Chapter 20 Small Abacus

In the history of world war, like the Russian War, it is very rare that the two warring parties are far away from the mainland and run to the land of other countries to fight. The political axe of the Qing Dynasty, similar to the [***], disregarded the national sovereignty and the people's life and death, declared "external neutrality", and regarded this place by the Qing court as the "Zulong court". The land of Liaodong, the birthplace of origin, is the only one in ancient times.

For a country, there may be nothing more humiliating than this.

March 1905, China, Liaodong. The winter sun hangs coldly on the western mountainline. The cold wind of Siberia tore a broken Russian flag. The sky is full of beacon fire, and the battle is urgent; the corpses are piled up like mountains, and the earth is devastated. Since February 8 of the first year, when the Japanese army did not declare the war, the Russian War has been fought for a year and a month, and the war has entered a white-hot state of glue.

Two days ago, the Russian army was forced to retreat. The Japanese army occupied Fengtian. After the victory of the Fengtian battle, the Japanese army did not stop marching, and took advantage of the victory to cross the north bank of the Liaoning River at noon on the 11th, detoured at least near the West Fort of Tieling North Town, and forced the Russian army to retreat to the iron collar. In the face of the new commander of the Russian army, Ligne like a fierce tiger going down the mountain. Veitch immediately ordered the troops to retreat to the front line of Kaiyuan and Changtu.

Kaiyuan City is just a small city. This small city, which is located on the side of the South Manchurian Branch Railway, does not seem to be a key town geographically. After the 10th, it became the headquarters of the Russian Manchurian Army. As the headquarters, there is an armored train parked outside the railway station.

Three days ago, the armored train equipped with multiple 57mm Nordenfield rapid-fire guns and Mark Qin heavy machine guns, despite the roadblocks set up by the Japanese army, sprayed blazing artillery fire and swept the Japanese army's Qiushan detachment approaching Fengtian Old Railway Station. Due to the lack of counterattack firepower, the Japanese army had to use "human bullets" to blow up the railway tracks. However, due to the saturated firepower of the Russian armored trains, none of the Japanese "human bullets" were successful, and the casualties increased greatly. The two strange soldiers are like a flowing barrier, making it impossible for the Ao Baogong Army of the Japanese Army to continue to penetrate deeply into Fengtian.

Although the partial victory could not reverse the overall situation, on March 9, the 1st Army of the Japanese Army broke through the position of the 1st Russian Army near the old station. The advance of the Japanese army in this direction and the rounding movement of the Third Army (only a few kilometers away from the railway) constitute a direct threat to the encirclement of the Russian army under Fengtian City.

Under such circumstances, Kurobatkin had to issue an order to abandon the city, and the armies retreated in a hurry. When the Russian army withdrew from the city, it was bombarded by the Japanese artillery. The armored train was still like an iron stream to suppress the enemy's artillery fire, winning valuable time for the troops to retreat and build a new line of defense in the original position.

It was the armored train that saved the Russian Manchurian army from the bad luck of being besieged and anniled, and now, the armored train is still a trump card in the hands of Lnienivic.

At this time, the front of the armored train was spitting smoke and was preparing to go south. In the railway station, the soldiers who lacked guns and even bare hands after Fengtian retreated were jumping into the train carriage. A train dragged dozens of carriages and kept retreating to the north.

"Rinevich must be crazy!"

Lieutenant Colonel Mannaheim of the 52nd Nesen Dragon Cavalry Regiment of the 2nd Manchurian Army, which was waiting to retreat, was scratching. A few days ago, it was these Finnish cavalry who cooperated with armored trains to cover the main force's retreat, but now the troops are going to retreat again and retreat to Siping Street to rebuild their positions.

"Who knows? Maybe Rienevich was scared by himself!"

Manxon, who caught up with the train, replied.

"Maybe he thinks it's safe to withdraw to Siping Street!"

"You don't have to worry about yourself if you retreat to St. Petersburg!"

"Yes, just like Alexeyev!"

The prison is scratched, but the order is always to be executed. At the same moment when the Japanese army just occupied Tieling, the Russian army suddenly gave up the defense line of Kaiyuan or even in Changtu, nearly 100 kilometers, and withdrew all the way to Siping Street. This kind of withdrawal method, even Kulobatkin, has never been issued.

When the soldiers were scratching or happy in their hearts, Kaiyuan Railway Station was also busy. The heads of the engineering regiment were unexpectedly told not to destroy the railway, which was a strange order, and Likubayev, the station train of Kaiyuan Railway Station, was even told not to destroy any station facilities.

The orders one after another not only filled the Russian officials with doubts, but also puzzled the field observers stationed in the Russian army.

"General Alexander, is Lignevic crazy!"

Te Tao, the German lieutenant colonel, asked Alexander he met face to face when the headquarters was transferred. Major General Samsonov and the British and French observers next to him all looked at the Major General who was extremely brave on the battlefield with the same eyes.

