The Heroic Age of the Late Qing Dynasty

These past few days, the words "science," "practice," and "summarization" have been constantly popping up in Zhang Feng's mind. For the field army, even if they can't capture a fortress, they can still besiege it. Just like the current situation in Vladivostok, the field army wasn't deployed to attack the city, nor was there any attempt to test the strength of the Russian defenders. Chairman Zhang Yinghao once said, "Either do it or don't do it; never try." If Zhao Yong had attacked Vladivostok, it would have been a test, and it was indeed unnecessary. Unless the field army was determined to capture Vladivostok at the cost of human lives, there was no need to test Vladivostok's firepower at the cost of their own lives.

On August 18, 1906, a total of 8 Russian troops launched another attack on the besieged Kulun. By this time, the Russians had already broken through two of the field army's lines of defense, and the third was already in tatters. This time, Russian Chief of Staff Alexievich personally went to the front lines to coordinate and command the siege of Kulun. In previous battles, the Russian army had suffered a series of defeats. It was a consensus among Russian commanders that the field army in Kulun was the elite of the Qing rebels. If the Russian army could eliminate this unit, not only would Russia have no more worries in Mongolia, but it would also instill fear in the Qing rebels. Bolivar remained determined to win this battle.

In Kulun, across from Russian Chief of Staff Alexievich, Zhang Feng first directed the logistics soldiers to place all the stored supplies before entering the headquarters. For more than a month before the war, the field army had also been frantically collecting food around Kulun City.

At this time, in order to supplement vitamins and prevent the occurrence of sepsis, at Zhang Feng's suggestion, the field army had to obtain a large amount of storable soybeans from the liberated areas. If necessary, these soybeans could be germinated into bean sprouts to supplement vitamins. The weather was hot now, and the soldiers had a great demand for vitamin-rich food.

Not long after, the Russians resumed their bombardment, this time with over 500 artillery pieces. Zhang Feng speculated that the Russians had mobilized all their available artillery. Industrial nations are industrial nations, and in this respect, they truly cannot compare to agricultural nations. Inside the fortress's sturdy core command post, Zhang Feng felt the earth shake. Dirt splattered through the cracks in the wooden roof. The lanterns used for illumination swung back and forth so violently that they threatened to fall from their hooks. The staff and guards inside the command post all had grim expressions, some even revealing fleeting expressions of fear.

Everyone stood up to observe the Russian army's situation, but Zhang Feng pulled a chair and sat down steadily. Russia was poor and its industrial strength was relatively weak. Even with thousands of artillery pieces, it couldn't afford to unleash its firepower like during the Russo-Japanese War. Although the Liberated Area's industrial strength was weaker than Russia's, Zhang Feng didn't believe this earth-shattering bombardment could be sustained for long.

Sure enough, within half an hour, the Russian artillery fire weakened. Zhang Feng stood up and ordered the communicator, "Send someone to check the communication trench immediately to determine if any firepower points have suffered any damage."

During the bombardment a few days ago, Russian artillery failed to directly destroy the Kulun firing point. However, most of the fortress's key firing points were built underground, and the massive amounts of soil stirred up by the bombardment blocked the firing ports and ventilation holes. Due to inexperience and poor inspection, two soldiers in these remote and neglected firing points suffocated to death. Zhang Feng was unwilling to make the same mistake again this time.

After such an incident, the field army immediately conducted a review of relevant targeted training and designated responsible personnel. Soon, personnel from various specialized departments began to move under fire. By the time the Russians again deployed in skirmish lines and rolled toward Kulun, all firing points were ready. This time, the Russian artillery was more powerful than before, blocking the firing ports and ventilation holes of more than a dozen firing points. Fortunately, the troops responded effectively, and except for one firing point that was directly hit by enemy fire, there were no casualties.

During this period of the Russian offensive, the Russians employed a wide range of tactics, including single-pronged attacks, two-pronged attacks, multi-pronged sieges, and full-scale assaults, along with coordinated infantry and artillery attacks. This time, with 45,000 elite soldiers participating, the Russians employed a full-scale siege, hoping to eliminate the field army in a single blow.

One thing that Zhang Feng hadn't anticipated was that after the Russians breached the trenches, the territory he held shrank dramatically. Although his forces were more concentrated, his available space for maneuvering became smaller, which in turn made it easier for the Russians to concentrate their forces and increase the likelihood of a close combat. Furthermore, the field army was forced to conserve ammunition and hoped to collect more Russian ammunition.

The Russian army launched attacks from all directions at the same time, surrounding Kulun tightly in the middle like an iron ring. The field army's response was the same as last time. First, field artillery, then mortars, then machine guns, rifles, and if that didn't work, grenades and finally bayonets. According to the plan, there would be no large-scale bayonet fighting in the first three trenches, as there were trenches waiting for them behind, so there was no need.

