The Heroic Age of the Late Qing Dynasty

At the end of the 19th century, with the influx of Russian capital and industry, Central Asia's handicraft industries suffered a significant impact, leaving large numbers of workers unemployed. The constant seizure of land by Russian colonial authorities and settlers led to growing resentment among local residents. Russian rule over the local population grew increasingly harsh and oppressive in its later years, leading to acute ethnic tensions. These simmering conflicts, with no outlet, were destined to erupt.

The Tsarist government was internally chaotic and inefficient, with frequent disputes among its various ministries over major issues. British Prime Minister Salisbury commented, "It is difficult to reach a satisfactory conclusion about the aims of Russian policy. The Tsar is his own minister, and his ministers are so incompetent that the implementation of policy is always half-hearted."

This directly led to chaotic colonial administration. Russian governors throughout Turkestan enjoyed absolute power, virtually unchecked, and their brutal rule often provoked strong resistance from local Muslims.

In the early 20th century, the Tsarist government dispatched prosecutor Count Palen to Central Asia to investigate the civil service. He uncovered a horrific array of abuses, including corruption, bribery, and disregard for human life. These factors led directly to strong resistance from the various ethnic groups of Central Asia. Three major uprisings occurred: the "cholera" uprising in Tashkent in 1892 and the Andijan uprising in 1898.

When Britain launched the Boer War in South Africa, Nicholas II clearly expressed this Russian strategic thinking in a letter to his sister:

.....You know, I'm not proud, but I'm pleased to learn that when it comes to using the final means to change the course of the war in Africa, it's me who will be there. The method is simple - send a telegram, give the order, and the entire Turkestan army will be mobilized and sent to the front. .....The world's most powerful navy cannot stop us from settling our old feud with Britain at its weakest link. "

Engels, discussing Russia's expansion into Central Asia, wrote: "From a military point of view, the great importance of these conquests lies in the fact that they provide the core of the base of operations for the attack on India."

After the defeat in the Crimean War, Russia's expansion into Southeast Europe was hindered, but there was still ample room for expansion in the south and Far East. Geostrategically, possessing the vast expanse of Central Asia not only pushed Russia's strategic defenses and frontiers southward by over a thousand kilometers, but also provided extremely favorable conditions for Russian infiltration and expansion into Persia, Afghanistan, India, China's Xinjiang, and Mongolia.

A march south to the Indian Ocean had long been a Russian dream. In 1800, Russian Tsar Paul I wrote to French Emperor Napoleon I, expressing his dissatisfaction with Britain and his willingness to ally with France to end British injustice. Paul I proposed: Russia assemble 35000 Russian troops, and France prepare a similar number. After the two armies meet in the Caspian Sea, they will march south by sea, land, and ally with Iran and Afghanistan to drive the British out of India. Paul I and Napoleon held close consultations on the Indian invasion and developed a detailed plan, the outline of which is as follows:

...At the head of the army should be officers bearing proclamations and engineers bearing maps. The engineers should mark on the maps the resting places, crossings, local obstacles, and how to clear them.

The message should reassure the rulers along the way that the purpose of the expedition is to expel the British, who are 'enslaving these beautiful, once very famous, powerful and rich countries... The people of these countries are now groaning in a terrible state of oppression, misfortune and slavery. This state makes France and Russia feel deep sympathy for them. Therefore, the two governments decided to combine their forces to liberate India from the tyranny and barbaric yoke of the British. 'Secondly, they should promise not to take anything for free and to respect religion, laws, customs, property and women... "

The British government was shocked to learn of the French and Russian plans for an expedition to India. However, in March 1801, Paul I was assassinated in a palace coup. Alexander I, who succeeded him, considered the plan too risky and immediately recalled the Cossack troops that had already embarked on the expedition, thus aborting the plan.

Chapter 737: First update!

Zhang Yinghao was very grateful to Zuo Zongtang for establishing the Machinery Manufacturing Bureau and the Lanzhou Weaving Bureau in Lanzhou, which provided great assistance to the People's Liberation Army. If everything had been started from scratch, the difficulties would have been greatly increased. Now the army has arsenals and other factories in all directions, enough to support several wars.

