The Heroic Age of the Late Qing Dynasty

By this time, Kulun had become a veritable meat grinder. The ferocity of the fighting surpassed that of the Russo-Japanese War, and the battlefield continuously consumed the lives of both sides. Another wave of Russian attacks was repelled, leaving a trail of corpses inside and outside the field army positions. However, many of the bodies were the remains of field army soldiers entangled with Russian soldiers...

As the Russian army's casualties grew, their morale continued to decline, almost reaching freezing point. On the other hand, all the soldiers of the field army knew that the counterattack had begun, and their morale was high and their fighting spirit was high.

"Damn it! Why can't I break through the last line of defense of those yellow monkeys? Yes, those yellow monkeys must have reached their final moment. As long as we try a little harder, we can succeed."

Bolivar was completely lost, hypnotizing himself over and over again, encouraging his officers again and again. He had already staked all his chips, like a gambler who has lost everything. In a casino, how can a gambler who has lost everything lose everything and gamble desperately, or go bankrupt, and then come to his senses and leave the gambling table?

Bolivar knew very well that if he could not break through the field army's defenses and capture Kulun City, he would be defeated and even the Russian army that had invaded Mongolia would be annihilated. This would be a huge blow to Russia, even if it cost the Tsar countless lives.

"General. The cavalry is back." Bolivar's adjutant reported to him.

"Huh? Why are they back? Their mission is to pick up our logistical supplies. Why are they back now? Cavalry is of no help in siege." Bolivar said very unhappily.

As the Russian army's war supplies and soldiers are becoming increasingly scarce, the supplies and soldiers now on the road are Bolivar's lifeline.

"General, the cavalry seems to have suffered a crushing defeat. Only a few hundred cavalrymen returned, and they are covered in blood. Many soldiers have lost their weapons, as if they had experienced a great battle." The adjutant continued.

"What? What's going on? Damn it. Those yellow monkeys, bastards... It's over, everything is over..."

Bolivar seemed to have thought of something. His face suddenly turned pale, and his mind was dizzy and blank. His greatest fear had finally come true. The field army's counterattack had begun. They might never receive any more supplies, and the Russian army would be trapped and starved to death here.

"General, we suffered a despicable sneak attack by the main force of the field army's cavalry. They launched a sudden fierce attack, and our army... the cavalry is finished, the cavalry has been completely wiped out." The Cossack Cavalry Lieutenant General came to Bolivar with a pale face and reported to Bolivar, whose legs and feet were a little weak.

Bolivar immediately grabbed the embarrassed cavalry lieutenant general by the collar and roared angrily: "The whole army was wiped out, how come you didn't die in battle?"

Bolivar had come to his senses a little at this point, but he was secretly thinking: "It's over, everything is really over!"

He didn't actually mean to let the Cossack Cavalry Lieutenant General die. He knew that the field army's cavalry was much larger than the Ural Cossack Cavalry Corps, and that annihilation of the Cossack Cavalry Corps was not impossible. Moreover, he hadn't captured Kulun, so if one more person could bear the responsibility for the defeat, his own responsibility would be reduced.

"General, what should we do now? Should we continue to attack Kulun?"

Everyone knew what it meant to them to have their logistics channels cut off and their supplies almost gone. Although there were still over 100,000 Russian troops gathered at the gates of Kulun, without weapons, ammunition, and food, they simply couldn't continue the fight!

Looking at the generals under his command and seeing the horror on their faces, Lieutenant General Bolivar laughed bitterly.

"We must continue to attack. If we don't take Kulun, we will be dead. Only by quickly taking Kulun, getting supplies from the field army, and then defending the city or fighting back to Russia can we have a way out. Otherwise, no matter whether we stop the attack and defense immediately or fight back to Russia immediately, we will be surrounded by the Chinese, and we will be eaten up by the Chinese bit by bit!" Lieutenant General Bolivar roared hysterically.

This seemed to be the last resort for the Russian army. If they failed, they would be doomed.

"Block all information. Now, taking Kulun is our last chance of survival. Only by taking Kulun can we make a better choice of whether to stay or retreat..."

Bolivar unified everyone's thoughts with just a few words, and even ordered to intensify the attack on Kulun. In order to break through the field army's defense line, Bolivar almost invested all his main forces. Except for a small number of troops left behind to guard the camp, the rest of the troops all joined the attack. Even if they died, the Russian army would die on the way to the charge.

