Chapter 129 What kind of person
The temperature in Petrograd has been hovering around minus 40 degrees. On the front line stretching for 3,000 yrs, millions of workers and farmers who were conscripted for war were exhausted in the trenches. By the end of January 1917, about 6 million Russian soldiers were killed, wounded, missing and captured, and more than 63,000 officers. This is shocking data, with an average of two Russians replacing one German.
Due to the lack of supplies and medicines, many soldiers died of typhoid fever and scurvy, far more than the war dead. The problem of insufficient supply for war is becoming more and more serious. By 1916, there were still 200,000 soldiers with bare hands and no rifles. The front line needed 250 million rounds of bullets and 1.5 million shells per month, while the annual output of Russia was only 500 million rounds and 50,000 rounds. The Russian general sent their soldiers into the muzzle of Germany. Under the stormy fire of the German army, thousands of Russian troops turned into meat mounds.
In order to send troops to the front line, during the war, Russia recruited 14.9 million soldiers, the vast majority of whom were farmers. The rural areas lost their labor force, about two million horses were requisitioned, agricultural production was greatly destroyed, grain production was greatly reduced, and the front-line soldiers could only receive half of the rations. The cost of domestic investment in war has increased. Since the outbreak of the war, the average annual military expenditure has accounted for nearly half of the country's average annual total expenditure. For Russia, the huge military expenditure is undoubtedly unaffordable. Although Britain and France will not make peace with Germany in private with Russia. Ross provided more than 15 billion rubles in loans and billions of rubles in aid, but it was still a drop in the bucket compared with the huge war expenses.
In order to cope with the huge military expenditure, Russia's political axe can only maintain huge war expenditure by borrowing from abroad, increasing taxes on domestic taxes and indiscriminate issuance of banknotes. Before the war, Russia relied on exporting grain, timber and other agricultural and mineral products to Germany and France, and because overseas trade and overseas investment were almost cut off, which made the domestic economy Ji fell into a mess.
Coupled with the successive failures of the war, all this only made the anger and dissatisfaction of the soldiers to the extreme, and most of the military discipline in the war zone was lax. On the eve of 1917, the Petrograd Gendarmerie Management Office reported that the emotions in the army were frightening, the relationship between officers and soldiers was extremely tense, and there were even bloody conflicts, and thousands of deserters could be encountered everywhere. "No matter who approached the army, he would always get the impression that the morale of the army had been Absolutely lost." Luo Jianke, chairman of the State Duma, admitted: "The basis for the final disintegration of the army existed long before the revolution." In order to maintain military discipline, the front-line officers used extremely cruel means to punish the deserted soldiers, but they still could not stop hundreds of deserters from running back to their hometowns with weapons. The troops were in a state of disintegration, and the scattered soldiers who fled to the rear robbed everywhere.
Most of the young and middle-aged workers have joined the army, and the amount of land cultivation has been greatly reduced. In addition, the climate is changeable. In 1916 was another year of poor harvest. The grain harvest in Russia has only reached 71%-72% of the pre-war level, and the living conditions in the rear are getting worse and worse. At the same time, transportation difficulties have interrupted urban and rural links, and there is a shortage of grain, meat, sugar and other agricultural products in the market. In December 1916, Petrograd received only 14% of the planned food supply. Landlords, rich farmers and businessmen have a large number of necessities of life, hoarding and speculating. Food and other necessities disappeared from stores, but were sold at high prices on the black market. By the end of 1916, 39 enterprises in Petrograd had stopped production due to lack of fuel, 11 enterprises had stopped production due to the cessation of power supply, more factories had cut production, and the whole country's economy was on the verge of collapse.
In the factory, workers and capitalists are fighting for an eight-hour working day and raising wages. The city's food reserves have run out: Petrograd's flour is only enough to last for 10 to 12 days, meat is out of stock, food and some social necessities can't be bought with money, the threat of hunger over all industrial centers and cities, the child mortality rate has doubled, and the crime rate has tripled. Speculative and private fraud, the phenomenon of making a fortune by the supply of war materials and exchange fraud has reached an unprecedented scale. In front of the bread shops and shops in the cold wind, there has been a long queue since the early morning.
After working in the factory for 10 hours, women have to take benches and tools to the food store and wait for a long time to get a little rationed food. The place where people lined up outside the food store became a place for people to comment on current affairs and vent their dissatisfaction and anger; in the barracks, soldiers gathered around the stove to listen to the speeches of the agitators. Whether on the front line or in the back, peace and bread are the most important topics. At the same time, a large number of hungry refugees and wounded soldiers poured into the city, taking away the last remaining optimism and harmonious atmosphere.
For these, the Russian political axe is not unaware. In the report of the Petrograd Police Inspector General, he wrote: "No matter where and among the class of people, war-weariness and the desire for peace as soon as possible can be observed. They never care about what conditions they conclude peace in. Flat."
At the same time, protests all over Russia are one after another, and such words can be seen in leaflets everywhere: "It's over to endure! Now it's time for us to end this senseless war by ourselves. ...Prepare to fight the final battle with your oppressors." Petrograd and Moscow are the two centers of the wave of dissatisfaction and anger of the Russian people.
The turbulent situation in Russia seems to be the same as it was 12 years ago. That year - 1905 - the country, which was also in a disappointing atmosphere of defeat (the defeat of the Russian War), kept stirring, and finally triggered a people's revolution affecting all of Russia due to the incident of the tsar's peaceful petition on January 9, 1905 (Russian calendar) on a Sunday. Although the revolution was calmed by the power of the tsar's ax, the people also peeled off the tsar's system into an incurable way.
