I'm playing whack-a-mole in Siberia

Chapter 650 Are You Going to Arrest Me?

Accustomed to seeing figures of tens or millions, George felt that Dejan seemed to have missed a few zeros when he first saw the number "300".

In fact, 300 is not a small number. Referring to the colonial history of European countries, 300 people are enough to overthrow an ancient empire with more than soldiers.

This is why Europeans are so arrogant.

But the problem is that the Australians' opponents on New Guinea Island were not indigenous people with only wooden shields and bamboo spears, but modern armies with artillery.

Ronald Ferguson was also helpless. The purpose of his increasing troops was not to destroy the enemy, but to protect Morebitz.

Australians are far less obsessed with land than Russians.

Excluding the enclave of New Guinea, Australia has a territory of more than 760 million square kilometers and a population of only 550 million, with an average of less than 1.4 people per square kilometer, and a population density only slightly higher than that of Canada.

Canada has a total area of 990 million square kilometers, a total population of only 800 million, a population density of 1.23, and the entire country is deserted.

If London had not allowed it, Ronald Ferguson would have wanted to withdraw all Australians back to their homeland and directly abandon the enclave in New Guinea.

give up!

It is not impossible.

In 1916, the permanent population of Coconut City exceeded 10, making it the largest city in East India.

As George's chief steward, De Young's official residence is located next to the Alexander Park in the city center. The park was built in memory of Alexander II and has statues of Alexander II and famous figures of the empire.

Like most cities in Amur and East India, Coconut City has many parks named after Russians. Names such as "Ekaterina", "Peter" and "Suvorov" appear very frequently, and almost every city has one.

This "Ekaterina" refers to Ye Di.

Unlike Witt who hates cold or heat, Dejan likes the beaches in Coconut City very much, so he spends most of his time not in the official residence, but in his private house on the beach.

On July 7, Ronald Ferguson's personal envoy Alexander arrived in Coconut City.

Alexander's father once worked in the Russian Embassy in London and later immigrated to the UK. After graduating from Cambridge University, Alexander worked in the British Colonial Affairs Office and came to Australia with Ronald Ferguson before the outbreak of World War II.

Alexander hoped that the East Indians would help Australia solve the bandit problem in Morebiz.

"Those are not bandits, they are the remnants of the German army hiding in the jungle."

Deyang corrected that it was impossible for bandits to have artillery.

"You are right, it was the Germans who attacked Morbitz."

Alexander did not resist. You have a bigger fist, so whatever you say is what it means.

While in Australia, Alexander did not have sufficient knowledge of the East Indies.

The Coconut City Naval Port is right next to the civilian port. When Alexander got off the ship, he clearly saw two light cruisers and four destroyers anchored in the Coconut City Naval Port.

This is just Coconut City.

There are 11 naval ports in East India shared by the Russian Siberian Fleet and the East India Fleet.

After the outbreak of World War II, in order to strengthen the strength of its home fleet, Britain recalled all its new warships stationed abroad. The Far East Fleet stationed in East Asia had only six old warships that were about to be eliminated, and it was even questionable whether it could go to sea.

Australia's own strength is not even as strong as that of the Russian Empire, let alone East India.

"So, why should I help you?"

Dejan was lazily lying on a bamboo chair wearing beach pants and sunglasses, with a cigar in his mouth, looking like a typical colonial white master.

However, Alexander did not dare to look down on Dejan because of his laziness. This man once sent bombers to carpet bomb the German settlements because of the German resistance, leaving no one alive.

The reason why Dejan acted so cruelly was because his nephew was killed in the Battle of Tannenberg.

"It's not to help me, it's to help Australia. The Governor-General will remember your friendship."

Alexander made a promise.

"No--"

DeYoung had no interest in the Governor's friendship.

Australia is an eternal country, but its governors are ever-changing. No matter how nice Alexander's words are, the governor will be gone in a few years. What's the use of his friendship?
"We have some proven mineral deposits in our New Guinea territories. If you are interested—"

Alexander tempted him with benefits.

"Since your name is Alexander, I will call you Sasha—"

"My pleasure."

"Sasha, you used to be Russian. Do you think mineral resources would be attractive to Russians?"

Dejan laughed out loud. He really looked down upon New Guinea's mineral resources.

Like East India, New Guinea may have mines, but they are difficult to mine and the infrastructure needs to be improved first.

The Dutch occupied the East Indies for so long, but the modern industry in the East Indies did not develop at all, and the best industry was the processing of agricultural products, which fully proved the difficulty of mining mineral resources.

In other words, since Australians have already discovered the mineral resources, why don't they mine them themselves?
It's obviously a trap.

"What do you want?"

Alexander let Dejan make his own terms.