This also placed immense pressure on the defending field army. Kulun was, after all, just a shabby little town. The shrinking encirclement had led to an increased density of Russian troops. Even if the Russians deployed tens of thousands of men in each attack, it would still be enough to create a sea of ​​gray. Now, the Russians were fighting with all their might, demonstrating the ferocity of their offensive.

Zhang Feng also felt tremendous pressure at this time. He said to the staff of the headquarters: "The Russian army is now crazy. They are making their last desperate struggle and are not far from death. Comrades, follow me to the field hospital now to guard our wounded. They are all combat heroes and national heroes. All comrades, follow me to fight! Including the staff, the entire army will fight for every inch of land in the street. We must make the old Russians pay the price of blood for every step forward. We must withstand this wave of offensive from the old Russians. Otherwise, we will fail. Comrades, the time of testing us has come."

Zhang Feng drew his bayonet and said, "We will die before the wounded in the field hospital. We will fight to the bitter end, dying for our country. We will die a worthy death. We will fight to the bitter end, fighting for every inch of land."

"Fight to the end and fight for every inch of land." The comrades boosted their morale and shouted along with clenched fists.

Zhang Feng's face was solemn at this moment. He knew that even if his men perished in battle, the Russian army would not be able to escape Mongolia, and many more would inevitably be buried with them. Faced with the frenzied Russian offensive, he only grew more concerned about the Russians. He now wanted them even less to return to Russia, especially Commander Bolivar and his men. It would be best if they were all kept in Kulun. It would be best if the enemy forces that had fought the PLA were completely annihilated, so that no one could truly understand the PLA. The unexpected Russian attack made Zhang Feng realize that he now had to fight tooth and nail. If the Russians captured Kulun, all his previous battles and achievements would be in vain.

"Send a telegram to the cavalry comrades, asking them to immediately launch a desperate attack on the Russian troops in Kulun. It would be best if they could directly attack the Russian headquarters so that the Russians could not devote all their forces to the attack on Kulun."

Since the battle pressure in Kulun was very high, if the cavalry could appear in Kulun, it would undoubtedly greatly reduce the pressure on the Kulun defenders. At least the Russian army would have to allocate some troops to defend the field army's cavalry, and the number of troops should not be too small, which would be of great benefit to the final victory.

After issuing the order, Zhang Feng issued another verbal order: All units of the field army are not allowed to talk or negotiate with foreigners privately. Once they encounter foreigners who do not immediately raise their hands and kneel to surrender or raise the white flag, they will be annihilated regardless of whether they have weapons in their hands.

The comrades didn't quite understand Zhang Feng's order, but they also felt that there was nothing wrong with it. As for the foreigners, the soldiers now hated them for invading China. If they came to the battlefield, wouldn't they just be killed and done with? Entering China without permission, wasn't that an invasion or just a joke?

In this order, Zhang Feng tampered with the concept, replacing "Russians" with "foreigners." He did not want his military intelligence to be leaked. Although this information would eventually surface, the longer it was, the better. So Zhang Feng's order was actually a kill order targeting military observers from various countries hiding in the Russian camp.

"Commander-in-Chief, what about the troops deployed in Uliastai? Should we immediately transfer them here to provide support? The main force of the Russian army is now completely trapped in Kulun. There's no need to deploy heavy troops there."

Zhang Feng didn't think that the comrades from Wuli would be able to reinforce Kulun in time. However, in order to give confidence and hope to the comrades who were fighting fiercely, and because if the battle was over, the defenders of Kulun would have to rest and the task of rebuilding Kulun might have to be left to the reinforcements, Zhang Feng immediately said, "Okay, let them come to reinforce immediately."

If the troops deployed in Uliastai also came to Kulun, they would have tens of thousands of fresh troops. These fresh troops could be used to deal with the Russian troops in Kulun, and they could also go north to recapture Maimai City, or even take Kyakhta, and lead the battlefield into Russian territory. Anyway, Russia is in trouble now, and anyone who doesn't take advantage of it would be a bastard, so let these old Russians taste the fear and pain of being invaded.

The Russian army launched a desperate attack. Large numbers of Russian soldiers, led by junior officers, launched a fearless assault. The field army and the Russians were locked in a fierce battle, with no clear front left. However, the Russians lacked heavy firepower and had exhausted their artillery shells. They also lacked the skills to penetrate walls, and even if they had wanted to, they lacked sufficient explosive packs. The field army, with its constant supply of reloaded ammunition and its pre-existing high ground, defenses, and barricades, faced the Russian attack with relative safety, especially against the sharpshooters. The field army had the advantage of both time, location, and people. This difficult situation was undoubtedly disastrous for a country like Russia, which relied on its superior military strength.

