I

"No one stays voluntarily, so we have to think of other ways." Missionary Officer Jia Shizeng said.

Wang Fuchen thought carefully for a long time: "Why don't we draw lots and keep the ones who win. Of course, we can't stay forever and rotate them in two to three years."

Jia Shi once said: "I heard that Khabarov said that people are more likely to die here than in Hailanpao. When we station our troops in Hailanpao, we have to consult the local indigenous people to adapt to the winter in Hailanpao. It is even more necessary to accumulate experience here, so When switching defenses, you can’t do it all at once.”

Wang Fuchen said: "There are sixty soldiers in the garrison, and twenty of them are replaced every year. Every year, food is transported from Hailanpao, and twenty soldiers are brought to change the defense. The twenty new soldiers will accumulate experience with the forty veterans. So , the sixty garrisons can be replaced in three years, and the survival experience of the new garrison soldiers can be guaranteed."

"Okay." Jia Shizeng nodded.

Wang Fuchen added: "Since it is a three-year cycle, there is no need to bring the soldiers' wives. If they become pregnant, the baby will probably die a lot."

The Datong troops of Hailanpao and Yakesa were all unmarried or widowed. They married an indigenous woman from Heilongjiang and have settled down in the Heilongjiang Basin. If they have to change defenses every year, there is really no need to bring their wives to Yakutsk. "

It was because the Cossacks had such a miserable life in Tsarist Russia that they came to places where there was ice and snow, and even established strongholds on the permafrost.

Allowing the Datong Army to settle in Yakutsk is simply tantamount to exile, which is difficult to accept both emotionally and rationally.

Jia Shizeng added: "You can ask the court to exile some serious criminals. Those who have committed extremely heinous crimes and are destined to die are not even qualified to be exiled to Heilongjiang and exempted from guilt. From now on, they can choose to be exiled to Yakutsk. It doesn't take too many, Yakutsk." Cike can only maintain a few dozen Han people."

"Although many people may die, in a few decades, the Han people here should be able to multiply to hundreds or even thousands." Wang Fuchen agreed.

After the two discussed it, they summoned the soldiers to draw lots.

No one had signed up to stay voluntarily before. When I heard that the decision was made by drawing lots, no one had any objections. Including officers and civilians, more than 500 troops were sent out this time, and only 60 people were drawn to stay. Those who won the draw can only consider themselves unlucky.

Wang Fuchen said to the soldiers: "Don't be afraid. Next year, 20 people can change the defense and leave. At that time, lots will be drawn to decide who will leave. One of the three people will only need to be stationed for one year. I will keep Khabarov. , teach you how to farm here, teach you how to protect yourself from the cold and spend the winter here. By the way, some of your Daur wives are pregnant, and all the soldiers will help take care of them."

The secretary who accompanied the army brought a pen and paper.

Cut the paper into small squares, write 60 words "stay", and leave the rest blank.

The soldiers lined up to draw lots, and the clerk opened them on the spot and announced the results.

"No."

"No."

"No."

"Keep!"

"..."

The unlucky guy who won the word "remain" did not lose his head, but smiled wryly like a self-mockery.

"Zhang Tingxun, what queue are you in? Get out of the queue quickly!" Wang Fuchen suddenly shouted.

Zhang Tingxun ran out of the queue, held his head high, and gave a military salute with his arms crossed: "General, I am also a member of the Datong Army. If I don't participate in the draw, how can I convince the public? I won't be able to serve in the army from now on!"

The other soldiers looked over one after another.

Wang Fuchen was immediately worried. If Zhang Tingxun was not allowed to draw lots, his soldiers would inevitably complain, which would not be conducive to his future leadership. If Zhang Tingxun wins the lottery, how will he explain to his old boss Li Zheng if he freezes to death here? How to explain to the Duke Zhang Tieniu?

Wang Fuchen, who commanded the battle efficiently and decisively, could not make up his mind for a moment and turned to look at the missionary officer Jia Shizeng.

The missionary officer focused on ideological work and had more things to consider than Wang Fuchen. Jia Shizeng thought about it: "Old Wang, I can't do it without drawing. Once an exception is made, there will be many people who break the rules in the future. I hope... this young master will not be drawn."

Wang Fuchen glared at Zhang Tingxun and said angrily: "Go and line up!"

"Yes!" Zhang Tingxun ran back to his original seat.

One after another, more than 200 people have drawn lots, but only a dozen people have won, and the chance of winning is getting bigger and bigger.

It is very possible that when the paper sign was shaken in the box, many of the "reserve" sign sank to the bottom. Because it was written with 60 characters of "leave" and was put in and shaken at once.

Wang Fuchen quickly shouted: "Shake it again, the signature is not even."

"Ha ha ha ha!"

All the soldiers laughed when they heard this. They all understood Wang Fuchen's difficulties. They really wanted to make a big deal out of leaving the young master in Yakutsk.

"Keep!"

Sure enough, after shaking the box again, the first one to draw lots won.

"No!"

"No!"

"No!"

Ranked in front of Zhang Tingxun, Wang Fuchen's heart sank every time he missed the draw. Finally, someone got the draw, and he let out a breath of turbidity. He was more tired than fighting.

Finally it was Zhang Tingxun's turn. There were only 104 people left who had not yet drawn lots, and there were still 15 "remain" lots.

14.42% chance of winning.