Zhang Yinghao gave the order and handed it over to his comrades on the front lines. Zhang Yinghao knew that his time travel would change the world beyond recognition. He could no longer see the specific changes in the future, and the opportunities he could take advantage of were dwindling. Therefore, this time, taking advantage of the invasion of the foreign powers, Zhang Yinghao must use the power of the liberated areas to clean up the country. Otherwise, subsequent troubles would continue. After all, China's productivity at that time was completely incomparable to that of the foreign powers.

"This time, it all depends on who dares to show up. Whoever shows up will be attacked. However, fighting on two fronts is a taboo in military strategy. There can only be one main offensive direction, and all other directions must be defensive. By the way, immediately send a telegram to our comrades in Zhejiang, asking them to immediately reclaim the Japanese Concession in Hangzhou. At the same time, local governments must immediately register all foreigners in public settlements established by foreigners in China, or they will be expelled."

Zhang Yinghao was just waiting. If any country dared to show up, he would suppress it immediately. He also had to eliminate all the armed forces of the great powers in China. If they broke off relations again, the British Concession in Xiamen and the British and French concessions in Guangzhou would all have to be taken back.

"Okay, Chairman."

Wars are fought on logistics, and Zhang Yinghao knew the PLA's logistical capabilities needed to be strengthened, so he immediately visited the automobile factory. Zhang Yinghao was most concerned about heavy-duty vehicles like tractors, so he went to the tractor factory.

Facing the comrades who came to greet him, Zhang Yinghao asked, "How are our diesel tractors doing now?"

The diesel tractor Zhang Yinghao was referring to was actually the hand-cranked tractor he had seen as a child in his previous life. Zhang Yinghao remembered it vividly, having personally cranked the ignition handle himself and nearly got hit in the arm by the crank. The production of these tractors could significantly alleviate logistical issues during wartime. After all, a single tractor was equivalent to the labor of dozens or even hundreds of men.

Zhang Yinghao almost laughed after asking this question. Even if it could be produced, how much could China produce now? If it weren't for the massive amount of scrap steel imported from the United States, China wouldn't even have enough steel to manufacture cars, and its own production would still be severely insufficient. However, Zhang Yinghao believed that no matter how difficult it was, it wouldn't matter. Everything would be fine soon.

"Chairman, production has already begun. However, due to the high requirements of certain steel materials, we can only thicken and widen the ship, which has significantly reduced its carrying capacity."

Zhang Yinghao shook his head after hearing this. In his previous life, a truck with a two-ton capacity was actually loaded with ten tons. Was the steel really substandard?

After inspecting the car factory, Zhang Yinghao felt completely relaxed. Thoughts occasionally surfaced in his mind, but he quickly realized that this was a case of "strike first, strike later, and suffer later." Since he had already issued an ultimatum to the great powers, was he obliged to act accordingly? If he waited for the great powers to strike first, and their massive fleet launched an attack, China's losses would be far greater.

Since the great powers have attacked and fired the first shot, why should we wait? Do we have to wait until the great powers are fully prepared? Do we have to wait until the great powers take the initiative to attack? Isn't this crazy? Moreover, we must completely turn the Yangtze River into China's inland waters, otherwise the liberated areas will not dare to carry out construction on both sides of the Yangtze River with confidence.

Suddenly, Zhang Yinghao thought of something and immediately called Feng Ru to ask: "How is the performance of our aircraft now? Can we go into battle?"

"Sir, our aircraft are capable of combat. Our biplane fighters now have a range of 400 kilometers. Our machine guns and ammunition have been improved, and they're equipped with synchronized firing coordinators, allowing them to fire 750 rounds per minute, giving them formidable combat capabilities. Our biplane bombers now have a range of 600 kilometers. According to the pictures you drew, we've incorporated numerous new technologies, including aluminum alloys, a fully enclosed structure, new wings, and a streamlined spindle design. The bombers have a maximum speed of 130 kilometers per hour, carry four 125-kilogram bombs and six 20-kilogram bombs, and are equipped with four machine guns, allowing them to carry up to one ton."