Half an hour later, the field army's cavalry finally appeared outside Kulun. Even without any concrete action, the cavalry's arrival posed a significant threat to the Russian rear. If the Russian army continued to focus its main force on the attack on Kulun, their base would likely be destroyed. Furthermore, facing the subsequent two-pronged attack, if they continued fighting, the Russian army would immediately collapse.

"Damn it! Order all troops to retreat!"

When Lieutenant General Bolivar saw the Chinese cavalry approaching, he knew he had no chance. The Russian army could no longer attack, and he had no chance of turning the tide. Consequently, Bolivar was forced to order a retreat and gather his troops. However, the Russian army now numbered less than 100,000, and most of them were injured and sick. Morale was low, and there were only a few soldiers left who were still motivated.

Seeing the Russian army retreat, Zhang Feng knew that his plan to kill the foreigners would fail. However, he immediately adjusted his mentality, because the PLA's progress would not stop. It would be interesting if the enemy compared the PLA's current combat power to fight the PLA in the future.

Now, tens of thousands of field army cavalrymen were patrolling the perimeter of the Russian camp, ensuring they could detect any potential Russian breakouts. Without sufficient supplies, even if the Russians attempted a breakout, they might not succeed. On the vast Mongolian steppes, they simply couldn't obtain any supplies. Without heavy firepower, a rash Russian breakout would only lead to collapse under the frenzied pursuit of the field army, resulting in heavy losses.

"Damn it, we're done for. The army is completely trapped in Kulun. Without weapons, ammunition and food supplies, we can't hold on for long." Lieutenant General Bolivar thought secretly.

Without a doubt, they were now trapped, about to be annihilated by the field army. The soldiers below seemed to sense the war was coming to an end, feeling a temporary sense of relief amidst their fear. While they still couldn't control their own fate, at least they no longer had to face death in the meat grinder.

This time, the Russians withdrew completely, leaving no troops to attack Kulun. The Russians still had a few supplies, but even with so many troops, without ammunition, even if they wanted to surround Kulun and launch a fierce attack, they would have been unable to do so. So, this time, they withdrew completely. The Russians now firmly defended their barracks, seemingly intending to test the Russians' defense capabilities with the field army.

Seeing the field army pouring out of Kulun City, Zhang Feng wasn't excited. Instead, his legs felt weak. The brutal battle for Kulun City was finally over, and the surviving field army soldiers were jumping and shouting like children.

"Victory, we won." "Long live the Forward Party, long live the People's Liberation Army." "Long live the Forward Party, long live the People's Liberation Army."

Rise up, people who refuse to be slaves, and give our flesh and blood,

Forge our new Great Wall,

The Chinese nation has reached its most dangerous moment.

Braving enemy fire,

Go forward, go forward, go forward.

I don't know which unit started it, but it resonated with soldiers all over the city, singing the song in unison. It felt very much in line with the post-war mood. However, some soldiers felt guilty. After all, they didn't charge under enemy fire, but instead hid like turtles in trenches and bunkers, firing.

After the soldiers finished singing this song, the comrades who were still not satisfied immediately changed to "Chinese Revolutionary Song".

Arise, you slaves who are starving and cold, arise, you suffering people throughout China.

This is the final struggle. Let us unite and march towards tomorrow. National independence and prosperity must be achieved.

Listening to the resounding singing from Kulun City, Bolivar and the other officers turned pale. Unlike Kulun Qiayi, the entire Russian camp was now completely demoralized and lifeless. All the officers stood together, silent. Everyone was preoccupied with their own concerns, waiting to see what decision Bolivar would make.

Bolivar remained silent. He knew they only had three options. The first was surrender. Westerners took surrender lightly. Lose today, then find another chance tomorrow. Unlike the Eastern world, where surrender is taken very seriously, once surrendered, everyone would look at you with tinted glasses. Perhaps this is the Chinese culture that values ​​righteousness over life, placing more importance on morality than one's own life.

Just like what is said in the story of fish and bear's paw, life is what I desire, and righteousness is what I desire, but I cannot have both. I would rather sacrifice life for righteousness. This is the value system of the Eastern world, which is different from many values ​​in the Western world.

