In contemporary times, land has great value for us, it represents the territorial sovereignty of our Chinese nation, we and our ancestors have lived on this land, and the land has given us the space and wealth on which we live. Of course, this was also true in ancient times, but the views on land value were very different.
In today's era of rapid technological development, not only can oil be extracted from a small piece of land, but also the barren land can be full of greenery and vitality.
What about in ancient times? In ancient times, there was no developed technology, but in ancient times, people snatched it by rough means, relying on brute force as Darwin's theory of evolution said. The more prosperous the place, the more fierce the robbery, and the population concentration is several times higher than that of those barren places.
In ancient times, it was believed that land was a symbol of wealth, and people with great power would not have less land ownership. Once there is more land, the people will be more supportive. For this reason, how many kings bent over the land in ancient times. Throughout the ages, the desire for territory has been borne by successive tsars.
Due to the decline of the Mongol Khanate of Chincha, Tsarist Russia rose rapidly and began an uncontrollable expansion, and their rapid invasion from a small area of land reached its peak, which was a staggering figure equivalent to 2200 square kilometers in half of Asia. Do not pick the fat and pick the thin, as long as the land is the tsarist Russia will invade together. Regardless of the opposition of the people, they pursue a principle: as long as the power is not as great as his, they will invade together.
Why did Tsarist Russia invade only 1.5 million square kilometers of land in the northeast and west of the Qing Dynasty at the end of the nineteenth century, but separate and not occupy the vast outer Mongolian net? In fact, this is far less simple than we think, not because the land is barren but because they are not just plundering, they have strict control and management of the land.
For example, in the northeast, they kill or drive away the original people and replace them with the people of their own country to stabilize the overall situation of the country.
After the Xinhai Revolution, the Qing court headed by Empress Dowager Cixi basically collapsed, and its control over Outer Mongolia was much worse than before. So the Tsarist Russia began to move, and they supported the living Buddha Jebtsundambatze and prepared to establish a "Great Mongolian State". In addition, the combined forces of Tsarist Russia and Outer Mongolia also surrounded the Qing garrison of Kulun (Ulaanbaatar) yamen and expelled Qing officials.
There are also three major reasons why Tsarist Russia did not directly send troops to occupy Outer Mongolia:
At that time, the Middle East and the Near East were the strategic center of gravity of Tsarist Russia. Due to the Czarist Russia's neglect of the Far East and Outer Mongolia, it led to the collapse of the Tsarist Russia in the "Russo-Japanese War".
Second, after Japan took the northeast at a huge cost in the hands of Tsarist Russia, this huge cake was spied on by other powers, and the great powers eventually took huge benefits from Japan. With this precedent, Tsarist Russia's desire to monopolize Outer Mongolia was shaken.
Third, at that time, Tsarist Russia had bitten down on a huge piece of China's territory, and did not attach much importance to Outer Mongolia, and Outer Mongolia was no longer able to resist the invasion of Tsarist Russia, and it was inevitable to swallow it up.
The main reason, of course, was that the situation in Tsarist Russia had deteriorated, peasant revolts were rife, and the power of the state was already in a state of decline, and it was impossible to claim more land. In the end, the contradictory Tsarist Russia tried to alleviate domestic contradictions through World War I but played with fire and self-immolation, and the once huge empire was doomed to extinction in the war.
While Outer Mongolia was in exile, the Beiyang government tried to take it back. In 1919, Duan Qirui sent Xu Shuzheng to lead a large army to attack Kulun and put Jebtsundamba under house arrest, and on November 17, Waimeng wrote to the Beiyang government to abrogate all Russian-Mongolian treaties. At this point, Outer Mongolia returned to the control of the central government.
After this news spread around the world, the whole country of China at that time celebrated, and even Dr. Sun Yat-sen made remarks: the repossession of Outer Mongolia is too meritorious for Fu Jiezi and Chen Tang (all of whom are Han Shixun ministers), and public opinion is indispensable!
During World War II, Outer Mongolia was invaded by the enemy again, and the Outer Mongolia garrison was lonely and unable to resist the invading army, and repeatedly launched a request for help at home, but the warlords of various departments in the country fought in a mixed war, and no one sent troops to assist, and Outer Mongolia lost its hand. In 1945, Britain, the United States and the Soviet Union secretly signed the Yalta Secret Treaty: "The status quo of Outer Mongolia should be maintained." At this point, Outer Mongolia was truly out of China's control. The former Soviet Union also made this clause a condition for sending troops to the northeast.
Joseph Vesarioovich Stalin once said in a conversation with Chiang Ching-kuo: "The reason for the need for Outer Mongolia is entirely from the military strategic point of view, if a military force attacks the Soviet Union from Outer Mongolia, once the Trans-Siberian Railway is cut off, Russia will be finished." Chiang Ching-kuo responded: "We, the people, will certainly not forgive, and will say that we have betrayed our land and risen up against it." Stalin added: "If your country has the strength to fight Japan on its own, I will naturally not ask for it." Today you don't have the power to say this kind of thing, which is equivalent to nonsense! ”
During this period, the Soviets had regarded Outer Mongolia as an important link in maintaining strategic security. In the international situation at that time, the Soviets' choice of using Outer Mongolia as a security barrier was undoubtedly better than annexation.