and launched an all-out attack on Pogranichny.

Meanwhile, the Fifth Field Army's offensive in the direction of Khabarovsk was proceeding smoothly. The Ussuri River wasn't very wide, only a mere two or three hundred meters wide at this point. The Fifth Field Army's chosen location for the attack was particularly prone to islands in the middle of the river. The Russian islands of Kiselevsky and Nevelsky lie in the middle of the river, allowing the Fifth Field Army to construct a pontoon bridge, greatly simplifying the construction process.

The Fifth Field Army initially launched a fierce bombardment of the Russian positions with hundreds of artillery pieces, inflicting heavy casualties on the still-sleeping Russians. Subsequently, the infantry, already prepared, began a beachhead landing in small boats. At 7 a.m., an infantry battalion successfully reached the eastern bank of the Ussuri River. Despite fierce Russian resistance, the Fifth Field Army's powerful artillery fire inflicted heavy losses, rendering it impossible to halt the Fifth Field Army's breakthrough.

At this time, the special forces who had sneaked across earlier also immediately launched an attack on the Russian positions from the rear, advancing deep into the Russian army from behind. This greatly undermined the Russian army's momentum. No one knew how many people had crossed the river or whether any of them had been lost.

Chapter 617:

Zhang Yinghao didn't know much about this kind of river-crossing operation, or even nothing at all. However, he did know about the PLA's million-strong crossing of the river in his previous life. So, during his military training, Zhang Yinghao specifically discussed the issue of river crossings. PLA soldiers must believe that imperialism is a paper tiger, and they must have confidence that their troops could charge across the river and survive well in unfamiliar territory, even without any backup.

As more and more Fifth Field Army troops crossed the Ussuri River, the Russian defensive positions on the east bank of the river finally fell. With a secure beachhead established, the Fifth Field Army's engineers were able to build a pontoon bridge even faster. Using small boats anchored to the river surface, they then covered it with wooden planks. A simple pontoon bridge was constructed. While this bridge couldn't withstand heavy artillery, it was sufficient for passing men and small arms.

After the pontoon bridge was built, the soldiers of the Fifth Field Army quickly crossed it to the east bank of the Ussuri River and began to attack the Russian deep positions. Engineers also began to work hard to build more pontoon bridges, and most importantly, reinforced ones. After all, heavy artillery units were concentrated in this direction. If the heavy artillery could not cross the river, the subsequent battle would be extremely difficult. These large-caliber heavy artillery would definitely come in handy in the subsequent offensive. Therefore, it was necessary to build several more pontoon bridges to get all the supplies across the river as quickly as possible.

After the troops crossed the river, the infantry quickly began to penetrate deep into the enemy's territory using squad and platoon tactics. Troops crossing from other locations also quickly attacked, and soon the two sides met. Immediately, the soldiers attacked from both sides, expanding the occupied safe passage and the defensive perimeter.

The Russians were slow to react. Only after the Fifth Field Army had broken through the Russian defenses on the east bank of the Ussuri River did they send reinforcements from Khabarovsk. However, by then, the Fifth Field Army had already constructed a pontoon bridge and a solid beachhead on the east bank. Without aircraft in this era, it was nearly impossible for the Russians to drive the Fifth Field Army back down the river. They could only watch helplessly as more and more of the Fifth Field Army crossed the river before being ultimately defeated.

In just one round of fighting, the Fifth Field Army demonstrated its fierce offensive, easily breaking through the Russian defensive positions deployed on the border and launching an offensive deep into the enemy's territory. The Russian army suffered heavy losses in the battle, which put their subsequent defense at a great disadvantage...

War was a life-or-death struggle. After the initial victory, a telegram from frontline headquarters reached Liu Wenxiu. Commander Zhao Yong reported that the field army had broken through the Russian defenses in Suifenhe and Fuyuan, respectively, and had entered Russian-held territory. The Fifth Field Army had suffered few casualties and was now advancing deep into the enemy's territory. The Russian resistance was more tenacious than expected... However, the Russians' fighting power and will were no match for the Fifth Field Army's...