Once the Russians closed within 200 meters, the field troops opened fire with heavy machine guns and rifles with five-round magazines. These attacking Russian troops were seasoned veterans, likely rested for several days and in high spirits. Of course, they were also more resilient. Not only did the Russians exchange fire with the field troops inside the fortress at a distance of 200 meters, but some units even charged the fortress under heavy fire. As long as they were willing to pay the price, an army could generally continue its advance.

These Russian troops, driven by their valor and disregarding their losses, rushed to within 5 meters of Kulun City. The field army immediately abandoned the third line of defense and retreated to the second. After breaking through the third line, the Russians continued their attack. Suddenly, a trench they hadn't seen appeared before them. This was a slope dug by Zhang Feng, following Zhang Yinghao's special instructions.

The Russians didn't care; they jumped into the trenches one after another. However, once they did, they discovered something strange about the trench. On the attacking side, the trench looked normal. On the defensive side, near Kulun, it was completely flattened. In other words, the Russians who jumped out of the trench found themselves like men about to be shot, with nowhere to hide. Like insects exposed to the sun, they could only wait for death at gunpoint. What a despair! Being shot with your back against a trench that was difficult to climb back out of—what a terrifying prospect! Allowing the field army soldiers to shoot and execute them at will.

Moments later, the brave Russians who had leaped into the trenches were slain by a hail of rifle and machine-gun fire. From the moment they leaped from the trenches to the moment they were killed or seriously wounded, they had traveled less than ten meters. Life and death depended on those ten meters. The field army had no time to count their losses. The Russians, pouring in like a tide, weren't simply seeking death. They too opened fire on the field army, their barrage of bullets killing and wounding numerous machine-gunners in the firing positions. Those field army soldiers fighting on the outer positions also suffered even greater casualties, and the battle entered a fierce phase.

Medical staff wearing the Red Cross emblem led stretcher teams to various shooting points, carrying the wounded away for treatment immediately, and new fighters immediately took over the battle.

At this time, the comrades responsible for transporting ammunition were also running through the communication trenches, carrying ammunition boxes. The strong smell of gunpowder made it difficult for them to breathe. However, they did not stop. Instead, like their comrades in the other transport units, they covered their mouths and noses with wet cloths and placed the ammunition boxes in a fixed position next to the firing position.

At each firing point, someone was responsible for collecting as many shell casings as possible from the ground and placing them in empty ammunition boxes. Ammunition transporters also had to carry these boxes and place the shell casings in their designated locations at the various communication trenches. This was a combat operation that had been practiced many times and was now the optimal solution for division of labor and cooperation.

Special personnel would deliver these shell casings to the fortress's small arsenal. Inside, over 500 ordnance workers began using tools to reload the bullets. Among the supplies delivered to Kulun was improved reloading equipment manufactured in the Liberated Areas. Considering Kulun's industrial level and battlefield conditions, this equipment was manually operated. This equipment was suitable for most battlefield needs, and was particularly well-suited to Kulun's current situation.

Zhang Yinghao had worked in a factory in his previous life, so he naturally understood the advantages of the assembly line. These ammunition were also produced using an assembly line method: removing the percussion cap, cleaning the dust and dirt inside the cartridge case, widening the cartridge case mouth, installing the percussion cap, loading the cartridge case with a fixed amount of gunpowder, installing the bullet, and then tightening the joint with a machine. Although the reloaded bullets did not need to be sent to the front line immediately, the military factory was still working hard, completely unaware of the fierce battle going on outside. Group number: 775111838

Under the Military Commission's arrangements and training, the entire fortress continued to operate in an orderly manner. However, the Russian troops outside the fortress could no longer withstand the attacks after five rounds. The main force of the attack then became a group of improvised troops. These troops were mainly temporary recruits, many of whom had fled from the Far East to Siberia, and even Russians who were responsible for transporting supplies. Many were laborers who had fled to Russia to build the railway, and these people were also conscripted to carry supplies for the Russians. They lacked the formal training of the Russian army, and their ranks were sparse and disorganized, and a considerable number of them were still equipped with muzzle-loading smoothbore rifles.

Under the influence of patriotic propaganda, these people still rushed to the battlefield without hesitation. Of course, the role of the machine gun supervision team at the back of the formation cannot be underestimated. No matter how unruly their actions seemed, no one fled or hesitated. They approached Kulun and engaged in a firefight with the field army.

The advantage of these Russian "skirmishers" in flexible combat disappeared after they reached the trench 50 meters away. When they saw that they had the opportunity to rush to the "dilapidated" field army positions that were devastated by artillery fire, these people who were filled with "deep hatred" for China jumped out of the trench like moths to a flame, and were immediately completely exposed to the firepower of the field army.

