The north wind whimpered, and the frost was like a blade. (Full text reading, all in. (.i. Want. Wen. Learning Network)

In March, spring buds may have begun in the south, but for Siberia, this winter will continue to rage for at least two more months.

Zhao Long lifted the tent slightly, and suddenly the cold wind swept through the gap like a blade, looking at a few soldiers in the distance who were pulling a war horse that accidentally froze to death in the deep snow that submerged their legs, as a commander, he couldn't help but sigh, grabbed his windproof hat and walked out.

This is a small town in the northeastern corner of Lake Baikal, through which the Trans-Siberian Railway passes, and after the more than 1,000 Russian residents of this place have been expelled to Angarsk, which is 20 kilometers away and covered with wire and pillboxes, it has become a huge military camp, where even the theater headquarters are located.

Walking out of the tent, I saw the continuous marching tents like heavy snow bags, and the huge barracks were almost all white at the moment, except for the watchtowers and soldiers on duty, the whole camp was immersed in silence.

This scene is no longer a day or two, but a full four months, since last year after eating up the three armies of the Russian Eastern Front, using the captured trains, the three infantry divisions have quickly arrived on the outskirts of Angarsk, forming a complete encirclement of the Kuropatkin department, and now all eight infantry divisions and two cavalry divisions of the Northeast Theater of Operations have gathered here, with a total strength of 180,000.

Although the encircled Kuropatkin Division was reinforced by 50,000 infantry from the west before the encirclement was completed, and the total strength increased to 200,000 again, due to the loss of Chita and Irkutsk, a large amount of materials had been captured and it had been like a year, and the 4th Mechanized Infantry Division and the 9th Infantry Division joined hands to block the Zamsk fortress, blocking as many as 560,000 Russian ** troops outside the railway line in one fell swoop, so that he could no longer get any support.

Although the strength of the army has already been equipped with a strong offensive posture, like the Russian army trapped outside Zhamsk, the strong attack was still artificially suppressed due to bad weather and a large number of barbed wire pillboxes.

This is not to say that the troops cannot fight in winter, in fact, even now, there are many officers who think that this kind of weather is beneficial to the attacking side, but the General Staff considers that the losses and consumption of fighting in severe weather are too great, and such casualties are obviously unnecessary when they have been completely surrounded.

In order to maintain morale and not to delay this small half a year, the headquarters specially organized the instructors of each division and regiment to hide in tents to give cultural lessons to everyone, and the General Staff also opened the radio for the soldiers for the first time, so that the communications officer could send the soldiers' messages through the erected radio transmission tower to report their safety to their families.

Although the daily work of the telegraph operators has increased greatly, the letters from home and the letters of condolence organized by many schools and factories in China have kept the morale of the troops at a relatively good level, and the soldiers can continue to prepare for the decisive battle here with peace of mind.

But under this leisurely there is also a lurking crisis, what makes him and the General Staff worry is illness, the winter in the north, especially in Siberia, is unimaginable to outsiders, the temperature here can drop to minus thirty or forty degrees, according to the soldiers, the withdrawal of urine before it drips to the ground is frozen.

This is unimaginable for ordinary people living in the south, although a lot of preparations were made before the war, but in the face of this harsh winter, those means are still a little stretched, especially those soldiers in the army who grew up in the south, it is a severe test for them, from the beginning of the war, the army sacrificed 6,700 people, but now this number has risen to 12,000 people, of the nearly 6,000 extra people, 3,000 were frozen to death, and the rest were also killed because of beriberi.

Freezing death and frostbite had been considered before, but the appearance of beriberi caught the command a little off guard, according to the military doctor, it was caused by a long-term lack of vegetables, but in this damn weather, he couldn't even see a little green, so where did he go to get vegetables?

As early as the beginning of last year, after deciding to fight this battle, hundreds of thousands of laborers were mobilized to reserve a large number of supplies in Kulun and Urumqi, half of which were grain, and supply stations were set up on the border such as Tangnu and Ulianghai, so the daily pack horse team can still ensure the army's rations, but vegetables are a big problem, and at this moment, I am afraid that the entire three provinces of Mongolia may not have a little green, let yourself go where to find it.

In this case, he can only ask Kulen to send more tea first, at least let the soldiers relieve the oily smell in their mouths, but this is not enough, according to the medical word, if there is no large amount of vegetables to supplement the soldiers, it may cause an outbreak of beriberi.

This is not a joke, seeing that the four months have been survived, if the horse stumbles in the next two months, and finally affects the decisive battle after the beginning of spring, then the sin is really big! So after he got the report from the medical officer, he immediately sent a telegram to the General Staff and asked them to find a way, even if it was rotten vegetable roots, to get some for themselves.

