The Heroic Age of the Late Qing Dynasty

Before Liu Gouzui had even finished listening, he stood outside the shack and started cursing: "Fuck you! Li Ergou, get out of here! You bastard, how have I ever treated you badly? I think you're thinking of blocking the enemy's way at the front line..."

Before Liu Gouzui could finish his curse, a miner with wrinkles all over his face came out of the shack and said to him, "Oh, it's Liu the Boss. Come in and sit down. The guys just opened a bottle of wine and took two sips before they started talking nonsense. Don't mind me!"

Liu Gouzui wouldn't go into the shack because he thought it was dirty. Then he heard Liu Gouzui say, "Fuck you, you bastards are such bastards. You get itchy if you don't get a beating for a day, right? If I don't come soon, will you guys make a scene?"

"No, no, it's just that everyone took turns shouting, 'Li Ergou doesn't know anything.' Haha, what a coincidence! Captain Liu, please come in. I just caught some stupid spores today. Let's have some together!"

When Liu Gouzui heard about eating stupid spores, he sniffed and smelled a fragrant aroma. His eyes suddenly lit up. He had wanted to call out all the miners immediately, but now there was no need. He shouted loudly: "Lao Niu, ah! You bastards deserve to suffer all your lives. If there are good things, you should give them to these hard-working Russian soldiers! Forget it, you don't know anything. Let's just let a few adults taste our game!"

After saying that, Liu Gouzui took Lao Maozi into the shack.

The old cow who came out to make Liu Gouzui laugh was a member of the Huangjinshan Armed Work Team. His name was Niu Dali. When the Boxer Movement failed, he could no longer make a living in Hebei and fled to the border areas. Then he was tricked by Liu Gouzui to come to this gold mine. He had a history of rebellion, good skills, and a lively personality. After Huangjinshan led the team to the gold mine to secretly mobilize the masses, Niu Dali became a target of development and became a member of the armed work team. Now he just continues to work as a miner and continues to dig. Slowly, he became familiar with the mine boss and supervisor, and gradually gained the trust of Liu Gouzui.

Liu Gouzui was dumbfounded when he entered the shack. Spores were indeed stewing on the stove in the middle of the shack, but more than a dozen people standing on both sides of the shack were holding guns in their hands, with the black muzzles and the cold bayonets shining directly at him.

Liu Gouzui was stunned, and the few Russians who followed him in were also panicked. Just when the Russian wanted to take out the bullet, Niu Dali, who followed the Russians in, pushed the Russian who was walking at the back with both palms. The Russian was already a little dazed, and he couldn't stand. He fell forward and fell to the ground with the Russian in front of him. Liu Gouzui's legs were already a little weak when he saw this scene, and now he was also dragged to the ground.

Niu Dali then raised his foot and stepped on the back of the Russian soldier's neck. He stomped his foot hard, and heard the sound of bones breaking. The Russian soldier was obviously dead. The dozen or so soldiers and mining guards standing in the shack also rushed over, stabbing the Russian soldier with their bayonets, and the battle was resolved in a few seconds.

Liu Gouzui was a shrewd man who made money both inside and outside the Great Wall. He knew what he had done, and when he saw this, he immediately begged for mercy, saying he had something to report...

Chapter 628:

What kind of situation could Liu Gouzui have to report? Isn't it just that the Russians want to organize miners to assist the Russian army in defending the gold mine? The Russians made such a big fuss, and Liu Chengdong and Huang Jinshan are not deaf or blind, so they must have known about this situation a long time ago.

However, the comrades still gave Liu Gouzui a chance, but as expected, they did not get any more useful information from him. Therefore, the evil Liu Gouzui lost the opportunity to make amends. He could not escape the bayonets of the vengeful miners and paid with his life.

Liu Gouzui and the Russians he brought with him were killed, thus marking the beginning of the Far East miners' uprising.

Liu Chengdong, the general commander of the uprising, Huang Jinshan commanded a special operations team, and a mine protection team composed of party members and activists. They organized miners from major gold mines, arrested Russian managers of various mines, and rushed to the Russian garrison barracks, police station and mine headquarters building in the gold mine.

At the forefront were the special forces, armed workers, and armed mine guards, charging forward fearlessly. The miners, hammers, clubs, and shovels in hand, followed closely behind, shouting and venting their rage, forging ahead to eliminate all their oppressors.