As for the second option, it was to break out or fight to the death. At this point, a full-scale breakout was impossible. If they did, only a small number of soldiers would make it out. Whether they could return alive was a matter of luck. Most importantly, the Russian army had few warhorses. As long as the field army was on guard against a Russian horse breakout, the infantry would inevitably be wiped out by the field army's cavalry, even if they ran themselves to death. Therefore, breaking out was essentially the same as fighting to the death, and choosing to break out would only accelerate the Russian army's demise.

As for the third path, it depended on domestic sentiment. If the Chinese were willing to negotiate with them, perhaps they still had a glimmer of hope. However, Bolivar, thinking of Tsar Nicholas II and the Russian Empire negotiating with the despised yellow monkeys, lost hope in his country.

Bolivar saw everyone looking at him and opened his mouth, only to find that his mouth was dry and full of blisters, making it painful to speak. His already irritable heart suddenly became even more irritable, and he suddenly didn't want to say some of the things he wanted to say. He picked up the water cup and took a sip before slowly giving orders: "All troops must be on high alert to prevent those yellow monkeys from attacking or making a surprise attack. Chief of Staff, report the intelligence here to St. Petersburg truthfully and ask them to send reinforcements, otherwise our army will be wiped out."

"What do you mean by sending reinforcements? When the reinforcements arrive, all of us will report to God."

Everyone was secretly complaining, but no one was willing to speak. At this point, everyone naturally began to seek their own escape route. The closer it got to this point, the more disunited the people would become if there wasn't a strong crackdown. Of course, some people didn't want to die. But someone had to bear the responsibility for this defeat, and that person had to be none other than Bolivar.

At this moment, however, one cannot speak too much. The more one speaks, the more mistakes one makes. Words of surrender are absolutely forbidden, or else one could become Bolivar's scapegoat. Everyone is watching Bolivar's every move, letting him do what he wants. However, if Bolivar wants to drag everyone down with him, then, sorry, you, Bolivar, can go to hell.

"Yes."

The chief of staff answered immediately, then walked towards the telegraph room without looking back.

Chapter 678: Second update!

Just as the battle of Kulun was about to be won, the field army's planned depopulation of the Far East was nearing completion. As the soldiers looked at the newly formed villages and towns along the railway, they understood what this railway meant to Russia.

Of course, the Field Army wouldn't engage in ethnic genocide or genocide. Zhang Yinghao knew full well that the further north they went, the harsher the climate became. And with the endless forests stretching as far as the eye could see, it would be extremely difficult for the Field Army to completely rely on force to eliminate the Russians. Hunters were generally the best snipers, especially those living in the north. Those who weren't particularly tough wouldn't be able to survive well in such an environment.

So, after seizing control of the railway and the situation, staff members offered the locals several options. Of course, the Field Army was not one to be lenient, so any armed resistance was resolutely suppressed, even resorting to large-scale deployments, including special forces and snipers. All violent resistance was executed on the spot, and the family members of those captured were forcibly sent to Vladivostok. The Field Army's exact number of deaths during the liberation of the entire region east of the Lena River was difficult to calculate, much like the Russians' own deaths during their occupation of the region east of the Lena.

As for the locals who were willing to stay, they formed the silent majority, and many of them had no sense of belonging to Russia. The field army immediately recruited soldiers from these families, dividing their land. Anyone who has seen the TV series "Old Farmer" knows how much land Niu Dadan's in-laws possessed. The vast expanse of northern land was more than enough for the locals to cultivate. Furthermore, most of the locals were not entirely Russian; they were all Asian, with ancestral ties to China. Therefore, not only should they not be completely exterminated, but they should be quickly assimilated into the Chinese nation. Furthermore, these locals should be given the right to vote and be elected, electing village and town heads, and various representatives, allowing them to govern themselves and be responsible for liaisons with the field army. They should be reassured that they would not cause trouble for the time being.

As for the Russians who wanted to leave, the field army also gave them two options: go east to Vladivostok or go west back to European Russia. For those willing to leave, the field army not only did not seize their personal property, but even provided them with travel expenses and food. The purpose was the same: to reduce the trouble for the field army, which was particularly worthwhile.

