Van der Ping's orders must be carried out, which is clearly instructed at home. The task of contacting Kerensky naturally fell on Lu Zhengxiang. Kerensky was a man of letters, and there was no valid reason for his dealings with the top Chinese military generals, even though they were Russia's most important allies.

After Fan Deping and others left the embassy, Ambassador Lu Zhengxiang asked the secretary to contact Kerensky, and if the other party had time, he would want to pay a visit at the house. The secretary called and reported that he was sorry, but he was not at home because of something today. Lu Zhengxiang could only find another opportunity.

Lu Zhengxiang didn't understand why China valued this 36-year-old young man. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs did instruct him to strengthen his ties with Kerensky, to accurately grasp his political attitude, and to try to gain his favor. One of the most important tasks of an ambassador abroad is to associate with the upper echelons of the country in which he is stationed, so Ambassador Lu, who has been in Russia for nearly three years, has known this left-wing leader and has had a personal relationship.

Kerensky was born in Simbirsk-on-Volga and is a fellow countryman of Protopopov, now the interior minister. Protopopov was conservative and strong-styled, and was one of the Tsar's most trusted ministers. Kerensky, on the other hand, openly stood in opposition to the tsar. These two fellow villagers are now political enemies. Protopopov was deeply dissatisfied with the political atmosphere in Petersburg, and the most crucial figure in prompting the tsar to "close" the Duma was this man. Lu Zhengxiang also knew this powerful minister who held the power of internal affairs, and Provpopov once learned with Lu Zhengxiang about the cause and process of the Chinese Civil War (that is, the war in which the Mengshan army raised troops to overthrow the Qing Dynasty), and lamented that the Manchu government was too incompetent. But it is truly remarkable that the President of your country has managed a weak power into such a great country, and the events in China have very practical implications for Russia. Lu Zhengxiang was well aware of Protopopov's contempt for China, he looked down on the Chinese, and was angry at the weakness of the tsar. It is openly said that if Russia had been tougher back then, Outer Mongolia would not be what it is now.

Let's go back to Kerensky. Lu Zhengxiang once again combed through what he knew about Kerensky's resume, the leader of the Socialist-Revolutionaries who was in the limelight in St. Petersburg, graduated from St. Petersburg University and studied law. The year after Kerensky graduated from St. Petersburg University, the 1905 Revolution broke out, and the Tsar was forced to issue the October Edict that year, declaring the freedom of speech, assembly, and association of citizens. At the same time, the right to vote will be expanded. Attempts to bring radical movements into the system. The Social Revolutionaries remained one of the most important legal left-wing parties in Russia and the only one that spoke for the peasantry. In 1912, the Fourth Duma (the last of the imperial era), the Socialist-Revolutionary's moderate group, the Labor League, occupied 10 of the 448 seats in the Duma.

During the 1905 Revolution, Kerensky took an active role in defending and appealing for rural insurgents and the families of demonstrators killed by the army. At one point, he was imprisoned. The "labor group" then elected him as a candidate for the Fourth Duma. In 1912 he was elected by a large margin. After the outbreak of the European War. Most of the "labor unions" and Menshevik parliamentarians acquiesced in the war policy of Tsar Nicholas II, but were deeply dissatisfied with the policy of the offensive at any cost. In 1916, at the urging of Kerensky. The three more conservative parties in the Duma formed a "group of progressives" and planned a coup d'état. But the tsar abruptly adjourned the Duma before the conspirators could begin their actions, aborting the coup. However, by the end of the year, two young nobles close to the "progressives" had succeeded in assassinating Rasputin, and the big landowners, nobles, and representatives of industry and commerce, including Duma Chairman Rodencko, had completely broken with the Tsar, leaving Nicholas II alone.

Unlike the Home Secretary, Kerensky had a great affection for the "Chinese Revolution". After the Duma was in fact adjourned "permanently" by the Tsar, Kerensky had an in-depth conversation with Ambassador Lu in his apartment, and Kerensky frankly admitted that Russia should learn from China now, and that the fact that a weak country has undergone such a tremendous change in just a few years after the overthrow of the monarchy and is playing an increasingly important role in international affairs shows the truth that the imperial system is a huge obstacle to the progress of the country.

"I have great admiration for the president of your country, and if I have the opportunity, I am willing to go to Beijing and ask your president some questions in person."

