I'm playing whack-a-mole in Siberia

Chapter 473 Misery
As the centers of power in the Russian Empire and Germany, St. Petersburg and Berlin were larger, more populous, older, and more focused than Vladivostok.

Compared with Vladivostok, St. Petersburg and Berlin are a little less pyrotechnics and a little less humane.

The human touch in Vladivostok varies from person to person.

This winter has been difficult for many people.

Although the war is over, there are still a large number of Russians going to Amur.

The first heavy snowfall after the start of winter caused the interruption of the Lake Baikal section of the Siberian Railway. It took the Siberian Railway Administration half a month to recover.

When George was in charge of the Siberian Railway, he placed the Siberian Railway Bureau in Chita, 400 kilometers away from Lake Baikal.

The Siberian Railway is now in St. Petersburg, 4500 kilometers away from Lake Baikal.

Although the railway is interrupted, people prefer to walk across the frozen Lake Baikal to reach Amur.

The first stop for new immigrants entering Amur is Hamaldaban, a railway station located on the shores of Lake Baikal, opposite the mouth of the Angara River, about 40 kilometers away.

"This is such a shitty world!"

Russians are addicted to alcohol, which has a lot to do with the environment. It is really difficult to live without alcohol in winter.

"Let them stay there, and they can also guide the way for those who come after -"

"Don't rely on Chita for everything. Lake Baikal is right next to us. How can there be no food?"

The Japanese who starved to death were also miserable.

Nikolai is self-reliant, and this is Siberia, which is known as "endless fish".

The winter in Siberia is like a big natural refrigerator. The fish freezes quickly after leaving the water. The boys filled the sled with fish without any effort.

"We don't have much food. We need Chita to send it as soon as possible. Fortunately, we still have enough fuel-"

When Amur was managing the Siberian Railway, even if the railway was interrupted, no one froze to death.

Stationmaster Nikolai is a veteran of the 30th Russo-Turkish War and a recipient of the Order of St. George. He has years of perfect service experience.

Nowadays, the new immigrants going to Amur are all bringing their families, including the elderly and children, and are already weak. In such a cold winter, walking across Lake Baikal is full of dangers.

Sleds will take weak new immigrants to Hamaldaban in advance.

There were only about 60 staff at Hamal Daban Station, including security personnel.

In the past, most of the people who went to Amur were Cossacks.

Now in addition to Cossacks, there are farmers, businessmen, retired soldiers, students, and even declining nobles.

I really don't care about dead people.

Those who did not wait for the sled will remain on the ice forever in the form of ice sculptures. When the ice melts next year, they will merge with Lake Baikal.

This difficulty is relative to the individual.

Rakovich has been in a bad mood these days. In the past week, Hamaldaban has been sending sleds to Lake Baikal every day to help the weak new immigrants.

Rakovich, the deputy station chief of Hamaldaban, is a veteran with the rank of captain. After the Russo-Japanese War broke out, Rakovich strongly requested to return to the army, but he was rejected because he was too old, which made Rakovich very dissatisfied.

This carload of fish is enough to feed Hamal Daban for several days.

Nikolai and Rakovich left as many resources as possible to the living.

"Is everything settled?"

There is nothing in Hamaldaban now, but there are many people.

This summer, floods occurred in Zhili areas of the Qing Empire, killing tens of thousands. This prompted a large number of northerners to go to the Kanto region to survive, and they will be even worse this winter.

Nicholas is not indifferent. In this era, no one has the right to pity anyone.

Rakovich was a little depressed, so he unscrewed the wine bottle at his waist and took a few sips.

There are many fish in Lake Baikal, but in winter due to the ice on the lake, fishing becomes a very difficult job.

After winter, more and more people arrive in Hamaldaban on foot, from a few hundred people a day to 1500 people.

"I selected 10 girls and boys and asked them to stay while the others took the evening train to Chita - we need more sleds, there are more and more bodies on the ice -"

The United Kingdom, the most developed country in the world, still has countless sweatshops. The British are no less enthusiastic about going on strike than the Russian Empire.

Rakovich is very sad, these things should not have happened.

The people who go to Amur are mixed. Some people come from the polar regions, some come from the Baltic Sea, and some even come from big cities like St. Petersburg and Moscow.

It is indeed miserable for people who freeze to death on the ice.

When the Russo-Japanese War broke out, Rakovich was only 36 years old.

Rakovich is worried that the supplies stored in Hamaldaban will not be enough to cope with the increasing number of new immigrants.

There is a ferry in Hamaldaban. Before the Circum-Baikal Railway was built, trains had to be loaded onto ships in Hamaldaban to cross Lake Baikal. This small town was also born because of the railway.

Fishing is also extremely difficult in Japan.

Rakovich led dozens of young men to dig holes in the ice, and the fish eager for fresh air began to jump up on their own without lowering the net.

Those who went to Amur during the war were young and strong men, who were better able to withstand danger.

