dmims Page 60
Page 60
During the Han and Tang dynasties, they established protectorates that could mobilize local manpower and resources, attack whomever they wanted, and ensure that local taxes were paid honestly and that soldiers were conscripted when needed. That's what you call expanding territory!
Compared to the Qing Dynasty, let's see how the Ming Dynasty did things!
When Zhu Yuanzhang (Chu Chongba) pacified the country, the Central Plains had been occupied by foreign tribes for over 250 years, and the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun had been lost for nearly five centuries! The last time the Hexi Corridor was ruled by a Han Chinese regime was during the Tang Dynasty!
Yunnan wasn't called Yunnan back then; it was called the Dali Kingdom. It had been established and passed down for six or seven hundred years, and it had its own language, history, and cultural heritage!
What's even more outrageous is that the Han people in the north no longer consider themselves Han people, and even look down on the Han people in the south. The Han people in the north and south are completely two different ethnic groups.
As for the other regions like Liaodong, Mongolia, the Western Regions, and Tibet, let's not even mention them!
If any territory has been ruled by a foreign race for more than a hundred years, the difficulty of taking it back is comparable to climbing to the sky. That is not called restoring homeland, but expanding territory!
Even so, the Ming Empire still managed to launch a northern expedition to reclaim the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun, reach Liaodong, conquer Yunnan in the south, and even establish the Jiaozhi Provincial Administration Commission in the Indochina Peninsula.
More importantly, apart from the Jiaozhi Provincial Administration, which failed to assimilate, all other places were successfully Sinicized, and the Han people in the north and south were united. Yunnan was also completely Sinicized after being guarded by the Mu family for three hundred years.
The places that had been occupied for centuries were now restored to the eighteen provinces of Han territory under the Ming Empire. If Zhao Yan were to lead his troops to fight in these areas now, he wouldn't need to worry about the rear at all.
This is what you call territorial expansion, not the Qing Dynasty's map-drawing. These bastards claim to have made historical contributions to the progress of Chinese civilization, but if you look into it closely, it's really nothing special.
Their so-called territorial expansion turned out to be nothing short of a trap in later generations! If you say that setting up a nominal central agency in a local area constitutes territorial expansion, then the Ming Dynasty would be considered one too!
The Ming Dynasty also established a central government agency in Tibet, but it did not include this territory in its own territory because the Ming Empire had to save face! How can you claim a place that you can't collect taxes from or recruit soldiers from as your territory?
The Ming Empire's success in Sinicization led later generations to believe that these lands were Han territory and not territorial expansion.
The fact that the Qing Dynasty planted so many hidden dangers has actually attracted people's attention, leading them to recognize that this was indeed a way of expanding territory.
In Zhao Yan's eyes, this was utterly ridiculous! He missed the Hongwu Emperor terribly at this moment and hoped that this great god would quickly travel over and help him "expand his territory" again.
The military household system and immigration system of the Ming Empire did indeed come at a great cost in the early Ming Dynasty, resulting in the deaths and injuries of countless people. This has become a point of criticism against the Ming Dynasty by later generations.
But this is a typical example of the mentality of "biting the hand that feeds you." Those who criticize such policies have never considered that if it weren't for the large influx of Han people, and if it weren't for the military households who survived countless battles in the early Ming Dynasty, it would be uncertain whether these lands would belong to the Han people a hundred years later!
On the contrary, the Manchus slaughtered people in Sichuan and Jiangnan, almost emptying the entire province, and then pretended to fill Sichuan with lakes and rivers. This was praised and lauded. What kind of logic is that?
Some people even claim that Sichuan was completely wiped out by Zhang Xianzhong's Great Western regime at the end of the Qing Dynasty! How can anyone believe such a thing? Whose territory was Sichuan at that time? Did the Great Western army slaughter themselves? After the massacre, why did the people of Sichuan continue to support the Thirteen Families of Kuidong in their resistance against the Qing for decades?
Zhao Yan had only ever glanced at these historical accounts superficially before, but now, leading his army to experience them firsthand, he truly understood just how despicable the Manchu Qing dynasty had been!
"Guards! Bring over the Manchurian Volunteer Corps and the Reformation Battalion! The motherland needs them to give their lives to atone for their sins!"
Zhao Yan grew angrier the more he thought about it. Lushun had almost made him die of anger before, and this time, seeing Vladivostok made him grit his teeth in rage.
Why should Zhao Yan risk his life to repay the debt owed to the Qing Dynasty? This must be resolved by addressing the root cause of the problem!
At Zhao Yan's command, the reform camp that had just been sent to the Liaodong front was moved to Suifenhe.
