Ming Zhengzhi, I am Zheng Kezang

The end of June and the beginning of July are the best seasons of the year in Siberia. The eight-month-long winter has ended for nearly two months. The hard-working farmers are eagerly watching the winter wheat grow vigorously. Busy adventures Merchants also boldly left the city and went deep into the primitive jungle to find fur and gold sand from the aborigines that could be transported back to the western mainland in the coming year.

Due to the failure of the Russian army in Selengosk last year, the big and small dignitaries in the province of Irkutsk, who have been on tenterhooks all winter, have also begun to regain their vitality after surviving the most difficult first two --- The spies to the area east of Lake Baikal successfully sent back the news that the Xia army had withdrawn part of the army, which caused everyone below Count Plenin-Andropoev-Orsk to be at ease, and agreed that the Xia army had given up its offensive posture. Turning to the defensive stage, even if the western reinforcements arrive later, the vicinity of Irkutsk will not be attacked.

With such a clear understanding, the relaxed high-level officials in eastern Russia began to have fun again.Of course, for the Russian dignitaries who are only semi-civilized in the eyes of Western European countries, going to the outskirts to eat, drink, and take a steam bath is already a top entertainment activity. High-end salons and the like are rarely seen even in the two Russian capitals of Moscow and Petersburg, so there is no need to mention them in the rural cities in the east.

Fortunately, wild lands naturally also have the characteristics of wild lands, and logging competitions have become one of the few popular activities that appeal to both refined and popular tastes.

It seems an unimaginable picture that nobles and officials wield axes like serfs and free people, but for the bitterly cold Siberia, the wood cut down as fuel is of special significance for wintering. It is a great enjoyment to take a steaming bath after sweating.

"Today's lumberjack competition, the participants are Daryosha from the mill, Zikov from the blacksmith shop, Simsji from the sugar beet farm, Morici from the winery, and the tax official Mishaevich." This is a competition. Competition for small workshop owners, small estate owners and lower officials. "The prize is a pig." Accompanied by the pig's cry, were the laughter of the onlookers. "Okay, let's start now!"

Of course, the lumber-cutting competition does not really allow these small garden owners and officials to go to the forest to cut down one or a few trees. In fact, the trees have already been cut down by the serfs. Burning wood will do.In other words, this is actually a firewood chopping competition, but the name is rather ugly, so it was changed to the word logging.

Watching the sound of chopping firewood one after another, watching the contestants sweating profusely, the bystanders also began to get nervous. In this atmosphere, the acquaintances of the small garden owners also began to cheer for their friends: "Daliaosha , speed up, you now have one less tree than Morici, can't get a pig, go back and your wife kicks your ass"

The weird sound of cheering made the onlookers lean forward and backward with joy, and even the prize provider, the local manor master Almov, said happily to the infantry captain Voyev beside him: "Captain, this kind of fun But not often."

Voyev took a sip of potato vodka and said reservedly: "It's really interesting. Everyone was very nervous a few days ago. It's time to have a good laugh and relax for two days."

"That's right, that self-righteous general made us suffer." Almov also sighed. "Fortunately, the Chinese gave up further actions. In this case, as long as the domestic reinforcements arrive, we will be completely safe."

"Stable?" Voyev looked around and found that everyone's attention was still on the scene of the logging competition, so he said it with confidence. "We are old friends, and I will tell you that the arrival of domestic reinforcements is not a good thing for a big landlord like you." Almov was puzzled, and Voyev explained. "If the reinforcements are stationed near Irkutsk, how will the food and wages be settled? It's not going to come from your heads."

Almov's expression suddenly became serious, and after thinking for a long time, he asked in an uncertain tone: "What if the local landlords unanimously demand that the army cross the lake to recover the Lower Baikal Warlord District?"

"That would be worse," Voev replied. "Offensive needs more materials than defense. These materials cannot be transported from the west. It would cost too much, and you can't expect to get them from the Chinese after entering Lower Baikal. Therefore, they can only be collected locally, you know. , the imperial court is absolutely prepared to spend the least amount of money to get the most supplies.”

"Then what should we do?" Almov became nervous. "Aren't we going to lose a lot of money in this way?"

"If you can get help from His Excellency the Governor, not only will you not lose money, but you may also make a lot of money. On the contrary, if you are in the province, it doesn't matter." Voev sneered. "I advise you to hide your things now, and then take your servants to hide in Novosibirsk or Omsk."

"How can I get help from His Excellency the Governor?" Almov asked straightforwardly. "How much will it cost?"