"I am Grand Duke Yuriev's steward and I am only responsible for Grand Duke Yuriev's property."

Dejan would not take the initiative to propose conditions. Even if the Australians put the pie in front of Dejan's mouth, if it didn't suit his taste, Dejan would be too lazy to open his mouth.

George didn't know how DeYoung blackmailed the Australians. The Russian army's desertion finally spread to the Balkan theater. The 12th Army led by Vasily captured 12 deserters in one day.

Among these 12 deserters, 11 were Russians and one was Japanese.

Vasily was curious. The Russians were running away because they relied on the fact that they were Russians and would not be shot. Why were you, a Japanese, joining in the fun?
Vasily took the initiative to ask the second sergeant named Yamamura Renta. According to the regulations of the Gaori Corps, one must serve in the army for at least four years before being promoted to the rank of second sergeant.

Yamamura Renta had only served for a year and a half, but he was promoted so quickly because of his outstanding performance in combat and many commendations.

"My elder brother died in the Carpathian Pass, my younger brother died in the Anatolian Peninsula, my father died half a year ago, and my mother is the only one left at home. I want to go home—"

Yamamura Renta cried bitterly and regretted his decision.

"Did your mother get the pension for your elder and younger brothers?"

"I got it—"

"Is it enough?"

"Full amount—"

Vasily said coldly: "Then why did you run away——"

Vasily did not question him. After muttering to himself, he waved his hand and ordered the guards to take Yamamura Renta away.

Vasily was still very civilized. He did not hang the deserter in the traditional way, but executed him by shooting.

The deserters were shocked to learn of their fate and demanded to meet Vasily, asking him why he did not comply with the regulations of St. Petersburg.

Vasily refused to see them and called a meeting of all the troop commanders to emphasize discipline.

"Tell all officers and soldiers that if they have a reason to leave, they can apply for leave through normal channels and return within the specified time. Anyone who escapes privately or refuses to take orders in other ways will be shot! This cannot be changed."

The generals frowned and looked at each other.

There is no problem with shooting, this is how deserters were dealt with in the past. The generals who have reached their current positions are all experienced warriors and will not compromise on this point.

The key point is that this is an order from the General Staff. Vasily openly opposed it. If word of this reaches St. Petersburg—

"If anyone has any objections, let him come to me and I will give him an explanation."

Vasily was not joking, he was the current Duke of Suvorov, and he was not afraid even if Nicholas came in person.

At the meeting of military chiefs, no one dared to oppose Vasily's decision.

After the meeting, Vasily's chief of staff Konstantin hoped that Vasily would be careful with his words and actions.

"If Grand Duke Yuriev were here, he would do the same."

Vasily did not go directly to St. Petersburg to question Yanushkevich in person, which was already giving Yanushkevich face.

"The Grand Duke is different from you after all—"

Constantine looked worried and didn't know how to persuade Vasily.

It was also the Russian army that was invincible in the Balkans, continuing the myth of the military god.

However, they suffered a continuous defeat on the northern front. Not only were the German troops invaded into the Russian mainland, but they also lost Warsaw, which was a disgrace.

At this critical moment, the highly respected Yanushkevich made such a low-level mistake that should not have happened. Is it really the will of heaven that Russia will be doomed?

Constantine suddenly remembered Rasputin's curse.

Could this evil monk really be so accurate?

"Don't bother the Duke with such a small matter."

Vasily did not take the incident to heart and did not report it to George.

What Vasily did not expect was that on July 7, just four days after the execution of all 21 deserters, several officers from the General Staff suddenly came to Vasily's command headquarters and asked Vasily to go to St. Petersburg to explain to Yanushkevich in person.

"If I don't go, are you going to arrest me?"

Vasily was almost laughing out of anger. You really gave me face, didn't you?

"General, we are carrying out our mission under orders, please don't make things difficult for us."

The leading officers were cautious, as none of the arrogant and powerful generals under Grand Duke Yuriev were easy to mess with.

The key point is that Vasily himself is the descendant of the empire's previous military god and a duke, so he cannot be arrested and can only be "invited".

"Whose orders are you taking?"

Constantine asked, trying to figure out what was going on.

"We are on the orders of the Chief of the General Staff, Dean Yanushkevich—"

"Are you a pupil of General Yanushkevich?"

Constantine stalled for time.

"Who among us isn't?"

Officers are proud of themselves. Almost all senior Russian officers have studied or received further training at the General Staff Academy.

"Why waste your time talking to him? Take them all away and lock them up!"

Vasily's approach is very Russian.

Vasily's guards were his personal soldiers, and they had long disliked these officers.

As soon as Vasily finished speaking, the guards rushed forward and pinned several officers to the ground.

Constantine let out a long sigh. This was trouble.