At this point, the field army didn't care whether there were Chinese among these troops; they could only fire non-stop. The bodies began to pile up in the trenches at an alarming rate. After this wave of fighting ended, less than 500 of the 5,000 men who had fought had returned to their starting point. However, these dead had finally filled the trenches that Zhang Feng had so carefully dug with their bodies.

When Zhang Feng saw the trenches piled high with corpses through his telescope, he couldn't even feel a sense of pride. Holding the telescope, Zhang Feng felt his entire worldview crumble. Looking at the bodies filling the trenches, even after witnessing such brutal combat with his own eyes, he still couldn't believe it.

Chapter 674: First update!

Many years later, the fortresses built within Kulun City were demolished and disappeared. The Kulun Battle Memorial Museum is located next to this trench. The trench has been excavated and made part of the memorial. Even after being filled in, even after years of weathering countless storms, rain, snow, and frost, this section of the trench, soaked in the blood of tens of thousands of people, can still be clearly seen after being excavated, its color, completely different from the rest of the soil. A nearby display board, in addition to explaining the history of Tsarist Russia's invasion, also bears the name of this section of the trench in bold letters: "Blood Trench."

Another battle of Kulun that began on August 19 ended on August 23. The Russian army paid a heavy price for its fierce attack. Forty-five thousand Russian troops were killed or wounded, more than seven thousand of the more than ten thousand temporary armed personnel were killed or wounded, and the temporary commander was also killed on the front line.

In order to capture Kulun City, the Russian army lost more than 50,000 people in this offensive and defensive battle. The total number of field troops stationed in Kulun City was only 60,000 to 70,000 people, and it is said that the casualties of these 60,000 to 70,000 people were more than 10,000. Of course, this is just a rumor, and the news about the field army in Kulun City ends here.

The battle at Kulun captured the world's attention. Even though the field army lacked military observers, the Russian army, to demonstrate its strength, invited creditor France to observe. European newspapers were flooded with headlines like "The Indestructible Kulun," "Russia's Nightmare in Mongolian Kulun," "The Rise of China," and "China's Famous General—Zhang Feng." Other headlines, tailored to different political stances and appealing to different audiences, included "China's Butcher—Zhang Feng," "Farmer's Son—Zhang Feng," and "From Humble to Prominent—Zhang Feng."

In contrast to the conflicting reports in the press, the reaction of Europe's financial community was completely unified. Russian stocks and bonds, which had seen slight gains on the anticipation of a Russian victory, collapsed on major European exchanges. The ruble depreciated by more than two-thirds, becoming a worthless piece of paper. European and American banks refused to sell any more Russian war bonds.

"When I was training at the military academy, Chairman Mao said in class that there had never been a single day without war since the beginning of European colonization. My classmates and I burst out laughing at that, thinking it was a joke. Now it seems that Chairman Mao was not joking at all."

Zhang Feng was chatting with his comrades about war and peace in the command post in Kulun City. Everyone admired Zhang Feng's calmness, as the field army had no experience of being surrounded and attacked like this. At the beginning, Zhang Feng collected supplies everywhere, from food to fruit, from tobacco to cloth, firewood and hay, and even did not let go of cow dung and horse dung on the roadside. Zhang Feng drove the field army soldiers to stockpile all the supplies that could be stockpiled. Facing the doubts of other comrades, Zhang Feng's reason was, "If these cannot be used, it is just a matter of wasting more effort. We must now sum up all the experiences and lessons and collect these supplies, regardless of whether they will be used in the future. After the battle is over, everyone will have a plan in mind. Fighting will never last for several months day and night. Now that we are a little tired and squatting in the tunnels and trenches, we have plenty of time to recover our strength."

Facts proved Zhang Feng right. While the battle for Kulun was fierce, with much time devoted to actual combat, there was also plenty of time for rest. Everyone now understood what it meant to face an army of hundreds of thousands. If the field army hadn't been well prepared, with hundreds of thousands of troops surrounding the city, not even a single rat would have been able to escape. And those collected supplies were likely their last lifeline.

"Commander-in-Chief, if the Russian army keeps besieging us, how long do you think we can hold out?"

"I think we can hold out for a long time. We expect that we won't enter a complete food shortage until at least December next year."

Zhang Feng's tone was flat, and it was unclear whether he was trying to comfort or scare him. "But the food we have now doesn't seem to be enough to sustain us for that long, right?"

The key to the field army is not to pretend to know when you don't, but to ask if you don't understand, to be humble and cautious, and to avoid arrogance and impatience.

So in response to his comrades' questions, Zhang Feng patiently explained, "We can plant our own crops. If we hadn't confirmed that the Russian army had logistical problems, we wouldn't have given up our front line so easily. With this front line, we can plant some food and vegetables in the city. How can we not harvest anything? Even if the Russian army bombards us with artillery shells, all we'll lose is a few seeds."

Everyone suddenly realized that this was indeed the case. There was no problem growing potatoes, vegetables with a short maturity period. Faced with such an "optimistic" future, the comrades were speechless.

