The Heroic Age of the Late Qing Dynasty

Zhang Yinghao also knew that his comrades were doing this for his own good, and considering that his own safety was indeed related to the entire liberated area and hundreds of millions of people, he listened to the advice and had enough food, so he compromised and finally agreed to the resolution of the Party Committee.

..…….

Now that he knew that the great powers were preparing to jointly attack the liberated areas, Zhang Yinghao's most important job at this time was naturally to sit at the center, discuss countermeasures, deploy troops, accumulate military supplies, and prepare for the next war.

"Chairman, the French and British are provoking again on the Yunnan-Myanmar border and the Guangxi border."

Upon hearing this intelligence, Zhang Yinghao had anticipated this. If Britain and France wanted to cede Chinese territory, they could only start from these border areas. Of course, Zhang Yinghao also knew that this was a test for the People's Liberation Army. Once the powers were fully prepared, they would surely launch a thundering attack.

"For the time being, we will prioritize defense. As long as the British and French troops don't cross the temporary border, we will tolerate them. If they dare to cross the current border, we will relentlessly fight them back."

"Yes!"

"These Brits and French are dreaming of taking advantage of us. Even if we let them take advantage now, we'll make sure they pay us back with interest in the future."

"Don't make harsh remarks; they will only make people think you're weak. Don't pin your hopes on the enemy's concessions or mercy. We have to be fully prepared. As long as we are strong enough, we won't be afraid of any enemy. As long as Britain and France don't take any substantial action, we can just bear with them for now."

"Chairman, the Beiyang government has secretly assembled a large number of troops under Shanhaiguan. We are also preparing to attack Korea. If the Beiyang government attacks, will there be any problems?"

Zhang Yinghao thought for a moment and said, "Send someone to contact Kui Jun to be our agent. He's made so much money, he should do something for us. Tell him to tell Yuan Datou that the great powers are joining forces to invade China again. Tell Yuan Datou that the Beiyang government and the liberated areas will maintain the status quo. As long as the Beiyang government doesn't attack the liberated areas, the People's Liberation Army will never take the initiative to attack. Warn Yuan Datou not to do things that will hurt his relatives and please his enemies, and don't do things that will leave him infamous for eternity."

With the resources Zhang Yinghao currently controls, there is no need to mobilize troops. As long as Zhang Yinghao is given enough time, he can use industrial products to drain all of Beiyang's money. He only needs to create an economic crisis, and the Beiyang Group will collapse without a fight. Economic means are the real way to kill people without bloodshed.

"Chairman, will this stop Yuan Shikai's advance?"

"There are individuals who betray their own interests, but there are no classes that betray their own interests. However, I believe that Yuan Datou is still patriotic and responsible, and he still opposes the invasion of the great powers. Well, then let's tell Duan Qirui, Feng Guozhang, Wang Shizhen, Cao Yin and other high-ranking officials of the Beiyang government about the invasion of China, so that the Beiyang government will be divided and check each other. As for whether they can stop the brothers from crossing the wall, it depends on Yuan Datou and his own choice."

Zhang Yinghao's understanding of the Beiyang government's leadership revealed that in the past, the Beiyang government, despite internal and external troubles, had demonstrated unwavering resolve and determination. They had successively recovered western Sichuan, Tibet, the vast territories north and south of the Tianshan Mountains, and Outer Mongolia, even preserving the Altai region.

Beyond their achievements in recovering Chinese territory, the soldiers of the Beiyang government also resisted the Japanese invasion with unwavering conviction and an indomitable spirit. Facing a critical moment of life and death, they chose to uphold national integrity and dignity, refusing to become puppets of the enemy. Even when Yuan Shikai's claim to the throne faced strong opposition and was deserted by his friends and family, he chose not to give up and abandon his position, instead abdicating. This demonstrates the Beiyang government's commitment to responsibility.

However, Zhang Yinghao never pinned his hopes on Yuan Shikai's remorse or patriotism. Therefore, if the Beiyang forces were determined to fight, they would fight fiercely. The war against Russia had yielded so many weapons, and while the ammunition and shells were relatively few, it would still be no problem to conduct a campaign. Furthermore, the railway from Shanhaiguan to Shenyang had long been connected, so even a human wave tactic could exhaust the Beiyang forces.

"Chairman, the xz rebellion and abolition campaign has begun."

Zhang Yinghao took the telegram and started reading it. Ouyang Jun had even given this operation a code name: "People"!

After reading the telegram, Zhang Yinghao smiled and said, "The dawn breaks for the people, driving away the silent darkness. Image, what a good code name."

Ouyang Jun had already commanded his troops to begin their operation. After so long in Tibet, what remained to be investigated? Upon entering Tibet, Ouyang Jun had received personal instructions from Chairman Zhang Yinghao, knowing that rebellion was inevitable and that slavery would be abolished. Therefore, Ouyang Jun had rehearsed the rebellion and the abolition of slavery many times in his mind. It would have taken Thubten Gyatso six months to travel from Wuhan to Lhasa, so the PLA had ample preparation and time for this operation.

