Siberia is relatively easy to control, but it is difficult to govern, this vast and cold land is extremely sparsely populated, and there are many ethnic groups, and it is difficult to reach government decrees.

Without hundreds of years, it is almost impossible to digest Siberia. Zhou Huchen understood this, but the reality was that in order to occupy, he must first drive Tsarist Russia back, back to the west of the Ural Mountains.

The vast land can be cleaned up slowly, but the first thing to clean up must be Tsarist Russia.

Although it has entered spring and the weather is gradually warming, the melting of snow has become the biggest obstacle to the return of the army to the south.

Reindeer live in such an environment all year round, there is no problem, but the horses are not, and the mud makes more than 100,000 troops have to stop repeatedly to rest and recuperate, and the speed is seriously affected. When Zhou Huchen returned to the military base at the northern end of Xiaohai, it was already mid-March in the fourth year of Hongguang.

At the beginning of the short rest, Zhou Huchen also began to arrange the battle plan.

"Our first target was Bratsk, a castle built on the upper reaches of the Angara River, one of the most important military strongholds built by the Rakshasas on the lower Yenisei River. To get to Bratsk it is necessary to cross this southwestern plateau, and although there are no roads, Buryat guides know where to get to Bratsk. This time, General Mo Yanhua Mo will be the vanguard. ”

Zhou Huchen pointed to a map, the simplest military map showing the rivers, terrain, mountains, and military strongholds of Tsarist Russia along the way.

"Marshal, it's difficult to send troops this time, we have no food, do you want to wait for supplies?" The quartermaster first asked the question, and it seemed that this long winter had exhausted all the food.

"It's not okay to wait for supplies to come up, time doesn't allow. Food is not a problem, our Mongol allies all eat meat, and we can do the same! On the way, there is prey, you can eat fish and meat, and you can go to the Buryat tribe to get some sheep, so that you can get to Bratsk without any problems. ”

The words are simple. However, eating meat for a long time made the soldiers want to vomit, and they still have to eat like this, without a grain of food, the difficulty can be imagined.

Zhou Huchen knew this situation, but time waited for no one, he could only comfort everyone: "Isn't it good to eat meat without the difficulties that we can't overcome?" Of course, supplies will come up soon, and a lot of land has been reclaimed near the base, and there will be a harvest this year. It's better in the future! ”

The crowd was silent. The Mongol cavalry didn't care. They are accustomed to eating meat, but Zhou Huchen's soldiers are from the Central Plains, and eating meat for a long time will have a great negative impact on the body.

Zhou Huchen understood what the generals meant, and he scratched his head: "Isn't this the beginning of spring?" There are many wild vegetables in the steppes and forests of Siberia. There are also wild fruits, mushrooms, and the like, which can be said to be inexhaustible! These things are all good things, and others can't eat them if they want to, so just add them. But remember, be sure to let the Buryats see if they can eat it, and don't go wrong. ”

No one can say anything, Zhou Huchen, as the coach, eats the same as everyone. Actually, no matter what you eat. As long as they don't starve to death, Zhou Huchen's soldiers will carry out the order, not to mention, there is really no shortage of meat to eat in Siberia. In addition to the abundance of wild animals, this camp is home to a lot of camels. Reindeer and sheep, it is impossible to starve to death. As for wild vegetables, mushrooms and the like, they are indeed good things, and they are definitely a delicacy for the soldiers who have endured the winter.

After resting for three days, taking some lamas with them, the huge army began to move under the guidance of Buryat guides.

The location is just north of the green valley, and there is a huge gorge in the middle of the mountain, and this unknown canyon can be reached through the mountains to that plateau.

After a day's time through the canyon, the snow had melted and a savannah glowing green appeared in front of me.

The Mongol cavalry began to cheer, the steppes were so similar to their homeland that the Mongol warriors who went out on the expedition seemed to see their own beautiful homeland. The endless green steppe is almost the same as the Mongolian steppe except for the absence of cattle and sheep.

The horses galloped happily, and the tender green pasture was undoubtedly the gospel of the war horses, and the horses that had endured the hay for a winter were scattered, and the feast of the horses began, and the soldiers sat on the grass easily. Blue sky, white clouds, and green meadows make up a beautiful picture.

The smoke rises, and a dinner party on the grassland makes people feel happy, although the food is extremely simple, not much different from the past, but this is a kind of enjoyment, the enjoyment brought by the environment

When the army entered the middle of the steppe, a river appeared ahead, which was not too wide and was a tributary of the Lena River in the north, and to reach this river was a day's journey from Bratsk.

Moving on, the army, of course, did not drive directly to the Angara and stopped after half a day of marching.

If given the chance, Zhou Huchen wouldn't mind using the raid again.

The scouts soon brought news and discovered Bratsk, a castle built fifty miles away on the west bank of the Angara River. The news brought by the scouts was not very good, because the Bratsk Castle was very well built, it was surrounded by water on three sides, backed by a large natural lake, and only the west side was a land attack.

To attack Bratsk, you have to cross the river, and then you have to prevent the Rakshasas from escaping.

It seems that shipbuilding will be urgent in the future.

Although there are not many people, Zheng Sen is also used now, because his subordinates are familiar with water warfare.

Zheng Sen naturally will not shirk, not long after being civilized, the river is not turbulent, although it is still a little cold, but there is no problem in touching the river, as long as the boats in the Rakshasa people are controlled, everything is over.

More than 100 of the best soldiers were selected, and when these soldiers, who were unusually familiar with the water, led a large army to find a breakthrough in the lower reaches of the river, the huge army led the horses and crossed the Angara with ease

The next day, before nightfall, Zhou Huchen's army bypassed the tributaries at the southern end of Bratsk, and then stopped at the edge of a primeval forest more than 30 miles south of Bratsk.

The night in Siberia is very unpeaceful, and the sounds of various birds and beasts are long and poignant, which makes people feel that the night is full of danger.

March was still the beginning of spring in Siberia, and the river was still cold and biting, and in this biting water, many faint black shadows brought up a slight scale in the river, and they quietly approached a few humble ports behind the Bratsk Castle.

There were dozens of modest boats in the water behind the castle, and when these dark shadows climbed to the boat at the port, there was no movement in the few simple earthen houses behind the castle.

"Grandma's Siberia is really cold, I'm freezing to death! Hurry to the shore! ”

The ship had left the castle far in the water, and one of the sailors on board finally couldn't take it anymore, and he complained, shivering like chaff.

"It's not far, it's coming soon, go back and drink some mare's milk wine, wear some warm clothes, and it won't be cold in a while!" Another sailor, who was paddling in the night, was better than him, after all, paddling could withstand some of the cold.

"It's not bad, it's a pleasure to drink," said the sailor, continuing to shudder, hope at hand.

Complaining is complaining, but this is a military task, it must be completed, not to mention that there is still wine, it has not tasted wine for two years, these Buryats make mare's milk wine feels so good, and the sailors are already a little impatient.

The paddling sailor laughed: "These damn rakshasa ghosts are so negligent, waiting for the dawn to die!" ”

Dozens of boats slowly approached the shore in the dark, and then the soldiers who answered quickly handed over their clothes and scented mare's milk wine