Section Two

The city of Beijing left a strange impression on the Russian diplomatic mission—a mixture of astonishment and dreamlike surrealism. In truth, before arriving in Beijing, Baron Ikhonovsky’s notions of China were confined to the works of Marco Polo. Even then, the impact was limited to the abstract shock of Eastern architectural styles. After spending a few days within the city, he felt an immense disparity; he saw nothing of “lands flowing with milk and honey” or “palaces of gold.” Much like Moscow, Beijing was full of destitute people in rags, its street corners piled with filthy refuse and excrement. The air in most districts was thick with the same damp stench that pervaded Moscow.

As a professional soldier, Baron Ikhonovsky naturally took a keen interest in the Chinese military. Indeed, throughout his journey, he never ceased gathering military intelligence. From the information he had collected so far, it was clear that the Chinese were entirely distinct from the barbarians of the Amur region; whether in terms of military appearance, organization, or equipment, the Chinese troops were nothing like those Tartar forces. As a loyal servant of the Tsar, he found the prospect of facing an army armed with muskets and large-caliber artillery deeply unsettling. Yet, while disappointing, this conclusion was not unexpected; historical sources indicated the Chinese of the Yellow River basin possessed a highly developed civilization, so it was only logical that their military would be formidable.

After several days touring Beijing, Baron Ikhonovsky finally received an audience with the ruler of China. Unexpectedly, the meeting was devoid of pomp; even necessary diplomatic formalities were omitted. Entering Zhongnanhai felt more like a casual tour, and the security along the way was not particularly stringent. The baron felt almost as if he were going to meet a minor official, not a monarch.

“His Imperial Majesty Peter the Great, the Little Tsar Ivan, and Her Highness Princess Sophia send their blessings to Your Majesty the Han King, wishing you health and longevity, may the friendship between the Han Kingdom and Great Russia endure, may—”

“That’s enough, thank you!” Lin Feng interrupted with a cheerful wave of his hand. The Russian’s Mongolian was remarkably fluent. Lin Feng knew that many Mongolian pronunciations differed greatly from Russian, so stringing together such complex syllables smoothly was no easy feat. “Um… Baron I… sorry, could you repeat your name for me?”

“Your esteemed Majesty, my name is Ikhonovsky Holovitz, servant of His Imperial Majesty the Tsar, fourth-class civil official of the Russian Empire’s Far Eastern Province, holder of a baronial title. My family originates from the famous Velky Castle, seat of Grand Duke Ivan. My grandfather was the Tsar’s general, and his fief lies three hundred kilometers west of Moscow—”

“Oh…” Lin Feng felt a headache coming on. He had only asked out of politeness, not expecting the baron to boast at length. Still, the diplomatic setting demanded a serious demeanor, so he feigned interest, listening for a while. When the baron seemed unlikely to stop, Lin Feng coughed to cut him off.

“A nobleman, I see. Please, be seated!”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

“Well… Baron I…” Lin Feng was about to inquire directly about his purpose, but seeing Ikhonovsky sitting stiffly as if facing a great enemy, he changed tack and asked with a smile, “How do you find Beijing? Is it enjoyable?”

“Your country’s beautiful city is unforgettable, Your Majesty!”

“You’re too kind. Our ancestors taught us, ‘Is it not a joy to have friends come from afar?’ We Chinese have few things, but hospitality is one. Baron I, you’ve come a long way; we should treat you well.” Lin Feng turned to his ministers, “Gentlemen, tell the kitchen to prepare. Today, Sichuan cuisine; tomorrow, Cantonese; the day after, Shandong; hotpot, roast duck, steamed bear paw—one dish each day. Make sure our friends from abroad are well received!”

“Thank you, Your Majesty…” Baron Ikhonovsky quickly bowed, “Your country’s delicacies are indeed unforgettable, though I doubt we can sample them all!”

“No matter, no matter. Two days won’t suffice, but perhaps ten years or so will do,” Lin Feng said with a grin, waving his hand. “Our country is vast; you can travel and taste our cuisine everywhere—Mount Tai, Yellow Mountain, Mount Lu, you name it.”

Ikhonovsky was momentarily stunned, then forced a bitter smile. “Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty, but… we have come with an important mission…” He glanced at the smiling Lin Feng and, helplessly, said, “We hope to reach a friendly agreement with your country to jointly eliminate the evil Tartars!”

“No problem. To be frank, those barbarians are our mortal enemies. I will deal with those bandits sooner or later!” Lin Feng said seriously. “Rest assured, Baron; you hold the line, and once I settle matters here, I’ll strike at their homeland!”

“‘Soon’?” Ikhonovsky was taken aback, cautiously probing, “May I ask how soon Your Majesty intends?”

“Oh, hard to say—perhaps two or three months, maybe seven or eight, but certainly no more than a year!” Lin Feng replied solemnly. Seeing Ikhonovsky’s pale face, he explained patiently, “Baron, you know well that warfare is troublesome; guns, cannons, ammunition, provisions—all need preparation. It’s not just a matter of saying so!”

