Chapter 143 Dialogue on the Border

The border is two boundary markers. They stand there face to face and stare at each other silently. To some extent, this symbolizes the two worlds. At least here, in the Far East, these two boundary markers symbolize the "Eastern World" and the "Western World". Although on the other side of the boundary monument, it once belonged to the East and China, but now it is It is the territory of the Russian Empire, although the Chinese Empire has never recognized it.

However, it is like a default fact. Sometimes, many things become a fact in this default, and the legal surname of the de facto rule is far greater than the theoretical ownership.

The boundary marker is very simple. Whether it is the boundary marker of China or the boundary marker of Russia, it is made of stone, and may even be the same stone. It is the stone selected nearby. The stone of the boundary marker is extremely smooth when it is made. The boundary marker of the two countries fully reflects the cultural differences of the two countries.

The Russian boundary marker indicates that it belongs to the Russian Empire in large Russian, and at the same time, a copper Russian double-headed eagle is firmly nailed to the top of the boundary marker. This black eagle has two heads facing each side. In fact, in the prediction of the Russian Empire, the eagle's head is facing east and west. This double-headed eagle fully shows the ambition of the Russian Empire. The double-headed eagle on the copper badge seems to stick out a greedy hook mouth, one of which stares at the east with bad intentions, but the crowd As we all know, from twelve years ago, when Russia was defeated by Japan, the expansion of the Russian Empire in the East came to an end.

And six steps away from the opposite side of this boundary monument, there is another boundary monument. The same gray stone body, the boundary monument is deeply buried in the ground, on which "Chinese Empire" is written in Chinese regular script, and the top of the monument is the royal emblem, which is also the national emblem of China - the majestic dragon coat of arms, the unangrying Panlong alert. No one will doubt watching everything around him. As soon as it is violated here, the army behind Panlong will react as soon as possible.

Although it is only two immovable stone tablets, only dragons and eagles that cannot be turned into creatures, in fact, this is the boundary line of the two empires - the longest boundary line in the world.

On this long boundary with a length of more than 11,000 kilometers, these silent sentries composed of boundary markers are arranged into standing scattered lines. From the Pamir Plateau, it stretches for thousands of kilometers, from the uninhabited plateau in the northwest, to the mountains and grasslands in the desert, to the grasslands in the northeast, and to the long Heilongjiang. Stretch to the Tumen River and all the way to the North Sea.

This is the longest boundary line in the world, which is not only the longest border in the world, but also the most difficult to defend in the world. In this regard, both the Chinese General Staff and the Russian General Staff are extremely clear. Even compared with Russia, China is more likely to launch an attack.

On this long border, on the northwest border, the populations of both countries are centrifugal Muslims. However, compared with Russia, China's millions of immigrants in Xinjiang Province have become a guarantee of national security. On the Mobei Plateau, although millions of Mongolians live there, in the past ten In the past few years, more than three million Chinese have emigrated to the Sino-Russian border area, and the corresponding vast Siberia, but there are only two or three million Russians who can "rely on". As for the local ethnic minorities, whether they are China or Russia, they are skeptical of their loyalty. In the northeast, the situation is even more Unfavorable to Russia, in the northeast of China, in the past decade, it has changed from the "Manchuria" of agriculture to the "three eastern provinces of heavy industry", and 80 million residents are 15 times the population of the Russian Far East.

It can be said that in the Russian General Staff, even the most optimistic staff will not doubt it. Once the war between China and Russia breaks out, Russia must plan to defend Russia in Europe. Once, for the Russian Empire, their evil to the East The dream understanding is very white.

"Millions of [***] teams poured into Central Siberia from the Mongolian Plateau (Mobei Plateau), thus forming the encirclement of the Russian army in the Far East. The heavy artillery on the other side of the Amur River (Heilongjiang) bombarded the Amur Railway at night, and the green waves composed of millions of troops like waves will devour the Far East in an instant. Region... In order to block the [***] team, it is necessary for Russia to build a giant fortress in the Ural Mountains, using the local dangerous terrain..."

In the end, after a long decade, although the Russian army built fortresses against China along the Siberian Railway, the Sino-Russian war that could not make people sleep peacefully did not break out, and even this once "potential enemy country" unexpectedly became "Russia's most trustworthy" Lai's ally", although in the eyes of many generals, this ally is only temporary, at least for now, at this time, this ally cannot pose a threat to Russia, and Russia also needs this ally to send reinforcements to support their war.

And here, behind this boundary marker is the "Manchuria" in Russia's official mouth when the Dongqing Railway was built, but now it is called "Yunbin". There is a river called Yunqi not far from this place, so the nearby area is also called Yubin. This small border city is naturally called "Yanbin". This place is The starting point of the Middle East Railway, due to the Sino-Russian Railway Treaty, the Middle East Railway still maintains the Russian wide track. Every day, dozens of trains drive from here to Russia, transporting a large number of goods and military supplies to Russia. However, recently, the speed seems to have slowed down a lot.