When Zhang Yinghao first received the joyous news of the Field Army's expansion northward, he was at a loss for words. He felt joy, speechless, awe at the Field Army's ferocity, or perhaps a mixture of all. While the Field Army had fought tooth and nail to liberate vast tracts of East and West Siberia, these were frozen lands that were practically worthless in this era. Placing too many soldiers there to garrison would be a costly endeavor.

However, the actions of a country are not those of an individual. Seizing the land here can greatly expand the strategic space of the motherland and increase the national foundation. Zhang Yinghao knows how valuable these lands will be in the future.

Since Zhang Yinghao now calls himself a materialist, he must face reality. Since the Field Army is so ambitious and dares to seize the vast land of East Siberia, Zhang Yinghao cannot suppress their enthusiasm. Expanding territory is a good thing for the country and the nation, and Zhang Yinghao has no reason to object.

As for how the situation would develop in the future, Zhang Yinghao no longer cared, as the Forward Party was already firmly on the path. As long as the Forward Party didn't resort to self-destruction, and as long as the great powers didn't send troops to invade China at all costs, Zhang Yinghao was confident that he would quickly swallow up the newly liberated lands, integrating them with the motherland and making them an inseparable part of it. The era he had traveled through was only the early 20th century, giving him at least a few decades of development. It was his responsibility to liberate more people, at least those east of the Lena River, and let the field army liberate them first.

The conflict between China and Russia is acute, not just in the Far East but also in Central Asia. Since the war is ongoing and certain to continue in the future, the conflict is irreconcilable. Since the short-term future is unpredictable, the best course of action is to take advantage of the situation now.

So Zhang Yinghao just replied to the telegram announcing the good news with three words: Got it.

Although the land of East Siberia is extremely desolate, the liberated areas still need to pay attention to their image when swallowing up these lands. If I reply very well and continue with these words, then this is the problem of encouraging the People's Liberation Army, and the nature of the matter has changed.

After replying to the telegram, Zhang Yinghao immediately instructed relevant departments and units to diligently collect evidence of Russian crimes throughout Northeast China and East Siberia, particularly those related to looting, exploitation, and even massacres of local people. This evidence should be carefully preserved and later turned into museums and memorials. On the one hand, this historical evidence justifies the Field Army's actions, as they were intended to liberate the local population, not invade Russia. On the other hand, it also provides the basis for legitimate annexation of these territories. With this evidence and local support, the annexation of these territories into China would be a matter of course. Of course, these areas would undoubtedly require future immigration. Only through development, increased population, and even a shift in the local demographic structure, could long-term stability be achieved.

Of course, for China, annexing these territories simply requires armed occupation, then claiming they have been legitimate since ancient times. China's history is long enough to demonstrate that these are indeed former Chinese territories, or places China has previously reached. Zhang Yinghao has never doubted this. In this era, truth is within the range of artillery. As for places beyond the reach of the PLA's artillery, rhetoric is the only option. Future generations will have successful examples of joint development; they can simply take advantage of them.

In this age where the larger the caliber of a cannon, the more democratic it is, and the faster the rate of fire, the more freedom it brings, there is both the sorrow and the glory of living in this era. It is, of course, sorrow for the weak, but for the strong, it can create supreme glory, just like how Russia named its cities in the Far East, each name representing a piece of land Russia has acquired.

Vladivostok was already overcrowded. Initially, only the disabled were brought to Vladivostok, but later batches of people were transported from Chita and other places. The field army received accurate information that Vladivostok's material reserves were almost exhausted.

Having just experienced the Russo-Japanese War, and then a large-scale revolution broke out in the country, the Far East was unable to replenish supplies in time. There were originally several months of supply reserves, but after the field army forced so many Russians in, the supplies in Vladivostok were immediately consumed rapidly.

However, although Vladivostok is now overcrowded, the Russian army is not the People's Liberation Army. They certainly cannot take out their own rations to feed these people. After all, the army of this era is not a field army led by the Forward Party with political education. In fact, even during the Soviet period, Russia's Bolshevik leaders still ate well and lived well. In their words, if we don't eat well and live well, how can we serve the people? Moreover, the purpose of establishing an army is to suppress people's uprisings and riots. This idea of ​​giving the army violent tools has not changed much even in modern times. Otherwise, the Chinese army would not have sent troops to disaster relief and refreshed the world's understanding of the Chinese army.

