After being defeated like a mountain, Milevalov led more than 700 remaining soldiers and fled in embarrassment to the settlement of Vernelensk.
On this day, I escaped to a small village: Ulan-Ude. This place was later to be the capital of the Russian Republic of Buryatia, but now it is just a small village. Although the place is not big, there are many Buryat people gathered there.
Mongols.
Milevalov wanted to enter the village to replenish supplies, but found that the village was full of people and some houses were actually set on fire.
What's going on? Are they horse thieves or the Ming army? Thinking of the latter, Milevalov shuddered.
He calmed down and shouted to a confidant beside him: "You, go in and see what's going on."
The confidant sneaked in and trotted back all the way, "Manager, great news! The person in the village is Director Khovansky."
This Khovansky is the guard of the settlement of Veronlensk and the director of the Tsarist Russian Shooting Military and Political Department. The Shooting Army is a paramilitary force of Tsarist Russia. It serves the people in peacetime and serves as soldiers in wartime. They use the leisure time for military training. They
The combat effectiveness is lower than the new regiments in Tsarist Russia, but it is still much higher than local militia groups such as the Cossacks.
"Khovansky! Huh? Why did he come here if he didn't stay at Vernelensk Castle to defend?"
Milevalov came to Khovansky full of suspicion.
At this time, the director of the shooting army was looking at the gold, silver, jewelry, silk and satin that his subordinates had snatched with satisfaction. He was very satisfied and nodded: "This trip is worthwhile, and the harvest is great!"
In contrast to the looted wealth, there were groups of poor Buryat Mongols near Ulan-Ude. Forced by Rakshasa soldiers, they followed the leaders and elders of each tribe to drive their livestock and property.
, migrated with difficulty, and valuables such as gold, silver, and jewelry fell into Director Khowanski’s pocket.
Milevalov was furious, "Your Excellency, I express serious dissatisfaction and protest against your behavior. These Buryat people have surrendered to His Majesty the Tsar and paid taxes to the government. You have no right to plunder them."
Wealth, let alone the power to drive them far away."
"Humph!"
Khowanski sneered in his heart, "Why are you pretending to be upright? Don't think that I don't know what you are thinking. It's just that you are jealous when you see that I have grabbed too many things.
He said coldly: "You misunderstood, I am not robbing, but following the order of Duke Golitsyn, all the Buryats on the east bank of Lake Baikal were transferred to the Elkou on the west bank of Lake Baikal.
The Ming army could not see a single herdsman or get any supplies in the city area. In this way, the long communication lines and poor logistics would drag them to death."
Don't think that because the Rakshasa people are warlike, they are upright and don't know how to use tricks. In fact, they are very cunning when expanding their territory, and all kinds of conspiracies and tricks emerge in an endless stream. The Han people can also use the strategy of strengthening the wall and clearing the wilderness.
As soon as he heard that the Chinese army had entered the Lake Baikal basin, General Golovin proposed a vicious plan to Duke Golitsyn: move all the Buryats on the east bank of Lake Baikal to the west bank and turn the east bank into a no-man's land.
, so that the Ming army cannot get any supplies locally. In this way, the Ming army's logistics can only rely on rear transportation. In the ice and snow, the difficulty of transportation can be imagined. When the Ming army runs out of supplies and is in a dilemma, a good opportunity for counterattack will be
Arrived.
Golitsyn felt that this strategy was good. No matter how brave the Ming army was in fighting, it would be in vain if the logistics could not keep up. So he acted according to the plan and ordered the generals from various places to move all the Buryats on the east bank of Lake Baikal to the west bank.
This policy was effectively implemented. The soldiers of the new regiment were better, but the shooting army and the Cossacks took the opportunity to rob, which made the Buryats furious and dared not speak out.
Khowanski naturally took the opportunity to make a fortune. As a paramilitary force, the shooting army's salary is much lower than that of the new army. If we don't rob, how can we let the brothers drink from the northwest?
Seeing that he said that he was acting on the military orders of Duke Golitsyn, Milevalov could not say anything more. He just reminded anxiously: "Your Excellency, please move faster. The Ming army is about to arrive at Verlennsk."
".
"What! Ming army?"
Khowanski was shocked when he heard this, and then he reacted, "Aren't you stationed at Gusino Ozersk Castle with Director Shaklovitz? Why are you here?"
"Alas! It's hard to describe in one sentence. Director Shaklovitz was killed in the battle, and Gusino Ozersk Fort was also lost." Milevalov sighed and detailed the battle of Gusino Ozersk Fort.
Listen to Yuhovansky.
The more Horwanski listened, the more frightened he became, and his face turned pale. Although he and Shaklovitz had the same official rank, they were both directors. However, he was the director of the new formation regiment of the regular army, while he was only the director of the shooting army. The regular army was all
Defeated, can our two thousand shooters, plus Milevalov's remnants of less than a thousand men, be able to defend the Lensk Fort?
He couldn't help but say to Milevalov with a bitter look on his face: "Your Excellency, you know that Vernelensk is just a settlement with more than 300 Cossacks living there. It is said to be a castle, but it is just a wooden village. It is not like
Fort Gusino Ozersk is as strong as Fort Vershinsk; the equipment of my shooting corps cannot compare with Director Shaklovitz's new regiment. We only have twelve cannons. In my opinion, Fort Vershinosk cannot be defended.
It’s better to retreat to the west bank of Lake Baikal and stay close to the lake. What do you think?”
When he heard that he wanted to run away, Milevalov was shocked. He had already lost the Gusino Ozersk Fort. If he abandoned Verkhlensk without a fight, I was afraid that Duke Golitsyn would not spare him.
He hurriedly advised: "Director, I heard that His Majesty the Tsar was very angry at the abandonment of Nerchinsk (Nerchinsk). If you and I abandon Lensk without a fight, I am afraid we will end up like Warlord Vlasov.
What will happen to you. Please think twice!"
When he heard that he mentioned Vlasov, the Nerchinsk warlord who had been captured and brought to Moscow for punishment, Khovansky was startled and suddenly felt that running away, no, retreating, was not a good idea.
He had no choice but to ask Milevalov for advice, "What do you think we should do?"
Milevalov was calm, "You don't need to worry too much, Director. First send people to move these Buryat people to the west of the lake. As for defense, although Verkhno Lensk is only a wooden fort, it is located on the right bank of the Chigoye River.
There is a river to rely on, and there is a dangerous place like Gorodavo Cliff. You can place cannons on the top of the cliff and hide the soldiers in the caves on the cliff. If the Ming army comes to attack the fort, they will blast it with artillery."
Hearing him mention the Gorodavo Cliff, Khovansky's face turned a little red. This cliff is very dangerous. There are two caves in the cliff, one large and one small, where people can live. The Cossacks in the settlement of Vernelensk originally used to
I lived on a cliff and later built a wooden fort. This cliff is quite dangerous, so you can defend it.
Milevalov continued: "We can also build some boats and rafts and hide them on the Chigoye River. If the war goes unfavorably, we can retreat by boat at any time."
After hearing this, Khovansky finally felt relieved and laughed loudly: "Don't worry, I am willing to defend Vernelensk with you."