The meeting officially began. Unlike the past where everyone sat cross-legged after entering the big tent, Kitard prepared a conference table, or a large round table, and everyone sat together.

A large bouquet of flowers is placed in the center of the round table.

In front of each person is a cup of coffee with sugar and milk according to the custom of the Truchen people. Except for the milk, these things are all bought from European merchants.

On a warm and sunny afternoon in autumn, Kitard asked someone to raise the top of the tent, and the tent was suddenly as bright as day.

Although he was sitting randomly, Kitard still sat west and faced east according to the Mongolian custom. Opposite him was Kishenskov, and Zargu leader (speaker) Tsebokdorzi sat north and faced south.

, sitting opposite the great lama Norbu Zang Tenzin.

Others naturally sit with those on the same side.

"Chitard really knows how to do tricks"

Kishenskov secretly sighed in his heart. Near the city of Vetlyanka is his "embassy". It is a small city built of white marble. There has been a battalion of Cossacks in it. These Cossacks are all accompanied by their families.

They are also farming and grazing in the surrounding areas.

“Damn it, we actually want to compete with the Kalmyks for both sides of the Volga River!”

When everyone had finished drinking half of the coffee, Kitard said: "If you have any suggestions this year, I hope you can put them forward as soon as possible."

Everyone looked at me, and I looked at you. In the end, Kishenskov was the first to say: "I'll go first."

"My proposal is that since the Truchen Khanate has generally cultivated land in its territory, according to the previous agreement reached between the Khanate and our empire, it needs to provide taxes to our country."

Kitard had expected this a long time ago, "As you can see, this is my farmland, and it is all used to feed my soldiers. I did not put the excess food in the warehouse of the Khanate's Zaisang Mansion."
p>

"And in the North Caucasus, my taxes are sent to the Kuban without any effort every year. No, Krasnodar"

"No!" Kishenskov suddenly became stern, "Since the Great Khan recognized the agreement reached between the former Great Khan and our country, we must fulfill the agreement! What's more, since they are soldiers, they are under the direct jurisdiction of the Khanate and are paying taxes.

Among them!"

Kitard did not answer immediately, but glanced at the others. The people on his side naturally did not need to look, but on the other side, their expressions were very interesting.

Tsebok Dorji, who also belonged to the direct line of nobles after Ayuqi Khan and was the leader of Zhargu who was pushed up by the Russians, did not show cheers or look on with cold eyes, but was thoughtful.
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Tsetan Dorji of Dulbert's tribe seemed to be gloating over his misfortune. Apparently, Chitard broke the engagement and married his sister Dulan to Xiaoyuzi's general Yamankara, which completely angered him.

His father-in-law, Zhamu Yang, had no expression on his face.

"Recently, Tsebokdorzi often travels to Kazan, Moscow, and St. Petersburg, but I have not heard any rumors that are not conducive to me. He must not have received any benefits. This is a person who can be fought for."

"Tserdandorzi just participated in the Russian war against the rebellious Poles and Lithuanians, and he probably got a lot of benefits. Also, it is said that he is moving a large number of herders to the west bank of the Don River"

"Since this person behaves like this, don't blame me for being ruthless"

"As for my cheap father-in-law, haha..."

After knowing what he knew, he did not refute and said: "Since Mr. Ambassador brought it up, as usual, let's vote by a show of hands."

I looked back and saw that there was a small square table at the back, where Sekesena was recording. According to Russian rules, the contents of every Zhargu meeting must be recorded and signed by everyone.

.

There is no such thing as a hypocritical abstention. Raising your hands means you agree, and not raising your hands means you are right.

Kitard looked at it and found that, as expected, Kishenskov, Tsedandorzi, and Tsebekdorzi all raised their hands, but Zamuyang was hesitating.

According to the previous rules, if it is four to four, then the final result will be decided by the leader of Zargu, and he, the Great Khan, will not have anything to do with it.

The royal tent of his father-in-law was located near the Azov Fortress, but he lived in Zaporozhye and Tsaritsyn all year round. Half of the internal affairs of the ministry were entrusted to the chief minister Sangong Ge, and the other half was left to his soldiers.

In fact, he was trained in the Azov Fortress and has converted to Orthodox Christianity.

Before he became Kitard's father-in-law, the pace of herders from the Heshuote tribe across the Don River to the west bank was faster than that of the Dulbert tribe, but in the past two years, the pace has slowed down visibly to the naked eye.

In Kitard's expectation, Zhamu Yang's big fat hand slowly rose up.

Four to four!

Now it’s time for Cebokdorzi to make an arbitrary decision, and Cebokdorzi will definitely listen to Kishenskov.

Kitard cursed in his heart: "Zhamu Yang, Zhamu Yang, if you don't look at it for my sake, you should do it for the sake of your daughter Abahai, and your grandson and granddaughter.

?"

At this time, Kishenskov finally showed his previous arrogant and domineering look and shouted to Sekerena: "Dear Secretary, give me another drink!"

Sekesena glanced at Kitard, who nodded, so why not let him complain about such a trivial matter?

When Kishenskov began to taste the delicious Truchen-style coffee, everyone turned their attention to Zebokdorzi.