“But… Your Majesty…” Ikhonovsky hesitated for a long time before forcing a bitter smile, “Your Majesty, the barbarians have assembled large armies to attack Yaksa Fortress; I fear I may not survive to see your reinforcements!”

“Baron, you’re too modest. Your Cossacks and musketeers are invincible; the barbarians are surely no match!”

“Your Majesty,” Ikhonovsky stood up, bowing respectfully, “We have come here with friendly intentions, hoping the Han and Russian nations can sign a friendly military treaty. We hope Your Majesty will treat us as true friends!”

“Oh, Baron, are you implying that I lack sincerity?”

“Of course not, of course not… I apologize,” Ikhonovsky said quickly. “You misunderstand; I mean only to stress the importance of this matter!” Sneaking a glance at Lin Feng, he thought of the besieged fortress and steeled himself. “Your Majesty, as far as I know, the Dzungar Tartar Empire is rising in your northwest. These barbarians are fiercely hostile to civilized peoples; I believe they are our common enemy!”

Lin Feng had been lazily joking with Ikhonovsky, but the mention of Dzungar snapped him to attention. He stared at Ikhonovsky in silence for a long moment, then chuckled, “Is Baron threatening me?”

“You misunderstand, Your Majesty; I mean that as noble civilized peoples, the Russian Empire and the Han Kingdom should stand united for civilization and peace!” Seeing Lin Feng’s grim expression, Ikhonovsky grew more composed, maintaining a respectful demeanor. “If Your Majesty can aid those warriors fighting for justice, the Russian Empire will never forget your generosity and friendship!”

Lin Feng pondered for a while, then spoke slowly, “What does Baron Ikhonovsky require of me?—and what can Russia offer in return?”

“We wish to sign a military alliance with the great Han Empire—mutual assistance, non-aggression,” Ikhonovsky said eagerly, seeing Lin Feng’s openness. “If you establish friendship with His Majesty the Tsar, then in your future war against the Tartars, we will stand firmly with you!”

Lin Feng was silent. The border between Russia and China was long and complex, with many entangled interests. He knew that besides expanding wildly in Siberia and the Far East, Russia frequently meddled in China’s northwest. The Mongolian Dzungar tribe had close ties with the Russians, who not only supported them politically but supplied them with military materiel annually. Based on recent intelligence from dispatched merchants, Galdan’s troops now had Russian muskets and even light field artillery. Russia’s ambitions on the Mongolian steppe were well known. In the original Treaty of Nerchinsk, Kangxi had fought small wars in the Amur region and reached a partition agreement with Russia—ceding vast territory in exchange for their abandonment of support for the Dzungar Empire. Now, it seemed, they were attempting the same strategy. Whether to accept this deal or not was truly vexing.

After a long pause, Lin Feng frowned and said, “This is a weighty matter, Baron Ikhonovsky—” He raised his head and gazed at the emissary below the steps, speaking bluntly, “Forgive my candor, but I fear you lack the authority—even your Far East governor cannot decide this. Can you guarantee that the Tsar and Princess Sophia will agree?”

Ikhonovsky was startled, his face flushed red. The policy of founding Yellow Russia could only be decided by the Kremlin. His previous words had already greatly exceeded his mandate. With Yaksa on the brink, he had intended to bluff the Eastern monarch with vague promises to relieve his urgent predicament. Previously, the Far Eastern conquerors had played the same tricks on local native tribes. But now, the Chinese ruler had unceremoniously exposed him. Lin Feng’s piercing gaze made Ikhonovsky instinctively avoid it, recalling Marco Polo’s records of Eastern monarchs—clever, diligent, and shrewd. He deeply regretted his overreach.

Seeing Ikhonovsky’s embarrassment, Lin Feng did not press him further. He smiled slightly and changed the subject, “I will discuss this matter with Sophia; it’s not your concern.” The implication was clear: this young man was not qualified.

Ikhonovsky’s face was bright red, but he dared not retort. He managed a sheepish smile and said cautiously, “Thank you, Your Majesty. I guarantee the Russian Empire will handle these minor disputes amicably!”

“‘Amicably’? Heh… We’ll see about that!” Lin Feng couldn’t help but chuckle, waving his hand. He turned serious, “Let’s be frank, Baron. If we are to discuss borders, let’s wait until your envoys arrive from Moscow. For now, we must deal with the remaining Manchu rebels entrenched in the Amur region. Military cooperation is indeed necessary—tell me honestly, how many troops do you still have, and how long can you hold out?”

Ikhonovsky hesitated, but seeing Lin Feng and several Chinese ministers confident and at ease, he knew the Chinese must have already sent numerous spies to Yaksa and Nerchinsk. With his own side in dire straits, there was no need to conceal their strength. He managed a bitter smile and said, “Your Majesty, when I left Nerchinsk, our front-line troops numbered over four thousand, including more than a thousand brave Cossacks. The barbarians besieging us may be over twenty thousand, mostly Tartar cavalry!”

