The Heroic Age of the Late Qing Dynasty

On a clean white wall, written in red paint were three rows of large characters that Zhang Yinghao had said before: Adhere to a firm and correct political direction, maintain a hard-working and simple work style, and adopt flexible and maneuverable strategies and tactics.

The other side is inscribed with the words: unity, tension, seriousness, and unconventionality. This is quite beautiful and elegant. Zhang Yinghao changed "lively" to "unconventional" because he believes unconventionality is better than lively. The military demands unconventional thinking, imaginative thinking, and frequent thinking outside the box.

The main gate is the simplest one. When the gate is opened, you can get on the Internet and drive a car. Next to the gate, there are a few big words written on a wooden board: Army Intermediate Command College.

Zhang Yinghao knew that the three colleges were actually connected, so it wouldn't be too late to separate them.

Surrounded by a wall.

After entering the gate, I saw a huge stone with two lines of words engraved on it: "A single spark can start a prairie fire." The road split into two sides. On one side were rows of blue brick and tile buildings, teachers' offices and classrooms; on the other side were the playground and dormitory buildings.

Zhang Yinghao walked to the classroom and took a look. The room was nice, neat and clean. The desks and benches were long doubles, the paint already dry. Zhang Yinghao checked the dormitory again. The beds were made of bricks and covered with bamboo mats, and there were brand new quilts on them. Since each room could only accommodate six people, there was a small table and a small bookshelf in front of each bed—very thoughtful.

Zhang Yinghao went to the teachers' dormitories to take a look. They all had a living room, two bedrooms and a kitchen. The shower and toilet were outside, which was very suitable for living at home.

Finally, Zhang Yinghao went to the training ground again and took a look. Written on the wall were phrases like "Sweat more in peacetime, bleed less in war."

After checking the completion, Zhang Yinghao was very satisfied and highly praised the capabilities of the current engineering troops. Although he had come up with the design himself, he was very pleased that it was completed in such a short time.

Now that the school was complete, Zhang Yinghao planned to open on July 1st. There was no need to wait for a specific date; the sooner the better. He immediately assigned relevant Party members and cadres to serve as instructors and also brought back all the instructors from previous training sessions. Aside from foundational courses, all other specialized courses in the three colleges were taught separately.

Time passed quickly, and it was finally decided that Ding Hongchen would be the Dean of Academic Affairs, Zhang Yinghao would be the President, Zhang Lei would be the Director of the Political Affairs Department, and Bao Shilin would be the Director of the Logistics Department...

After the relevant personnel were assigned and reported, Zhang Yinghao called them together, showed them the plan, and then said: "Our current situation is like this. The school has a political department, a training department, and an academic affairs department, each with its own responsibilities. Whether we can run the school well depends on whether we have a scientific attitude. As long as we run one term and then summarize the experience and lessons, we will continue with the good parts and correct the bad parts. As long as each term is better than the last, we will always be able to run the school well. Each of us is both a teacher and a student. We must be humble and cautious. I hope we don't mislead the students. Some mistakes are allowed in what we teach, but we must accept students' criticism and correction and make continuous progress in teaching.

Next, let me talk about our Intermediate Command School, which trains mid-level military and political commanders for the entire army. While teaching basic courses, it also covers subjects like campaign science, command theory, and coordinated operations. The Junior Military Command College primarily provides basic military, political, and cultural education. Unless in wartime, military promotions require training before taking up a position.

The Engineering Command College offers courses in basic cultural literacy, architectural design, road and bridge engineering, engineering machinery, waterproofing engineering, blasting engineering, engineering tactics, engineering command, operational and tactical engineering support, and military political education. Some relevant textbooks and resources are already available, but additional knowledge can only be acquired through instruction and practical experience.

Everyone knows that most of our comrades lacked basic education. They used to be proficient in math, physics, and chemistry, but now they're completely clueless. We can only pick the best from the worst, and if everyone makes a little progress, the combined result is a huge improvement.