To hold out for so long under such a tight blockade was undoubtedly a miracle in the history of warfare. However, the field army didn't need to hold out that long, as Russia was currently plagued by internal and external troubles, with internal troubles outweighing external ones. They were already struggling to take care of themselves, otherwise assembling hundreds of thousands of troops wouldn't have been so difficult, and these hundreds of thousands wouldn't have fought so desperately to attack the city.

From a war perspective, it was extremely cost-effective for hundreds of thousands of troops to besiege Kulun, which was defended by 60,000 to 70,000 field troops. Moreover, this was a reasonable number of defenders. Any less and the field troops would be considered too few, while any more and the Russian army would have no hope of breaking through.

Inside Kulun, the field army occasionally sent out telegrams requesting assistance to confuse the Russians. Zhang Feng considered it a safe bet as to whether the Russians could intercept and decipher them. Kulun's strong defense would facilitate the field army's actions in the Far East and East Siberia to eliminate the Russians there, so the Forward Party was very happy to see this situation.

Inside the Great Wall, the liberated areas naturally promoted the arduous defense of Kulun. This was necessary. If the propaganda had been about the Field Army's ability to hold Kulun, the consequences would have been disastrous if they had lost it. By this point, the PLA had become a truly heroic army. After all, despite the massive Russian siege, Kulun had not fallen, and the bright red flag of the Forward Party still flew overhead.

At the same time, the Forward Party began extensively promoting the Russian Revolution. Their message was clear: it was unrealistic to rely on the Field Army's own strength to completely defeat Russia. Instead, they saw the possibility of dragging Russia down. If Kulun could hold out, the Russian revolution might succeed. Once the Russian Revolution succeeded, the Field Army would secure final victory in the war.

In addition to publicizing the bravery of the field army, the other purpose was to express their determination, stating that the field army would definitely be able to drive the Russian army out of China and defend the sacred territory of the country. Even if Kulun was captured by the Russians, the Forward Party and the field army would fight the Russians to the end, never surrender, and never seek peace.

The liberated areas' statement was intended both to boost domestic morale and to warn the great powers, through whom it was conveyed, that any hope of further benefiting from China was a pipe dream. Westerners, upon defeating their enemies, ceded territory and paid indemnities, but the Forward Party had no such commitments. Either all of the Forward Party members would die in battle, or they would never surrender or compromise.

While the battle between the field army and the Russian army in Mongolia was in full swing, Russian Tsar Nicholas II issued an order to Bolivar, demanding that the Russian army capture the city of Kulun as quickly and as quickly as possible. As the Russian army suffered heavy losses at Kulun and time continued to drag on, the Russian ruble, stocks, and war bonds in the European financial markets plummeted. Russia was truly doomed!

The field army of Kulun relied on the city's stored supplies. Even with the current flooding, the pressure of war in Kulun was far less than in Russia. The Russian revolution was a serious matter, and the prowess of the Russian army was essential to bolster Russia's precarious financial credibility. Furthermore, the ongoing attack on Kulun had already drawn hundreds of thousands of Russian troops from Europe, and the Russian Revolution was already intensifying. The Russian nobility was already eager to end the war in Asia and quell the revolutionary tide at home.

The Russian army had never stopped attacking Kulun. After receiving the telegram from Nicholas II, Bolivar did not dare to delay in the slightest. He immediately mobilized his troops to attack Kulun with all his strength. The fierce war began again, and the city of Kulun was once again attacked by the Russian army.

After suffering heavy losses through heavy artillery bombardment and infantry assaults, the Russian army's tactics showed significant improvement. At long range, they began using field artillery, while closer, they employed mortars and heavy machine guns. As the Russians advanced to within 200 meters of the defensive line, the field army's light machine guns and rifles opened fire. After prolonged firing, the soldiers' accuracy had greatly improved.

The Russians were once again being mowed down like rice, but this time they had a new idea. Following the first wave of troops came a cluster of over a hundred machine guns, forming a circular formation that opened fire on the field army's fortress from a distance of approximately two hundred meters.

Looking at the dense enemy force and the increasingly fierce battle, Zhang Feng's pupils couldn't help but shrink. The torrential rain of bullets not only hammered the Russians, but also subjected the field troops to a brutal test. With machine guns and rifles pouring fire into the firing embrasures, the bunkers weren't necessarily safe. The field troops, desperately firing from their positions above the fort, had less cover and suffered greater casualties.

Because of his position, Zhang Feng couldn't see the Russian bullets blasting dirt and rocks from the outer walls of the defensive position, sending them flying like water splashing down a rock wall. The firepower points on the defensive position were suppressed by this fierce attack. Tens of thousands of the Tsar's gray beasts, reckless and desperate, rushed closer and closer to the outer walls under the cover of machine guns. The situation suddenly became precarious.