After receiving this telegram, Liu Wenxiu finally breathed a sigh of relief. At least the Fifth Field Army had made a good start. Next, the Fifth Field Army, according to the pre-planned plan, advanced towards Vladivostok and Khabarovsk. They rounded up all Russians along the way and sent them to the rear for forced labor. Originally, Liu Wenxiu had intended to send them all to Vladivostok to deplete the Russians' supply reserves, but he changed his mind, realizing that these Russians, having made it to the Far East, were not easy targets and might be the best soldiers to take up arms. Ultimately, however, how to deal with these Russians would depend on a case-by-case analysis. Of course, the Fifth Field Army would not show any mercy; any Russians who resisted would be shot and executed, their fate sealed.

Afterward, a steady stream of telegrams were sent back from the Eastern Front headquarters to the General Staff. The battle itself was gradually reconstructed through these telegrams. The Fifth Field Army, utilizing powerful artillery fire, launched a surprise attack on the Russians. The Russians had not anticipated the Fifth Field Army's attack at this time, resulting in heavy losses. The ensuing battle was predictable. After a breakthrough, the Russians were unable to withstand the Fifth Field Army's all-out offensive, and they were steadily defeated by the Fifth Field Army in the ensuing battle.

The Russian army's only chance was to utilize its already fortified defenses to confront the Fifth Field Army, essentially engaging in a battle of attrition. If they could inflict heavy losses on the Fifth Field Army through these fortifications, they might even be able to reverse the situation. However, while the Russian fortresses and other fortifications were strong, the Fifth Field Army's heavy artillery was no pushover. What would be the ultimate outcome remained to be seen...

On the west coast of the Pacific Ocean lies a city with a privileged geographical location. With a rich coastline, surrounded by mountains on one side and the sea on three sides, it is a prime port city. It is also rich in natural resources, and a variety of birds often gather here, earning it the nickname "Bird City."

Vladivostok was occupied by Tsarist Russia in 1860. Tsarist Russia was one of the great capitalist powers. The development of an industrial economy required vast quantities of capital, raw materials, and labor. These three resources were crucial for the development of a capitalist economy. Therefore, to secure greater access to these three resources, European capitalists decided to venture beyond European borders and forcibly extract the resources they needed from other countries around the world.

In America, they killed large numbers of Indians and occupied their original territories; in Africa, they made deals with local tribal leaders, transporting large numbers of black people onto cargo ships and enslaving them; in the East, the cowardly and incompetent Qing government also became their main target of aggression...

Before the advent of capitalism, China, known as the Celestial Empire, attracted neighboring and Western nations to emulate it. However, during the period of rapid capitalist development, this emerging power far surpassed the Qing Dynasty, which had already entered its old age, its aging pace unable to keep pace with its younger generations. Consequently, countries that once held admiration for the Qing government were suddenly transformed into greedy and criminal powers.

Unwilling to fall behind other powers that similarly invaded the Qing dynasty, Tsarist Russia accelerated its oppression. In 1860, during the Second Opium War, Tsarist Russia and the Qing government signed an unequal treaty. Faced with a formidable foe, the Qing government had no choice but to sign the humiliating Sino-Russian Treaty of Beijing, which ceded territory and paid indemnities. From that point on, Vladivostok fell into Tsarist Russian hands.

After Tsarist Russia occupied Vladivostok, the Chinese living there became remnants of the Qing Dynasty. The immigration problem in Vladivostok became increasingly serious, and the Russian army began a massacre of the Chinese. Under the powerful Russian military force, a large number of Chinese were strangled. However, the Qing government was no longer able to care for them. The Chinese with long braids wanted to exchange their lives for their last bit of dignity, so they bravely competed with the Russian army and fought, thus breaking out the "Vladivostok Uprising."

The Russians wanted to eliminate the large number of Chinese in Russia. This stranglehold was a victory for the Russians, but there were still many local Chinese with pigtails, so they did not let it go. During the confrontation with the Russian army, many Chinese were captured by them. The fate of those who were captured can be imagined. Even though historical records do not provide detailed records, anyone can guess that the final fate of those captives must have been extremely tragic. However, some of the more fortunate Chinese escaped back to China and saved their lives.

Zhang Yinghao knew that Vladivostok was located in the Golden Horn Bay at the southern end of the Muravyov-Chenmursky Peninsula, surrounded by the sea on three sides, making it a natural harbor. It was only about 180 kilometers away from Huichun City in China...