"That's great. I think the President will be happy to meet you. Can I pass your words back home? ”

"No, not at the moment. At the moment I can't leave Petersburg, this is my battlefield. Nicholas II could not solve the crisis by adjourning the Duma, and we have to fight. The war is no longer going on, and there is no need to discuss it. With the exception of a handful of generals who had no regard for the future of Russia, everyone, including the military, understood this. I can't watch my homeland ruined, I must end the war and bring Russia back to its former glory! ”

The political forces in Petersburg and even throughout Russia are abandoning the Romanov dynasty, and perhaps the story that China once played out will happen in Russia. Lu Zhengxiang has always believed that the "revolution" that took place in China must not attribute all the merits to the Mengshan Army led by Long Qian, and that Long Qian's rise of troops like a bamboo reflects the fact that the people's hearts are tired of being clear. Long Qian just grasped the general trend. But Sun Wen shouted that the revolution had been hanging for 20 years, why was the fruits of victory picked by the Mengshan army? Lu Zhengxiang once talked to a few close friends, and agreed that the key factor was that Sun Wen did not have an army in his hands! If Sun Wen had an armed force that was no less powerful than the Mengshan Army, then it would not be Long Qian but Sun Wen who would sit on the presidential throne. The story that happened after the founding of the Republic is just as intriguing, Long Qian could accommodate the Beiyang forces of the Manchu Qing and Yuan Shikai, but he was extremely jealous of Sun Wen, and Sun Wen is still wandering abroad and unable to return to China, because Long Qian made a condition that Sun Wen could not accept, that is, to publicly admit his mistakes. What was wrong with Sun Wen? Anti-Qing can't be counted, right? Take advantage of the chaos to establish the Republic of China and confront the Mengshan Army by force? As the saying goes, Qin lost his deer and chased the world together, Long Qian could even surrender the Beiyang Army that protected the Manchus, and even the remnants of the Manchu Qing Dynasty could be honored, why couldn't he tolerate a Sun Wen who enjoyed high prestige among overseas Chinese? There is indeed a mystery that Lu Zhengxiang is difficult to solve.

The government of the republic is full of various factions, but it is difficult for none of Sun Wen's descendants to enter the center. Of course. Song Jiaoren and Yu Youren cannot be regarded as Sun Wen's descendants. Huang Xing did not take refuge abroad, but he was not held accountable, and has been recuperating in Shanghai. Huang Xing and Yuan Shikai died of illness in the second half of 1916, and there were various rumors in China, which Lu Zhengxiang heard in St. Petersburg. Although the authorities gave the two once heavyweights a high rating, they could not dispel all kinds of hostile speculation. The rumor that Sun Wen would return to China to attend Huang Xing's funeral was eventually turned out to be a rumor, and Sun Wen still did not return. As for Sun Wen's grand vision of abandoning the government to specialize in railway construction and hoping to build 200,000 kilometers of railways, it is nothing more than a joke......

Lu Zhengxiang returned his thoughts to reality. He can now conclude that at the same time as the President decided to join the Entente and send a large expeditionary force to fight in Russia. The center has a top-secret plan against Russia. This plan has been launched with the entry of the expeditionary force into Russia. When the commander-in-chief of the expeditionary force, General Wang Mingyuan, went to Petersburg to meet the Tsar, he had explained to himself about the major foreign affairs, and of course, General Wang Mingyuan represented the president, and he had to carry it out. Wang Mingyuan instructed him to accept instructions from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Russian affairs. It is also under the command of Lieutenant General Van der Ping. The task was to keep a close eye on the dynamics of the Russian upper echelons. We should do our best to strengthen the ties between the political forces of the various factions in Petersburg and accurately grasp their movements and attitudes......

He noted the increasing strengthening of the country's presence in Petersburg, and that a large number of agents from the Military Intelligence Service and the General Directorate of State Security were sent to Petersburg as officers of the diplomatic or expeditionary force liaison offices. There are more than 100 permanent staff in the Liaison Office. I don't know what those guys do every day...... However, with the series of victories of the expeditionary force, his status in Petersburg continued to rise, and not only the attitude of the Russian side, but also the diplomatic missions and military delegations of Britain, France, the United States, Italy and other countries towards Chinese changed considerably, which was completely different from his first arrival in Petersburg, which brought great convenience to his work, and he could meet anyone at the highest level of Russia if he wished......

Now he wonders about the attitude towards Russia at home. On the one hand, the country was aware of the crisis in Russia and began to contact the political forces represented by Kerensky, which was obviously for the sake of future planning. On the other hand, the military was plotting to "protect" Tsar Nicholas II, as if preparing to save the crumbling Romanov dynasty. This result puzzled Lu Zhengxiang. Today, Van Depin went to the Winter Palace to meet with the Russian Emperor, apparently presenting to the Russian Emperor his concern about the situation in Petersburg, but the Russian Emperor apparently ignored Van Depin's warning, otherwise he would not have visited the Russian army base camp in Mogilev.