"I'm afraid it will cost at least a thousand rubles." Voev reported an amount. "I'm afraid this number is not a small amount for you, but you can try to contact other people to raise the money together."

"Your Excellency, is there a big deficit?" Almov asked, frowning. "One thousand rubles, you can buy a baronship in Petersburg." Even fur traders who have worked hard to travel between the mainland and Siberia, it is difficult to come up with a thousand rubles at once, not to mention that these have not yet entered commercialization, just Self-sufficient estate owner. "At least [-] landlords have to be persuaded to contribute the money together. Isn't it too big?"

"There is indeed a big hole in the province's finances." Voyev gave a clear answer to Almov's guess. "But this is also the trouble caused by General Kiriyenko. It would not affect His Excellency the Governor. It's just that the Tsar is also short of money now, and it is impossible to give Irkutsk any compensation, so it can only be solved by the Governor himself. As for Your Excellency the Governor, you also know that the Earl always only collects money in his pocket and never takes it out. Therefore, if you don’t want to lose money, you must either bribe the Earl or avoid it.”

"Avoid, it's impossible." Almov said distressedly. "I don't know when the war with the Chinese will be resolved. Yes, the Chinese have withdrawn some of their troops at the moment, but if they increase their troops again due to failure, then the possibility of this war continuing is very high."

"Yes, the war between Russia and Sweden has lasted for ten years, and the war with Ottoman Turkey has lasted longer. We should consider that the Chinese are stronger opponents than the Tatars, so a long-term war is inevitable." Voyev said this and looked at Almov. "Old friend, it seems that the only way you can go is to bribe the governor. In fact, you don't have to worry about not being rewarded after you pay. If the war continues as we expected, maybe you will get rich and become a nobleman."

"If you can really lead the procurement of munitions, it is indeed worth spending the money." Almov raised the wine glass in his hand. "Please tell that honorable gentleman, I will try my best to persuade the local landowners."

Almov directly pointed out the person behind Voyev. Voyev was not surprised by this. In fact, it was because he knew that Almov was smart enough to dare to gamble, so he asked Ying to persuade the other party: " Very well, my old friend, then I wish you all the best, and don't forget when you become a nobleman"

Before Voyev finished his sentence, suddenly one of Almov's servants hurried over with two luxuriously dressed but hastily-looking Mongolian nobles, and Voyev's words turned into ridicule: "My dear My friend, is it because your taxes are too much this year, those dirty native faces are turning pale."

Almov, who contracted the tax revenue of four nearby Mongolian tribes, had a strange expression on his face: "I haven't informed these Mongolians to increase their tax figures for this year, but they came to them by themselves."

Just as they were talking, two Mongolian nobles came over and stuttered in Russian in a very nervous tone: "The Russian master, and this general, something is wrong, the Chinese and Chinese are calling."

"The Chinese are calling?" Almov turned to Voyev and asked. "Has there been an alert from Baikalsk Fortress?"

Baikalsk is located at the apex of the southern end of Lake Baikal. The name of the fortress is actually a small outpost mainly responsible for blocking smugglers, because it guards a key lakeside cliff trail. Although it is not conducive to the march of the brigade, it is also a connection between the upper and lower Baikal in addition to the traffic on the lake. The most convenient way in the region has now become an outpost for Russian spies to sneak into the Lower Baikal region. If the Xia army wants to attack the Upper Baikal region, Baikalsk will be the first to bear the brunt.

"I didn't get any similar news when I left the castle." Voyev looked suspiciously at the two uneasy Mongols. "The Baikal Squadron has not reported any signs of the Chinese crossing the lake." The so-called Baikal Squadron is just a few small two-masted inland river transport ships, but it is enough to dominate the entire Baikal when there are no tigers and monkeys in the mountains. lake. "So, these people are either lying or they're doing something else."

"No, Mr. Russia, we are not lying." The two Mongols cried out immediately. "We have always been loyal to the Russian emperor. The Chinese have really come, and there are thousands of cavalry."

"Thousands of Chinese cavalry?" Voyev asked with a sneer. "Did they fly from the sky?"

"The Chinese turned over from the south of the Sayan Mountains." Two Mongolians hurriedly told. "The guides that the Wulianghai people gave them are now dragged by us to rest in the tribe, and they may launch an attack tomorrow at the latest."

Almov suddenly became nervous: "Is this true?"

"We dare to swear to the Buddha." The two Mongols assured with certainty. "Russian master, if you don't think about it, it will be too late."