At night, the bright moonlight shines on the Mongolian steppe. However, no one is in the mood to appreciate this beautiful moonlight. In the encirclement, more than 200,000 Russian troops are trembling. Even though it is the height of summer, the temperature difference between day and night in the Mongolian steppe is still relatively large. Russian soldiers in single clothes can only huddle together and use each other's body temperature to keep warm.

The breeze was blowing, and the wounded soldiers who were wounded but untreated were howling, and their howls were carried far away by the breeze.

The current Russian army is extremely short of medicine, so that after being injured, there is no medical treatment at all, and they can only wait for death. Many of the wounded had suppurated wounds and even maggots. This is also a fatal blow to the morale of the Russian army.

In order to avoid the shelling of the Northern Army, many Russian troops were self-taught and dug individual bunkers in the grass. However, this is at most capable of withstanding shells from small-caliber mortars. It's more about giving them a little psychological comfort.

The headquarters of the Russian army, located behind a small mound. The Russian army hollowed out this small mound and supported it with wood to form a simple anti-artillery hole. General Vladimir and other high-ranking generals of the Russian army gathered here.

"General, we can't go on like this. The daily shelling of the Northern Army caused us great casualties. Countless officers and men were killed or wounded, and the morale of the troops was greatly affected. If we continue like this, we will soon collapse. A gray-haired old man said with a sad and indignant face, his name was Boris, and he was a lieutenant general of an infantry corps.

"General Boris, what do you think we should do now? The Chinese have surrounded us, we lack food, ammunition and medicine, even clean water, what can we do? Lieutenant General Fyodor asked rhetorically.

"If you continue to stay, you will definitely die. We might as well break through! Lieutenant General Boris proposed.

"Breakout? That's also looking for death. We have no food, and even if we break out, there is only a dead end, and we will be divided and surrounded by the Chinese and eaten bite by bite. Although, the encirclement of the Chinese is fragile. But let's not forget, they still have tens of thousands of cavalry hovering around. Once we are scattered, it is extremely easy to be pursued by those Chinese cavalry. It would be a nightmare to be chased by cavalry in the absence of weapons and ammunition. "said Lieutenant General Anatoly, commander of the 3rd Cossack Cavalry Corps of the Russian Army.

"Damn, this doesn't work, that doesn't work, what the hell should we do? Are you just waiting here to die? Lieutenant General Boris was furious.

In fact, isn't the behavior of the Russian army now just waiting for death? The encirclement of the Northern Army was weak, and there were loopholes in many places. However, the Russian army still did not dare to break through. Tens of thousands of cavalry of the Northern Army cruising nearby. became the sword of Damocles hanging over their heads. When the 200,000 Russian troops gathered, the cavalry of the Northern Army did not dare to attack. However, once the Russian army disperses, those cavalry of the Northern Army, who are like wild wolves, will definitely pounce on them and tear them to pieces.

If they could, the Russians would have liked to have been facing off like this. However, there is a shortage of food, weapons and ammunition. They can't drag it on! If it is forcibly dragged down, it will undoubtedly be fatal.

All eyes on you. It all fell on Admiral Vladimir. And who called him the commander of the Russian army? Now faced with such a situation, it is natural that he should make the decision.

"Ladies and gentlemen, we have already contacted St. Petersburg. It is up to us to decide what His Excellency Sukhhomlinov means. However, His Majesty the Tsar seems to mean that he wants us to fight to the end for the Russian Empire! "said Admiral Vladimir.

Speaking of which. And he was very sad in his heart. He knew that the Russian Empire was beginning to accumulate strength and prepare for a counterattack against the Northern Army. However, Eastern Siberia is too far away from Russia's European hinterland. The preparation time for the Russian army's counterattack will last for more than half a year. And for them, the encircled army. Undoubtedly, it is difficult to quench the thirst of the near water. So, they have become an outcast.

His Majesty, the stubborn Tsar, hopes that they will continue to fight, even if they will fight with the northern army to the end. In this way, at least the strength of the Northern Army can be weakened and convenient conditions for the defeat of the Northern Army in the future. But for them, such a request is undoubtedly too cruel. No one wants to die, everyone wants to live.