Previously, due to the instigation of slave-owning aristocratic chieftains and monks, monk soldiers from temples across the country gathered together, the situation was unstable, and some people took the opportunity to cause chaos and even attack the People's Liberation Army.

After Ouyang Jun spread the Dalai Lama's telegram, some people chose to wait and see, while others did not believe it was the Dalai Lama's telegram, believing it was sent by an imposter. Of course, no one can wake someone who pretends to be asleep, and there is no shortage of excuses to accuse them. These people were bribed and used by the British, and for their own benefit, they were naturally unwilling to stop.

On the same day, Li Qiang led his troops to surround Sera Monastery and ordered the monastery to disarm. The abbot refused to comply, so Li Qiang directly bombarded Sera Monastery, killing the abbot. The monks were leaderless and laid down their weapons in surrender.

Zhao Tieshan led another group of soldiers to Ganden Monastery. Built high on a mountain, Ganden Monastery was easily defended and difficult to attack. The soldiers encountered a fierce counterattack from the monks. However, Zhao Tieshan was well prepared and immediately dispatched airships to bomb the area. The bombs carried by the airships were not small artillery shells, but aerial bombs weighing dozens of kilograms or more. A single bomb could destroy houses and cause widespread casualties. Seeing that Ganden Monastery had lost its advantageous location, the abbot, reluctantly, surrendered, laying down his arms and raising the white flag to save the temple from destruction.

On the same day, the 9th Panchen Lama, Choekyi Nyima, who was known for his political foresight and concern for the overall situation, announced in Shigatse that he would obey the leadership of the new government and support the PLA's deployment...

Chapter 9: First update!

One of the ideologies of the Forward Party is that labor creates wealth. Zhang Yinghao believes that there's nothing wrong with young Tibetans believing in Buddhism, chanting sutras, burning incense, and worshipping Buddha. However, these young people shouldn't become monks in temples and become members of the exploiting class. Of course, due to the times, the Communist Party needs to cultivate a reserve ruling class. These monks are part of the ruling class in Tibet. Even if oppression is rampant within the temples, they are at least a reserve ruling class, maintaining the slave system in Tibet, oppressing the exploiters and slaves, and upholding the rule of the slave-owning aristocracy and other exploiting classes.

Therefore, wherever the People's Liberation Army arrived, all monks under the age of 45 were forced to return to secular life, except for the elderly monks. In just three days, more than 20,000 monks were concentrated in Lhasa and other places. One can only imagine the heavy burden and the severe exploitation they faced. Temples like Ganden Monastery, Sera Monastery, Drepung Monastery, and Jokhang Temple were basically left with only a few hundred elderly monks to manage them.

Subsequently, the Ethnic and Religious Affairs Commission promulgated new regulations for monks in Tibetan areas. Effective immediately, all Tibetans enjoyed freedom of religious belief. However, those under the age of 45 were prohibited from full-time monastic life and worshipping in monasteries. Violators were subject to up to three years of forced labor or detention, and fined. Upon hearing the news, temples across the region, including Gangba, Darlung, Wolning, Renbung, and Kangma, expressed their discontent. PLA soldiers swept through, destroying and destroying temples one after another. This campaign of destroying temples and monks resulted in the deaths and injuries of over 5,000 monks, the destruction of over 120 temples, the destruction of thousands of Buddha statues, and the confiscation of large amounts of temple-owned land.

The PLA killed people in a bloody frenzy, and the Tibetans were puzzled as to why the PLA, which was usually gentle, suddenly showed such fangs. This caused panic among the people, and the PLA's reputation was so bad that even its name could stop you crying. When children were disobedient and naughty, they would immediately behave themselves by saying "Here comes someone to feed the tiger."

Since ancient times, Tibet, which is far away from home, has not been taken seriously by the central government, and has basically been appeased. The PLA's action this time can be said to have completely exceeded the wise move of the "Three Martial Destructions of Buddhism" in history. Like Islam in Lanzhou, Tibetan Buddhism has suffered the most serious loss in history.

Such actions can only be carried out during this period of great revolution, accompanied by land reform. Once a period of peaceful construction arrives, especially in a society ruled by law, such actions will be impossible to launch. Anyone who dares to issue such an order will be killed by a drop of spit. In the past, the establishment of each temple must have cost millions of dollars. With so many Buddhists in India, China, Southeast Asia, North Korea, and other Asian countries, how many unproductive monks did they support?

