The Heroic Age of the Late Qing Dynasty

After attempts to persuade the enemy to surrender failed, the PLA issued the order to fire. Flags began to wave, and the cannons roared. In the first round of test firing, most of the cannonballs hit the city walls, posing little threat to the sturdy walls. A second round of bombardment soon followed, and this time, over half of the shells landed accurately on the walls.

Seeing that the Ganzhou defenders were unaware of the power of modern warfare, the first and second rounds of artillery fire were all solid bullets. The damage was indeed minimal, and the Ganzhou defenders were in an uproar, with many even cheering.

After the PLA tried to persuade the Qing army to surrender again without success, they saw stubborn Qing soldiers hiding on the battlements with guns in hand, waiting for the PLA to bring ladders over. Then they poured burning grease over their heads to burn the ladders and shot them one by one with bullets.

What these Qing soldiers defending the city did not expect was that the war outside had developed to a degree that they could hardly imagine. Modern warfare did not require facing the enemy while climbing ladders to attack the city.

Since the Qing troops in Ganzhou refused to accept their offer and were loyal lackeys of the Qing, the PLA shouldn't be blamed for their impoliteness. So, by the third round of bombardment, the PLA artillery not only became more precise, but also switched to shrapnel shells. The shells landed on the city walls and exploded, instantly clearing a large area of ​​the blast site. Immediately, the walls erupted in the howling of ghosts and wolves, and broken bodies were thrown into the air and over the walls...

"Fire!" The artillery commander shouted, "Swish, swish, swish."

Large groups of artillery shells traveled hundreds or thousands of meters and hit the top of Ganzhou City.

“Boom boom…”

The violent explosion, the earth-shaking tremors of a mountain, enveloped the entire city of Ganzhou in a roar filled with the aura of death. The distant flames and the screams of soldiers chilled the hands and feet of the Qing officials who were preparing to conduct another daytime inspection. This was a completely different offensive method from traditional warfare. It was also a completely different combat mode from the city defense methods they had inherited from resisting the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom.

The momentum was completely different. Large sections of the city wall were splashed with mud and sand in the explosion. The kerosene and gold juice on the top of the city wall that were originally prepared to be used against the People's Liberation Army were knocked down one after another in the flames of the explosion, causing the top of the city wall to let out shrill screams, and then a raging fire broke out.

Even beneath the city walls, one could feel the suffocating heat, let alone the flames raging wildly above. The cannons continued to roar, sending cascading sand and rocks flying everywhere, scattering tiny sparks of fire. The soldiers, hurriedly rushed in by officers to reinforce the city, trembled with fear at this apocalyptic scene, and began to retreat.

Perhaps at this moment, some Qing officers remembered that the Eight-Nation Alliance was actually not very strong, but was able to withstand the attacks of hundreds of thousands of soldiers and civilians. Perhaps they now believed the news from other places that the People's Liberation Army was invincible in field battles and good at sieges.

Survival was a luxury in this devastating scene, not to mention the explosions—one after another, with no end in sight. The officials in Ganzhou who were actually inciting the rebellion couldn't help but shrink their necks, waiting to see what kind of character the city's new master would have.

"all......."

The reason why the People's Liberation Army launched a large-scale artillery bombardment was to undermine the morale and will to resist of the Qing army, and reduce the resistance they might encounter when entering the urban area later.

Finally, under the bombardment of artillery, a breach was finally blasted through the city wall. Next came the mortars. With their previous combat experience, the People's Liberation Army was now adept at dealing with these backward Qing troops. The flames blazing on the city walls and the bodies strewn across the ground demonstrated the brutality of the battle. After two more mortar shells, it was difficult to find a single person intact on the city walls.

Yin Chaozong watched the company pouring into Ganzhou with a faint smile. The fate of Ganzhou City had been settled the moment the army entered. With other troops clearing the battlefield and pursuing the fleeing enemy, even if the Qing troops and officials inside Ganzhou City tried to escape, it would be extremely difficult. Compared to defeating these Qing troops, stabilizing the situation and clearing out the remaining forces were more challenging tasks, but these tasks naturally required gradual progress.

Yin Chaozong shook his head, trying to get rid of the funny scene of the Qing army in Ganzhou, and shouted: "Speed ​​up the march, otherwise Guangzhou will be liberated and we will still be on the road!"

As Yin Chaozong continued his march southward past Nanxiong, the troops in Shaoguan were already advancing rapidly and jubilantly southward, nearing Fogang. The liberation of Guangzhou was a major achievement, and every soldier was energized for it. Attacking Guangzhou City demanded speed, as it was close to Hong Kong, the power of the foreign powers was immense, and the stakes were high. Delay would easily lead to unrest.

The Qing troops in Guangzhou were much better than those in Ganzhou. They didn't burn kerosene or deploy rolling logs and pounding stones on the city walls. But that was all. They had no concept of defense in depth and no intention of digging trenches outside the city walls. They simply placed some sandbags on the city walls, and the soldiers formed a thin line of defense. Guangzhou City was so large that even if all the Qing soldiers joined hands, they would not be able to encircle it. The Qing army didn't have much heavy firepower and didn't know how to deploy their troops scientifically. How could they defend such a large city?

