Chapter 650 Are you going to arrest me?
Accustomed to seeing numbers in the tens of millions, George looked at the number "300" at first glance and felt that DeYoung seemed to have missed a few zeros.
Actually, 300 is a lot. Referring to the colonial history of European countries, 300 people are enough to overthrow an ancient empire with more than 100,000 troops.
This is why Europeans are arrogant.
But the problem is that the Australians’ opponents in New Guinea are not the indigenous people who only have wooden shields and bamboo spears, but modern armies with artillery.
Ronald Ferguson was helpless. The purpose of increasing his troops was not to destroy the enemy, but to protect Morbizi.
Australians are far less obsessed with land than Russia.
Excluding the enclave of New Guinea, Australia has more than 7.6 million square kilometers of territory and a population of only 5.5 million, averaging less than 1.4 people per square kilometer. The population density is only slightly higher than Canada.
Canada, with a total area of 9.9 million square kilometers, has a total population of only 8 million and a population density of 1.23. The entire country is deserted.
If London did not allow it, Ronald Ferguson would have wanted to withdraw all Australians to the mainland and directly give up the New Guinea enclave——
give up!
It’s not impossible.
In 1916, Coconut City's permanent population exceeded 100,000, making it the largest city in East India.
As George's butler, DeYoung's official residence is located next to Alexander Park in the city center. This park was built in memory of Alexander II. There are statues of Alexander II and famous figures in the empire.
Like Amur and most cities in East India, Coconut City has many parks named after Russians. The names "Ekaterina", "Peter" and "Suvorov" appear more frequently. Extremely high, found in almost every city.
This "Ekaterina" refers to Emperor Ye.
Unlike Werther, who is afraid of the cold or the heat, Dejan likes the beach in Coconut City very much, so he spends most of his time not at his official residence, but at his private residence by the sea.
On July 19, Ronald Ferguson’s personal envoy Alexander came to Coconut City.
Alexander’s father once worked in the Russian Embassy in London and later immigrated to the UK. After graduating from Cambridge University, Alexander worked in the British Colonial Office. Before the outbreak of the World War, he came to Australia with Ronald Ferguson.
Alexander hoped that East India would take action to help Australia solve the banditry problem in Morbizi.
"Those are not bandits, they are the remaining German troops hiding in the jungle."
Deyan corrected, the bandits cannot have artillery.
"You are right, it was indeed the Germans who attacked Morbizi."
Alexander did not resist, you have big fists, so what do you say?
While in Australia, Alexander did not know enough about the East Indies.
The Coconut City Military Port is right next to the civilian port. When Alexander got off the ship, he clearly saw two light cruisers and four destroyers parked in the Coconut City Military Port.
This is just Coconut City.
There are 11 military ports in East India shared by the Russian Siberian Fleet and the East India Fleet.
After the outbreak of the World War, in order to strengthen the strength of the local fleet, Britain recalled all new warships stationed abroad. The Far East Fleet stationed in East Asia only had 6 old warships that were about to be eliminated. Not being able to go to sea is a problem.
Australia’s own strength is not even comparable to that of the Russian Empire, it is even worse than that of East India.
"So, why should I help you?"
Deyang was lazily lying on a bamboo chair wearing beach pants and sunglasses, with a cigar dangling from his mouth. He looked like a colonial white gentleman.
Alexander did not dare to look down on Dejan because of his laziness. This man once sent bombers to carpet-bomb German settlements because of German resistance, leaving no chickens or dogs behind.
The reason why Dejan was so cruel was because his nephew was killed in the Battle of Tannenberg.
“It’s not about helping me, it’s about helping Australia. The Governor-General will remember your friendship.”
Alexander painted cakes.
“No need——”
De Young is not interested in the governor’s friendship.
Australia is iron-clad and has a flowing governor. No matter how nice Alexander said it, the governor will leave in a few years. What’s the use of his friendship?
"We have some proven mineral deposits in New Guinea, if you are interested——"
Alexander lured him to his advantage.
“Since your name is Alexander, then I will call you Sasha——”
“My pleasure.”
“Sasha, you were once a Russian , do you think mineral resources will be attractive to Russians?”
Deyan laughed, he really looked down upon New Guinea’s mineral resources.
Like East India, there may be minerals in New Guinea, but they are difficult to mine and require first improving the infrastructure.
The Dutch have occupied East India for so long, but the modern industry in East India has not improved at all. It has developed the best agricultural product processing industry, which fully proves the difficulty of mining mineral resources.
In other words, since Australians have discovered mineral resources, why don’t Australians mine them themselves?
It’s obviously a trap.
“What do you want?”
Alexander asked Dejan to make his own conditions.
“I am Grand Duke Yuriev’s steward, and I am only responsible for Grand Duke Yuriev’s property.”