After the reform and opening up in the previous life, the country has invested more than 100 billion yuan in the construction, renovation and maintenance of temples, attracting capital from all walks of life to rebuild bronze Buddha statues, stone Buddha statues, jade Buddha statues, and gold Buddha statues. The capital for building, renovating and expanding temples has reached trillions. Some poor counties and provinces have misappropriated education, water conservancy, and infrastructure funds to build temples, and they also call it attracting foreign tourists and developing the tourism economy... Therefore, Zhang Yinghao must put an end to such things as much as possible now, deal with them if he can, and never indulge them.

Undercurrents surged within the Communist Party at that time. Countless slave-owning nobles, chieftains, and monks viewed the People's Liberation Army as a formidable threat. However, the PLA's drastic measures truly intimidated various factions within the Communist Party. Limited by historical constraints, the Tibetan people at that time feared power rather than virtue. This ruthless action truly made clear to all Tibetans that Tibet was no longer the same as it had been during the reign of the "Great Manchu Emperor." However, the PLA's actions also provoked resistance from the ruling class of the Communist Party. The slave-owning nobles, chieftains, and monks began to avoid and even resent the PLA.

However, the abolition movement had only just begun, and the nails had to be pulled out one by one. At this time, many monks had also escaped from the temples and began to collude with the slave owners, preparing for an armed rebellion. However, before they could take action, the PLA's next move began. This operation confiscated so much land that the conditions for land reform were instantly ripe.

Therefore, Ouyang Jun and his men promptly announced the nationalization of land, confiscated all the land of slave owners, nobles, chieftains and monks, announced the land reform policy, and began to distribute land.

At this point, the slave-owning aristocratic chieftains who owned large tracts of land could no longer sit still. Class interests determined their stance. Except for some who recognized the situation and were forced to hand over their land voluntarily, areas throughout Tibet such as Katekar County, Gongga County, Nadong County, Zabuda County, Xiege County, Nakaze County, and Jiangzi County all rose up in armed resistance.

Unfortunately, the Progressive Party has been continuously training cadres since entering Tibet, and the People's Liberation Army has also recruited a large number of Tibetan soldiers. In order to completely stabilize the Tibetan area and eliminate hidden dangers, it is naturally necessary to wipe out all old forces. Therefore, the central government issued a decision to "unify actions, clarify goals, completely quell the rebellion, fully mobilize the masses, and implement Mingzhu reforms."

While suppressing the rebellion sweeping across Tibet, the People's Liberation Army also began distributing land, dismantling the rebels' base. As long as land reform was complete, the slave-owning aristocracy alone would be unable to cause any major disturbances. Many slaves who received land wept with joy when they received their deeds, kneeling to smell the earth. Some even grabbed the soil and put it into their mouths, weeping bitterly as they ate the dirt that belonged to them.

The first to strike is the strongest, the last to strike suffers. Facing an opposition force armed with crude weapons like muskets, matchlock rifles, bows and arrows, and Tibetan knives, the PLA, despite its inferior weaponry, experienced the same feeling as the great powers once felt when they conquered vast swathes of the world. They truly crushed the enemy with overwhelming force, unstoppable. Thanks to thorough preparation and swift action, in just three months, over 170 chieftains and clans were eliminated in Tibet, vast numbers of agricultural and pastoral slaves were liberated, and hundreds of thousands of head of livestock were harvested. Despite scattered remnant rebel forces harassing the border regions, Tibet gradually stabilized.

The rapid suppression of the rebellion was also due to the Kadima Party's effective mobilization of the newly liberated masses. First, the Kadima Party educated the captured monks, making them aware of their exploitative class nature. Monks were required to memorize scriptures, so they were generally literate. Many of them also came from lower-class backgrounds. Once their reasons were explained, many monks quickly recognized their sins and chose to betray their class.

The working group gathered all the local people together and displayed all the confiscated torture instruments and various ritual implements made of human tissue to arouse the anger of the people and encourage them to accuse the monks of extortion, oppression, plundering property, raping women, and killing people. Those monks who had indeed committed many evil deeds were all hanged.

All the slave-owning nobles and chieftains who were captured were publicly tried in the local area, and their crimes and wealth were liquidated. Those who committed serious crimes were executed, and their production tools and other wealth were confiscated and distributed to the people who had just been liberated.

The military operation was a resounding success, and the spoils were plentiful. The confiscated gold, silver, and other valuables far exceeded the cost of the operation. This gold and silver could be exchanged for banknotes in Sichuan to purchase a large number of pressure cookers, farm tools, and daily necessities, effectively improving the quality of life for the newly liberated people. After receiving the Ouyang Army's telegram regarding the seizures, Zhang Yinghao remained silent for a long time before remarking, "There's something incredibly satisfying about harvesting crops painstakingly cultivated on other people's land."

