On the morning of June 24, there was some light fog in Irkutsk. Early in the morning, the group waved a white flag, staggered through the blockade line between the squadron and the Russian army, and walked towards the Chinese position step by step. This group of people is the Russian generals who want to surrender led by the governor of Eastern Siberia, Anuchin. They went to the position of the squadron today precisely for the purpose of negotiation.

"Stop, or we'll shoot!" When the Governor of Eastern Siberia, Anuchin, and others were less than fifty meters away from the position of the squadron, a shout of reprimands sounded. Several Chinese soldiers jumped out of the position, vigilantly watching Anuchin and the others.

"We're here to negotiate!" This, a young officer who knew Chinese stood up and said in broken Chinese. His name was Kashiyan, and his grandfather was a businessman who spent time in the northeastern region of China.

"Negotiations? Wait a minute, we're going to report back to the sir! Said one of the squad leaders guarding the front-line positions.

Such a report was made at the next level, and Cai Yun, Minister of the Chinese Army, also got the news. So, the Governor of Eastern Siberia, Anuchin, and others were allowed to enter the positions of the squadron, and after collecting their weapons, they were taken to Megget.

"Welcome, Your Excellency!" Outside the headquarters, War Minister Cai Yun greeted Anuchin and the others with a smile on his face. He knew that it must have been yesterday's psychological offensive that worked, and that these Russians could not hold on.

"It is a great pleasure to meet you, Your Excellency the Minister of War!" The Governor of Eastern Siberia, Anuchin, was also aware of Cai Yun's identity. Cai Yun personally came forward to greet him, which flattered him. At the same time, it was also felt that surrender to the squadron. Seems very sensible.

After entering the command headquarters. Cai Yun asked people to prepare coffee and some pastries. This was even more satisfying to the Governor of Eastern Siberia, Anuchin, and others. Although Irkutsk has an abundance of supplies, it refers to the basic means of subsistence, such as coffee and spirits, which they have not enjoyed for a long time.

After the greetings, the Governor of Eastern Siberia, Anuchin, directly expressed his intentions: "Your Excellency, the fierce battle between China and Russia in Irkutsk is for both sides. It's all a tragedy. In order to save the lives of countless young people who have fallen on this land, I hope that from now on both of us will be able to stop the war in Irkutsk! ”

"That is, are the defenders of Irkutsk ready to surrender?" Cai Yun said with a smile, he said very directly.

The face of the Governor of Eastern Siberia, Anuchin, was a little unpleasant, but he still nodded. Although what he said was so high-sounding, the core meaning was not surrender?

"Your Excellency the Governor. The defenders of Irkutsk surrendered, which I am very much in favor of. I promise. As long as you surrender, I will guarantee your lives! Cai Yun said immediately. Isn't that exactly what he wants to see?

"Your Excellency, in addition to the safety of our lives, we also hope that your army can guarantee the safety of our property and the treatment we should have after surrendering!" said the Governor of Eastern Siberia, Anuchin. Although Irkutsk is in ruins, high-ranking officials like him have amassed a lot of wealth. If all of them are scraped by the squadron, then he will be busy in vain in his life.

Cai Yun pondered for a moment, then nodded. Although Irkutsk is the second largest city in Eastern Siberia, Russia, it should not have much wealth, and there is no need to delay the surrender of the Russian army for such a small benefit.

Seeing that Cai Yun agreed, Anuchin finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"Your Excellency, Minister of War, in addition, we also hope that after the surrender of the soldiers, they will not be forced to work as coolies!" said the Governor of Eastern Siberia, Anuchin. The Chinese used prisoners of war to do coolies, which is already almost world-famous. Of course, this kind of thing is very common in all countries. Otherwise, why are you raising those prisoners of war for nothing? Isn't that a waste of food?

Cai Yun was a little unhappy, China also counted on using these prisoners of war to build the Trans-Siberian Railway, and connect the railways in China with the Trans-Siberian Railway! If these jobs are not done without prisoners of war, should the soldiers be allowed to do them?

"Your Excellency the Governor, we can't keep these prisoners of war for nothing. I can promise that the officers can keep the corresponding treatment, but the soldiers must trade their labor for the necessities of their lives. Of course, after the war, if the Russian side is willing to redeem these prisoners of war, we have no objection. Cai Yun said coldly.

The governor of Eastern Siberia, Anuchin, also knew that his request was a bit excessive, so he hurriedly agreed. In this way, the two sides basically reached an agreement. The fate of the 400,000 Russian troops in Irkutsk was decided in this short period of time.

