The fluttering snowflakes blur the boundaries between heaven and earth.

Hailan Pao, Janissary Field Army Headquarters, October 25, 1903, six days after the surrender of the Russian defenders of Hailan Pao.

The commander of the field army, General Liang Tianhe, was walking in the snow with the chief of staff, Lieutenant General Zhang Yiye, to show the value of their fox fur coats.

"Ha, good snow, good snow, freeze to death what kind of shtak beliar ah."

Liang Tianhe snorted a puff of white air, and because of the cold, his tongue was no longer very easy to call.

Four days ago, the main force of the Russian Siberian Army Group withdrew from Svobodny under the leadership of the commander Lieutenant General Shtakliberg, and retreated sharply to the northwest, and the Janissary Field Army sent a cavalry brigade and four Janissary Infantry Brigades to form the first special detachment to track and pursue the Russian army, but last night it suddenly snowed heavily, and the pursuing troops sent a telegram saying that they had lost the trace of the enemy, which made Liang Tianhe annoyed.

Zhang Yiye put his hands on his chest, looking at the snow-covered ruins around him, and gave birth to a little poet's feelings.

"Jade butterflies fly over the ruins, pearls cover the rubble, beauty and ugliness, it only makes sense to reflect each other......"

Liang Tianhe glanced at him puzzled: "What are you muttering, what is a fish saucer?" Sashimi? ”

Zhang Yiye didn't bother to explain to him, and immediately changed the topic: "What did you say just now?" Want this snow to freeze that Shtakli Berg? I don't think it's possible, isn't most of Russia north of us? When it comes to hardiness, we will not be able to survive them. ”

"It doesn't matter, as long as our people have cotton clothes, shochu and firewood, it doesn't matter if they are cold tolerant or not, the enemy has abandoned most of the supplies and fled to the field, then it is miserable...... The railway between Svobodny and Chita has been destroyed by our troops, and the First Army on the Chita side has also been divided into several avenues east of Chita, and the enemy will have to suffer greatly if they want to withdraw to Chita. ”

Zhang Yiye pondered for a few seconds, shook his head lightly, and said, "I don't think the enemy will necessarily retreat to Chita. ”

Liang Tianhe let out an "oh" and waited for Zhang Yiye to explain.

"Doesn't the enemy still have a fortified base in Tengda? The defenders were a Cossack infantry brigade, and although they were drawn several times, it was estimated that they still had a basic garrison. As you said, the enemy abandoned Svobodny and also dropped a large amount of supplies, so it is impossible to have sufficient supplies for the troops to march thousands of kilometers, and Tenda is right in the middle of Svobodny and Chita, although the position is northerly, but the supplies there should be a little relief from the urgent needs of the enemy brigade, and the enemy troops may go there to rest for a while before heading to Chita. On the other hand, Tengda is an important station on the northern line of the Trans-Siberian Railway, and although the facilities of the northern line of the Trans-Siberian Railway are still very incomplete and cannot pass through large-capacity trains, it is still feasible to transfer the remnants of the First Siberian Army to the northern end of Lake Baikal or to the west of Lake Baikal in batches. I estimate that the reason why the 1st Special Detachment lost the enemy, in addition to the heavy snow, is probably due to the sudden change of direction of the enemy's march and the direction of Tengda in the north-northwest. ”

The Tengda mentioned by Zhang Yiye is located 450 kilometers north-northwest of Svobodny, at the foot of the main mountain range of the Trans-Khingan Mountains (known as the Stanov Mountains in Russian), equipped with a protective wall and a small fortress, equipped with more than 30 fortress guns, originally defended by the 9th Cossack Brigade of Zabaikal, according to the latest intelligence, the defenders there are now only three battalions of the 9th Cossack Brigade, and the rest of the troops have long been transferred by the First Siberian Army of Lieutenant General Shkliberg to the front line of Moscow's Vitino and Svobodny, and are gradually exhausted.

Liang Tianhe and Zhang Yiye had already memorized the map of the war zone, and when it came to the names of the main Russian towns and strongholds in the war zone, they both knew it well, and there was no need to go back to check the map.