Due to geographical reasons, Tibet has been isolated since ancient times. However, gold mining in Tibet dates back to the Yuan Dynasty, when placer gold mining was quite prevalent. During the Qing Dynasty, gold mining reached a peak, with 183 kilograms of placer gold produced in 1906 alone, mostly in the form of large nuggets. Tibet, with its slave system, concentrated wealth almost entirely in the hands of the upper class. The seizures from this destruction of the sects and temples were naturally rich, pursuant to which Tibet had completely plundered thousands of years of accumulated wealth.

Zhang Yinghao valued this wealth greatly. Tsarist Russia's initial motivation for invading Tibet was its gold mines. With these hard currencies, Zhang Yinghao could purchase any machinery and equipment he needed. However, Zhang Yinghao was more concerned with abolishing slavery and providing sufficient benefits to the slaves. He issued the following instructions: "All historical rent arrears owed by leading counter-revolutionaries and heinous bullies must be abolished. All debts owed by slaves to slave owners and nobles, regardless of interest, must be abolished. Sufficient food, livestock, and currency must be reserved for the newly liberated masses to help them resume production... Artifacts made of gold and silver that have collectible value, cultural value, and research value are the crystallization of the masses' wisdom and the wealth of the working people. They should be registered, properly preserved, and stored somewhere for the public to appreciate and study..."

The abolition of slavery was a monumental event for China, leading Ouyang Jun to establish memorial halls for the liberation of the Chinese people in Lhasa, Qamdo, Shigatse, and Ngari Prefecture. These halls display instruments of torture, ritual implements, photographs, and other artifacts, reminding the Chinese people of this difficult past and urging them to cherish the hard-won liberation. These memorial halls later became sites for patriotic education, educating the Chinese people that a happy and stable life is hard-won.

As for the remaining monks, those with families were sent back to their original families after they had undergone labor and education and were confirmed to be harmless. As for the slave-owning noble chieftains and their families, as well as the lone monks, the Forward Party would naturally not allow them to stay in the local area. After a public trial, they were all incorporated into the Production and Construction Corps and sent to Jiangxinpo or Hugang Valley to open up wasteland and settle down.

As the saying goes, the shorter the article, the more information it contains. Regarding such a great act as the abolition of slavery in Tibet, the liberated areas merely wrote a few sentences in the People's Daily. They simply wrote that a rebellion had occurred in Tibet and that the People's Liberation Army had sent troops to quell it. The PLA only needed to block the roads in and out of Tibet. Who could possibly have known the specific situation inside?

However, the liberated areas did not report what was happening in Tibet. However, rebels who fled to India did bring the British relatively detailed news. In their accounts, the slaughter in Tibet was so intense that the sky turned blood red and the rivers were dyed red. In short, the Red Devil was on a killing spree in Tibet, turning Tibet into a demonic land and carrying out a reign of terror. They even described it as if the People's Liberation Army was committing genocide in Tibet, killing everyone they saw with unparalleled brutality...

The British were responsible for the rebellion in Tibet, as the Ouyang Army learned from captured British spies. The British, also aware that the PLA was suppressing the rebellion in Tibet, immediately ordered a Gurkha Rifle Regiment, eight Indian battalions, and three British infantry battalions, totaling over 6,000 soldiers, to seize the opportunity and launch another invasion of Tibet through the Yadong Pass. However, the Ouyang Army had anticipated this and maintained a tight defense against the British, even sending Comrade Li Chen to negotiate with the British under a white flag.

Upon meeting the British commander, Li Chen spoke directly without exchanging pleasantries: "Xinzang currently has tens of thousands of troops, and can mobilize more from Sichuan to enter Xzang. If you invade Xzang now, although the British army is powerful, our army will resist with all its might and delay the battle. Even if our army is defeated, we will retreat in stages and continue to resist. The distance from India to Lhasa is over 500 kilometers, and the road is rugged and difficult to travel, and you have to cross mountains and ridges. Your logistical supplies will be completely insufficient. If you dare to penetrate Xzang, you will face the same situation as Younghusband invaded Xzang before, being surrounded by our army, and finally running out of ammunition and food, and forced to surrender. So, what I want to tell you is: our army is always waiting for your attack."

Li Chen knew that the harsh climate was hindering communication between India and Tibet. Crossing the Himalayas was limited to a few narrow passes along the mountain ridges, making it impossible for a large army to pass through now, and they would have to wait until summer. Furthermore, as long as they could lure the enemy deep into their territory, what would happen if Britain sent tens of thousands of troops to invade Tibet? In Tibet, victory is not simply a matter of numbers. The British were forced to retreat several times during their two invasions of Tibet due to logistical problems. On this snowy plateau, logistics and geographical advantages were the keys to victory. The Ouyang Army simply did not want to engage in battle with the British on this plateau during the crucial period of suppressing the rebellion and land reform, so they sent Li Chen to negotiate.

Seeing that the People's Liberation Army was well prepared and had clearly analyzed the pros and cons of attacking Tibet, the British army had to temporarily give up the plan of invading Tibet and taking advantage of the situation, and would decide whether to invade Tibet after a thorough investigation.