"How powerful is a 125kg bomb?"

"Sir, a 125kg aerial bomb is more powerful than a 203mm artillery shell of the same weight used by the Army."

"Well, this time we may need to use our planes in our battle against the great powers. How many bombers have we produced so far?"

"Chairman, since this aircraft was designed, only thirty have been built. The main reason is that the engine is too difficult to manufacture, and the scrap rate is too high. We were only able to manufacture this after obtaining technology and equipment from the United States and Germany."

"No need to explain, I understand all of this. Technological breakthroughs in aircraft are indeed difficult. However, the engine is the heart of the aircraft. A good engine means the aircraft will perform well. If the engine isn't good, then no matter how good the rest of the aircraft is, it still won't perform well. The research cycle for aircraft engines is measured in years. We're starting from scratch now, so if we work hard, we'll make progress. But once a technological breakthrough is achieved, the cycle may take ten or eight years, so there's no need to rush. I understand all of this. Is the airport ready now?"

"They're all built. According to calculations, transfer airports in various places have also been secretly built. Our planes can refuel and fly from Guangzhou to Lanzhou, Kulun, Harbin and other places..."

Zhang Yinghao nodded after hearing this. He said that the plane must be prepared for rainy days. If it doesn’t fly, then it won’t fly at all. But if it does fly, it must soar into the sky.

"These airports were built in secret, and the areas surrounding them have been sealed off. If necessary, aircraft can be deployed immediately and secretly. We have also secretly built several airports in Jiangsu. If necessary, aircraft can be deployed immediately to block the Yangtze River estuary."

"Very good. The invention of trains and automobiles allowed humans to conquer the land, giant steel ships allowed humans to conquer the oceans, and airplanes will inevitably allow humans to conquer the sky. We in China have missed the first two development opportunities, but we absolutely cannot miss the opportunity to conquer the sky. We must continue to lead the world."

Aircraft were now seen as mere toys by the great powers, completely ignored. Their funds were channeled into the development of industries like automobiles. Zhang Yinghao had no idea when to officially unveil his aircraft, nor how to employ them. He was well aware that his first-mover advantage would be quickly lost if aircraft appeared on the battlefield. Therefore, Zhang Yinghao preferred to utilize airships rather than airplanes. Despite their numerous flaws, airships still reigned supreme in the skies.

Zhang Yinghao made up his mind that if the war was not going well and the airship could not solve the problem, it would not be too late to send out planes.

"How's pilot training going? How many pilots do we have now?" "We've built a pilot training school. We're selecting outstanding pilots from the military and systematically training them from scratch. We currently have over 500 experienced pilots, and 300 are in training at the school."

"Including the airship pilot."

"Yes, Chairman, including."

"We need to expand, but this number is far from enough. We should upgrade the pilot training school to an aerospace university, specializing in the training of all types of personnel needed for aerospace, not just pilots. Aircraft are industrial products. Once a breakthrough is achieved in production speed, they can be produced in unlimited quantities. However, cultivating all kinds of talent is not easy. Our tentative target is 2,000 pilots. If aircraft are ever deployed in the future, thousands or even tens of thousands of relevant personnel may be needed. I still say, I would rather people wait for aircraft than aircraft wait for people."

"Okay, Chairman."

"If we have thousands of planes, how can any foreign power dare to run rampant in China? How can any foreign power's warships dare to come to China to show off their power?"

"Chairman, we haven't done enough. We must continue to work hard."

Zhang Yinghao waved his hand and said, "It's not us, it's the fault of the Qing Dynasty. In the final analysis, it's because our productivity is not developed enough and we don't have enough talent. However, we can make a clear division of labor, just like the household contract responsibility system in agriculture, and set up multiple branches. Those who manufacture aircraft engines can specialize in researching and manufacturing various types of engines and specialize in making engines; those who make wings can specialize in making wings; those who make bearings can specialize in making bearings;

We break down aircraft into several components and then produce them in standardized ways. The more detailed the breakdown, the higher the efficiency. The final assembly of the aircraft can be completely automated on an assembly line. This allows us to significantly increase the number of aircraft produced in a short period of time. If we complete these steps, producing a few hundred aircraft a year is actually not a lot at all."

