"Smack!" "Smack!"

Above the plain, several crisp gunshots rang out.

Under the threat of gunfire, more than a dozen figures were fleeing in confusion.

"Quick, run, if they catch you back, it's definitely a dead end..."

One of the figures glanced back at the pursuers behind him, and then said to his companions.

But at this moment, with the sound of a gunshot, one of the figures suddenly fell to the ground screaming...

"Ah!!h

Looking at his companion who was screaming on the ground with his leg in his arms, the rest of the people just glanced at it and continued to run forward without looking back...

They all understood that since the man had fallen, he was hopeless.

What's more, at this time, even they themselves may not be able to be saved?

"Damn, how did those guys find out?!"

After cursing so fiercely in the abdomen, a dozen figures continued to run forward.

It was only after they had run a distance of almost a few hundred meters that they found that an entire cavalry company of 78 men was waiting in front of them...

Looking at the entire cavalry company in front of him, the man in the lead muttered with a pale face.

"How could it be, how could it be, how could it be the regular army who was in charge of the pursuit!"

But just when the leader was still there and couldn't believe it, the people around him had already knelt on the ground one by one, begging for the lives of these regular soldiers in front of him―――――― although building the railway is not a human job, it is better than being killed by these Wehrmacht cavalry now, right?!

That's right, these dozen people were prisoners who escaped from the "labor camp" at night...

Although it was said that in order to make these prisoners work hard, the construction team commanded by Zhan Tianyou has never treated these laborers badly in terms of three meals, except for the freedom aspect, which is no different from ordinary laborers.

However, because the "labor camps" are responsible for high-risk death sections, coupled with the extremely long working hours of at least 16 hours a day, and the harsh environment in Xinjiang Province, the mortality rate in the "labor camps" has always been high, and those who are still alive are also suffering because of environmental problems.

Of course, Yan Guang knew all this, but Yan Guang didn't care much.

Because in Yan Guang's view, since these prisoners in the "labor camp" dared to rebel at the beginning, they must be characters with their heads on their belts.

Therefore, although Zhan Tianyou has repeatedly proposed that the construction conditions should be improved for the people in these "labor camps", Yan Guang threw it aside every time after reading it, and over time, Zhan Tianyou gave up.

After all, in order to affect the construction time, those dead sections always have to be filled in.

And the construction workers under him, even the ordinary workers, were from serious families, and in the end they had to take these captured rebels into the tank.

However, it is a pity that although Yan Guang looks down on these characters with their "heads on their belts", these rebels are not as tough as they were when they launched the rebellion.

These rebels, who were very energetic in burning, killing and looting when they launched the rebellion, could not bear the conditions in the "labor camps" at all. In addition, they also used to lick blood on the knife edge, so naturally, all kinds of escape incidents have been repeatedly banned.

After all, "the mortality rate in the labor camp is too high, and although Zhan Tianyou and his engineers are soft-hearted, the Wehrmacht officers who have arrested them and are in charge of overseeing the work have no surnames...

"Take human lives to fill in..."

This is definitely not a joke, in some of the death sections, the highest mortality rate even fell to death more than a dozen people in a day. Of course, it's okay if they don't work hard, but there are at least a hundred guns aimed at the back, why don't you try it?

In the past, although it was the military who was in charge of supervising the work, it was the construction team's escort who was in charge of the pursuit.

It's just that today I don't know why, but it was actually the Wehrmacht cavalry in pure black uniforms who caught up, and these regular soldiers were usually only responsible for sending newly captured prisoners to the "labor camp"...

"Forget it...", looking at the Wehrmacht cavalry in front of him, the man who took the lead closed his eyes. Although he will definitely be punished after being caught, or even arranged for those projects with a high mortality rate, it is much better than dying now, and the Han people have a saying that if you stay in the green mountains, you are not afraid of no firewood, as long as you can live, you may not have a chance to escape in the future..."

It's just that just when the leader opened his eyes and was about to surrender, he heard a series of bolts pulling...

This was followed by a dense burst of gunfire...

More than ten seconds later, more than a dozen fugitives on the plain were lying on the ground. And the cavalrymen who had put their guns out stepped forward and stabbed them with sabers to prevent anyone from playing dead...