After a long while, Tsebok Dorji said: "Ambassador, look, what the Great Khan just said is correct, but the previous rules cannot be broken. I just want to know, since taxes have to be collected, how to collect them?

”

Kishenskov put down his teacup.

"There's no need to ask. Let's measure the land together, determine the output, and then charge 10% of the harvest."

Tsebok Dorji nodded, "But what the Great Khan said just now is not bad. Those who cultivate the land are not farmers, not even herdsmen. They are all cowardly soldiers. How about we each make a concession and take half of it?"

Kishenskov stared at him for a long time. He had naturally discussed this matter with Cebokdorzi before. Cebokdorzi agreed without even thinking about it. What happened today? It seemed that

Are you talking to Kitard?

However, according to the rules of the meeting, each person can only raise one topic. This is a rule specially set up by the Russians in order to suppress the Turghuts, and they cannot break it casually.

After a while, he seemed to squeeze out a few words from his throat.

"Then half a percent"

He can speak fluent Mongolian, but his voice clearly sounds frustrated.

Although this was barely successful, Kitard was keenly aware that this was just the first step for the Russians to deal with him. If Kishenskov could give in, it meant that they would not do anything if he strongly opposed it.

Use strength.

Before taking back the Junggar people who are about to be exterminated, we must not offend the Russians.

He said: "Ambassador, I heard that Vetlyanka's Cossacks still use front-loading flintlock muskets. How about this? How about I give them three hundred breech-loading flintlock muskets as a gift?"

He naturally knew that Kishenskov would not personally do things like measuring fields, and the Cossacks were not good at this. They always roughly mentioned the numbers in advance, and then negotiated for a long time based on a number.

.

Kishenskov's eyes lit up and he also smiled and said: "Well, to be honest with you, Truchin's breech-loaded flintlocks have been used in Moscow and St. Petersburg before you, and the Tula Arsenal is also producing them in large quantities now.

”

"Since the Great Khan is so friendly, I can't go too far. Great Khan, let me ask you, how much food does one of your soldiers need every year?"

"Four shi, plus horses, is six shi. Each soldier cultivates three acres of land, which is just enough for them. Three thousand people are nine thousand acres. The annual grain harvest is 18,000 shi. One achievement is 1,800 shi.

, half-achievement is nine hundred stones"

"The Ambassador has always been friendly to us, and I would like to express my gratitude here. I will give you an extra thousand shi personally. Ahem, according to the price of goods in Russia, that is a thousand silver coins."

Kishenskov did not have any need to object to this proposal, but he had heard that Orks's army had made a lot of money after Kitard captured Kulisare.

One thousand silver coins a year is a lot of money.

He couldn't help but smile a little, "That's settled, but the words "Nine Hundred Stones" only need to appear in the record.

He also thought to himself: "No matter how much tax you collect, it belongs to the empire, and I won't get any benefit at all. Kitard really knows how to behave."

Next, everyone had issues to discuss. Some Kitard objected, and some he agreed to. For example, the Khanate provided some additional money to various tribes to expand the lamasery, etc., and he agreed.

When he arrived at Cedandorji, he said: "It is said that our troops moved here with the Great Khan Orlak a hundred years ago, and the pastures were roughly designated by him, but now as the population under the Khan's command gradually increases,

There are so many cattle and sheep that the east bank of the Don River can no longer carry so many cattle and sheep."

"I propose that the entire Dulbert department be moved to the Donetsk steppe on the west bank of the Don River"

As soon as these words came out, everyone except Kishenskov was shocked.

It is pure nonsense that there are not enough pastures on the east coast. The Russians also value population because they firmly believe that they can control them with both force and religion.

Otherwise, there would be no scene where they tried their best to stop the Turguts from returning eastward. Even Queen Elizabeth cursed them as a "shameful defection", obviously treating the Turghuts as part of their nationals.

Moreover, the pastures under Kitard's command are now very vast, stretching from the Turgai River to the east, the Don River to the west, Saratov to the north, and the Caucasus Mountains to the south. During the historical heyday of the Xhosa Khanate, there were two villages here.

There are 100,000 tents and a population of over one million, which is still less than that period.

The reason for the shortage of pasture is obviously untenable, and it is obviously provoked by the Russians.

During this vote, everyone except Chitard's side opposed it, and even Zamuyang and Tsebokdorji also opposed it, so naturally nothing happened.

In fact, it is reasonable for Zhamuyang and Cebokdorji to object.

There are a large number of Cossacks on the Don River and the west bank of the Volga River. They must be superior to others. If Dulbert's tribe is allowed to move to the west bank this time, it may be their turn next. They don't want to graze under the bullying of the Cossacks.<

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Next, Tsebokdorji made a proposal to increase the number of Zalgu people, but Chitard vetoed it on his own side without having to take action. Also, one more person will share more power. Except for a very few people with ulterior motives, most of them

No one would agree.

"Is it all over?"

Seeing that Tserdandorzi and Tserbokdorzi did not look very sad when they saw that their proposal was not passed, Kitard completely understood - this is what Kishenskov used to disgust himself!<

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Chapter completed!