Chapter 163 Intersection

1904. On January 24, the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month in the thirtieth year of Guangxu.

After eating Laba rice, I will do it this year! For the Chinese, this day means the beginning of the year, and the Chinese festival is not surprising for the Russians.

Night, wind and snow bring extreme cold to the outside of the gate. The fertile grass in spring and summer is already covered with thick knee-less snow. A wooden barrier in front of the ice field reflecting the moon stretches along a few miles of trenches. In front of the trench is a layer of barbed wire. There is cold frozen soil in the trench. The wooden tower surveillance sentry log is covered with a layer of ice and snow, and the snow shines silver in the moonlight.

This is a surveillance barricade a few miles away from the railway. After the anti-Russian volunteers appeared in this land half a year ago, they were like a group of ghosts outside the customs, attacking the Russian army's patrols and small strongholds and destroying the railway. Now the anti-Russian volunteers control a large area across the Russian control area and the Manchurian control. The district goes straight to the "bandit area" in the mountainous area around Yanshan.

For this "bandit armed force" that may appear in any weak area at any time, the Russian army with more than 100,000 troops seems a little weak. A small group of troops may be eaten by it, and a large group of armed operations is inconvenient. The troops are often taken into a circle in the mountains by it, dragging it down and hit hard.

And it is not realistic to mobilize several divisions to suppress them. Even Admiral Alexeyev, who was in charge of Far East affairs, was a complete fool. He was so stupid that he could assign a general to every battalion. He could not help but consider the threat of Japan. Without further orders from St. Petersburg, he only Be able to choose conservative "holding".

In the face of this situation, the final countermeasure of the Russian army is to give up remote small cities and towns, garrison troops along the railway in large and medium-sized cities, contact by phone and telegram, and use the railway to mobilize troops. Although a series of efforts have finally ensured Russia's control over the northeast, this control is not the same as last year. Compared with. And the stronghold every one hundred or ten miles is exactly the clear proof that the control is not as good as the other. There are orange lights in the civil simple houses behind the trenches. A tall and strong officer stood for a while at the door of a dirt house where the officer lived. After shaking the ice and snow on his body, he took off his gloves, untied his military coat, shook off the snowflakes on his collar, and wiped his boots on the rotten hay. Then he opened the door and bent down into the dirt house.

The yellow light of the small kerosene lamp shone on the visitor's face. An officer in a cotton-padded coat raised his body from the board, touched his messy hair with one hand, and yawned.

"Is it snowing?"

"It's down there," the guest replied, then took off his clothes and hung his military coat and hat on the nail by the door.

"It's very warm here. There are a lot of people.

He rubbed his hands, bent down, and Volshilov squatted next to the small stove.

"When do you think this damn day will end?"

"I'm afraid only God knows."

Lemanov walked down from **, walked to the table, took out a tea brick, cut a few pieces with a dagger, put it in two cups, and went to the fireside to pour two cups of tea. My brother gave Volchilov a teacup.

"Warm up first!"

"What order do you think Petersburg will give?"

With a sip of tea, Volshilopov asked.

"I think it's very likely to be shot!"

Holding a warm teacup in his hand, Lemanov said in a very affirmative tone.

"Let's play chess."

Volshilov wiped off the snowdrops on his eyebrows with his hand and did not look up.

Lemanov took the chessboard and said while packing up the pieces.

"In fact, compared with those bandits, Petersburg is more worried about me. From 2001 to now, I have frequently moved in Manchuria. The bandits in Manchuria, I'm talking about at least half of the bandits have contacted me. I have provided them with weapons and silver dollars, and I have done so..."

"That must be a fight with us!"

Volshilopov's eyes stared at the chessboard and then sneered.

"These damn yellow monkeys, do they think the Russian Empire is the Qing Dynasty? Do they think that we can't deal with those bandits, so they want to take advantage of the fire!"

"You know, that's not the case!"

Lemanov took a step and said softly.

"Since July 28 last year, we have started the last round of diplomatic negotiations with Japan on the issue of Manchuria and South Korea, but the Japanese minister did not disturb the conversation with Rams Xinfu in St. Petersburg. Starting again in Tokyo from October, although the negotiations have been kept secret and not reported in the newspaper, you also know that the little sparrow in Japan thought that he was really a powerful country. They defeated the Qing Dynasty ten years ago, but Russia is not the Qing Dynasty. It is impossible for us to accept the blackmail of Japan!"

After eating a few seeds, Lemanov mentioned the Japanese language with sarcasm. Almost when he spoke, he looked down on the Asians in his bones.

"Even if this war really broke out, it is a small-scale war that must be won!"

After being eaten a few pieces in succession, Volsilopov angrily bulged his mouth, popped up a small ball of cigarettes with his tongue, and threw away the cigarette butts.

"Seriously, I really admire my courage. They dare to challenge the Russian Empire. I really don't know if they are crazy or stupid. Maybe their Meiji Emperor is really crazy. Yesterday, I read a cartoon in the newspaper. In the cartoon, the Russian giant swallowed the Japanese dwarf in one bite. The world knows that we can definitely defeat myself easily. I really don't understand why I dare to..."

