The next morning, when Commander Yakov's armed forces came to the "Security Council" and demanded that the Chinese hand over Catherine to them, Ye Zhao issued a secret order demanding that the military authorities investigate and curb the indiscriminate killings of the Russian revolutionary parties.

Because of the indelible scars between the nobility and partisan groups caused by the Petropavlovsk massacre, bloody events in Yekaterinburg, Nizhny Tagil and other places occurred one after another, and the situation even got out of control.

Yakov is a radical populist, his armed forces gather revolutionaries, former Tsarist Russian soldiers, etc., in fact, from various intelligence analysis, Yakov can not talk about serving the Chinese, at most with the help of the Chinese offensive to expand his own strength, but the emperor [***] team has just entered the Urals, in order to maintain stability in the occupied areas, the high command usually adopts a policy of pacification for such forces.

For Ye Zhao, although there will always be more or less entanglements in his heart, he cannot judge right and wrong from the perspective of any group of Russians, and all he has to do is how to obtain the greatest benefits for the Chinese in the current situation.

Isn't it also a misfortune for this supreme ruler to think about the whole question?

In the afternoon, a few telegrams made Ye Zhao feel cheerful.

The "Sovereign" was completed and officially put into service, and the matchmaker reviewed its departure in Guangzhou.

This battleship with a displacement of more than 10,000 tons is translated in the West as Emperor Shengde, and is known as the Heavenly Khan in Central and West Asia.

In fact, the development direction of the Imperial Navy is not as vacillating as that of Europe, and the current generation of ship technicians has put forward the concept of all-heavy artillery, of course, the current technical conditions are only an idea, but it has put forward a new idea for the development of the Imperial Navy.

This is also closely related to the development of science and technology, such as because of the emergence of various alloy steels and the progress of industrial technology, the emergence of the hydraulic gas system of recoiling and rearing, and began to enter the stage of artillery experiments, that is, the pipe withdrawal in the popular sense. The original version of the power system, the steam vortex also appeared, of course, to be really applied, I am afraid it will take several years.

However, the imperial [***] industrial and technological system is the most efficient in the world, on the other hand, in Europe, taking the United Kingdom as an example, so far, the Admiralty only plays a coordinating role, except for one or two reading units, such as the Froude test pool and the Shubrines range, other research and development institutions are almost all civilian surnames, without state funding and support. Under this system, the exchange of information is naturally very free, there are no secrets, and there are very few things that are defined as state secrets or commercial secrets. and R&D under the high control of the empire are completely different concepts.

The Sino-Russian war certainly made the empire heavily indebted, but a large number of orders made the military science and technology and heavy industry groups develop by leaps and bounds, which actually played a role in promoting the empire's economy.

Of course, unlike later generations, the Empire's coastal defense policy is to presuppose and imagine a war in the traditional sphere of influence of the Empire such as the China Sea and the South Sea.

Needless to say, the only ones who could threaten the Imperial Navy in the Empire's sphere of influence were the British.

Along with the news of the Monarch's voyage was a telegram from Petrosko, in which the Chinese mission had arrived yesterday and had not yet made contact with the Russian and Turkish envoys when it had been invited by Germany, England, and Austria to join the list of signatories to the 1856 Paris Declaration of Naval Battle.

The Declaration of the Paris Conference on Certain Principles of the Sea was signed in Paris after the Crimean War by Great Britain, France, Russia, Austria, Prussia, Turkey and Sardinia, and later ratified by most European countries.

The Declaration is mainly a wartime maritime law that regulates neutral states, belligerent countries, civilian ships and warships in naval warfare.

The main content of the treaty is that the contracting parties will henceforth ban the privateer system forever; Neutral flags cover enemy cargo, with the exception of wartime contraband; Neutral goods under enemy flags are not subject to seizure, except for wartime contraband, etc., etc.

The fact that European countries were rushed to sign and agree to the declaration confirmed the rapid rise of the imperial status, and of course, it also showed that European countries began to be increasingly afraid of China's military strength, including the navy.

In any case, this message, like the previous one, is a cause for rejoicing.

Of course, the happiest thing is to name the two girls, Hua Ji and Shawa, who are two months apart from each other, and both gave birth to dragon girls.

When I got out of the study, I saw that in the corridor, next to the crystal handrail of a Roman column leading to the basement, Catherine was talking to Mama Li.

Ye Zhao walked over and asked, "What's wrong?" ”

Ekaterina hesitated for a moment and said, "I, I want to go and see their cemetery, can you take me there?" ”

Ye Zhao knew that she was talking about the maids Liu Bofu and Changsui, whose bodies had been collected by the guards and buried next to a small forest not far from the villa.