Zhang Yinghao was well aware of the trend in industrial development: the increasing division of labor. Any large-scale industry is composed of numerous factories, and a single factory cannot produce everything. This is why a large number of supporting factories have emerged. It is also why complete nationalization of factories is impossible. Private enterprises would go bankrupt without orders, so they must desperately seek orders, reduce costs, improve production efficiency, and develop productivity. However, state-owned enterprises rely on production targets and order allocation. Even without orders, they still need to pay workers wages and provide various benefits. This places an excessive burden on the state, ultimately hindering the development of productivity.

Zhang Yinghao has never believed that state-owned enterprises are less competitive than private enterprises. However, state-owned enterprises cannot dominate everything, nor can they rely solely on their own development. Otherwise, they will inevitably lack the driving force for development. Without abalone, the ultimate result is a stagnant system, with leading cadres abusing public power for personal gain, while workers complain and grumble, only getting by, creating a vicious cycle that no one can overcome and ultimately leads to a dead end.

Seeing Feng Ru nod, Zhang Yinghao continued, "There's also the issue of fuel, but that's not your job. Internal combustion engines require oil. However, our country is oil-poor, and our oil production is not very high. If we develop oil-intensive machines like airplanes and cars on a large scale, we'll need to purchase large quantities of oil from abroad. This will also become a major factor restricting our country's development."

Zhang Yinghao knew the coming century would be oil-rich, so he knew he had to take advantage of the current low price of oil to buy large quantities and stockpile it. This was a strategic resource, a disposable good, so no amount of reserves was too much. Of course, the best option would be to acquire several oil-producing areas and become self-sufficient, thus avoiding being controlled by others.

Just as Zhang Yinghao was making final preparations for war, Jordan returned with a large delegation of diplomatic corps members and immediately began a closed-door meeting. Japanese Minister Uchida Yasuya immediately launched a frantic cry for immediate military action to teach the Chinese a lesson. Russian Minister Pukodi was also overjoyed, as Russia could ride on the coattails of the great powers, quickly gaining the opportunity to reclaim the Far East and even expand its territory.

However, Zhu Erdian's brows were furrowed. As a gang leader, he feared nothing more than someone challenging his authority. Even more worrying was the possibility that if he couldn't show his strength and teach the other party a lesson, his subordinates would become disloyal.

But the liberated areas were not the Qing government. Zhu Erdian had looked through the map of China countless times, but he could not come up with any method to force the liberated areas to surrender and sign a treaty after they had captured any place. After all, during the Qing Dynasty, as long as the foreign powers occupied the capital, the Qing would obediently surrender and sign a treaty. But what about now? What if they fought to Wuhan? What if Zhang Yinghao fled to Sichuan? Could they still fight to Sichuan? Could they still fight to Shaanxi? This was completely impossible. Zhu Erdian's heart was beating fast, and he could only sigh silently in his heart. It was too late to interfere with the Chinese revolution at this time.

If the British Empire cannot ensure the success of military intervention, will the Progress Party be willing to sit down and talk slowly?

But with the exception of Jordan, the representatives of the great powers at this time had already begun to fantasize about victory. They had already begun to look at the map and sharpen their knives against China.

French Minister Lupin even scoffed, "The Chinese are just recklessly dreaming and want to play the role of destroying the world order. Are they qualified? Haha, have you read the newspapers published by these stupid Chinese? They actually want to implement socialism in China..."

Speaking of this, it seemed to have touched Lu Ban's funny spot, and he laughed so hard that he fell backwards and couldn't straighten his back.

The French Revolution is considered a beacon of human civilization, marking the end of feudalism and the beginning of modern feudalism. However, no one understood the difficulties involved better than Lu Ban. Even France ultimately failed, so wouldn't it be foolish for the Chinese to expect to succeed?