"Order the flying thunder artillery troops to open fire! Shoot the explosive packs!" Zhang Feng shouted without thinking.

After so many days of practice, the field army had made considerable progress in fortress defense. Even before Zhang Feng gave the order, the commanders of the various defense units had sensed something was amiss. Almost as soon as the order was issued from the fortress, clouds of smoke rose from the designated Flying Thunder Artillery positions.

The canned food the field army sent to Kulun was nominally canned, but in reality it was completely different from the glass-bottled cans you'd find back home. The dried beef and mutton, carefully marinated with spices and salt, was packed into wooden barrels bound with iron hoops. Each barrel weighed about 60 to 70 kilograms, made of good wood and sturdy iron hoops.

Sturdy wooden barrels filled with dirt and gravel are excellent for fortifications. These barrels are now wrapped with hemp rope, filled with gunpowder, angled and half-buried in the earth, and then shoved with explosives into the barrel mouths, turning them into mortars. This is the simplest version of the flying thunder cannon, also known as the conscienceless cannon.

With muffled "bang bang" sounds, ignited explosive packs flew out of the defensive positions, landing among the surging Russian troops. The range of the flying thunder cannon was extremely limited, and there was even a risk of exploding, making it completely unreliable for striking the edges of defensive positions. Just as the Russians would not easily use artillery to bombard the front lines during an infantry charge, this simple mortar had a short range, a large projectile curve, and was powerful, with each explosion capable of knocking over a circle of nearby troops. The explosive packs were also stuffed with a large amount of fragments from the Russian shells fired into Kulun. During their rest periods, the soldiers were busy producing large quantities of metal fragments, which was a considerable amount of work.

The Russian soldiers killed directly by the explosions were relatively spared from physical pain. In those days, being pierced by sharp iron shards would have resulted in a very high rate of pain and death. Wounds to the thighs, chests, and abdomen were considered minor injuries. Some soldiers had multiple iron shards piercing their faces, their shrill screams so deafening that even the roar of gunfire and artillery could not completely drown them out.

Zhang Feng was a veteran, but this was his first time witnessing such brutal combat. It was also his first time witnessing such a scale of slaughter. The Russians had committed nearly 20,000 men in this wave of attack alone. In just half an hour of fighting, Zhang Feng estimated the Russians' losses to be in the tens of thousands.

The Russian army, now a desperate and determined force, was determined to capture Kulun. Hundreds of thousands of Russian troops had been stationed at the city's gates, only to be met with crushing defeat and a bloody massacre. This was not only a failure of their strategy for a quick victory, but also a complete setback for the Russian army's overall strategy. If the war dragged on like this, Russia might collapse. From the perspective of the Russians, even a defeat would be far better than a prolonged siege.

With the walls of Kulun less than 20 meters away and the Russian gunfire suppressing the Kulun defenders, the Russian commanders believed that with just one more charge, they could reach the outer walls of the fortress. The Russian army had developed specialized attack tactics specifically for Kulun, including scaling the walls and blocking the firing ports with objects. Numerous methods were employed, and any method could be employed to reach the fortress's firing ports.

Before the war, Russian officers at all levels accepted Bolivar's strict orders.

"Conquer Kulun at all costs!"

At this point, the Russian army's true nature as a serf army was unmistakably revealed. The intense gunfire, thick smoke, and the stench of blood stirred the officers' blood to a frenzy. Having witnessed previous offensive and defensive battles, the Russian officers were well aware of the dire consequences of abandoning a fight halfway. All previous efforts would be wasted, and all sacrifices rendered meaningless.

From the perspective of the officers in the rear, the troops were not only approaching the outer wall of Kulun, but had already touched the outer wall of Kulun. The only thing needed now was to urge the troops to continue the attack! Attack!

The catapults in Kulunbuir continuously hurled explosive charges into the Russian lines outside the city. Each charge contained five kilograms of explosives, and tens of thousands of charges only weighed fifty tons. The difficulty in manufacturing these weapons lay in the scarcity of metal, not in the lack of explosives. The fragments contained in these charges were only one-third iron, with two-thirds being stone fragments. In less than two hours, over twelve thousand charges were launched directly from the fortress, with two to three thousand dropped directly from the top positions.

In the end, the Battle of Kulun, involving a hundred thousand troops, lasted another two and a half days, with Russian casualties exceeding fifteen thousand. In the fierce fighting of that time, the term "hundred" often lost statistical significance. The field army also suffered over eight thousand casualties in this Russian offensive. Combined with losses incurred in previous offensives and defenses, as well as various Russian exploratory operations, the field army, which had once reached a peak strength of seventy thousand, had lost nearly forty percent of its combat effectiveness.

Kulun City remained unmoved, its crimson hammer and sickle flag still fluttering in the wind from its highest point. The Russian army had lost over 15,000 men in the attack and defense of Kulun. Combined with previous battles, the Russian army had already lost over 100,000 men.

