Chapter 38: Xiong Jue

Russia, Far East, Vladivostok.

At the train station, Earl Fatiev, the governor of the Binhai Governor, couldn't help but stomp his feet, so that the cold air that penetrated his feet was slightly slowed down, and he activated the soles of his feet that were a little cold. The secretary-in-law who had an umbrella to cover his snow quickly asked with concern: "Your Excellency..."

"I'm fine." Earl of Fateyev smiled bitterly, "It should be soon. Be patient."

A black line appeared in the distance, from far to near, and the crowd was slightly turbulent. Many people stood on tiptoe and looked over. A blue steel locomotive was spraying with thick white fog, which quickly enlarged in people's vision. The brass double-headed eagle logo in front of the front of the car was particularly eye-catching in the winter sun.

Earl Fatiev narrowed his eyes slightly, turned his head, and nodded reservedly. The secretary was in a state of dissatisfaction and made several gestures to the surroundings.

Soon, the locomotive stopped at the station platform with a gasp. The door of the luxury private room opened. Four guard cavalry officers wearing white cavalry dresses, holding sabers, carrying Nassimogan 1891 carriage rifles, and wearing feathered high-tube military caps stepped out of the car door, stood solemnly with knives on their left and right, with their legs together, and the iron palms of the horse boots drew a spark on the granite ground.

The orderly soldiers in the carriage had quickly laid on the red carpet, and stepped firmly. A young major with a beard with a horoscope raised his head and walked out of the car door, stood beside him, and said loudly: "The General of the Russian Imperial Army, the Supreme Commander of the Far East and West War Zone, the Commander of the Far Eastern Front, the Director of the Russian Imperial Cavalry, the Commander of the Russian Imperial Guards, the Honorable Grand Duke, Nikola Nikolaevich Romanov Nikolas arrived!"

A burly figure appeared at the door of the carriage. This man was wearing a black, gold-lined Russian Guard general's uniform, with a slanted ribbon, and a medal of Alexander Nevsky with his right chest. His appearance was a typical Romanov family feature, with high eyebrows, thin face, straight nose, big and deep eyes, and majestic face.

The general was wearing a white velvet cloak, and knee-length horse boots tanned in German calfskin, stepped on the red carpet, and his tall figure covered the entire car door, as if supporting this world. The uncle of the Tsar, the Russian general, stood in awe and saluted the welcome crowd.

The military band on the platform sounded loudly, and in the brisk army march, Count Fateyev took a few steps and warmly greeted him: "His dignity, you have worked hard all the way. It is the honor of all the servants of the Governor's District to be able to visit Vladivostok."

Grand Duke Nikolayevich walked slowly down the red carpet, and a Russian-style bear hug with Earl Fatiev, and said with a smile: "Alex Mikhailovich, my Governor General, Vladivostok is a pearl of the empire in the East. I am a soldier, and I come here in accordance with the emperor's decree, responsible for military affairs, government affairs and logistics matters, and rely more on everyone in the Governor's Office."

"It should, it should." Baron Fatiev smiled enthusiastically, his body hunched slightly, and he seemed increasingly humble in front of the tall cavalry general. "His grand duke, the banquet is ready, look..."

Grand Duke Nikolayevich frowned and said with a smile: "Governor General, you are so polite. I am a soldier. My most urgent hope now is to see my good guys... Let's do this, I will handle military affairs first, and meet with all the generals in the military camp in the evening..."

He saw that Fadeyev was obviously a little disappointed and said with a smile: "Alex Mikhailovich, don't be too careful. The emperor has always admired you. However, you should know that some things have happened to us and the Chinese people recently, and the border is not peaceful. You must be careful of things like shooting and fire... Don't worry, I will deal with the urgent matters first, and come and visit and ask for advice."

Count Fateyev nodded, but his face was still a little unnatural.

Grand Duke Nikolayevich smiled and waved at the welcome crowd, but had no intention of leaving, as if he was waiting for someone. After a while, a group of staff officers came out one after another, each of them full of energy and capable and understanding. Fadeyev saw the one who was slightly short, wearing goggles, a scarf wrapped around his face, and only his nostrils were exposed, and he felt a little strange.

Grand Duke Nikolayevich seemed to have noticed the man, but nodded slightly to the other party. The man also signaled silently. The two seemed to have a look at each other. Grand Duke Nikolayevich patted Fadeyev, who was stunned: "Alex Mikhailovich, please introduce me... Ten minutes, ten minutes later, I will go to the military camp."

Earl Fatiev was stunned, let go of his doubts about the weird officer, and humbly owed to the Grand Duke, leading the Grand Duke towards the welcome crowd.

The staff officer with a tight face wrapped in a scarf looked silently at the heart of the Russian Far East rule through his sunglasses. He looked up at the huge Russian double-headed eagle flag above the station, and his eyes slowly turned to the south. He stood for a long time and lowered his head.

Half an hour later.

A team of Donhe horses galloped in the suburbs of Vladivostok. Grand Duke Nikolaevich breathed a long sigh, closed his eyes, relaxed the reins, and let the cold wind rolled with snowflakes shave its exposed face, but he looked intoxicated: "It's so good... the atmosphere of the battlefield permeates the snow field in the east..."

The staff officer with a scarf wrapped around him, looking at the royal relative who was slightly out of control through the goggles, pulled down the scarf on his face, revealing a typical Asian face, with Prussian beards, and his skin was a little dark. He exhaled a breath of white breath and said with a smile: "Dear Admiral, when you return to the battlefield, you are like a bird out of the cage. Obviously, the sweet wine beauty in St. Petersburg cannot shake your steel-like will. You are the soul of the Russian Army, and my respected Nikola Nikolaevich."

His Russian language is a bit stiff, but it is clear enough.

Grand Duke Nikolaevich smiled: "You are right, my wise friend. I like war, I like battlefields, and my good boys. War... My Eastern friends, believe me, this will be a truly great decisive battle. For any soldier, it is already a blessing to be able to participate in such a war. And I have no other wishes in my life to be able to command such a war with my own hands."

The Asian-faced officer nodded with a smile and raised his hand to point at the young officers who were galloping around him: "His Excellency Infantry General, your great reform of the Russian army has rejuvenated this ancient and glorious army and made him stand at the top of the world again. Glory belongs to you, dear Grand Duke."

Nikolayevich smiled and shook his head: "No, my friend. The most important contribution to all this is you, you brought the secret of the Chinese army's victory."

He saw the other party's expression a little embarrassed and smiled: "My friend, believe me, you will become the second Marshal Barclay, establish a peerless military honor, and be awarded the title. Of course, if God blesses, with the help of Russia, you will also have the opportunity to become the master of that land."

The Asian-faced officer wrapped his scarf again, looked up at the south, squinted his eyes, wondering what he was thinking.

"I really hope to meet the Napoleon of the East soon..." Grand Duke Nikolayevich also turned his eyes there and breathed a long sigh, "One hundred years ago, Marshal Kutuzov and Marshal Barclay defeated that Napoleon. A hundred years later, it was our turn to destroy this Napoleon. This is God's will..."
Chapter completed!