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"What?!"
Vlasov's face seemed to have been hit hard by something, and all the muscles in his face tensed up. He opened his eyes wide and shouted in disbelief: "When did this happen? Why didn't you report it to me before?"
"Your Majesty the Governor, this is all my fault. I beg you to punish me!"
Nikita knew that he was responsible for this incident, because when he received news about Dujigensk and Udisk and other places, he did not pay too much attention, thinking that it was just caused by some unconquered indigenous people.
A small trouble. [] And because of his negligence, he had to report it to the Governor-General a month after the incident happened, because he had no choice but to report it, and the seriousness of the situation had exceeded his estimate and the Nerchinsk Governor's Mansion.
It is not just places such as Dujigensk that have lost contact, but many cities and strongholds.
"What's going on, Nikita, please tell me what's going on!"
Vlasov was not busy punishing Nikita, he was eager to know what happened.
Seeing that the Governor did not scold him, Nikita breathed a sigh of relief and said in a deep voice: "The officials sent to Dujigensk and Udysk to collect this year's taxes were suddenly attacked by an unknown army. The number of the other party was not large.
, but they are all cavalry. They drove away any Russian officials and soldiers who tried to get close to the stronghold, and blocked the road to prevent the caravan from passing. In addition..." At this point, Nikita raised his head, hesitant to say something.
, after all, this is just his guess. The person who went to investigate the specific situation has not come back yet, so he cannot make an accurate conclusion.
"What else? Nikita, don't hesitate, just say what you have to say."
Vlasov was a little dissatisfied with Nikita's attitude, but he did not get angry because Nikita was his friend who had been with him for more than ten years and his most trusted subordinate in Nerchinsk. Many times, Vlasov
All affairs in the East were handed over to Nikita to handle. He believed that Nikita had this ability. Sometimes, many of his decisions were implemented based on Nikita's suggestions. The results proved that Nikita was not only sharp but also
He has great powers of observation and outstanding ability to do things. With such a subordinate and friend, no matter how angry Vlasov is, he cannot vent his anger on him.
Seeing that the Governor was looking at him, Nikita bowed slightly, no longer hesitated, and said quickly: "In addition, according to the merchants, the whereabouts of the caravans they sent to Guri River and Yask are also unknown."
"In the past, during this season, caravans loaded with medicinal materials and furs would come from the East, but this year not a single caravan showed up. This is very abnormal."
Alexey, another official in charge of taxation in the Governor's Mansion, added after Nikita finished speaking: "Your Excellency, the silver that was supposed to be transported was not delivered on time because of the broken roads. I guess it may be
The local garrison encountered some serious troubles, so they failed to transport the silver in time."
Dujigensk, Udysk, Yask, Guri River...this series of places intertwined in Vlasov's mind.
"map!"
Vlasov suddenly shouted, and the servant on the side hurriedly sent the map to the governor. After Vlasov reached out and took the map, he spread it on the table and started drawing on it with a pencil. Nikita
Alexei and other officials of the Governor's Palace, as well as several musketeers of the Guard, also came forward to mark the map with the Governor. While the Governor was marking, Nikita added the strongholds that were known to have lost contact one by one.
Lord Governor.
As the markings on the map were completed, Vlasov's forehead had wrinkled into a line, and Nikita and others' expressions were also very sad. Several officers of the guard quietly discussed: "Oh my God, how could this happen? It's terrible.
!”
"Did they make a mistake?"
"To be able to occupy so many strongholds, the enemy's strength should be very large. Emperor, it's hard to believe that such an army exists. Are they from the Qing Dynasty?"
"If that's the case, wouldn't we have lost more than half of our land?!"
"This is impossible, this is impossible!"
Not only were the officers confused, Vlasov also didn't want to believe it. He looked at Nikita nervously: "Are you mistaken? It's impossible for so many strongholds to lose contact with us at the same time. If that's the case,
, there is only one possibility!”
Nikita was also surprised. After all, he was just an official. When he heard the news, he did not connect these locations. Now that he saw the Governor's note, he realized that things might not be what he thought. He felt a little regretful about himself.
It's an oversight, why didn't you tell the Governor earlier? Otherwise, so many places wouldn't have been occupied.
"Do you think so, the Governor?" Nikita swallowed his throat. He was a little panicked. From the look in the Governor's eyes, he already understood what the Governor was going to say.