It's just that under the fire of more than seventy carbines, these defenseless guys are obviously dead and can't die anymore, although the possibility of suddenly becoming zombies cannot be ruled out, but this probability seems to be a little too small...

It is not surprising that these Wehrmacht cavalry will kill the killers, because of the harsh environment of the "labor camp", there are too many people who have fled in recent times.

Therefore, although Zhan Tianyou and others were unwilling, the general in charge of supervising the work decided to make an example of Yan Guang after consulting Yan Guang. Kill all the fleeing captives, then fire the European countries of the Age of Discovery, hang these fugitives on the gates of the "labor camps" until they dry ...

At the same time, in order to prevent the construction team's escort team from being unable to do it, the general of the army who supervised the work also specially transferred a team of cavalry from Yang Zengxin. These cavalrymen are veterans of many exchanges of fire with the rebels in the past, and they may be merciful to others, but for these former rebels...

Facts have proved that this operation is still very effective, at least looking at the nearly 100 corpses hanging at the door and being dried, the probability of the prisoners in the "labor camp" fleeing has been greatly reduced―――――― and the number of direct suicides has been much increased.

However, these are not the overseers' responsibilities, he only needs to supervise the progress of the railway, as for the "labor camp" will there be a shortage of people?

The rebels in Xinjiang Province will be arrested every once in a while.

And even if these rebels are arrested, won't there still be Tibetan provinces and Mongolia?

These two places are also areas where the rebellion is more serious, although the support of Britain and Russia has decreased a lot in recent times, but this does not mean that the rebellion problem is gone, so the supply of "labor camps" is still very sufficient, and there is no need to worry about this problem at all.

――――――――――

Of course, Yan Guang, who is far away in Yanjing, will not know what is happening in Xinjiang Province, but even if he knows about it, Yan Guang will not care―――――― many orders are given by him, if he cares, he will see the hell.

What's more, Yan Guang is not a person who has never been on the battlefield, and for him, the word soft-heartedness will appear on men and women, but not on rebels.

Therefore, what Yan Guang is concerned about now is only the post-war division of interests after participating in the European War.

Therefore, after making his own request, Yan Guang just stared at Zhu Erdian...

And after listening to Yan Guang's request, Zhu Erdian also fell into deep thought.

"Iraq? Kuwait? ”

Seriously, if China can send 300,000 to 500,000 troops, or even completely replace Russia's role on the Balkan front, then these two costs are actually not very high.

Although in later generations, Iraq and Kuwait were both famous places of black gold, and many countries were even willing to fight for the black gold under the land of these two places.

However, in Iraq and Kuwait at this time, the former was nothing more than a wasteland with little area but few resources. As for the latter? It's just a small place with no geographical location, no resources, no land, and so on.

If it weren't for the intent to pin down and weaken the Turks, Britain would not have snatched Kuwait from the Turks at all.

However...

"With Iraq, maybe there won't be any problems, but Kuwait..."

Iraq is still Turkish territory, and the British will not feel distressed even if they carve it out. In fact, it was Britain who acquired Iraq after the war, but for a period of time afterwards, the British did not care about this "barren" map at all.

But Kuwait's words...

Although the small ones are almost negligible, and the resources are almost non-existent from the perspective of this era, Britain is the protectorate of Kuwait after all, and the bureaucrats in Whitehall may not agree to assign their protectorate to other countries...

After all, the British Empire has been the supremacy of the sea for hundreds of years, and the temper of the lords of Whitehall has accumulated a lot over the past few hundred years.

Transferring enemy territory to allies is nothing to gain after the war, because this is the usual method of the British, but if the protectorate is also divided―――――― although the small ones are almost negligible, I am afraid that the lords in Whitehall will also refuse because of the problem of face...

Let alone...

Zhu Erdian thought it was strange!

Iraq and Kuwait were well-known wastelands in this era, this is a well-known thing, and since it is well known, why did Yan Guang still ask for these two places?

And now Yan Guang's attitude is clear, if you don't give me these two places, I would rather make a fortune in silence than send troops?

Since he thought of this question, Zhu Erdian naturally asked it.

As for Zhu Erdian's question, Yan Guang's answer was both practical and simple.

"I want other good places, will you give them?!"

That's right, even if Yan Guang wants a good place, the question is, will those people in Whitehall be willing to give it?

