Ming Zhengzhi, I am Zheng Kezang

"My great master, lord and dictator of all Russia, your humble servant hereby brings you sad news: the Russian army led by General Alexandro Antony Kiriyenko 』Lengesk suffered a terrible defeat. Only no more than 300 soldiers fled back to Irkutsk. East Coast."

When Zheng Kezang in Wuchang was worried about the future development of the Beihai region with his courtiers, Russian Tsar Peter I was also reading a book in St. Count Droboev-Orsk's urgent report.

"According to the information sent back by General Kiriyenko in advance, the enemy he faced was not the Tatar soldiers of the Qing Empire as he thought in advance, but the Chinese Empire chasing the Qing people, that is, the southern Chinese army-this is in line with the Contrary to the previous judgment made by Baron Ivan Fedorovich Kdrient, the warlord of the Nerchensk region, after contacting the Chinese "government", the Chinese clearly regard Russia's right to rule the entire Siberia. And from the Yakutsk warlord district Judging from the report on the Chinese navy's occupation of Okhotsk, it is clear that the Chinese Empire has launched a full-scale offensive against Russia. , Shilok, Shilosk, Amarat, Sredensk, Kalymsk, Priergunask and other areas east of Lake Baikal may be difficult to support. What is even more worrying is that We don't know what the ultimate goal of the Chinese is, and it is difficult to ensure that other areas of the Irkutsk province will not be attacked. It is conceivable that once the Chinese with an absolute majority force drive a larger number of Mongols, If the Tatars flood into Eastern Siberia, or even the provinces of Siberia, Russia's rule in the East for more than 100 years will quickly disintegrate. In order to prevent this terrible scene from happening, your humble servant can only earnestly request as many people as possible as soon as possible. Send troops to come for reinforcements"

After reading Earl Orsk's report and appeal letter, Peter I cursed angrily, and then ordered: "Notify the administrative office and the Council of Elders that we are in big trouble."

A few hours later, the ten elders of the Senate, as well as the foreign ministers, war ministers, navy ministers, revenue ministers, and budget executive ministers rushed to the tsar's palace one after another. Every time they arrived, Peter I would let him read Earl Orsk carefully. letters, in order to make everyone aware of the crisis in the East.

Looking at all the people, they all knew the reason of the matter. Peter I, who presided over the meeting, first asked the Foreign Minister, Marquis Petro-Arseevsky: "How much does the Foreign Affairs Committee know about the Chinese?"

The Marquis of Arseyevsky went through it in his mind, and then replied: "China was destroyed by the Tatars of the Qing Empire 80 years ago, and only the predecessor of the Chinese Empire retreated to the southern islands. Actually, but more than [-] years ago, the current Chinese Empire quickly revived and quickly regained southern China from the Qing Empire. According to reports from Siberia, the entire Chinese region was completely recovered about five years ago."

The words of the foreign minister revealed the rise of a powerful empire, which stunned the Russian dignitaries present, but Marquis Arseevsky didn’t finish his words, so he continued: “According to the latest information from Europe, the Chinese The navy defeated the powerful Dutch United East India Company, seized the spice-rich East Indies, and expelled the Dutch forces to Africa in one fell swoop. In addition, not long ago, the Chinese Empire also purchased from Spain at the cost of 400 million gold francs. As soon as the eastern colonies came, even Britain and France were vying to flatter the Chinese."

If the foreign minister’s previous words were just amazing, then the part about China’s defeat of the Netherlands and the bowing of Britain and France shocked Peter I. You must know that he traveled to Western Europe incognito and knew that Britain, France, Jose and other countries are so powerful today. Russia is far from being comparable. Even such a powerful country is afraid of the Chinese Empire in the east, which makes him doubt whether he can defend the eastern territory of Russia. [

Marquis Arseevsky, who didn't know Peter I's inner thoughts, then threw another bombshell: "In addition, according to the news from the Dutch envoy, the French funded Charles XII was also provided by the Chinese. The Chinese also signed an extremely generous trade treaty with Sweden. The Foreign Affairs Committee did not know what the Chinese were doing before, but now it seems that the Chinese have been prepared for an all-out war with Russia early on, and they are trying to use The Swedes strike Russia in the west."

The Russian dignitaries present were terrified for a moment. Yes, the Chinese Empire had already set up a plan and waited for Russia, which was fighting on the two fronts. Russia didn't understand the opponent's plan until now, and it was really too late.