A steady stream of reformatory troops, men, women, and children, began to pour into the area. The more than seven thousand members of the Manchurian Volunteer Corps dared not resist; upon hearing Zhao Yan's order, they eagerly rushed over.
Attacking a tortoise shell requires enough cannon fodder, just like the ant swarm tactic used in ancient sieges. First, you need enough cannon fodder to expend and probe.
Zhao Yan was reluctant to send his own national defense forces to their deaths, but he had no hesitation in sending these mites to their deaths.
Keeping them alive is a waste of food, and slaughtering them would damage our reputation. Sending them to the trenches and barbed wire is the perfect way to sacrifice ourselves for the country. The land of China has been nurtured for three hundred years, and the day of righteous death is here!
Chapter 110, Order No. 227!
"China has nurtured its people for three hundred years; let us now rise up in righteousness and die for our country!"
"His Majesty has issued Order No. 227! All personnel of the reformation battalion and the Manchurian militia are not to retreat an inch! Anyone who disobeys will have their entire family executed!"
"All participants must carry out the wise instructions of the Great Leader and fight for the country with heroic and fearless spirit!"
"The Führer commands that once war breaks out, all Manchurians, regardless of north or south, young or old, have the responsibility to fight for their country and are determined to sacrifice everything!"
"Those who advance will die a death heavier than Mount Tai, while those who retreat will be killed and their entire families will be exterminated!"
On the Middle East Line, at the Suifenhe Railway Station, train cars filled with Manchus arrived, and black and red flags were planted on the beams and pillars of the station.
Squads of newly formed SS soldiers, armed with submachine guns and wearing black and red armbands, stood on both sides of the platform, exuding a menacing aura, under martial law.
As the train, spewing white steam, slowly came to a stop in front of the platform, the wheels rubbing against the steel produced a tooth-grinding creaking sound.
Before the carriage had even come to a complete stop, SS soldiers immediately rushed forward and roughly pulled open the door, revealing the carriage crammed with Manchus undergoing re-education in a reformatory.
"Everyone get off the bus! Repeat, everyone get off the bus immediately!"
The carriage was filled with Manchu men and women, both experienced and terrified. They watched as heavily armed SS soldiers pointed their submachine guns at the carriage, and they all obediently got off the train and lined up.
"Immediately conduct screening. Arrest the Han Chinese and throw them into labor camps. The Manchus shall continue to march in formation!"
The reform camps contained all sorts of people, including Han Chinese who refused to submit to the emperor's rule. Most of them were bandits or tax evaders, but they were all eventually brought out.
The standard for distinguishing between Manchus and Han Chinese is very simple: look at their queues. Han Chinese are allowed to choose any hairstyle freely, and the government will not force them to. However, Manchus are only allowed to have one hairstyle: the money-tail hairstyle!
The government mandated that every Manchu, as well as members of the Manchu Eight Banners and Han Eight Banners, and other groups deemed to have "close ties with the Manchus," be allowed to wear only the raven-tail hairstyle.
The government claimed that this move was to respect national customs. When the Manchus entered the Central Plains, they forcibly implemented this hairstyle, and the Republican government believed that this hairstyle was exclusive to the Manchus. Since your ancestors said, "Keep your hair or lose your head, keep your head or lose your hair," then you might as well keep it forever.
At this moment, identifying Manchus was much easier than identifying Jews; SS soldiers didn't need to take off their trousers, they could tell just by looking at their queues.
Of course, if you are Han Chinese and insist on keeping a queue, then don't blame the leader for dragging you to fill the trenches!
"All Han Chinese in the reform camps will be sent to the mortuary team to build fortifications and clean up the battlefield. All Manchus will be incorporated into the suicide squads and will depart immediately!"
Under the cold muzzle of guns, groups of Manchu men, women, and children were forced to advance, following the routes planned by the SS to the front lines.
Yes, they didn't even get a last meal before their deaths. They had to go straight to the battlefield to fight as soon as they got off the bus. This was Zhao Yan's personal order because he didn't want to waste food. People who were destined to die didn't deserve to eat.
As they marched, they dispersed along the way. Soon, the Han Chinese in the reform camp were ordered to collect the corpses and fill the craters in the surrounding area, while the Manchu troops were ordered to continue advancing.
Previously, the Han Chinese in these reform camps thought that the new government was treating them differently, believing that it would favor the Manchus and mistreat them, and they all cursed and swore.
As they got closer to the front lines, they were assigned to fill shell craters, carry corpses and ammunition boxes, while the Manchus continued to move closer to the battlefield amidst the roar of artillery fire. This group of men no longer dared to complain.
