The sun never sets in America

Chapter 450 The Destruction of the Ottoman Empire
Istanbul, the capital of the Ottoman Empire, according to locals, is a city favored by the "true god". It is the center of the entire world and the heart of the entire West Asia to the Red Sea and then to the Mediterranean.

But today, this city has fallen into unprecedented chaos and madness. This kind of turmoil is very similar to the last time the Russian army advanced into Asia Minor, but there is an essential difference. The most fundamental difference is that if the last time was a This kind of anxiety and panic about the future and the current situation, then now is the despair when we are about to face the end.

Where this despair comes from can be seen in the newspapers of the last few days.

[Istanbul Times: The British mercenaries announced their withdrawal from the fighting and declared neutrality. Does this mean that the huge commissions paid by the empire are facing bankruptcy? ? 】

[Turkish Daily: We were deceived by the British. They were the biggest winners in this war. They made a deal with the Russians. We shouldn’t have been like this. It’s all the fault of those damn British! ! 】

[True God News: Pagans are not reliable after all. Only those who believe in the true God are our true friends. Now is the time to launch a holy war. Long live the true God! ! 】

From these three newspapers published at different times, we can see the changes in the current situation. If the first Istanbul Times tried its best to cover up its relationship with the United Kingdom, in the entire article, there is no so-called Britain at all, or even Similar related words.

It can be seen that at that time, the Ottomans were still desperately trying to restore their relationship with the United Kingdom. Although they were complaining, in the eyes of discerning people, this was "pleading", a method close to begging.

By the time of the Turkish News and True God News, the situation at that time had actually completely collapsed, and could even be described as running out of eggs. In such an extreme environment, it is easy for people to do extreme things.

Especially for the Ottoman Empire, which has always been wary of Britain, they have never fully trusted the so-called "Christian pagans". After all, the centuries-old grudges between the two sides have long been doomed, and no one will trust the other easily. .

For a qualified global colonial empire, its biggest motivation is to safeguard its global economic and geosecurity interests to ensure its own country's development. As for other things, in the eyes of such an empire, there is no difference between it and a joke.

Under the trenches, there are Ottoman soldiers holding guns and hiding in damp caves. They wear helmets one size smaller than the previous one and tattered khaki military uniforms. In fact, the uniforms are sky blue, which is why they are like this. Thanks also to the "painting" of the Russian heavy artillery.

For Britain, an Ottoman Empire that did not open up the Arabian Peninsula unsafely and did not abandon the Persian Gulf was completely a temporary use item. Once it felt inappropriate, it had to be thrown away. As for the so-called "morality", in the British Empire, It doesn't exist in the dictionary at all.

Qia raised his dark face and looked at the young Kolya opposite him. He calculated the age of the other party in his mind, and finally realized that he was not yet fifteen years old. He couldn't help but feel endless sadness in his heart. That feeling was Something he had never experienced before.

In the trench, Chia kept explaining to Kolya the method and timing of surrender. For example, if the gunfire continued, try to find a place to hide. If the gunfire stopped, don't show your face rashly, as you can easily be beaten. Yes, whether it is an enemy or one of our own, after seeing a sudden target, no matter what kind of clothes he is wearing, he will shoot and aim as a conditioned reflex. In this case, he will be killed. In Chia's In my memory, there were several times.

For a veteran who had long looked down on life and death, he wanted to live for the first time, and he wanted to live alone! !

"Kolya, remember, you can't run around under any circumstances. Also, if you see a large number of Russians around, you'd better put down your gun and stretch out your hands. No matter what they say, they won't kill you - "

In this war, the Russian army did not abuse or even massacre prisoners, but the probability of this is basically very small. The most fundamental reason is because of the population. The Russian population makes it difficult to persist in such an extreme conscription environment. , those young captives suitable for training as serfs became the "treasures" of the noble lords in Russia.

At the end of the story, Chia asked Kolya if he had any "white panties" and even said something about needing to learn some Russian.

Although he was so comforting, Chia knew very well in his heart that even if the Russians let Kolya live, it would basically not be easy in the end. After all, in the original news about the brutality of the Russians, going to the Ural Mountains Growing potatoes in Western Siberia is a very hot topic.

And Kolya asked innocently: "Why can't white things be used in the interior if it is white??" As he said this, he opened his coat, revealing the white vest underneath.

The most fundamental reason why Britain betrayed the Ottomans to Russia is that, in addition to geographical interests, it is the relationship between the Ottomans and Britain. It can be accurately explained by what Russell said at the time: "It is not easy to surrender. It’s like not taking refuge!”

"You will understand later, as long as you remember, hold the white gun above your head and shout a few words in the Russian I just taught you, you will be fine!!"