This year, Liang Tianhe was thirty-four years old and Zhang Yiye was thirty-three years old, and they were on par with most of Liu Yun's new lineage generals in terms of age, but their identity, status and influence far exceeded Xiao Lieri, Zhao Minhe, and Xiang Lan's new lineage generals. The so-called Liu Yun's old lineage is naturally those special forces officers and soldiers who have been converted from time in 2025 with him, before committing the crimes of endangering national security, damaging national property and intentional homicide, most of these people are captains and non-commissioned officers in the Chinese Army in 2025, and have carried out various complex and arduous special operations missions. Liang Tianhe was twenty-one years old when he became a wanted criminal in another time and space, and his military rank was sergeant. Zhang Yiye was only twenty years old at the time, and his military rank was corporal. After spending more than ten years on this plane, the two became army generals and lieutenant generals respectively, which was completely impossible in the original time and space. It should be said that Liang Tianhe and Zhang Yiye had long expected this, and all the generals of the old lineage, including them, would have similar expectations, and these expectations were important reasons why they did not hesitate to violate the law, betray the country, abandon their relatives and friends, and jump here with Liu Yun at the risk of death.

After listening to Zhang Yiye's analysis, Liang Tianhe pressed the scarf outside his coat, nodded and said: "It makes sense, then immediately let the special detachment send a cavalry detachment to search in the direction of Tengda, and as soon as the enemy is found, he will stick to it." Even if the enemy does not go there, it is necessary to divide the troops to capture Tengda, after all, it is also an important railway transit station, and if the enemy comes to his senses and uses the northern line of the Trans-Siberian Railway to accumulate troops, it will be a trouble in the future. In addition, an additional brigade will be sent to the special detachment, so that the forbidden sixth brigade, which has already been rested, will follow it. We still have a week to rest and recuperate, and then we will leave for Chita, where we have heard that we are going to merge with the 1st Reserve Army to form the 2nd Army...... However, the forbidden 4th Brigade was so badly killed in Vitino in Moscow that it would take at least two months to reorganize, so it seems that it can only be thrown down and returned to the team after the reorganization is completed......"

Zhang Yiye covered his face that had been numb by the cold wind and said anxiously: "Then go back immediately and issue an order, it's really perverted to run out for a walk on a snowy day." ”

Liang Tianhe said hideously: "I am giving you a chance to exercise, not only did you not thank me, but you also jumped over and bit me, no, you have to punish a pack of Hardmen!" ”

"I said I would have changed to drawing the 'No Door' card a long time ago."

"Less garlic, there must be something hidden under the bed!"

"Okay, you search, it's yours to find out!"

"What you said, I want everything I find...... I remember a ...... with a crate of whiskey underneath."

"Hey, you're ......"

………

After a few days of hesitation, a cold snap with snowflakes swept through the Jingshi.

October 28, Guangxing 8th year, Jingshi Railway Station, VIP waiting room.

In the warm waiting room, several sets of tables and chairs are arranged with sandalwood, and there are several beautiful landscape paintings hanging on the wall, so that people will not be drowsy by the heating.

A sickly man in his early fifties, with a gray face, was conversing seriously with another handsome and energetic man in his thirties.

"You just threw the power of prime minister to Liu Yun? What about the party? If this continues, Liu Yun will rely on his prestige to become the leader of the Chinese People's Party, and then become the legitimate next premier, and you just let him get his wish? ”

The man in his thirties was a little emotional, as if he had some hatred for that Liu Yun.

His name is Zhang Zhigao, and he is currently the Acting Foreign Secretary of the Empire, also known as the "Foreign Minister".

"If the KMT committee decides to admit Liu Yun, it doesn't hurt to make him president, because it's a good business that can bring in a lot of votes."

The man in his early fifties spoke slowly, his weak voice matching his physical condition.

His name is Wen Yi, commonly known as Zhi Degong, and he served as the Imperial Prime Minister (also known as the Prime Minister), but for more than ten days he had just handed over the power of Prime Minister to Liu Yun, the Minister of National Defense and Wuwei Gong, and the public reason was that he needed to go to the south to recuperate.