Due to a shortage of supplies and the constant roar of artillery shells fired by the field army, many who arrived in Vladivostok suffered from poor diet and sleep. Their frail bodies, coupled with the scorching heat, led to many falling ill. In particular, wounded soldiers, lacking adequate medical treatment, often died from wound infections. The large population concentrations, widespread open defecation and urination, and even the unattended disposal of many corpses, led to a drastic deterioration in Vladivostok's environment and appalling sanitation. Furthermore, the Northeast and East Siberia regions already had a history of plague infection and spread, and the plague finally broke out in the densely populated areas of Vladivostok.

At this time, many people secretly escaped Vladivostok and headed westward, and the field army captured many of them. Generally, those who were able to escape were strong laborers, so the field army transported them to the northeast to be used as laborers. It wasn't until the field army discovered that some of the captured Russians showed clinical symptoms such as fever, systemic toxic blood, acute lymphadenitis, cough, chest pain and tightness, coughing up blood and sputum, and difficulty breathing.

PLA doctors, upon seeing these patients, immediately suspected a plague outbreak in Vladivostok, following a scientific approach. Since no one could be held responsible for such a situation, they preferred to believe it rather than not. They immediately reported the case. The Military Commission even suspected it was a Russian trap, using biological weapons to infect the field army, weaken its combat effectiveness, and ultimately defeat it and recapture lost territory. The field army immediately took emergency measures, quarantining all captured Russians and placing all soldiers and doctors who had come into contact with them in separate isolation.

Reality is often stranger than fiction. The Field Army had overestimated their own potential for plague. They'd discovered the potential outbreak of plague in Vladivostok even before the Russians in Vladivostok. This demonstrates the profound rift between Russia's upper and lower classes. After military doctors confirmed the outbreak of plague in Vladivostok, specifically the highly contagious pneumonic plague, many Field Army soldiers panicked. Reports were passed up the chain of command, and soon, even Zhang Yinghao knew of the plague outbreak in Vladivostok, with the possibility of it even spreading to the barracks.

Zhang Yinghao had little knowledge of pneumonic plague, but he had experienced the nationwide epidemic prevention in his previous life and understood how the novel coronavirus spread. He immediately wrote an article detailing the epidemic's spread and the symptoms of illness. He also instructed the mass production of masks and other supplies, which must be delivered to the frontline troops immediately for epidemic prevention.

After the Fifth Field Army Military Commission learned of the outbreak of the epidemic in Vladivostok, they pulled up several barbed wire fences outside the Russian positions. At the same time, the soldiers worked tirelessly and built a wall on the outer periphery in a very short time, isolating Vladivostok and making it an isolated island. They also spread thick layers of lime behind the wall and carried out extensive propaganda to eliminate rats and fleas in the population centers of the newly liberated areas. In addition to patrol personnel and increased heavy firepower points on the front line, the main force retreated more than ten miles.

From then on, even if some Russians escaped over the wall, the field army soldiers no longer thought about catching them. Instead, they shot them to death if they tried to escape instead of surrendering after being called upon to do so.

The Fifth Field Army took the outbreak of plague in Vladivostok extremely seriously. After establishing a perimeter wall, the Forward Party, acting on humanitarian principles, informed the Russian forces in Vladivostok of the possible outbreak and urged them to surrender immediately. Meanwhile, upon receiving news of the plague outbreak in Vladivostok, Zhang Yinghao immediately shared the news with diplomats from Britain, France, Germany, the United States, Japan, Italy, and Austria. After all, these countries still had merchant ships and even warships traveling to Vladivostok, while the Liberated Areas had no warships. Their only effective protests were verbal protests, which proved to be of little use. As for whether the powers would believe the plague outbreak in Vladivostok, consider it a conspiracy by the new government, or take any action, Zhang Yinghao remained unconcerned.

At the same time, in the spirit of responsibility to the Chinese people, the newspapers in the liberated areas specifically reported the fact that the plague broke out in Vladivostok, and also specifically reminded the Qing court not to allow the crew of ships entering the port from Vladivostok to land at will. Those ships and the crew on board must be disinfected, and the crew on board are not allowed to disembark. Those who must disembark must be isolated for at least seven days, and can only be released after being confirmed to be not infected with the plague.

In this era, plague, especially the highly contagious pneumonic plague, had no cure. It was a terrifying sight, no matter where one lived. Without treatments like sulfa drugs and streptomycin, contracting the plague was practically a death sentence, with death guaranteed and bodies required to be cremated or buried deep to prevent infection.

