Chapter 105 The New Army Alexander, or Peter Allie…
Alexander, or rather Peter Alexeevich, stared at the Far Eastern princess in front of him, calmed down, and said, "When did you know my identity?"
The corners of Muxue's lips curled up into a smile: "Now."
She said calmly, "Before, I just had some guesses. The pattern of the musket you carry is completely different. It must have been obtained from Europe. Moreover, you seem to be very familiar with European interests. I have heard that the Russian emperor likes to disguise his identity, either by studying in Europe or pretending to be a shipwright in his own country. He happened to be about your age. I thought about it, so I gave it a try, and then I knew."
Peter laughed: "So that's how it is. It was me who was tricked by you."
He quickly adjusted his mood, still smiling and nonchalant, and said to Mu Xue: "Well, let me introduce myself to you again. My name is Peter Alexeevich."
Mu Xue nodded and said, "I am the Heshuo Princess of the Qing Dynasty, the fourth in rank, you can call me the Fourth Princess."
"Fourth Princess," Peter said, "but to be fair, you should also let me know your name."
When the translator heard this, he could not help but explain to Peter: "According to the custom of our Qing Dynasty, women's names cannot be revealed to others."
Peter was not angry, but just said: "That's an ordinary woman. I also heard that the custom in your country is that women should stay at home and not talk to outsiders, just like our royal women in the past, who had to stay in the Trem Palace all day long."
His eyes were only on Muxue, clearly saying, "You don't believe in these rules at all."
After finishing the translation, everyone was worried that the princess would be angry.
But Mu Xue didn't. She just smiled faintly: "I don't need to prove anything to you, and you are not qualified. Just know that I am the fourth princess. It sounds like you are a very smart person, so you should understand your current situation."
She slowly stood up and looked directly at Peter: "Now, you are in my hands."
Peter was shocked by the meaning of this sentence. He heard the warning in it.
"Fourth Princess, I don't think I have offended you. The friendship between our two countries does not allow you to mess around."
Mu Xue knew from his expression that he was nervous, so she deliberately said, "It's true that I have offended you, but what if I am a crazy person with no bottom line? It seems that it hasn't been long since your sister was driven out of office? If she heard that her beloved brother was detained, she would be willing to pay for you."
Pay money to redeem someone, or pay money to prevent them from ever coming back.
After hearing this, Peter narrowed his eyes and said, "Fourth Princess, you can't do it. All of my dear sister's followers have been eliminated. Although she is still alive, she is only imprisoned in a monastery. Besides, your people can't go that far at all."
Mu Xue laughed instead: "Are you really anxious? I was just joking with you."
Peter looked at her smiling face and smiled too, as if it was really just a friendly joke between the two of them.
After laughing, Mu Xue said with a smile: "Now, let's talk about the issue of firearms."
Thanks to the jokes that lightened the atmosphere, Peter was finally willing to talk to her honestly for a while. He had brought back the batch of firearms from Europe through some special channels. When he was young, Peter was very interested in new firearms. He liked to play such war games, and asked some boys to play simulated wars with him. He also got some uniforms, wooden cannons and other things to play with, and played house by imitating the appearance of Western-style armies.
"My sister Princess Sophia kindly agreed to my request for 'toys'. I am grateful for this and will give her whatever she wants in the monastery now," Peter said. "Later, I took a trip to Europe on a whim and saw many interesting new toys, so I brought some back."
"Bring it? How do you bring it?" Mu Xue asked.
"Oh, that's a secret," Peter said with a smile, "It's not convenient for a good child like the Fourth Princess to know. To show my friendship for you, I'm willing to give you some new toys."
"Then thank you for your kindness." Seeing that her goal had been achieved, Mu Xue relaxed a little and said casually, "I'll bring the big fish I just caught back to you and make dinner as a return gift."
Peter looked at her and suddenly said, "I have revised some of my initial impressions of you. The Fourth Princess is really an interesting person."
"I'm very happy to receive such an evaluation from you." Mu Xue said, "Are you here to see the situation in the south?"
She vaguely remembered that after Peter the Great came to power, he mainly fought the Northern War and fought with European countries. Perhaps he came here to confirm the stability here so that he could deal with the north wholeheartedly.
Peter said, "The fourth princess is really smart. I'm glad to see that we can maintain a peaceful friendship."
"I'm happy too," Mu Xue said. "In fact, I have a suggestion. Why don't we build a small trading city on the border between the two countries? It will make it easier for merchants on both sides to travel and enhance our friendship."
"That's a good idea," said Peter.
While chatting and laughing, Mu Xue got some new firearms and most of the construction investment for the trading city.
"Although our appearance and personality are completely different, when talking with you, I occasionally think of someone I am familiar with, my sister, Princess Sophia." At the end of the conversation, Peter said while looking into the distance.
Mu Xue said: "I am really curious about your sister."