The entire mining area instantly erupted in a tsunami of molten iron and oil, ablaze and seething! The mine manager had no idea his protection team hadn't even been organized yet, and the miners were rioting. From his office window, he watched in horror as the tsunami-like influx of people approached. He frantically yelled at his secretary to quickly call the garrison, demanding immediate reinforcements to the mining area and eliminate the rioters.

Lao Maozi's family lived in a nearby Russian settlement, and because the situation was tense, he temporarily stayed at the mine and did not return. Coincidentally, today he witnessed the spectacular scene of the miners' uprising.

When the Tsarist Russian defenders received a call for help from the mining area, they knew that these mine owners were their bread and butter, so without hesitation, the Russian garrison immediately blew the whistle, assembled urgently, and rushed towards the gold mining area.

The Russian garrison was small, just a battalion of over 500 men, usually idle. During the Russo-Japanese War, two platoons were transferred to reinforce the field army, but they were never returned, likely to replace losses in the field army. The remaining Russian troops were scattered across the various mines, and today, ordered by their superiors to disperse to various mining areas and miners' settlements to organize mine protection teams, they were scattered and wiped out by the rebellious miners. At this time, only a few dozen Russians remained in the mine barracks.

Upon seeing the insurgents pouring across the mountains and plains, the Russian soldiers loaded their rifles and began firing. The old Russian mine manager also went shirtless, pulled his pistol from a drawer, opened a window, and prepared to fire. This shows that not only was this old Russian wealthy, he also took his own safety very seriously. However, as a capitalist, this old Russian had never been in the battlefield. Hunting was fine for him, but fighting with a gun was far from his skill. However, since the Russian mine owner had made a fortune in the Far East, he was certainly courageous and certainly had plenty of brains. He had also been a hunter and knew that he had to wait until the rebellious miners were within range before opening fire.

Liu Chengdong and Huang Jinshan, the commanders of the uprising, charged to the front, rifles drawn, acting as soldiers attacking the mine. The garrison consisted mostly of veterans, well-trained and more than capable of guarding the mine. While they might have lacked battlefield experience, their fighting prowess was undeniable. Despite their lack of combat experience, they opened fire when the rebels were within 300 meters, their muzzles blazing with flames as they pierced the insurgents.

Although the distance was a bit far, it was still effective. Three members of the inexperienced mining guards who were rushing in front were knocked down immediately. When Liu Chengdong saw the Russians opening fire at a distance of 300 meters, he immediately knew that these soldiers were a group of untempered soldiers. He immediately ordered them to stop advancing and lie down, and then ordered his special forces team to eliminate the Russians' firepower points.

At this time, the owner of the gold mine also opened fire. The old Russian grinned, holding a pistol, looking down from a high position, with a crazy look on his face, and kept shooting, making the uprising team attacking the mine unable to raise their heads for a while.

Unfortunately, the Russian didn't know how formidable some of the gunmen he faced were. If he had, he might have simply surrendered or quietly slipped away. Sure enough, the Russian's smirk didn't last long. With no real combat experience and no idea how to conceal himself, he naturally became a sitting duck. The soldiers fired a barrage of bullets, one hitting his chest and another lodging between his eyebrows, ending his sinister life.

It was a complete victory, a truly complete victory! With the Special Forces' combat effectiveness, dealing with the garrison was a piece of cake. They used long-range sniping, close-range covering attacks, and rapid-fire shooting while running and rolling, completing the battle in a textbook manner. It was like the Japanese Special Forces attacking the Independent Regiment in the film "Bright Sword"! Soon, these few Russians were all shot to death.

To completely conquer these newly recovered areas, the Chinese working there had to be given more attention, as they were more familiar with the local environment and had adapted to life there. Therefore, after the rebels cleaned up the battlefield and regrouped, they immediately began to move again. Some went to meet the main force, while others immediately began to rescue miners in other mining areas...

The main force had already begun a rapid sweep along the East Siberian Railway. With the mobility of the train, the troops' movement speed increased rapidly. At this moment, the Fifth Field Army's intention was obvious: to completely and thoroughly annihilate the Russian Far Eastern Front and clear all obstacles for the future construction of this land.

After the miners reunited with the army, the pace of clearing increased again. After all, no map, no matter how good, could be as swift and effective as the miners' guidance. Many of the Russian Far Eastern Front's stationed troops were wiped out before they could even retreat, and all their stored supplies and equipment became spoils of war for the Fifth Field Army.

Because the Fifth Field Army had earlier spread rumors, infiltrated, and sabotaged the Far East, Russian Far Eastern immigrants had already been traveling westward along the railway before the war broke out, preparing to return. However, those who did not board the train had already become prisoners of the Fifth Field Army. How could walking be faster than a train?

