The Qing Dynasty is about to end

Chapter 975 The Rise and Fall of the Heavenly Kingdom Lies in Australia!
In August of the thirty-fifth year of the Tianli era, as autumn deepened in Tianjing City, a somber atmosphere prevailed within the Prime Minister's Office's combat command center.

Luo Yaoguo stood before the massive sand table, his baton tapping lightly on the "Tu'ao" (local island) position. His gaze swept over the assembled crowd—Minister of War Shi Dakai, Chief of the General Staff Zhu Ba, Minister of the Navy Wang Yan, Chief of the Navy Ding Ruchang, Minister of the Armaments Xu Shou, Minister of Revenue Weng Tonghe… These core figures of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom all had furrowed brows, awaiting his decision.

"Minister Weng, let's talk about money and grain first," Luo Yaoguo said, his voice steady.

Weng Tonghe stood up, his thin face showing fatigue, but his eyes remained sharp. He opened the account book, his voice low:
"Prime Minister, in the thirty-fifth year of the Tianli era, the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom's crude steel production is estimated at 1300 million tons, coal at 6 million tons, electricity at 100 billion kilowatt-hours, and shipbuilding tonnage at 150 million tons... However, the fiscal deficit has exceeded expectations, and the inflation rate has climbed to 5.2%."

He paused, then continued, “Trans-Pacific shipping routes are being harassed by NATO commerce raiders, leading to a sharp decrease in the import of food and guano from the American Empire and the Inca Kingdom. Food prices are rising, and public discontent is growing. If the war continues for another three and a half years, inflation may soar to 7%-10%.”

The room was silent.

Luo Yaoguo laughed, a hint of coldness in his smile: "We're in a difficult situation, but the enemy is in an even more difficult one!"

He suddenly waved his hand, pointing to Europe and America on the sand table: "Inflation in the United States of America has exceeded 20%, all the young and middle-aged men have joined the army, factories and farms are deserted, and the economy is on the verge of collapse! Britain has only 40 million people, but it has to support the American East and Red France at the same time, and also fight us to the death in the Pacific. It is already overwhelmed!"

"As for Red France?" he sneered. "They lost Lille in the first half of the year, and then Sedan in the summer. Nancy is in grave danger! Once Nancy falls, Paris will be defenseless! If the British don't intervene soon, France will perish! Then Germany will unify Western and Central Europe and be able to cross the English Channel at any time!"

"The Russian Empire?" He shook his head. "Blocked by Germany and Turkey, the Murmansk route is open, but Britain is too busy to help itself. Russia has suffered consecutive defeats in the Romanian and Turkish Straits, and is now struggling to hold on in Poland and the Anatolian Peninsula. It is consuming huge amounts of resources every day and will eventually run out of fuel!"

He slammed his baton down on "Australia" and raised his voice sharply: "Gentlemen! Britain is divided in all directions, and the forces it can commit to Australia are already stretched thin! But we can use the full strength of our nation to take over this fertile land of more than 700 million square kilometers in one fell swoop!"

"The rise and fall of the Heavenly Kingdom rests entirely on Australia!" He looked around at everyone and said, word by word, "I demand that all departments do their utmost to ensure the landing operation, which must be launched before the end of the thirty-fifth year of the Tianli era! In the thirty-sixth year of the Tianli era, our Taiping Heavenly Kingdom must achieve a decisive victory!"

A dark cloud hung over 10 Downing Street in London, and the atmosphere at the wartime cabinet meeting was even more somber than the weather.

Prince George, Duke of Cambridge, the Imperial Chief of Staff, slammed his hand on the table, making the teacups clatter. Pointing to the spread-out map, his voice hoarse, he said, "We're in deep trouble!"

"Hawaii is a mess! We can't take Oahu, we can't blockade Pearl Harbor, and the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom's armored cruisers are coming and going like ghosts, keeping our fleet firmly tied down!"

"The Nicaragua Canal front is a meat grinder! Blenka has fallen, and the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom and the American Empire have gained a foothold on the west bank of the canal, while we and the United States of America have to keep sending people in! Hundreds of people are dying every day from bullets, shells, and tropical diseases!"

“And damn Mexico!” he gritted his teeth. “90% of Mexicans are supporters of the American Empire, and only 10% support the United States! Apart from Mexico City and a few coastal cities, everywhere is a stronghold of guerrillas and the so-called Free American Army!”

“And Europe?” he sneered. “Red France is about to collapse! With the loss of Nancy, Paris is on the verge of collapse! The Russian Empire is suffering defeats in Poland and the Balkans, and is also bogged down in Anatolia… We can’t go on like this!”

First First Lord of the Navy Arthur Hood rose slowly, his voice low and firm: "Prime Minister, the Navy believes that a change in strategy is necessary."

Gladstone looked up at him: "How should I change it?"

“Withdraw troops from Hawaii,” Hood said decisively.

"and then?"

"Then, in Australia, we will fight a decisive battle against the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom!"

Gladstone frowned. "In Australia? Can we win?"

Hood's gaze was sharp as a knife: "Very likely!"

He walked to the map and pointed heavily at Australia: "The Taiping Heavenly Kingdom's next major attack will inevitably be here—this is an open secret! And in 1885-1886, we still have the strength to fight!"

"Our 'Dreadnought'-class battleships and 'Invincible'-class battlecruisers are already in service in large numbers. In addition, there may be one or two 'Orion'-class super battleships equipped with 13.5-inch main guns participating in the battle!"

He took a deep breath, his voice grave: "But 1886 is the last window of opportunity! By 1887, the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom will surely possess super battleships equipped with 350mm main guns and a standard displacement of over 24000 tons... At that time, we will completely lose the possibility of confronting the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom in the Pacific!"