I have to say that this is the feeling of debating the world with great power. A word can make a country prosperous or ruin it. This time, a word persuaded thousands of soldiers to retreat and avoided a war. Not to mention that I was awarded a second-class merit, the sense of accomplishment brought by the victory in the negotiation makes people feel very happy.

However, the British still don't understand that this is their last, best chance to invade Tibet. Once abolitionism is over, land reform is complete, and the Progressive Party and the People's Liberation Army have cleaned up the mess, without the internal accomplices and guides, which country would be so bold as to invade again? Given Tibet's vast territory and sparse population, and its harsh environment, no army or country could withstand the ubiquitous guerrilla warfare. Cold gun and cold artillery tactics would easily make any invader sleepless, frightened, and paranoid...

Zhang Yinghao was well aware that Britain possessed the world's strongest navy, but a tiny army. They absolutely did not have the courage to launch a large-scale war against China on their own. At most, they could use their navy to blockade the Chinese coast and support the Japanese in this war. Even if Britain's entire tiny army were deployed to invade China, it would be no match for the People's Liberation Army. They certainly wouldn't risk it.

Unlike Britain, Japan's Meiji Restoration was too recent, and its national strength was not yet strong. Zhang Yinghao knew that as China grew stronger, Japan had only one way to contain China: to act as a pawn of the great powers against China.

In the past, being hostile to China and speaking ill of China was a very popular trend, and for many politicians, being anti-China was simply a politically correct thing to do. It seemed that the more anti-China they acted, the more support they would get and the more patriotic they were.

Zhang Yinghao knew that if China's strength aroused the vigilance of Western powers, anti-China sentiment would become a highly lucrative opportunity. At least in his previous life, the Kuomintang, a regime nearly abandoned by the United States, regained American favor around the time of the Korean War. At that time, the per capita aid Taiwan received even exceeded that of the Marshall Plan implemented by the United States in Europe. Furthermore, the United States transferred numerous industries to Taiwan and opened its market to Taiwan, aiding Taiwan in its fight against mainland China.

It's not just Taiwan, but also countries like Vietnam, India, and South Korea. As long as they stand at the forefront of anti-China, they can gain countless benefits.

The PLA's focus is now on the north, so the French and British are having to endure the trouble in the south. Once the PLA resolves the problems in the north, it won't be long before Britain and France will truly feel the pressure from the giant dragon of China. At that time, for the safety of India, the most dazzling jewel in the British crown, Britain will continue to support China and its surrounding forces to fight against China, and Japan and Russia will be the best lackeys and thugs.

China is a vast agricultural nation with thousands of years of tradition. He truly built his fortune from scratch, accumulating wealth bit by bit. However, the foundation for a nation as vast as China to become an industrial powerhouse is still too thin, leaving Zhang Yinghao feeling a constant sense of slow progress, even a sense of urgency. Furthermore, the critical lack of railways prevented him from achieving the full power of his own arm. Logistics relied almost entirely on human and animal power, and the ability to deploy troops was too limited, denying Zhang Yinghao the thrill of a blitzkrieg, sweeping victory.

"Chairman, I just received news that in January of this year, Bhutanese nobleman Ugyen Wangchuck, with the support of the United Kingdom, deposed King Debu and established the Wangchuck Dynasty. He became the King of Bhutan, combining both political and religious power in one person, and the monastic and secular system was abolished..."

Zhang Yinghao knew that Sikkim, Bhutan, and Nepal, located in the southern foothills of the Himalayas, were vassal states of the Qing Dynasty. However, he had no information about them. Even if he had seen them in his previous life, he had forgotten them and had no idea what had happened to these places in this era. However, Zhang Yinghao knew that these territories were extremely valuable, and since he had arrived in this era, he naturally could not let them go.

Due to logistical issues, the Yadong Pass, currently occupied by British troops, has not yet been reclaimed, leaving China in a precarious position. However, it is not easy to provoke a war with the British right now. Furthermore, Xi Jinping is currently abolishing slavery and implementing land reforms. This news must have frightened the ruling classes in Sikkim, Bhutan, and Nepal. Without sending troops, it will be difficult to reclaim these territories.

Zhang Yinghao naturally didn't know at this time that Sikkim had long since become a British protectorate, and Nepal had stopped paying tribute since last year. Now only Bhutan was still a vassal state of the Qing Dynasty, but it was already in name only.

Zhang Yinghao knew that crossing the Himalayas to compete with the British for Bhutan was a pipe dream, a mere tactic to fuel the flames and give the British a leg up. Naturally, he wouldn't do such a foolish thing. Furthermore, Zhang Yinghao knew that the Indian subcontinent was the British's testicles, their lifeblood. If the People's Liberation Army entered Shannan, Britain would inevitably engage in a protracted, agonizing war with China. The British would never allow India to be threatened, let alone abandoned, unless absolutely necessary. Acting blindly without preparation for a major war was absolutely unacceptable.