Zhang Yinghao was very familiar with this place. He remembered that in his previous world, especially after World War II, the Russians, in their desperate attempt to permanently occupy this land, had secretly massacred most of the indigenous inhabitants. The few who survived were relocated elsewhere. It could be said that in his previous world, besides the Japanese devils, the ones who owed the most blood debt to the Chinese were these green-eyed Russians, whose crimes were too numerous to list.

Chapter 618:

Vladivostok, once part of China's Vladivostok, is now the seat of the Russian Far East Governor-General's Office and one of the former bases of Russia's Pacific Fleet. After acquiring this port from the Qing Dynasty, Russia began to vigorously build here. To prevent the port from being lost again, Russia even planned to turn the entire Vladivostok into a fortress. Although construction was suspended for a period after the acquisition of Port Arthur, Vladivostok remained an indestructible fortress.

Inside the Far Eastern Governor-General's Office, the Russian Far Eastern Governor-General, Ruzynski, was furious. The painstakingly constructed Russian border defenses had been breached in a single morning. This filled him with disbelief and natural dissatisfaction. After all, as tensions between Russia and the Forward Party intensified, upon receiving orders from the Army Department, he had ordered the Russian army to enter a state of war, ready to resist the Fifth Field Army's advance. Furthermore, the Russian army had been continuously constructing fortifications in the Far East, particularly since the Russo-Japanese War was put on hold. Construction had accelerated.

Governor-General Ruzynski was no fool. Having experienced war with Japan, the Russian army knew that the yellow race was also highly combat-capable. He also knew that facing the Fifth Field Army and the Chinese on their home turf, the Russian army in the Far East was completely outnumbered. In war, it was best to adopt a defensive stance initially, then wait for an opportunity to counterattack. Therefore, he hoped to inflict heavy losses on the Fifth Field Army against the Russian fortifications, thereby compensating for the lack of sufficient weapons and manpower.

Ruzsky believed, or anyone who could read a map would understand, that if a full-scale war broke out between China and Russia, the true battlefield would no longer be in the Far East, but in the Mongolian steppes. If the heavy forces transferred from Europe could achieve victory in Mongolia, they would directly threaten the core areas under the control of the Kadima Party. This war would then end in a Russian victory. However, before achieving victory in East Siberia, the Far Eastern Military District must withstand the offensive of the Fifth Field Army; otherwise, all efforts would be in vain.

"Come here. Give orders to the 19th Infantry Division and the 25th Infantry Division, and ask them to rush to Pogranichny to reinforce General Vasily. Also, tell General Vasily that no matter what method he uses, he must resist the attack of the Fifth Field Army and buy us enough time." Governor Ruzynski gave a serious order.

Ruzynski knew that it would take a long time for Russia to mobilize troops from Europe to Central Siberia when the Trans-Siberian Railway was not yet built.

It would take a long time to launch an offensive in Siberia and defeat the Fifth Field Army in the original method of the White Army. This made the Russian Far Eastern Military District's troops need to

Only by holding on for a longer time can we see victory. Otherwise, without sufficient ammunition and supplies, the Russian army may suffer a crushing defeat.

"Yes, Your Excellency the Governor." A communications officer immediately recorded the order and replied.

Afterwards, Governor-General Ruzynski personally drafted a telegram and sent it to St. Petersburg requesting assistance. The Russian military's forces in the Far East were still too few. This might not be noticeable or felt in normal times, but it would become apparent in war, placing the Russian army at a severe disadvantage. Therefore, he needed more reinforcements, more artillery, and other technical weapons. Although the Trans-Siberian Railway had not yet been completed, the Far Eastern Military District could not obtain supplies by land. However, the Kadima Party lacked a navy, making it possible for the Far Eastern Military District to obtain supplies by sea. However, dispatching a fleet from the Baltic Sea or the Black Sea to transport troops and supplies to Vladivostok would take more than two months. However, with Russia's national strength, it could still find ways to obtain support from elsewhere. As for whether the Russian troops in the Far East could hold out for a while, Governor-General Ruzynski naturally felt that there was no problem.

The Winter Palace in St. Petersburg, Russia. Nicholas II had already moved back from the Summer Palace. After all, war was about to begin, and if he continued to live outside the city, information would be difficult to convey, hindering the handling of state affairs. Russia's ministers couldn't afford to travel dozens of kilometers in carriages daily to the Summer Palace to report on state affairs. This would not only delay the war but also endanger their safety amidst the rampant assassination attempts by the revolutionaries. The Tsar had no choice but to end his retreat and return to the Winter Palace.