It has been more than half a month since the telegram was sent, and the General Staff only said that they would definitely provide support, but they didn't know how they would send it. Last month, there was a reconnaissance airship ready to go up to the weather to see the movement of Angarsk, but before half an hour after going up, it was forced to release the airbag because the propeller was frozen, and then after landing, it was found that one of the observers had been frozen, so this kind of weather with an airship is almost the same as looking for death. ※※※※※ I ※ I ※ ※

Since you don't need an airship, it must be a pack horse team, but this kind of weather will take about ten days to arrive here from Kulun, and it will be far from Baotou, which can mobilize a batch of radish and cabbage, to Kulun, and it is estimated that it will really become a rotten vegetable root when it arrives.

"But rotten root is better than nothing."

Zhao Long smiled bitterly, and was just about to go over there to see if the pack horse team had arrived, when suddenly a loud whistle sounded in the distance, and then a large area of smoke appeared in the sky.

"Train?!"

Zhao Long's eyes widened, although the Siberian artery arrived here from Vladivostok and was not damaged, but because the snow was really deep, it had already stopped, so why would a train appear at this time?

Although I don't understand how the train arrived, the whistle was like a shot in the arm, and the camp that had just been silent suddenly exploded, and the soldiers came out of their tents to see who had the ability to drive the train when the snow could not see the tracks.

As the train slowly approached, Zhao Long couldn't help but widen his eyes, only to see that the train in front of him actually had two locomotives, and the head of the front car was not equipped with a triangle, and the front was sharp like a shovel.

"That's right! Why didn't you think of shoveling snow with several front cars together? When Zhao Long secretly scolded himself for being stupid, the train had already slowly driven into the camp, and before the train could stop, two familiar figures had already jumped down.

"Tang Xiao? Big Strong! ”

"He's sorry, it's really a rare guest, I didn't expect you to come!"

Seeing the comer, Zhao Long laughed and greeted him, and Du Dazhuang immediately saluted: "Report to the commander, the Royal Praetorian Guard is responsible for escorting the arrival of the materials, please accept it." ”

"Good!" As a few more trains appeared behind him, Zhao Long's mouth was crooked, and after returning the salute, he took the list of supplies, handed it to the staff officer behind him and asked, "Why are you here?" ”

"Tell me more!" Tang Xiao is also a member of the inner group now, but his temper has not changed, and he and Zhao Long are old people who came out of the bitter cold Canada together" So he spoke a lot more casually, stepping on the snow that was deep and shallow, and said with a sad face: "For you, the emperor grabbed me from the bed in the middle of the night to solve the transportation matter, and these big guys came here a few days ago, so ah, you have to repay me well." ”

"Okay, there are a lot of Russian girls on the other side" If you're not afraid of a few more dark circles, I'll send someone to grab a few and send you back to warm your bed? ”

"Fuck off!"

Tang Xiao glared at the immodest Commander Zhao, when he first arrived in Hawaii, he was smashed out of two black circles by the one in the family because he had seen a few local girls, and there were few people who knew about that ugly thing, who wanted the emperor and didn't know if it was a heart, so he actually said that he leaked his mouth, "Now these guys have to mention two sentences when they see themselves, isn't this smearing the minister's face."

Stepping on the deep snow" Tang Xiao began to introduce Zhao Long, it turned out that as early as after the conquest of Vladivostok, the Ministry of Construction received a strict order, it was necessary to open up the branch railway from Harbin to Boli via Jiamusi within three months, and connect the Northeast Railway Network, which has been improving day by day, with the Siberian artery, for which the Ministry of Construction urgently transferred 300,000 additional laborers, and temporarily recruited 100,000 people through North Korea, a full 400,000 people to start work day and night.

However, due to heavy snow and other reasons, it was still more than a month to open up, but it was also worth it, because the smooth opening of this branch line has connected Beijing and Siberia, although due to the different rail systems, it cannot be done directly, and two kinds of trains are still needed, but at least it can get rid of the fragile pack horse supply line through Mongolia, and truly realize the ability of rapid transfer of materials, laying a solid foundation for the complete control of Siberia in the future.

When Tang Xiao was caught by Li Mo from the bed, he immediately began to organize everyone to study how to break the snow to make the railway move, and then someone thought of using several high-powered locomotives to connect them in series, install two large snow shovels, and use the method of cleaning up while walking, and finally did everything more than ten days ago, and took a large number of cabbages and potatoes that had been prepared on the road.

"There were five columns, sixty wagons, forty of which were cabbage, potatoes, turnips, buds, and other things, and the rest were military quartermasters." Tang Xiao stopped in front of a stretched carriage, pointed to the cabbage piled up in the entire carriage and continued: "Lin Lianhui said that these things can reduce the incidence of beriberi, and he also said that please rest assured, at present, a drug from the Ministry of Science and Technology has reached the post-experimental stage, which can treat this disease very well.

