After the capture of Yeniseisk, Zhao Xin did not return to Beihai Town, but stayed. Of course, if he really wanted to go back to see his wife and children, it would not be a problem. It would only take two or three days to sneak back and forth.
Unlike last time, only a piece of Transbaikal region was missing. This time, the result of the "Battle of Usolye" will cause Tsarist Russia to lose tens of millions of square kilometers of territory east of the Yenisei River, not to mention what Zhao Xin will do next.
The establishment of the "Siberian Cossack Kingdom" would push the borders of Tsarist Russia back to the Ural Mountains.
You must know that starting from Ivan IV in the 16th century, it took Tsarist Russia nearly two hundred years to gradually occupy the vast area from the Ural Pass to Lower Kamchatka. The efforts of countless Cossacks to expand eastward only took two years.
It’s all over in the new year, no one can accept this change!
Not to mention the Ural Mountains, even if the middle line of the Yenisei River is used as the border, Catherine II and the Russian Senate will never agree.
Although Rumyantsev's 100,000-strong army failed, the core military strength of the Tsarist Russian Empire was not damaged. Not to mention the 600,000 standing army of the Tsarist Russian Empire, just the Catherine Potemkin command
The Army Group and the Ukrainian Army combine to number hundreds of thousands, and they are all elite troops that have fought with Turkey for many years.
According to the history of another time and space, the Sixth Russo-Turkish War is still more than a year away from the end. This year's Battle of Izmail is already imminent and will definitely be fought. The question is whether the Russian army will forcefully cross the Danube River and continue to expand its results.
, or turn around and come back to fight the Bei Navy to the death?
If the Russian army stops at the Izmail Fortress and then ceases the war with Turkey, then Crimea and Georgia, which are already within easy reach, as well as the outlet of the Black Sea, will have to be given up. Catherine II will never forget to dominate.
Black Sea can only wait until the outcome is decided with Beihai Town.
If the old lady insists on finishing the war with the Turks, then Beihai Town still has more than a year to prepare. How about inciting Turkey to stir up trouble again? However, Beihai Town has no contact with Turkey at all, and still needs to establish contact.
Just fine.
Historically, the old lady got sick and died in 1796 at the age of sixty-seven. Potemkin's death next year will bring a heavy mental blow to her. But now Zhao Xin is not sure whether Potemkin will still be alive.
He died due to a recurrence of an old illness. After all, if the Russo-Turkish War had not started, Potemkin would not have gone to Iasi, and he would not have died suddenly of fever.
Considering the water and land transportation routes in Siberia, the Russian army will definitely build an advance base based on the Ob River more than 600 kilometers away. In this way, Krasnoyarsk will be the first frontline, followed by Yeniseisk
.
Unmentioned, preparation for war is the first priority. However, the Yenisey River Basin is not Transbaikal, which is vast and sparsely populated and is close to Khalkha. The Russian settlers in Yeniseisk and Krasnoyarsk must be driven away.
, to prevent military secrets from leaking.
As a result, Zhao Xin and Jiuzang launched operations almost at the same time. They first checked the population and housing situation of the residents in the city, registered them one by one, and then planned to expel the residents in the city.
During the investigation of the two towns, a special group emerged. They sent two representatives to the Military Control Commission to ask for a meeting with Zhao Xin, and offered to serve the North Navy as long as they could stay.
"Are you all Jews?" Zhao Xin looked at the two bearded men standing in front of him and thought to himself, this is really troublesome.
"Yes, Your Excellency." The two men wearing white hats bowed to Zhao Xin in unison, and then one of the elders introduced himself: "I am Rabbi Elijah Rosner, this is
It’s Joseph Bowie.”
Zhao Xin had a surprised expression on his face, thinking that a rabbi was here. He pointed at the two chairs opposite and said, "Please sit down and talk."
Ilya and Joseph looked at each other in surprise. In the past, they were not qualified to sit in front of Tsarist Russian officials. So Ilya said with some embarrassment: "Your Excellency, let's talk standing up."
A sneer appeared at the corner of Zhao Xin's mouth, and he continued: "But I don't want to talk to you with my neck raised."
As soon as these words came out, the two Jews had to sit carefully next to the chairs, not even daring to raise their heads.
"Tell me, what do you want from me?"
As a rabbi, Elijah hesitated for a moment and then said: "Actually, we are here today to represent the local Jewish settler group. We hope, no, we are begging you not to expel us."
"Oh?" Zhao Xin was stunned for a moment, thinking that his plan had been exposed? He asked calmly: "Where did you hear that I was going to expel you?"
"That's what everyone in the city says," the Jew named Joseph stammered with a sad look on his face: "They used to do this in Lithuania. They first counted the population, checked the property, and then expelled
Exit the country.”
His voice became softer and softer, and in the end he was almost inaudible, but Zhao Xin still understood.
"Your Excellency," Ilya explained after considering it: "My friend in Irkutsk wrote to me that you are all Chinese who call themselves Seris. He told me that under the rule of the Chinese, there is no discrimination against the Jews.
