St. Petersburg, officially St. Petersburg, is not only proud of Peter as an arch, but also a symbol of the monarchy of the greatest Tsar Peter I of the Russian Empire and a symbol of the era of reform. At this time, the city, which had symbolized the Russian Empire since its completion, was completely shrouded in white fog by the collision of warm currents blowing from the Baltic Sea and cold currents blowing from the Arctic Ocean.

In the same way as the fog, the atmosphere of the city is somewhat strange, and the cossack horse's hooves echo from time to time on the stone-paved roads of St. Petersburg, and the Cossacks transferred from the banks of the Don River, carrying Mosinnacan dragoon rifles and Chasik cavalry knives pinned to their waists, patrolling the streets, and the agents of the Imperial Spy Bureau listening to all sorts of movements in factories, bars, and even almshouses.

Under the planning of Genjiro Akashi and with the financial and material support, in St. Petersburg and Moscow, the anti-war movement has emerged. The students chanted "Long live Ben!" marched in the streets to resist the "loyalty" campaign launched by the political axe, against joining the army and buying public bonds.

Forty days ago, in the early morning of January 22, 150,000 workers, women, children and elderly people from St. Petersburg came to the Hermitage Square to petition under the leadership of Pastor Gabon, a cadre of the Tsar's Secret Agent Bureau.

Father Gobon, dressed in vestments and carrying a cross, led the people, dressed in their best clothes, holding icons and portraits of Nicholas II, chanting hymns and begging the Tsar's "little father" to accept their petition, but a few days earlier the Tsar had moved with his wife and children to the camp in the outskirts of Tsarskoye Village, and the procession was only faced with an empty palace, and the Hermitage guards were horrified when they saw the crowd that had entered the square, and ordered them to disperse.

The guards first whined into the sky twice to warn them, but the men at the front of the procession could not stop because of the crowd behind them, so the soldiers opened fire on the advancing crowd, and the Cossack cavalry, who arrived later, dispersed the crowd with sabers.

On this bloody Sunday, more than 300 people were killed, trampled to death, and more than 1,000 were injured in protest against the massacre, and in protest against the massacre, a series of strikes and demonstrations took place in many cities, in addition to strikes and demonstrations, in Finland, Poland, the Caucasus, and other places, with the support of money and weapons, there were also national uprisings, countless estates in the Russian countryside were burned, factories went on strike, railways were suspended, and Soviets appeared for the first time in St. Petersburg, Moscow and many other cities, seizing local power.

Russia was on the verge of ruin, hundreds of uprisings had weakened Russia, and although the loyal Cossack cavalry and the vast majority of the troops were still strictly following orders, the atmosphere in the air made anyone feel the tension of St. Petersburg.

It is in this situation that Zhang Hao, who took the European railway and waterway intermodal rapid transportation system, came to Russia, and in the past, Zhang Hao was perhaps the busiest businessman and diplomat in all of China, and he and his subordinates had to help industrial companies and domestic enterprises to order machines at the best prices, and at the same time as a ruling axe, well! A year ago, the name Zhang Hao was unknown to the vast majority of people in Europe, and now, almost all of Europe knows that the name of the "Emperor's Special Envoy" who has placed an order of 175 million Chinese dollars in various countries.

After such a person with the dual status of envoy and businessman came to St. Petersburg, he was also welcomed by the Russian business community, and perhaps Russia could not export finished machinery, armor steel plates, steam turbines, chemical products and patented technology to China like other European countries, but Russia still had some special goods.

When he arrived in Russia at the end of February, he first inspected Russian factories, and then signed a long-term supply contract with the Russian industrial and commercial circles for 500,000 tons of wheat, and by the way, he also promoted traditional Chinese commodities such as tea and silk.

But only he knows that he came to Russia for another purpose, and when the secret cannot be concealed, then use the openness to cover up the news that he does not want to disclose, for Zhang Hao, this is a principle he believes in.

"Chairman Witte has no time to meet with your envoy for the time being!"

The messenger sent by Witte conveyed the news, which made Zhang Hao, who was stubborn and never gave up, feel a little discouraged, and silently pondered in the hotel room, this visit to Russia to Witte can be said to be the most important, and Nicholas II is easily influenced by the ministers around him.

As for His Majesty the Tsar, Zhang Hao did not expect his reception, not to mention that from January 19, 1905, he no longer dared to appear in his capital: that day when the Jesus was held in front of the Neva River in front of the Winter Palace, the Peter and Paul fortress on the opposite bank did not fire a salute, but let a real grenade fly past the Tsar's side.

