Lu Xun once lamented in his articles that China at the end of the Qing Dynasty was a country where moving a chair could cost a life, and felt this was China's backwardness.

It must be said that this is too much of a literati's view. This is not unique to the late Qing; any place with a high degree of organization has such characteristics. The problems of the late Qing looked particularly serious only because the Manchu Qing economy was in extreme decline, making the situation appear exceptionally unacceptable. The British economic trend in the 21st century was no different from the Manchu Qing, and the situation in Britain was exactly the same.

Even in Britain in 1925, although a comprehensive decline had not yet begun, following rules was also a characteristic of Britain at this time. The lieutenant did not dare to embezzle all the gems after getting them. He took about 20% of the gems and gave the largest one along with the other 80% to the colonel.

The colonel was not surprised; he would have been surprised if his subordinate had embezzled them all. So the colonel swallowed half of the gems handed over and handed the largest one along with the remaining 'half' of the gems to the British Chief Administrator of Myitkyina.

After listening to the colonel's introduction of the general situation, the Administrator still felt this matter was a bit strange, so he summoned the British lieutenant for questioning. After listening to the lieutenant's narration, the Administrator still felt the credibility of this matter was not high, so he put it aside for now. He just left an impression in his heart of this sensible lieutenant. After all, a lieutenant who knew to hand things over should be motivated. If there was any errand next time, the Administrator decided to give priority to this lieutenant.

But the next day, the young master of another local headman's family came to request an audience. Normally, the son of a Burmese mountain headman was not qualified to see the local British administrator, but this young master named Aung Su had a different identity. The British built schools in Burma and established a university in Yangon. Young Master Aung Su was a student at a church university in Yangon.

People like Young Master Aung Su were the backbone of Britain's future rule in Burma, so even the Myitkyina Administrator had to see him.

This Aung Su appeared in front of the Myitkyina Administrator wearing the uniform of the church school. Unlike those Burmese who instinctively felt nervous upon seeing British people, Young Master Aung Su spoke British English, with an attitude neither humble nor arrogant, and stated his purpose straightforwardly.

It turned out that Young Master Aung Su received news that the group of Burmese 'mobsters' finally learned one of the two locations where the killed headman hid the gems and was preparing to take them out. Young Master Aung Su wanted to use this news as a bargaining chip to exchange with the British Administrator of Myitkyina for his father to take over the job of the killed headman.

The Myitkyina Administrator appreciated Young Master Aung Su's attitude, but still felt in his heart that the young man was too impatient. With British methods, if Young Master Aung Su worked under the British for a few years after graduation and gained British recognition, he would get the opportunity to be a powerful running dog for the British. There was no need to jump out directly now.

But now was indeed an opportunity. The Myitkyina Administrator did not promise anything, but just asked Young Master Aung Su to lead some British people to dig out the gems first. Young Master Aung Su's face was full of unwillingness, but he finally wisely agreed to the Administrator's request and left with the people. The Administrator was very satisfied with such wisdom. If a local Burmese wanted to gain benefits from the British, he had to show enough obedience first.

In less than half a day, the things were brought back. There were dozens of rubies. The Myitkyina Administrator had already summoned the local Jewish gem merchant. The skin of this Jewish jeweler named Meyer was tanned yellow-brown under the Burmese sun, appearing slightly fairer compared to other Europeans in Burma. This skin color reminded the Administrator of the color of old gold coins.

When the jeweler Meyer opened his portable box and took out the magnifying glass for viewing gems, his skilled movements and the cold expression on his face reminded the Administrator of the pawnshop owner in his hometown. That owner was also Jewish, usually buying other people's goods at low prices while lending at high interest. The look of that owner when buying gems was exactly the same as the jeweler Meyer in front of him. There was a condescending indifference and arrogance, as if the fine gems were just broken stones on the roadside in his eyes.

But Meyer was very careful when examining the gems, his face showing nothing but indifference. After each gem was examined, it would be placed in a different position. After the jeweler Meyer finished examining, he pointed to the gems divided into three piles and said to the Myitkyina Administrator, "Your Excellency, this pile is inferior gems, this pile is medium gems, and these few here are superior gems."

After speaking, the jeweler Meyer took out one from the superior gems and placed it separately. "Your Excellency, this is a pigeon blood ruby. If it were in London, its value could reach 300 pounds."

Hearing such an evaluation, the Myitkyina Administrator felt very unhappy in his heart. Jeweler Meyer said it was worth 300 pounds, but the Administrator thought it was worth at least 500 pounds. Or even possibly 1000 pounds. Even 500 pounds was not a small amount. (Although the price system is different, roughly estimated, the purchasing power of 1 pound in the gold standard era of 1925 is roughly equivalent to the purchasing power of 1,000 RMB in 2022, so 500 pounds is equivalent to the purchasing power of 500,000 RMB.)