.”
"Indeed, we do not discriminate against anyone. There are many ethnic groups and different religions under the rule of Beihai Town. Except for those deceptive sects, we all treat them equally." Zhao Xin changed the topic and reminded: "But for those who collude with foreign enemies,
We will never treat anyone who betrays garrison intelligence lightly. Not only will their property be confiscated, but their entire family will also be deported."
As soon as these words came out, Elijah and Joseph quickly shook their heads and said no.
"What's your friend's name?"
"Basnin Levertov. He is a respected businessman."
"It turns out it's him! We're old friends." Zhao Xin laughed, and then asked the guard to bring a cup of tea to the two guests.
This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! After hearing this, Ilya said with a smile on his face: "Your Excellency, are you familiar with him? It seems that we are at the right place today. You see, we
I just want to get a place to stay. If you can provide us with asylum, I guarantee on behalf of all the Jews in Yeniseisk that we will never provide intelligence about the garrison to the Tsarist Russian government, and we will fully cooperate with your local management.
"
Zhao Xin felt a chill in his heart after hearing this, and unconsciously narrowed his eyes. He looked curious and asked in a relaxed tone: "Can you tell me about the situation of the local Jews?"
"Of course, this is also the purpose of my visit to you. What do you want to know about, Your Excellency?"
Zhao Xindao: "Tell me from the beginning, how did you get here?"
Ilya took a sip of tea, moistened his dry throat, then praised the tea in the cup, and then said in a deep voice: "Excuse me, do you know anything about the Russo-Persian War?"
Zhao Xin shook his head. He had no interest in those bad things in Poland. Wait, could it be...?
As expected, Ilya continued: "Actually, Joseph and I are both descendants of Polish prisoners of war, and some of us are from Lithuania."
According to Ilya, the Jews first appeared in Siberia in the seventeenth century. They were all prisoners of war in the two Russo-Polish wars. They were first sent to this "cultivated land". After the war, according to the peace concluded between Tsarist Russia and Poland,
In the treaty, Tsar Mikhail also promised to "unconditionally release everyone", which of course was impossible.
By 1721, Tsarist Russia officially implemented anti-Semitic policies. At that time, as long as the Russian army captured a Polish town, all captured Jews would be executed immediately. Even in a period when Jewish policies were relatively relaxed, they would be deported. In this way
First, by 1727, there were no Jews left in Little Russia (Ukraine).
Of course, it was impossible to kill them all, so many Jews were exiled to Siberia. They were engaged in business, farming and handicrafts as "exiles, hard labor prisoners, and illegal residents." As for the Jews who came to Siberia as free persons,
Mainly among them were "winemakers", who were experienced and highly skilled, and therefore became useful people to the Tsarist Russian government.
According to Ilya, the total number of Jewish groups here in Yeniseisk is more than 700, with a total of less than 200 households.
After listening to Ilya's story, Zhao Xin nodded slightly, and then asked the guard to get some snacks for the two of them to enjoy. Ilya and Joseph saw that Zhao Xin was in a good mood, so they talked more.
"What will you do when you get a wife? Should you find a Jewish girl or marry a local?"
Joseph smiled bitterly and said: "Who doesn't want to find a girl of his own race? But faith...the local government has a decree that those who do not join the Orthodox Church cannot marry Russian girls. What can we do? We can only save a sum of money to hire a matchmaker.
Go to the west of the Ural Mountains and bring one back. To be honest, the cost is not low."
Zhao Xin asked curiously: "Can I only marry a Jewish girl? What if I can't save money?"
Ilya, a rabbi, said: "It is not impossible for other ethnic groups. The Jews in Kainsk originally asked the authorities to allow them to buy Kalmyk women trafficked from the border like the Siberians, and then according to Jewish law
The authorities also agreed to marry them. But here in Yeniseisk, there are not many Kalmyk women, only a few."
Zhao Xin laughed after hearing this, and the two people opposite him also laughed. However, Zhao Xin suddenly asked abruptly: "How many local people are engaged in the loan sharking business?"
Joseph blurted out: "Fifteen..."
In the flash of lightning, Ilya's expression suddenly changed and he immediately touched him with his toes. Joseph immediately changed his words and said: "No, it's the Shi Family. Look at my memory."
"Huh?" Zhao Xin narrowed his eyes, slammed the table and asked, "Is it fifteen or ten?!"
The back of Joseph's neck immediately began to sweat, and Ilya thought it was terrible!
It is said that a very important reason why Jews were repeatedly marginalized in European history is that many of them were loan sharks.
The reason why Zhao Xin asked this question was because this problem had existed in Irkutsk before. The five big families not only monopolized local business, but also controlled the city's economy by relying on loan sharks. Those who borrowed loan sharks not only drank in taverns
The Buryats, who own only their meager property, as well as farmers, and even some former government officials and Cossack garrisons, also borrowed money from the five families. In this way, they will inevitably control the parliament and make the borrowers their vassals.
Their mouthpiece.
