Chapter 935

Stepping through the thick snow, Zhu Sansi trudged laboriously through the snow-covered expanse.

Here, there were no roads to be seen, nor densely populated villages. All that existed were boundless forests and empty land.

Despite the help of the Daur people, who guided them through Daur tribes along the way for supplies, the journey to Albazin remained extremely difficult.

“Division Commander, we found a Tsarist Russian stronghold ahead. There are over sixty Tsarist Russian soldiers inside.”

While Zhu Sansi was contemplating, the scout responsible for reconnaissance brought the news.

“Division Commander Zhu, this is a stronghold established by Tsarist Russia along the way, meant to provide supplies for Tsarist Russian soldiers advancing south. There are over twenty such strongholds around Albazin.”

Guda understood this area very well. He was the one who pointed out that the Tsarist Russian stronghold was nearby.

Zhu Sansi spread out the map. After marking the stronghold’s location on the map, he said, “If Guda is not mistaken, these strongholds serve as relay stations and supply points, providing supplies for Nerchinsk, Albazin, and Morgan. If that’s the case, we should now clear out the surrounding strongholds, turning Albazin into an isolated city.”

Gao Yingfeng nodded. He had now put away his impetuousness and was diligently performing this mission. The cold and the fighting capabilities of the Tsarist Russians in the cold made him dare not underestimate the enemy now.

Because just in these few days of marching, some soldiers had fallen ill due to the cold. They now only wanted to occupy Albazin as quickly as possible and sleep in warm houses.

“Division Commander, I suggest we divide our forces now and eliminate these strongholds as soon as possible. There aren’t many soldiers in Albazin, and we have enough men,” Gao Yingfeng suggested.

“I think so too. Concentrating these ten thousand men together might not be a good thing. From now on, we will attack nearby strongholds by regiment,” Zhu Sansi ordered.

Information from all sources indicated that Tsarist Russia’s power in these areas was not yet very strong. Nerchinsk and Albazin were just two cities within the Great Yu Empire’s former borders. Tsarist Russia also had many other colonial outposts scattered across the vast Siberian snowfields east of the Ural Mountains.

According to his understanding, the area of the Siberian snowfield reached an astonishing twelve million square kilometers, which was more than double the size of the current Great Yu Empire’s territory.

Tsarist Russia’s seven hundred thousand immigrants were distributed across such a huge land. Therefore, Nerchinsk and Albazin were primarily used as military outposts, serving Tsarist Russia’s southward expansion.

Precisely because of this, he could do many things by leveraging his superior forces.

Receiving the order, Gao Yingfeng immediately led a regiment of soldiers forward. After crossing a hill, they saw the Tsarist Russian stronghold below, on their inevitable path forward.

This stronghold was enclosed by neat wooden fences. Inside the fence was a circular area about two hundred meters in diameter, with wooden watchtowers seven or eight meters high. On the north side was a row of wooden houses. In front of the houses were many drying racks, on which hung dried meat and furs of bears, deer, and sables.

A bonfire burned in the center. About ten Tsarist Russian soldiers were lazily roasting meat and drinking.

A merchant caravan’s carriage was currently parked by the stronghold gate. The remaining Tsarist Russian soldiers continuously moved the furs stored in the houses onto the carriage.

“Heh heh, taking this stronghold will not only get us food, but also wooden houses to sleep in. Commander of the 2nd Regiment, lead your men to sneak over and take this stronghold for me,” Gao Yingfeng said sternly.

“Yes, Brigade Commander.” A burly man answered in a hushed voice, then waved his hand and led his soldiers down the hill. Under the cover of the forest, they continuously approached the Tsarist Russian stronghold.

Gao Yingfeng followed. They were not in a hurry to attack. Instead, they used their superior numbers to maneuver around and completely surround the entire stronghold.

Having completed the encirclement, Gao Yingfeng called for the sharpshooters in the army and ordered them to kill the sentries on the watchtower, to avoid being completely exposed during the attack.

“Bang…!”

With a gunshot, the sentry on the watchtower fell at the sound of the sharpshooter’s rifle.

At this, Gao Yingfeng led his soldiers in a frontal assault. Instantly, gunfire erupted.

The gunfire also alerted the Russians. Disregarding their current transaction, they picked up their firearms and sought cover to return fire.

Because of the frontal threat, all the Russians gathered at the front. At this point, the flanking soldiers stealthily entered the stronghold.

The Russians were completely unaware of this. As they were fighting, gunfire suddenly erupted behind them. Before they could react, the Russians fell one after another.

The gunfire ceased. Gao Yingfeng strode confidently into the stronghold. Although they had a numerical advantage, he did not adopt a reckless offensive strategy because of it. Everything was done to minimize casualties.

“You go back and report to the Division Commander that everything is going smoothly and they can advance,” Gao Yingfeng said to a soldier beside him.

The soldier left. Soon after, Zhu Sansi arrived at the stronghold.

Nodding slightly, he said, “There are still many such strongholds. There’s no time to lose. You and the Daur guides are to cooperate and clear out the strongholds around Albazin as quickly as possible.”

Receiving the order, the officers who entered the stronghold counted their men. After distributing the dried meat from the stronghold to the soldiers, they continued to head north.

Zhu Sansi watched the soldiers depart. He then said to Gao Yingfeng, “The Russians chose this stronghold well. Now this place is ours. You select some soldiers to stay and turn this into a relay station. Firstly, it can provide us with supplies. Secondly, it allows us to maintain communication with Jianzhou.”

Gao Yingfeng nodded and sighed, “What’s the use of taking this bitter and cold land? If we need furs, we can simply trade for them with Great Yu Empire industrial goods.”

“You know nothing!” Zhu Sansi glared fiercely at Gao Yingfeng. Ever since entering the snowfield, many soldiers had harbored such thoughts. He said, “Not an inch of land can be ceded. This is a bitter and cold land, but it is also the Great Yu Empire’s territory. Besides that, after taking Albazin, we still need to continue northward. You must understand that land is a resource. What we are doing now is building a foundation for our descendants. If you all think this way, this place will eventually be occupied by Tsarist Russia.”

“Then why don’t we just destroy Tsarist Russia?” Gao Yingfeng said, somewhat aggrieved.

Zhu Sansi also sighed. He wished he could slap Gao Yingfeng. This boy sometimes just didn’t like to think. He said, “It’s at least ten thousand li from here to Moscow. How can we fight with such a long supply line?”

Gao Yingfeng sighed and fell silent.

Zhu Sansi also sighed. He said, “I only hope His Majesty can build the railway here, otherwise, this place will truly be difficult to control.”

“But building a Trans-Siberian Railway probably won’t be finished in less than ten years, will it?” Gao Yingfeng again poured cold water on the idea.