After the troops advancing from Wuzhou and Shaoguan joined forces outside Guangzhou, a temporary headquarters was established and preparations for the siege began. However, the PLA's forces were insufficient for this attack on Guangzhou, so they did not adopt a siege strategy, such as encircling the enemy from three sides and leaving one behind. Instead, the PLA adopted a strategy of attacking from all sides, breaking through at multiple points, and rapidly penetrating the enemy's territory to directly attack the enemy. After all, Guangzhou was a city of primary concern for the PLA, and the Forward Party already had an organization there. The PLA headquarters had a clear understanding of the Qing army's deployment within Guangzhou.

Even though the PLA was confident of quickly capturing Guangzhou, in order to allow the Qing army to concentrate and annihilate them, the PLA deliberately camped outside the city for a night, preparing to launch the attack the next morning. However, the PLA did not remain idle at night, but dispatched a number of small teams to guard the various intersections outside Guangzhou, especially those leading to Hong Kong, to prevent Qing officials inside Guangzhou from escaping with the funds.

The PLA also knew that the Qing troops in Guangzhou had considerable combat effectiveness, and that a head-on attack would undoubtedly cost the PLA a heavy price. However, the Qing army, even the Beiyang Army, shared a common flaw: fear of being flanked and surrounded. They relied heavily on logistics and required a stable and reliable supply of food and wages. It wasn't as if the Qing troops were truly tired of living. Without adequate military pay and pre-war wages, they would struggle to even feed themselves, and naturally, they would be unwilling to continue fighting.

The Qing troops in the city were now facing a desperate battle with the People's Liberation Army, so they were naturally full of complaints. One Qing soldier was heard complaining: "Fighting, what's the point? Fighting, what's the point? I'll fight for whatever money the officials give me. This is called fair trade, no cheating."

"If I'm not welcome here, I'll find another place that will welcome me. If I'm not welcome anywhere, I'll join the Red Army..."

The next morning, after a night of rest and breakfast, the PLA immediately began preparing to attack the city. By then, more Qing troops had gathered on the walls the PLA was attacking. However, these Qing troops were not as scientific as the PLA, and their logistics were not adequate. When the PLA attacked, the Qing troops still hadn't had breakfast. Furthermore, because they didn't know when the PLA would attack, many Qing soldiers stayed up all night, their tears streaming and their yawns raging.

As the god of war, the cannon will naturally be released to cause destruction first.

Amidst the rumbling explosions, the PLA easily captured the city wall from another direction. Supported by their comrades inside the city, the troops advanced rapidly. Simultaneously, the Guangzhou Federation of Trade Unions also sprang into action, either guiding the incoming PLA to capture valuable locations or leading their fellow workers to protect the factory.

Faced with the PLA's rapid attack, the Qing army in the city collapsed in a very short time. The PLA followed the defeated Qing army and advanced rapidly into Guangzhou City like driving ducks. Faced with the PLA's fierce offensive, Cen Chunxuan had no time to make new deployments, and the engaging troops lost contact with him.

The dense gunfire and fierce artillery explosions made the entire city of Guangzhou seem as lively as the Spring Festival. There were explosions everywhere, the smell of gunpowder everywhere, and the shouts of humans everywhere.

Cen Chunxuan had always believed that the PLA was a bunch of fearless thugs, but now, with the news of their defeats trickling in, he realized how wrong he was. The Qing army, now incapable of verifying the PLA's fearlessness and well-trained character, completely collapsed under the onslaught of the army.

Soon, explosions were heard at the gate of the Guangdong-Guangxi Governor's Office. Cen Chunxuan was completely hopeless. He had tried many times to organize a breakout, but the soldiers who tried were quickly reduced to cold corpses. The sound of gunfire outside grew louder, more frequent, and closer. The Qing army officer in charge of the defense began to report the situation to him in tears.

"Sir, the rebels have broken through xx." "Sir, xx has fallen."

Soon, Cen Chunxuan never saw the Qing officer who reported this again. Even then, Cen Chunxuan still hoped for a reversal of fortune. Even then, he hoped that the foreign powers would intervene...

However, all this was no longer subject to Cen Chunxuan's personal will. Soon he heard a few words and saw the black muzzles of guns.

"Raise your hands, surrender and you won't be killed."

"Capture Cen Chunxuan alive."

Chapter 692: First update!

After the People's Liberation Army seized the Guangdong-Guangxi Governor's Office and captured Cen Chunxuan alive, they immediately began clearing the remaining soldiers from the streets and restoring normal order. In times of chaos, it's crucial to act decisively, and drastic measures are the truest form of compassion. Those who took advantage of the chaos to loot, whether soldiers or hooligans, were slaughtered without mercy. Soon, dozens of bloody heads were hung on the walls, their crimes written beside them. Troops then began patrolling, and order was quickly restored within the city.

After receiving the victory telegram from the troops, Zhang Yinghao thought for a moment and immediately said to the recorder, "Record. Order the troops that liberated Guangzhou to immediately launch disaster relief operations. At the same time, take the opportunity to liberate the entire Pearl River Delta region. Other troops still on the march will deploy on the spot to eliminate the remnants of the Qing Dynasty, disband the militia, and crack down on bandits and bullies."

