Chapter 1370, Daming people can't have an accident
In the Polygonal Palace in Moscow, Grand Duke Vasily III of Moscow was discussing national affairs with ministers.
The war with the Crimean Khanate was very difficult. The Tatars, who had many advanced Ming Dynasty firearms, had the ability to attack fortresses. Coupled with their already strong cavalry and archery capabilities, the Muscovite army was defeated one after another.
Several cities were lost, and tens of thousands of Slavs were sold by the Tatars as livestock to the Ming Dynasty.
At the same time, in the eastern border area with the Kazan Khanate, suddenly many Kazakhs migrated from the Kazakh Khanate.
Due to their hurried migration, these Kazakhs lacked cattle, sheep, food, and supplies for the winter. Therefore, like the Tatars, they continued to plunder the Principality of Moscow.
"These Kazakhs are more greedy and cruel than the Tatars. They are like locusts everywhere they go. They don't even intend to let go of a piece of wood."
A minister was reporting to Basil III the terror and greed of the Kazakhs.
"We must put pressure on Amin of the Kazan Khanate. This traitor, he betrayed us, and now he even allows these Kazakhs to plunder us."
"No, we must send troops to attack the Kazan Khanate. Not only must we wipe out all these hateful Kazakhs, but we must also cut off Amin's head and make it into a drinking vessel."
"Yes, blood debts must be repaid with blood~"
One by one, the ministers shouted, the Slavs are a very bloody nation, and they are barbaric and warlike at heart.
Listening to the chatter of the ministers, Vasily III frowned and remained silent.
He knows very well that the current situation in the Principality of Moscow can be said to be very bad.
Internal and external troubles~
The Tatars, Kazakhs on the outside, the Poles and Lithuanians in the west, and the internal side, there are still a large number of people who oppose their rule. The Slavs have never been unified and cannot unite their strength. This is what Slavs do.
People have always been willing to be bullied.
He is committed to unifying all the Slavic principalities and bringing the power of the Slavs together, but he has only been a grand duke for a few years and does not have enough prestige and strength.
"Report~"
At this moment, someone walked in hurriedly.
"I just received news that a group of people under the banner of the Ming Empire entered our territory and fought with our cavalry, killing dozens of our cavalry."
"General Puskov has led his troops to encircle and annihilate this group of Ming people. Please give your Majesty's instructions!"
"What?"
"People from Ming Dynasty?"
When everyone heard this, they immediately stood up.
At this juncture, people from the Ming Dynasty appeared again.
"How many of them are there?"
Basil III asked quickly.
"The number is not large, only a dozen or so, but they are very elite and very good at mounted shooting. A cavalry team of our border patrol encountered the opponent and was almost completely slaughtered."
"Only a dozen people?"
When Basil III heard this, he was immediately relieved. It was not an army of the Ming Empire.
"What are a dozen people doing in our Muscovite Principality?"
"Are they the envoys of the Ming Empire?"
Vasily III thought carefully.
"Your Majesty, these Ming people are the most abominable. If the Ming people had not sold arms and weapons to the Tatars, we would not have to be afraid of the Tatars at all."
"Also, it was these Ming people who bought slaves at high prices that stimulated the Tatars to rob us Slavs."
"We must kill all these Ming people. All the Ming people who dare to enter our territory must be killed to let them know how powerful we are!"
The ministers under his command kept shouting.
These Ming people were so arrogant. They killed dozens of people on the territory of the Principality of Moscow and yet they dared to walk towards Moscow. They were simply arrogant and lawless.
"Quiet~"
Vasily III glanced at the ministers, shouted angrily, and suddenly became extremely quiet.
Although Basil III is still very young and has only been in power for a few years, he is currently the last princess of the Byzantine Empire. He has inherited the Byzantine Empire's acting style since he was a child and is arbitrary. As soon as he came to power, he aggressively eliminated dissidents.
Anyone who opposed him was killed by him.
The traditional Duma deliberations are just a formality here and have no effect anymore.
"Send an order to General Puskov not to harm the Ming people~"
"Ask them clearly about their purpose of coming, and don't provoke the Ming Dynasty people."
Vasily III gave the order coldly.
Then he looked at the ministers and nobles present, and said: "I know that everyone hates the Ming people, and we all know that what happened to us Slavs is inextricably related to the Ming people."
"But I think everyone is also aware of the current situation in the Principality of Moscow. We are surrounded by enemies on all sides. More importantly, because of Tatar plunder, our normal production has been destroyed. We will face the most serious food crisis this year.