The implication of this sentence is actually to imply the strategic contradiction between the Ottomans and the British. In fact, it is to say that the Ottomans did not fully devote their souls to the British Empire.

Looking at Kolya, who was so naive that he didn't even know the meaning of white, Chia felt an unprecedented sadness. This sadness had nothing to do with anything else. He just felt sad for the future of the Ottoman Empire. This country still has such a sad state. There are many young people like Kolya, but now, their future has not even begun, but is actually over.

Empires are all ruthless, including Britain, the Eastern Roman Empire of Napoleon III, and the Han Empire! !

As for those empires that do not conform or do not keep pace with the times, they have long disappeared in the long river of history. Judging from the current battlefield situation, the Ottoman Turkish Empire is obviously the next one! !
-
Boom boom boom! ! !
Like raindrops, artillery shells were hit next to this small-looking but extremely deep trench. The dust raised covered the entire trench, turning the trench into a "sand quilt."

Kolya, who was wearing two sizes too small and could only hold the back of his head and tie it with a hemp rope, looked at his fellow countryman Chia next to him, who was five years older than him.

As for whether the Russians will kill Kolya, Chia probably doesn’t think so. It’s not that the Russians are all good men and women and abide by the rules of war, but that the Russian population at this time lacks a large number of people with fertility because of the war, and There are young and middle-aged men with labor value, and there is a large amount of land that can be developed in the country that has not yet been developed. At this time, the so-called captives become extremely valuable.

Especially the awkward relationship between the proud British Empire and the currently aggrieved Ottoman Turkish Empire is also the key to the ultimate end of the Ottomans and the British.

"Qia, do you think we can still survive??"

Chia touched Kolya's head and told him the last way he could to "survive" while looking at his younger brother.

Kolya, on the other hand, accepted everything ignorantly. Under the age of fifteen, he still did not understand the true meaning of "white".

…………

"Boom, boom, boom", listening to the constant roaring in his ears, Kolya's hands kept shaking, while Chia next to him kept comforting him:

"It's nothing. I've seen this situation too many times. Remember, artillery is not necessarily scary, but those stray bullets are really scary!!"

Qiya pointed at the ground on the opposite side that kept making "thumping" noises, as well as the burned-black tree trunks.

Kolya looked carefully and was about to say something when Chia beside him let out a scream. When he turned back, the opponent had been shot through the body by a stray bullet. What a coincidence, it hit the vital part. parts.

"Chia, chia..."

"Chia, Chia, wake up quickly, you said you would take me home, Chia!!"

Kolya tugged at his collar, which was already stained red with blood, and his whole body fell into unprecedented panic and pain.

"Kolya, to survive, you must..."

Chia used his last bit of strength, opened his eyes, said the last words, and passed away like this.

"Chia, chia..."

Kolya kept tugging at the other person's clothes, and in the end the clothes were torn, and he failed to save the hero in his mind and take him home.

Just when Kolya collapsed on the ground at a loss, with a confused expression, there was suddenly a Russian shout and the sound of footsteps coming from the opposite side. Like a conditioned reflex, Kolya took off the vest under his coat, hung the white vest on the gun, slowly raised it above his head, and finally shouted a few words in Russian that he had just learned but the teacher had left.

When the Russian voice got closer and closer, Kolya looked at Chia's body next to him, tried his best to suppress the tears that were about to burst out, and faced the Russians who had surrounded him.

In other surrounding battlefields, there were actually many surrenders like the one just now. It could even be said that the Ottoman Army on the front line had completely collapsed, and the surrenders were like waves, one layer higher than the other.

In the end, when the Russian officers reported to the superiors, they put the word "full" first, and the second word "prisoner of war camp".

As more and more Ottoman soldiers surrender, the defeat of the Ottoman Empire is already a matter of time. It can even be said that it has entered the "countdown" to death.

But just like most events, for ordinary Ottoman people in the rear, timeliness still exists. Even though telegrams of defeat have been sent one after another, this is just panic from above. Ordinary people below are still Rushing to buy tickets to go to sea, or even to the Arabian Peninsula, has become a hot topic in recent times. Even the Ottoman officials have turned a blind eye to such behavior. After all, this is the only way to survive at present.

.............................................

In the Ottoman Palace, as a sultan who had just taken office less than two months ago, Murad felt that he was the worst sultan in Ottoman history.

First, his father was murdered by the British and internal resistance forces, and then he was pushed to the position of Sudan in advance. Everything made him feel what true cruelty is.

If those cruel things are essentially beneficial to his Majesty the Sultan, then at this moment, Murad can't wait to take off his hat as the Sultan of the Ottoman Turkish Empire and change his identity to an ordinary person. A ship ticket worth ten times the value goes overseas, brings the wealth accumulated by the royal family over the past century, and lives like a rich man.