According to general theory, an army loses 30% of its strength and is considered to have lost its combat effectiveness. However, because the Russian army was engaged in a siege, even though it had lost nearly 40% of its strength, it still did not collapse. However, at this time, the Russian army was almost unable to fight.

Zhang Feng, facing the Russian attack on the city of Kulun he was defending, also made countless speculations. If it were the field army attacking the fortress, it is estimated that they would have succeeded by using artillery fire and column assault tactics. Even if they had not succeeded, the field army's tenacious style would have meant that they would come up with more ways to break through the fortress.

But Zhang Feng also thought that if the field army attacked, it would also depend on who was defending it. If the field army was also defending it, everyone would fight to the death, and the losses would be extremely high, which could be said to be completely worth the effort. Zhang Feng also thought that the fortress was actually only arranged according to the pattern described by Chairman Zhang Yinghao. Perhaps Chairman Zhang Yinghao already had a method to break through the fortress.

He also believes that his achievements today are entirely due to Zhang Yinghao's guidance and the teachings he received at the PLA Military Academy. Faced with seemingly unsolvable problems, Zhang Feng had to use all his brain cells to recall the knowledge he had learned and try to use it to solve problems he had never encountered before.

It's like the slogan at the PLA Intermediate Command College says: "Unity, Tension, Seriousness, and Breakthrough."

"A firm and correct political orientation, a hard-working work style, and flexible strategies and tactics."

Without these attitudes, it would be impossible to do a good job as a soldier.

After enduring countless arduous and tedious tasks, Zhang Feng, who once believed he had achieved great success in the Kulun War, changed. He finally "respected the will of heaven, the elders, and the words of the sages." Perhaps that wasn't fear, but true respect. Respect fosters humility, and humility fosters serious learning.

He finally understood what Chairman Zhang Yinghao had said before: to make their hearts and minds to suffer, their spirit and bones to exhaustion, their bodies to starvation and poverty to deprive them of all things, so as to move their hearts and endure their natures, and increase their abilities to do what they could not do before.

Zhang Feng suddenly recalled a passage from the "Book of Rites: The Great Learning": "Those who wished to manifest illuminating virtue throughout the world first governed their state; those who wished to govern their state first put their family in order; those who wished to put their family in order first cultivated themselves; those who wished to cultivate themselves first rectified their hearts; those who wished to rectify their hearts first made their intentions sincere; those who wished to make their intentions sincere first sought knowledge. To attain knowledge lies in investigating things. After investigating things, knowledge is attained; after attaining knowledge, intentions are sincere; after intentions are sincere, hearts are rectified; after hearts are rectified, bodies are cultivated; after bodies are cultivated, families are in order; after families are in order, the state is governed; after the state is governed, the world is at peace."

Isn't the pursuit of knowledge through investigation of things simply about seeking truth from facts and understanding the nature of things? Don't sincerity and uprightness complement each other? Let's not even talk about whether there's a guiding principle and attitude of "selecting the good and following it, and correcting the bad." Even if one wants to have the learning attitude of "among three people, there must be one who can teach me," one must first have the breadth of mind and the magnanimity to acknowledge that "one's own abilities and knowledge are extremely limited."

"Half-baked" refers to those who are self-righteous. When a person becomes complacent, what can they possibly hold in their heart? Humility leads to progress, while pride makes one fall behind. Zhang Feng has little understanding of traditional Chinese culture; his knowledge can be said to have been acquired only after he served under Chairman Zhang Yinghao. However, the path to success is the same: Zhang Feng's gradually revealed diligence, meticulousness, humility, pragmatism, and caution are enough to make him an outstanding PLA commander.

Chapter 675: Second update!

If people knew that Zhang Feng possessed these excellent qualities at such a young age, countless people would surely be filled with envy, even jealousy. However, this was excellent news for Zhang Yinghao. The faster his comrades grew through learning and practice, the happier Zhang Yinghao would be.

Man is made of iron and food is made of steel; without a meal, hunger reigns. After the battle, it was time for dinner, and the same fare as ordinary soldiers was served. This meal consisted primarily of air-dried beef and mutton. War consumes a tremendous amount of energy. The beef and mutton were thoroughly air-dried and cured. Spices, salt, and butter were mixed with mutton fat, and then slathered thickly on the meat. The flavor was delicious, strong, and generous, leaving a mouth-watering sensation while leaving a deep, satisfying feeling.

After the war, the surviving soldiers all expressed that enjoying such abundant food was the best they had ever eaten. If Zhang Yinghao had heard these soldiers' sentiments, he would have smiled bitterly. The liberated areas had expended enormous manpower and resources to provide adequate supplies for the soldiers in Kulun. Even the beef and mutton didn't just fall from the sky; they were obtained through exchanges with the herders for salt, cloth, and other supplies produced in the liberated areas.