Because Russia had no defense-in-depth system in the Far East, instead establishing a series of strongholds along the railway line. This railway line was so close to China and so long, forming a series of strongholds, it was impossible for the Russian army to protect the entire line. Now that the Fifth Field Army had successfully broken through the defense line, Russia's influence in the Far East had effectively collapsed, existing in name only. With the exception of Vladivostok, which could still be held, the Russians were eliminated wherever the army passed, and all the land became Chinese territory.

After the PLA captured Khabarovsk and Shuangchengzi, the situation in the Far East deteriorated rapidly, and the Russian army collapsed unexpectedly. If the Far Eastern Front were annihilated, or if hundreds of thousands of troops were captured, China's northeast would no longer be vulnerable and could focus its efforts westward. This would open the door to Russia's Ural region to the Fifth Field Army, and the initiative in the war would be completely in China's hands. The Russian army would no longer have the strength in the Far East to contain the Fifth Field Army's westward advance into the Ural region.

Chapter 629: First update!

Faced with such dramatic changes in the Far East, and such rapid shifts in the situation, the Far Eastern Front Commander Ruzynski was panicking. So was Tsar Nicholas II. Of course, panic wasn't the same as panic. After conferring with his senior officials, Tsar Nicholas II immediately ordered the Far Eastern Front to delay the war at all costs. Vladivostok must be held, and all other armies must abandon their positions. Lake Baikal and the Greater Khingan Range must be defended to the death, with no retreat allowed.

At the same time, he ordered the Governor-General of East and West Siberia, Anuchin, to immediately attack the Mongolian region to tie down the PLA's forces and prevent them from forming a two-pronged attack on the troops in the Far East. He also ordered the troops in the Ural region to rush to Irkutsk and be ready to engage in battle at any time to support the Far Eastern Front's operations and cover the Far Eastern Front's main force in breaking out.

At this critical moment, Nicholas II came to his senses and realized that the Far East was temporarily hopeless. This was the time when the courage to make decisive decisions was needed, and the commander's wisdom would be revealed.

He stood up and said loudly: "Now is not the time to debate whether to give up the Far East or not, but to make up our minds on how to preserve the main force of the Far Eastern Front. If we can temporarily withdraw from the Far East in exchange for the safe evacuation of the elite Far Eastern Front, this deal is worth it! We can eliminate the main force of the Chinese in Mongolia and completely retake the lost land..."

By this time, Ruzynskiy was so anxious that his mouth was blistered. He felt bitter, completely confused as to why the situation had escalated into this state. He ordered all government agencies in Vladivostok to evacuate the elderly and children to the coastal area. All men and women aged 14 and under 60 in Vladivostok were urgently conscripted into the army, including prisoners in prison to fill the gaps in the military.

The Far East was far from the heart of Soviet Europe. Furthermore, the Trans-Siberian Railway hadn't yet been fully constructed. Coupled with the Russo-Japanese War, immigration was limited, resulting in a sparse population and a vastly insufficient supply of soldiers. Ruzynski's order was no small feat; even exiled revolutionaries were drafted into the army, a move that required immense courage. Of course, Ruzynski could only recruit men from Vladivostok; he had lost contact with those elsewhere. He also reported the Far East's developments to Anuchin, the Governor-General of East Siberia. His message was clear: Anuchin was now the sole source of support.

Anuchin was already on edge. The collapse of the Far East had caught him off guard, leaving him feeling extremely uneasy. Receiving orders from Nicholas II, Anuchin had no choice but to summon Major General Alexander Giminov, commander of the Siberian Cossack Army. He was ordered to lead his now assembled 26,000-strong Cossack cavalry in a first-march assault into the Mongolian steppes.

Of course, Anuchin told Major General Alexander Gimyonov that they didn't need to penetrate too deeply into the Mongolian steppes, lest they be besieged by the main force of the People's Liberation Army. They only needed to roam the northern part of the Mongolian steppes. That way, they would be able to report to Tsar Nicholas II.

But Major General Alexander Gimionov is also a proud

The honor of the Cossacks did not allow them to do so. He obviously could not accept such a task, although he obeyed the order of Governor Anukhin on the surface.

In reality, he deeply longed to fight the PLA and forge his glory with the blood of the Chinese people. According to Russian Army tradition, the commander of each cavalry corps held the rank of Lieutenant General. However, Major General Alexander Gimionov had only just taken over the position, and he needed a victory to secure his promotion.