"She can indeed be called a legend," Peter said. "Before her, Russian noble women could only live in Terem. They were not allowed to see men outside of Russia or show up in public. They basically stayed in their rooms to pray, do needlework, and wait to get married. After getting married, they would give birth to children and serve their husbands and children."
"But Sophia is the first person to break this boundary. Although I hate her, I admit that this is indeed a pioneering work. I admire such women."
Peter paused, then continued, "I remember now what they called her, 'The Great Lady, the Princess, the Dictator of Russia.' It's funny, isn't it?"
Before Muxue could answer, she saw the dust rising in the distance.
The guards around him changed their expressions, drew their swords and surrounded Peter.
The dust and the slightly shaking ground indicated that a group of people and horses were coming from afar. Dorji had already led his men to line up to meet them. Monk rode over and hurriedly said to Muxue, "They are the Rakshasa people."
Mu Xue looked at Peter and said in a tone as if she was talking about the weather: "I'm here to take you home."
Peter smiled: "It seems so."
Mu Xue ordered his attendants: "Bring the fish to him."
So the two armies faced each other, everyone held their breath and stared, and when the swords were facing each other, Peter rode on his horse and slowly returned to the Russian camp under the vigilant or nervous gazes of both sides. In such a solemn atmosphere, there was a big fish hanging on his saddle, which ruined the atmosphere a little.
After returning to the battlefield, Peter raised his hand and waved to Mu Xue: "Thank you, Fourth Princess, for your hospitality."
A smile colored his lips. "I'm looking forward to the surprises you'll bring us in the future. Good luck."
The team that came to pick up Peter was dressed in modern military uniforms, wearing neat western-style uniforms, carrying rifles, and even dragging two cannons. Obviously, these were new recruits trained by Peter to imitate the European army.
When this army that was out of tune with the grassland disappeared into the sky, Dorji was obviously relieved: "Is he sick? He loves to disguise himself as a civilian and run around in other places!"
Once something happens to this master in their territory, they will make a fuss even if they don't want to.
Dorji didn't want to fight at all. His tribe had just won a few years of peace. If it was inexplicably dragged into the war again, it would be an unprovoked disaster.
Mu Xue said soothingly, "Don't pay attention to him. Most people wouldn't dare to do that."
In other words, this condition was not met. Otherwise, if she had done the same as the Oirat people who detained Emperor Yingzong of Ming who was leading the army in person, she could have plundered more things.
Now, it’s a little less, but even a few mosquitoes are still meat.
She looked towards the place where Peter and his group disappeared and said to Dorji, "Five days."
"What?"
"It took them five days from the time the message was delivered to the time the cavalry arrived here." Mu Xue said, "This is their fastest marching speed now. You can ask the assistant Taiji to remember this. Only by knowing yourself and the enemy can you win every battle."
Dorji realized it and nodded: "I understand."
He couldn't help asking, "You just talked to him for so long, what did you talk about? And you even gave him a fish."
Mu Xue smiled when she heard that, and turned her horse around and went back: "You are really... What can I say to him? It's just some negotiation of interests."
Dorji followed immediately, his horse clattering, following Muxue's horse closely. "I don't like the way he looks at you smiling, it's ugly."
"Okay, he's ugly, but you're pretty. Is that okay?"
"Muxue has good vision."
…
Jokes aside, for safety reasons, they immediately moved their camp and quickly headed south to the banner area to meet up with the Zasak and the banner soldiers.
Mu Xue paid special attention to the local soldiers. They were still traditional cavalrymen, majestic and awe-inspiring, like legends on the grassland.
She lowered her eyes, thinking quietly for a while.
After the moon rose and the new tent was set up, Muxue summoned Yunqi and other confidants to come and talk.
Her original intention was to let everyone recall their feelings after seeing the new Russian army today and discuss their thoughts. Maybe they could brainstorm and discuss the model of her escort team which had not yet appeared.
As a result, Yunqi actually brought Zhou Qinnan with him as well.
For Zhou Qinniang, it was the first time for her to come to the princess's tent with Yunqi, Qiuhua and Wang Xiangqing to discuss important matters.
She was a little nervous and just followed the crowd without saying a word.
However, Yunqi pushed her out and reported to Muxue with a smile: "Master, Zhou Qiniang has something good to present to you."
Mu Xue became interested: "What good stuff? It's so mysterious."
Zhou Qiniang respectfully presented the scroll hidden in her sleeve, and explained with hesitation: "I just saw those people, and I... I thought that the princess might like to keep it as a souvenir, so I drew it hastily."
Mu Xue was startled and quickly opened the scroll.
Black ink marks and very simple lines outline the appearance of Peter's new army. The general outline and the strange clothes on the soldiers can be seen, and there are even two new cannons.
Zhou Qinnan actually drew them all!
Mu Xue was overjoyed and took Zhou Qiniang's hand and asked her to sit down: "Good Qiniang, you paint very well!"
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