Now the staff of Hamal Daban Station has exceeded 200, and the official residents have exceeded for the first time.

After the Hokkaido fishing grounds were occupied by Amur, Japanese fishermen were unable to enter the Hokkaido fishing grounds to operate. Many fishermen went bankrupt, making this winter particularly difficult.

Taken Oyama, who lives in Hokkaido, makes a living by fishing. His life is not rich, but he can still get by.

This summer, although Dashanjian worked extra hard, his income was still much less than in previous years.

After winter, food prices in Japan soared, and Oyama Ken had to sell his fishing boats in exchange for food needed for the winter.

What's even more cruel is that the rice he bought after selling the fishing boat was snatched away before he returned home. Dashanjian was beaten half to death. Fortunately, a fellow villager passed by and Dashanjian managed to save his life.

"What will we do next year after selling the boat?" Dashan Jian's brother, Dashan Zhang, looked sad. His family had no food left and was unable to support Dashan Jian.

Dashan Jian was so heartbroken that he burst into tears.

Dashanjian also has three children at home.

If you don't sell the boat, you will have to eat the children.

“I heard that people in Sabah are recruiting workers, so I want to try my luck.”

Dashanzhang no longer cares about the hatred of the country and his family. He will sell his life to anyone who can give him a bite of food.

Dashanzhang has four children in his family, all of whom are underage.

The next day, Dashan Jian and Dashan Zhang came to the labor bureau opened by the local government.

The Labor Bureau is indeed hiring, but not fishermen, only laborers and female workers.

And the work location is not limited to Sabah, you can also go to Korea or Kanto.

You can also go to the Lion City.

But the Lion City only wants girls, and they are young and beautiful girls.

"These bastards! They are all accomplices of evil beasts!"

Dashan Jian gritted his teeth.

Miraculously, Dashanjian didn’t have much hatred for the Russians, and even more hated the workers of the Labor Bureau.

Japan's challenge to the Russian Empire was to overestimate its capabilities. The gap in strength between the two sides was too great. It was normal for Japan to lose the war. This result was not unacceptable.

The staff of the Labor Bureau are all Hokkaido natives. Not only do they not work hard to fight for the interests of Hokkaido people, but they help the Russians exploit Hokkaido people.

The conditions for the Labor Bureau to recruit people from Hokkaido are 1 yen per person per day in addition to food and accommodation.

Compared with before the war, the yen has depreciated significantly. Now 1 yen is only equivalent to one-tenth of its pre-war value, and it is still depreciating rapidly.

It is said that the Russians offered the Japanese a salary of 50 kopecks per person per day.

50 kopecks passed through the Labor Bureau and became 1 yen.

It’s clear who is more hateful.

"Is there anyone willing to go to Amur? The Amur Textile Factory needs female workers!"

A Labor Bureau staff member released the latest work news.

Everyone immediately rushed forward.

"16 years old, only girls over 16 and under 25."

The requirements of the Amur Textile Factory are very demanding, but this does not stop people's enthusiasm.

Age is not a problem. Although Amul requires people to be over 16 years old, Japanese people are naturally petite, so send them over first.

The textile mill was at least a real job.

"The contract must be signed for at least 10 years, and the contract cannot be terminated early. There are no holidays during the contract period, and the salary is paid by the Labor Bureau. You can go home after 10 years. Those who can accept it can sign up with me."

The mountain construction strategy was hesitant.

10 years is really too long.

"Let's go, don't you sign up Tomoko and Hanako?"

Dashan Zhang did not hesitate.

"10 years——"

Dashan Jian's eyes were red.

"Sending them to Amur will at least allow them to survive."

Dashan Zhang's eye circles are also red.

There are actually good jobs, but it’s not the turn of Hokkaido’s fishermen.

Before the Siberian Fleet entered winter, it recruited a group of female workers in Nagasaki. The main work of these female workers was cleaning and nursing.

Cleaning means washing clothes, washing vegetables, etc. It is not physically strenuous and requires relatively high levels of cleanliness.

If you can engage in nursing work, you will have the opportunity to contact the sailors of the Siberian Fleet.

As we all know, the vast majority of fleet sailors are singles. If they have the opportunity to marry a sailor, they can leave Japan.

For most Japanese, Japan is hell now.

The Siberian Fleet originally only recruited 50 people.

After the news was released, more than 2000 Japanese girls signed up, many of whom had received education.

This is just a place in Nagasaki. It extends to the whole of Japan. I don’t know how many people signed up.

After Peter found out, he increased the number of workers to 200.

Even so, many educated girls are left out.

Krzhakov suggested that Peter contact Mikhail and ask if he wanted female workers.

"This is the job of the Japanese prime minister and has nothing to do with us."

Peter only does what he should do. No matter how miserable the Japanese are, it has nothing to do with Peter.

It's your own fault.

(End of this chapter)