Major General Alexander Gimionov believed that he was leading the most powerful cavalry in the world and that he could easily defeat the Chinese and win the war.

The Cossack cavalry was considered one of the most powerful cavalry units in modern times. While the dragoons and cuirassiers of other European countries could barely match the Cossacks in terms of combat effectiveness, they were far inferior in terms of manpower. Consider that, in World War I, Russia assembled 11 Cossack cavalry regiments, totaling 300,000 men.

In the era of cold weapons, the Cossack cavalry, known for its speed, mobility, lethality, and valiant combat, relentlessly forged a formidable force across Europe. European countries frequently recruited Cossacks as mercenaries. They participated in every campaign from the 18th century to the Soviet Union's Second World War. Some say they embody the most quintessentially rugged cavalry of the European and Russian steppes. Their cavalry galloped in sync with Tsarist Russia's expansion, contributing numerous significant military exploits to Russia's expansion.

It can be said that the Cossack cavalry is still the most elite unit in the Russian Army. The Russian Army currently has 11 Cossack military districts forming a standing army. If war is needed, the Cossack cavalry can quickly recruit troops and form large cavalry units in a very short time.

The Siberian Cossack Cavalry Corps was the only mobile corps under the command of Anuchin, the Governor-General of East Siberia. It had already been drafted and was ready to attack at any time. To adapt to the battlefields of the Mongolian steppes, Russia had already dispatched another Cossack Cavalry Corps to provide support. However, that corps was still on its way.

Compared to the elite Cossack cavalry, the PLA's cavalry seemed somewhat lacking. Half of the PLA's cavalry were Mongolians, but the Mongols today are no longer as elite as their ancestors. Of course, this statement is unrealistic. Outer Mongolia currently has a population of just over 60. How many troops could they recruit? Even if every Mongolian was an eagle on the grassland, it wouldn't take many bullets to kill them all.

Although they grew up on horseback and had superb riding skills, the PLA, under the leadership of Zhang Yinghao, always believed in firepower, so even the cavalry were equipped with the heaviest possible weapons.

The weapons equipped by the cavalry were almost identical to those of the infantry. However, the lances in the cavalry's hands were more suitable for firing from horseback. Furthermore, the cavalry had an additional saber. The rest of their equipment was similar. To increase the firepower of the cavalry, they were equipped with inexpensive weapons like mortars whenever possible.

Such firepower was absolutely incomparable to the Cossack cavalry, who believed in rapid maneuverability. With the advent of automatic weapons, the massed cavalry charge became obsolete. Faced with the crossfire of heavy machine guns, a cavalry attack looked more like a suicide mission. While cavalry had not yet faded from the historical stage, they had already begun to decline, and the speed of their decline had surpassed the imagination of all the cavalrymen.

With the development of technology, when armored vehicles appeared, cavalry almost completely lost its value because they could neither outrun nor defeat. Of course, at this time, cavalry was still the most mobile force.

Chapter 630:

The Siberian Cossack Cavalry Corps, led by Major General Alexander Gimionov, marched from Irkutsk towards Mongolia. In just a week, they crossed the border and entered Mongolian territory. Mongolia was so well-suited to the maneuverability of cavalry, that the People's Liberation Army had few troops deployed in northern Mongolia at this time. All troops had retreated to central and southern Mongolia, particularly to cities like Kulun and Uliastai, allowing the Cossack cavalry to advance without delay.

When Tsar Nicholas II learned about the "glorious" results achieved by the Cossack Cavalry Corps, he was very pleased and satisfied.

Although Governor Anuchin dispatched the Siberian Cossack Cavalry Corps under the command of Major General Alexander Giminov into Mongolia, this had little impact on the overall situation. The PLA had already temporarily abandoned the northern Mongolian steppes. Major General Alexander Giminov's elite Cossack cavalry found nothing in the northern Mongolian steppes, only spotting PLA scouts from afar. They didn't spot any of the PLA's main forces. As for the herders in northern Mongolia, they had already been evacuated.

This made Major General Alexander Gimionov very dissatisfied. He wanted to lead the Siberian Saxon Cavalry Corps southward, but the intelligence he received showed that the People's Liberation Army had assembled a large number of troops in the central Mongolian steppes. If he rashly moved south, he would probably be surrounded by the enemy.

