The Last Frontier of Fire and Sword

"The flame burns on the bank of the river

The Tatars are distributing their captives

Our village was burned

All the property was looted

Old mother was killed

My sweetheart is captured. "

On the outskirts of Kursk, a young man with blond hair was sitting on the grass and singing a song, singing in a bleak and desperate voice.

Behind the young man, as the background is the city of Kursk, which was burnt to ruins. Under the shining of moonlight, this once important town in southern Xinjiang of Tsarist Russia is like a ghost territory.

In fact, it is not wrong for Kursk to call it a ghost domain, because there is nothing but dead people in the city.

As for the living, they are all on the outskirts of the city, around the blond youth. Tens of thousands of people formed a concentric circle, and they were surrounded by Tatar war horses and tents.

The concentric circles, the horses and the edges of the tents, there are people walking around from time to time. They are Tatar soldiers who come to do business. Although the Khan and officers at all levels had long issued strict orders, no one was allowed to move these prisoners of war before returning to Crimea, but the order was dead and people were alive.

These Tatar soldiers, who dared to disobey orders, held bags of brown bread, guts and bones in their hands, and made deals with the captives. A piece of black bread is a golden ruble, and a large bone is also a golden ruble. The innards of cattle and sheep are cheaper, and a large bag only costs half a golden ruble, because this is a dirty thing that even animals don’t eat.

But no matter how dirty, these foods are rare and delicious in the eyes of the captives. In fact, no matter who is hungry for a few days, what he eats will be particularly fragrant. Because these captives are valuable commodities, the Tatars will not let them starve to death, but except for those nobles who are willing to pay a ransom two to three times higher than the price of slaves, ordinary civilians can only get a handful of fried rice a day. And a bowl of potato soup.

The food brought by the Tatars was quickly sold out. They also have a lot of gold rubles and jewellery in their hands. After giving one-third of them to the guards, the Tatars left happily. In the cage, the fights and blood fights for food also started after the Tatars left.

Of course, as long as there is no death, the Tatars will not care about these things.

On the other side, Muhammad Glyi was sitting on a back chair inlaid with gold and silver from the mansion of the Kursk City Lord. Sitting on the third step below are Kursk's former masters-General Nikita Odoyevsky and Prince Yuri Boryajinsky.

These two dignitaries of Tsarist Russia received the courtesy of the Khan after being captured in the city break. Instead of being locked up with the prisoners of war and civilians, they enjoyed the single-topped tent, and the food rationed to them was abundant and abundant. . Muhammad Gley even selected three chefs and servants from the captives to serve them.

Of course, Nikita Odoyevsky and Yuri Bolyakinski can enjoy these, not because they love each other, the flowers are blooming, and it is not because of Muhammad Glyy’s great love. Be compassionate, but because for the Khan, these two people are walking golden rubles.

As mentioned before, the ransom of ordinary nobles is 2 to 3 times the market price of slaves, which is the market price. The price of high-level prisoners is not so calculated. The Crimean Khanate has been doing this business for hundreds of years, and has long been groping for a whole set of experience. They will price high-level captives in terms of knighthood, surname, degree of favor, and wealth.

In order to redeem their freedom, the ransoms of the two commanders were: as the prince, Yuri Borjakinski had to pay Muhammad Gley a ransom of 50,000 Taylor, and Nikita Otto Yevsky had to pay 20,000 Taylor.

As a Khan, Muhammad Glyy has gained so much. His Pashas, ​​Bayes, Mirs and Tatar soldiers also don't know how to be empty-handed. In this "harvest of the steppe peoples" against Tsarist Russia, the Tatars captured a total of 58,000 people, almost more than the number of Tatars on this expedition.

Although it is impossible for these 58,000 prisoners to be divided into one for each Tatar, the officers and nobles at all levels must take the big head, but ordinary Tatars are also hopeful. Because even if they reap one-third of the value of a slave, the family will not worry about it this year.

It should be noted that at the time the price of a strong slave was between 20 and 50 Taylor. And as long as 45 Taylors, in the outskirts of Bergzisale, one person can buy a small piece of land and a two-room house on it, a few fruit trees and other trees, and furniture and other things. . When converted into livestock, the price of a sheep was 2 Taylors and a cow was 10 Taylors.