Furthermore, the Russian army of hundreds of thousands was attacking Mongolia. Since they planned to rely on Kulun for defense, the liberated areas had to prepare sufficient supplies for the field army. Otherwise, if the Russian army's supplies were not yet exhausted and the field army's supplies were exhausted, this would be an awkward situation. Furthermore, the supplies provided to Kulun and Uliastai were more than enough, not less. It can be said that after ensuring that the Russian cavalry had been crippled, the Russian army's defeat was almost certain. Of course, this also took advantage of the Russian army's lack of familiarity with modern warfare. If they had experienced World War I, the outcome would not have been the same if they had tried to start a war this way again.

At this time, Bolivar's face was very serious at the Russian command. He also knew that morale should be boosted, not let down, so he said to his officers: "Those damn yellow monkeys must be on the verge of collapse now. As long as we launch a fierce attack again, we will be able to tear through the defense line of those yellow monkeys and enter Kulun. As long as our soldiers enter Kulun, the final victory will definitely belong to us... St. Petersburg is watching us. From now on, the attack on Kulun will maintain the previous offensive intensity while concentrating troops to attack the enemy's weak points. Don't give those yellow monkeys any chance to breathe."

At this point, all that remained of Kulun City was a tattered wall and a tattered trench line. For the Russian army, victory was truly within reach. Bolivar believed that as long as the Russian army continued its offensive, victory would surely belong to the great Russian Empire. At this point, facing domestic pressure, Bolivar had completely abandoned everything else and could only desperately encourage his officers, urging them to send the Tsar's gray beasts to the battlefield.

Bolivar still fantasized that once the valiant Russian army reached Kulun, annihilating those yellow-skinned monkeys would be a piece of cake. No matter how heavy the losses, St. Petersburg would simply reward him. This was political correctness. But Bolivar could only play blind. The main force of the field army in Kulun was divided into four parts, two of which were in Tannu Uriankhai Banner and Kobdo. Aside from the cavalry, the rest was equally divided between Kulun and Uliastai.

Even if Bolivar captured Kulun, would he still have the courage to lead his army to challenge the obstacle of Uliastai? Even if he had the courage, would the officers and soldiers he commanded be willing? Moreover, he no longer had the manpower and material resources to continue the war.

"Yes, General."

The officers were well aware of the situation they were facing, but they had kept the information secret from their soldiers, leaving the Russian soldiers leading the charge at the front with little information. Therefore, the officers could only brace themselves and urge their troops forward. Under the threat of the machine-gun-wielding supervisory teams, they pushed the Russians into the battlefield. At this point, the generals were already doubtful about whether they could capture Kulun, but if they didn't attack, they had no chance.

At this point, more than half of the Russian troops attacking Kulun had been killed or wounded. According to general theory, a 30% loss of troops is considered a loss of combat effectiveness. However, that's only true for ordinary armies. For the PLA, the war must continue, even to the last man. Just like the Iron Triangle Battle during the Korean War, over 9,000 soldiers were divided into over 200 positions, fighting the US military for 13 days without air superiority, heavy firepower, or support. These beloved soldiers held their ground with a determination to die, trading their lives for time. All of them fought resolutely to the very end. How tragic and epic!

The advantages of the Russian army, which was composed of serfs, were clearly evident at this time. With casualties exceeding 50%, these Russian soldiers still dared to rush towards the field army's positions. These serfs had undergone rigorous training and were highly obedient. Russia was indeed a place that produced good soldiers. Moreover, the battlefield was the best teacher. Learning war in war was human instinct. After all, there was great terror between life and death. Who would seek death unless it was absolutely necessary?

Of course, while the Russians didn't want to engage in this meat-grinder-like battlefield, these troops, driven there by low-ranking officers, took on a completely different character once they were on the battlefield. The massive casualties had already numbed these Russians, and some of the surviving Russian comrades might have been replaced twice. Since there was no escape, the only option was to fight. So, upon reaching the battlefield, the troops immediately forgot their fear, crouching low, risking death at any moment, and charging towards the field army's positions.

For those Russian soldiers who had been on the battlefield, the state could be described as that of the walking dead. For some Russian soldiers, perhaps death was the best destination. They crossed themselves and even rushed towards the field army's position without flinching. However, the vast majority of soldiers had learned many tactical skills from the war.

Some of them crouched and moved forward quickly, some crawled low or high to move forward quickly, and some ran from one cover to another, quickly approaching the field army's position.

“Hurrah! Hurrah!”

Those soldiers who were eager to die shouted slogans and quickly approached the field army's position. Some soldiers did not understand why, so they also shouted slogans and ran behind them.

The Russian officers didn't even glance at these men. Perhaps they didn't even consider these Tsar's gray beasts human beings. They were just cannon fodder. Russia already had hundreds of millions of them, more than enough to provide the Russian Empire with a sufficient supply of high-quality troops. Furthermore, these armies weren't their own; they only needed victory because they were accountable to the Tsar.

