Rise of the 1630s South America

Chapter 855 Cossacks and Manchurians

"Frantzbekov, the 'son of a German woman', he's even Protestant now! He's not really Orthodox, I don't know what you're thinking, this greedy idiot shouldn't be allowed in the church If even a heretic like him can enter the church, then the world will only become dark..." Yuri Petrov sat in a small civil-engineering castle outside Albazin, looking out Looking around, he complained.

Petrov is a Cossack with relatively old qualifications. A few years ago, he followed Vasily Poyarkov to explore the lower reaches of the Amur River and the Sea of ​​Okhotsk. After many difficulties and obstacles, he finally returned to Yakutsk.And during that expedition, he and a dozen other Cossacks were even attacked by the Daurs near the city of Mordkidchi. At one point, he could only eat the corpses of dead people for a living. This was the darkest memory in his life.

This time they followed Yelofei Pavlovich Khabarov to the lower reaches of the Amur River to "get rich", because several castles here have always been famous for their rich gold and silver. The gold and silver mines mined secretly by the Daurians prompted the Livonian (actually living in Livoni) The immediate reason why the Germans in Asia, who served in Moscow many years ago) sent their tax collection team.

As for the members of their expedition (70 Cossacks), it was more tragic, because they had already incurred a lot of debt the moment they left Yakutsk: 15-30 rubles each.The money was lent to them by the new warlord Franzbekov, and it was usury, that is, Franzbekov lent them 10 rubles, but the IOU said 15 rubles.By analogy, everyone has a certain amount of debt, which requires them to find a way to reap benefits for themselves during this expedition, otherwise they will never even think about paying back the money.

Of course, the one with the most debts among them is their leader Khabarov-he is now temporarily back in Yakutsk to recruit recruits.This former Yakutsk tycoon (whose property was confiscated because he offended the former warlord Golovin and became penniless) is now carrying a huge debt of more than 7000 rubles-because Yakutsk warlord Franzbeko The husband lent to Khabarov the weapons and ammunition, woolen coats, iron pots, farm tools, horses, etc. in the treasury. Go to the lower reaches of the Amur River and collect taxes in kind (mainly high-grade fur) from the natives to make huge profits.

Obviously, with their current size of 70 people, they can't do much, so more people must be recruited—at least 200 people—in order to collect taxes from the natives.Of course, 70 people can't attack the native walled city, but it's still possible to do other things to make up for your deficit.For example, when they were on the way out, they looted the Yakuts, the subjects who had surrendered to the Principality of Moscow, not only killed and wounded many people, but also robbed all the livestock; robbed a hunting party of Russians (led by Paul Bikimov); finally, they also looted all of Andrei Vorybayev's goods and food reserves while he was staying in his winter camp, And beat him up, what a bunch of out-and-out villains.

But if there is still a little sense of propriety in robbing your own people on the road, then you have no scruples when robbing the Daur people who are attached to Manchuria Bogd Khan.For example, when Khabarov returned to Yakutsk to recruit people, the [-] Cossacks (the leader was Stepanov) who stayed in Lafkai City, Albazin City and other places almost turned the neighborhood upside down.

Riding horses and boats, they pursued the villages and tribes of the Daur tribe everywhere, and there were a lot of killings and crimes wherever they passed.What they did even felt embarrassing when the Tsar’s special envoy who went to Beijing decades later wrote a book, because it really didn’t look like what a civilized country did—these people had nothing to do with the Mongolian bandits. difference.

And because the city of Rafkai and other places have been empty, the Cossacks who stayed nearby and waited for Khabarov, under the leadership of Stepanov, completely vented their anger on Chief Albazi (son-in-law of Chief Rafkai’s younger brother) and its people.After they failed to attack the city of Albazin, they were counterattacked by the residents of the city. As a result, four people were killed and many people were injured. The few remaining Daurs were slaughtered and driven away (most of the Daurs had withdrawn with the chiefs last year to seek the protection of the Manchus, and their property had been transported away by more than [-] horses).