In fact, it was not just Lu Ban. Which of the diplomatic corps of the great powers had seriously considered the slogans and goals of the Forward Party? Which of them had taken the Forward Party's doctrines, ideas and policies seriously? It can only be said that the changes in China have made these diplomatic corps of the great powers completely unable to adapt, and they are still looking at things with the old perspective.

Their view of Zhang Yinghao and the Progressive Party is generally that he is a utopian and a dreamer. Perhaps the PLA is more powerful, and perhaps the Progressive Party knows how to inspire people, but that's all.

In terms of social reform, aren't the policies of the Forward Party unrealistic fantasies? The ideals are grand and beautiful, but they completely ignore reality. Lü Ban felt it was completely unnecessary to waste time and energy studying Zhang Yinghao's work, and even considered it a joke to even glance at it.

"Can you imagine? This group of stupid Chinese people actually want to establish socialism. Do they know what socialism is? China has 400 million farmers and 400 million illiterate people. How can they possibly establish socialism? It's simply wishful thinking. Socialism! Haha, can you imagine a group of primitive people giving us a lecture? That yellow monkey actually said, "If you want to fight, then fight." Every time I think of that yellow monkey saying these words, I think of a monkey standing on a tree with a wooden stick, waving it desperately, showing off its might but actually being weak. Haha..."

Indeed, when it comes to understanding violent revolution, no one can compare to Lu Ban. However, violent revolution is not unique to France; which other country has not experienced violent revolution? However, when it comes to understanding the Chinese, no one can compare to Uchida Yasuya. The French kept calling him "yellow monkeys", which made Uchida Yasuya extremely unhappy. However, a little impatience can ruin a big plan. Japan now needs the help of the great powers, the money of the great powers, and the great powers to attack China, so Uchida Yasuya just opened his mouth, but ultimately said nothing.

At this time, the armies of the great powers in Nanjing and Shanghai were fully prepared and were waiting for the final attack order from Jordan and others.

Zhang Yinghao had no idea that Lu Ban was mocking him. Of course, even if he knew, he would not care. If Lu Ban pointed at Zhang Yinghao and said that he was a utopian, Zhang Yinghao would still admit it generously. Isn't it a good thing that the enemy looks down on you? However, the Gallic rooster looks majestic, but who doesn't know that its majestic and domineering comb is actually a piece of delicious meat? It looks good and tastes good, but it is useless.

Zhang Yinghao immediately ordered the gunboats in the middle and upper reaches of the Yangtze River to start sailing downstream the next day to drive away the warships of the foreign powers on the Yangtze River waterway, forcing them to leave China and ensure the absolute safety of the Yangtze River basin.

Tonight, countless people in China are unable to sleep. Countless people are worried and unable to see clearly the future of China. Countless people can only quietly wait for the final moment to arrive. They also don't know whether Zhang Yinghao's actions are right or wrong. Everyone in their hearts wishes they could know everything and predict the future.

Zhang Yinghao, however, was not in a hurry at all. After giving his orders, he said, "Don't wake me unless there's bad news," and went to sleep. I used to think Napoleon was quite remarkable when I read about him instructing his men, "Don't wake me unless there's bad news," while he was sleeping. But now, Zhang Yinghao could say that with a clear conscience.

At this point, Zhang Yinghao's calm expression was the best encouragement and gesture to the on-site staff. If Zhang Yinghao had fidgeted and asked questions, the battle would have been unnecessary and the army's morale would have been lost.

As a commander, one must have a firm attitude and an unbreakable will like steel. Zhang Yinghao had already seen the opportunity for China to completely break free from the shackles imposed by the great powers and had made the most thorough preparations. Therefore, Zhang Yinghao did not have any major feelings about the upcoming war.

Zhang Yinghao knew that China at this time needed a war similar to the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea to boost the morale of the people across the country, fight a war to establish the country, completely get rid of the title of "Sick Man of East Asia", and gain the status of a great power and recognition from countries around the world.

Therefore, this war must be fought, no matter how great the losses are. Only by breaking free from the shackles imposed on China by the great powers at one time, will China's self-confidence as a central power be instantly restored.