"Boom boom"
Two Russian artillery shells landed around the marching column, exploding and sending shrapnel flying. Several Manchus were knocked to the ground, but the others continued to advance, not daring to take cover.
Their long years in the reformatory had taught them that even if shells were falling from the sky, or even if knives were raining down, they shouldn't run around, or the SS bullets would show no mercy.
The wounded Manchu soldiers, who had been knocked down by artillery shells, were still groaning on the ground when dark-skinned, cold-blooded SS soldiers stepped forward, raised their guns, and gave them their final mercy.
"Da da da"
After a few gunshots, the wounded became corpses. The SS soldiers switched off their safety, raised their hands, and shouted: "The mortuary team, come here! We've got a job!"
The column continued its advance. Some Manchus sensed something was wrong and tried to escape, but were mercilessly shot dead on the spot by SS soldiers. After their deaths, all their relatives in the column were also rounded up and executed on the spot! This was because they had violated the Führer's Order No. 227!
"Forward, for ahead lies the final place where you will find redemption. The merciful ruler has given you the opportunity to atone for your sins!"
"As Buddhism says, reincarnation is destiny. As long as you bravely redeem yourself in this life, you can be reborn and start over in the next life."
"The Buddha's teachings are boundless; everyone can receive the Buddha's forgiveness and salvation!"
The monks, who had been forcibly conscripted, stood on both sides, giving the Manchu people a final pep talk, so that they might have something to look forward to.
Monks joining the army is also a military order. Under the mobilization order, all beings are equal. This is also the tenet of Buddhism. If others join the army to fight, you should do the same if you become a monk.
A large number of monks were conscripted, but not for military service; instead, they were forced to perform the most arduous and dangerous form of labor, which yielded the least reward.
Previously, these monks were indignant, but after seeing the Manchus about to be sent to the battlefield, they all felt at peace and began to devoutly chant Buddhist prayers to help these people pass on in advance.
Just over two hundred meters ahead was the starting point of the position, where horse-drawn wagons loaded with weapons and ammunition were parked. At the end of the muddy road stood a wooden archway with several large characters riveted to it in cast iron: "Auschwitz!"
The party representative standing on the carriage gave the final mobilization order.
"Attention everyone! By order of the Führer, our great motherland is about to launch the Auschwitz Campaign against the shameless Russians who have seized our territory!"
"You are the main force in this battle! Advance only, no retreat! See those heavy machine guns? They're not for shooting at the enemy, but specifically for dealing with cowards!"
"Anyone who retreats will face heavy machine gun fire. Order No. 227 is not to be disobeyed!"
"Line up to receive weapons, in family units, the whole family charges in groups of five, men receive rifles, children receive five bullets, women receive bayonets, and the elderly receive an indulgence!"
"Those in front are dead, those behind, pick up your weapons and keep charging!"
"This is the ancestral land of Manchuria, the so-called birthplace of the Manchu Qing dynasty! Reclaiming this place is the mission entrusted to you by Kangxi and Yezhupi! To die on your ancestral land is the glory of every Manchu!"
"The leader promises that once you are all dead, the Republic will erect a monument here! This will demonstrate the great motherland's policy of national unity and harmony!"
Groups of Manchurians lined up in family groups to receive weapons. The bayonets, rifles, and bullets at the front were reasonably acceptable, but the indulgences the elderly received were unsettling.
"Sir, are you just going to let me charge into battle with only a piece of paper? At least give me a brick!"
"Bang!" A gunshot ended the question.
"This is an indulgence blessed by the Führer. To die with it means to receive the forgiveness of the great motherland! Anyone who questions it will be considered a traitor and executed on the spot!"
It was a clear case of suicide, yet no one dared to resist. In fact, if any Manchu secretly loaded bullets into a gun, they would be immediately executed by SS soldiers for treason.
Only after they have charged out will they have the right to reload.
A disheveled officer with a fierce look on his face walked over from the front line: "The last batch is all dead. Where is the next batch?"
"Speed up! The Russians are almost out of bullets. If you charge fast enough, you might still have a chance to meet them. Don't waste time! Those of you in the back can just pick up stones; you don't need to carry rifles!"
Squads of Manchus were led to the front lines. Accompanied by the whistle of the Party representative signaling the attack and the warning shots of the heavy machine guns fired by the supervising team, they rushed out of their bunkers with a sense of helplessness and tragic heroism, running wildly toward the Russian barbed wire and trenches.
"Da da da pu pu uh!"
People were falling every moment, but the most outrageous thing was that the heavy machine guns of the rear guard were firing more fiercely than the Russian heavy machine guns. During the attack, the Russians were only willing to fire three or four heavy machine guns.
