Unlike the army in the old era, the military rations of the Imperial Army were very advanced. All dynasties used peeled rice as military rations. The rice itself can be stored for a long time. It only needs to be cooked in the army to eat. Generally, it is cooked and then dried in the sun and becomes dry rice for military rations for marching. This has caused single nutrition, especially peeled rice lacks vitamins, which can easily lead to beriberi and other diseases. Therefore, in the marching state, the Imperial Army still uses dry rice, dough cakes, etc. as military rations. Once it enters the garrison state, it immediately transfers to the garrison state and improves the nutritional structure of the military rations according to local conditions. For this reason, there is no shortage of processing tools such as stone mills and stone mortars in the army.

From food sources to processing tools, allocated from the army. Li Junhua keenly noticed this. Obviously, this was not a coincidence that Adai accidentally created, which proved intentional, and it was obviously extremely reasonable, because the Northern Expedition armies are now controlled by Li Junhua, and the same is true for the food, grass and military supplies in the army.

Let the army's war horses eat lush grass and save feed as food for the rations of the refugees in the relocation, which can be considered as their own place. The food problem was solved and the internal relocation was mostly solved. All materials and funds came from the army, so there was no need to ask for additional funds for internal relocation, which was a waste of criticism.

Under the city of Nebchu.

This castle built by the Russians was originally just a winter camp along the Shikal River in the upper reaches of Heilongjiang. After several expansions, it has become a castle. During the time when the empire developed the northeast, it constantly defeated the Manchus and expanded upstream along Heilongjiang, the castle was also constantly repaired and reinforced due to the unfavorable situation of the war to Russia.

In the exchanges between the Empire and Russia, war has always been the main form, but it has long been a battle between the Russian pioneer team and the Imperial Armed Fur Merchant. The largest scale is only 200 to 300 people, so it is rarely known. When the Qing Dynasty fled to the northern desert and the Empire formally established diplomatic relations with Russia, in the face of the protests of the Russian representatives, the Empire representative also read a lot of information, and only then did he know that the Empire had fought with it so many times on the distant banks of Heilongjiang.

The high profits of fur prompted more and more imperial merchant groups to enter the Siberian region and constantly clash with Russia and its affiliated tribes. The two sides often traded and fought while fighting. Although Heilongjiang was far away from the heart of the empire, it was even further away from Moscow. Russians suffered more and more losses and could only retreat and strengthen the fortress. Nebchu is the best portrayal. The winter camp, which was once built of wooden stakes and mud, is now a ox-shaped castle.

Nebchu was able to prevent the imperial forces from entering the densely populated Baikal Basin, and also cut the empire with Siberia with the help of the Outer Xing'an Mountains and many rivers, thus becoming the most important fortress on the frontier of the Russians. Since the beginning of this year, more than 6,000 right-wing troops went upstream from Humal City, reinforcements from Irkutsk, the west bank of Baikal and Yakutsk north of the Outer Xing'an Mountains have been coming. Cao Song ambushed one and repelled another, but after the snow melted and spring, he could not block the surrounding area, causing a large number of soldiers to enter the castle. Fortunately, the imperial reinforcements finally arrived.

When Chen Ping led the reinforcements to arrive, he looked at the camp arranged on the banks of the Shikal River. He felt like he had come to the Grand Camp set up by the emperor in Kulun. On the flat grass, there was an imperial military camp surrounded by neat tents. A large number of yurts and shacks were densely distributed around this military camp, like a long rag thrown on the banks of the Shikal River. This camp surrounded the Russian fortress in the center. A little estimate was that Chen Ping felt that there must be more than 20,000 people besieged by Nibchu City, or more than 30,000. However, according to the Northern Expedition plan, Cao Song's right-wing army should have only more than 6,000 people.

Walking in the camp full of sour smell, Chen Ping saw many Mongolian men lying or leaning on the camp. Some were smoking and some were drinking tea. Many were dancing around totem poles made of stones or bones. When Chen Ping saw his team of men avoided them. Most of their clothes were made of sheepskin or other leather, which was obviously not breathable in the hot summer, so many people were naked, but many people applied pigments or lime on their bodies and faces, which looked quite primitive. Chen Ping felt that they were Mongolians, but they were not like what they usually encountered.

