I'm playing whack-a-mole in Siberia

Chapter 437 2:50 AM
During the last few days of the year, the Siping Russian Army also held a variety of activities to welcome the New Year.

Entertainment in Vladivostok is already very developed. Many competitions that are popular in the military have been packaged as entertainment and promoted to the public, and they have become very popular.

The period between the New Year and the Spring Festival every year is the Carnival in Vladivostok. People come outdoors despite the severe cold to participate in colorful entertainment projects and celebrate the whole nation.

In Vladivostok, the most popular sport is dog sledding. This sport not only attracts adults, but is also the most popular with children, and sled dogs are also loved by people.

Soldiers are relatively pure and prefer confrontation, so the Siping Russian Army celebrations include horse racing, shooting, strongman, wood chopping and other non-confrontational games.

Throughout the day, the Russian troops in Siping were having various carnivals, and that night there were performances by song and dance troupes and circuses from St. Petersburg and Amur.

There will be extra meals at the headquarters in the evening, but apart from not drinking, everything else is sufficient.

In addition to the Russian troops in Siping, there is also a special group of people, who are military observers and military reporters from various countries.

Military observers are also called war attachés. Together with military reporters from various countries, they observe wars at close range and summarize experiences and lessons.

After the signing of the "Portsmouth Peace Treaty", most of the country's military observers and military reporters have left, leaving only a small number remaining in Kanto to continue observation.

Captain Vincent from France is a special correspondent of "Le Figaro". He not only has to write reports to the Paris Military Department, but also provides articles to "Le Figaro".

Due to the alliance between France and the Russian Empire, the performance of the Russian Empire in the Russo-Japanese War attracted great attention in France.

To the disappointment of the French, their allies did not perform well in the war. They were beaten to the point of abandonment by the Japanese and sued for peace in embarrassment. This led to the signing of the Portsmouth Treaty. There were people within the French army who Proposed to terminate the alliance with the Russian Empire and instead seek help from Britain.

Vincent previously served as a military attache at the French legation in Vladivostok and was a loyal supporter of the Russo-French alliance.

The performance of the Russian army in the Russo-Japanese War was indeed disappointing and shocking.

However, after George became the governor of the Far East, the performance of the Russian army improved greatly, and Vincent ignited hope for the Russian army, hoping that George could lead the Russian army to turn the tide.

Military observers are relatively well-informed. Although no conflict broke out between the Russian army in Siping and the Japanese army in Fengtian during this period, Vincent's colleagues in Fengtian were keenly aware that the situation had changed from Japan's mobilization.

As early as December 12, Vincent reminded Alexei, the press release officer of the Amur Military Region, to pay attention to the movements of the Japanese troops in Fengtian.

Alexie thanks Vincent for the reminder.

There was no change in the Russian army in Siping.

This made Vincent anxious.

"Brother, remember your mission, we are just bystanders——"

American war correspondent Derek Palmer reminded Alexie not to do anything he shouldn't do at the New Year's celebration on the morning of the 31st.

"Oh, you're right -"

Vincent is perfunctory, and his position is different from that of Palmer.

Although all countries in Europe and the United States are neutral in name, they actually all have positions.

The position of the United States is different from that of the United Kingdom. The United Kingdom is purely aimed at the Russian Empire.

The United States hopes that this war will last as long as possible. It is best for both sides to suffer losses, which is most beneficial to the United States.

So when the Japanese need funds, Americans will buy Japanese government bonds.

When the Russian Empire shows its defeat, the Americans will order battleships from the Vladivostok Shipyard.

Since Alexie was indifferent to Vincent's reminder, Vincent's current target is Dejan.

After Alexander returned to St. Petersburg, Dejan became the chief military judge of the Far Eastern Military District, a high-power position.

DeYoung is George's cousin and has served as George's adjutant for a long time. If Vincent can find an opportunity, then Vincent can remind DeYoung to make a last-ditch effort.

DeYoung had been with George until the dinner, when Vincent found the opportunity and came to DeYoung.

"Good evening, Mr. Lieutenant Colonel."

Vincent took the initiative to say hello to Dejan.

"Hello Vincent, don't be restrained, have fun-"

Deyang seemed to have something to do and wanted to leave in a hurry.

"Wait a minute -" Vincent ignored the crowd of people around him and grabbed Deyang directly: "I received a message this morning that the Japanese troops in Fengtian are mobilizing frequently. There will definitely be actions in the next two days. You have to be careful. ”

Deyang stopped and looked at Vincent with amusement on his face.

"How did you know?"

Siping's communication conditions are limited. Military observers and reporters accompanying the army have to use telegraphs to send reports and press releases to the rear. More than a dozen observers and reporters share a transmitter, and everyone's time is very limited.

"I have my channels, trust me my friends, you are in danger now -"

Vincent was distraught. He got this news in exchange for two packs of cigarettes.

A lot of things are just so ridiculous.

Vincent could exchange for information that the Japanese considered top-secret with only two packs of cigarettes.