Ye Zhao nodded slightly and said, "I should also go and see." ”

Catherine smiled and said, "Thank you, you are such a good person. Then he said, "I'll go and change my clothes." ”

Ye Zhao coughed dryly, although her husband did not die because of herself, but the vigorous development of the populist party in Russia is inseparable from the impact of the Chinese invasion, and she always has to bear some responsibility, but now she has become a good person in her eyes, which is a little embarrassing.

Catherine's delicate face suddenly poked out through the crack in the bedroom door, and cautiously asked Mama Li: "Ms. Li, can you help me?" ”

Ye Zhao knew that the European aristocratic women's surnames were cumbersome, so he nodded to Mama Li.

After waiting for more than half an hour, Mama Li came to the study to tell her that Miss Yeka was ready.

Ye Zhao came out of the study and saw Ye Katerina slightly stunned, she changed into a gorgeous red court dress, perhaps the most gorgeous Western aristocratic dress Ye Zhao has ever seen, the huge skirt is layered, there are lace everywhere, the part from the towering crisp chest to the slender waist, the six blooming lace saffron flowers are delicate, the figure of the Russian Cleopatra is already excellent, coupled with the style of today's European dresses and underwear, the waist looks extremely slender and not grasped.

The high bun of red hair is delicate like a work of art, and it is bright and eye-catching.

"I couldn't find the right dress, so I wore the most beautiful dress, and I wanted to tell them that I was doing well." Catherine said with gloomy eyes.

This bewitching and glamorous queen who is famous in Russian high society, after experiencing many tragic changes, may be more like a lonely and helpless yellow warbler.

Ye Zhao nodded slightly and said, "Let's go." ”

…… Three small graves, with wooden signs in front of the graves, and the names of three people written in Russian, are surrounded by mounds and streams, shaded by greenery, and the environment is excellent.

When the carriage drove away, Catherine reluctantly looked out of the window.

In the carriage, the two of them stopped talking, thinking about their own thoughts, and it was not until they entered the city that Ye Zhao opened his eyes and looked at this strange city. Since the 18th century, Yekaterinburg has been the center of the ironmaking industry in the Urals, and today Yekaterinburg is the second largest industrial city in Russia after Moscow with steel mills, steam locomotive factories and other heavy industrial enterprises.

The disorderly state of regime change allowed the factories in Yekaterinburg to fall into the hands of the Chinese mostly undamaged, but it can also be said that they were still in the hands of the Russians.

Unlike immigrants from Novosibirsk and other places, immigrants often live in hardship to open up the east, and the thinking of Russians in Yekaterinburg and the Urals can represent the real Russian nation, they are not as easy to control as Russian immigrants, and the vast majority of people are hostile to the Chinese.

Many Russian industrialists did not flee Yekaterinburg, but stayed to protect their property, and some even organized armed care factories, although such armed forces were banned, but most of them were forcibly banned, and the resulting mass executions of Russians only intensified the hatred of Russians against the Chinese.

In the eighteenth century, there was a general yearning and worship for China in the West, and Russia was no exception, and the aristocracy was keen to collect porcelain, lacquered ornaments and Chinese art, even a few decades ago, most writers in the Russian world still praised China, such as Pushkin, referring to Chinese, Americans and Germans, calling Chinese Chinese who know etiquette, Americans rude Yankees, and Germans simply German ghosts.

In his poems, Onegin praised Confucius as a sage, taught him how to educate young people, and so on.

Most of these poets had never been exposed to China, but they came from an aristocratic background, and they were fascinated by China from an early age.

But as Westerners came into contact with the Chinese, especially after the Opium Wars, the Russians gradually looked down on their eastern neighbors.

Take the Russians in Yekaterinburg as an example, although the Chinese now occupy their cities, but the arrogant and barbaric national caste, they will not really give in, and still think that the Rus' are superior and superior to the Chinese.

When Yekaterinburg was first occupied, for almost a month, the imperial [***] army adopted high-pressure rule, such as a curfew, and the Russians who dared to go out into the streets when they encountered a curfew were directly killed; For example, if you hear a gunshot or encounter a cold gun, if you can't find the person with the gun, often a Russian in an alley is slaughtered, and all this does not need to be detailed.

Although these cruel methods made the Russians in Yekaterinburg hate the Chinese more, they at least made them dare not resist for the time being.

In any case, in this day and age, if you want to truly occupy the land of a people that has been formed and has a glorious history, especially when it involves densely populated areas, it may be possible to achieve it in a short time, but in the long run, it is difficult to digest.

Unless all Russians in the occupied territories are expelled from the country, the problem that arises is that such conquest will cause many problems and is not realistic.