However, Zhang Yinghao was still willing to fight for it, so he immediately sent a telegram to Ouyang Jun: "Send one or two Tibetan envoys to Nepal, Sikkim, and Bhutan secretly to reaffirm the vassal relationship. Promise them that their leadership will remain unchanged, their personal property will be protected, and their political system will remain unchanged for a hundred years. Promise them that if they are invaded by Britain, they can ask China to send troops to help... The purpose is one: to buy time, so that they maintain their relationship with China, prevent Britain from annexing them, and prepare for the future liberation of the three places, giving them a pretext."

After writing and sending the telegram, Zhang Yinghao looked at Jiangxinpo and Hugang Valley again. To solve the problems in southern Tibet, Nepal, Sikkim and Bhutan, he could only start from here. Otherwise, no matter how hard he tried, it would end up as a pot of half-cooked rice. It would be a pity to throw it away, but eating it would cause diarrhea and make him weak. Would he give it to the white elephant to eat in the end? Of course not.

Zhang Yinghao clenched his fists and looked fierce. He knew that the development of Jiangxinpo and Hugang Valley must be completed as soon as possible. He must overcome all difficulties, try his best, and find ways to build the railway and pave the asphalt and cement road. Only in this way can he achieve his goal.

Zhang Yinghao made up his mind and wrote it down on a memorandum. Just as he stopped writing, another comrade came in with a report: "Chairman, several southeastern provinces have been severely affected. On March 7th, poor people in Yuhang, Zhejiang, destroyed rice shops. Now, Fujian, Zhejiang, and Jiangsu have developed a continuous rush to buy rice."

"What's going on? Jiangsu and Zhejiang are known for their wealth, so how could something like this happen?"

"Chairman, last August, Zhejiang was hit by violent storms and heavy rain. Rivers overflowed, lakes backed up, and the flooding was widespread. Huzhou Prefecture suffered particularly hard. A newspaper described it as "a thousand miles of land, a swamp." "Famine victims died of starvation at a rate of 40 to 50 people a day. Entire families, men and women, committed suicide by jumping into rivers. Others collapsed while trying to leave the country. The sight of people on the road was unbearable." Jiangsu was also "flooded, encompassing eight prefectures and one state. Xu, Hai, and Huai'an in the north of the Yangtze River were the hardest hit, with the largest number of refugees." "The harvest was completely destroyed, and the people were displaced. The sight was appalling." Fujian also suffered floods of varying severity. Last year, many families in these three provinces had poor or even no harvest at all. By now, their money has undoubtedly been spent, and any food available has been eaten up. Prices have skyrocketed, and unscrupulous merchants are hoarding goods. The starving poor have resorted to looting, or else they will simply not survive."

Zhang Yinghao listened, then paused for a moment before saying, "The Qing Dynasty was truly incompetent. Last year, many provinces in our liberated areas also suffered devastating floods, and some areas experienced extreme droughts, yet we successfully managed the disaster relief efforts. They truly deserved to be overthrown and consigned to the dustbin of history."

The comrades nodded in agreement. "Yes, who didn't participate in disaster relief last year?" Guangdong suffered torrential rains from spring to summer, causing rivers to swell rapidly. Guangzhou, Zhaoqing, Gaozhou, Qinzhou, and other areas were devastated, and in the autumn, some areas were hit by hurricanes. The two lakes region also experienced continuous heavy rains in spring and summer, with the Yangtze, Han, and Xiang rivers rising simultaneously. "The accumulated water burst its banks," and "the coastline was crisscrossed, wiping out the lives and property of residents. Hundreds of miles were covered in a vast expanse of water." Anhui also experienced torrential rains for over 60 days at the turn of spring and summer, causing flash floods. The Huai, Si, Sha, Ru, and Ya rivers all rose simultaneously, with water reaching depths of several feet even on flat ground. Yet, despite such natural disasters, the Forward Party led the PLA in disaster relief efforts. All the people in the liberated areas united as one, not only surviving the floods but also carrying out numerous construction projects. To this day, there has been no unrest among the disaster victims; instead, construction continues at full steam.

"Yes, reality has proven that natural disasters are terrible, but they are not insurmountable or even impossible to defeat."

Zhang Yinghao clapped his hands and said with a smile: "Haha, I have always said that these high-ranking officials of the Qing Dynasty are actually the "friends" of the revolution. The more they commit suicide and the more they act recklessly, the more they can highlight the correctness of our revolution.