At this point, Zhang Yinghao had no fear of the great powers. He knew full well that their productivity simply couldn't support sending large armies across the ocean and engaging in prolonged military operations in China. The liberated areas' actions, breaking the rules, might simply be aimed at protecting their own interests and undermining China's development.

At this moment, Zhang Yinghao was like holding a straight flush, while the powerful had a pair. Knowing what the powerful had, they were comparing cards. Winning was a given, but losing? There were only two possibilities: either he conceded, or the powerful were cheating.

Since the outcome is already determined, wouldn't good news affect my sleep? For Zhang Yinghao, everything is ready, or rather, Zhang Yinghao's strong sense of crisis has been preparing for this war of intervention by foreign powers since he traveled through time. Will the liberated areas lack good news at this time? If Zhang Yinghao is woken up by good news, it would be a blasphemy to his life. Without a good rest, how can Zhang Yinghao have the energy to work properly?

After Zhang Yinghao finished speaking, he turned and went to sleep. The comrades present breathed a sigh of relief. When Zhang Yinghao was here, they were a little nervous, afraid of making mistakes. After all, the pressure and responsibility were too great. If Zhang Yinghao suddenly asked a question they couldn't answer, then the responsibility would be too much for them to bear...

Chapter 738: Second update!

Zhang Yinghao lay in bed, suddenly feeling like a complete failure as a time traveler. None of the novels Zhang Yinghao had read in his previous life had ever involved a time traveler and the foreign powers necessitating another Eight-Nation Alliance invasion of China. Those protagonists were all adept at maneuvering, forming alliances, and easily dismantling alliances between the foreign powers. They played both sides of the great powers, reaping huge benefits, and maneuvering between them with ease.

“Just do your best!”

Zhang Yinghao sighed softly, comforted himself, then closed his eyes and fell asleep in a short while.

The next day, at daybreak, the Haichou, anchored at Ma'anshan, was ordered to sail downstream to drive out the British warships. Soon, the Haichou encountered a British patrol ship, and the ensuing events were just like those in TV dramas and movies.

The cruiser HMS Haichou used flag signals and loudspeakers to urge the British warships to withdraw from the Yangtze River, stating that the Yangtze River is China's internal waters and that warships from any country may not enter without permission.

After the PLA blockaded the middle and upper reaches of the Yangtze River, the great powers knew they were in serious trouble. Their warships frequently attempted to penetrate the middle reaches of the Yangtze, only to be promptly detected and intercepted by our valiant artillery. At this point, the British Royal Navy's "China Fleet" had as many as twenty warships stationed in Shanghai. Tianjin, Yantai, and other cities were also areas where British warships sailed and anchored, and they ran rampant in the lower reaches of the Yangtze.

In 1905, the Anglo-Japanese Alliance meant that Britain no longer needed to maintain a significant naval presence in the Far East and the Pacific. Under these circumstances, British battleships should have been sent home to suppress the Allies. However, due to the Chinese Revolution and the PLA's advance into Manchuria, Britain left battleships like HMS Glory and HMS Canopus in China as a precautionary measure.

As for foreign warships allowed to enter the Yangtze River, their draft could not be too deep, otherwise they would risk running aground. The foreign powers specifically deployed shallow-water gunboats with reduced protection and firepower. Due to the Qing Dynasty's weakness and incompetence, these gunboats served little purpose in the Yangtze River, serving only as a display of force. Of course, if the Chinese attempted to infringe upon the interests of the foreign powers, these gunboats would immediately bar their fangs.

At this time, in addition to British warships, there were eight French warships including the "Orly" and "Dajiang" in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River; five German gunboats including the "Tornado" and "Werteland"; seven American warships including the cruiser "Bemisia"; twelve Japanese warships including the Fuji and Yashima, three Russian warships, and two warships from the Austro-Hungarian Empire and Italy. The number completely exceeded the scale of warships when the Eight-Nation Alliance invaded China.