Deyan doesn’t take the initiative to make conditions, the Australians will take the pie It was brought to De Yang's mouth. If it didn't suit his taste, De Yang wouldn't even bother to open his mouth.
George didn't know how Dejan was blackmailing the Australians. The Russian army's desertion finally spread to the Balkan theater. The 12th Army led by Vasily captured 12 deserters in one day.
Of these 12 deserters, 11 are Russians, and there is actually one Japanese.
Vasily was curious. The Russians ran away because they believed that Russians would not be shot. Why would you, a Japanese, come to join in the fun?
Vasili took the initiative to ask the second-level sergeant named Yamamura Lian Tai. According to the regulations of the Gaori Corps, one must serve in the army for at least four years before the rank can be promoted to sergeant class II.
Yamamura Lian Tai only served for a year and a half. He was promoted so quickly because of his outstanding performance in combat and was awarded many times.
“My elder brother died in the battle at the Carpathian Pass, my younger brother died in the Asia Minor Peninsula, my father died half a year ago, and my mother is the only one left in the family. I want to go home——”
Mrs. Lian of Shancun cried bitterly and regretted endlessly.
“Did your mother get the pension from your brother and your younger brother?”
“Did she get——”
“Is it enough?”
"Full amount——"
Vasily was indifferent: "Then why did you run away -"
Vasili was not questioning, he muttered to himself and waved his hand, ordering the guards to take away Yamamura Lian Tai.
Vasily was still very civilized. He did not hang the deserters in the traditional way, but executed them by firing squad.
The deserters who learned their fate were shocked and asked to see Vasily and asked him why he did not abide by the regulations of St. Petersburg.
Vasili did not see them and called a meeting of all army officers to emphasize discipline.
"Tell all officers and soldiers that if there is a reason to leave, they can apply for leave through normal channels, and those who return within the specified time, escape privately, and refuse to take orders in other ways will all be shot! This cannot be changed."
The generals frowned and looked at each other.
There is no problem in shooting. This is how deserters were dealt with in the past. The generals have been able to reach this position because they have experienced hundreds of battles and will not compromise on this point.
The key is that this is an order from the General Staff. Vasily is openly opposed to it. If this reaches St. Petersburg——
"If anyone has any objections, let him come to me and I will give him a Explain.”
Vasily is not joking, he is the current Duke Suvorov, and Nicholas is not afraid to come in person.
At the meeting of military chiefs, no one dared to oppose Vasily's decision.
After the meeting, Vasily’s chief of staff Konstantin hoped that Vasily would be cautious in his words and deeds.
“If Grand Duke Yuriev were here, he would do the same thing.”
Vasily did not go directly to St. Petersburg to question Yanushkevich face to face, and he had already given Yanush Shkevich lost face.
"The Grand Duke is different from you after all -"
Constantine looked sad and didn't know how to persuade Vasily.
The same is true of the Russian army, which was invincible in the Balkans and continued the myth of the military god.
On the northern front, they were retreating steadily. Not only were they invaded the Russian mainland by the German army, but they also lost Warsaw, which was simply embarrassing.
At a time of turmoil, the highly respected Yanushkevich made another low-level mistake that should not have happened. Is it really the end of Russia?
Constantine suddenly remembered Rasputin's curse.
Is this monster monk really so accurate?
“Don’t bother the Grand Duke with such a trivial matter.”
Vasily did not put this matter aside. In my heart, I did not report it to George.
What Vasily didn’t expect was that on July 21, just four days after all 12 deserters were shot, several officers from the General Staff suddenly came to Vasily’s headquarters and demanded Vasily went to St. Petersburg to explain to Yanushkevich face to face.
"If I don't go, are you going to arrest me?"
Vasili almost laughed out of anger, but that's really embarrassing for you, right?
"General, we are ordered to perform a mission, please don't embarrass us."
The officers leading the team were cautious. None of the proud soldiers under Grand Duke Yuriev were good. provoke.
The key point is that Vasily himself is still a descendant of the former military god of the empire, and he is still a duke. This cannot be arrested, but can only be "pleased".
"Whose orders are you taking?"
Constantine asked proactively, trying to figure out what was going on.
“We are under the command of the Chief of General Staff, Dean Yanushkevich——”
“Are you a student of General Yanushkevich?”
Kang Standing stalled for time.
"None of us are!"
Officers are proud. Almost all senior Russian officers have studied or furthered their studies at the General Staff College.
“What nonsense are you talking to him about? Take them all away and lock them up!”
Vasily’s way of handling it is very Russian.
Vasily’s guards are personal soldiers, and they have long disliked these officers.
As soon as Vasily finished speaking, the guards swarmed up and pushed all the officers to the ground.
Constantine sighed, now he was in trouble.
(End of this chapter)