"They're lost!"
Vlasov threw the pencil to the ground in pain and almost roared: "Damn it, these strongholds have fallen! Oh my God, how could this happen? How can I explain to His Majesty the Tsar! Princess Sofia will hang me!"
The Governor became a little emotional. Nikita hurriedly held his hand and comforted him: "Your Excellency, I think things may not be as bad as you think."
"No, no, my most loyal friend, Nikita, you don't know, as a soldier, I trust my judgment." Vlasov shook off Nikita with force, sat down on the chair dejectedly, and murmured
He said to himself: "I really didn't expect, I really didn't expect, who occupied our stronghold? Who are they? People from the Qing Dynasty? How could they have such courage? Where did they cross our defense line?
of?"
When Vlasov fell into panic, Nikita quickly woke up from the panic and reminded the Governor: "Does the Governor still remember Vladimir and Cooper?"
"Yes, of course I remember them. They are the loyal guards of His Majesty the Tsar."
But they are already dead. Why bring them up at this time? Damn it, Nikita, my friend, you should quickly think of a way for me, otherwise everything will be over when the special envoy arrives! I think of representing His Majesty the Tsar.
The reaction of the imperial minister after learning about this incident made Vlasov shudder involuntarily. The Bryansk governor liked to hang people and strangle them to death.
"They were attacked by a Qing team. At that time, we did not have the strength to send troops to encircle and suppress them again. Now, after tasting the sweetness, this Qing team actually got into our rear, while the defenders of our stronghold
We were not aware of their presence, so we lost the position." Nikita tried hard to calm down the governor. Now is not the time to be afraid, but to come up with countermeasures. It is best to go on horseback to regain the lost territory.
"The Qing people cut off our communication with all the strongholds and blocked the roads. On the surface, it seems that these strongholds have been lost. But based on the past performance of the Qing people, I believe that they only used the advantage of the cavalry to cut off the communication lines, but it is absolutely impossible to capture them.
Our stronghold. Don’t forget, Lord Governor, there are musketeers defending strongholds everywhere, but the Qing people have never won a battle with us, even if they have several times or dozens of times the strength advantage. So
I think the situation is not as terrible as the Governor thought. Our stronghold was not lost, but the current situation was caused by the lack of cavalry superiority in various places."
Musketeer captain Nikolaevich also agreed with Nitaki's analysis. He interjected: "The Qing people built a city downstream of Yaksa. Based on the actions of this Qing team, they are probably preparing to attack Yaksa.
Because doing so will allow them to attack Yaksa without having to worry about being attacked by our reinforcements. Yes, Lord Governor, that is the fact. Our stronghold has not been lost. They just want to cut off our connections to prepare for the attack on Yaksa.
!”
"Yes, the Qing people have never been our opponents, and they have never captured our stronghold!"
The officers thought of the previous battles and started shouting. There was only one core point, that is, it was impossible for the Qing people to occupy the city guarded by the emperor. The officers were very emotional. In their statements, the bandits in the strongholds everywhere
The soldiers have all become the great warriors of His Majesty the Tsar, instead of just a bunch of poor criminals who sneak around, kill, and set fires.
"Yeah?"
The words of Nikita, Nikolaevich and a group of guards officers made Vlasov calm down. Yes, maybe he overestimated the Qing people. They had never defeated the Tsar's army, not even those bandits.
They can't defeat the army formed by them! Since they can't capture the strongholds everywhere, why should I be so afraid? Damn it, what's wrong with me? I can lose control because of something that is impossible to happen. Emperor, I should take good care of myself
Controlling his emotions, Vlasov subconsciously sat up, pushed his chest forward, and signaled his subordinates to continue.
"The special envoy came to the East under the orders of His Majesty and Princess Sophia in order to better implement the empire's eastern strategy, consolidate the land we have acquired, and force the Qing people to give up a larger area. If the special envoy finds out after his arrival that we have
If he loses contact with various places, he will definitely be furious."
Not being occupied does not mean that things can continue like this. If the Qing troops who sneaked into the rear are not eliminated, taxes from various places will not be transported to Nerchinsk, and merchants will not be able to trade. If the situation is allowed to continue
If it goes on, rumors will fill the whole of Nerchinsk, and the special envoy will definitely be angry. So Nikita decisively suggested to the governor: "We must mobilize the army immediately and tear this Qing army hidden behind us into pieces!