However, by this time, the Ural Gorzack Cavalry Corps had already arrived in Irkutsk. Governor-General Anuchin immediately ordered the Ural Gorzack Cavalry Corps to move south to join the Siberian Gorzack Cavalry Corps. Furthermore, Governor-General Anuchin instructed Major General Alexander Gimyonov to seize the right opportunity to inflict a heavy blow on the Chinese army, thus securing a Russian victory.

After all, they have not achieved any remarkable military achievements since entering Chinese territory. If Anuchin is not satisfied, the Tsar will naturally not be satisfied either.

Major General Alexander Gimionov immediately realized his chance to make a name for himself. A victory, even a small one, would earn him recognition from the higher-ups at a time when the war was unfavorable to Russia. A promotion to Lieutenant General would be a sure thing.

So, Major General Alexander Gimionov immediately took action to create an opportunity for himself.

However, Major General Alexander Gimionov was unaware that his cavalry corps, which had been patrolling the northern Mongolian steppes, had long since attracted the attention of Zhang Feng and his team. The PLA Mongolian Military District Command had completed its war preparations, and its cavalry was fully deployed. Since the Russian cavalry had entered the battlefield first, the PLA planned to immediately eliminate the Russian Siberian Cossack Cavalry Corps, thus relieving pressure for the subsequent counterattack.

As the Russians, with their aggressive ambitions in the Far East, began to settle down, Zhang Yinghao immediately began to shift his propaganda accordingly. The Russians' ambitions for Mongolia and the Northeast were obvious to everyone. The Russian Tsar was even more determined to turn northern China into a Yellow Russia. Although the Russians' current situation seemed to be dire, their invasion of northern China remained unchanged and never ceased.

The Russian invaders had long sought to seize these regions, and Zhang Yinghao was now completely relentless in his propaganda. Tsar Nicholas II attempted to establish a so-called Yellow Russia in northern China. To implement this evil plan, the Russian imperial government forced the Qing government to sign a series of unequal treaties. Simply exposing these unequal treaties between the Qing and Tsarist Russia would create a united front, uniting the vast majority of the Chinese people against a common enemy.

Furthermore, to intensify Russia's economic aggression against Outer Mongolia, the Tsarist government dispatched numerous caravans and expeditions to investigate commercial activities in the region. By the early 20th century, there were 3,000 Russian merchants stationed in Kulun, with over 7,000 caravans regularly visiting. Annually, Russia plundered 319,000 head of livestock from Outer Mongolia, valued at 330.05 million rubles.

In addition to sending caravans, the Tsarist Russian government also used cultural propaganda to promote politics, economics, military affairs, and religion, in an effort to build trust among the Mongol feudal elite and win over the Mongol people. The Tsarist Russian government established a Mongolian translation school in Kulun and established Mongolian language studies programs at St. Petersburg University and Kazan Theological University, cultivating professionals specializing in Mongolian issues. In an effort to annex Outer Mongolia, the Tsarist Russian government also used its consulate in Kulun and the "Kulun office of the Badmayev Commercial Company" as its "political center for the uprising."

··……""

However, after the People's Liberation Army entered Outer Mongolia, they used Jebtsundamba Khutuktu VIII to command the tribes and control the tribal leaders. They also used caravans to pave the way and benefit the people. Later, they carried out land reforms wherever they went, completing a groundbreaking feat and completely standing with the Mongolian people!

In line with a pragmatic attitude, the new government even made three agreements with the local Mongolians: no arbitrary reclamation of land, no overgrazing, and no change of the Mongolians' religious beliefs.

Zhang Yinghao is well aware of the ecological fragility of grasslands. In the south, a bare mountain burned by fire can transform into a dense jungle in just a year or two. But in the north, desertification is a huge problem. If a single blade of grass dies, the area may soon turn into a vast expanse of yellow sand, where no grass will ever grow again. Therefore, even if Zhang Feng and his team do reclaim a small amount of land for cultivation, it can only be done near rivers, and they are not allowed to reclaim land at will. Hello, I always hope that the grasslands will maintain the beautiful scenery of cattle and sheep in the wind blowing the grass!

Zhang Yinghao even personally adapted the later narrative folk song "Gada Meilin." Historically, Gada Meilin was from Darhan Banner (present-day Kezuozhong Banner, Tongliao City, Inner Mongolia). In the late Qing Dynasty, the Qing government implemented a policy of "immigrants to the border areas," which resulted in a large influx of Han Chinese into the grasslands for reclamation. Mongol nobles, in turn, colluded with Northeastern warlords to engage in large-scale grassland reclamation. Three-quarters of the Darhan Banner's grasslands were cleared, reducing pastures and forcing herders to leave their homes. This angered herders, and Gada Meilin launched the "Duguilong Movement" to protect the interests of herders and the land of the Mongolian people.