Zhang Tingxun was very conflicted. He was looking forward to staying in Yakutsk to show that he could endure hardships and stand hard work. As long as he wins the lottery, as the young prince, he will be stationed in Yakutsk for two or three years, and he will definitely be famous throughout the Anton Protectorate. At the same time, he didn't want to stay in the lottery. This place was really not interesting.

With this mentality, Zhang Tingxun twisted out one.

After the secretary opened it, he subconsciously looked at Wang Fuchen.

Wang Fuchen scolded: "If you hit or miss, just tell me!"

The clerk spread out the signature paper and shouted: "Keep it!"

Wang Fuchen's vision went dark and he almost fainted on the spot. This time he really messed up.

"The young master is mighty!"

The soldiers cheered in unison. At this moment, they completely accepted Zhang Tingxun.

Zhang Tingxun smiled and scratched his head, and decided to stay as long as he wanted. He was very strong and had not been sick since he was a child, so he thought there would be no problems.

After all the lots were drawn, Wang Fuchen added: "Peng Chunlin stays and is temporarily appointed as the garrison officer of Yakutsk. Wu Wenbi stays and is temporarily appointed as the chief missionary officer of Yakutsk. Ma Wei stays. You are a military doctor and can take good care of the soldiers. Li Jiang Stay, record the daily temperature here, and draw a map of the nearby area. The four of you will be stationed for three years."

These four unlucky guys were not drawn by lot. Because they had special tasks, they were directly named and left behind.

Wang Fuchen said to Zhang Tingxun again: "Be Peng Chunlin's deputy!"

"yes!"

Zhang Tingxun was so excited that he was actually promoted, although it was only a temporary position.

On the same day, Wang Fuchen explained many matters and led his army to leave the next day. Some supplies were left behind, as well as captured supplies, enough to last them for a year or two.

After the large army left, Peng Chunlin called everyone for a meeting.

Including Khabarov, there were a total of 65 troops stationed.

The first thing to do is to deal with the slaves and hostages. It was easy for slaves to understand that the hostages came from nearby tribes. The Cossacks would capture the hostages and let the natives exchange them for their furs.

The reason why the hostages are being held is because the indigenous people here are semi-nomadic and it is difficult to control them without taking the hostages.

There are 87 slaves in total, all of whom are men, and their usual job is farming.

There are also livestock here, three horses and five reindeer. The Cossacks always fed the animals themselves, fearing that the slaves would come into contact with the livestock and ride away accidentally.

There are more than ten hostages, all of whom are men and should be the sons of tribal leaders.

There are also 92 women and more than ten children. The identities of these people are very special. The women are the wives stolen by the Cossacks, and the children are the descendants of the Cossacks.

Peng Chunlin knew why he stayed. There were so many officers who chose him to be in charge of this place. It was obviously because he was the most familiar with Zhang Tingxun.

Peng Chunlin first organized the team, appointed captains, chiefs, and corps commanders, and then announced: "Those children are all descendants of the Cossacks. I don't want to raise them, and I can't bear to kill them. How about driving them away?"

No one objected. Some people wanted to say something, but they never spoke.

To drive away means to fend for yourself. How can a group of children survive the winter?

Zhang Tingxun looked around and couldn't bear it anymore. He said, "You can keep children under five years old. They don't remember anything anyway."

Peng Chunlin nodded: "Okay."

Science has proven that the human brain does not fully develop until the age of seven, so things before the age of seven are basically forgotten slowly.

Peng Chunlin added: "Our wives are all over there in Hailanpao, and we haven't brought any of them here. Three years will be very difficult. Those who want a wife can sign up. If you don't mind, we can take in the women left by the Cossacks." If you want to wait, you can get married to the nearby indigenous people and give you something as a betrothal gift when the time comes."

There were some changes in the military discipline of Datong in the three major protective offices and overseas territories. The imperial court encouraged soldiers to marry more wives, especially indigenous women!

As long as you don't rob civilian girls, as long as your military salary can support it, the more wives and children you have, the better, you can quickly increase the number of local Han people. Is it disrespectful to women? But adapt to the times and local conditions, nothing is set in stone.

There were more than a dozen soldiers on the spot, willing to take in the Cossack women.

Peng Chunlin asked: "Are there any more? If there are no more, I will allocate the remaining women to those slaves as wives."

After saying this, two more soldiers raised their hands.

Peng Chunlin nodded and said: "You draw lots to choose your wife. Choose the remaining women and let them choose their own slave husbands."

The Datong Army selected women first, and the remaining women selected slave men.

Finally, Khabarov announced to the slaves: "You are all free. You can continue to farm here and pay some grain tax every year. The remaining grain is your own. If you want to leave, you can leave now." "

What the hell!

The tribe they belong to has long been nomadic, and leaving Yakutsk now is akin to death.

A slave chosen by a woman to be her husband is willing to believe in the Datong Army and be the first to kneel down to thank her for her kindness. The rest of the slaves were dubious, but still willing to stay and farm.

After a few days, the weather became colder and colder, and the night was almost close to freezing.

Half a month later, it started to snow.

With snow piled all over the ground, the Datong Army welcomed the first batch of guests.

More than a dozen reindeer pulled a sleigh with people and furs on it, quickly approaching the castle.

These were the natives who came in exchange for hostages. They showed up after the snow fell and came and went in sleighs as fast as they could to prevent the Cossacks from tracking them.