There are even some extremely smart guys who can deduce a lot of top-secret information just by reading published newspapers. They are all geniuses in the intelligence community.

Same here in Vladivostok.

Although the Goryeo Russian army insisted that it did not participate in the battle, in fact even the Japanese knew that the Goryeo Russian army must have participated in the war. At least the heavy artillery of the Goryeo army must be commanded by the Amur Military District.

"Thank you for the reminder -" Deyang smiled and winked at Vincent seemingly unintentionally.

Vincent's eyes suddenly lit up.

Dejan left in a hurry to attend to official business.

In addition to the Russian troops in Siping, there were also some Russian businessmen who were waiting to return to Fengtian to continue doing business after the war.

The war has ended, but the Kwantung Russian army has not gradually withdrawn in accordance with the provisions of the "Portsmouth Peace Treaty". The dissatisfaction of these Russian businessmen with George has accumulated to the extreme.

These businessmen probably thought that after the war was over, they could return to Fengtian and be as domineering as before, plundering the resources of Guandong unscrupulously.

This must be a dream.

After the signing of the "Portsmouth Peace Treaty", Japan has begun to immigrate to Kanto and develop the land and resources of Kanto in the form of colonial pioneering groups. Even if the war ends, Fengtian's resources no longer belong to Russia.

The Russian army neither retreated nor fought.

The dissatisfaction of Russian businessmen is growing, so just now, several Russian businessmen clashed with a group of Cossacks celebrating the New Year, and two Russian businessmen were killed.

The Cossacks involved in the conflict were not Russian soldiers.

After the signing of the Treaty of Portsmouth, a large number of Cossacks came from Europe and Russia to support the Russian army in Kwantung.

Not all Cossacks meet George's requirements. Cossacks who are drunk, undisciplined, have criminal records, and even thin bodies do not meet George's requirements and cannot join the army.

These Cossacks who were unable to join the army were idle and wandering around in Siping all day long. Every once in a while, the Far East Military Law Office would gather them up and send them back to Irkutsk on the west coast of Lake Baikal.

When the clock rang at 12 o'clock at midnight, there was a carnival inside and outside Siping, and everyone toasted to celebrate the arrival of the New Year.

At the forward defense line on the bank of the Qing River, Najaf and Khalik were patrolling the position.

Unlike Siping, which is loose on the outside and tight on the inside, the front-line positions are always in a fighting state without any slack.

Najaf only received the order from the headquarters this afternoon, and everyone must prepare for the battle.

Najaf is still very confident in the defense line of the fourth division.

The Fourth Division's defense line is about 200 meters away from Qinghe. All obstructions in front of the position have been cleared, trees have been cut down, and stones have been blown up. Even if a hare runs past, it cannot escape the searchlights.

There is a barbed wire fence on the bank of the Qinghe River. Behind the barbed wire is a minefield. There are two barbed wire fences in the middle of the minefield, and then there is the first line of defense of the Russian army in Kwantung.

Behind the first line of defense, there is a second line of defense.

If the Japanese army is lucky enough to break through these two lines of defense, they will face the impact and crushing of the Harbin Division's armored fighting vehicles.

It was freezing cold in Siping in December, and the ice layer on the Qinghe River was more than one meter thick, allowing cars to pass through. This created great convenience for the Japanese attack.

Since the snow was also up to one meter deep, it was unclear whether the mines would be effective.

In order to prevent Japanese sneak attacks, the Russian army hung tin cans on the barbed wire. As long as someone touched the barbed wire, the cans would make a sound.

The searchlights on the position were firing continuously, and the machine gunners were in high spirits and waiting in the bunker.

Rajeev and Harik walked through the position and found no problems.

It was already one o'clock in the morning.

"I'm going to take a nap, see you in two hours."

Rajeev and Harik had a clear division of labor, one worked the first half of the night and the other the second half of the night.

"Go, go, have a sweet dream."

Harrick took out the water bottle and took a small sip.

"Drink less. If something goes wrong, you will be beheaded."

Rajeev knew what was in Harik's kettle.

"Damn weather, it's too cold. Can't you take a bite?"

Harrick's drinking capacity is unfathomable, so where is this?

Alcohol is indispensable to the Russian army. Drinking it appropriately will double your courage during combat.

In addition to alcohol, the Russian army also distributes small things that can stimulate the secretion of adrenaline in critical moments.

These things are not only equipped by the Russian army, but are available in all countries.

If we want soldiers to pick up their bayonets and charge bravely in the face of death, how can we do it without some tricks?

Rajeev knew that Harik was not greedy for drinking, so he just told him to go and rest.

Harrick tightened his coat and continued to inspect the position.

Najaf was awakened not by an alarm clock but by overwhelming shelling.

"War! War broke out!"

Najaf's orderlies broke through the door and their voices were drowned out by the sound of artillery fire, making it impossible to hear clearly.

Rajeev looked at his watch. The time was 2:50 in the morning.

(End of this chapter)