While Gadamelin's uprising was intended to protect the interests of Mongolian herders, the greatest harm of land reclamation today is environmental damage. Due to shortsightedness and ignorance, grassland reclamation continued despite Gadamelin's uprising. The Horqin grassland alone has been "destroyed" eleven times. Today, much of the grassland has become desertified, becoming the "Horqin Sandy Land," part of the Xiliaohe River dune plain. This is a developing desertification area, primarily characterized by semi-permanent wind-eroded sand.

The Horqin Desert is expanding at an annual rate of 1.9%, reaching a total area of ​​80 million mu (approximately 1.5 million hectares), making it China's largest desert. The Ulijimuren River, where Gadamelin died, has now become a sandy ditch, its flow long since dried up. Surrounding it are desertified farmland, sand dunes, and sand heaps.

Zhang Yinghao naturally understands the importance of environmental protection. He adapted and published the play "Gada Meilin." He also repeatedly emphasized in Party lectures that the Progressive Party must prioritize the people's short-term and long-term interests. He emphasized the importance of prioritizing the interests of herders in northern China, protecting pastures, and safeguarding the long-term interests of the nation and its people.

Chapter 631:

While Zhang Yinghao was conducting propaganda in Mongolia, Russian cavalry had already begun advancing into central Mongolia. However, Russia only had a few thousand men in the entire Siberian region, and the troops could not obtain much supplies locally, requiring the Trans-Siberian Railway. The Russians also had to transport their troops to Eastern Siberia, which took up a significant amount of transportation capacity and a significant amount of time. Furthermore, the distance from Irkutsk to Mongolia was hundreds of kilometers. This meant that although Russia had declared war on the Forward Party government, it was impossible for its infantry, aside from its cavalry, to launch an immediate attack.

"The herders in the northern part of the Mongolian grassland must all retreat to the south. The entire area north of Kulun and Uliastai will even become a war zone. Even the Russian Cossack cavalry will infiltrate into the south." Zhang Feng said.

Innocent civilians are undoubtedly in great danger during war, especially when facing an enemy as vicious as the Russians. The PLA has already widely publicized the viciousness of the Russians in the Far East, and everyone naturally knows this.

However, the PLA was also short on manpower on the Western Front. Without a railway connection, the PLA faced the challenge of long logistical supply lines. Therefore, the General Staff's plan was to lure the enemy deep into Mongolia, concentrating the battle along the Kulun and Uliastai lines. This would significantly stretch the Russian supply lines, weakening the enemy and strengthening the PLA. This fragile supply line would give the PLA an opportunity to attack. A small number of cavalry units would be sufficient to sever the Russian supply lines. If hundreds of thousands of Russian troops advanced deep into Mongolia and their supply lines were completely severed, the consequences would be unimaginable.

"Commander-in-chief, the evacuation order has been issued long ago. The local Mongolian princes have also retreated in accordance with the government's order, and the herdsmen have also been mobilized to evacuate. However, some places will still require some time. Before the Russian army attacks, most of the herdsmen should be able to evacuate." said the chief of staff.

Zhang Feng nodded. Many Mongolians have always lived by the flow of water and grass, and they don't have any attachment to their homeland. Although land reform has been implemented, many herders still haven't formed many habits. Migrating herders will also take a long time. All their cattle and sheep need to be taken away. Otherwise, if the Russians attack, these cattle and sheep will most likely become food for the Russians.

"What about the army? Our troops deployed in northern Mongolia must also withdraw to the south. Before the fortifications are completely repaired, we cannot have a large-scale clash with the Russians." Zhang Feng said.

The PLA's forces on the western front were not insignificant, but compared to the vast, barren Mongolian steppes, no amount of soldiers would be enough to fully defend them. Attacking northward was already at a disadvantage due to the weather, so there was no need to make unnecessary sacrifices now.

"The order to retreat has been issued. All units will evacuate according to the plan and take the opportunity to eliminate the Russian vanguard cavalry units..." the chief of staff continued.

The PLA's three cavalry corps within Mongolia were deployed in all directions, centered around Kulun, Uliastai, and Kobdo. PLA cavalry and infantry were also present on the northern Sino-Russian border. However, with every defense, there were always loopholes. How many troops could be deployed on the border? If the Russians launched an attack, these troops would be the first to be hit with all their might. To avoid unnecessary casualties, they were best evacuated.