The design of these gunboats by the great powers was closely tied to the unique characteristics of the Yangtze River. The Yangtze's spectacular seasonal fluctuations in water levels meant that the gunboats had to be shallow-draft, have screw and drive shaft protection to prevent accidental grounding, be small and easy to maneuver, and require relatively powerful engines to quickly escape distress. They needed to force their way through the Yangtze's rapids and reach the middle reaches of the Yangtze River. The gunboats had to be well-armed and mechanically reliable, as they were often deployed hundreds of miles from the shipyards of Shanghai.

Foreign gunboats roamed the Yangtze River, actively protecting the lives of foreigners and national interests. National interests allowed retaliatory measures after threats or violence, such as firing on a gunboat or killing Western merchants or missionaries. Gunboats were guarantors of Western commerce, ensuring the safety of foreigners and often protecting foreign enclaves in China.

These small warships did play the role the powers intended them to in the Yangtze River basin. Their primary mission was to protect Western civilians, most of whom were doing business in China, serving as missionaries, or working on merchant ships on the Yangtze. The gunboats escorted merchant ships through known hotspots or docked armed landing craft to protect Western enterprises. In theory, the discretionary powers enjoyed by naval officers meant that the gunboats had full authority to fire on Chinese ports or allow landing parties to fire on the Chinese without any major concerns about diplomatic details.

The policy of “extraterritoriality” also meant that Westerners were not subject to Chinese law and benefited from China’s diplomatic immunity. This meant that the commanders of these small gunboats had all the diplomatic and naval tools they needed to protect their countries’ interests.

Earlier, British warships bombarded Wanxian, burning over a thousand houses and ultimately killing 604 residents. These actions only exacerbated tensions between the Chinese and "foreigners."

In the previous life, in August 1949, the People's Liberation Army opened fire on the British warship HMS Amethyst and drove it out of the Yangtze River. From then on, no foreign gunboat dared to set foot on the Yangtze River again. The era of foreign Yangtze River gunboats, which began when the first real gunboat arrived in the Yangtze River in 1900, finally came to an end.

Lieutenant Commander Willis, captain of HMS Fury, the Royal Navy's "China Fleet," is truly furious. The situation in the Yangtze River Basin has changed rapidly in recent years. During the Russo-Japanese War, the People's Liberation Army launched the War of Liberation. Due to a misjudgment during the Russo-Japanese War, the British withdrew their warships from Wuhan, and their warships never entered the middle and upper reaches of the Yangtze River again. This incident deeply displeased the British Navy, and the "China Fleet" has now been forced to increase patrols in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River.

The Yangtze River basin in China was a British sphere of influence, a point the British were absolutely uncompromising about. But now, the Chinese have issued an ultimatum, claiming that the Yangtze River is China's internal waters and foreign warships are prohibited from entering. Is there anything more hilarious than this? Furthermore, before Lieutenant Colonel Willis set out, headquarters had instructed them to demonstrate the British Empire's military might, but without immediate orders, war could not begin.

The commander-in-chief of the "Chinese Fleet" had also issued a clear order: "The Qing rebels have recently taken a very tough stance against Britain. At this point, if they simply demonstrate force and blockade shipping on the Yangtze River, the Qing rebels will automatically come to the British Empire for help."

Lieutenant Colonel Willis agreed with this order, but he also agreed with the Chinese interpretation of a single word: "To stop war is to use force; to be able to fight is to make peace." So Willis also wanted to see what the Qing rebels were capable of, and how they dared to provoke the British Empire without knowing the consequences.

After receiving the mission to cruise, Willis was very excited. He no longer stayed in his comfortable captain's room, but ran to the command post where he seldom appeared. He even climbed onto the lookout post and held up a telescope to admire the scenery on both sides of the Yangtze River.

He often sighed: "What a vast and beautiful land! I wish it could all become a British colony."

When the cruiser "Haichou" appeared on the opposite side and issued flag signals and shouted to them, Lieutenant Colonel Willis held up a telescope to observe the "Haichou". As for what the people on the ship shouted and what the flag signals meant, he didn't care at all.

Soon, the two warships were getting closer and closer. The Fury showed no sign of retreating and continued to sail upstream on the Yangtze River. Seeing this, Captain Huang Zhongying of the Haichou shouted louder and used more urgent flag signals.