Tatar civilians are thinking about selling their slaves for money. Those Tatar nobles and military officers have a lot of brains. These nobles have large tracts of land in areas suitable for farming in the southern Crimea Peninsula or in the grasslands of the north. These slaves can be used to cultivate land, dig wells, collect fuel, and graze livestock. It can also be rented out to work for Christians and Jews in towns.

All in all, as long as these captives are safely brought back to Crimea, the "Crop of the Steppe People" this time will be considered complete.

Muhammad Gley raised the glass, and the seated General Nikita Odoyevsky and Prince Yuri Boryajinsky saw the Crimean Khan act like this and raised them one after another. The wine glass came.

"Two, a toast to our cooperation this time!" Muhammad Gley said happily.

After speaking, Khan drank all the wine in his glass.

But the wine in that glass was fine wine to Muhammad Glyy, but to Nikita Odoyevsky and Yuri Borjakinsky it was like poison. Although the two were not abused because of their special identities, the taste of being imprisoned was also uncomfortable. What's more, with Taylor's ransom of tens of thousands, the family of the two had to sell the land and borrow money everywhere.

When they think of this, the two can't swallow. But the two toast of the Crimean Khan didn't dare not drink it, so they had to sip it down.

As the winner, Muhammad Gley also generously understood the feelings of Nikita Odoyevsky and Yuri Borjakinsky as losers. He held the empty wine glass in his hand and rubbed it constantly.

The movements in his hands kept turning, and Muhammad Glyy's mind kept turning. At this time, Muhammad Glyy was like a gambler who had won a lot of money, thinking whether he wanted to retreat quickly or do something big.

The richest city in Tsarist Russia is Moscow. It is the essence of Tsarist Russia. It has the largest population and the most abundant treasury. If you can conquer it, you will definitely double your gains this trip. It will be of great help to improve their prestige in the Khanate.

In fact, it's not just oneself who has this idea. In the past few days, several Bey and Mirza have come to see themselves and begged to advance to Moscow. Everyone is so respectful and willing to take his soldiers and horses as the vanguard. Moreover, the intelligence brought back by the horse detection is so tempting: Moscow has less than 10,000 defenders, the Tsar has moved to move the capital, and the city has been shocked by the number of high-ranking officials and dignitaries who are packing up and fleeing...

However, there are also some sophisticated nobles and officers who do not approve of marching into Moscow. Their reason is nothing more than Moscow’s high trenches and depths, and the defenders in the city have nearly a thousand artillery pieces. The cavalry of the Khanate will be in the field. When the army returns to the division, the army of the Khanate will be in an extremely disadvantaged position, and it is possible that it will not be able to retain the benefits it has now.

There is a certain point in what both sides said, which made it difficult for Muhammad Gley to make a decision.

"Two, in your opinion, Moscow may resist the soldiers of my Khanate."

Suddenly, Muhammad Gley asked Nikita Odoyevsky and Yuri Borjakinsky.

"puff!"

"Ahem."

Suddenly hearing Muhammad Gley ask such a question, Nikita Odoyevsky and Yuri Borjakinski were caught off guard. Nikita Odoyevsky immediately squirted the wine out of his mouth, and Yuri Boryakinski barely swallowed the wine, but he also coughed loudly.

"Khan," Prince Yuri Boryatinski said neither overbearing nor overbearing: "I advise you not to attack Moscow, otherwise the next time you sit in your place and ask for a ransom, I'm afraid it will be our Tsar. "

Although Yuri Borjakinski was a prisoner, he still maintained the dignity of a prince of Tsarist Russia.

Although Muhammad Glyy was cruel, he was not annoyed when he heard what Yuri Borjakinski said. Instead, he smiled and agreed: "Yes, not bad."

At this time, Haim, who was Muhammad Gley's personal guard, came over. This Haim was the first swordsman in the Khanate who had fought against Nahai and Yelishei under Ackerman. After the defeat of Isilan Glyy, this warrior also abandoned the loser like everyone else and offered his loyalty to Muhammad Glyy.