You must know that the interests of the post-war period were already divided among Britain, France, Russia and other countries before the war. Especially those places with abundant resources or vast land, although they are still in the hands of the Allies, they have already made their names in Britain and France...

Yan Guang had no problem with Iraq and Kuwait, as both places were under the influence of the British. Even if it is drawn out, it is nothing more than the British suffering a loss, and nothing else, but if Yan Guang wants other places, then it will be necessary to redivide the post-war interests...

Therefore, in the face of Yan Guang's answer, Zhu Erdian had no choice but to say.

"In that case, then I will go back to the embassy and convey your request to London, Mr. President..." However, Mr. President, there is one thing I would like to make clear: I am afraid that the question of Iraq will not be very problematic, but in the case of Kuwait, I am afraid that there will be some trouble..."

"It doesn't matter, anyway, if these two places are not in hand, I will never send troops, you can reflect this to the prime minister of your country..." Of course, I also hope that Mr. Ambassador's translation will be a little more tactful..."

Zhu Erdian, whose face had become much stiffer, suddenly had a wry smile on his face after hearing Yan Guang's words...

"This ......... Well..."

With that, Zhu Erdian stood up from his seat.

"Then Mr. President, I'll take my leave..."

"Okay, don't send it!"

"Good to go? Don't send it? ”

Although Zhu Erdian has lived in China for many years and can be regarded as a China expert, he obviously can't understand the true meaning of these four words―――――― after all, literally, there is absolutely no problem with these four words.

Therefore, after hearing this, Zhu Erdian could only nod and say.

"Goodbye then..."

With that, Zhu Erdian left Yan Guang's office and returned to the embassy to report the conversation between himself and Yan Guang to London.

After the report returned, Zhu Erdian was ready to go back and forth between the two sides, after all, he still knew very well how many bureaucrats in London had their surnames, not to mention that the country that asked for help this time had been a country that had paid reparations to Britain many times.

But the ideal is very backbone, and the reality is very plump...

Although Jurdian was prepared for the worst, the reality was that the result was perfect.

After Zhu Erdian delivered Yan Guang's request to London, London did experience a quarrel, but the final result was to agree to Yan Guang's conditions.

This was indeed unexpected by Zhu Erdian, but it was normal.

Because on the Western Front, the onslaught launched by the German-Austrian forces has caused heavy losses on both sides, while the landing battle launched by the Anglo-French forces in the Dardanelles is close to failure...

At this point, Iraq doesn't matter anymore, as for Kuwait?

While there were some objections within Whitehall, the strongest of them was Winston Churchill, then Lord of the Admiralty. Because at present, China's strength is growing rapidly, especially in terms of industrial output value, which is growing at a rate of more than 10% per year. Although China is not much of a threat compared to the British Empire, if it continues to grow at this rate, Britain will have to consider China as a threat...

In East Asia, Britain has an ally with a long-standing grudge against China, as well as many colonies such as Hong Kong, which can play a role in containing China.

In the Middle East, it would be even more perfect if Kuwait was in hand―――――― although both places are quite barren.

It's a pity that at this time, because the Battle of the Dardanelles was close to failure, Churchill's position was also in jeopardy, and at this time, Churchill, as the Minister of the Navy, had a very low weight to speak, and the Entente was in a difficult situation on the Eastern Front, the Western Front and the Balkan Front, and a new force was indeed needed to join, even if this new force did not join the Western Front battlefield they expected.

So in the end, Whitehall agreed to Yan Guang's request.

After all, Iraq is just a wasteland of little value in their eyes, as for Kuwait? With Kuwait in hand, it is indeed possible to clamp down on the Iraqi side, but the original purpose of taking Kuwait was to clamp down on the Turks, if the war can be won, there is no need to use Kuwait to clamp down on the Turks―――――― Britain, France and Russia have decided that after the war, they will definitely divide the Turkish horses who dare to participate in this war!

What's more, it is worth exchanging these two wastelands for nothing, in exchange for three and a half million troops. Therefore, when Zhu Erdian took the telegram from London, his face still looked incredulous―――――― when did those bureaucrats in Whitehall become so efficient?

Not to mention how much the British would regret it afterwards, looking at Zhu Erdian who appeared in front of him, Yan Guang was also extremely excited.

After all, Iraq and Kuwait are both famous black gold places in later generations, and if you win these two places, China will not need to worry about oil in the next hundred years...