In addition, there are artillery, communications, engineering, logistics, and cavalry majors, which specialize in training cadres for various specialized arms..."

At 8:00 a.m. on July 1st, the three colleges held a grand opening ceremony. Zhang Yinghao, Bao Shilin, Hu Songhui, Li Tianqiao, Huang Jinhao, Zhang Zhixuan, Ding Hongchen, Zhan Tianyou and others were in attendance.

Huang Jinhao, Zhang Zhixuan, and others delivered speeches at the opening ceremony. Division Commander Ouyang Jun spoke on behalf of all the students. Zhang Yinghao, Chairman of the Forward Party, Chairman of the Military Commission of the Revolutionary Army, and President of the academy, clearly outlined the academy's purpose, guiding ideology, and academic system.

After the opening ceremony, the intense teaching process began. Zhang Yinghao's schedule generally consisted of morning exercises or drills, followed by morning classes, afternoon discussions, self-study, or practicals, Saturdays for tactical training, and Sundays for rest and housekeeping.

Zhang Yinghao even created a sand table, allowing students to review and rehearse the Niu Ming Army's few battles. He also searched for classic foreign case studies to explain and summarize lessons learned. This method was very practical. Without any obfuscation, the gains and losses were clearly visible, and many people felt enlightened after watching the stone.

However, on the first day of school, Zhang Yinghao gave the first lecture to the students from the three colleges. The title of the lecture was: "Be a learning commander."

Zhang Yinghao started by talking about the word "learning". He wrote the word "learning" on the blackboard with chalk, and then wrote the seal script of the word "learning". After writing it, Zhang Yinghao said: "Comrades, please look at this word "learning". There is a mountain on top, and it is a treasure mountain with many treasures hidden. The character "子" below means man. A man enters the mountain full of treasures, which is the word "learning".

Look at this character again. It has a bird's feather on it—a feather, X—and an A. What does this mean? It means that the bird is spreading its wings and practicing flying.

The two words "learning" and "learning" were used separately in the past. Confucius said, "Isn't it a pleasure to learn and then practice it from time to time?" Learning is hearing and seeing, and it is the acquisition of knowledge and skills. It mainly refers to the acquisition of sensory knowledge and book knowledge, and sometimes also includes the meaning of thinking.

"Xi" (习) means to consolidate knowledge and skills. It generally has three meanings: review, practice, and exercise, and sometimes also includes the concept of "practice." Therefore, the word "Xi" (习) is defined as the process of transmitting knowledge, forming skills, and cultivating intelligence. Essentially, it is a general term for learning, thinking, practicing, and practicing.

The first batch of students had all heard Zhang Yinghao's lectures and knew that Zhang Jianjia's lectures were of high quality. Now these students were immediately impressed by Zhang Yinghao's in-depth and easy-to-understand lectures.

I was attracted and listened very carefully.

Zhang Yinghao spoke with great enthusiasm, and he talked vividly about why one should be a learning commander, the basic conditions for a learning commander, how to become a learning commander, and other issues.

A morning passed and Zhang Yinghao's lecture ended, but the students were still interested and strongly requested Chairman Zhang to continue the lecture tomorrow.

Zhang Yinghao knew that these comrades before him were all outstanding individuals in the liberated areas. In the future, these students would become key personnel in various departments, perhaps even prominent figures after the founding of the People's Republic of China. They would work in various departments. What he was teaching them was the most advanced theory of learning organizations, which would be of great benefit to their thinking and work. However, the course schedule was already set, and he couldn't disrupt the teaching process. He had no choice but to promise his comrades that he would discuss it with Yun and Wenzhi whenever he had the chance.

Zhang Yinghao wasn't just here as principal, so how could he have the luxury of lecturing? He was serving the entire Sichuan province, not just the students of these three colleges. Instead of lecturing, Zhang Yinghao would be better off writing an article and disseminating it. Each of his articles would at least reach tens of thousands of people, while lecturing only served the few in the classroom.