When the Fifth Field Army launched its attack, it was still late at night in St. Petersburg. Due to the time difference, Tsar Nicholas II and a number of the Russian government's military and political ministers were still asleep. It was precisely because of the time difference that remotely directing operations in this era was a hellish problem.

After the declaration of war, Russian Army Minister Sukhomlinov was in a state of high tension. However, the Fifth Field Army was slow to launch an offensive, and the Russian Army lacked the strength and ability to initiate an offensive, which meant that the actual war did not begin immediately.

Sukhomlinov remained vigilant, fearing a surprise attack from the Fifth Field Army. However, Sukhomlinov was already quite old, and soon he could no longer hold on. While he was sound asleep, a sudden and urgent knock on the door woke him up.

"What happened?" asked Sukhomlinov.

"Sir, the war in the Far East has begun, and the Qing army has taken the initiative to attack." The adjutant outside the door shouted.

"God damn it! Get the carriage ready and go to the War Office at once."

Sukhomlinov was instantly awakened. He quickly dressed and got in a carriage to the War Ministry.

At the same time, he sent people to report to Tsar Nicholas II, Prime Minister Kokovtsev and others.

At dawn, Sukhomlinov had received a telegram from the Far Eastern Governor-General's Office. The Russian army had suffered a defeat at the outset of the war, leaving Sukhomlinov distraught. Later, a telegram pleading for assistance from the Far Eastern Governor-General, Ruzynski, made Sukhomlinov realize that the situation in the Far East seemed even worse than his worst-case scenario. This meant that the Russian Army's chances of winning the war were facing a significant uncertainty.

After dawn, Sukhomlinov went to the Winter Palace to meet with Tsar Nicholas II and report to him on the latest war situation.

"Your Majesty, the war started at two o'clock this morning. The Chinese have deployed at least hundreds of thousands of troops to attack the Amur Military District," Sukhomlinov reported.

Nicholas II heard this and immediately roared: "Bastards, bastards, this is unforgivable! Those yellow monkeys actually dared to enter our territory and attack the great Russian Empire. This is naked aggression and it is unforgivable...Have we resisted the offensive of those yellow monkeys?"

Although Nicholas II had the delusion of becoming Peter the Great and was somewhat headstrong and conceited, he was no fool after all. He also knew that the Far Eastern Military Region was too weak and that in this war, just like the war against Japan, the situation would be very bad.

"Your Majesty, the Chinese offensive is very powerful. They are equipped with a large number of heavy artillery. The fortifications we painstakingly built have been severely damaged under the fierce Chinese bombardment, and the army has suffered heavy casualties. Therefore, we are unable to withstand the Chinese attack. At dawn, the Chinese have broken through our border defense line and are attacking in depth. The Far Eastern Military District is trying its best to stop the Chinese attack." Sukhomlinov answered truthfully.

Of course, he attributed everything to the Fifth Field Army's powerful offensive capabilities and the deployment of a large number of heavy artillery. He made no mention of the Russian Army's negligence, its unpreparedness, or its single-line defense.

Even so, Tsar Nicholas II's face had darkened. But what made Nicholas II even angrier was the next piece of news: "Your Majesty, our country's bonds have plummeted again in the international market. No one is willing to buy our bonds anymore!"

"Bastard, bastard, tell Ruzynskiy to resist the attack of those yellow monkeys! We must win. He has so many troops and can do it with his strong fortifications. In addition, we can't just defend, we must launch a counterattack against those yellow monkeys." Nicholas II said gritting his teeth.

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

"Your Majesty, we are short of troops in the Far East and can only passively defend. As for Central Siberia, domestic rebels have instigated a large number of workers to go on strike, and railway transportation has been blocked. Although we are gathering troops, we cannot launch an attack now." Sukhomlinov replied stiffly.

"I don't care! How you launch a counterattack is your business, but I must see the great Russian army defeat those yellow monkeys!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

Sukhomlinov nodded. There was no doubt that Nicholas II had just snapped his head and issued this unrealistic political order.

"Your Majesty, Governor-General Ruzynski has requested that we provide sea support to the Far Eastern Military District. He needs a large number of troops, artillery, ammunition, and food so that the Far Eastern Military District can hold out longer in the war."