"Nevertheless, you can't sit back and watch the Baikal region be invaded just because the enemy is strong." The Minister of War Nikolaev-Grigory-Prince Samalpusin roared. "Even if the French and Chinese support Sweden with tens of thousands of dollars, it is impossible for the Swedish army to restore its combat effectiveness all at once. What's more, we are still in alliance with the British and Prussians. With their containment, the Russian army It can be transferred out to fight in the east."

Although Duke Samalpusin is a soldier, what he said is somewhat insightful. Not to mention that the British had "intervened" in the Great Northern War before, even if they did not "intervene", they had to continue to stand when they saw France intervene. On the Russian side, the Russians never thought that Britain, France and China would have a tacit understanding in curbing the rise of Russia. Of course, if Russia could turn around and move eastward with all its strength, it would be able to get the support of Britain, which has a lot of filth with China.

"Transfer the army to the east to fight?" Count Yenev-Plodinsky, the budget executive minister, suddenly called out. "No, absolutely not, General, do you know how much it will cost?" Count Plotinsky reported. "It cost [-] rubles to transfer the four regiments to Eastern Siberia before. If the number is increased tenfold, the country will be completely bankrupt."

"I can't control this. There is no money to collect from the common people." Duke Samalpusin said unmoved. "If you don't send troops because you don't have money, it means that Russia has given up its future."

The Minister of Revenue, Marquis Mikhaievich-Negin shook his head and said: "Today, the tax burden of peasants has tripled compared with that in 1680, and there is no possibility of expanding tax sources for the time being."

The financial problem was Peter I's heart disease. For this reason, he asked the foreign minister: "Can I borrow money from the Dutch?"

"Based on the contradiction between the Dutch and the Chinese, it is possible to borrow money from them," Marquis Arseevsky said first and then restrained. "However, the recent financial situation of the Dutch is not good. The reorganization of the United East India Company has a great impact on the country." After Peter I dismissed the idea of ​​borrowing from the Netherlands, the foreign minister said another news that shocked the people present. . "In addition, the attitude of the British has become ambiguous recently. It seems that there is a possibility of a separate peace with Sweden."

Peter I frowned and thought: "Is it possible for us to make peace with Sweden immediately?"

"I'm afraid Charles XII is not willing to make peace." Marquis Arseevsky responded solemnly. "After returning to Sweden from Azores, Charles XII has been retraining the Swedish army, and it is said that it has recovered to 3 people."

Grand Elder Assini Shukin suggested: "Russia's future lies in the West, why not make peace with the Chinese?"

Duke Samarpusin glared at each other and said: "You are crazy, this piece of land is almost equivalent to Upper and Lower Austria."

"But this land is too far away from the Russian mainland." Assini Shukin looked at Duke Samalpusin calmly. "It is not a wise choice to fight an empire that is far more powerful than Russia for a piece of land tens of thousands of versts away, especially when the mainland is still under threat. Appropriate concessions are necessary."

"Appropriate concessions? I'm afraid the Chinese will not agree." Duke Samar Pusin sneered. "Perhaps in the spring, the Chinese army will surround the whole of Irkutsk, and next summer, the Chinese army will appear in Omsk, and the next year, the Chinese will cross the Ural Mountains and enter the Russian mainland. "[

"That's impossible," retorted Assini Shukin. "Distance exists for Russia, and it also exists for the Chinese. Now is not the era of the Golden Horde. It is impossible for the Chinese to attack that far."

Prince Samar Pushin had something to say, Peter I said: "The Russian army must be transferred to the east as soon as possible to curb the Chinese's possible actions to the west of Lake Baikal."

Before Duke Samalpusin could be proud, Peter I said again: "But the threat from Sweden cannot be ignored. Considering financial issues, the War Council must come up with a specific plan, depending on how many troops to mobilize." Appropriate. As for the negotiation with the Chinese, we have to start. If the Chinese territorial claims can be limited within a reasonable range, Russia can accept it. And the Chinese not only threaten Russia, but also threaten China. Whether the Mongol empire in Asia can start from this aspect to contain the power of the Chinese."

"Your Majesty," the Foreign Secretary asked a little confused. "How is this reasonable range determined?"

"This is for the Foreign Affairs Committee to discuss with the Chinese." Peter I was unwilling to give up an inch of land, but today's Russia is not a powerful European steamroller, so it can only compromise. "Strive for every inch of land you can."

Marquis Arseevsky also did not want to bear the hat of cowardice and betrayal, so he reconfirmed: "If the Chinese claim the territory west of Lake Baikal, how should they respond?"

Peter I said sharply: "Tell the Chinese to step over the corpse of the Russian first."

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