As long as these officers could capture Kulun, then even if these hundreds of thousands of troops were consumed here, it would not be a big deal. Moreover, with these charging soldiers attracting the firepower of the field army, the cautious soldiers behind them would have the opportunity to quickly rush to the front of the field army's position.

The Russian army shouted "Ura" and rushed towards the field army's position. At this time, if they were not looking for death, they could only pray to the God they believed in, praying that the shells and bullets would not fall on them. Apart from this, they had no other choice.

“Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!”

When the whistling sound of artillery shells piercing the air came from above, the faces of many Russian soldiers changed drastically. Some Russian soldiers continued to charge forward without stopping, while others immediately lay down, trying to avoid the field army's artillery fire.

The Russian army's initial inability to dodge artillery shells has led to their current proficiency in dodging, a significant improvement. Even greater progress has been made in their tactics. Firing while running and rolling is now child's play for many Russian soldiers. Furthermore, many Russian soldiers are able to fire while running, achieving a very high accuracy rate.

However, the Russian Army's progress only served to highlight the greater progress of the Field Army. One of the Field Army's educational principles was the pursuit of science. As long as the Field Army maintained a scientific attitude, they would actively learn and exert their subjective initiative, achieving astonishing progress. Furthermore, the Field Army held summary meetings, study sessions, and soldier committees, where they learned from each other. It could be said that if one person in the Field Army found a good method to fight the enemy, it would quickly be mastered by a large number of soldiers.

Moreover, it was the first time that field army soldiers could fire so many bullets. These bullets could easily feed countless sharpshooters. As for snipers, they needed relevant training, but these sharpshooters would also be a nightmare for the attacking side. As soon as these sharpshooters started calling names, the number of casualties in the Russian army would skyrocket.

“Boom! Boom! Boom!”

The shells exploded, sending shrapnel flying. Several nearby Russian soldiers were struck by shrapnel and fell to the ground. Even those hiding behind obstacles or lying prone on the ground were still being tormented by the scattered shrapnel. Russian soldiers near the blast point were blown away by the blast, leaving a trail of broken limbs and arms everywhere, a sickening sight. However, the Russian soldiers remained unmoved and continued to prepare for the attack.

The Russian artillery had already been severely damaged by the field army's artillery during days of continuous attack. Furthermore, the Russians had not received many supplies since arriving in Kulun, and their ammunition supply was rapidly running out. As a result, the Russians still had over a hundred artillery pieces, but they had been abandoned due to lack of ammunition. This allowed the remaining field army artillery to focus on firing at the Russians, practicing their artillery techniques while systematically harvesting Russian lives, effectively killing two birds with one stone.

“Da! Da! Da!”

The Russian soldiers drew closer. After the field army's mortars, the heavy and light machine guns began to roar in anger. By this time, the field army's machine gunners, especially the heavy ones, had become as numb as the Russians. Almost every machine gun position had been repositioned. Zhang Feng knew that in any battle, firing points were the enemy's primary targets. Even if the field army's heavy machine guns were located in low bunkers, once the firing points were exposed, a concentrated attack by multiple enemy forces would inevitably hit the hiding heavy machine gunners.

For the heavy machine gunners, the Russians were becoming increasingly difficult to defeat. Initially, the Russians deployed in dense formations, but now deployed in dispersed formations. Initially, they fired at the field army from a standing position, but now they fire while running and even while prone. These advancements posed a deadly threat to the heavy machine gunners, and it was precisely these concentrated fire from the Russians that resulted in significant losses for the field army's heavy machine gunners.

However, the gunmen were no longer the same as they had been at the beginning of the battle. At the beginning of the battle, when the hot bullets flew out of the gun barrels, taking the lives of the invaders, the soldiers of the field army still felt their blood boiling. But as the killing continued and the killing increased, the soldiers became numb. Killing a Russian soldier was no different from killing a chicken.

However, the field army at Kulun hadn't prepared enough ammunition for these machine gunners to fire fully, and the speed of Kulun's reloading was far behind the speed of the heavy machine guns. Therefore, the heavy machine gunners had to use the heavy machine guns in various ways according to the needs. They fired continuously when necessary, and intermittently when not. The heavy machine guns had gone from initially firing strafing fire against the dense Russian formations to now being able to fire bursts against the scattered Russian formations, which was undoubtedly a huge improvement.

Especially when the Russian army planned to dig a trench outside Kulun City to hide its troops, the field army, in addition to using mortars to deal with the Russian soldiers digging the trench, creatively solved the problem by using a certain upward fire method. From hundreds of meters away, bullets from light and heavy machine guns landed in the Russian trench like artillery shells. Because the trench was not deep enough, the hot bullets easily harvested countless Russian lives.