"I don't know if he is crazy or not, but I'm sure that the whole Russia is crazy now!"

Alexander. Major General Samsonov spit out an inexplicable word, and then left straight away. He had to command the troops to retreat.

Do you know what he means? Someone asked, and everyone shook their heads.

"Gentlemen, I think it may be because the Russians have lost too many weapons, and now they are unable to block the attack of the Japanese army at all. Instead, they take the initiative to retreat to Siping and take advantage of the favorable terrain of Siping, which can not only limit the round-trip attack of the Japanese army, but also buy more time to repair the fortress. Maybe this is a wise choice."

"Yes, now for Russia, there is no hope of winning at all. The only thing they need to do now is to stick to the four flats and provide a certain bargaining chip for peace!"

While observers from various countries were talking there, Lnevich, the new commander-in-chief of the Manchurian Army, was having a conversation with his predecessor, Kurobatkin, the current commander of the First Army, between the two of them.

"This is the edict from the Tsar!"

In the face of Kurobatkin's doubts, Lignevic answered.

"Why! Lenevich, I know this is the decree of His Majesty the Tsar, but what I need is the reason!"

Kurobatkin questioned that he could not understand that the army would give up the 80-mile defense line overnight. Although it was a predetermined plan to build fortifications around Siping Street, the 80-mile could buy time for the defense of Siping Street.

"Kurobatkin, my friend,"

Libniec looked out of the window and then continued.

"I need your support and help. Now for us, time is running out. We not only have to withdraw from the main force, but at most we can only leave a division here, preferably a division that has lost its combat effectiveness. If they are all wounded, it would be great, and then I also need a reliable and credible general. The army will lead this division!"

Standing up, Lignevic walked to the map and pointed to the map.

"His Majesty the Tsar made this decision because we have reached an agreement with the Chinese!"

"Agreement?"

Witt, who stood in front of the Tsar, presented the agreement to His Majesty with both hands, and then boasted proudly.

"Your Majesty, I think for Russia, this "Russian-China Secret Treaty" is no less than the "Russian and Qing Dynasties Mutual Aid Treaty" signed by Chen and Li Hongzhang nine years ago. Although on the surface, we paid for the Middle East Railway Company, in fact we did not give anything to the Chinese people! Or, don't pay anything!"

At this time, Witt did have his own proud capital. Nine years ago, he tricked Li Hongzhang to sign the Treaty of Mutual Assistance to the Enemy. Russia used an illusory treaty to make Russia without a single shot. In fact, it turned Manchuria into Russia's sphere of influence. Not only that, it also used the Chinese to It has invested in the development of the Northeast China-Russia Daosheng Bank. From beginning to end, Russia has used the Manchu Qing Dynasty to achieve control of Manchuria.

"Witt, I'm glad to have you as an important minister of the empire!"

Nicholas II looked at the text of the secret covenant, as if he looked up at Vit and asked.

"When will the Chinese launch an attack on Japan?"

There is a hint of urgency in the Tsar's tone. Now he wants to see more than anyone else that the Chinese are involved in this war, whether they win or lose, Russia is sure to win!

"I think it should be tomorrow!"

Witt said affirmatively that he had received a secret message from Lignevit. The content of the secret message was very simple, and only the two of them could understand the secret.

Hearing that the Chinese will be involved in this war tomorrow, Nicholas II, who was a little excited, stood up and said.

"The Chinese think they are very shrewd. They take advantage of Russia and Japan to get involved in this war and maximize their own interests, but they forget a little!"

As a tsar, although he was never ready to be a tsar, even when he learned of his father's death and knew that he had become a tsar, he resisted the throne. Although this was his mission, Nicholas II, who was easily influenced by others, did not think he could become a good person. The Tsar.

After the inevitable outbreak of the war, he tried to use his own efforts to prove to the world that he would be an excellent tsar. The Russian Empire was still the powerful Russian Empire, but the cruel facts ruthlessly hit his confidence, making him helpless to choose to escape from reality. Hide in your own small corner, looking for a trace of comfort.

But what about now?

In the face of such a treaty that is beneficial to the Russian Empire, he suddenly saw the hope of victory. Perhaps now the subjects will oppose him, but in a few months, the whole Russian Empire will spread his wisdom. In the end, he is still the "little father" of the Russian people. Any dissatisfaction Emotions will be dispelled by a glorious victory.

"Witt, I think for us now, the only thing we need is to wait for the result of their attack on the Japanese army after the Chinese are isolated from the war zone. Whether we win or lose, we don't care, or even don't care. What their results are, it doesn't matter to Russia, but Russia. The only important thing is that we will get a valuable respite because of the war between China and the two countries. Lignevic has got time to repair the troops, and we can send more troops to Manchuria, although in return, the Second Pacific Fleet will use the Golden Bay in the French colony of Indochina as a deterrent. Measure and guard against the mobilization of the fleet. In Jinlan Bay, the long-distance fleet can be further repaired.

Nicholas II's voice suddenly increased a little, which fully revealed his excitement at this time.