The base area is now no longer short of books. For the past two years, the overseas students and the translators they have found have been constantly translating books. While some are faster than others, the total volume is already quite substantial. Almost all of these books are printed at the printing bureau and then delivered to the relevant locations.

Thanks to Zhang Yinghao's strict enforcement of Party discipline, ideological education, and strict control over the number of Party members admitted, all Party members and cadres were required to write ideological and work reports. After several sessions, almost all comrades had made great progress in basic cultural literacy. The cultural foundation of this first batch of students was already satisfactory.

So, whenever these students have free time, they rush to the library to read. It's safe to say that besides the training grounds, the library is the busiest place. Almost everyone who comes here to study knows how rare such an opportunity is and how fierce the competition is. If you miss this opportunity, you don't know when you'll get another one.

Chapter 213: Medal of Honor - More Updates!

Many students, while reading, often can't help but exclaim, "Oh, so that's how it is." Combining theory with practice, the comrades here have already reached a certain level of practice. As long as they master the theory, their progress can be seen with the naked eye.

Zhang Yinghao even added English classes to the cultural curriculum, which put these students in a difficult position. In reality, Zhang Yinghao didn't want them to learn English, but rather to gain a basic understanding of the Anglo-American world. Seeing those maps and foreigners would help them understand what was going on.

In his previous life, Zhang Yinghao had no idea what foreign countries were before he was in third grade. There was no map at home, and he had no concept of the world. When his father mentioned someone going to study abroad, Zhang Yinghao thought, "What's so good about studying abroad?"

Because in our dialect, "liu" (a homophone for "liu") means slope, and when his father mentioned studying abroad, Zhang Yinghao imagined someone sitting on a slope studying. What was there to envy? Therefore, Zhang Yinghao understood the importance of concepts. If you don't understand them, you don't understand them, and there's no way to explain them. Just like maps of China and the world: those who have seen them will have a general idea of ​​China and the world, but those who haven't can never imagine what China and the world look like.

In his previous life, Zhang Yinghao never passed English. His hatred for English was so deep that it could be said that he had a deep hatred for English. After traveling back in time, Zhang Yinghao found that he had given English the same score as Chinese in his previous life. Damn, could it be a conspiracy to make countless people hate foreign countries, or to make students pay attention to the strength of foreign countries and work hard to become stronger? Most Chinese people learn

It is useless to learn English. There is almost no chance to communicate with foreigners. All I learn is dumb English! Anyway, Zhang Yinghao himself does not know why the status of English can be equal to that of Chinese. Is it to reduce the number of people who are not good at English?

Attend a key university?

This time, Zhang Feng took advantage of the start of the school term to return to Chengdu to report on his work. Zhang Jianhao expressed his approval of his work and said that he was very relieved that Zhang Feng was in Chongqing.

Except in the war zone, the liberated areas all follow the principle of separation of military and political affairs. Yi Yangjiating had a conversation with Zhang Feng, wanting to know what kind of work Zhang Feng wanted to do.

Zhang Feng smiled and said, "I'd better join the army. I can fight those foreign devils in the future. I've been feeling very depressed in Chongqing for a while."

"Okay, whatever you say. Sichuan has calmed down now. The police force has been almost fully established, and the bandits have been mostly wiped out. The army, Lin, the army's job is to fight and prepare for war."

"Chairman, that's right. I received the telegram you sent me, and we've already secretly shipped the cannons over. If we really dare to tear our faces against the foreign devils, besides using cannons, I think we can completely use the method you mentioned before, sinking ships, to prevent British ships from entering Sichuan."

"You decide. If you can stop them, that's the best. If you can't, just let them in. What's the point? Even if their warships are powerful, attacking Sichuan is like a mosquito biting an elephant. There's nothing to be afraid of. If the British dare to send their troops into Sichuan to attack us, I'd be more than happy to do so. Now, what I'm most worried about is that the Western powers will collude with the Qing Dynasty. The Westerners will provide the weapons, the Qing Dynasty will provide the men, and the Qing Dynasty will borrow money from the Western powers to fight us. Then we will be on the defensive. If it becomes a tug-of-war, it will be difficult to deal with."