"These are all Buryats, called Barhu people in the Qing court. They come from the area around Lake Baikal and are also considered to be a branch of the Mongols." Cao Song greeted Chen Ping, saw him confused, and explained briefly.

"Why do they gather here?" Chen Ping asked.

Cao Song smiled: "General Chen, there is food here, wine and tobacco to enjoy, revenge can be avenged, injustice can be extended, and war can be fought. Of course they have to gather here."

Obviously, food, tobacco and alcohol were brought by the Imperial army, and hatred and injustice were related to the Russians in Nebchuli. When entering the camp of the Imperial Right-wing Army, Chen Ping saw a connected warehouse again. A large number of Buryats traded here, and local fur and wool were exchanged for various iron tools, knives and daily necessities. It can be seen that tobacco, tea and spirits are the most popular for enjoyment. Those merchants also have Hu Han’s appearance, speaking the unique language of Buryat. When they communicate with each other, they are in the dialect of the northeastern province of the Empire.

"These merchants were once smuggling merchants. They had been in business contact with locals for a long time. It was precisely because of their efforts that our army quickly established contact with the tribes after arriving. Of course, the biggest premise was that we defeated two Russian reinforcements, and the Russians who fought against Nibchu did not dare to come out, so they gained their support." Cao Song was obviously very satisfied with this.

Chen Ping believed Cao Song's words, but also realized a problem: "It seems that the local rule of the Russians is not popular."

Cao Song agreed with this sentence and explained: "It took the Russians nearly thirty years to conquer the Buryats and blackmail them a lot, forcing men to join the army, loot women, and let them pay fur taxes, and they must be precious marten furs and other furs. If they dare not pay, they will rob their children as slaves. The people here have resistance from time to time, but because there is no organization that cannot really cause a threat. Of course, the Buryats believe in the culture of revenge. After our army arrived and defeated the Russians several times, many people who had hatred wanted to follow us and avenge the Russians."

"It seems that we will not lack soldiers when attacking the Russian fortresses around Lake Baikal." Chen Ping said with a smile, obviously very satisfied with the situation where the Buryats surrendered one after another.

"Yes, but we still have to take over the Nibchuburg Fort, but to do this, we need a siege mortar cannon. The heaviest cannon in my hand is a twelve-pound field cannon, which is difficult to suppress the Russian heavy artillery on the top of the city." Cao Song said the key.

Chen Ping nodded: "The heavy artillery battalion of the Central Army is already on the way to come, with 24-pound siege cannons and mortar cannons. However, it is rainy in summer and the roads are muddy, so I can only lead the light troops to help first. What is the strength of the enemy in Nebchu?"

"It's not strong, it's said to have two thousand people, but more than half of them are slaves. The so-called soldiers are mostly Cossacks or some armed serfs, merchants, etc. It's fine to bully some fishing and hunting nations with a few broken guns in their hands, but in fact it doesn't have much combat effectiveness. In the early years, it was rumored that the Cossacks were extremely brave, but after some captives, they found out that, let alone the Cossacks serving in the East, even in Europe, were mainly infantry. The things we face were good at firearms and had good ability to control ships. As for cavalry, to be serious, they were more like infantry riding horses.

But the turtle shell of Nibchu City is very hard, with 17 or 18 large and large artillery guns, of which six are more than eight pounds of heavy artillery, and the layout is also very reasonable. It cannot be taken down by field guns alone. If you forcefully attack the city, you can still take down. However, around Lake Baikal, there are more than a dozen Russian castles, and I don’t know how many people will die." Cao Song briefly introduced.

"Then wait for the heavy artillery to come. It's still early anyway. It's enough to solve it before winter comes. Don't panic. The battle here is not considered during the Northern Expedition, so there is no need to put too much pressure." Chen Pingkuan explained Cao Song a few words and entered the tent.