Beihai Trading Co., Ltd. has spent a lot of effort over the past year. By subsidizing Buryats and farmers who farmed honestly, and at the same time, the civil affairs also provided people and materials to support them, this helped them repay the usurious loans.
Get rid of the control of the Five Families.
In fact, not only Irkutsk, but also other large towns in Siberia have this problem. Those small Jewish winemakers who were engaged in alcohol sales in Siberia all opened taverns. After they earned their first pot of gold, they quickly
Funds are invested in the loan shark industry.
No ruler of a country would want the loan sharking industry to flourish under his rule. Why should such behavior not be scrupulous?
According to the history of another time and space that Zhao Xin learned, when Polish Jews became subjects of Tsarist Russia in the 18th century, almost all of them were small businessmen, lessors, brokers, intermediaries or tavern owners. Among these people
There is neither a big bourgeoisie nor agricultural workers and landowners.
However, a hundred years later, the situation completely changed. As of 1917, almost all important industrial and commercial sectors in the "Jewish Ghetto"--and to some extent, even the entire Russian industry and commerce, were either completely in the hands of the Jews.
Either it is under the strong influence of Jewish capital. Even the development and operation of the Russian banking industry are closely related to the Jews.
Which regime's ruler would not be afraid of this situation?
Zhao Xin doesn't really care whether he believes in Christianity or not. The Chinese people believe in everything and believe in nothing.
However, the behavior of the Jews in controlling the commercial economy is really detestable. It is precisely because of this that Zhao Xin does not like the five major families. If the Jews in the Yenisei River Basin continue to do this under the rule of Beihai Town, it is obvious that they are acting against the regime. Zhao Xin
Nor can it be tolerated.
While Ilya and Joseph were sweating profusely, Zhao Xin said to them coldly: "Go back and convey my words to your community. I know that the Tsarist Russian government does not allow you to obtain land or become farmers. But I don't have this problem here.
, a family has the right to use one hundred acres, and there will be no tax for five years. You can plant whatever you want. Beihai Town currently only collects taxes on commercial transactions."
"Your Excellency, this is really good news! I will tell the people in the club as soon as I get back."
"I'm warning you, stop thinking about getting rich through loan sharking. If I hear again that you are using loan sharking to control the city's economy, I will confiscate all your illegal gains and get out of here!"
Ilya's expression changed after hearing this, and he hurriedly explained: "Sir, how can this be illegal? Lending money is also a business..."
Zhao Xin interrupted the other party with a wave of his hand and said in a decisive tone: "You are wrestling with the government, do you understand? Using alcohol to anesthetize those honest farmers and Mongolians and swallow up their property, what kind of business is this? Pure business?
He eats people without spitting out their bones!"
He slowed down his tone, looked at the two Jews with a sneer and said: "Don't think we don't understand finance. You have been doing this trick in Europe for hundreds of years, why don't you have a long memory? Under the rule of Beihai Town
You don’t need to pay taxes. If you sell alcohol, you should go to the tax collection agency to file taxes honestly. The tax rates for different types of alcohol will be clearly defined. Whoever dares to evade taxes will be heavily fined a hundred times the amount of the tax, and will also be sent to jail.
As for commercial credit, it will be issued by special agencies set up by the government in the future. What you do in Europe will not work here. Do you understand?"
When Zhao Xin said this, Ilya and Joseph looked pale and kept wiping the sweat on their foreheads with silk scarves. The two nodded in agreement, thinking that they had to go back and summon others to discuss countermeasures.
After the two Jewish businessmen pissed themselves off after being scolded and said goodbye, Zhao Xin stood up and walked to the window. He looked at the Jewish community not far away and was silent for a long time.
Unlike previous czars, the era of Catherine II was the era in which the Jews in Tsarist Russia had the best living conditions. In the early days of this queen’s reign, because her policy at the time was to “embrace Europe and flaunt liberalism,” the Jews gained the same status as
Equal rights for Christians.
Moreover, because the Queen encouraged the development of industry and commerce and established a system of first, second and third level merchant guilds, which broke the national isolation of the Jews and shook the compulsory binding force of the Jewish community, many Jews took full advantage of the right to register as merchants and joined the civil class.
.
The "Municipal Autonomy Regulations" promulgated by the Tsarist Russian government in 1785 gave Jews the right to participate in local hierarchical management and hold public office. For example, three of the five largest families in Irkutsk are Jewish, and they control the city council and even Sibiya.
Cove also became mayor.
However, the good days of the Jews in Tsarist Russia are coming to an end. If nothing happens and Tsarist Russia continues to participate in the partition of Poland, nearly one million Jews from Lithuania, Podolia and Volyn will become subjects of Tsarist Russia. By then
This led to the Tsarist Russian government restricting Jews on a series of issues such as residence rights, property rights, industry and commerce, and education rights. Jews would be severely restricted in their rights of residence and movement. They could only live in 15 provinces, and
You can't live in the countryside.
Should we keep these people and let them work for Beihai Town? Zhao Xin was still undecided.