The Pearl River Delta, or PRD for short, is a delta formed by the sedimentation of the Xijiang, Beijiang, and Dongjiang rivers as they flow into the sea. It covers an area of ​​approximately 5.6 square kilometers. Located in the south-central part of Guangdong Province, in the lower reaches of the Pearl River, it borders Hong Kong and Macao and faces Southeast Asia across the sea. With convenient land and sea transportation, it is known as China's "Southern Gate."

After the Song Dynasty, the Pearl River Delta began to develop on a large scale. By the Ming Dynasty, it had become a renowned production base for grain and various cash crops in Lingnan. Shunde, Nanhai, Zhongshan, and Panyu were renowned for their jitang agriculture. Guangdong and Guangxi were mountainous with few plains, and the People's Liberation Army had to secure control of this grain-producing land, which could support hundreds of thousands of troops. To trade with the British, the jitang agriculture's mulberry production capacity was also a crucial industry for the liberated areas.

Zhang Yinghao then said, "Order Yin Chaozong and his troops to liberate the Chaoshan area, block the Qing army's route southward to support Fujian, and cut off the connection between Fujian and Guangdong. At the same time, we must also arrest typical cases and hold public trials. We must quickly deter the locals and let those landlords and gentry who still harbor illusions about the Qing know that the Qing army will never return."

"Chairman, what about Guangzhou Bay and Kowloon, Hong Kong?"

Zhang Yinghao raised his eyebrows and said, "Let the External Affairs Office talk to Britain and France. We will maintain the status quo. Time is on our side."

Chief of Staff Liu Qi said: "Chairman, can we seize the opportunity to capture Guangzhou Bay and Kowloon, Hong Kong? This will at least drive the British out of the South China Sea, and even out of the Western Pacific."

Zhang Yinghao shook his head and said, "What if Britain lost Hong Kong? Britain still has ports on the Indochina Peninsula, they still have the Strait of Malacca, and they still have India as a forward base. It's impossible for the British to really lose anything because of Hong Kong. The most important thing is that we have different views on the South China Sea from Britain, because the interests and positions of both sides are completely different. We think that after taking Hong Kong, the British will have no foothold and the British will not be able to enter the South China Sea at will. However, the British believe that the Chinese cannot freely enter and exit the Indian Ocean. India and the Indian Ocean are regarded by the British as their own backyard, and any threat is intolerable to Britain. This is why Britain is now desperately trying to win over the upper class slave-owning aristocracy in China. Because China makes Britain feel that India has no sense of security and feels threatened."

"However, taking over Hong Kong and Kowloon will still bring us a lot of benefits! Without Hong Kong as a foothold, the British will no longer be able to threaten us from the sea at will."

Zhang Yinghao shook his head again and replied: "There are not many benefits. If we do not restrain the British warships and break the blockade of the British shipping routes to Europe, then there are really a lot of disadvantages. If we recover Hong Kong, it means that the British colonial system and the fundamental interests of the United Kingdom will be affected. The United Kingdom will never compromise and will completely break with the United Kingdom. As long as the United Kingdom blocks the Strait of Malacca, we will no longer be able to get any help from Germany, Austria, Turkey and other countries in Europe. The United States is now an economic giant, but its army is a dwarf. A word from the United Kingdom may cause our cooperation with the United States to break down. We must fight with the United Kingdom but not break it. We can cut the British flesh secretly, but we must never have a mindless conflict with the United Kingdom.

As for the claims that Britain would be in trouble without Hong Kong, this is typical mainland Chinese thinking. Mainland Chinese soldiers, without aboard warships, find it difficult to understand maritime thinking. When we first advanced from Sichuan into Shaanxi, even a few hundred miles for the army was a significant undertaking, exhausting troops and horses, and challenging logistics. However, a few hundred miles was a perfectly normal distance for the navy. The carrying capacity of a single ship is beyond our imagination, so even if the navy could easily cover a few hundred miles, it might not even cover half the distance. Therefore, even if we recaptured Hong Kong, if we lacked the ability to defend our coast and inflict heavy damage on enemy warships, British warships would be within arm's reach, leaving our coast completely unsafe.

"Chairman, we understand."

Seeing that his comrades all had understanding expressions, Zhang Yinghao said again: "Send a telegram to the comrades in Guangzhou. If the army wants to enter Kowloon and Hong Kong for disaster relief, they must contact the British Hong Kong authorities and obtain their consent before entering. No weapons or military uniforms are allowed when entering Hong Kong and Kowloon for disaster relief. We must minimize all unnecessary trouble and prioritize rescuing the victims. We must save as many lives as possible, minimize losses, and help them with post-disaster reconstruction."

Since the PLA entered Guangdong under the guise of disaster relief, it naturally had to do a good job. The PLA has been engaged in disaster relief since its founding, and comrades now understand that disaster relief helps the PLA and the Forward Party quickly integrate into the local community. Furthermore, the Party has gradually accumulated experience in its work, especially in areas free of disasters and difficulties. Instead of forcibly persecuting local tyrants and dividing up land, it has instead united the people to implement rent and interest reductions and fight against tyranny. This, on the one hand, allowed the comrades to integrate into the local community and gain their trust. On the other hand, it enabled the people to recognize their own strength and unite, ultimately launching land reform policies when they were dissatisfied with rent and interest reductions. By mobilizing the masses to fight against landlords and the masses to fight against the masses, we can achieve the ultimate reform results step by step and in depth.