Of course, even he himself knows that if he really brings so much money, he may die without knowing how, so he needs a guarantee now, a guarantee from a big country! !
"Your Majesty the Sultan, the Minister of Han is here!!"

"Quick, please!!"

Murad didn't care about his identity as the Ottoman Sultan at all. At this moment, he just had an idea and hurriedly "moisten" it first.

As for his subjects, who are you kidding? Those ministers can run faster than him. During this period of time, he has learned a lot of news about people who "take warships" and leave through desert oases. At that time, they even directly sold all their assets in Turkey and even Istanbul at half price, or even sold them at half price on top of half price.

They trampled the entire Ottoman market, which had already hit the bottom, directly under their feet, and even crushed it a few times, just to make the Ottoman Empire that gave birth to them die more completely! !

When Luo Mingzhou walked into this huge and splendid palace, he was no longer as "careful" as before, but with a kind of contempt, the kind of contempt that he saw with his own eyes the collapse of an empire.

"Your Majesty the Sultan!!"

When Luo Mingzhou saluted, it was obvious that he did not bow, but only bowed his head slightly, which was regarded as respect for the monarch.

Murad on the opposite side obviously has no way to accuse him at this time. After all, it is not certain how many days he, the Sultan, can sit still. Even according to the current situation, within 24 hours, or even 12 hours, the Russian army Getting into Istanbul may not be a problem.

Under such a situation, continuing to maintain the so-called sultan's demeanor can only be laughed at as stupidity.

After a few simple greetings, Murad went directly to the topic:
"Mr. Minister, when can I leave, and what will happen to my property??"

Seeing Murad's "glittering" eyes when he mentioned his property, Luo Mingzhou clearly felt what the collapse of an empire meant. It was clear from the temperament and behavior of their monarch.

"Your Majesty, I think your property can be stored in the nearby Hanguo Bank first. The guards of our embassy will protect the safety of your property when necessary!!"

"Even if you need money, we will exchange it for you in advance for an Imperial Bank cashier's check worth one million. With this money, you can go anywhere in the world!!"

Although Luo Mingzhou's words were reasonable, they were unqualified in the eyes of Murad opposite.

"Mr. Minister, our assets are definitely not just the so-called million Chinese dollars. Even one million pounds cannot represent the wealth of the Ottoman royal family!!"

"For such a large amount of money, do you want to exchange it for millions or Chinese dollars..."

Although Murad didn't make it clear, Luo Mingzhou on the other side knew exactly what the last sentence meant.

"Your Majesty, this is just the beginning. Your assets in the bank will not suffer any losses. I don't think the Russians have the guts to pursue the Han Empire!!"

Luo Mingzhou said this with great confidence. It can be said that all of this was based on the last Black Sea War. Without that war, Luo Mingzhou really didn't dare to guarantee that Russia would not care about that huge wealth.

After all, Russia at the moment is really poor.

After hearing these words, Murad thought for a while and then slowly spoke:
"Mr. Minister, I personally and my family need the security protection of Han..."

"If you can protect the life safety of me and my family, as well as the safety of our wealth, I'm sure you will never suffer a loss!!"

Murad's naked hint caught Luo Mingzhou on the opposite side a little off guard, but he finally chose to agree.

When it was all over, less than fifty kilometers away from the city of Istanbul, the last 150,000 elite troops of the Ottoman Army had fought to the extreme, and finally surrendered to the Russian army at 5 p.m.

When the surrender message reached Moscow, Nicholas, who was still eating, stood up from his chair and shouted in the Queen's horrified eyes: "Glory belongs to Russia!!"

After venting his anger, Nikolai sent a telegram urging the front line to fight in an anxious mood, and even directly hinted that the city of Istanbul could be exchanged for the maximum loss.

When the Russian army of one million troops advanced to the outskirts of Istanbul, they were surprised to find that the so-called "death together" did not happen. There were only countless white people and panicked Ottomans.

Sergei, the Russian division commander riding on a war horse, looked at the huge city of Istanbul in front of him, took a deep breath, and shouted at the top of his lungs: "Enter the city!!"

When one after another, endless Russian troops, even more than ten kilometers long, entered the city of Istanbul.

Ottoman Sultan Murad, who was sitting on a Han merchant ship, looked at the drifting port of Istanbul and his hometown that might only appear in his dreams in the future, and secretly swore in his heart that sooner or later he would come back.

Tang Yi, the Han special envoy standing next to him, looked at the city that was about to belong to the Russians, this city of God called Istanbul, with a "scrutinizing" look.

Taking one last look at Murad, who had red eyes and clenched fists, and the crying Ottomans, Tang Yi suddenly had a bold idea, but this idea needed to be reported back to His Majesty first! !
After all, this is not something he can decide! !

(End of this chapter)