"But since Liu Yun has already expressed his intention to militarize the country, how can you still sit back and watch him realize that dangerous idea? If he becomes prime minister, controls the Chinese People's Party, and adds the support of the army, there will be no strength to contain him! ”

Zhang Zhigao's voice is still excited, although he is a loyal student and close friend of Wen Yi, but for what Wen Yi did, as long as he thinks it is wrong, he will unceremoniously confide his true thoughts.

Wen Yi shook his neck slightly: "There is no strength to contain him now, he can start his own plan at any time." ”

"No, we have the party, we have the Congress, we have the constitution, and we have millions of people who have been influenced by the ideas of democracy and freedom......

"The party can split or degenerate at any time, the National Assembly can be dissolved or transformed at any time, the constitution can be amended or scrapped at any time, and the people can be bewitched or suppressed at any time, and we really have nothing."

Zhang Zhigao's eyes widened and he looked at Wen Yi in surprise: "What did you say?" Nothing? It can't be, we can't have nothing, we have supporters, we have the strength, we have the strength to stop the warlords from meddling, haven't you said that before? ”

"Don't worry, I said that we may use the system to prevent the warlords from interfering in politics, but we don't have to fight the warlords head-on. A few days ago, you also saw that the news of Hailan's victory made the people crazy, and now that the war is ongoing, our army has an advantage, if it can really achieve a final victory, the identity, status and influence of the military will be further enhanced, coupled with proper education and propaganda, many citizens may accept the policy of militarism. However, those who are in favor of militarism will not anticipate the harm of such a policy to the state and the suppression of the material and spiritual life of the people at first, and people will only want to find and eliminate the source of harm when they are actually harmed. ”

"So, do you want to let Liu Yun come to power first, and when he implements policies that endanger the country and the people, the broad masses of the people will rise up and eradicate him? How is this possible, once he has the entire state apparatus in his hands, the unarmed people ......"

"I didn't say that I wanted to get rid of him, that was the road to a large-scale civil war, and if there was a civil war like that, everything would be ruined......"

Zhang Zhigao shook his head in confusion and looked out the window.

Outside the window is a small garden attached to the VIP waiting room, which has long been dyed with snow, and the snowflakes are still falling.

"That's what you mean...... Do nothing? ”

Zhang Zhigao asked tentatively, he felt that he always couldn't keep up with Wen Yi's thoughts, and he couldn't blame him, otherwise why would Wen Yi be his teacher.

Wen Yi nodded slightly—this action was so subtle that even ants sighed to themselves, but Zhang Zhigao could detect it effortlessly.

"Nothing? What can it do? ”

Wen Yi stretched out a finger and waved it left and right in front of his nose: "Actually, it should be said that what should be done has been almost done, and now it's time to test the results." Think about it, what else do we have to do? The political system of a constitutional monarchy has been running smoothly for seven or eight years, a liberalized and market-oriented economic system has been implemented throughout the country, the ideological elements of democracy and freedom have penetrated through the education system, the prestige of the constitution and laws has been gradually established through judicial independence and general legal propaganda, and the whole country is becoming a system capable of functioning on its own, and even if it does not have the original creators and controllers of this system, it can produce new controllers on its own and continue to develop according to the path originally set. The system is also exclusionary, and any attempt to change the original course of the system will be countered by the dominant forces within the system. Compared to the strength of the entire system, you and I, or the Chinese People's Party and Congress, are insignificant. Liu Yun may be able to take control of the People's Party and Congress, but if he wants to fundamentally change the system, he will have to face the danger of civil war, because the military is not fully in his hands, and a small military coup centered on the capital will not solve the problem, and he will find that he has to deal with not just a group of politicians, but most of the empire. I also learned that he would never want a civil war, so he would probably find himself in a political dilemma, and he would have to rely on the boring politicians he despised to get through it. ”

Zhang Zhigao was still a little puzzled: "In this way, it is necessary to rely on the strength of the created system to prevent the implementation of the militarization policy, but in order to give full play to the strength of this system, someone must do something, right?" ”

"Zhigao, be patient, we can't go against the tide, there is a war going on to determine the fortunes of the country, we must go all out to try to win this war, and then we will look at it step by step. If Liu Yun really wants to go against the grain, he will naturally be widely counterattacked, I hope that no matter what happens, you and the other members of the party can protect yourself, for this empire, no matter which one of you is, you can't afford to lose......"