In the afternoon, the Governor of Eastern Siberia, Anucchin, and his entourage returned to Irkutsk and informed Grand Duke Nicholas and numerous generals of the contents of the negotiations. There is no objection to this. Although those ordinary soldiers were to be captured to do coolies, this had nothing to do with them, the generals. It's already very good to be able to save your own life, so why bother with those ordinary soldiers?

On the morning of June 25, the negotiated Russian army in Irkutsk officially surrendered to the Chinese side. 400,000 Russian soldiers put down their weapons and walked out of Irkutsk, which they had built into a fortress, and surrendered to the squadron. Grand Duke Nicholas and other high-ranking generals were all sent to Kulen, and the ordinary soldiers were sent to temporary prisoner of war camps. Soon, when the region is stabilized, they will begin to work on the construction of the Trans-Siberian Railway for China, as well as other infrastructure construction.

At the time of the surrender, Grand Duke Nikolai did not forget to send a telegram to the Russian War Department. In the telegram, he stated that surrender to China was the will of all the defenders of Irkutsk, not his personal decision. And advise Tsar Nicholas II to find a way to end the war as soon as possible!

At the time of the surrender of the Irkutsk defenders, it was exactly 3 a.m. Moscow time. However, the officer on duty, who received the telegram, did not dare to slack off and immediately rushed to the Minister of War Alexei? Nikolaevich? Kuropatkin's mansion woke him up from his bed.

Knowing what happened, War Minister Alexei? Nikolaevich? Kuropatkin was also greatly shocked, and after getting dressed in three or two, he rushed to the palace to meet the Tsar. He knew that the surrender of the army led by Grand Duke Nicholas would be a huge earthquake for the whole of Russia, which would make the situation facing Russia even worse.

At four o'clock in the morning, War Minister Alexei? Nikolaevich? Kuropatkin met Tsar Nicholas II, however, Tsar Nicholas II was blue at this time, not only because he was disturbed from sleeping, but more because of the surrender of 400,000 Russian troops in Irkutsk, which made Russia face a more severe situation.

"How could Grand Duke Nicholas do this? Shun trusted him so much, he actually surrendered to the Chinese! My 400,000 elite troops! Tsar Nicholas II was furious, like an angry lion.

War Minister Alexey? Nikolaevich? Kuropatkin buried his head and did not dare to say anything more, for fear of being angered. He is cunning and cunning, how can he not know the current situation. After the defeat of the navy, the defenders of Irkutsk had lost their fighting spirit, and if they did not surrender, they were afraid that there was only one way to die. Therefore, for the decision of the Grand Duke Nicholas, in fact, he understood very well.

Soon, Prime Minister Sergei, who was urgently summoned? Witte, Interior Minister Vyacheslav? Previ, Foreign Minister Izvorsky, and the thinker Pobedonoszev all rushed to the palace, and on the way there, they also learned of the surrender of the army led by Grand Duke Nikolai, and they were all very shocked.

"You say, 'What are we going to do now?' The defenders of Irkutsk have surrendered, hundreds of thousands of elite squadrons will go to Omsk, how can we withstand the attack of the Chinese? Tsar Nicholas II said with red eyes.

"Your Majesty, now the Chinese have gathered 200,000 people in Omsk, and more than 100,000 more are advancing towards Omsk. However, due to logistical pressure, their troops in Irkutsk should not all be committed to Omsk! "War Minister Alexey? Nikolaevich? Kuropatkin said.

"So, can you assure you, Joseph? Vladimirovich? Will Marshal Gurko be able to hold the Chinese east of Omsk? "Tsar Nicholas II, staring at Alexei tightly? Nikolaevich? Kuropatkin.

War Minister Alexey? Nikolaevich? Kuropatkin was speechless for a moment. Although the Russian army has concentrated nearly 500,000 troops west of Omsk, he still has no confidence at all in resisting the attack of the squadron.

"Your Majesty, I think that it is now impossible for the Empire to win the war, and it is time to end the war. If the war continues, Russia will collapse! "Prime Minister Sergei? Witte stood up and said that although he knew that this was very undesirable to Tsar Nicholas II, there was no way out, and Russia no longer had the strength to continue the war.

"Your Majesty, I also think it's time to end the war. According to the information received by our ambassadors to Britain, France and the United States, the new British Foreign Secretary, Lord Lansdowne, and the French Foreign Minister, Alexandre Brown? Ribo, U.S. Secretary of State John? Sherman, they are already on their way to China, and they all want to make peace with China! Foreign Minister Izvorsky said. (To be continued.) )

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