"The rice-grabbing frenzy in Min and Zhejiang provinces indicates that the conditions for revolution are ripe in these areas. No wonder Duan Fang, who previously clamored for Yuan Shikai's claim to the throne, has now subsided. It seems he's in a difficult position, unable to save himself. It's understandable that the disaster victims, starving for food, are grabbing rice. We cannot allow Duan Fang to send troops to suppress and massacre these victims right in front of us."

"Chairman, there shouldn't be a massacre, right?"

"Duan Fang is now like a frightened bird, timid as a mouse, and he sees enemies everywhere. He is terrified of us, afraid that we will overthrow him. Don't forget that we left Sichuan and went south to Guangdong for disaster relief. So Duan Fang is most afraid that we will enter Fujian and Zhejiang provinces in the name of disaster relief. Therefore, in order to prevent us from finding an excuse to attack him, Duan Fang will definitely cut the Gordian knot and suppress the victims.

Do we actually need an excuse to liberate Fujian and Zhejiang? Revolution is innocent, rebellion is justified. How can our actions be determined by Duan Fang? We previously kept the coastal provinces as a buffer, but later we were too busy with disaster relief and war to pay attention to them, which is why they have been lingering on until now. Order the troops from Anhui, Jiangxi, and Guangdong to quickly attack Fujian and Zhejiang, eliminate the remnants of the Qing Dynasty, and liberate the two provinces."

“Chairman, what about Jiangsu?”

"Jiangsu is now under the control of the Beiyang government. Warships and soldiers from the foreign powers are stationed in Shanghai and Nanjing. We must temporarily abandon conflict with the Beiyang government and give up liberating Jiangsu. Of course, the day of liberating Jiangsu is not far off. Also, order the troops in Guangdong and Guangxi to liberate Hainan."

"Chairman, we don't have any warships. If Britain or France send warships to intervene, then..."

Zhang Yinghao interrupted without a second thought, "Contact the party organization on the island to pick up the comrades who have sneaked to Hainan Island in small groups at night. Does this require sending a large army to clear out the remaining Qing forces on the island?"

Yes, it wasn't that everyone looked down on the Qing Dynasty; it was simply too weak. Why would a large army be needed to liberate Hainan? A shortage of troops meant a few more illegal crossings. How could that be so difficult? Everyone lowered their heads upon hearing this solution, feeling a pang of shame. How could they not have thought of such a simple solution? Perhaps this was why Zhang Yinghao was their leader, because he could solve problems they couldn't and come up with solutions they couldn't.

Chapter 2: First update!

Zhang Yinghao knew that he was just an ordinary person with an average IQ. The reason why he could always come up with solutions to problems was simply because of the information explosion in his previous life. He had been exposed to more things and had more knowledge.

Zhang Yinghao had watched related TV dramas in his previous life, so he naturally knew that the liberation of Hainan Island was to first enter Hainan by smuggling, and then liberate Hainan with internal and external cooperation. It created an example of large-scale sea crossing and landing operations mainly using wooden sailboats, supplemented by some motor sailboats, to destroy the enemy's "three-dimensional defense" of land, sea and air. It was also a successful example of the People's Liberation Army's large-scale landing on the island.

In the past, the People's Liberation Army was able to successfully liberate Hainan in the face of airplanes and artillery. Couldn't the army trained by themselves easily win against the remnants of the Qing Dynasty? What's more, Hainan was under the management of Guangdong at that time and was not taken seriously. More importantly, the main force of the Qing army in Guangdong had been eliminated. The remnants of the Qing Dynasty on the isolated island of Hainan had long been frightened. As long as the People's Liberation Army sent regular troops into Hainan, it would only be a matter of time before Hainan was liberated.

Of course, we can despise the enemy strategically, but we must take the enemy seriously tactically. PLA soldiers are not invulnerable and immortal. They can be injured or even killed if hit by bullets.

However, no matter how many times they were told, the troops receiving orders to liberate Zhejiang, Fujian, and Hainan were all fired up! Fighting against the remnants of the Qing Dynasty was a feat the soldiers relished most; it was a free ride. Seeing so many soldiers in the north rise to prominence and rank high thanks to the war, how could these soldiers in the inland provinces not be anxious? They had enlisted together, had participated in cadre training together, yet others were already division-level cadres, while they were still working their way up the ranks, accumulating experience. For comrades who wanted to contribute to the revolution and rise to prominence, it seemed like a daunting task! The Military Commission received numerous letters and telegrams requesting battles and transfers, but they were all suppressed.

Therefore, after receiving the order from the Military Commission to liberate Zhejiang, Fujian and Hainan, the frontline soldiers who were eager to fight were overjoyed and completed the preparations for war with the highest efficiency since joining the army.

At a mobilization meeting at a military camp in Jiangxi, the political commissar was too lazy to waste time. He simply held up a loudspeaker and shouted: "Comrades, I have one word for this mobilization: Forward! Forward! Forward! Our slogan is: Fight to the coast, liberate Fujian Province, and go see the sea together! Comrades, do you have confidence?"