Before Wen Yi finished speaking, he coughed violently, Zhang Zhigao hurriedly handed over the hand towel, Wen Yi waved his hand and refused, took out his hand and wiped the corners of his mouth.

Zhang Zhigao asked with concern: "Do you have a cold?" Isn't that good, should you postpone your trip? ”

Wen Yi shook his head and said, "It doesn't matter, my throat is sore these days...... I still have to go to the south, and if I am here, my body will not be able to bear it, and it will be dry and cold in winter, and I can't stand it. ”

Outside the door, the sweet voice of the young maid Xiao Ye suddenly came: "Master, all the nobles who saw you off have arrived." ”

"Zhilu said, please let them in."

After Wen Yi finished speaking, he turned to Zhang Zhigao again: "I have submitted my resignation to the committee, and the position of president will be left to the committee to decide, if most of the committee members agree with Liu Yun after retiring from active service to join the party, then you don't want to engage in any movement in private, remember, let it be." ”

"Don't worry, I'm still a little self-aware."

Before Zhang Zhigao's voice fell, dozens of dignitaries or celebrities had already poured into this not spacious VIP waiting room.

"Oops, it turns out that the foreign minister took the lead, and we don't know how many steps we took early......"

"Zhide Gong chose this snowy day to go south, it is really elegant, elegant......"

"I heard that Zhide Gong is going to Beihai? It's amazing to have such a cold resort and beautiful women in the company......"

"I wonder when Zhide Gong plans to return to Beijing?"

"Is Zhide Gong well?"

Words like these filled the room for a while, and the air that was already too warm made Wen Yi feel a little suffocated.

But when he saw the man in the crowd, the air cleared all at once.

"Liu Yun, why are you also free?"

Wen Yi stood up, met the other party's outstretched hand, and raised his hand to clasp it with him.

Liu Yun smiled heartily: "What can I do if I don't come, I don't know how many times you have to curse me behind your back...... Okay, have a nice trip, get over there and recuperate. Also, the beautiful woman outside the door is rare, so take advantage of the opportunity. ”

Wen Yi shook his head and smiled: "You, you are really good at entertaining people." ”

Everyone laughed along, lewdly or inexplicably.

The snow outside the window, fluttering, seemed to be laughing too, and it was definitely laughing inexplicably.

Guan Street, whose real name is Yongdingmenwai Street, was completely shrouded in snow that afternoon.

In the special meeting room of the Standing Committee on the third floor of the building of the headquarters of the Chinese People's Party, located at No. 98 Yongdingmenwai Street, 11 members of the Standing Committee are discussing the resignation of Wen Yi, president of the party.

The 11 members of the Standing Committee include:

Viscount Zhang Zhigao, Vice President of the People's Party and Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs,

Viscount Moning, Secretary of State for the Interior,

Acting Minister of Culture and Education, Viscount Luo Sulan,

Minister of Commerce and Industry, Earl Niu Jin,

Chancellor of the Exchequer, Viscount Han Lang,

Minister of Communications, Posts and Telecommunications Baron Jiang Wentao,

Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Viscount Masahiro Tian,

Minister of Science and Technology, Viscount Ma Feng,

Huang Linhong, Director-General of the China People's Party and Speaker of the House of Representatives,

Rong De, Deputy Director-General of the Chinese People's Party and President of the Imperial Federation of Industry and Commerce,

Baron Chen Cihu, President of Imperial University.

The meeting was presided over by Huang Linhong, the party's chief secretary-general, Huang Linhong first read Wen Yi's resignation, it was nothing more than how difficult the illness was, overwhelmed, willing to let the virtuous and the like, after everyone listened, they bowed their heads and were speechless for a while.