"They are crazy, and our uncle is also crazy!"

Lemanov sat there and rolled up a cigarette. He stared at the military uniform hanging on the hanger, which was a major general's military gown.

"If he hadn't been crazy, how could a general like me be sent to this damn place? Originally, I should have been in Fengtian, Lushun or Harbin. At this time, maybe I was lying in the ** of a certain lady, lingering with her!"

"Be careful of your penis..."

Volshilopov said sarcastically.

"Maybe it will be full of cauliflower in winter!"

Listening to the young major's words, Lemanov did not feel angry, but slapped him on the boot barrel and laughed happily.

"In that case, I will definitely go back to St. Petersburg and find... You know, I don't like that..."

He didn't finish his words, and there was a knock outside the door.

"Your officer!"

The soldier gave a military salute with his boots and heels during the report, and then he took out a telegram from the document bag.

"The telegram of Fengtian Command!"

After receiving the telegram, Lemanov smiled and then turned his head to look at Volshilopov.

"Look... I guessed right that St. Petersburg needs to use these people to show the Russian attitude to Japan!"

The telegram was delivered to Volshilopov. He took the telegram and took a look. The content of the telegram was very simple.

"The execution of this spy!"

There is no trial in a military court, and there is no investigation. It is a very simple direct execution.

The snow stopped overnight in the morning, and the empty fields were quiet. Except for the whistle of the wind, there was no other sound. When a bird flew away from the tree, it brought a little snow from the branches. The snow fluttered down like white powder, and in front of the tree stood two Orientals dressed as Northeasters with messy hair, with some generosity on their faces.

A few meters away from the two men, ten Russian soldiers standing side by side with tucklings, Lemanov stood aside, and Volsilopov was reading an order there.

"... Yokota Province III and Chong Zhenjie said that they wanted to destroy the facilities of the South Manchurian Railway of our Russian Empire and sneaked into Manchuria. According to the army's criminal law, they should have been sentenced to hang. This time, due to the tolerance and kindness of His Majesty the Tsar, the sentence was specially changed to a shooting!"

Roll up the "judgment" in his hand. At this time, according to the judgment of the provisional military court, Volshilopov walked to the tree and followed by a Chinese wearing a dogskin hat next to him. He looked at the two Japanese spies, the two Japanese spies arrested by the patrol three days ago. They tried to blow up the water injection station. .

"Do you have anything else to say?"

After the Chinese wearing a dogskin hat translated Volshilopov into Chinese, Yokota looked ahead and said something.

"I still have some rubles in my pocket. I hope you can donate them to your Red Cross."

After knowing this requirement from the translator, Volshilovov couldn't help but be stunned and looked at him a few times.

"Thank you on behalf of our people!"

The Russian major's thanks only made Yokota Province smile.

"I believe you will need it soon!"

Volshilovov ignored Yokota's ridicule and just continued to ask.

"Do you have any other requirements?"

"I want to have a drink before I die!"

Volshilopov nodded, and a Russian soldier walked to Chong Zhenjie with a wine bottle.

"Vatka!"

After taking the wine, he took a big sip of Zhenjie. The hotness of the liquor in his throat only made him almost cough out. After drinking the wine, he looked at Volsilopov.

"Please let me give you a piece of advice. Manchuria and North Korea are Asian! It should not be up to you to rule for nothing. We say that no matter how much blood I shed, I will drive you out of Manchuria! If you want to live, go back to Lucia!"

The translation gesture standing on his waist translated his own words. A soldier scolded "damn yellow monkey" and was about to rush up, but he was blocked by Volshilopov.

"Like you, we are all soldiers loyal to His Majesty the Emperor!"

As soon as they stretched out their hands, two Russian soldiers came to them with two black strips of cloth and were refused by them shaking their heads when they were about to blindfold them.

"Aim at their hearts, so that they will not suffer, so that they can also show the demeanor of the Russian army!"

When Volshilopov was training the soldiers, Yokota Shengsan and Chong Zhenjie looked at each other and nodded at each other.

"Ren up your gun and aim!"

"Long live the empire!"

When Yokota Shengsan and Chong Zhenjie shouted, the gunfire sounded. They fell heavily on the snow. Lemanov looked at the two people who had been executed and sneered at the corners of his lips.

"Stupid Japanese monkey!"

Zhangwu County, a small city located in the north of Zhangwutai Gate, a wicker side gate, was built in the 28th year of Guangxu. It was built with a little helplessness. Although Zhangwu contains the recognition of martial arts, everyone knows that the reason why the county was set up here is actually a helpless move to prevent the Russian army from invading the north.

The wall of Zhangwu County was built at the end of the Ming Dynasty. The rammed earth wall was full of barren grass. The snow hanging on the barren grass covered the earth wall white. On the dilapidated gate tower, a red flag dangled in the wind. Four months ago, facing the "bandit disaster" soldiers entered the Zhangwu County to abandon the city and fled. This county town outside the Russian-controlled area, naturally because of its appearance. For a safe geographical location, it has become the headquarters of the "anti-Russian base" controlled by the Volunteers.