In this case, it is simply a fantasy to want to see that tsar, not to mention, in their eyes, whether it is the Manchus or China, they are all "unsigned" allies.

He came to the street, the street was covered with a thick fog, as an Oriental, walking through the streets of St. Petersburg, he always felt as if someone was following him behind him, not everyone was against the Tsar, against Russia, and more Russians were happy to "track" him down as a possible "spy".

If he wants to follow, let him follow!

What matters is how to get Werther to meet his ......, thinking and walking at the same time. Suddenly, a bar appeared in front of him, and he pushed the door in.

After a while, while he was meditating with a glass in hand, a man sat down next to him. If you look closely, this is a gentleman-like man with a jaw and beard. He faced forward and whispered.

"I'm Sergey? Yulievich? Messenger of Chairman Witte, my lord asks me to convey to you that you must not meet in such a reckless way, and I wonder how many people in this city do not want to see our meeting between us......"

After a moment of silence, the man continued to drink while observing his surroundings. At the moment when people were not paying attention, they quietly put a letter on Zhang Hao's lap.

"Tomorrow at eleven o'clock in the morning, stop a carriage with a canopy in front of the hotel, you don't say anything, just sit in, I will wait for you in the car, and the carriage will take you to meet the master."

As soon as he finished speaking, he left.

This is...... This scene was completely beyond Zhang Hao's imagination, he knew that there were hundreds of spies in St. Petersburg, and many of those spies were staring at him. As a "businessman" with a special status, he came to St. Petersburg, and it was difficult not to attract their attention.

But Werther's caution is indeed beyond Zhang Hao's imagination, maybe this kind of caution is not only caused by those spies who take Jin Yuyuan or serve this for the interests of their own nation, maybe it is also a factor in Russia, but in his heart he hopes that it is the former, if it is the latter, then it will inevitably affect his mission in Russia.

The next day, March 9, Zhang Hao acted exactly as agreed, got out of the carriage, and came to a country estate on the outskirts of St. Petersburg, not far from Tsarskoye Village, which, as far as Zhang Hao knew, was not Werther's. He was led indoors, and standing in the room was none other than Sergei, the chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Russian Empire? Yulievich? Witte, who used a dead letter on the "Sino-Russian Secret Treaty" to induce Li Hongzhang to sign the secret treaty, looked at the Chinese emperor's envoy and royal businessman with a smile and sharp eyes.

In fact, from twenty-three years ago, after Zhang Hao came to St. Petersburg, Witte noticed that this "merchant" who came to the Russian Empire at the "most inopportune time" and in the "most inappropriate way", why did he come, just for cheap wheat? No! He must have had another mission.

"Your Excellency, I'm very sorry that out of caution, we had to use this way for our first meeting!"

Werther spoke in German, and for Werther, who could communicate in Russian, German, French, English, Swedish, and Finnish, his pro-German tendencies made him almost as fluent in German as Russian, and he knew that the young envoy in front of him, who had been studying in Germany, also spoke fluent German, which was why the conversation between the two men did not need to be translated.

Zhang Hao smiled slightly when Witt expressed his apologies, but he still noticed that Witt called him differently, which was a good start, which showed that he recognized his identity as an envoy.

"Your Excellency, this is like when a table of good food is served, it is inevitable that there will always be some flies flying over in search of taste, and it is necessary to cover the sarong!"

Zhang Hao's words were exchanged for Werther's laughter, he stretched out his hand and asked Zhang Hao to sit down, from Zhang Hao's answer, he had already understood the meaning of the other party, this time he came to St. Petersburg to shoulder a special mission.

"Mr. Special Envoy, you are far from showing generosity in Russia to the rest of Europe!"

Werther's complaint refers to the contract signed by Zhang Hao with the Russian business community, Zhang Hao smiled, if it weren't for cover, maybe he wouldn't even place those wheat orders, even if the other party has recognized his identity, then get straight to the point! What's more, the domestic requirements are also very clear, and it is necessary to reach a basic agreement with Russia before the 12th day.

"Your Excellency, this special envoy is here to convey a message to your country on behalf of His Majesty the Emperor!"

"Oh?"

"The Chinese Empire will defend the dignity of the Chinese Empire with the most resolute action!"

(To be continued)