The Last Frontier of Fire and Sword

Chapter 40: Battle of Smolensk (2)

  As the tent of the head coach of Tsarist Russia, this tent of Prince Alexei looks simple and simple. The entire tent is made of rawhide and felt cloth; inside the tent, there is only an oak table and a few chairs. On the table is a map. The map is around Smolensk such as Zamosye and Poline. All important villages are marked red; in the four corners of the tent, there are four candlesticks. The candlesticks are in the shape of a trident and are the most common iron.

   Obviously, although he has the honor of a prince, Prince Alexei Romanov is not a patronizing and corpse person.

   "Sit down, two of us, we all understand: During the war, everything should be simple. When I was fighting with the Tatars in Cherkessk, I didn't even have a tent. I slept on a saddle at night."

   Alexei said to the two Cossack leaders. Although the prince's tone was cold, there was no anger. Obviously, only for a while, the prince has adjusted his emotions.

   "This is a difficult opponent to deal with." Bao Hong and Vasily Zolotarenko looked at each other and meditated.

   The oak table is very long, but the two of them took a chair and sat opposite Prince Alexei, to show that the Cossacks and Tsarist Russia are equal and equal relations, and they are not Alexei's subordinates.

   This is the second time that Baohong and Vasily Zolotarenko slapped Prince Alexei in the face. The prince's face twitched a few times, but he quickly returned to normal.

   "The two leaders haven't eaten yet." Alexei asked. Before Bao Hong could speak with Vasily Zolotarenko, he raised his big hand like a bear's paw and patted it three times.

   Right away, the messenger who had been out came in.

   "Yelisey, the two messengers have not eaten breakfast yet, you go get some food." Prince Alexei said with a wink.

   After Yelishei retired, Prince Alexei said again: "Yelsey is my adjutant. His family is a famous family in Ryazan, and he is also a clever fellow."

   Obviously, this is a gossip. So Baohong and Vasily Zolotarenko also chatted with the prince without a word. However, both sides are working hard to maintain their own face, hoping to overwhelm the other side, but there are two sentences with guns and sticks in the three sentences.

   It was a miracle that the two parties could sit together until Yelishei brought up the meal.

   Yelishei put the food on the table. The only food was the whole goose. The goose was coated with a thick layer of honey and looked yellow.

   Prince Alexei made a "please" gesture and invited the two to dinner.

   Bao Hong stood up, picked up the knife on the dinner plate and threw himself up and cut a piece on the goose leg. A stream of blood leaked from the cut surface of the goose's body—this was actually a raw goose.

   Bao Hong raised his head and saw Alexei looking at him triumphantly. Obviously, this was intentional by the prince.

  Vasily Zolotarenko also saw the blood oozing from the goose. The Cossack leader stood up angrily and glared at Prince Alexei.

Seeing that he finally got back a round, Alexei also stood up. He picked up the knife in front of him and cut off one of the legs of the goose. The prince bit a piece into his mouth with great relish. Chewed up.

   Seeing Alexei's behavior, Bao Hong's mouth also showed a smile. Of course, this unruly and unrestrained Cossack leader would not be underestimated. He picked up the goose leg and gnawed at it.

   After a while, a goose fell off its belly, and Bao Hong wiped the blood from his lips like a demonstration.

   "A good man, a good man." Bao Hong's actions obviously matched Alexei's spleen and stomach. For the first time, Alexei praised sincerely.

   "It's a pity," Bao Hong said.

   "What a pity?" Prince Alexei asked.

   "It's a pity that I didn't eat enough." Bao Hong replied.

  Alexey laughed. He gave Yelishei a word, and the latter bowed and went out again.

   After a while, Yelisher came back with the dinner plate. This time, the food was much richer-vodka, sausage, bread, cheese, cherries, and even a bear paw. Of course this time, these are all familiar.

   Because of Prince Alexei’s recognition of Bao Hong, the atmosphere at the banquet this time was obviously much warmer. Prince Alexei stood up more than once, and took the whole bottle of vodka to toast Baohong and Vasily Zolotarenko. The two chiefs were also enthusiastic, and the three of them sang. There was a song. From time to time, bursts of laughter came from the tent.

   When the three people were full, it was noon. It's time to talk about business at this time.

   Prince Alexei took a seat and said:

   "Czar Mikhail is very grateful to the warchief for sending two of them to support him."

   "We attacked Smolensk with the tsar's army on the order of the chief chief." Vasily Zolotarenko replied.

   One "support" and one "together" reflects the different definitions of the war between the two sides. For the former, Zaporozhye’s Cossacks belonged to the status of subordination and completely obeyed the frontline commanders of Tsarist Russia; while for the latter, the two were allies and were equal.

   This is also the relationship that Khmelnitsky has been pursuing to Bauhon and Vasily Zolotarenko.

   "The great Tsar's army does not need help. We have 30,000 people and have surrounded Smolensk in three ways." Prince Alexei shook his head and said.

   "We also have 20,000 people. And it's to the west where you haven't arrived yet." Vasily Zolotarenko deliberately exaggerated the number of his army.

   Prince Alexei still shook his head.

   "Your equipment is too poor. I heard that your soldiers don't even have spears. The weapons used are not as long as human legs." Alexei compared with his hands.

   "But their fighting will is first-rate, they are all old teams fighting in Ukraine. And everyone has a musket."

   "If iron bargaining is counted, it is indeed there."

Although the conversation began until now, Alexei has been belittling the Zaporozhye Cossack’s combat power, but Baohong and Vasily Zolotarenko are very clear about the reasons why Tsarist Russia is unwilling to participate in the war. I just don't want to share the fruits of victory.

  Smolensk’s defenders are less than 10,000, which is a thing everyone knows.

  Thirty thousand people, even if they were piled up with their lives, they would be able to take Smolensk down.

   In this way, even if I break my lips, there will be no results. But before they arrived, the two decided that the worst offensive power should be obtained in one aspect, and it was with the consent of Tsarist Russia. Thinking of this, Vasily Zolotarenko's bulging eyes rolled and thought of a way.

   "His Royal Highness, what wine did we drink just now?" Vasily Zolotarenko asked knowingly. UU reading www.uukanshu.cOM

   "Vodka. The best wine in the world." Prince Alexei said.

   "I heard that the people on your side, the more able to drink, the better able to fight."

   Being able to drink and be good at war is what every Tsarist Russian is most proud of. The question asked by Vasily Zolotarenko, of course the prince would not deny it.

   "Our Cossacks in Zaporozhye are also able to drink and are better at fighting. People from other countries say that the Cossacks who drank alcohol are no opponents."

   "Who, who said that?" The prince said angrily when he heard it. The prince didn't hear anyone belittle himself, especially when it came to fighting and drinking.

   In Bao Hong's view, he seems to have fallen into the trap of Vasily Zolotarenko.

   "People from other countries said it."

   "Call him, call him. I will smash his head, and then use his skull to compare wine with you." Prince Alexei was even more excited.

   Bao Hong and Vasily Zolotarenko squinted at each other, and then Bao Hong said: "Where can I find people, but it's not difficult to get rid of this rumor. We'll know after a test."

   "Compared, compared to compare." Prince Alexei did not hesitate.

   "Of course you need to bet on the comparison." Bao Hong lured the prince step by step.

"If you drink and win, then Simeon will be handed over to your Cossacks." Alexei said, and then he added, "I know what tricks you do, but no one has ever drunk our Tsarist Russia. "

   "We have two people." Vasily Zolotarenko's original intention was to let Alexei choose one of them.

  Who knows, Alexei pulled over Yelishei who was standing by.

   "We also have two."

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