But Vladivostok is now overwhelmed with its own problems. The initial deaths were ignored. Even Vladivostok's officers and officials were eager for more deaths. This would allow them to stop suffering and save more supplies. The bodies were simply handled hastily, and those who came into contact with them carried the virus with them as they wandered through crowded areas, causing it to spread rapidly. Coincidentally, the outbreak in Vladivostok this time involved pneumonic plague, which can be transmitted through respiratory droplets and other means. It was certain that Vladivostok was about to face a catastrophe.

Plague is a highly contagious disease caused by the bacillus Yersinia pestis. Clinical manifestations include high fever, painful and swollen lymph nodes, bleeding tendency, and specific lung inflammation. Without prompt treatment, it carries a high mortality rate. Plague is primarily transmitted to animals and humans through fleas, but can also be transmitted to others through aerosolized droplets from infected individuals.

Vladivostok's current living environment is appalling. Not only is spitting and defecation rampant, but so is urination and defecation, and garbage is not promptly disposed of, creating a scene reminiscent of the end of the world. Common sense dictates that all bodies should be burned in Vladivostok's current conditions. However, Vladivostok lacks fuel, making it impossible to waste money on burning bodies. Furthermore, many bodies are not disposed of quickly enough, only being discovered by people dangling from the corners of chairs after they have begun to stink. Many of these discoverers, unaccustomed to this, handle the bodies directly without proper protection and then hastily bury them.

Under these circumstances, the pneumonic plague spread desperately, just like the novel coronavirus infection in later generations. One person spread to ten, ten to a hundred, a hundred to a thousand, and in a short time, Vladivostok became a living hell. It was not until the field army broke out that the plague outbreak in Vladivostok attracted the attention of the Russian military leadership. However, by then, the epidemic had already spread to the Russian army, and by this time, nothing could be done.

Western countries were extremely afraid of the pneumonic plague "Black Death" because from 1347 to 1353, the plague cancer known as the Black Death swept across Europe, killing more than 25 million Europeans, accounting for one-third of the total population of Europe at that time.

After the outbreak of the plague in Vladivostok was reported in the Liberation Area, many ships from around the world no longer dared to venture into Vladivostok. The ship's environment is relatively closed, and an outbreak on board would be a near-fatal disaster. While some ships initially ventured to conduct business and transport some of Vladivostok's foreign nationals, few ships are now visible in Vladivostok's port.

Of course, those who are close to the water get the moon first. The Japanese were the ones doing the most business with Vladivostok. At the time, Japan was practically suffocating under the weight of loans, so they naturally didn't want to miss such a good opportunity to make money. As Japan was closest to Vladivostok, they naturally wanted to make money. They completely ignored the protests of the liberated areas, even believing that the liberated areas were releasing the epidemic to scare them and intimidate them into not doing business with Vladivostok. Japan stubbornly insisted on doing business with the Russians in Vladivostok. Because of this, Japan became the first country to be affected by the plague.

When their crew arrived at their home port, some of them had chest pain and difficulty breathing, but they did not take it seriously, after all, it was common for people begging for food at sea to have such problems. One by one, the crew turned around and coughed up bloody phlegm on the ground.

The coolies who were moving supplies at the port were completely defenseless. They inhaled the droplets exhaled by the crew members into their lungs, and then dragged their tired bodies back home, carrying the bacteria, or went to a tavern to drink a glass of sake to relieve the day's fatigue. In this way, Japan became the first country to be affected by the spread of plague. When the liberated areas informed Japanese diplomats about the outbreak of plague in Vladivostok, the Japanese upper echelons did not take it seriously at all and did not even pass the news down. It was not until the large-scale outbreak of the epidemic in Japan, when Japan could no longer conceal it, that it truly aroused the vigilance of the world.

This news was good news for Zhang Yinghao, but it was a bit cruel for the Russians and Japanese in Vladivostok. However, in this era, every Russian who visited the Far East knew how the Russian Far East's lands were acquired. Furthermore, the Field Army diligently publicized the carnage caused by the Tsarist invasion of the Far East, especially the Sixty-Four Villages in Jiangdong and the Great Massacre at Blagoveshchensk. Naturally, these Russians were largely aware of this. Therefore, even if the Russians harbored some resentment, it wasn't directed at the Field Army. It was simply a matter of one person doing the same thing, and the Field Army was acting legitimately, without any need for covert tactics.