However, this boundary marker is still some distance away from Libin County, and not far from the boundary marker, there is a small town, which is still ten kilometers away from the national boundary.

In March, although the ice and snow in the south have already melted, the weather here is still very cold. Yesterday, the snow that began to melt under the sun has frozen overnight. The snow and ice creaked under the pedals of leather boots. On one side of the boundary line, one wearing a sheepskin hat, from the dragon world The monument began to patrol routinely as usual, in the lot he was responsible for. The Chinese soldier was wearing a dark green tweed military coat with a woolen collar on his coat, and the ears of the woolen leather boots and fur hat on his feet also hung down, which looked very warm. And he wears sheepskin gloves on his hands, which will not be frozen even in the coldest winter.

In China, no one will doubt that soldiers can get the best treatment, not only because they are "royal soldiers", but also because the emperor has the title of "emperor of soldiers". More importantly, this empire is built by soldiers through sacrifice, so they deserve to enjoy it. The most generous material treatment, whether in wartime or in peacetime, is a country's obligation to be loyal to the country.

At this time, the Guard soldier walked on the patrol line with a rifle on his shoulder. If there is no war, the patrol on the border is very easy, and this kind of patrol is just a "symbol of surname", just like showing existence. After all, in the number A hundred meters away, there was also a well-equipped company fortress, so he was on patrolling and smoking cigarettes rationed by the army with relish.

Cigarettes are mid-range Huangshan smoke. According to the army, cigarettes help soldiers stabilize their mood in wartime. Therefore, cigarettes were the standard configuration of the restoration army more than a decade ago during the Guangfu Campaign, and now it is even more so. Now, according to the supply regulations formulated by the Joint Logistics Department of the General Staff, each soldier can To get a small bag, that is, ten cigarettes, may not be enough for smokers, but it is more than enough for many soldiers.

"If you meet Andre, you can exchange these cigarettes for a set and send them to your little sister."

Fang Weiguo thought so in his heart that a small bag of cigarettes is enough for him to smoke for two or three days, so he can save at least 15 boxes of cigarettes every month, and most of these cigarettes are used by him to exchange some Russian specialties with his friends opposite him. For this kind of border "smuggling", the officers have never been concerned. After all, this is not Didn't touch the bottom line.

In fact, as a border patrol, this is even one of the "welfares" they normally enjoy. However, after walking a few hundred meters, Fang Weiguo was surprised to find one thing - no one!

As usual, the Russian sentries would be coming head-on with him along his own patrol line. This was the intention of the distrust between the two countries. The border barracks on both sides were built wrong, and the patrol routes were also staggered, in order to avoid contact between soldiers on both sides.

However, compared with the Guards, Russian soldiers wear low-quality uniform boots and tweed uniforms. The ration of the Russian army has always been very poor, which is almost well-known soldiers, so that in winter, in order to make themselves warmer, some Russian soldiers will use Russia. The handicrafts are exchanged for Chinese soldiers for clothes such as velvet jackets and autumn clothes that they replaced after receiving the new ration. Of course, they only hate underwear.

But today, unexpectedly, Fang Weiguo did not see the Russian patrol, let alone his friend, Staff Sergeant Andre, the guy from Vladivostok. That guy had a pair of skillful hands. Once, during the patrol, there was a snowstorm. It only took him ten minutes to build a snow house. As a result, the two stayed in the snow house and drank wine. In the end, Fang Weiguo was imprisoned for three days. Despite this, Fang Weiguo felt that everything was worth it, because he was with his friends, but today, not only did he not see the "old man" he had known for two years, but even other Russian soldiers. Yes, I see. What's going on?

Just as he was muttering in his heart, he walked about 100 meters away from the Russian border guard post. Fang Weiguo saw a group of people walking not far away with more than a dozen people.

Catch the smuggler?

While his heart was ringing, he picked up his telescope and looked in the direction of Russia. Then he saw a scene that surprised him very much. A group of Russians in military uniforms and even civilian clothes were carrying rifles in their hands and rifles on their shoulders, with more than a dozen people walking towards the river not far away.

What's going on?

Among the people escorted, Fang Weiguo saw Lieutenant Nicholas, the "damn Polish" Second Lieutenant Conles in Andre's words, and even Andre. Without exception, they were escorted officers, only a few sergeants, and the others in the sentry post were pushed forward by the gunman. Walking there, his face was full of confusion.