Zhang Zhigao was the first to speak: "Several members of the Standing Committee today also bid farewell to the president with me, the president's intention is firm, and the resignation may be difficult to take back, and the top priority now should be to propose a new president and hand it over to the committee for selection." ”

Home Secretary Mo Ning immediately responded: "I think I can nominate Zhang Zhigao, isn't he the vice president?" Originally, he was like a master and apprentice with Wen Yi, and his actions were also in the same breath as Wen Yi, and letting him be the president should be able to maintain the continuity of the party's policies. ”

Niu Jin, the pot-bellied Minister of Industry and Commerce, nodded and said: "I think Zhang Zhigao can be the president, he and Wen Yi are of the same heart, and they can't change anywhere, with him, at least the party will not be chaotic." ”

Chen Cihu, the president of the Imperial University, who had a sleek little face, kept waving his hand and said: "I think Zhang Zhigao has too little experience, his prestige is not enough, and he has always been engaged in diplomatic work, and I am afraid that he is not very skilled in domestic affairs and economics, and even if he becomes president, it will be difficult to lead the party to win more votes." ”

"I also think so," agreed the party's deputy director-general, Rond, "because our party does not have an absolute majority in parliament at the moment, and is therefore forced to form a coalition government with the Liberal and Royalist parties to formulate and implement various policies." What we need now is a president with great prestige who can attract as many voters as possible. As for the policies of the Party, it should not be based on the will of the individual, and it is a matter for the committee and the National Congress to change the policy, and it is not advisable to decide on the choice of president for the sake of perpetuating the policies formulated by a particular person. ”

The acting minister of culture, education and education, who is also the wife of Zhang Zhigao, asked rhetorically: "So who does Mr. Rong think should be the president with great prestige and able to attract as many voters as possible?" ”

Rong De nodded to Luo Sulan in a very gentlemanly manner: "Ms. Luo's good question, in my contemptible opinion, Liu Yunke, the current acting prime minister and Wuwei Gong, can be the future president of the party." Everyone knows that Wu Weigong has made outstanding achievements and has a very high reputation, and now that he is leading the war against Russia, the reverence of the military and the people for him can be said to be incomparable, and with Wu Weigong as the president of the party, it will certainly greatly increase the party's support rate and help the party seize the power to form an independent government in the next general election. ”

Mo Ning shook his head and said: "As an active soldier, Wu Wei Gong cannot become a member of any political party, nor can he hold other cabinet positions except for the Minister of National Defense for a long time, otherwise it will be a military interference in politics and a criminal act to undermine the Constitution." ”

Rong De waved his hand and smiled: "Mr. Mo misunderstood, I said just now that Wu Wei Gong can be the future president of the party, not join the party now." Personally, I estimate that this war will be won by the end of next year, and it will not be too late to ask Wu Weigong to retire from active duty and join his party again. ”

Han Lang, the minister of finance who looked like a hemp straw, sighed and said: "I agree with what Mr. Rong said, but there is a problem, before Wu Weigong retires from active service, the party cannot be without a president, so no matter what, it is necessary to propose another president candidate." ”

Rongde nodded to Han Lang: "What Mr. Han said, the contemptible people are not unclear, I think that before I can invite Wuwei Gong to join the party, I will temporarily act as the president of Mr. Huang Linhong, the director general of the party." ”

Tian Zhenghong, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, lifted his thick glasses: "Deputy, no, if you have been acting for more than a year, the party's prestige will be affected, and it should be considered that if Wu Weigong does not accept the invitation and is unwilling to serve as the president of the party." ”

Mo Ning continued: "I still have the opinion just now, and Vice President Zhang Zhigao is the candidate for president. ”

Chen Cihu then said: "I agree with Mr. Rong's opinion that Mr. Huang, the director general, is the candidate for president. ”

Ma Feng, the minister of science and technology, who had been in a meditative state with his arms crossed, suddenly said: "Actually, Mr. Rong is not bad as the president, at least you don't have to worry about your salary." ”

Everyone was dumbfounded for a while, and then Da Lu laughed - only Rongde laughed the hardest.

After a full hour of discussion, three candidates for president were decided: Zhang Zhigao, Vice President of the Party and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Huang Linhong, Director General of the Party and Speaker of the Imperial House of Representatives, and Rong De, Deputy Director General of the Party and President of the Imperial Chamber of Commerce and Industry. It is scheduled to present a proposal and a list of the elected presidents at the regular meeting of the Chinese People's Party Committee on November 1.

At least for eight years after Guangxing, the Standing Committee of the Chinese People's Party will remain an effective whole, and the Chinese People's Party will still be the largest party in the National Assembly.

At this time, no one bothered to think about what the next spring would look like after spending this snowy winter.