Now that the post-war interests have been divided, some things before the war should also be made clear. It's just that this aspect is much simpler than the post-war interests, after all, the pre-war interests are nothing more than money.

In this regard, the unequal treaties signed by China and Britain and France have once again eliminated many of them, and at the same time, Britain and France are willing to provide China with war loans of no less than 10 million pounds per year―――――― interest-free...

This aspect was raised by Britain and France, after all, they are also well aware of China's financial problems.

And although it was only 1915, some civil strife had already begun to occur in Russia, and since there was already civil strife in Russia, Britain and France did not want China to have internal problems because of the war, just like Russia.

In addition, Russia also agreed to send manpower and material resources to extend the Central Asian Railway to Xinjiang Province until it was opened to traffic with the Dilan Railway under construction. In fact, although Russia was struggling on both the Eastern Front and the Balkan Front, it was very active on the issue of railways.

Of course, there is a relationship between the fact that materials can be continuously transported into Russia after the opening of the railway, but Russia is also fantasizing about the problem that it will be more convenient to enter Xinjiang Province after the opening of the railway―――――― and it is obvious that the Russians still have a longing for Xinjiang Province.

It should be noted that the cost of building the Dilan Railway has been fully borne by Britain and France, and it is no longer Yan Guang himself. After all, now that the Dardanelles has been blocked, if the Dyland Railway can be opened, it will also be good news for Britain and France...

As a matter of fact, the importance of the Dylan Railway has been raised to a very important level within the Entente, and this importance is even higher than China's entry into the war―――――― and Britain and France have agreed so happily to the issue of Iraq and Kuwait to some extent and the Dylan Railway.

――――――――――

At dawn the next day, Yan Guang, who had rested for the night, glanced at the beautiful face beside him, and began to think about whether to recruit more female secretaries to his office, and then "take care" of his diet and "living"...

"Anyway, some time ago, several female parliamentarians proposed the issue of formulating a marriage law, prohibiting concubines and establishing monogamy, which has been opposed by myself and the vast majority of male parliamentarians, and it doesn't matter if I find a few more female secretaries as the president, right?!"

Thinking so, Yan Guang sat up from the bed.

And Yan Guang's movements also drove the beautiful woman beside her, but after waking up, the woman didn't say anything, just gently changed Yan Guang's clothes―――――― before taking care of Yan Guang's daily life, she had learned some of Yan Guang's living habits, one of the more important habits is that Yan Guang likes to be quiet a lot of the time, especially he doesn't like people to make noise in his ear...

The beautiful woman took this to heart.

As for Yan Guang, after the beautiful woman changed his clothes for him, he just patted her forehead and got up and left the room.

It's not that Yan Guang doesn't want to sleep more in the room and enjoy the gentle countryside or something. He was really busy with the dispatch of troops today, so Yan Guang could only leave the soft bed and walk to his office alone.

In the presidential palace, when Yan Guang walked into the office, Wang Yaowu, Song Dinghan, Jiang Baili and others had been waiting in the office for a long time...

"Baili, this time the matter is going to trouble you!"

After a series of greetings, Yan Guang whispered to Jiang Baili beside him.

Although in terms of actual combat experience, it is obvious that Cai Ye is stronger, but Cai Ye's body is not as good as Jiang Baili. In addition, because of the war in Shandong last time, Cai Ye worked very hard, and the tuberculosis, which had been much better, seemed to be about to recur, so frightened Yan Guang hurriedly arranged him to a sanatorium around Yanjing.

So this mission to Turkey can only be entrusted to Jiang Baili.

After all, Jiang Baili is not inferior to Cai Yi in many aspects, but he has some flaws in actual combat. Although the battle in the Caucasus was important, only three infantry divisions were dispatched, which was suitable for Jiang Baili to command.

After listening to Yan Guang's words, Jiang Baili also nodded excitedly.

"Please president, Baili must live up to his mission..."

A month later, the three infantry divisions of the first class, led by Jiang Baili, first arrived in Vladivostok by boat, and then went to the Caucasus via the Trans-Siberian Railway.

Yan Guang and others in Yanjing couldn't get out of Vladivostok to see them off because of official problems, and they could only pray for a smooth journey for Jiang Baili and his party in Yanjing City

(To be continued)