But will there be a revolution in Russia that will bring down the empire? Lu Zhengxiang was deeply skeptical. The biggest difference with China is that the opposition parties do not have troops. None of the garrisons in Petersburg are at the disposal of the parties in the Duma who have been clamoring all day long for reforming the government, let alone millions of troops at the front. Lu Zhengxiang then thought that perhaps the tsar realized the importance of the army and went to Mogilev, which was a new discovery, if the army was loyal to the tsar, even if there was chaos in Petersburg, the transfer of a few divisions from the Northwest Front would be enough to quell the civil strife.

But what will happen to the expeditionary force that stays on the Southwestern Front? Will there be a blatant involvement in the civil strife in Russia? Lu Zhengxiang couldn't figure it out.

When pondering these things, Lu Zhengxiang had a feeling of unreality. In 1900, that is, 17 years ago, Russia took advantage of the Boxer Rebellion to brazenly send troops to the northeast, and actually placed the three eastern provinces under Russian control. Many people of insight at home and abroad are terrified that the Northeast will fall into the hands of the Russians. If you are more knowledgeable and far-reaching, you will inevitably think of the history of Russian expansion in Central Asia, and it is precisely because of Russia's annexation of Central Asia that it has changed from a European power to a world power. The history of Russia has long proven the fact that the thirst for territory for this country, this people, is endless! In terms of geographical location, the Northeast is no less important than Central Asia, so is there a precedent for Russia to spit out fat meat to the mouth? No wonder many people of insight are worried. Fortunately, the great powers took action, they did not want to see the endless expansion of Russia, and the Japanese became the vanguard of containing Russia, and a Russo-Japanese War interrupted Russia's bear claws reaching out to East Asia. It is no wonder that many Chinese people at that time were grateful to the Japanese...... How many years have passed, and China, which is relying on others and being bullied by others, is actually ready to interfere in the Russian political situation! Lu Zhengxiang couldn't help but feel a deep fear in addition to his excitement, can China really be on an equal footing with the powers that dominate the world? If China can really influence the political situation in Russia, what benefits will it get? Lu Zhengxiang couldn't guess the mind of the one in Beijing, but he was sure that he was a bold dictator who dared to send troops to Outer Mongolia and even march into Tangnu and Ulianghai at the beginning of the founding of the People's Republic of China. But diplomacy speaks from strength, and ambition alone does not work. If it had not been for the hundreds of thousands of expeditionary forces that had entered Russia and achieved an indisputable victory, he would not have been valued by diplomats from Britain, France, the United States, Italy, and other countries, and the Russians would not have given him the courtesy he deserved. But are we strong enough to interfere in Russian politics? What will be the consequences if you fail and the truth is revealed? Lu Zhengxiang didn't dare to think about it. Just as the great powers did not want to see Russia occupy the northeast, will Britain, France, the United States, Italy and other powerful countries allow China to disturb Russia? What consequences will this have for the rapid development of domestic construction?

On the same day, he drafted a regular report to the Foreign Ministry, summarizing the recent events in Petersburg. This report will be brought home by the courier, but not now. If there are no special circumstances, every half month, a messenger will be sent back to report to the country, today is February 22 in the Russian calendar, and March 7 in the Gregorian calendar. Lu Zhengxiang, who has been working in Russia for a long time, is already accustomed to using the Russian calendar, otherwise there is no way to communicate with Russian people. But he hated the Russian calendar, and did not understand why Russia clinged to the Russian calendar, which caused him a lot of inconvenience, and he had to note it in his report to the country, because the two were separated by 13 days, and it would cause misunderstanding if not specifically indicated.

But the very next day, one of the biggest riots broke out in Petersburg. It was International Women's Day, and a number of companies in St. Petersburg held small rallies to commemorate March 8th, which somehow turned into strikes and marches. Workers flocked to Nevsky Prospect with slogans such as "Bread", "Down with the war" and "Down with the autocracy", and the procession filled Nevsky Prospect, which excited Fan Deping, who was watching at the liaison office, and said to Li Sancai, "The show has really begun." It looks like it's a lot of people, I think it's 100,000, right? He turned to Zhang Xiaoding and said, "Let your people do it, it should be this time." ”

"It's not the first time this has happened, is it any different from before?" Zhang Xiaoding said suspiciously.

"Then create a zào to make a difference!" Fan Deping slashed his right hand arrogantly, "Xiao Ding, maybe we are making history!" (To be continued......)