After sending off the jeweler Meyer, the Myitkyina Administrator had made a decision. He ordered the garrison commander to send troops to ambush those 'Burmese mobsters.' The matter of gems had been confirmed. Besides wanting to completely annihilate this group of lawless mobsters, the Myitkyina Administrator also felt that the intelligence provided by Young Master Aung Su might be true. Young Master Aung Su said that the hidden gems were in two places, and that group of mobsters indeed found gems there. Apart from the portion dug out by the Myitkyina Administrator, the other portion was very likely already found by that group of mobsters.

Assuming the mob obtained the other portion of gems would perfectly explain why that group of mobsters continued to stay here at the risk of being wiped out. The life experience of the Myitkyina Administrator allowed him to understand human nature long ago. Before getting one of the two portions of gems, most people would think they would leave after getting one portion. But once they really got one portion, most people would choose to try every means to get the other portion.

This is human nature, greedy human nature. Since these mobsters wanted everything, the Myitkyina Administrator decided to use this greed to catch all the mobsters in one net.

These tasks were naturally handed over to the British Indian Army. After arranging these, the Myitkyina Administrator suddenly remembered that he forgot to buy a box for gems from the Jewish jeweler Meyer. He immediately sent his secretary to go. When the Administrator returned home, it was already evening. His wife, of noble birth, was sitting expressionlessly on the sofa.

Although the status of the Myitkyina Administrator was not bad in Burma, for the Administrator's wife of noble birth, there was no London high society, no balls, dinner parties, or cocktail parties here. All she saw were Burmese and Indian servants. Such a life was truly boring and meaningless.

When the Administrator presented the box to his wife, the wife still had no interest, and only out of basic courtesy between husband and wife did she have to open it. When the pigeon blood ruby in the box emitted beautiful crimson light under the setting sun, the Administrator's wife was stunned for a moment, and a long-lost smile appeared on her face.

Young Master Aung Su was still unmarried. As a single dog, he naturally couldn't understand the family fun of the Myitkyina Administrator. But at this time, Young Master Aung Su was immersed in another kind of fun. He rushed back to a nearby location after dark, where someone was already waiting. It was Saya and the Chinese officer Li Daming.

After listening to the news brought by Young Master Aung Su, the Burmese Revolutionary Army leader Saya first thanked his classmate Aung Su, then asked Li Daming, "Should we ambush the British Indian Army going to set up defenses?"

Li Daming didn't want Aung Su to feel untrusted, so he could only reply, "No, we are going to attack Myitkyina City directly?"

"Isn't the enemy outside the city easier? We can also besiege the point to strike reinforcements." Saya was very puzzled. Li Daming's choice was very different from the guerrilla tactics Saya learned.

Li Daming had to continue explaining, "If the enemy is strong and we are weak, naturally we start from the enemy's weak point. But we are stronger than the enemy now. Directly solving the defenders in the city can achieve the effect of surprise. As long as the defenders in the city are solved, the defenders outside the city will be weaker. It will become extremely difficult for them even to escape."

Neither Saya nor Aung Su could quite understand Li Daming's thinking, but they didn't refuse either. Because there was one point in Li Daming's thinking they understood: China had sent troops into Burma, and the British had divided their forces. Now the strength of the Sino-Burmese coalition was indeed above Britain.

War is about logistics and intelligence. Now logistics were worry-free, and because a stratagem was used, British actions were also developing according to Gao Yue's assumption, making combat preparations very easy. Learning that the British ambush troops had set out, Li Daming even had the leisure to joke with Gao Yue, "Old Gao, didn't expect you to be a Little Zhuge."

Gao Yue laughed, "Brilliant hunters often appear as prey."

Li Daming didn't expect Gao Yue to show off, but Gao Yue's stratagem was indeed very effective, so Li Daming could only make a 'tsk' sound.

Gao Yue touched his pointed chin, and the smile on his face quickly disappeared without a trace. Seeing Gao Yue in deep thought, Li Daming couldn't help asking, "Old Gao, what are you thinking of again?"

Gao Yue continued to ponder for a while before answering slowly, "I was thinking, as long as the British feel they are stronger than us, and we are fighting guerrilla warfare, this planning idea can always be used. But the British are not stupid; they will definitely be able to see the problem and change their thinking. I don't know if we will be arrogant and conceited at that time."

Li Daming felt the question Gao Yue raised now was more hateful than the previous one. After thinking for a moment, he said, "The source of the current British Indian Army is based on the framework established in 1862. The 1st-18th Regiments are mainly Bengalis, the 19th-32nd Regiments are mainly Punjabis, the 33rd-39th Regiments are mainly low castes from the Hindustan region, and the 41st-44th Regiments are from other regions. 5 Gurkha Infantry Regiments, 4 Sikh Infantry Regiments, 52 battalions from Madras, and 30 battalions from the Bombay region. Muslims monopolize the transport corps, Sikhs and Gurkhas are the main infantry force, and Hindus are the most numerous in the artillery. With such a vast army of hundreds of thousands, we always have to fight."