Finally, more than a dozen officers and soldiers were taken to the river. Then, Fang Weiguo saw from the telescope a Russian in a black tweed coat with red strips on his neck. He said something to the soldiers, and then gave them a rifle to each of them. Andre stood by the river like the others, like Lieutenant Nicholas. What are you arguing with them about?

This is... Just when I was puzzled, the gunfire sounded.

Officers and sergeants were executed by their former subordinates. The sound of gunfire along the wind only shocked Fang Weiguo. At this time, it seemed that someone had noticed his existence. Several people came over to him. Fang Weiguo instinctively took out the pistol, first opened the safety for the loading of the pistol, and then raised the rifle and equipped the rifle. After the bayonet, it was quickly put on.

"This is the territory of the Chinese Empire!"

As in training, he held a rifle and pointed directly at the approaching few people and said in stiff Russian.

"Hey, my comrade, don't be so nervous. We won't invade you!"

Unexpectedly, the Russian in a tweed coat spit out fluent Chinese.

Comrade?

What does

comrade mean?

"Comrade,"

At this time, the Russian said in a very gentle voice.

"Don't worry, Chinese comrades! I have no grudge against you. I can't shoot."

When he spoke, he motioned the people around him to put away the rifle, and Fang Weiguo noticed that the other party seemed to belooking at him.

"Comrade, I noticed that your hands are rough!"

When the Russians said so, Fang Weiguo held the rifle more tightly with the hands that had been full of silkworms in the field for many years, while the Russians spread out his hands, and what he saw were the palms full of brown callos.

"I'm a worker,"

When the Russians spoke, perhaps because of the cold wind, he seemed to be a little shivering with cold.

"Why should I kill you? You are also a worker. No, you should be a farmer!"

At this time, the Russian gently pointed in the direction of China with his right hand.

"In China, there are many farmers..."

And Fang Weiguo obviously couldn't understand what he meant. His body was still collapsed, and he held the rifle nervously, but he concentrated on guessing the meaning of those words that he didn't understand. In this way, another second or two passed; his eyes met the Russian, and a cheerful smile suddenly flashed in the Russian's eyes.

"More than ten years ago, I worked in China. At that time, the Middle East Railway was still the Tsar's railway. I knew a lot of Chinese people. You are very hardworking and hardworking, but what's the use of being able to endure hardships? The land in your family is rented by the landlord. When you bear the heavy rent, you have to pay all kinds of heavy taxes..."

"Are you talking about Manqing? ...Oh, maybe right!"

However, Fang Weiguo, who was only 20 years old, was not impressed by the Qing Dynasty, but he had seen everything he said to the Russian in his parents' words and in his textbooks when he was in school.

"Now, the land we plant is our own, I'm a royal soldier, and our family doesn't need to pay taxes..."

When speaking, Fang Weiguo's face was a trace of pride, just like showing off. Military families do not need to pay mu of land tax, which is a clause in the Chinese Royal Military Preferential Treatment Law. Not only that, if there are two soldiers in each family, then their family will never need to pay mu of land tax. If he is killed in the line of duty. Or if he dies on the battlefield, his family will also be exempted from the land tax forever.

"No, that's just a change of tax. In the past, your emperors and capitalist rulers searched for money, but now, they let you pay taxes with your lives. Do you know why I call you comrades?"

"..."

"Because, like me, I am a member of the proletariat. Since I am a member of the proletariat, why should I hurt you?"

"What about them?"

Looking at the bodies of Andre and others in the distance, Fang Weiguo's heart suddenly surged with anger.

"Why did you kill them? Andre used to be a worker!"

"Yes, he used to be a worker!"

The Russians looked serious.

"But now, he has become the tsar's lackey, just like those officers!"

"My comrades, now, Russia is changing, and a revolution is going on. It is the revolution of the proletariat against capitalists, emperors and nobles. In the future class battles, we will stand in a trench. Comrades!"

While the Russian was talking, in Fang Weiguo's eyes, he walked around like a gray beast.

"You and I are not comrades. I am a royal soldier of the Chinese Empire, and I am a soldier of His Majesty the Emperor..."

As if taking an oath, Fang Weiguo said with extraordinary affirmation.

At this time, there was already a rushing sound of running in the distance. Walking in front of them was a team of comrades-in-arms with submachine guns, led by the platoon leader. They ran very fast, and the leading officers also looked very nervous.

"Who are you..."

Far away, more than ten meters away, when the officer saw the Russians standing opposite his subordinates, he immediately pointed his gun at them and shouted loudly.

"Okay, my comrades, I've finished what I want to say, they..."

The Russian pointed to the body in the distance, and then pointed to the approaching officer.

"They are all the same, but they are all the lackeys of the noble master!"

When the words fell, the officer who led the army ran over, and the Russians also turned around and left. The officer looked at the Russian, and then looked at his subordinates and asked.

"What's going on? Where did it start?

(to be continued)