However, the Emperor [***] team marched into the Urals, the Western Front Army, and even conquered Orenburg, if you don't toss it, how can you be willing?

Looking at the slightly depressed city, Ye Zhao was slightly fascinated.

Ekaterina didn't know what Ye Zhao was thinking, she whispered: "You are a good person, I just beg you not to hand me over to the thugs of the Free Commune, I would rather be dealt with by the Chinese." ”

After the worship, Catherine gradually woke up from her grief and realized her situation, and the news that she was taken in by Ye Zhao would definitely spread, and the scene of the mob gathering in front of the villa last night frightened her.

Every time she praised herself as a good person, Ye Zhao couldn't help but feel weak, especially just now, when she was thinking about a series of conspiracies that were more vicious for the Russians.

Waving his hand, Ye Zhao said: "I won't hand you over to the mob, the command asked, and I said that they recognized the wrong person." ”

Catherine knew that Ye Zhao had been appointed to an official position similar to the mayor of the city, and that she must be a powerful person in the East, but it would be too risky to take her in.

Catherine herself does not know what to do now, although there is an army in Ufa that is still loyal to the royal family, in Russia, there are several such cities, but the popular union has taken control of the overall situation, yesterday reading the newspapers, European countries are ready to recognize the legitimate surname of the popular union regime, these cities loyal to the royal family, either change their ways, or they will not escape the bloody suppression.

The popular coalition already had many enlightened nobles involved, and the originally disorderly rebellion and massacres were gradually curbed, and the number of nobles who threw themselves into the new regime only increased. And because of her special status, it is difficult for her to get pardon from the new regime, especially after her husband was assassinated, and the crown prince and prince were brutally killed.

It was Catherine who said, "If you send me to Ufa, I will thank you heavily", and the words came to her lips, but she swallowed them back.

Ye Zhao suddenly knocked on the carriage, and the carriage slowly stopped, next to a domed church at the end of the long street, there was a Chinese restaurant that was open, hanging a Chinese and Russian double plaque "Four Happiness Hotel", in front of the door, it was a Chinese guy, Ye Zhao was very surprised, so bold.

Nowadays, there are very few Chinese businessmen who come to Catherine.

However, this tavern must be very popular among the [***] people, and it is not the only one that can make a small fortune.

The layout of the whole city of Yekaterinburg is not a wide street running east-west, north-south, it is located on the riverside, the buildings of the city are somewhat chaotic, and the long street reaches this church, turns south, and slopes away.

Ye Zhao pointed to the Chinese restaurant and said to Ekaterina who flew down from the carriage: "Try the Chinese food outside." ”

The more than 30 guards guarding the carriage dismounted one after another, all of them wearing black Tang costumes and carrying rifles on their backs, which was not too conspicuous and quite a deterrent force.

When Ye Zhao walked towards the restaurant, he suddenly turned around, and entered the shop next to him, which was a hat shop, the door was only open by a crack, and the guards in front saw Ye Zhao turn, ran two steps early, pushed the door open, and several guards rushed in first.

With the introduction of the simple clothing style of the Central Plains, European women's clothing stores gradually started, and it was even rarer in Russia.

There are relatively more hat shops, and the hat shop that Ye Zhao entered has obviously been looted, and the part where the mural was originally hung on the wall has either become blank or the mural is damaged.

There are not many hats hanging on the wooden shelves nailed on both sides of the wall, and they are probably all stock.

The owner of the hat shop was a middle-aged Russian, and when he saw a group of Chinese coming in, his attitude was extremely cold, and when he saw Ekaterina walking beside Ye Zhao, he was slightly stunned.

Ye Zhao swept around and looked behind the boss, the boss didn't want to dodge, but was pushed aside by the guard with a flick of his hand, on the wooden frame behind him, there was an exaggerated red top hat, silver ornaments shining, beautiful feathers were half a meter high, Ye Zhao walked over and took it off, turned around to signal, and saw that Ekaterina did not react, so he put the hat on her head, nodded slightly, and said: "I feel that you lack a hat, and now it is perfect." ”

Ekaterina was stunned, she didn't know what Ye Zhao was gesturing just now, and heard Ye Zhao ask, "Is it okay?" She nodded subconsciously, but she didn't want Ye Zhao to wear a hat for her, this hat was bought for her?

Although she has been in exile for nearly half a year, she has been indelible in her life, and she likes this hat very much when she just saw Ye Zhao holding it in her hand.

The Russian boss has wilted, and the only treasure of the town store that has not been robbed has been discovered by the Chinese, and there is nothing more unlucky than this.