As for the Japanese, knowing the disasters Japan brought to this country in the past life, Zhang Yinghao didn't care how many Japanese died. Zhang Yinghao knew the nature of the Japanese, they would forget their lives when they saw profit, and they would not feel pain unless the stick hit them. Even if they knew there was an epidemic in Vladivostok, they would continue to do it.

business. Moreover, Japan and the liberated areas have not yet reached a peace agreement, and it can even be said that they are still at war and can start a war at any time? As for notifying the Japanese, that is really

It was simply based on humanitarian principles. After all, Zhang Yinghao still had some feelings about the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind. In this era of gradual globalization, if a large-scale plague broke out in Japan, then in this era, China would definitely not be spared.

Vladivostok was already a deadly place, and now it had become a desperate situation. If the Russian troops in Vladivostok did not surrender, then in a short time, only ten percent of the people inside would be left alive—perhaps even one in a hundred or one in a thousand. By then, the field army would still be able to easily liberate Vladivostok. At this point, it would depend on how the Tsarist Russian officials in Vladivostok planned to respond.

Once Russia lost Vladivostok, it would have to wait until China was as weak as the Qing Dynasty and faced invasion before returning. Otherwise, they would have no chance to take advantage of the situation. Russian officials in Vladivostok were well aware of this, so they would not surrender until the last moment. For Nicholas II, he would not give up Vladivostok unless all the defenders in Vladivostok were killed.

Zhang Yinghao vigorously publicized the fact that the field army had taken back the Chinese Eastern Railway and driven the Russians out of the Northeast. He also vigorously publicized the unequal treaties signed between the Qing Dynasty and Tsarist Russia. However, Zhang Yinghao did not plan to vigorously publicize the fact that the field army had crossed the "border". After all, once the unequal treaties were put on the table, no one could say anything more. But Zhang Yinghao kept the dispatch of troops to the East Siberia region a secret. Although this news might not be rare for the world's major powers, the dispatch of the field army to East Siberia had a huge impact on the world situation. The field army took such a huge benefit, so who can guarantee that there would be no jealous countries?

Especially the small country to the east. If they knew that the field army had swallowed up such a large piece of land, their eyes would probably turn red. However, although Zhang Yinghao did not intend to publicize it, the news would be exposed sooner or later. However, even if it was exposed, Zhang Yinghao did not intend to pay attention to it. Making a fortune in silence was the best option. Now that the field army's victory in Kulun had been exposed, the whole country was boiling. On the one hand, on the other hand, the great powers were already eager to mediate the war between China and Russia...

Chapter 679: First update!

The interests and conflicts between nations are extremely complex and diverse. Take Britain, for example. In Europe, it needed to prevent Russian expansion into the Balkans and Central Europe, while also needing Russia to contain an increasingly aggressive Germany. In the Far East, to prevent Russian expansion, Britain could incite Japan to launch a war against Russia, but then turn around and desperately try to mediate the war between Japan and Russia.

The British approach is remarkably pragmatic. Conflicts vary from place to place, and they employ different methods to resolve them. Regardless of whether a country was previously an ally or an enemy, even if it was an ally yesterday, they can abandon it instantly if necessary. Even if war was raging yesterday, today they can sit together and enjoy a drink. It's no wonder the British royal family remains vibrant and active in the 21st century.

Those unfamiliar with the situation might perceive this British approach as two-faced or indifferent to the issue of face. However, this attitude is, in reality, the only truly mature approach to a country's diplomacy. While a policy of "no permanent friends, only permanent interests" might differ significantly from later Chinese foreign policy, it is precisely the best foreign policy of our time, effectively safeguarding the nation's interests and far superior to the Qing Dynasty's policy of simply lying down and letting the enemy lash out.

London, the capital of the British Empire. As the world's dominant power, the British Empire was at its peak. Having won the Boer War and seized vast quantities of gold, Britain had established global financial supremacy. Britain's fleet, which crisscrossed the globe, guaranteed the value of its currency. Despite the growing strength of the German Empire, which began to dare to challenge Britain's global dominance, Britain, with its powerful navy and vast colonies, maintained a clear advantage.

To secure its position, Britain has long distanced itself from continental Europe, pursuing a policy of continental balancing. On the European continent, any rising power, regardless of its prerogative, is met with suppression by Britain and other nations. The notion of Britain as a "troublemaker in Europe" is certainly true. For centuries, Britain has been behind much of the chaos on the European continent, even directly intervening in it.