The troops entering Guangzhou received orders to immediately launch disaster relief operations, which caused many officers and soldiers to complain. In fact, if you think about it, you will understand why. Disaster relief is hard and tiring, and the army can only easily gain countless military merits when fighting. Facing a weak force like the Qing army, if you don't seize the opportunity at this time, your comrades will complain. Which comrades in the south don't envy the comrades in the north who are expanding their territory, sweeping across thousands of miles, and swallowing up the momentum like a tiger? The army in the north is now completely superior to the south in all aspects. Now that they finally have the opportunity to fight, how can they let it go? If Zhang Yinghao saw this scene, he would definitely think of those people selling health products in later generations, holding one hand on their waist and the other hand raised high, shouting: My waist is good, my waist is good.

However, these officers and soldiers only dared to complain privately, and they didn't even dare to let their instructors know about these remarks. After all, the propaganda they had given to the soldiers when they entered Guangdong was disaster relief. So, these officers and soldiers still obediently put down their guns and rolled up their sleeves to join the flood control and disaster relief operations.

Zhang Yinghao kept the troops that had entered Guangzhou in Guangzhou for disaster relief, which also gave other troops an opportunity to gain merit. After all, the merit of capturing Guangzhou was already great enough. If these troops also tried to take credit for liberating other places, their comrades would be dissatisfied. If they went to Guangdong without any merit, they would be looked down upon by the soldiers below. Therefore, after the capture of Guangzhou, the contradictions had changed, and the army's mission immediately changed to disaster relief, rather than military affairs.

The two countries most nervous about the PLA's advance into Guangdong were Britain and France. After all, the British concessions of Hong Kong and the French concession of Guangzhou Bay were both under the PLA's attack. For Zhang Yinghao, this was China's internal affairs, naturally without the intervention of the British and French. However, for the British and French, the PLA's advance into Guangdong seriously damaged their interests. Therefore, Zhang Yinghao soon received diplomatic notes from the two countries, but he ignored them, leaving them to the Foreign Affairs Office to handle, slowly stalling for time.

At this moment, Zhang Zhidong walked in and suddenly asked: "Chairman Zhang, how should we deal with the Governor-General of Guangdong and Guangxi, Cen Chunxuan?"

Zhang Yinghao didn't even think twice about this question and said, "Hmm? 'Official Butcher' Cen Chunxuan! Haha, he's on par with Mr. Zhang's 'Money Butcher' and Yuan Shikai's 'People's Butcher'! They're all big names."

Zhang Zhidong smiled awkwardly and said immediately: "Chairman Zhang, you are too kind. I have indeed spent a lot of money, but I have not achieved much."

Zhang Yinghao said, "Sir, you're too modest. You founded the Wuhan Iron and Steel Works. It's no exaggeration to say you're the father of our country's heavy industry. You also established the Self-Strengthening School, the Military Academy, the Agricultural School, the Hubei Industrial School, the Women's Normal College, and many other institutions, cultivating talent for our country. Honestly, your contributions cannot be summed up in a few words. In short, your deeds are immeasurable and your name will go down in history!"

After hearing what Zhang Yinghao said, Zhang Zhidong was very happy. As an important official of the Qing Dynasty, he could receive such high evaluation from the rebel leader. Then his historical evaluation would not be low, and he would definitely not be liquidated.

Zhang Zhidong said with a smile: "Haha. That's too much. Chairman Zhang, you haven't said how to deal with Cen Chunxuan yet."

Zhang Yinghao also laughed and said, "Honestly, it doesn't matter how we deal with Cen Chunxuan. Even killing him wouldn't be a big deal. After all, Cen Chunxuan killed many people when he suppressed the Guangxi secret society uprising. However, this is just a difference of position. Killing him now will not benefit us."

Zhang Zhidong immediately interjected, "Chairman, Cen Chunxuan also supported the Reform Movement of 1898, and spared no effort in implementing the New Deal in Guangdong. He initiated military reforms, replacing the Green Camp with a standing army, a reserve army, patrol police, and county soldiers, who were tasked with combat garrison, arresting and clearing the countryside, maintaining public order, and protecting the payment of prisoners. He also established military academies, including the Guangdong Generals' School, the Military Medical School, the Army Primary and Secondary Schools, and the Security School. At the same time, he also built new schools and established the "Education Office" in Guangzhou to oversee education. He founded the Guangdong Law and Politics School, the Guangdong-Guangxi Higher Industrial School, the Guangdong-Guangxi Dialect School, and specialized schools for surveying, sericulture, agriculture, and forestry. He also transformed the Guangdong-Guangxi Normal School into the Guangdong-Guangxi Superior Normal School and sent scholars to study in Japan, making outstanding contributions to the development of education in Guangdong and Guangxi..."

