Battlefield Priest's Diary

Chapter 55 The Tsar's Riddle

It is already late autumn, and after several days of heavy rain, the surrounding areas have gradually become colder.

Due to the annihilation of the Second Army Group, there was a shortage of troops, and the trains in the rear were used to replenish the troops and form a newly established army group.

This resulted in a large amount of supplies being left behind in the rear, and many soldiers were still wearing thin summer uniforms.

The surge in personnel also strained housing, with soldiers crammed into dilapidated houses like sardines in a can, shivering in the night wind wrapped in blankets.

Of course, officers don't have this kind of trouble.

In the largest room inside the military fortress, huge candles were lit one by one, and a white tablecloth was laid out on the pine table. Roasted venison, fried bacon, macarons, herb-stuffed quail, cream of mushroom soup...

A sumptuous feast was laid out on the table. After pouring red wine for the guests, the orderly hurriedly left, leaving the room to the important figures inside.

The priest in black, holding a knife and fork, sat opposite General Lenningkamp.

"I'm sorry, Father, this is the front line after all, and this is all we can eat. I hope to host you again when we return to St. Petersburg," Lenningkamp said, raising his glass as his opening remarks.

"Thank you for your warm hospitality, but I am a practitioner of asceticism and do not care about such luxuries." Qin Hao smiled and maintained his persona, not responding to the other party's topic, preparing to remain unchanged in the face of any eventuality.

The two men divided the main course on their plates, and Lenningkamp took the opportunity to observe the man in front of him again, whom he had once thought would die on the front lines.

Hmm~ His dining habits don't conform to the traditional aristocratic way, which suggests he didn't have such experiences growing up, and it's probably related to his self-proclaimed identity as an ascetic.

If one's etiquette does not meet the standards, it indicates that one is not a traditionalist.

He is quite knowledgeable and experienced, unlike a charlatan from the countryside.

The reason he sees it this way is that he needs to communicate with a smart person about what's to come; a crazy guy would bring too many uncontrollable factors.

Lenningkamp raised his glass. "Father, let us drink to His Majesty's health."

"For Your Majesty's health."

After finishing his drink, Lenningkamp wore a politician's smile. "Father, I haven't yet congratulated you on your major victory at Lake Masuria."

"Hmm?" Qin Hao's eyebrows twitched. Logically, it was unlikely that the other party would know that the great flood was related to him, so he simply pretended to be confused.

"Excuse me, sir, could you please elaborate?"

"Look at you, such a humble person. Even with the battle report right here, you still maintain your noble composure." The general said, pushing a piece of paper that had been prepared beforehand over, and then staring intently into the other person's eyes.

Qin Hao reached out and unfolded the form, his expression beginning to stiffen.

The first half of the battle report was simply his previous telegram, slightly modified in grammar, highlighting how the defending troops, despite unfavorable circumstances, fearlessly fought back against the ferocious enemy for the sake of the Emperor, the Lord, and the people. (The scribe thoughtfully placed the Emperor first.)

However, the second half is completely different, basically portraying his Siberian battalion as a 1914 version of "300 Spartans".

The results were even more appalling. According to the battle report, the Siberian Battalion nearly annihilated more than ten times the number of German troops, and then made a clean and easy retreat.

Does anyone actually believe this kind of thing?!

Qin Hao's first reaction was that someone wanted to harm him.

However, he restrained himself the next second and did not immediately refute. The priest in black turned the battle report over and pressed it under his palm, waiting for the other party to speak.

Lenningkamp had a look on his face that said, "You know what you're doing."

“Father, as you know, we suffered some setbacks in this battle, and the morale of the troops is somewhat low. It just so happens that because of that telegram, your deeds have been widely publicized after this battle. Do you understand what I mean?” “You mean to appropriately embellish the battle report?” the priest in black offered his interpretation.

"That's a very good adjective, that's what I think. Of course, Army Headquarters and His Majesty the Emperor think so too." The general emphasized the last word.

"Is there anything I can do?" the priest in black asked, his arms crossed.

"You don't need to do anything, just don't deny whatever you hear. And then..."

The general cleared his throat. "Because of your remarkable experience, His Majesty intends to receive you at the palace."

Nicholas II wants to see me?

Qin Hao frowned slightly, a look of hesitation on his face.

He put down his knife and fork, and instead of nodding immediately, he carefully spoke, "As a monk, honesty is a required course for me, so may I consider your suggestion?"

"Of course, but please hurry, the special envoy will be here soon."

As night fell, Qin Hao lay alone on the soft, large bed.

There were armed soldiers standing guard outside the door, clearly sent by Lenningkamp to monitor him.

However, Qin Hao wasn't concerned about that right now; he was considering the pros and cons of meeting Nicholas II.

Like every dynasty on the verge of collapse, this is when the internal struggles within the regime are most intense.

The Tsar's palace today is like a large-scale political drama.

The relationships between the court faction, the cabinet faction, and the military faction are complex, the State Duma has no real power, and there is intense resistance from all sides.

Empress Alexandra participated in the regency while the Tsar was away, and a faction led by her emerged. Due to Alexandra's family connections, this faction surprisingly aligned itself with Germany.

Okay, whether the Tsar's entourage is in turmoil or not is none of his business. But the most important thing is that, according to the timeline, in three years the Tsar's entire family will be completely a thing of the past.

Is it advantageous for me to align myself with this timing?
Snap~ Snap~ Snap~
The sound of pages turning filled his ears, and faint words appeared on the pristine white sheets before Qin Hao's eyes.

The golden key unlocks the gate, opening the royal treasury to you. As an explorer who has unexpectedly arrived here, don't you plan to take something with you? But you'd better hurry, or this treasury is about to collapse.

Objective: To take away the Tsar's most precious treasure.

[Reward: You can only leave after taking the correct treasure.]

? ? ? ? !!

what is this?
He had no choice at all, as required by the diary.

Unless he wants to remain in this era indefinitely, he must take the so-called "Tsar's Treasure" as requested in the diary.

However, as the monarch of a country on the verge of collapse, Nicholas II must have possessed at least three to five thousand treasures, if not five thousand. Even if he were willing to become a thief, he couldn't possibly empty the Winter Palace's treasury by himself.

This is far too difficult.

Snap~ Snap~ Snap~
The rustling of pages began again, as if he had heard her voice, and another line of small print appeared on the sheet.

[Tip: The Tsar's treasures change every year!]

(End of this chapter)