Ye Zhao asked him, "How much is the hat?" ”

The Russian boss was stunned, his face became even more bitter, so he took out a few silver coins from his body and gave them to Ye Zhao, and said, "I haven't sold a hat for a few days, this is the only silver coin I have." ”

Ye Zhao was a little helpless, turned his head to the bronze mirror, and beckoned to Ekaterina, Ekaterina had long wanted to go over to look in the mirror, seeing Ye Zhao's helpless expression, he didn't feel funny, these words, the tears had already dried up, and today was the first time that I wanted to laugh.

Walking to Ye Zhao's side, a big beauty with an elegant temperament appeared in the mirror, who was more delicate than flowers, and stood with Ye Zhao like a golden boy and a girl.

The interpreter over there has already begun to reprimand the shopkeeper, who is treating the emperor as an extortionist, don't you want to die?

"How much exactly? A copper coin isn't bad for you! The interpreter finally asked with a frown.

The shopkeeper scolded in his heart and pretended, thinking that the Chinese were pretending to be Sven in front of Russian beauties. There are many people who don't give money for things, and when they ask, they raise their hands to fight, and they don't even bother to say the words "requisitioned for the military".

"Fifty silver rubles." The shopkeeper cautiously quoted half of the purchase price.

The interpreter opened the briefcase, counted 250 yuan and handed it to the shopkeeper, saying that he would destroy the businessman, and a bird feather hat dared to ask for money to death. But where can you bargain for the emperor to pay the bills?

A silver ruble contains 4 Zolotnik sterling silver, which is slightly more than 17 grams, while the Central Plains silver coin contains about 35 grams of silver, and the ratio of the Central Plains silver coin to the silver rupee has always been 1:2, and the Imperial banknote is 5:1.

When Ye Zhao was about to go out, two guards suddenly stood in front of him, and several black shadows immediately pounced into the inner room with the curtain hanging, shouting loudly in Russian: "Don't move, raise your hands!" "It's something you have to learn.

A woman's exclamation came from the back room, and the shopkeeper hurriedly said, "Don't hurt her, she is my old customer, not a rebel!" ”

Under the threat of the guard's pistol, a beautiful lady in a noble dress walked out with her hands raised, her face pale and her body trembling.

The interpreter walked over and asked her aloud, "What do you do?" "Why are you hiding inside?" Yunyun.

The Russian woman was so frightened that she couldn't stand on her feet, and she couldn't say a word.

The interpreter looked at the shopkeeper, who was also being pointed at gunpoint, slowly raising his hands.

The shopkeeper said: "She, she came to pawn the hat, but I can't sell a hat for a few days now, I don't want to accept her hat, isn't this just saying, seeing you riding over, I, I, I will tell her to go in first to hide......" said after a pause: "If I can know that you are a reasonable Chinese gentleman, I won't ask her to hide, she is really not a rebel, you don't arrest her." ”

Ye Zhao waved his hand, and was about to leave, when Ekaterina exclaimed, "Anfia, is that you?" Ah, the Virgin Mary, it is really you. ”

The Russian woman looked at her blankly, and only then did she see Catherine, who dared to look at these Chinese in extreme fear just now?

"Katyusha......" The Russian woman looked at Catherine in amazement.

Katyusha is Catherina's nickname, family and close friends will be called like this, Anfia not only does not call Catherine Her Royal Highness, but uses a nickname, obviously the relationship with Catherine is not ordinary.

Catherine had already said to Ye Zhao: "Anfia is my classmate and my best friend, and her father is the local governor...... and then she stopped abruptly at this point, and then thought that she might have betrayed her friend.

The governor of Yekaterinburg, in fact, is an official position similar to the governor of the Ural region, Ye Zhao has swept the information about this governor, the tough royalists, commanded several defensive battles in the Urals, and seems to have broken through to Ufa.

Had it not been for the civil strife in Russia and the extremely rapid attack by the Chinese, it is expected that the relatives of the governor would not have been stranded in the occupied territories.

Ye Zhao nodded to Ekaterina and said, "You talk." He turned and walked out.

Catherine ran over and grabbed Anfia's hand, surprised and didn't know what to say. But seeing Anfia looking at her suspiciously, and then looking at the Chinese, Ekaterina blushed, with her identity, but she came together with the Chinese, and when she met acquaintances, she couldn't help but be ashamed.

But to say hatred compared to the Chinese, Catherine hated the revolutionaries more, and it was the revolutionaries who ruined everything for her.

"Is your father okay? What about your husband? Why are you here? Catherine asked her close friend a series of questions.

Anfia smiled bitterly and was even more embarrassed, and said, "I want to exchange my hat for some bread." ”

In Yekaterinburg today, food is more expensive than anything else, and Anfia sold everything of value, but she still ran out of food, and she and her husband had not eaten a full meal for several days.

(To be continued)