More than a dozen sets of carriages drove towards the gate of Zhangwu County under the protection of the driver. Major Tian Liyuan, who was riding on a horse, looked at the small town from time to time. On the way here, he had encountered the volunteer cavalry many times. In his opinion, the bandits in the Russian population, were perhaps the best army in the Qing Dynasty.

"Mr. Wu!"

Shoutian Liyuan got off the rein and let the horse slow down. When Ma Qi behind him came to his side, he laughed and shouted that for Wu Peifu, who was gentle and meticulous, he didn't care when he first set out from the capital, but after several encounters the patrol of the Volunteer Army, he was worried about Wu Peifu. It's like Zhou Shaoqi, who is also silent.

"Mr. Tian!"

Wu Peifu nodded politely.

"I'm about to enter the city. From the way, what do you think of this anti-Russian army!"

"Pefu thought that the volunteer army could barely be regarded as elite!"

Wu Peifu replied softly that before leaving, everyone had received an order to find out the reality of the volunteer army. On the one hand, it was issued by the court, but on the other hand, it was a strict order from the commander.

While Wu Peifu and Shoutian were talking in front of each other, Zhou Shaoqi was carefully watching the volunteer army on the way to the city. The volunteer army wore Western-style military uniforms and most of them shaved their heads. According to the report, this was to help wrap head wounds on the battlefield.

To a certain extent, although this trip has other missions, Zhou Shaoqi admires Lin Yanren from the bottom of his heart. He may be the only one who dares to fight with foreigners and can win.

"Mr. Wu is surprised that the anti-Russian army may have a certain combat effectiveness, but the reason why the Russians are not right..."

Only half of the words, Shoutian Liyuan and the people on the horse were attracted by a scene in the open space not far from the roadside. In the open space, there may be a row of recruits who were training. At this time, they stood up the fart dealer with their hands and feet, training their soldiers to carry military sticks, with two sticks from left to right.

The sound of the military stick hitting the buttocks echoed in the open space on the roadside, and the most surprising thing was that after the recruit was beaten, as soon as the soldier left the punishment of the next person, the newly punished recruit was running to the end of the team, waiting for the next round of the military staff.

In the whole process, each of them received at least a dozen military sticks, but they didn't hear the howl. There was only the crackling of hip sticks and the muffled hum of gnashing their teeth. The scene in front of them only stunned these people, especially Wu Peifu, Zhou Shaoqi and other officers sent by the Beiyang Supervision Institute. Of course, they understood the maintenance of military discipline. It lies in the "strictness of military law" and "the rebuke of the military stick". However, as in front of the eyes, the punished person only gritted his teeth and hummed when he was tortured, but it was difficult for the Beiyang Army to see it.

"Regone!"

With a roar, the recruits immediately stood up in panic. Only then did the military put down the three-foot-long military stick and paced back and forth in front of them.

"One person is wrong, the whole class will be punished!"

The roar of the military Cao fell into the ears of these people on the roadside. The roar made even the officers such as Tian Liyuan tremble. It was said that the group punishment in the army was often determined according to the mood of the military Cao or the officers.

"Yes, sir!"

"You bitches!"

The sergeant's scolding made Wu Peifu frown.

Then with the sergeant's scolding, they finally understood the reason why these people were tortured, but only because in the fighting training, the two failed to do their best because they were brothers, and the moment of soft-heartedness was tortured by the whole class.

"The discipline is too harsh!"

Wu Peifu rarely said a word.

However, Shoutian Liyuan is looking at this group of volunteers who "open a small stove", with a strange look in their eyes. As an officer, he can be very clear about the meaning of military punishment. Military punishment can bring combat effectiveness. Only when the army remembers military punishment to their bones will they die on the battlefield without retreat.

"Yes! That's true!"

Yoshitaro Hirakawa said that he had enjoyed similar treatment during his internship in the army, but the important surname of military punishment was that he did not want to share with these Qing people.

"Remember, this is to let you live. If you don't take off a layer of skin and drop a few pounds of meat here, and wait on the battlefield, what you take off is not the skin, and what hits you is not a military stick, but a bullet that will kill you!"

"Gentlemen, let's go! In front of them is Zhangwu County. After giving them this batch of weapons, maybe we will have a chance to visit their barracks, right?

Gently clamping the horse's abdomen, Shou Tian Liyuan said, if when he came, he only gave this thousand rifles and ammunition to the volunteer army by the order of the embassy, then now he has a strong curiosity about this volunteer army. From the military discipline, this army is a considerable army, and this army is severely punished by the anti-Russian army. I'm afraid the reason why I can survive is not just by "walking between the cracks".

When Shoutian and his party were hundreds of meters away from the city gate, Wu Peifu quietly slowed down. After being side by side with Zhou Shaoqi, he asked in a low voice.

"Kunjie, why do you think we can come here?"

After the first encounter with the volunteer cavalry, Wu Peifu had such a question in his heart. He didn't believe that he did not doubt their identity when he met the cavalry, but why he could easily put them into the heart of the volunteer army.

"They let us in, didn't they?"

(to be continued)