Soon, Lieutenant Colonel Willis returned to his command post and issued orders to the deputy captain with ease.

"Fire at that little Canban! Teach those yellow monkeys how to fight." "Why?"

The deputy captain asked almost subconsciously.

"Why? Do you need to ask why? Do you need to ask why we bombarded the yellow monkey? Because I am the captain." Lieutenant Colonel Willis gave a clear answer.

The deputy captain cursed in his heart, but said, "But we have not received any orders to fire at Chinese warships. This is an act of war."

The deputy captain was still very puzzled. The headquarters had not yet determined the time for the war to break out with the Qing rebels. Although China's expulsion of warships from foreign powers was a hostile act, the British Empire was not fully prepared for war. The deputy captain also did not think that the Qing rebels had the courage to go to war with the British Empire.

"Sir, the Qing rebels have issued their final ultimatum and are now taking action. The British Empire must not tolerate or compromise. Otherwise, we will withdraw from Shanghai just as we withdrew from Wuhan, and the prestige of the British Empire will be completely destroyed. This is something that cannot be allowed to happen. We must take decisive measures to let the Qing rebels know how powerful the British Empire is. Do you understand?"

"Yes, sir!"

Lieutenant Commander Willis's explanation was correct. The second-in-command felt no need to disobey his orders and immediately gave the order to prepare to fire. Soon, the various gun positions on the Fury began to rapidly adjust. A moment later, at the second-in-command's command, the Fury's main guns erupted in flames. Shells roared towards the Hai Chou. At this point, the British had fully grasped the essence of "do nothing, or do absolutely nothing." The sudden bombardment instantly interrupted the PLA's calls and flag signals. Lieutenant Commander Willis, watching clearly from the command room, saw the shells explode in the blink of an eye, centered around the Hai Chou. The main and secondary gun ports on the warship were fully opened. The rate of fire was slow, but each shell exploded close to the gunboat.

However, the instant the Fury fired its first shell, the Haichou, already prepared, immediately opened fire. The smaller field guns roared every few seconds, unleashing cup-sized shells at the enemy ship. The massive main guns were noticeably less maneuverable, requiring two or three minutes to reload each shell. But the roar was so deafening that it even sent dust rustling off the walls.

Shortly after the first salvo, shells from the Fury began to rain down around the Haichou. The shells plunged into the water, sending up towering columns of water. Even from the command room, the sharp sound of the river water slicing through the water could be heard. Then came the near misses, nearly hitting directly, exploding close to the ship's side. A dull blast filled the hold, and the impact popped some rivets, sending small streams of water cascading down the bulkhead. Huang Zhongying reached out, picked up a rivet, and examined it over and over.

At this point, the commander had almost nothing to do; it all depended on the soldiers firing the artillery. Success depended not only on regular training but also on a bit of luck. I really hoped one of the shells would have eyes and hit the enemy's ammunition depot!

About ten minutes later, Huang Zhongying's worst fears finally materialized: the warship was hit. The sudden, powerful jolt nearly knocked him to the ground. While the near miss's explosion was like muffled thunder, the direct hit's was like a blast of thunder. The screams and the hum of machinery were instantly drowned out, leaving an eerie silence after the explosion. It took several seconds for his hearing to return to normal.

Huang Zhongying stood uneasily, just as the sound of metal structures collapsing on the deck reached her. In the corridors, damage control teams rushed back and forth, bringing firefighting and repair supplies aboard and carrying the wounded back to the cabins. Then, another shell struck the Haichou, striking directly above the cabin. The thick armor plate hummed like a bell. A ceiling lightbulb exploded, sending shards of broken glass cascading down with the lingering glow of the filament. Then, everything fell silent.

"Quick, report the damage and keep firing."

Huang Zhongying shouted out his command, quickly assessing the battleship's situation. Above the armored dome, fierce fighting continued. Huang Zhongying saw that the enemy ships were very close, and several machine guns on the deck had already begun firing, as their effective range was only about a thousand meters.