"Great." As soon as he heard so many good things that can reduce the incidence of illness, Zhao Longxi hurriedly shouted to the staff officers beside him: "What are you doing in a daze?" Organize troops to unload the goods, and then distribute the meals to everyone tonight. ”

"Yes!" The staff officer was also full of excitement, and hurriedly saluted and went to greet people to unload the goods.

Seeing that everyone was starting to get busy, Tang Xiao mysteriously pulled Zhao Long to his side and asked, "Let me ask you, is the railway line from here to Zhamsk still complete?" ”

"It's still complete, Kuropatkin probably still wants to fight back, but he didn't destroy the railway, but why are you asking this?" Zhao Long asked puzzled.

"It's not the same as you." Tang Xiao pouted: "Sun Jiugong also has beriberi, so you can only take two of these five cars, anyway, the railway line has a way to open to traffic, we will continue to send it over, as for the rest, we will send him first." ”

It is not surprising that the Northwest Military District also has beriberi, after all, the situation there is more difficult than itself, but it is not easy to cross Angarsk and send supplies over, although the railway was not destroyed, but there are 200,000 troops stationed there, plus the troops concentrated on expelling tens of thousands of Russian civilians nearby before the snow, driving them all in to increase the burden on the Russian army, so it is simply a hornet's nest, let the unprotected train in, it is no different from looking for death, right?

Seeming to see Zhao Long's concern, Tang Xiao and Du Dazhuang glanced at each other, smiled mysteriously and pulled Zhao Long back, Zhao Long, who was full of puzzlement, originally wanted to ask him what he was going to do, but when he saw the third train, his eyes suddenly straightened.

Walking all the way, he saw that these three trains used double-headed locomotives, but this was not what surprised him, what was really surprised was that the front of these three trains was almost wrapped in thick steel plates, not only the machine guns were set up on the front of the train, but the two sides of the carriage were also covered with shooting holes, and the exaggerated thing was that "the front of the locomotive, the middle and the tail of the car, there are also several naval blade millimeter rapid-fire machine guns, it is estimated that if it is not for the fear of increasing the weight and slowing down the speed, Tang Xiao is afraid that this guy will have to stuff the army and the western millimeter cannon into it."

It's a train here" and it's three trains of steel monsters!

Thinking of the scene after they rushed into Angarsk and didn't know the details of the Russian army coming to surround them, even Zhao Long couldn't help but feel cold in his heart, and hurriedly patted his chest and said: "Don't worry, with this thing, I promise to send it over." ”

"Stop!"

Tang Xiao glanced at Du Dazhuang, whose face was darkened, and said with a smile: "My Commander Zhao, Yazhuang finally seized a chance to make meritorious contributions, you can't grab it, right?" ”

"Oh, yes!" Zhao Long hurriedly slapped his forehead, "Du Dazhuang's thoughts over the years, these people all know, the equipment and personnel of the Royal Praetorian Guard are good" But because he shoulders the safety of the emperor, he has no chance to make some credit, how can he rob others of the credit with such a good opportunity now, and hurriedly laughed and said: "Look at me, I'm confused, then I'm going to trouble Dazhuang." ”

"But I'm afraid I'll have to wait until two months later."

"Commander, rest assured, the Praetorian Guard Regiment is ready to complete the mission." Seeing Du Dazhuang happily leaving to prepare, Zhao Long smiled and asked, "How is Long Guozhang's side?" ”

Hearing Zhao Long ask the navy, Tang Xiao hurriedly slapped his forehead, and said with a smile: "Don't mention it, bastards like the navy are not good birds, they usually chase me either for this or that, but now it's good, after Ji Weishan and Le Fei, now there is another Ning Xiaochuan, with two Jinghai ships, he dared to run more than 10,000 nautical miles to chase and kill the ass of the Russian fleet, which made people restless, and sank more than a dozen destroyers and transport ships. ”

"By the way, and Li Qiang is not a good bird, look at what kind of crooked melons and cracked dates he trained to do? Dong Dahai, Liu Guishan and Wen Xiu are all troublemakers, now it's okay, they are always expensive, they touched a few boats at night, and they also chopped up the corpses of Russians and threw them into the sea to attract sharks! ”

Xiao shook his head, as if he was mourning the dead Russian sailors, but no matter how he looked at it, there was a strange smile on the corner of his mouth, and continued: "You don't know the tragic situation, it is said that the Russian sailors who jumped into the sea from several sunken transport ships that night were bitten to death, and then the commander of Rogers or something even ordered that they were not allowed to go into the water to save people, and then made such a fuss that even the Germans felt that it was dangerous and returned to their hometown with more than a dozen coal carriers. ”

"But that little one has made a great contribution, it is said that he has arrested some very important people, and even the emperor has sent a special telegram to praise him, and is ready to award him a gold naval medal when he returns!"