"Your Excellency, do you mean that St. Petersburg has abandoned us?" Lieutenant General Boris trembled and seemed to be in disbelief for such a result. That's an army of 200,000! Did you just throw it away casually?

"Even if St. Petersburg wanted to rescue us, there was no way to do it. Our forces in all of Siberia and the Far East have long been empty. Lieutenant General Anatoly said.

"Aren't we in peace talks with the government of the North? In this war, it is almost impossible for us to win, so why can't we negotiate peace? Why send so many of us to death? Lieutenant General Fyodor was a little angry.

This also represents the voice of many Russian generals, in their opinion, the Northern Army is too strong, even stronger than the Japanese Army back then. If they want to win, it's already impossible. In that case, peace talks to end the war is the best option.

"The conditions put forward by St. Petersburg are too different from those put forward by the government in the north. We demanded that the Northern Army withdraw from Russian territory, but the Northern Government refused. The government in the north demanded that we return the territories that we had occupied China since the Treaty of Nebuchu. Naturally, we will not be able to agree to such conditions. So, the negotiations have broken down. "said Admiral Vladimir.

"Damn! How so? "For them, the breakdown of the negotiations is undoubtedly a sign that their hopes of survival have been dashed. The war will continue, and when they arrive, there seems to be no other option but death.

"Gentlemen, what shall we do now? Will I continue to hold on until I am starved to death at the end, or will I break through and fight to the death with the Northern Army? Admiral Vladimir asked.

No one answered him, because neither of these options was the one everyone wanted. No matter how you choose, it will be a dead end in the end. Everyone hopes to survive in the end.

"General, can there be any other choice?" Lieutenant General Fyodor hesitated for a moment, then said.

Admiral Vladimir glanced at Lieutenant General Fyodor with an inexplicable meaning in his eyes, and then said: "For example? ”

"We have abandoned St. Petersburg, and His Majesty the Tsar wants us to fight to the death. So, we've become outcasts. In that case, why should we continue to fight? Simply surrender to the Chinese, and in this case, you may still be able to get a chance to live. Lieutenant General Fyodor said.

"Surrender? How can this work? How can we surrender to those vile yellow-skinned monkeys? Lieutenant General Boris said angrily.

"Is there any other way for us to survive?" Lieutenant General Anatoly asked rhetorically.

Lieutenant General Boris was stunned, and it seemed that there was really no chance of survival except for surrendering. His mouth opened, but he couldn't say anything. He noticed that there was already a hint of hostility in the eyes of the other generals looking at him. Obviously, everyone wanted to live, and for this reason they even did not hesitate to surrender to the Northern Army. If he forcibly opposes, it is very likely that he will be picked up by those who want to surrender first.

Admiral Vladimir seemed to be in a state of hesitation.

"Ladies and gentlemen, you should know what will happen to our family in Russia if we surrender to the Northern Army, right?" Admiral Vladimir asked.

Tsar Nicholas II always hated those who surrendered. Those who do so often end up being hanged. And their families will be affected by this, exiled to the worst conditions, or simply hanged.

This made those generals who wanted to surrender can't help but shiver.

"There are so many of us, His Majesty the Tsar shouldn't be so cruel, right? What's more, we just want to live, they abandoned us first, we don't really want to betray the Russian Empire. When the war is over, we can continue to serve Your Majesty. Lieutenant General Fyodor said.

The other generals also nodded their heads again and again, they didn't want to give up this opportunity.

"Alas, well. Fyodor, as my representative, go and negotiate with the Northern Army. If they can keep our lives and property safe, then surrender. As for our families, I will ask His Excellency Sukhhomlinov to protect them as much as possible. Admiral Vladimir sighed. He knew that the generals below had been connected and did not hesitate to surrender in order to survive. Even he, as a commander, couldn't stop them at this time. Otherwise, he would most likely be killed. In order to survive, these people are already planning to do whatever it takes. Anyone who tries to stop them is their enemy and will be destroyed directly.

What's more, Admiral Vladimir didn't want to die like this, he also wanted to return to St. Petersburg alive. Even if the military career ends here, it will not hesitate. In the case of doing your best, saving your own life is the most important thing.

"Yes, General." Lieutenant General Fyodor nodded. Admiral Vladimir nodded, it couldn't have been better. There was no one left to stop them from staying. (To be continued......)

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