"What are the Chairman's plans?"

"Well, I had an idea after I dealt with the Green Camp in Gansu and Shaanxi. But Sichuan was not clean at the time and needed a large number of troops and manpower. Now that I have freed up my hands, I can use that plan of casting a wide net."

"Chairman, do you mean like Comrades Li Tong and Zhao Liang?"

"Haha, great minds think alike. Take a look at the report Li Tong and Zhao Liang sent back."

After saying that, Zhang Yinghao handed the two reports to Zhang Feng.

Zhang Feng took it and read it. The two reports were strikingly similar. Zhang Feng had experienced the severe drought in Shaanxi during his trip to Dunhuang, and he still remembered it vividly. It was like starving crows everywhere, bartering their young for food.

Upon arriving in Shaanxi, Zhao Liang immediately launched an investigation, beginning with Xi'an. He discovered that food shortages in Xi'an had caused prices to soar. The price of 50 kilograms of wheat had risen from 400 wen to 6,000 wen. A steamed bun cost 120 wen, ten times its normal price.

The disaster worsened, to the point where even the wealthy residents of the towns could barely afford to buy flour and other food. The poor, however, fell into despair even earlier than the wealthy, as they were left without money or food. When farmers, desperate for their barren fields, began to flock to Xi'an, they began to pour into the city.

In the winter of 1900-1901, at least 300,000 desperate and starving villagers arrived in the Shaanxi provincial capital. Fearing food raids, the governor forbade the peasants from entering the city, forcing them to live in the fields on the outskirts, digging holes on roadside slopes, and staging death by eating grass roots and tree bark.

When food became increasingly hard to come by, the hungry people themselves became food. Zhao Liang recorded: "Soon after, people started to

At first, this trade was carried out in secret. But before long, meatballs made from starving pigs became a staple food, and were sold for as much as 4 grams of silver. It can be inferred that the scale of the human flesh trade was very large. Later, the governor Duan Fang beheaded three people who were involved in the human flesh trade.

This apparently put a stop to this kind of business trend.

Outside the city of Xi'an, approximately 130,000 people died of starvation. Every morning for three months, over 600 bodies were collected and buried in the fields near the East Gate. Improper handling of the bodies led to an epidemic, which killed even more victims.

At the same time, in order to gain a deeper understanding of the devastation caused by the famine in Shaanxi Province, Zhao Liang went to Sanyuan County near Xi'an for a five-day visit.

He wrote in his report: Yuanxian was originally a very prosperous town with developed agriculture and commerce. Before the famine, the county had a population of 50,000.

From Sanyuan, we crossed the Xi'an Plain. The countryside showed signs of being once densely populated. Every few hundred meters, a village emerged from the sparsely wooded, white wilderness... The vast plain was silent... No one met...

The population has been reduced to less than 20,000. It can be inferred that the victims in economically poor areas are in a more difficult situation, and the death toll will naturally be higher.

many.

There were no farmers in the fields. In some villages, groups of adults and children lay half-starved, the only survivors of the destroyed villages. The plain was silent because the villagers were dead.

Zhao Liang continued: On an embankment close to the outside of the city wall, the dead were buried... There were many holes in the embankment, through which skeletons and fragments of clothing appeared...

After field research, Zhao Liang concluded that more than two million people in Shaanxi died of famine in the years before July 1902. Zhao Liang estimated that up to now, the number of people who died of famine in Shaanxi Province has reached 7 million, accounting for about 30% of the population.

Zhao Liang continued: "The corruption of Qing officials also contributed significantly to the aggravation of the disaster. They recklessly plundered all funds that passed through their hands... At the height of the Shaanxi famine, Empress Dowager Cixi and members of the imperial family fled to Xi'an."