But if anyone dared to retreat or run away, the heavy machine guns of the rear defense force would open fire immediately with seven or eight of them, even with crossfire!
Inside the rear command post, Zhao Yanmao observed the battle situation through a gun peephole from behind a bunker.
"Very good. We will use the lives of the Manchus to wear down the Russians, and finally stew a pot of steel meat soup!"
"Don't the Russians want to wear me down? I have nearly ten million Manchurians under my command. What do they have to fight me with in a war of attrition?"
The officers in the headquarters were all smiles. They wouldn't mind fighting this war of attrition for a hundred years. The biggest daily drain on the machine gun ammunition of the supervisory team was!
But the Russians were a different story. With the continuous attacks of the Manchurian militia, their ammunition consumption was many times higher.
Zhao Yan felt his anger subside somewhat, but he was still not satisfied: "It seems some chlorine gas has been imported from the rear. Bring it over to me. We should show some respect for the Manchus who are going to their deaths."
From then on, every Manchurian offensive required the use of chlorine gas for morale boosters; the Battle of Auschwitz would have been utterly meaningless without it!
The generals were completely bewildered, not understanding what it meant, but they still applauded in agreement, since everything the leader said was correct!
A smile spread across Zhao Yan's face, and he said triumphantly, "No one can defeat China until the last Manchurian bleeds dry!"
Chapter 111 The Valley of Isco
On September 22, 1907, the Suifenhe front was engulfed in flames of war.
The Manchus were hauled to the front lines by train carload to wear down the Russian army, and more than 70,000 of them died one after another, which completely shocked the Russians.
Russian troops are stationed in the Iskol Valley, which is flanked by towering mountains and is the only route from Suifenhe to Vladivostok.
Behind the Isco Valley lies a fragmented mountain plain of about 100 square kilometers. As long as the Russian army holds this valley, it cannot threaten Vladivostok, while the Russian army can advance or retreat at will.
As for taking a detour, that would mean traversing mountains and crossing the Heilongjiang River, and nobody would dare to take such a detour.
With both sides having roughly equal troop strength, if you dare to divert troops to take a detour, the other side will take advantage of your insufficient forces and wipe you out in one fell swoop.
Upon learning that Zhao Yan was right across from them, the Russians were determined to wear him down and had no intention of launching an attack.
But Zhao Yan was no pushover either. Within ten days, he used trains to bring in hundreds of thousands of Manchus to fill the gaps. In just ten days of the "Auschwitz" offensive, more than 70,000 Manchus fell in front of the Russian positions.
This was no longer an offensive; it was blatant suicide. The Russian army, which had always been known as the "gray beasts," was completely shocked. They thought they didn't care about human lives enough, but after meeting Zhao Yan, they found themselves to have become greenhorns!
They're the ones who truly don't care about human life. They treat the deaths of thousands of people a day like it's nothing, and the next day, hordes of people still come to die.
The Manchu charge in the first two days was still somewhat reasonable, with at least five men per rifle. But it got more and more outrageous as it went on. They stopped giving out rifles and charged with just five men and a bayonet. At the most outrageous point, they even dug out the cold weapons from the Qing Dynasty's armory and issued them to the Manchus for the charge.
Tsarist Russia was completely dumbfounded. Compared to Zhao Yan, they felt that their Tsarist father was a model of benevolent ruler.
"Keep pushing forward, don't stop, be efficient!"
"We lack food, we lack equipment, but we have plenty of Manchus!"
Zhao Yan showed no mercy to the admonitions of his generals and still ordered the reformation battalion to charge wave after wave. Of the 120,000 Manchus, 70,000 were killed by the Russian army, and the remaining 50,000 were all killed by the National Defense Army itself due to reasons such as fleeing and rioting.
The generals were numb, unsure whether this was a battle between Chinese and Russian armies, or a coordinated and efficient massacre of the Manchus. No one had ever seen a war fought like this.
The Manchus began to revolt and revolt. The Manchu militias charging at the front lines simply stopped firing their guns, for fear that the Manchus would turn around and attack their own positions.
Nobody knows what Zhao Yan is planning. Sending people to their deaths like this isn't really doing anything useful.
Fortunately, this place is backed by the Middle East Railway and has the support of the railway line; otherwise, transporting so many Manchus here would have been quite a drain on transportation capacity.
The autumn harvest is still in its final stages, and there is fighting in the south as well. Supply of materials is tight. The national defense forces along the Suifenhe line do not lack transport capacity, but they lack the materials that can be transported.
The Korean War on the southern front did not lack supplies, but lacked sufficient transportation capacity. It was truly a case of some suffering from drought while others were flooded!