In the big tent, the imperial officers and officials sat on one side, while the other side were all chiefs of local tribes, including the Buryats, the Khalkha Mongols who fled here, and there were other ethnic minorities. The imperial officers and officials had standard military uniforms and were strict in military discipline, while the chiefs on the other side looked fancy, a little gorgeous and a little gray, but they all looked primitive and dirty.

Cao Song briefly explained a few words that the Buryats and other local natives mainly believed in shamanism. Although Tibetan Buddhism from the three Khalkha tribes has a history of fifty years and the Russians also promoted Orthodox religion, shamanism is still the mainstream, so the one who sits here may not be tribal chiefs, or shamans and other tasks. These people are dressed more fancy. Many people decorate themselves with bones and bird feathers. It seems that the more gorgeous the shaman, the higher the status, and some people simply look like a peacock with open-screen displays.

Chen Ping is the commander of the army. When he came in, everyone stood up to salute according to their own habits, while Cao Song introduced them one by one. Everyone introduced would greet Chen Ping with noble etiquette. Even those "peacocks" were the same. They were very pious and humble when they saluted. When they returned to their own position, they were arrogant and arrogant. This scene made Chen Ping look at Cao Song's ability again.

Chen Ping, who comes from the Kansai Appeasement Zone and has been dealing with religion all year round, knows very well that these religious people have always liked to bargain with the masters of secular power in terms of etiquette, and this group of shamans is so respectful, it is obvious that Cao Song used the means.

After introducing all the people, Chen Ping announced as an emissary of the empire, and sent accompanying officials of the Lifan Academy to contact many chiefs and shamans on the spot. After confirming that there is no barrier to language communication, the chief or shaman sent his sons and nephews or confidants to take the officials of the Lifan Academy back to his tribe to count the population and territory of the tribes so that the emperor could submit a reward according to the standards of the foreign vassals. At the same time, the chiefs of each tribe sent their sons and nephews to Kulun. When you meet the emperor and the prince, you will receive the reward, and let them see the prosperity of the imperial army.

After sending out the local chiefs, Chen Ping convened all officers and officials to meet and conveyed instructions from the prince of the empire. In this summer and autumn, the army would purge all Russian castles around Lake Baikal, completely occupy the richest and most populous area within Russia's control, re-arrange Lake Baikal under the rule of the Chinese nation, and become the veritable North Sea. This will not only greatly weaken Russia's strength in Siberia, but also flow north at any time, completely cutting the Russian Far East and Siberia, so as to facilitate comprehensive occupation and colonize the North Asian continent.

"General, the Russians in Nebchu's city sent an envoy." An officer walked in and reported to Chen Ping.

Chen Ping looked at Cao Song, and Cao Song said, "It's an old trick. I want to test the truth or escape unstoppable. The Russians in Nebchu knew very well that the empire was neither a foolish and backward Tatar tribe nor a backward feudal country. We have firearms far beyond their technical level. As long as our heavy artillery arrives, their doomsday will come."

"It is impossible to escape without any loss. Since the Buryats have a deep culture of revenge, I don't mind using the lives of the Russians to capture the hearts of the Buryats." Chen Ping said with a smile, and then said to the officer: "Go and tell the envoy and let him tell the chief of the commission of the Nebchus what I said, and say that I am the envoy of the imperial emperor. Only the envoy of the Russian Tsar is qualified to negotiate with me. Also, tell the Russians that if you want to survive, you will surrender. I guarantee their safety, but if my army breaks the city, they will not be able to do anything."

"General, killing prisoners is a violation of military law." Cao Song whispered after the officers left the meeting.

Chen Ping smiled coldly: "This is natural, but I won't do it myself. I can't let the Russians' blood be dirty. You and my hands are not. We come to this world to make achievements."

"What do you mean?" Cao Song was a little puzzled after hearing this, but when Chen Ping opened the window and looked at the vast area of ​​Buryats outside the camp, he understood that some people were willing to do such dirty and tiring work. Why should the King's Master touch the hands of the king?
Chapter completed!