Gao Yue shook his head. "These troops are vulnerable. Even if they are completely annihilated, the British won't think we are that powerful. If we suffer losses fighting these troops, the British will be surprised instead. What really needs to be fought is a major campaign against 100,000 pure white troops."

Hearing this, Li Daming felt he couldn't imagine such a campaign situation. He could only sigh, "Old Gao, how can we be qualified to consider such a level? It would be good enough if we can command a unit of mountain infantry division scale in the future."

Seeing that Li Daming completely failed to feel the point, Gao Yue sighed and lowered his voice, "It's not like that. The higher-ups still want to establish diplomatic relations with Britain, and we will all have to withdraw then. What should the Burmese Revolutionary Army do? We always have to think for them. If we can't let them learn guerrilla warfare, but instead let them develop squeamishness because they always win battles with us, once we leave, they will be waiting to die. If they are annihilated, who can trust us in the future?"

Li Daming was stunned. He wanted to say something, but stopped several times. When Li Daming finally spoke, he said, "Old Gao, let's take Myitkyina first!"

Two hours later, a mountain infantry regiment of the Republic National Defense Force that arrived at the starting point began the attack. One company pinned down the four companies of the British Indian Army sent out to ambush the 'Burmese mob,' and other mountain infantry regiments launched an attack on Myitkyina City.

The biggest characteristic of the Myitkyina area was similar to Yunnan, China; local people basically lived in bamboo buildings. Above the eaves of a patch of bamboo buildings, a stone building was particularly eye-catching. That was the official residence of the British Administrator of Myitkyina City.

The British Indian Army didn't expect a sudden attack and couldn't even fight back in a hurry. Those soldiers wrapped in turbans or wearing tall Indian ethnic hats fell into chaos under the attack.

In addition to the barracks, the police station, telegraph office, and railway station were all targets of the troop raid. Li Daming and Gao Yue were responsible for commanding the troops of the Burmese Revolutionary Army, joining forces with a platoon of the Republic National Defense Force, and pouncing straight on the official residence of the British Administrator of Myitkyina.

On the way, they encountered policemen sent by the police station on patrol. Seeing such a team rampaging on the street, the policemen were scared stiff and stood by the roadside unable to move. Saya shouted angrily at the Burmese police in the local language, "Kneel down!"

Some police knelt down, while others still stood motionless. It wasn't that they wanted to resist stubbornly, but they were completely frightened by the fierce momentum of this group of armed personnel who looked the same as themselves. The soldiers of the Burmese Revolutionary Army didn't think so. Seeing the police still standing there like sticks, they immediately rushed up, kicked the standing police to the ground, and tied them up, creating unjust, false, and wrong cases on the way of attack.

When the troops arrived at the gate of the Myitkyina Administrator's residence, they saw several Indian guards just closing the iron fence gate and locking it with an iron chain. Seeing the troops arrive, the Indians fled into the main building in a flash of smoke. The attacking troops didn't bother to climb the wall. The demolition team inserted detonators into the iron chain, lit the fuse, and began to retreat. After a boom, the iron chain was fine, but the lock was blown open. The iron chain rattled and unfolded, falling to the ground. The Republic National Defense Force and the Burmese Revolutionary Army pushed open the iron gate and rushed in.

Seeing these armed troops with Asian faces killing their way in, various exclamations and screams rang out in the courtyard. The Burmese Revolutionary Army hated British colonial rule to the bone. Being able to conquer this place at this time, everyone charged forward with weapons, hacking and chopping anyone they met. Like a flame of revenge, it swept through the official residence of the Myitkyina Administrator.

The Republic National Defense Force was very calm, controlling various key points that could threaten the troops according to the tactical manual. By the time these places were all controlled, the Burmese Revolutionary Army had already swept the residence.

Li Daming and Gao Yue entered the main building of the residence and saw a severely injured foreign woman lying prone in the hall. The medic hurriedly went up to treat her. As soon as he turned the woman over, he saw that she had been stabbed in the chest, and blood had soaked the clothes on her chest. It looked like she wouldn't survive.

Just as the medic judged, the woman raised her hand to the medic as if wanting to call for help. But the arm was raised halfway and then fell dejectedly. The woman's body trembled slightly, which was a spasm caused by excessive blood loss. When the trembling ended, the woman's originally clenched hand loosened, revealing the pigeon blood ruby originally in her hand. Gao Yue was stunned; he recognized it. This was the gem he selected to lure the British into the trap.

Gao Yue originally viewed this gem with the mentality of throwing a meat bun at a dog [gone forever], but he didn't expect to see it again at this time. The woman's palm, which should have been snow-white, was already stained with a lot of blood. The color of the ruby stained with blood became even more crimson, as if it were a clot of solidified blood.