After gaining a general understanding of the famine situation, Cixi learned that some of the disaster relief funds had been embezzled by the officials responsible for distributing them. Therefore, Cixi ordered the execution of three of these officials, and only then was some of the disaster relief funds released.

Furthermore, the disaster was exacerbated by the Qing dynasty's misguided decisions. When a large number of victims flocked to Xi'an seeking help, the governor, Duan Fang, forbade them from entering the city, fearing food raids. The improper handling of the victims' bodies contributed to the spread of the plague, which ultimately killed many.

Another Qing blunder occurred in early May 1901. Rain fell in Shaanxi, and the Qing government subsequently declared the famine over, urging other regions to refrain from further contributions. However, the harvest was still five months away, and even though the Qing government's water transport system alleviated the famine, the daily death rate remained roughly the same.

Furthermore, the Hui Muslim uprising of 1868-1873 also played a role in this famine. The devastation it caused in Shaanxi was so severe that even after the uprising was quelled, Shaanxi lacked sufficient men to cultivate the land. The government had no choice but to import immigrants from other provinces to aid in socioeconomic recovery. Just 25 years later, a province-wide drought struck, a truly unbearable situation for the people who had just experienced war.

Zhang Feng saw Zhao Liang's final line: "After the Gansu-Shaanxi Green Camp left Shaanxi, public security in Shaanxi deteriorated even further. When news of their annihilation reached Shaanxi, the Qing government in Shaanxi nearly collapsed. Meanwhile, the Boxers, the Gelaohui, the swordsmen, and various secret societies in Shaanxi erupted in rebellion, nearly spreading like wildfire. We now have over 10,000 members in Hanzhong. We request further instructions and support from our officers."

"Chairman, how did Shaanxi get to this point?"

"I'm afraid it's even worse than what I wrote here. I didn't intend to expand so quickly.

"But now that Sichuan is stable, we must guard against the blockade of the foreign powers and the Qing Dynasty. Shaanxi is our breakthrough point, and now is the best time to seize Shaanxi. As the saying goes, if you don't take what God gives, you will suffer the consequences. I wonder if you dare to take this mission?"

Zhang Feng looked at the map and thought for a long time before saying, "What support can Sichuan give me?"

"Our Military Commission has held a meeting. You can take the three divisions you are leading now, and you can also take the Gansu and Shaanxi Green Camp soldiers who surrendered last year. Our Sichuan cavalry

You can take half of it. Zhao Liang took away all the party members and cadres in our Northwest region at that time. Now we have accumulated some, and it will be the same this time. All of them will be transferred to you, and you can take them all away.

We compiled this information. The weather in Shaanxi has improved since May of last year. The time is right for you to go there. The conditions for land reform in Shaanxi are fully ripe, and the struggle in Shaanxi has entered a new stage.

"Chairman, what do you mean?"

"Hey, think about it. We've been experiencing drought for several years straight. Even the landlords don't have enough food. Given the landlords' insatiable nature, Shaanxi has lost a third of its population this time. How much land will be freed up? Will the landlords let it go? So now the struggle between the common people and the landlords in Shaanxi is both about land and not about it. After you liberate Shaanxi, eliminate the landlords who are extremely unpopular and immediately implement land reform. Right now, the conflict between people and land in Shaanxi is small, so it will be easy to carry out. Once we're done with the land reform, we'll be able to gain a firm foothold in Shaanxi."

"Does the Chairman have any further instructions?"

"Comrade Hu Songhui has already prepared troops at Tongguan. I will contact Comrade Zhao Liang in advance and have him cooperate with the comrades ambushed at Tongguan to capture it when you leave Sichuan. You must quickly occupy Xi'an. Then, sweep through all of Shaanxi with lightning speed."

"The Chairman is truly far-sighted. He thought of this a long time ago."