Zhang Yinghao listened to Zhang Zhidong's words and naturally knew that Zhang Zhidong was pleading for Cen Chunxuan. After Zhang Zhidong finished speaking, Zhang Yinghao waved his hand. A comrade immediately said to Zhang Zhidong: "Mr. Zhang, we will naturally investigate the merits and demerits of Cen Chunxuan. We also know that Cen Chunxuan vigorously punished corrupt officials in Guangdong and Guangxi. In addition, Cen Chunxuan founded the Guangdong and Guangxi Education Office as the highest educational management agency. He successively opened the Guangdong and Guangxi Industrial School, Guangdong Law and Politics School, Sericulture School, Rural School, Guangdong and Guangxi Dialect School, Surveying and Mapping School, Guangdong and Guangxi High School, etc. We also know that he ordered each prefecture to establish a middle school and each county to establish a primary school. We also know that Cen Chunxuan also attached great importance to teacher education, successively establishing the Guangdong and Guangxi Normal School, the Translation School, the Guangdong Women's Normal School, the Guangxi Quick Normal School, the Shangde Women's Normal School, and the Guangdong and Guangxi Travel Study Preparatory School. Two years ago, he also ordered the establishment of the Guangdong and Guangxi Training Institute, bringing together the directors of the county education promotion offices and county primary school principals from across the province for provincial training. These will form the basis for Cen Chunxuan's final evaluation.

Zhang Yinghao also said to Zhang Zhidong: "We in the Forward Party have our own way of dealing with Qing officials. We naturally need officials who are truly capable. One of our Forward Party's political philosophies is to serve the people wholeheartedly. If those capable officials of the Qing are willing to accept learning and reform and are willing to serve the people, our Forward Party will also provide policies and a way out."

When Zhang Zhidong heard what Zhang Yinghao said, he breathed a sigh of relief at the same time. Zhang Zhidong had not been able to see through countless people at a glance, but he completely couldn't understand or figure out the party chairman in front of him.

Zhang Zhidong put aside Cen Chunxuan's matter and asked, "Chairman Zhang, the first chapter of the Sima Fa states: 'A country, though great, will perish if it loves war; the world, though peaceful, will be in danger if it forgets war.' Now you haven't signed an armistice with Japan or Russia. Although you have indeed defeated Japan and Russia, and it has certainly boosted morale, there will still be endless troubles."

Zhang Yinghao naturally knew that those who love war will perish, and those who forget war will be in danger. If the great powers did not bully China, were willing to return the land to China, return the interests they had occupied, and give back the privileges to China, why would he be willing to fight?

However, these were not Zhang Zhidong's personal fault, so there was no reason to blame him. Zhang Yinghao naturally would not complain to Zhang Zhidong, so Zhang Yinghao replied: "Sir, you said we are worried about war, but on the other hand, we won this time. Are Japan and Russia really not afraid of war?"

Zhang Zhidong was stunned when he heard this. It seemed to make sense. If he was worried, wouldn't the enemy be worried too? This is what Sun Tzu's Art of War said: Know yourself but not the enemy!

Seeing that Zhang Zhidong was speechless, Zhang Yinghao continued: "The times have changed now. In the face of this great change that has not happened in thousands of years, we should put aside the old ways and seek truth from facts. In this era when truth is only within the range of cannons, in this era where the strong prey on the weak, those who lag behind will be beaten, and the winner takes all, those who forget to fight will perish, and even their nation will be destroyed and their race will be exterminated. African blacks are being sold like livestock, American Indians are being slaughtered and kept in captivity like livestock, and people in colonies are being slaughtered and exploited wantonly. Even many of us Chinese are being sold as "piglets". So, Mr. Xiaoda (word), In this era, those who forget war will perish. As for the warlike countries, look at the powerful countries. The United States started with three states, but because of its bellicosity, it has now become a country spanning the Pacific Ocean, the Atlantic Ocean, and the Arctic Ocean. Because of its bellicosity, Britain conquered piece after piece of land and became the current world hegemon, the British Empire. Because of its bellicosity, Russia became a country spanning the Eurasian continent, with the seaports they longed for on three sides. Japan was bellicosous and took away Taiwan and Korea. How much money did the Qing Dynasty pay in compensation? The same is true for other powerful countries. They became strong because of their bellicosity. How many non-bellicose countries were destroyed along the way? Mr. Xiaoda, to stop the war is to be a warrior, and to make the lamb delicious is to be a soup!"

Zhang Zhidong was probably stunned when he heard these remarks for the first time. He had never looked at things from these perspectives before. But could the words of a sage be wrong?

Zhang Zhidong thought for a long time before saying, "We should take Chinese learning as the basis and Western learning as the application. This way we can drive out the invaders and protect our country and our people. What's the difference between the foreigners and animals?"

"What's the difference between you and animals? What a wonderful sentence!"

Zhang Yinghao thought to himself, glancing at Zhang Zhidong. He knew Zhang Zhidong was trying to promote his political ideas, but in front of a time traveler like Zhang Yinghao, that was completely useless. In reality, Zhang Yinghao was simply leveraging Zhang Zhidong's reputation and prestige to maintain stability in the region, using his wealth to buy a powerful opponent. On certain specific matters, Zhang Yinghao was willing to consult Zhang Zhidong, after all, Zhang Zhidong was indeed capable and experienced. However, if Zhang Zhidong relied on his seniority and even attempted to change the political philosophy of the Forward Party, that would be something Zhang Yinghao could not tolerate.