Lin Feng was surprised, “You have over four thousand troops? And you can’t hold a fortified stronghold?!” He had not expected the Russians to possess such formidable numbers.

“Your esteemed Majesty…” Ikhonovsky replied with a wry smile, “Ordinarily, one or two thousand natives could not threaten the Tsar’s army. We’ve fought them before without difficulty. But this time is different; these barbarians include many regular troops, and they are equipped with muskets and heavy artillery, posing a grave threat to our fortress!”

Lin Feng now understood where the red-coated cannons of Shanhaiguan had gone. It seemed the Eight Banners of Feng Tian had adopted the same strategy as himself—first stabilizing the rear, then deliberately yielding most of Liaodong and central Liaoning, slowing and dispersing Han forces to concentrate and eliminate the Russians behind the lines, and finally turning to battle the Han army.

It was a sound strategy—extending the rear, establishing strongholds in mountainous regions like the Lesser Khingan Range. Even if defeated on the plains, they could retreat into complex terrain and rally other minorities for continued resistance.

Noting Lin Feng’s silence, Ikhonovsky grew anxious, fearing Lin Feng was intimidated by Tartar numbers. He hastened to add, “Your Majesty, the Russian Empire is urgently recruiting in the Lake Baikal region to reinforce the front. The Tartars can absolutely be defeated!—If you could dispatch a crack cavalry unit to harass their rear and alleviate pressure on Sagkya, once reinforcements arrive, we’ll quickly recover our fighting strength!”

“Baron, you misunderstand. It’s not reluctance to send aid—I fear sending troops would be futile!” Lin Feng said solemnly, his tone no longer playful. He pulled over a large map, had a guard hold it up, and pointed out, “My army is stationed along the Ningyuan-Jinzhou line, far from your battle zone. The Manchu strategy is north first, then east; even if I attack their cities, they may not respond.”

Ikhonovsky pressed, “Your Majesty, the barbarians’ political center is in Feng Tian; they will certainly take it seriously. According to my information, their strength here is weak. If you display intentions for a major offensive and send elite cavalry to cut their supply lines, they will be forced to send troops to reinforce. Since last autumn, we’ve been fighting for months; their supplies must be critically short. You know, the Amur region is wild and cannot sustain prolonged warfare, nor produce ammunition or gunpowder. Their war materiel must come from the rear. This is not the era of Genghis Khan—if they rely on muskets and cannons to attack fortresses, logistics are crucial. Otherwise, mere cold weapons cannot breach our strongholds!”

Lin Feng eyed the Russian envoy sidelong, thinking, “He’s hoping for a bargain, but where in the world are things so easy?” Outwardly, he smiled, “Ah… my heart is too soft. Since Baron has pleaded so earnestly, I must show some loyalty, mustn’t I? Rest assured, I will do my utmost to aid Russian friends!”

Ikhonovsky felt delivered from disaster and quickly knelt, “Thank you, Your Majesty. His Imperial Majesty the Tsar and the Russian people will forever remember your benevolence!”

“No need, no need—a trifling matter!” Lin Feng waved his hand. “But I am short on warhorses and funds… Alas, I hesitate to mention this, but since we are such good friends, I’m sure you won’t mind?”

Ikhonovsky’s smile froze. After a moment, he tentatively asked, “You mean…”

“Frankly, it pains me to bring this up. By nature, I’d gladly sacrifice for friends, but my ministers are pacifists, constantly reminding me about finances. It’s truly troubling!” Lin Feng sighed deeply, nodding toward Li Guangdi.

Li Guangdi, seeing Lin Feng’s blatant extortion, felt a bit uneasy, but as a loyal minister, he had to share his lord’s burdens. Since he was destined to play the villain, he didn’t bother with pleasantries, and said with a wry smile to the envoy, “Baron, we are currently short on military funds and supplies. Could your country provide support?”

Ikhonovsky’s expression was bitter. It seemed that among civilized nations—East or West—these rules prevailed; the natives were the only ones still honest. Yet he was not surprised; ever since he’d upgraded China to “civilized,” he had expected this. Since everyone understood, feigning ignorance was pointless.

“As for military funds, I believe we should negotiate in detail. The Russian Empire has always been generous with friends!”

“That’s good, that’s good!” Lin Feng nodded. “Jin Qing, make arrangements. The baron is a fourth-class official; we must send a fourth-rank officer to negotiate, so as not to slight him!” Seeing Li Guangdi bow in acceptance, Lin Feng suddenly recalled something. “This issue is not like the teachings of Confucius and Mencius; our officials may be inexperienced—best to consult a few seasoned clerks from the Jin Hui Chamber of Commerce, and be thorough, not hasty.”