The soldiers immediately answered in unison: "Yes! Yes! Yes!" The political commissar waved his hand: "All troops march according to the plan, set off."

As the soldiers were leaving, the cultural and art soldiers at the exit of the barracks began to sing military songs:

(Female) It is a sunny morning. The pigeon whistle is accompanied by the reveille.

The world is not at peace now. Revolutionary times are bound to bring turbulent events.

(Male) Look at the red flag flying, it represents blood, dedication and sacrifice.

Our names are flying above, young soldiers eager to establish merit

(Female) Are you ready, fellow soldiers, when that day finally comes?

(Male) Don't worry, my country, don't worry, my loved ones. I will bravely advance for victory.

(Together) Rest assured, motherland, rest assured, my loved ones. I will bravely march forward for victory.

The art soldiers had only just started the song, and the optimistic soldiers, unaware of the cruelty of war, immediately joined in the singing. Those who knew were trying to boost morale and send the soldiers off to the battlefield. Those who didn't would have thought the barracks were hosting an art performance or a singing competition!

The political commissar knew that no amount of training could ever be more effective than a single enemy bullet or shell on the battlefield. Only when soldiers truly realized that war wasn't about training, but about the enemy's desire to kill them, could they truly utilize the fruits of their training and naturally achieve rapid growth. If they were to die in battle against the remnants of the Qing army, it would be truly unfortunate, and they could only blame their fate. As some people erroneously argue, what's the point of training like this? If you get hit by a bullet, all the training is for nothing, all the hard work has been wasted.

The political commissar watched the departing soldiers, his heart awash with mixed emotions. He could only offer silent blessings, hoping to see them again someday. After the soldiers finished their song, they naturally felt unsatisfied. The art troupe led the singing again: Forward! Forward! Forward! Our team faces the sun, treading on the land of our motherland, carrying the nation's hopes on our shoulders. We are an invincible force...

Even as the People's Liberation Army was dispatched, Hangzhou Governor Zhang Zengyang was in a state of panic. Impoverished people marched through the streets, demanding the government open its granaries and release grain, while others demanded rice shops lower their prices. Zhang Zengyang had previously stated that he would use grain reserves to stabilize prices, but rice prices remained stubbornly high. He also set up porridge distribution centers, but the porridge, while still thick enough to hold chopsticks in when it came out of the pot, transformed into a pale, reflective rice soup when given to the impoverished. Furthermore, because the porridge was mixed with raw water, many already frail residents developed gastroenteritis, suffering from severe vomiting and diarrhea.

Strangely enough, the rice shop owners knew that the poor couldn't afford to buy food and would inevitably rob the food or even rebel if they were starving, yet they remained unwilling to lower the price. Seeing some of the poor asking for a price reduction, a gentleman in his seventies spat on the ground and said, "What are you doing, you unruly people? Go away!"

"Boss, could you please be so kind as to sell us some grain at a fair price? Didn't you already issue a notice to stabilize grain prices?"

Previously, some rice buyers had an argument with a rice shop owner, who then beat them up. The civilians, already furious about the surge in rice prices, immediately surrounded the rice shop and tore it down. Although this incident has become a trend, Chinese citizens are still reluctant to disrupt public order when there are other solutions. They know that the ultimate victims of disrupting public order will be the powerless and low-income people like them.

"If you don't have money, just stay home and wait to die. Why come out and embarrass yourself?"

In the eyes of this gentleman boss, the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River suffered severe disasters last year. Isn't it normal for rice prices to rise? Can't he take the opportunity to make some money? He didn't expect that this group of unruly people would come to his store to make trouble. Don't they know that he has a relationship with the Infantry Yamen? This is really outrageous.

One of the leaders immediately said, "Rice is too expensive right now, and it's going up three times a day. It's already ninety wen a liter. Yesterday, the governor said he wanted to negotiate a price, but prices are still rising."

The gentleman scoffed at this and said with a disdainful laugh, "I eat fine rice that costs two hundred coins a liter. What's ninety coins worth now? If you can't afford it, go to the porridge stall and beg for food."

This gentleman truly wanted to tell these unruly people that the price of a cigarette he bought was less than the price of rice they would spend in ten days. The fact that the price of rice hadn't risen to a few hundred wen was already giving these unruly people a way to survive. Of course, the boss's family had big expenses, and he had already stockpiled a lot of food. Seeing the rice price rise, he couldn't help but feel happy. If he didn't take advantage of this opportunity to earn more money, he didn't know when he would encounter such an opportunity again.

The gentleman looked down on these unruly people, so his words were naturally nonsense. This sentence also made the poor people very angry. Now the price of rice has skyrocketed, and almost every family has run out of food. There have even been tragedies where families jumped into the lake to commit suicide because they had no money to buy rice and had no other choice.