"We'll prepare for both scenarios. On the one hand, we'll send the navy to transport supplies to the Far East. This time, the British won't stop us! On the other hand, we'll also purchase weapons from countries like Britain and the United States. This will be much more convenient and quicker. As for the army, order Anuchin to send troops to the Far East for reinforcements, and follow-up troops will replenish them..."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Sukhomlinov nodded. Purchasing military supplies as planned from Britain, the United States, and other countries would undoubtedly be the best option. Sending a batch of reinforcements to Central Siberia would undoubtedly help secure the Far East. However, Russia's transportation capacity was already insufficient, and it couldn't send much to the Far East at once. The only option was to resort to a refueling tactic. Only a few thousand or even tens of thousands of troops at a time—how much of a difference would that make? This was a question worth pondering.

Chapter 619:

After the meeting, Sukhomlinov returned to the War Ministry with a gloomy face. Nicholas II had entrusted him with the task of counterattack, and he had to find a way to fulfill Nicholas II's demands. Otherwise, he, the Minister of War, would likely fall into disgrace, just like his predecessors, Kuropatkin and Alexeev, who had lost the Russo-Japanese War.

"If we want to fight back against the Chinese, we definitely can't do it in the Far East. The Far East's army has too much difficulty in logistical supply, and even defense is very difficult, let alone counterattack. Once the army leaves its solid defensive position, it will probably become a target for annihilation by the Chinese..."

Sukhomlinov was no fool. He knew the Far Eastern Military District couldn't launch a counterattack. The only forces capable of launching a counterattack were undoubtedly the East Siberian Military District or the Central Asian Military District. However, before the war, the entire East Siberian Military District had only a few tens of thousands of troops. After the declaration of war, the military's strength had increased by tens of thousands. However, attempting to invade the Mongolian steppes with only tens of thousands of troops and engage in a decisive battle with the Chinese army on the Mongolian plateau was undoubtedly impossible.

However, Tsar Nicholas II only requested a counterattack against the Fifth Field Army. He did not intend to defeat the Chinese army in this single battle and restore their reputation and losses. This gave Sukhomlinov ample room for maneuver. Consequently, Sukhomlinov telegraphed the Governor-General of East Siberia, Anuchin, requesting that he dispatch a powerful force to attack the Mongolian steppes, achieve a partial victory, and bolster the war in the Far East.

Anuchin, having become the Governor-General of East Siberia and a powerful figure, was no fool. He was fully aware of the current situation. The East Siberian Military District had not yet completed its war preparations, and launching an offensive at this time would most likely result in failure. Furthermore, the distance from East Siberia to the Mongolian steppes was hundreds or even thousands of kilometers, stretching as far as the eye could see. Sending troops there before preparations were made would be tantamount to seeking death.

However, since the Tsar simply wanted to see the heroic Russian army invade China, satisfying this request would undoubtedly be very easy. The great Russian army simply entering Mongolia, with the right propaganda, would be a great victory...

At this moment, the head of a gold mine in Amur also learned that the Qing army had begun its attack on the Far East. Unable to predict the outcome of the war, he resolved to hold out until reinforcements arrived. He gathered all the foremen at the gold mine, appointed them captains of the mine protection teams, and issued each a rifle. He then instructed them to lead the Russian garrison and police stationed at the gold mine to organize the miners into a mine support team. They were to cooperate with the garrison to build fortifications and plant explosives around the mine to thwart the Chinese attack and protect the gold mine.

Most of these foremen were in cahoots with the Russians, having made their fortunes by withholding the miners' wages and exploiting their blood and sweat. Many of them had nice houses in the city, and their wives and children were well-fed and lived a comfortable life. Suddenly, upon hearing that the Fifth Field Army was attacking the Far East, these foremen panicked. They knew that if the Fifth Field Army occupied the gold mines, the miners would definitely not let them go. After all, these foremen had killed countless compatriots to gain the Russians' trust. Therefore, the Russians ordered the miners to organize a mine defense. These foremen responded enthusiastically, leading the defense teams in a roaring and shouting frenzy.