While allowing the Russians to enter the Mongolian steppes wouldn't guarantee the enemy's continued existence, doing so would undoubtedly increase the PLA's chances of achieving final victory. The Mongolian steppes would become a graveyard for the Russians. I believe the grass, nourished by the blood and corpses of the Russians, would surely grow even more lush in the future. Ideally, this battle would also completely dispel the Russians' ambitions toward Mongolia, recreating the Qin Emperor's era of "the Xiongnu dared not move south to graze their horses." Once a railway to Mongolia is built, the Russians would have no chance.

The entire western front's planned battlefield will primarily be located along the Kulun and Uliastai lines. After the PLA's voluntary withdrawal, the Russians will undoubtedly launch a massive invasion. Kulun and Uliastai will undoubtedly be their primary targets. Therefore, the PLA's Western Front Command's main infantry divisions will be deployed in Kulun and Uliastai, respectively.

A series of defensive fortifications had been constructed here, awaiting the Russians' attack. Using these sturdy fortifications, they would crush the Russians, wearing them down and wearing them down. Then, they would unleash their cavalry to attack the Russian supply lines. If the Russians failed to capture Kulun and Uliastai, their own supply lines would be severed, and these Russians would undoubtedly be trapped.

Of course, on the Western Front, the cavalry would undoubtedly clash with the Russian Cossack cavalry. The highly mobile and formidable Cossack cavalry would become the Russians' ultimate ace. If the PLA cavalry attacked the Russian supply lines, they would undoubtedly encounter the Cossack cavalry. At that point, the ultimate test of cavalry power would become clear. Imagine the entire Mongolian steppes becoming a playground for the cavalry.

Although the battle on the Western Front hadn't begun yet, Zhang Feng seemed to already see victory. The Field Army had invested so many troops and was so well prepared that it could be said that the march to the Mongolian steppes was specifically for this battle. Once the Russian cavalry was eliminated, the outcome of the Western Front would be virtually certain.

Cavalry was the most important and primary mobile force on the entire Western Front. If the Russian cavalry could be defeated in one fell swoop, the field army would have a clear advantage for the remainder of the war. Therefore, even in retreat, the field army's cavalry units were constantly seeking opportunities to attack. Given the opportunity, the PLA would naturally not hesitate to charge and give the Russians a slap.

With the deliberate efforts of both sides, a large-scale cavalry showdown is about to unfold in the northern Mongolian steppes. The two sides will be the world-renowned Cossack cavalry and the new cavalry of the East that has been liberated.

Kulun, the seat of the Western Front Command, housed four of the eight infantry divisions under the Western Front Field Army Command. By this time, the entire city had transformed into a massive fortress complex, with tens of thousands of soldiers and civilians still hard at work around Kulun, completing the final finishing work.

According to the Field Army's plan, this would be the site of a decisive battle between the Field Army and the Russian Army. If the tens of thousands of Russian troops deployed in the Eastern Siberian Governorate launched an offensive, Kulun would undoubtedly become a key target. The Field Army hoped to inflict a heavy price on the Russians in Kulun, thereby creating favorable conditions for a subsequent counterattack and even the recovery of lost territory.

Besides Kulun, the same was true for Uliastai. Three of the eight infantry divisions under the Field Army's Western Front Command were deployed there, with another infantry division deployed in Tannu Uriankhai Banner. As for the cavalry, it served as a mobile force.

The field army planned to construct a series of trenches and bunkers around Kulun. Because the railway was not yet built, a large amount of construction materials could not be transported, and local materials had to be used. However, considering that the Russian army still lacked heavy artillery, the thousands of kilometers from Irkutsk to Kulun were not suitable for transporting heavy artillery. Therefore, even civil engineering fortifications should be able to withstand the Russian attack.

Chapter 632:

The Mongols also actively responded to the call of the field army and joined in the construction of these fortifications. For the Mongols, there was a deep national and family feud between them and the Russians. When the Russians invaded Mongolia, during this period of low productivity, the lower-class Mongolian herders were inevitably oppressed by them.

The Field Army initially safeguarded land reform and later personally mobilized and promoted the cause among various nobles and ordinary Mongolian people, achieving significant results. In each of the herder-inhabited areas, the Field Army simply raised red flags, attracting countless Mongolians to their ranks. Combined with the caravan's previous trade activities, the Mongolian people now fully recognized the Field Army. Furthermore, the army later mobilized a large number of impoverished Mongolians to join the army, effectively establishing a close bond between the Field Army and the Mongolian people.

