Chapter 930

Snowflakes fell continuously, and the exhaled breath from mouths turned into mist in the extreme cold.

The Daur people, after their chief Puji and Zhu Sansi swore a blood oath, let out a primitive and ambitious cry. Although Zhu Sansi didn’t understand what it meant, he was sure it was at least not a bad thing.

“You yellow-skinned pigs, just wait! Our soldiers will kill every last one of them! Ah…” Vasily’s eyes were bloodshot, still arrogant and aggressive.

But his words were cut short by a scream. Great Yu Empire soldiers used their rifle butts to show him how to be a prisoner.

Seeing Vasily screaming under the Great Yu Empire soldiers’ beating, Puji nodded slightly. Then he said something to Guda.

“Division Commander Zhu, Chief Puji says he is willing to lead the tribe to submit to the Great Yu Empire, and is also willing to become your eyes in this forest-sea snowfield, guiding you to Albazin,” Guda said, beaming with joy.

A weight lifted from Zhu Sansi’s heart. These Daur people had always lived in this vast snowfield. With their guidance, they could save many detours on their way to Albazin.

“Please tell Chief Puji that as long as you sincerely submit to the Great Yu Empire, we will guarantee that you will no longer suffer bullying from these Tsarist Russians.”

Guda nodded excitedly, relaying Zhu Sansi’s words to Puji.

With a flash of white teeth, Puji bowed to Zhu Sansi, performing a Daur ritual. This signified submission.

“Division Commander, this is great! It seems we can continue to Albazin!” Gao Yingfeng licked his tongue. He wished he could immediately drive these Western bandits back.

On the way here, he learned from Guda about Tsarist Russia’s atrocities in the snowfield. Tsarist Russia basically used methods of extermination against the sparsely populated tribes in the snowfield. Many small tribes had now completely disappeared.

And their purpose in doing so was to completely occupy the Siberian snowfield, leaving no hidden dangers.

Guda’s account sent chills down the spines of the generals. They were very fortunate that in the past ten years, the Great Yu Empire had grown stronger and stronger under the Emperor’s rule. Otherwise, their fate would surely be as tragic as the Daur people’s.

“We must drive these Tsarist Russians back to their homeland! Otherwise, they will become a perpetual threat to the Great Yu Empire’s north! We fought bloody battles to drive out the Golden Tent Khanate; we cannot allow other foreign tribes to threaten the Great Yu Empire again in the north!” Zhu Sansi said with a firm expression.

After a moment of contemplation, he said, “There’s no time to lose. Now that we have the Daur people’s help, after a night’s rest, we will set off for Albazin.”

“Yes, Division Commander,” the generals responded in unison.

Vasily was still screaming. He looked at the grim-faced Great Yu Empire soldiers, and his heart sank. A bad premonition spread within him.

In the past century, Tsarist Russia had focused its main efforts on Europe. After various wars, they gained and lost territory in Europe. Overall, their process of acquiring land was very difficult.

It was under such circumstances that the relatively easy-to-conquer Siberian snowfields became the target of Tsarist Russian merchant expeditions.

Starting from Moscow, their footsteps extended all the way to contemporary Alaska. Their merchant caravans even traded with the Japanese on the islands north of Japan.

For them, Siberia was their sphere of influence, just like British overseas colonies. And massacring natives was a natural act in their eyes, because in their view, natives were merely assets, not people on equal footing with them.

However, now, they had clearly run into a brick wall. And this would be the shame of his life, for white people had lost to people of color, which would be the biggest joke in a Europe where white supremacy was prevalent.

And in his opinion, this humiliation would continue, because clearly, this heavily armed army was preparing to continue northward to seize their Siberia.

…

Qingzhou Province.

Three days after the news of allowing the establishment of mercenary companies was published in the newspaper, two mercenary companies were successively established in Qingzhou City.

These two mercenary companies were named Snow Leopard and Osprey, respectively. At the same time, news of recruiting mercenaries also spread.

To the excitement of some common people in Qingzhou Province, these two mercenary companies would pay a high monthly wage of twenty Golden Dragons, which was much more profitable than working in factories.

“Your Majesty, is it appropriate to entrust these mercenary companies to the Prince of Yong and the Prince of Huainan?”

In the imperial study, Pang Yukun still had some doubts.

“What’s inappropriate about it? Now that the Prince of Yong and the Prince of Huainan have voluntarily reduced their feudal territories, as compensation, I will give them some duties to perform. Otherwise, these two men, who have spent their lives on horseback and with bows, might cause me a lot of trouble in Qingzhou Province. Moreover, one is my in-law and the other is the Imperial Consort’s father. Wouldn’t it be much safer to have these mercenary companies in their hands than in the hands of other merchants?”

Reviewing memorials, Xiao Ming said calmly.

Pang Yukun shook his head slightly. He said, “The smooth reduction of feudal territories is indeed due to the merits of the Prince of Huainan and the Prince of Yong. Now, the lands of Huainan and Yong are both under imperial court rule. In these two years, the traces of the two princes have gradually been erased.”

“Precisely. They can’t cause much trouble now. The precondition for joining a mercenary company is swearing allegiance to the Great Yu Empire, so they cannot use these mercenaries to oppose me.”

Pang Yukun looked at the Emperor before him. These past ten years had brought him to the cusp of his prime, and at the same time, the Emperor’s political acumen made him increasingly unfathomable.

After a brief thought, he gained some understanding.

This incident involving the merchants’ council actually seemed less simple than it appeared on the surface. The most critical factor was not the Cao family, but the common people and merchants who were incited by the Cao family with just a few words.

From this, he saw a truth: common people were a group easily incited. After all, what the Azure Dragon King did had proven this. Those who followed the Azure Dragon King died, and this was only for a false promise.

Now, Xiao Ming was taking steps to strengthen imperial power. His purpose was to prevent unpredictable changes from occurring one day. At that time, he would at least have cards to play, and the nation would not be destroyed by malicious individuals.

“I understand.” Pang Yukun did not wish to pursue this matter further. He said, “Your Majesty, I have received a memorial from the Dengzhou provincial office, stating that a delegation claiming to be from Prussia has presented a state letter, requesting an audience with Your Majesty.”

“Prussia? This is truly an interesting matter.” Xiao Ming showed an excited expression. As far as he knew, France and Prussia in Europe had always been at odds.

Moreover, seven years ago, in the war against Prussia, they even defeated Prussia and seized one hundred and sixty thousand square kilometers of land that Prussia had carved out from Poland. Prussia had always resented this. Prussia’s visit to the Great Yu Empire this time was intriguing.

The novel has already been fully translated up to the final chapter. You can access it on my Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/caleredhair