"Well, stop flattering me. When Cao Cao occupied Guanzhong, he once said, 'Once we have Long, we will look to Shu.' Now we have Shu and we will look to Long. As I said before, whether we can gain a foothold in Shaanxi does not depend on how powerful the Qing Dynasty is, but on how well we can unite with the people. As long as we are closely united with the people, no matter how powerful the force is, they will not be able to drive us out of Shaanxi."

"Yes, given our current situation, who can say they can drive us out of Sichuan?"

"Also, you won't get much aid from Sichuan in the future, and you know what major projects we have coming up. So this time when you leave, calculate how much food and other supplies you can take with you, then go to Comrade Bao Shilin and ask him to sign. Also, bring a reloading production line with you. That's all I can do for you right now. How big a cause you can achieve in Shaanxi depends on you. All I can tell you is this: the bigger your heart is, the bigger your stage will be."

"Chairman, when do we leave?"

"When you're ready, set off. Remember, it's best to do it in secret. The difficulty of your journey depends on your speed. The faster you are, the more unexpected the victory, and the easier it will be. The slower you are, the greater the difficulty and the stronger the resistance you'll encounter. The people of Sanqin are known for their toughness, and that's no joke."

Chapter 214:

Zhang Yinghao paused here and continued, "Also, we don't know how many eyes are watching us right now. If you're ready, send a telegram to Comrade Li Tong and Comrade Bai Jianyong to make some noise in the Dabie Mountains near Wuhan to attract the attention of the Qing Dynasty and the foreign powers. Then you can take action."

"it is good."

Zhang Yinghao extended his right hand, and Zhang Feng, upon seeing it, immediately extended his right hand as well, shaking it. Zhang Yinghao firmly grasped my hand and Zhang Feng's, saying, "Be careful, act swiftly, expand our victory, extend our strategic depth in Sichuan, be self-reliant, and work hard. Finally, pay attention to the Beiyang New Army heading towards Tongguan."

"Don't worry, Chairman. I will ensure that the task is completed."

Zhang Yinghao had initially not intended to let Zhang Feng lead the team, intending to personally lead the team and establish a firm foothold before handing it over to others. However, Zhang Feng's ideological report in Chongqing had previously caught Zhang Yinghao's attention. He was delighted that Zhang Feng had thoroughly understood the importance of standing with the people. This was why Zhang Yinghao felt so confident in Zhang Feng's journey north to Shaanxi. As long as he understood the importance of standing with the people and relying on the Party's leadership, Zhang Feng would be unbeatable in Shaanxi.

Watching Zhang Feng's retreating figure, he sighed. A young eagle must eventually fly out to weather the storms. A mixture of emotions washed over him. Zhang Yinghao hadn't initially thought they'd be able to break out of Sichuan so quickly, but the intelligence Zhao Liang had sent was far too tempting. Shaanxi was like a ripe peach, waiting to be picked. Unknowingly, the conditions for the Shaanxi revolution were ripe.

On his way to Dunhuang, Zhang Yinghao had previously considered establishing a revolutionary base in Shaanxi. However, the conditions in Shaanxi were extremely harsh at the time. Even landlords had no food left. The entire Northwest was ravaged by famine. Even revolutionaries need to eat. Most importantly, Zhang Yinghao couldn't bear to leave Sichuan, the land of abundance, which he considered the perfect place for his revolution. So, he decided to abandon Shaanxi and pursue his revolution in Sichuan.

Zhang Yinghao didn't send troops to Shaanxi when he was dealing with the Green Camp in Gansu and Shaanxi because Sichuan hadn't yet been completely pacified. He lacked the strength to start another war, but after more than half a year of governance, he now had the time. If he hadn't sent troops at this point, Zhang Yinghao would have felt inexcusable. His inability to save people before was one thing, but now that he had the ability, he was still trying to work hard.