However, the oil and water in the wild are limited after all, so they finally returned to the outskirts of Albazin City and built a small fort here, waiting for the return of Khabarov's large army.It has only been a few months since we set off in the spring, and everyone has not caught any oil or water at all. Naturally, they dare not return to Yakutsk under such circumstances, so they have to wait and wait for Khabarov to arrive with a large number of people. Here, and from here downriver, looting all the riches along the way.

"Stop complaining, Yuri." Stepanov, who was packing his saddlebags, paused for a moment, and then continued: "I think you should study the latest news from the east that the children brought back. I heard that the Amur River The Agun people (Hezhe people) in the lower reaches have been very active recently, and have repeatedly sent spies to the upper reaches and even inland Manchuria to spy on the situation. I was accidentally killed by him before any useful information came out. It’s really bad! In the past two days, there have been more scouts from Manchurians and Aguns in the field. Yuri, you are a veteran. Take the children to catch a few and bring them back. , we need to know what’s going on outside.”

"The children told me that a powerful force rose from the east. They came from the mouth of the Amur River. God, I never knew that the Amur River could communicate with the sea. This is a great discovery!" Yuri Petrov Putting down the few pearls in his hand, he began to pack his gear and said in a rambling manner: "Your Majesty will definitely be excited about this, a river that can connect to the sea, and the banks of this river are so rich, my More than once, I have dreamed of dedicating these wealth to Your Majesty in exchange for His Majesty granting me some rich villages and towns in Ross."

"Before you get your majesty's reward, the arrest warrant for the Yakutsk warlord is on the way, you idiot." Stepanov scolded Yuri with a smile, "Okay, let's go, I hope to get my Wanted news."

Yuri Petrov smiled at Stepanov, and then selected seven or eight Cossacks with good skills—in fact, their skills and equestrian skills are very good, and their fighting will is quite tenacious— Headed east.And this trip lasted four days. When the sun rose from the eastern horizon on August 8, Petrov and his party finally ran back.

"Victor is dead, at the hands of a gun scout. I'm sorry, that scout was very tenacious. We took a lot of effort to catch him, but by then he had bled to death " Yuri took off the hat on his head, and said with a depressed face: "But I brought back a Manchurian, there are dozens of Manchurian cavalry wandering in that area, they did not hurt us, and sent an envoy to ask Talk to us and look, this is the guy."

The "Manchurian envoy" took off the hat on his head, revealing his money rattail hairstyle, and then said something loudly.

A Buryat man next to Stepanov who understood their language immediately translated softly. Stepanov only listened for a while, then looked at the Manchurian in astonishment, and said in an unbelievable tone : "You said you were willing to pay us [-] rubles just to invite us to attack a band of 'thieves in yellow'?And also allow us to legally occupy the wealth that has been obtained in the city of Rafkai?Hehe, it's really interesting!Now, Manchurians, tell me about the situation of the bandits in yellow, which I am very concerned about..."

The Buryat translation is not very good, intermittent, but this does not prevent Stepanov and others from figuring out the intention of this Manchurian.In fact, they understood many things after hearing it. For example, the yellow-clothed thieves had indeed integrated the Agun people and Oroqen people in the lower reaches of the Amur River, and their strength was likely to be as many as 500.Of course, this is an optimistic estimate of the Manchurians. Stepanov does not believe it. He thinks the number may be higher, but these are not the key point. Cannon - Portable artillery more powerful than those used by the Manchus or even the Russians!

"There are muskets and cannons. Is this still a bandit?" Stepanov was a little displeased. He stared fiercely at the Manchurian in front of him, and kept rubbing the scabbard at his waist with his right hand.He really wanted to split the Manchurian who fooled him in half, but reason told him not to do so, because the great Moscow Congress might lose something, after all, the Manchurian who was pale under his oppression was Bogd The messenger of Shar Huda, an important general under Khan.

"Lock him up first, and wait for Ye Luofei (Khabarov) to come back. In addition, send someone to inform the Manchurians in the east and ask them to send us some supplies, gold and silver, and see how they react." Stepanov ordered.

"Stupid Manchurians, they actually want to drive the loyal servants of the great Rus Lord to fight for you! Sooner or later you will taste the taste of the Cossack's sharp saber. Now let's play with you first." Stepanov thought to himself So, he decided to wait for Khabarov's large troops to come to join before making a decision.

(End of this chapter)