Muhammad Glyy remembers Haim's bravery under Ackerman, so after rebuilding the Khan Guard, he appointed him as the captain of the guard.

When Haim walked by Nikita Odoyevsky, he inadvertently glanced at Nikita Odoyevsky, which made Nikita Odoyevsky's hair down. Stand upside down. When the city of Kursk was broken, Nikita Odoyevs basically had a chance to escape, but the appearance of Haim instantly resulted in the three elite Boye cavalry who protected him from the breakout. Then he captured himself alive.

Haim walked to Muhammad Gley's side, and he whispered a few words in Muhammad Gley's ear.

After listening to Haim’s words, Muhammad Glyy smiled and said to Nikita Odoyevsky and Yuri Borjakinski: "Two, it’s not too early today, you guys early have a rest."

Although both Nikita Odoyevsky and Yuri Borjakinski understood that Muhammad Gley had let him rest early, certainly not because it was late, but they knew when they were prisoners. Should be tough, when should you obey. Nikita Odoyevsky and Yuri Borjakins stood up, bowed slightly, and walked down together.

Then, two Khan guards brought individuals to the front of Muhammad Glyy.

"You said that you were sent by Chechenbey? Get closer, I can't see clearly." Mohamed Glyy said.

The visitor walked a few steps forward, then raised his head and knelt on one knee.

"I remember you, you are Chechen's guard, called Fatima, right." Muhammad Gley recognized the person by the light of the surrounding torches.

It was Fatima who had left the mercenary group for two days. She ran all the way and escaped countless times of besieged and intercepted by Kalmyk cavalry, and finally rushed to Kursk.

"Yes, Khan. I'm Fatima. My master Chechenbey lost the battle in Cherkessk and fell into a siege. He sent me to ask Khan for help." Fatima said.

At this time, Fatima, due to days of rushing, has long been mentally exhausted, and has forgotten Cheerchen’s advice to her: After seeing Muhammad Glyy, just tell him one word: He has found Isilan. Gree.

"Ah!?" Muhammad Glyy let out a cry of horror. And the devil living in his heart was laughing wildly-the Spaniard who played with him carefully, also has today.

"Is the situation serious?" Muhammad Gley asked knowingly. If the situation is not serious, why would Cheerchen send someone to ask him for help?

"It's very serious. Circsksk and Azov are both lost. Karazimir is killed in battle, and Segetbey is captured. Now Bey's lone army is besieged by the Kalmyks on the Kuban River."

Muhammad Glyy did not expect the situation to be so serious that even Azov Fort was lost ~www.readwn.com~ Obviously, it is imperative to return to the army. But is it time to return to the teacher...

"Fatima, is it? You are here day and night, you must be tired. Go down and rest first. After I have discussed with everyone, I will save Chechenbey." Mohamed Glyy said.

But Fatima didn't appreciate Muhammad Gley's "kindness". She insisted that Muhammad Gley sent troops immediately.

"Khan, saving people is like fighting fire!"

Fatima's urging embarrassed Muhammad Glyy who was thinking of waiting for Chechen's blood to shed his blood before going to rescue, and it also challenged Muhammad Glyy's majesty when he arrived.

"Bold, you don't need to teach Ben Khan how to behave! Haim, take her down to me!" Mohamed Glyy said angrily.

Fatima stood up, and she glared at Muhammad Gley with an angry look.

Anger can make a person lose his mind, and it can also make a person sober. At this time, Fatima remembered using a knife to speak, and also remembering what Cheerchen asked her to bring to Muhammad Gley.

"Khan," Fatima pushed away Haim who was going to take her down, and she said to Muhammad Glyy: "In fact, our head only asked me to bring you a word. Just now I was in a hurry and took it. forget. ’

"What are you talking about?"

"Our head asked me to tell you that he has found Isilan Glyy."

"Where!" Muhammad Glyy jumped up "whooping". Isilan Glyy is a spike that penetrates into Muhammad Glyy's heart. As long as he does not die for a day, Muhammed Glyy can't be peaceful for a day.

"Isilan Glyy is among the Kalmykians. The fall of Azov, the death of Karazimir, and the capture of Sejtbey are all his ghosts."