Listening to Tang Xiao's narration, Zhao Long was also secretly amused, it is estimated that the head of the equipment minister was forced by the military to be big, so he deliberately counted a few words in these opportunities, and quickly diverted the topic and asked, "What about now?" The Russian fleet is not coming? ”

"Why don't you come? It's just that a few transport ships have been sunk, how can people be afraid! I didn't hear that there was another second expeditionary fleet, ready to fight together after the round in that place in the Red Sea. ”

"Another fleet?"

"yes.

Tang Xiao rubbed his hands, seemed to be a little nervous, and said, "The old dragon has already begun to assemble the fleet, and it is said that there will definitely be a fight in early April." ”

Speaking of this, Tang Xiao ended his nagging, and his face suddenly became serious, and he whispered: "Zhao Long, the navy is about to open, so I must go back immediately, and before leaving, the emperor asked me to bring you a message." ”

"Oh? What words? ”

"The emperor said that if you can, try to launch it in early April, at least to destroy the Kuropatkin Department!"

"Why? Didn't you say May before? Do you want to cooperate with the Navy? Zhao Long frowned, not understanding why he suddenly had to advance the general attack time? The heavy snow in the north will not disperse in early April.

"The navy doesn't need your cooperation, because the emperor has already set off to go to Luzon in person, but just received news that the British prime minister has postponed his visit, according to the speculation of the Ministry of Intelligence, this may be a sign that Britain wants to interfere in our war against Russia" So the emperor and the prime minister's office feel that it is necessary to inflict heavy damage on the Russian army before Salisbury arrives. ”

"What? Aren't the British scared? Hearing this news, Zhao Long's eyes suddenly coldened, and his face became solemn.

"We don't know if we are afraid of fighting or not, but Chen Ping has signed a transfer order, and the 1st and 2nd Marine Divisions are stationed in Luzon, Borneo, Bactria and Taiwan to ensure the safety of the southeast coast and several overseas provinces" Even the two reserve divisions began to retreat from Kulen. Speaking of this, Tang Xiao unbuckled, took out a letter from his arms and handed it to Zhao Long: "This is the emperor's handwritten letter, and the general situation is in it, but the emperor thinks that Britain should not go to war with us" But it is very likely to pull Germany, France and the United States to force us to cease the war. ”

"Although we are not afraid, but now it is not a few years to fight, the emperor and the prime minister are not thinking about this war" but the external environment we will face after the war, in order to create a better international situation for us, the emperor and the prime minister are ready, if these countries come to persuade peace at the same time, they are ready to agree to some conditions, to prevent Europe and the United States from joining forces to contain us after the war. ”

So we guess that the mediation will definitely begin after Salisbury's arrival, "The emperor hopes that your army can speed up and strive to create a fait accompli on the front line of the mediation" to completely drive the Russian army west of Zhamsk. ”

The words brought by Tang Xiao made Zhao Long somewhat understandable, but Angarsk is a fortress of the Russian army in Siberia, not only covered with barbed wire and pillboxes, but also 200,000 troops stationed at the moment, and it is really difficult to lack the help of the air force in a short period of time.

As if seeing Zhao Long's concern, Tang Xiao tilted the corners of his mouth again, and said with a smile: "Are you worried about those barbed wire and trenches?" ”

"How do you know?"

"Haha." Tang Xiao smiled and said, "Sure enough, the emperor guessed it, don't worry, I not only brought an armored train this time, but also brought you five real big guys." ”

"The real big guy?"

Tang Xiao didn't speak, but continued to pull Zhao Long to the back of the third train, only to see the three-trailer flatbed truck dragged at the back of the train, and when the soldiers pulled open the large oilcloth covering it, even Zhao Long's eyes straightened.

"Originally, we were going to call it an armored combat vehicle, but the emperor said that the name was not good, so we changed it." Tang Xiao pointed to five huge big guys like iron boxes, but there was an iron belt inlaid on several wheels, and a large machine gun that had never been seen before on the top and left and right, and introduced excitedly.

"Now, it's called a tank!"

"Tanks?"

Hearing this strange name, Zhao Long was puzzled, but he knew the power of these five big guys very well, because he saw that after several soldiers used fire to warm up the engine and start it again, this guy's tail just spewed black smoke and slammed into a big tree with a thick bowl mouth next to him.

Without waiting for everyone to shout to be careful, it was like a wild bull, which ran over it violently, and then crossed a trench more than a meter wide, and turned back to its original place, and even the thick snow could not slow it down half a step.

At that moment, everyone's eyes were straight, and there was only one thought in their hearts.

"It's really a big guy!"