The anti-Qing movement began with the looting of the Eight-Nation Alliance.

Chapter 273 Establishing Merit and Achievements

Zhang Tieniu arrived in Beijing, travel-worn, and met his old superior, Jiao Long, at the General Staff Headquarters.

"Greetings, sir!" Zhang Tieniu immediately gave a standard military salute.

"Good, good! Tie Niu! I knew you were a talent back then, and sure enough, your growth has exceeded my expectations! Haha!" Jiao Long returned the greeting, patted Zhang Tie Niu on the shoulder, and said happily.

"Hehe! I owe my success today to the careful guidance of my instructor back then," Zhang Tieniu said, offering a cigarette.

"You've learned to flatter now, kid! Heh!" Jiao Long tapped his cigarette between his fingers and laughed heartily. He was very happy to see his former subordinate become successful.

"Old Mo is back too, did you know?"

"The company commander has returned home? Is the war in Japan over?" Zhang Tieniu asked in surprise.

"Yes! It's basically over! Some of our troops are preparing to withdraw. These meritorious officers have returned ahead of schedule to receive their ranks from His Majesty," Jiao Longdian nodded.

"This time, the company commander has finally made it!" Zhang Tieniu exclaimed.

"Yes! He was lucky to capture the Emperor's family and make a great contribution. Otherwise, I'm afraid he would have retired as the regimental commander!" Jiao Long shook his head.

Both were among the original instructors, and he himself has risen to the rank of lieutenant general, while this old Mo is still just a colonel.

If he doesn't improve, he'll have to leave the military in a few years. With his looks, what else can he do besides be a soldier?

"Old comrade, I wonder what arrangements have been made for me from above?" Zhang Tieniu naturally wanted to find out about his old comrade, who was now the deputy chief of staff of the General Staff Department, given such a good opportunity.

"Yes! Now we need to select outstanding officers and send them to various provinces to form new armies. I recommended you to Guangxi. You have no objections, do you?" Jiao Long said with a slight smile.

"I will absolutely obey orders, thank you, old commander!" Zhang Tieniu shouted.

"Aren't you going to ask why I transferred you to Guangxi?" Jiao Long asked, taking a drag of his cigarette.

"Hehe! Please enlighten me, old commander!" Zhang Tieniu chuckled sheepishly.

"You little rascal!" Jiao Long shook his head.

"You must have the national map memorized by now! Think about it, what's further south of Guangxi?" Jiao Long smiled mysteriously.

"Annam?" Zhang Tieniu's eyes lit up.

"Okay! That's good, just don't go around telling everyone!" Jiao Long said sternly.

"Yes!"

"We, as soldiers, are born in the best of times! His Majesty has boundless ambitions; it is we who will establish our glory and achieve great deeds."

The charcoal mainly used in the Qing Dynasty imperial court was called "Hongluo charcoal," also known as "Hongluo charcoal" or "Hongluo charcoal." It was mostly produced in Yizhou, fired by local kiln owners. The Imperial Household Department purchased it from factories in the production area and then transported it to the capital for storage in the charcoal warehouses of the Hongluo factories. This type of charcoal was made from high-quality hardwoods from the Yizhou area, characterized by its long burning time, minimal smoke, and silvery-white ash. It also produced a slight fragrance when burning, making it of exceptional quality. It was primarily supplied to the Empress Dowager, the Emperor, and the imperial concubines for heating in their daily lives.

There is no clear record of the unit price of red charcoal, but its high price can be roughly inferred from the total purchase volume and expenditure recorded in some archives. For example, in the 46th year of the Qianlong Emperor's reign, 48,000 catties of red charcoal and 296 million catties of other firewood and charcoal were purchased for the inner court and the Yuanmingyuan Garden, costing a total of 15,800 taels of silver. In addition, there were strict regulations on the monthly supply of red charcoal to people of different ranks in the palace: 120 catties for the Empress Dowager, 110 catties for the Empress, 30 catties for princesses, and 20 catties for princes.