Zhang Yinghao laughed and said, "The Qing Dynasty couldn't even defeat the foreigners, and was even more afraid of them. Isn't this worse than the beasts?"

Zhang Zhidong's face flushed red at Zhang Yinghao's harsh words, and he was unable to utter a rebuttal. Zhang Yinghao seemed not to notice and continued, "The reason why the European and American powers are strong is because of their capitalist system, not just their technology. Even if their technology suddenly disappears now, it will soon reappear. But China is different. The Westernization Movement lasted for decades, but the people died and the government withered. Doesn't this prove that the saying "Chinese learning as the basis, Western learning for practical application" is bankrupt? Even if we rely on Western learning to drive out the invaders, what will happen next? The technology of the powerful countries will continue to advance, and we will always lag behind and be bullied. The Progressive Party will absolutely not accept such an outcome. I believe Mr. Xiaoda will definitely not accept it after knowing the result."

Zhang Zhidong quickly said: "The Chairman is right. I was wrong and cannot accept this. However, if the war continues, wouldn't it also consume national strength? War requires so much money. The country will only become poorer and poorer. We should rest and recuperate!"

Zhang Yinghao laughed after hearing this and said, "Mr. Xiaoda's idea of ​​'Chinese learning as the basis, Western learning for practical application' is still somewhat progressive in this era, and there's nothing to criticize. It's just that our Progressive Party is aiming to build a brand new country and a brand new system, so we don't need such a perspective. As for the issue of spending money, I've explained this before in Party lectures: the moment the Qing Dynasty defeated the Dzungars and halted its expansion, it was bound to decline, following China's old path of a cycle of order and chaos."

Zhang Yinghao continued with a certain amount of complacency, "As long as the territory continues to expand and the average wealth of the people continues to increase, then the country as a whole won't have many problems. Agricultural expansion can't achieve this. Most importantly, for an agricultural country, labor is the most valuable asset. Once the population is overconsumed and wealth consumption completely exceeds output, the country will naturally become poorer and poorer. Eventually, they will either be forced to cease fighting and recuperate, or they will simply change dynasties."

Zhang Yinghao looked at Zhang Zhidong, who was listening as quietly as an elementary school student, then glanced at the comrade taking notes nearby. He continued, "Industrial countries are completely different from agricultural countries. In the hundred years since the Industrial Revolution, the wealth created has exceeded the total wealth in human history. As long as each war we fight has corresponding benefits, and as long as the overall cost of waging war is lower than the amount of wealth added, then the country will not face serious problems. Moreover, not only is the amount of wealth created by people now incomparable to before, but the value of young labor has also greatly decreased. The number of people available for consumption has also increased, and the amount of per capita wealth has actually increased. At this point, as long as it is within certain limits, more wars will actually promote social development."

Hearing these shocking words, Zhang Zhidong suddenly got goose bumps all over his body. He also noticed that the recorder's hand holding the pen was shaking and he couldn't write smoothly. How many people in history have said such unorthodox words? In any case, Zhang Zhidong had never seen such a sentence before, and he didn't even dare to think about it!

Zhang Yinghao continued with a smile, "Of course, there's a crucial issue here. The money spent on the war can't be monopolized by a few. We can't let a few people profit from the war while the vast majority of the people become increasingly poor. And then we have to force the poor to work for us. That would be a huge problem. As long as the vast majority of the people earn money by selling their labor to create wealth for the country, our country will only become richer because of the war."

Zhang Yinghao looked at Zhang Zhidong cheerfully and said, "Of course, not only do the masses create wealth and earn money, but the land, output, and indemnities gained through war can also be continuously fed back into industrial construction, expanding industrial production capacity and capacity. As long as a positive cycle is formed, the more wars are fought, the more beneficial it will be to the country, promoting the development of productivity, thus freeing up more labor and creating more wealth..."

Zhang Zhidong, worthy of being one of the Four Great Ministers of the Late Qing Restoration, a key official of the late Qing Dynasty and a representative figure of the late Westernization Movement, only needed a moment's thought to identify the key. He immediately blurted out: "How could such a good thing happen in the world? There must be some constraints. Otherwise, one of the great powers would have unified the world long ago."

Zhang Yinghao couldn't help but give Zhang Zhidong a thumbs-up. He immediately replied, "Of course. The rate of productivity growth, the size and quality of the population, and so on are all limiting factors. For example, Britain's global dominance and the formation of an empire on which the sun never sets were due to its productivity. Britain pioneered the Industrial Revolution and seized so many colonies with overwhelming superiority. But didn't Britain want to seize more colonies? Didn't it want China to become its colony? It's not that Britain didn't want to, but the fact that Britain only had a population of tens of millions constrained its expansion. Other major powers also had similar constraints, and the powers themselves constrained each other. The process of industrialization is also a process of finding raw materials and consumer markets. Therefore, as long as our country can seize the current opportunities, this era of the survival of the fittest will be the best. We should seize the opportunity, fully utilize the 450 million population dividend, and seize the opportunity of rapid industrial development. While striving to improve productivity, we will also seize more land, so that the entire industrialization construction and development will enter a positive cycle, allowing our country to quickly escape the situation of being attacked and starved and become a truly prosperous, strong, and independent country!"