For people of this era, suddenly arriving in a new place might cause them to feel uncomfortable or unfamiliar, forming a sense of mystery and unwilling to move or take risks. However, Zhang Yinghao, who came from the future, did not feel that way. Furthermore, this time, their expedition from Shaanxi should be a sure thing. As for how far Zhang Feng and his men could go, it really depended on how well they could integrate with the local people and how ambitious and enterprising they were.

By this time, the Chengdu-Dujiangyan highway had been completed, its surface fully paved. Although it was only a two-lane, two-way road, it was unprecedented in Sichuan at the time. Thanks to significant human and material resources, the Chengkang Highway was also halfway complete, albeit using a combination of traditional and foreign methods. Cement comes from a wide variety of sources; cement for the same section of road might come from several kilns or cement factories, resulting in varying quality.

But none of this mattered to Zhang Yinghao. There were no trucks weighing dozens of tons, or even tens of tons. The low-quality cement road was more than capable of handling the small loads of a horse-drawn carriage. Besides the engineering corps and the labor reform team, the rest of the workers who built the Chengkang Highway were local residents. These residents, encouraged by the local government and village chiefs, volunteered to work, which was the reason the road was built so quickly.

The dirt road, stretching over 300 kilometers, was already completed, and halfway paved. The next priority was building bridges and digging tunnels. In later generations, building roads and railways involved cutting through mountains and building bridges over rivers. While this approach is still used today, the efficiency is truly appalling. Without machinery and equipment, the work was done by human labor. What seemed like a monumental undertaking to the people of that era was truly trivial to Zhang Yinghao.

At this moment, Zhang Yinghao received a notice that Zhan Tianyou was coming to see him. Zhang Yinghao stood up excitedly and immediately went to the door to greet him. When he saw Zhan Tianyou, Zhang Yinghao said excitedly: "Mr. Juancheng, thank you for your hard work."

Zhan Tianyou's face was tanned and his features were much thinner. Since the Engineering Corps Academy had a special course on railways, Zhan Tianyou had to go there to teach whenever he had free time, which was quite tiring. He also had to take people to survey the terrain. Although the trains of this era were not as demanding as those of later generations, and since they were on the vast plains of Chengdu, their speeds were relatively high, it had still taken almost half a year.

"Chairman, haha, you've lived up to everyone's expectations. You've finally mapped the route."

After saying that, he handed the blueprint in his hand to Zhang Yinghao. Zhang Yinghao took it, but without opening it, he shook Zhan Tianyou's hand and said, "No hurry, no hurry. How can you read it at the door? Come in quickly. Secretary, go and pour Mr. Juancheng a glass of milk to nourish him."

After such a long period of contact, Zhan Tianyou came to realize that this new force in Sichuan was no longer something the Qing could suppress. Because Zhan Tianyou was a Christian, Zhang Yinghao repeatedly urged him to renounce his faith and join the Forward Party, but he remained unwilling to give up his beliefs, and Zhang Yinghao did not force him. Although he could not join the Forward Party, this did not prevent Zhang Yinghao from strengthening his relationship with him.

"Chairman, you're welcome. I'm in good health." "Okay, I'm fine. Come on, sit down."

After saying that, Zhang Yinghao came to the table and gently opened the blueprint. Zhang Yinghao looked along the route map drawn by Zhan Tianyou and found that it did pass through important cities along the way.

"Chairman, that line you drew at the beginning was absolutely brilliant. Almost all of our surveying results pass through your line, which saved us a lot of work."

"Wrong, Mr. Devotion City, don't say that. What's the point of me drawing a line? It's all your credit. You participated in this whole thing. How long do you think it would take to complete this railway at full speed?"

"Chairman, it's hard to estimate. Our comrades are not experienced in the early stages, so it might be slow. It will be much faster in the middle and later stages. However, building a railway on this vast plain is relatively simple. I estimate it will take about three years."

Zhang Yinghao nodded and said: "Well, Mr.

The railway engineering team will not be disbanded after being formed. In the future, they may be a team of workers specializing in railway construction and maintenance. I plan to take over