A collective gasp filled the meeting room.

Gladstone paused for a moment, then slowly asked, "Is the Navy confident? What's the plan?"

A cold smile curled at the corner of Hood's lips: "Prime Minister, the Navy already has a plan—we will first hide the Australian Grand Fleet."

“Hidden?” Gladstone was taken aback.

"Yes, hide!" Hu De's eyes shone brightly. "Once the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom begins their landing, we'll launch a surprise attack, forcing them to fight at the most unfavorable moment!"

Outside Bukhara, at the small station drill ground.

The scorching sun baked the arid Gobi Desert, the heat distorting the distant mountain shadows. Twenty thousand troops stood arrayed like mountains, banners fluttering, guns and cannons like a forest. Yuan Shikai, Yuan Datou, mounted a pure black Arabian warhorse, slowly inspecting this "Aid-Russia Expeditionary Force" he had personally crafted. His gaze swept over each elite unit—this "Aid-Russia Army" was the elite force he had meticulously built!

Its forces included the First Infantry Brigade, the First Cavalry Brigade, the First Cavalry Artillery Regiment of the Tang Dynasty's New Army, and the First Cavalry Division of the Tang Dynasty's Foreign Army!
Among them, the First Infantry Brigade of the Tang Dynasty New Army was equipped with Berdan 2 rifles. The soldiers were all "second-generation Han Chinese" from Central Asia. They all wore Russian-style military uniforms, leggings, and carried packs. They stood straight in the Central Asian sandstorm. From a distance, their formation looked like it had been chopped with knives and axes. Every single one of them was an elite soldier!

The First Cavalry Brigade of the Tang Dynasty's New Army was trained like the Russian Cossack cavalry. Their sabers were gleaming, their muskets were slung across their backs, and most of the riders were of mixed Han and non-Han descent. They were tall, strong, and each had eyes as sharp as eagles, ready to tear through the enemy lines at any moment.

In addition to the "Han Army" and the "Han-Fan Mixed-Race Army," Yuan Shikai's new army also included a division of "Fan Army." The soldiers were recruited from nomadic tribes under the rule of the Tang Dynasty. The Turkic and Mongol warriors wore Russian-style uniforms and were equipped with new carbines. They possessed both the ferocity of nomadic peoples and the discipline of modern training.

The Tang Dynasty court and their Russian backers also equipped this "Russian aid army" with a regiment of 36 Russian-made 76mm rapid-fire cannons, all pulled by mules and horses. The gunners were in high spirits and had clearly mastered this lightweight yet deadly weapon.

Looking at his elite troops, Yuan Shikai's lips curled up slightly, his heart surging with pride.

"stand at attention--!"

At the messenger's loud shout, the entire army stood at attention, their bayonets gleaming coldly.

Yuan Shikai yanked the reins sharply, and his horse reared up. He raised his gilded command sword and roared, "Brothers! The Tsar of Russia is in trouble! The Ottomans have colluded with Germany to blockade the Black Sea and cut off our friendly nation's foreign trade routes! Today, our mighty warriors of the Great Tang are ordered to march west, passing through Persia, and strike straight into the heart of the Ottoman Empire! In this battle, we will display the might of the Great Tang army thousands of miles away!"

"May the Great Tang Dynasty be victorious! May it be victorious! May it be victorious!"

Twenty thousand soldiers roared in unison, their voices shaking the heavens and even causing the sand and dust on the Gobi Desert to tremble.

Yuan Shikai nodded in satisfaction, then turned to his chief of staff, Tian Zhongyu, and whispered, "Send the order to set off at dawn tomorrow. Target: Astarabad, Persia."

Back at the Xiaozhan camp, Yuan Shikai stood alone in front of the sand table, his gaze fixed on the heart of Persia—Tehran.

"Using a route to aid Russia? Ha..."

He sneered, tapping his finger heavily on the Persian capital on the sand table, and said to his trusted confidants Duan Qirui, Cao Kun, Wu Dingyuan, Wang Zhanyuan, Tian Zhongyu, and others:
"The Taiping Heavenly Kingdom and the British Empire are locked in a fierce battle in the Pacific, the Russians are preoccupied with their own problems in Europe, and the Ottomans are being used as pawns by the Germans... Now, who can control us?"

His gaze gradually intensified.

"The Qajar dynasty is corrupt and decadent, the Persian nobles are constantly fighting among themselves, and the army is weak. This is a golden opportunity for our Great Tang to expand its territory!"

He slowly clenched his fist, looking at his group of trusted confidants.

"If we can control Persia in one fell swoop, the territory of our Great Tang will span Central Asia, Persia, and even extend to Mesopotamia! At that time, our names will be forever recorded in history!"

Thirty miles outside Astarabad on the Persian border.

A troop of Persian Qajar cavalry rushed into the camp in a panic. The leading officer tumbled off his horse and staggered to Governor Amir Nizam:

"My lord! The Tang army... the Tang army has crossed the border, and its vanguard is less than twenty miles from here!"

Amir Nizam—the commander of the Persian Cossack Brigade, the most elite of the Persians—stood up with a grim expression.

He had already received secret orders from both the Tsar and Tehran: the Tang army that was "borrowing a passage" should not be obstructed, but should be "closely monitored."

But the military report before him set off alarm bells in his mind.

"Twenty thousand men... fully armed, heading straight for Astarabad?"

He gritted his teeth, remained silent for a moment, and finally gave the order:

"Order all departments to clear the main road!"

Then, he whispered to his adjutant:

"Send a fast horse to Tehran immediately and tell His Majesty... just say—"

He took a deep breath, a flicker of fear in his eyes.

"The wolf is coming."

(End of this chapter)