.………-

Chapter 693: Second update!

After Zhang Yinghao sent Zhang Zhidong away, he discussed the follow-up matters with his comrades. The troops liberating Guangzhou were also spreading to the Pearl River Delta. As the scope of liberation became larger and larger, the defense circle also became larger and larger, and the troops became increasingly sparse. This gave the previous militia an opportunity, and the reconnaissance troops soon confronted these militias.

Because the militia was a local tyrant, several militias, seemingly from nowhere, joined forces and attacked the army's scouts. Upon hearing this news, the comrades were immediately furious. Instead of feeling the slightest bit of worry or fear, they were simply stunned. Who could have the audacity to launch an armed confrontation with the PLA at this moment? This was truly a suicidal act.

Faced with these militias who dared to resist, the PLA naturally showed no mercy. Due to poor roads and lack of information, these militias were still unaware that the PLA had quickly captured Guangzhou. For the Forward Party, the fact that these enemies attacking the PLA were organized was actually beneficial, as it gave the PLA an opportunity to wipe them out in one fell swoop.

The PLA soldiers were rigorously trained, and now, in the unfamiliar environment of Guangdong, they were naturally extremely united and vigilant. Upon learning of the militia gathering, the troops quickly assembled, with the 6th Infantry Regiment and the 5th Cavalry Regiment receiving orders to clear out the enemy. This speed of response was normal for the PLA, but incredible for the militia.

While these militias were still debating how to support Guangzhou, the troops had already surrounded them. Faced with thousands of enemies, the commanders and fighters naturally wouldn't be so pedantic as to shout first and then attack. They would definitely shoot first, control the situation, and then persuade them to surrender and question them. The enemy's life was naturally not as important as the lives of their own comrades.

Mortars, as a portable heavy firepower system, were naturally the first to fire. The troops had a clear psychological advantage over the militia. Seeing the chaos within the militia, the soldiers immediately launched an attack, and a sudden roar of gunfire and artillery roared. These militias, trained to kill unorganized revolutionaries, might have been considered well-organized, but facing the organized, rigorously trained regular army, they were immediately defeated. The slaughter was rapid, and they collapsed.

Unable to withstand the pressure of the PLA's offensive, these militias immediately began to flee. However, the PLA could not allow these militias to continue their devastation, so cavalry units appeared on both flanks to encircle them. The southern region was indeed not well suited to large-scale cavalry operations, and encountering rice paddies and cobblestone roads was even more challenging. However, the comrades were not anxious. The militia had not undergone rigorous and brutal specialized training. Although they might appear to run quickly, they would undoubtedly be out of breath and "discard their armor and weapons" within ten minutes. Within fifteen minutes, unless they were a natural runner, they would have no strength left to continue fighting. If they wanted to escape, they would have to abandon their weapons.

It was a completely asymmetrical battle. Soon, the canals were dyed red. Corpses lay on the ground, in the rice paddies, and along the canals. The ground and the water were covered with blood, and the air was thick with the smell of blood.

These militias had never shown mercy in their previous slaughter of progressive figures, so surrender simply didn't enter their minds. The PLA's sweeping destruction of these militias was a testament to their authority. However, the excessive slaughter and hasty actions led to continued resistance from militias in many areas, and in some places, even soft resistance emerged.

Zhang Yinghao was stunned to hear that such a battle had actually taken place outside Guangzhou, and he was also thinking about the problem of these local tyrants. According to the analysis of who is our enemy and who is our friend, it is clear that the landlords and powerful people in Guangdong are naturally the enemies of the People's Liberation Army. However, in order to maintain the united front, it is naturally impossible to push all the powerful landlords into the opposite side. It is necessary to pull one faction, isolate one faction, and attack one faction. Otherwise, if the local powerful people are provoked to resist, then no matter how many troops there are, they will not be as many as the people. The People's Liberation Army also does not understand the local area. In the end, it will inevitably pay a heavy price, and even both sides will shed blood. The number of landlords and powerful people is limited. Although the People's Liberation Army will not massacre the people, nor will they be enemies of the people, if a large-scale killing is carried out, the casualties will be the ordinary people who serve as cannon fodder.

Zhang Yinghao thought for a moment and said, "First, we should invite prominent figures from Guangzhou and surrounding areas to Guangzhou. Under their eyes, we can publicly execute some of the most heinous Qing officials and criminals who deserve the death penalty. This will serve as a warning to others and let them see with their own eyes the consequences of resisting liberation. I think this will move the local tyrants in Guangdong, making it much easier to divide them."

The PLA quickly liberated Guangzhou, killing or wounding over 2,000 militiamen in one battle. News spread quickly. Other armies also quickly captured cities in Guangdong. Yin Chaozong, upon receiving the order, immediately moved forward and captured Fenshui Pass by surprise. Holding Fenshui Pass effectively cut off the main transportation route between Fujian and Guangdong.