By this time, the miners at this gold mine had actually been secretly organized and were preparing to launch an uprising! The gold mine was a major mine in Outer Northeast China, with numerous miners, numerous mine shafts, and numerous shacks where the miners lived, making it easy to conceal their forces and mobilize the miners to rise up against the Russians. Therefore, when the small units of the Fifth Field Army were disbanded, this place became a key target.

Where there's oppression, there's resistance. This is an undeniable truth. Logically, if the Russians wanted more gold, they should have improved workers' wages, improved their lives, and stimulated gold production. However, for profit, the Russians are now implementing a policy of "human mining," extending underground working hours and exploiting miners to increase production and profits. Underfed and undercrowded gold miners, dying of starvation, disease, or being crushed by landslides, are dumped by their foremen into abandoned mines, where they receive no reed mats to wrap their bodies. Such conditions have driven the miners to the brink of despair. Once a spark of rebellion is ignited, it's bound to spread like wildfire.

They were still there when Zhang Yinghao sent the special forces to the Northeast. The captain of the Special Forces 5th Company, Huang Jinshan, led the entire team to hide in the gold mine in the Outer Northeast for a long time. Their mission was to develop the organization, protect the gold mine, and strictly prevent the Russian army from becoming desperate and blowing up the mine in the future. Under his organization, the miners formed a number of armed work teams.

The comrades in the special forces were naturally aware of the specific conditions in Outer Manchuria. The speed with which the Forward Party developed its ranks was undeniable. Later, with the experience of the Pingxiang Coal Mine Uprising and the guidance of Hu Songhui and others, the soldiers naturally knew what to do.

By the time the Fifth Field Army dispatched its special forces team before this offensive, the gold mine had already recruited 80 members and organized several branches. Each member united a group of activists, forming the mine's underground Party organization. Of course, having been hiding in Outer Northeast China for so long, Comrade Huang Jinshan and his men naturally had more than just one mine. Now they were just waiting for the roar of "Chen Sheng and Wu Guang"!

The Fifth Field Army's special forces were skilled in camouflage and concealment. Upon meeting Huang Jinshan, Liu Chengdong helped him improve his intelligence system. He selected 300 members of the Party and activists working in the gold mines and organized political education and military training in the abandoned mines. Since the mines were often abandoned, the special forces and armed work team comrades, each with two or three core Party members from the miners, trained discreetly under the Russians' noses. After a period of training, they formed an armed force under the control of the Party to protect the mines. They were poised to organize a miner uprising when the main attack on the Russians occurred, protecting the mines and liberating the entire Far East.

It's ridiculous that the old Russians only have gold in their eyes. They know nothing about Liu Chengdong and Huang Jinshan's actions. They are still ignorantly organizing a mining protection team to fight against our army. They simply don't know how to write "die suck"!

In fact, even if the Fifth Field Army did not attack Outer Northeast China, the situation there had already been undercurrents. The armed work teams and the various teams of the northern advance team were making final preparations for launching an armed uprising...

Russia declared war on the Forward Party, and preparations for armed uprisings in various places entered the countdown. However, launching an armed uprising must seize the right time, that is, it is best to start the uprising immediately when the main force arrives. This way, you can get twice the result with half the effort and avoid the bloody suppression or massacre of the Russians.

The Fifth Field Army had already breached the Russian border defenses and began advancing deep into Pogranichny. The Russian commander, Lieutenant General Vasily, wore a grim expression. In just half a day, their defenses had been breached and completely collapsed, a move completely beyond his expectations. While Pogranichny's defenses were relatively strong, he had no confidence they could withstand the Fifth Field Army's powerful assault. He only had 50,000 men, and the infantry division deployed on the border had already been overwhelmed, suffering heavy losses. It would undoubtedly be useless in the ensuing battle.

"General, this is a telegram from His Excellency the Governor." A staff officer delivered the telegram to Lieutenant General Vasily.

Lieutenant General Vasily's expression brightened after reading the telegram. In it, Governor-General Ruzynski informed him that reinforcements from two infantry divisions had already departed Vladivostok. However, because the railway had been damaged by the Fifth Field Army's reconnaissance forces, their arrival would take three to four days. He urged him to hold out and await reinforcements. Lieutenant General Vasily also believed that even with the Fifth Field Army's formidable combat capabilities, it should still be able to hold out for three to four days.

"Order all units to retreat to Pogranichny and prepare to fight those yellow monkeys in the city!" Lieutenant General Vasily gave the order.