"
"It is very easy to kill these dozen Ming people."
"But this does not solve the problem we are facing. It is easy to kill a dozen Ming people, but I think everyone has heard that people from the Ming Dynasty must retaliate."
"Killing more than a dozen Ming people, the Ming Empire will definitely put pressure on us. Maybe in the past we didn't have to care at all, but now, the Kazakh Khanate has been destroyed, and there is only one barrier between us and the Ming Empire.
With the Kazan Khanate."
"As for the Kazan Khanate, they have surrendered to the Ming Dynasty. Amin, the traitor, has sent people to send beauties and treasures to the Ming Emperor."
"At that time, the powerful army of the Ming Empire can launch an attack on us directly through the Kazan Khanate. Who among you is confident that you can stop the powerful army of the Ming Empire?"
"The powerful Ottoman Empire was beaten by the Ming Dynasty and had to cede territory for compensation. By then we may not even have room to cede territory for compensation. The Tatars will not let go of such an opportunity."
Although Vasily III liked to act dictatorially, he was still quite intelligent and knew exactly what he should do and how he should do it, instead of just acting haphazardly.
Vasily III's words made everyone calm down, and they all nodded after thinking carefully.
The people of the Ming Dynasty are not easy to mess with, and this fact has already spread to the Principality of Moscow.
A few years ago, there was even a sky-high price bounty order reaching the Principality of Moscow, which inspired many Slavs to embark on the path of bounty hunters.
The powerful influence of the Ming Empire was known even in the Muscovy Principality, a remote corner of the world, and was greatly affected by it.
…
In a place less than two hundred miles away from Moscow, Zhang Wei looked at the Moscow army that surrounded him from all sides, and his whole body was obviously in despair.
"It seems like it's really over this time."
Zhang Wei smiled bitterly and said to the person next to him.
"It must be finished. There are at least several thousand people here."
"It's over, it's over, but if you want to kill me, I will risk my life to take a few of them away."
"It's just that we are afraid of a hammer, and the court will avenge us."
The escorts around him all had stern expressions, but they were not timid. The flag bearer even carried the Ming dragon flag upright, fluttering in the wind.
"Mr. Xie, Mr. An~"
"I'm afraid we can't continue to escort you, but fortunately we have arrived at the Principality of Moscow, and the mission is half completed."
"You are Slavs, they will not make things difficult for you. After you find your relatives, you can go to the Principality of Poland and Lithuania, take the Baltic Sea to Hong Kong in England, which is also an overseas colony of our Ming Dynasty, and then take the bus back to Ningguo.
Then you will be safe and sound.”
"I will write a letter to explain all this. After arriving at Xihai Island, give this letter to the person in charge of our Black Sea Escort Bureau, and they will return the silver to you."
Zhang Wei came to Alexei and Andrei and explained the situation to them.
At the same time, he quickly picked up a pen and paper and started writing letters, including letters to the escort agency and letters to his own family, which could be regarded as leaving a will.
"Please, Mr. Xie and Mr. An, please take these letters back to Daming and send them to our families, thank you!"
Zhang Wei collected the letters one by one and handed them to Alexei's hands very solemnly.
"Don't worry, as long as I live, I will bring these letters back to Ming Dynasty!"
Both Alexei and Andrei were deeply moved by people like Zhang Wei.
The Ming Dynasty's escort agency really interprets its mission with life. As long as it is an escort, it will go through mountains and fires, even if it is lost, it must complete its mission. If it cannot complete the mission, it will directly refund the money.
"Mr. Zhang, I used to be a noble in the Principality of Moscow. I will go and have a good talk with them first. Maybe there will be a chance."
Alexey looked at the people around him, thought for a while and rode out.
"I am Alexei, a hereditary boyar (meaning noble), and I want to see your commander."
Alexei came to the military formation and looked at the Muscovite troops in front of him. He knew that he had to stand up, whether it was for Zhang Wei and others, or for the Slavs who he could not let go of.
If Zhang Wei and others are really allowed to die here, the Ming Empire will definitely be furious. When the powerful Ming Empire puts pressure on the Muscovy Principality and declares war, what will the Muscovite Principality do to resist?
Once the Principality of Muscovy falls and is subjugated, the Slavs will really become a slave nation in the future. At that time, there is no telling how many people will pounce on them like sharks smelling blood and bite them hard.
Having seen the prosperity and power of the Ming Empire, Alexei knew very clearly that nothing could happen to the Ming people in front of him.