"Our Mongolian ancestors once had an incomparably glorious history. Six hundred years ago, under the command of the Heavenly Khan Genghis Khan, they marched westward and defeated those blue-eyed Maos. Now, we face invasion. We will join forces with our Han brothers and meet the invaders with sharp sabers. Mongol sons, do you have the courage to follow me in the charge? Slash the enemy with our sabers, make them repent and atone for their sins under our iron hoofs? By the Eternal Heaven, we will be invincible!"

The cavalrymen of the field army drew their sabers, jumped for joy and shouted, unable to contain their emotion, as if they had returned to the era of Genghis Khan when the Mongolian cavalry was invincible. They vowed to regain the long-lost glory of their ancestors.

Along with the Field Army's propaganda efforts was an illustrated album titled "The Heroes of the Eastward Return," with explanations in both Chinese and Mongolian on each page. This album was distributed along the Field Army's route, reaching many tribes along the way and being treasured by all.

"The Heroes of the Eastern Return" tells the story of the Torghut Khan Ubashi, who led the Torghut people to escape Russian oppression and return to their homeland. The Torghut tribe, originally part of the Mongol ethnic group, has inhabited the Lake Baikal region since ancient times. In the 1630s, the Erhut, one of the four tribes of the Eleuth Mongols, migrated to the Volga River basin. Ubashi was born in Russia.

Wubashi was the seventh generation leader of the Torghut tribe, a period of particularly chaotic and tense conditions. The subsequent influx of large numbers of Russians, who occupied large tracts of Torghut pastureland, exacerbated the contradictions and conflicts between the two countries.

In 1763, Wubashi lodged a strong protest against this ugly act with the Tsarist Russian authorities. Subsequently, the Tsarist Russian authorities, using their privileges, began to recruit large numbers of soldiers from the Torghut tribe. In battle, they used Torghut soldiers to lead the charge, resulting in only one-tenth or one-twelfth of the original number of Torghut soldiers returning from the battlefield, causing the Torghut tribe to lose a large number of young and strong human resources.

Under the constant exploitation and oppression of Tsarist Russia, Wubashi formally launched an armed uprising in the spring of 1771, marching back home in three directions. May 26, 1771 (the 36th year of Emperor Qianlong's reign in the Qing Dynasty) is a date that will forever be etched in history: after an arduous journey spanning over eight months, the Torghut rebels led by Wubashi finally encountered the Qing army, which had arrived to welcome them home. Soon after, Wubashi was also met by the Qing army's general, Yichang'a Sotong.

Thus, the national hero Wubashi finally completed his historic mission of leading the Torghut people in an armed uprising and returning eastward to their homeland, creating the world-famous miracle of the great migration of peoples. His name and the heroic feat he created, which moved heaven and earth and moved the gods to tears, will forever shine in the annals of history.

People in this era worship heroes, and this era also needs heroes. For the sake of national unity and integration, the Progressive Party naturally wrote extensively about the deeds of various ethnic groups that contributed to national unity and stability. Naturally, these heroes who returned from the East became the subject of publicity, boosting the morale of the various ethnic groups and soldiers.

"The Torghut people's patriotic act of bravely returning home after a long journey, despite all the hardships, demonstrates that the Chinese nation's love for their motherland, national unity, and attachment to their homeland are unstoppable. As members of the Chinese nation, we Mongolians have the obligation and the ability to shoulder the heavy responsibility of defending our motherland. Comrades, take up your sabers and slay all invading enemies."

The propaganda of the field army's propaganda department naturally cannot allow ethnic conflicts to appear, and Zhang Yinghao also intends to integrate all ethnic groups in the country into the concept of the Chinese nation. The grievances in history need to be viewed with historical materialism, but all of this can be included in the imagined community of the Chinese nation.

Once national sentiment is unleashed, a sense of belonging naturally arises. Through this war against aggression, the Mongolian people naturally understood the unity of the Han and Mongolian peoples, enabling them to better and more thoroughly integrate into the great family of the Chinese nation and gain a new life. Thus, the Mongolian Plateau will never again be separated from the motherland. The Torghut people's heroic return to the east proved one thing: the Mongolians will always be part of the Chinese nation and can always rely on the thriving Chinese nation.

Of course, simply talking about history and rehashing past accounts is not enough. The Field Army did business with the Mongols, improved their lives, and gave them a thorough sense of belonging.