In January 1917, in order to commemorate the "Bleeding Sunday" 12 years ago, the workers in Petrograd made careful preparations in advance. They planned to hold a march and strike on the same day to maintain the order of military production and the interests of workers - the Central Military Industry Commission "Workers" The regiment also agreed to the strike.
On the eve of January 9, the Russian calendar, in order to stop the strike, the police and spies began to search for the revolutionaries who incited the strike on a large scale, but in commemoration of the "bloodshed", 150,000 workers still participated in the march and strike in the capital. Strike marches were also held in Moscow, Kharkov, Rostov and other places.
When there was a gust of turmoil in Russia, the eyes of the whole world turned to this country. Almost every ambassador and minister to Russia affirmed in the telegram to his home country that "the domestic turmoil will inevitably lead to the withdrawal of the Russian Empire from this war soon."
Switzerland is called Neva.
When Helfang, dressed in a black tweed suit, walks on the street, he always greets passers-by from time to time. In the past few months, the jeweler has long become a well-known local businessman. Because of his frequent attendance at upper banquets, there are many acquaintances in the local area.
Different from the past, today Helfang did not ride a carriage as usual, but walked on the sidewalk. Occasionally, when he met several women, he would stop and chat with the women, and then said goodbye politely. On the surface, he did not seem to be much different from ordinary businessmen.
But in fact, he has another identity. He is the head of the German intelligence agency in Neva. In the past period of time, he has been observing a "foreigner" in Neva. There are too many foreigners living in Neva, and the largest number of them are dissidents from various countries. These dissidents are here. Li Jingwei clearly formed some circles, and Helfang was exposed to one of them.
Half an hour later, Helfang came to enter a two-story building.
"Helfant! My friend!"
After the maid opened the door, as Herpante entered the door, a bald Russian warmly greeted Herpante. The bald Russian was about 50 years old. If an imperial Russian spy appeared, he would definitely recognize that he was the wanted "head of rebellion" in Russia - Umyan. Nov.
"My friend, I believe you must have brought good news when you come here this time!"
Inviting Herpante into his study, Uminoev asked as he walked. Contact with the spies of these foreign intelligence agencies has long been very familiar to him. As early as 13 years ago, he had contact with Akashi Yuanjiro of Japan. At that time, it was with the support of Japan that he could Through Totolotsky's financial support as funds for activities, a series of subversive activities were carried out in Russia. 1904 Russian Minister of the Interior Vyacheslav. Feng. Plewe's assassination, the "Weekday Tragedy" in Petersburg on January 22, 1905, during which 4,600 petition workers were killed and wounded. The "June 3rd" coup in the mutiny of the warship "Bojankin" in June can find his shadow. In Umyanov's view, if it hadn't been for the final peace with Russia, and if it hadn't been for the fact that it had continued to support him, he might have overthrown the Russian Empire.
"My friend,"
With a smile on his face, Helfang took out a piece of paper from his pocket and then displayed it in front of Umyanov."This is the first subsidy of 500,000 marks provided by the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Although the money is not much, I think you will definitely use it in the right place!"
This money was made by Herpante's every effort to persuade the intelligence agency of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to agree to pay. Although it is not much, in Herpante's view, this is a beginning, and the Umyyanov in front of him is the most suitable candidate he has found in the many Russian opposition in exile in Neva. There is no other reason. Compared with them, Umyanov believes in violence and death, which is what is needed to create unrest in Russia.
And what surprised Helfang most was that when the two met for the first time, as soon as he mentioned providing financial support, the other party did not hesitate to point out his identity, and even specifically mentioned that he had received financial support from Yuanjiro Akaishi during the Russian War, and Take the turmoil in Russia at the end of the war to prove its ability with revolution.
"What Akashi Genjiro can do with only five million yuan, and Germany can also do it. If Germany can provide 50 million marks, then Germany will get an ally to withdraw from the war and form an alliance with Germany!"
At this time, Helfang's mind still echoed. When he had a deep talk with him for the first time a month ago, the other party's vows that it was really difficult to find a person who could sell so righteously. It could even be described as "rare in the world". That's why his boss and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Some officials can't believe that this is the truth. What kind of country can be betrayed so righteously?
Therefore, they have been worried that this is a scam, but Helfangt believes that it is true. Just like his cooperation with Akashi Genjiro, there is no need to doubt at all. That's why he returned to Berlin in person and lobbied the Kaiser through some relationships. Finally, with the support of the Kaiser, he once again Back to Neva.
After taking the check, Umyyanov laughed.
"It's really great. It's better to use this money to run a newspaper! " Pravda has now been closed down by them, but my friend, with this money, Pravda will soon appear in the land of Russia again!"
"My friend, I think the German political axe will only provide you with more help after seeing that "this war between imperialists turns into a civil war". Do you understand what I mean?"
Listening to Herpante's words, Umiyanov nodded and then said.
"Believe me, soon, Russia will have a drastic change! Tell your friends in Berlin and let them pay attention to collecting Russian intelligence. Believe me, in the next month, the turmoil in Russia will only become more and more violent!"
When talking, perhaps to persuade the other party to believe in him, Umyanov even deliberately leaned forward gently and stared at Helfang.
"Tomorrow, there will be a speech in Neiva. It only takes a few hours for my speech to spread to China. Believe me, the flame of Russia's revolution is far more fierce than you think!"
When referring to the flame of the Russian revolution, Umyanov showed Herpante a telegram received from China.
"This is the march we planned. Hundreds of thousands of people participated in the war in all of Russia. If we get full funding, the Russian Empire will soon disappear from the world, and a country friendly to Germany will appear there, and you..."
Staring at Herpante, Umiyanov said in slightly low words without any hesitation.
"Germany can get everything Germany wanted before the war. There is no need to go through the war at all. At that time, I will give you all that!"
(to be continued)