"Your Majesty, I believe that a situation that is very beneficial to Russia has emerged. In this war of the Three Kingdoms, Russia will be the final winner. Now the Chinese people will launch an attack when they are exhausted. If their attack loses, in the next few months, the army will suffer. When it comes to heavy losses, in order to ensure the victory on the one hand, they will definitely seek peace with China in order to let go of their hands and feet to solve China's problems. What we need is to see the loss of the two [***] teams. If both of them are exhausted, they will tear up the secret contract. The same is the same unilateral peace, and once we attack China with all their strength. It will definitely increase the losses of the Japanese army, and China will definitely try its best to resist, which will only further cause the losses of the Japanese army. At that time, Witt, I think our opportunity has come. Before the intervention of various countries, with the spread of the battlefield to North China, there will be a war situation in favor of Russia in Manchuria, and our country can take it again. This Sino-Russian Secret Treaty, when the main force of the Japanese army fell in North China, drove the Japanese army out of Manchuria and merged Manchuria from China.

Taking a deep breath, Witt was even grateful for how shrewd his abacus was. Even in an instant, he felt that when his painstaking Far East expansion turned into a bubble, it became a reality again.

"If the Chinese army defeats the Japanese army, China can also get the opportunity to make peace with the Japanese body. At that time, for the Japanese army, the only thing they relied on was the navy. For them, the most important thing is not to win the war, but how to end the war!"

When Vit said so, Nicholas II nodded in agreement.

"It's true. At that time, the most important thing for those dwarfs is to end the war, but to continue the war without hope of victory, and the position of the Russian Empire in this war is transcendent! It can even be said that it will become a force to control the war situation!"

"Yes, Your Majesty, at that time, Russia will get unexpected rewards because of this status of the left and right war!"

Witt said his original intention at this time. His voice was a little decisive. He believed that he had created the most powerful condition for the Russian Empire, which was also the reason why he was finally willing to return the South Manchurian branch to China, sell the Middle East Railway to China, and even give up his privileges in the northeast.

Because from beginning to end, he never thought about the real implementation of this treaty, just like the Treaty of Mutual Assistance to the Enemy. In his opinion, this secret treaty is just a cover!

In his opinion, when China is unable to implement the treaty, naturally the so-called treaty does not need to be observed. This is also his insistence on adding an additional clause to the treaty that "on the premise that China has the ability to ensure that Manchuria is not controlled by a third country and that the Middle East Railway and the South Manchuria Branch are safe, Russia The reason why the Empire returned it.

"Your Majesty, the power we lost in the treaty is, in essence, just a paper return. Most of China's privileges in Manchuria are related to the railway. If we do not return the railway, most of the privileges will not be lost. Moreover, the privileges lost today, tomorrow, in China because of this When the war is extremely weak, Russia can also further win more privileges!"

"Do you mean that China can't win the war against Japan?"

Nicholas II looked at Witt, who brought him hope, and asked, "If China could not win the war at all, then Russia must be prepared for the other hand, as Witt said.

"Your Majesty, I agree that whether you win or lose, the result of the war is that the Chinese army will definitely suffer serious losses. If the navy expands to the Yangtze River, the Second Pacific Fleet in Jinlan Bay can cooperate with the United Kingdom, the United States and other countries to interfere with Japan, and at the same time, the threat of this fleet, like ten years ago. Similarly, tempting China to give up the Nanman Railway and redeem the Middle East Railway! Although everything returns to the original point in the end, I think we will win this war!"

"What if they win?"

Nicholas II asked a rhetorical question.

"If China wins, it can be seen that the Chinese are bound to return to North Korea, and Russia will enter North Korea again! As for the Japanese version! They started a war, but in the end they will lose everything!"

Vitt's answer made Nicholas II meditate for a while. This is not the answer he wants to see. The answer he hopes for is a glorious victory, a victory that is enough to change the people's views on themselves, and use a military victory to transfer the increasingly intensified contradictions in the country. This is what he needs. Of.

"Vitt, I think between China and Japan, we don't need them to win at all. I think the final victory can only be Russia, not China, or Japan!"

Speaking of this, Nicholas II bowed his head and hesitated for a while, and then looked up at Vitte.

"Witt, I think the Russian Empire is different from the Chinese Empire. The Chinese Empire is limited by their power. They can win a war by speculative means, but what about us? For Russia, Russia needs to prove its dignity in war!"

This is the first time that Nicholas II used the "Chinese Empire" to call China. When the words changed, what he cared about was the "glory" of the Russian Empire, or his "glory"!

"After a proper rest in Jinlan Bay, we must launch an attack on the Japanese navy. No matter what the result of the land battle is, we must launch an attack on the Japanese navy. Russia must end the war with a brilliant naval victory!"

When Nicholas II said this, Witt almost fainted directly. He and himself worked hard to manage all this. In the end... Your Majesty gave up the easy victory and chose. He was crazy... He must be crazy!

(to be continued)