Zhang Yinghao wasn't actually worried about the Qing troops in Fujian attacking the PLA. In fact, moving the local Qing troops away would have made it easier to destroy them. However, it's better to be prepared for the worst. If the Qing troops moved south, disrupting the area and giving the foreign powers an excuse would be detrimental. Furthermore, the dead cannot be resurrected, so when dealing with the enemy, one must be cautious and take precautions.

The People's Liberation Army allocated some units for disaster relief and post-disaster reconstruction, while other units entered Jiangmen, Foshan, and other areas to eliminate remnants of the Qing Dynasty. This was primarily achieved through an armed demonstration around Guangzhou. Comrades from the Land Reform Commission, the Ministry of Finance, and other departments reviewed documents to determine the local land situation in Guangdong and confiscated official land. They also began establishing a new tax system and promoting rent and interest reductions.

Of course, the PLA's actions around Guangzhou also had another purpose: to intimidate the British in Hong Kong. The PLA's real enemy at this time was the landlords and the Qing Dynasty forces they represented, so the PLA had to prevent these people from colluding with countries like Britain and France to engage in counter-revolutionary activities.

In addition to the landlord militias, Guangdong also had quasi-gangster organizations like the Tiandihui. The PLA's stance on these organizations had always been clear. There's no room for two tigers in a mountain. The PLA, like a fierce dragon crossing the river and quickly occupying Guangzhou, naturally wouldn't allow any other armed forces to challenge the PLA.

Soon, the relevant information from Guangdong was compiled and landed on Zhang Yinghao's desk. Looking at the piles of information, Zhang Yinghao felt quite pleased. After all, this was proof that his comrades were constantly growing. After a while, Zhang Yinghao read the documents and understood their general meaning.

At this time, China, with the exception of the northwest and northeast regions, was almost universally characterized by a population shortage, and this phenomenon was particularly severe in Guangdong and Guangxi. The literature clearly states that if land could not be distributed fairly, people in Guangdong and Guangxi would surely starve to death every day. Therefore, whether it was the conflict between the natives and the immigrants, or the rebellions of the Heaven and Earth Society, the truth can be summed up in one sentence: if life became unbearable, and they didn't fight or compete, but quietly waited for death, the graves of such obedient people would have long been overgrown with grass.

Since it was known that the distribution of land must be done, Zhang Yinghao directly instructed: Don't worry about those upper-level people, we just need to come up with a way to let the people live and work in peace and contentment. Follow the steps, and after the land is distributed, those who follow the Tiandihui and the militia will definitely go home. As long as no one follows these leaders, then if the new government wants to mold them into a circle, they will be round, and if it wants to mold them into a square, they will be square.

Zhang Yinghao knew that land was limited and that annexation was inevitable, so he insisted on upholding land nationalization. As someone born in the 21st century, he naturally understood that making money depended on industry, and that land, a non-renewable resource, must be controlled by the state. Anyone who obtained land only received the right to use it, not ownership. In the future, capital operations and the sale of land use rights could generate funds that could be used not only for government expenditures but also for infrastructure development and production development.

Past history has proven that the foundation of industrial development lies in land reform, allowing more farmers to leave the countryside and enter the cities to become industrial workers. Britain's sheep-eating-people wars, the French Revolution's massacre of feudal landlords, and America's westward expansion, farmland protection laws, and so on, are even more remarkable. Even Russia has seen the centralization of land management and the widespread immigration to Siberia...

Different countries may have implemented land reform in different ways, but without exception, they all strived to dismantle feudal landlord and small-scale peasant economies, treating land as a means of production and a component of large-scale socialized production. China's land situation is even more unique and complex, reaching a point where a decisive resolution is unavoidable. The large population and limited land in some areas, while the vast majority of people are landless, presents a contradiction that must be addressed.

To develop industry, another crucial issue must be addressed: sufficient agricultural and sideline products to support those who work part-time. Without sufficient food, nothing can be achieved. This is why primary school teachers cannot be fully employed, and why the military must also reclaim wasteland. The number of non-employed personnel at the grassroots level must be reduced in the liberated areas. Village heads, village secretaries, and many village committee officials receive only a meager living allowance, insufficient to support their families. They must devote significant time to agricultural production to ensure a normal life for themselves and their families.

Therefore, regardless of location, a key element to development was land reform. Through land reform, the state could control the prices of agricultural and sideline products, liberate the labor force, and thus indirectly put the countryside on the path of industrialization. In reality, whether in Guangdong or elsewhere, land reform simply provided food for the people—as Zhang Yinghao previously stated, it solved the problem of hunger, or simply prevented people from starving to death.

Zhang Yinghao recently read another passage about opposing land reform: "To achieve socialism, land policy must implement complete nationalization of land, not the public ownership of land under smallholder or collective ownership. Land reform works in the opposite direction. Not only is it not a socialist measure, it cuts off the path to such a measure, creating a host of insurmountable difficulties for the socialist transformation of land relations."

Zhang Yinghao himself was well aware that when economic development was slow and there were not enough jobs, the farmers who acquired land would become the most conservative small-capitalist owners. They were attached to their land, conservative and stubborn, and their resistance to socialist revolution was far more dangerous and tenacious than that of the few large landowners.

However, as the economy develops rapidly and there are enough jobs

Later, farmers will quickly give up their few acres of land and go to work in cities, providing indispensable driving force for urban development.