Struggle in Russia

Kutepov was dazed. He looked suspiciously at the three gendarmes and then at the direction of the gate, wondering if the way the door was opened just now was wrong and a group of fake gendarmes ushered in. All in all, he was down and didn't know how to react to the current situation.

The obese Mesadov reacted faster and more appropriately than Kutepov. After all, he can hang on high without having anything to do with himself, and all he needs to do is to cooperate with Kutepov.

"Gentlemen," he asked in a muffled voice, "is the case not going well? What else is there to know?"

The three gendarmes were a little embarrassed. The progress of the case was not smooth but too smooth. Muraviyov fixed the relevant evidence too well, and all kinds of procedures and documents were readily available, making it impossible for them to let those who accused Canada What was not good for Sinskey and Shirokov disappeared.

Worse still, this Major Muraviyov was as reticent as a stone in a latrine, as resolute in his refusal to change his testimony, no matter what they suggested. Moreover, he is also very disgusting. When handing over the relevant evidence and testimony, he was called too detailed, and the sealing and signing of various formalities and documents were done meticulously. If they insist on making a fuss, they will definitely bear a huge scapegoat. For those of them who are the third part, they understand the importance of being wise and protecting their lives, so how could they build their own future for this.

Therefore, on the one hand, the military police can only respond to the "bad" situation upwards, and on the other hand, they cannot do nothing. After all, it is the crown prince's intention to let them down to investigate the case. His appearance is easy to explain.

So these three gave up the breakthrough from Major Muraviyov, and turned to a certain grand duke to test it out. Maybe this legendary good-for-nothing grand duke is easier to deal with?

The officers in the meeting room were quickly dismissed. After all, this was a serious questioning, not a joke. Apart from Mesadov and Kutepov watching, only Li Xiao and Boris were left.

"Your Excellency, we have a question," Gendarme A first raised the issue, "Why do you purchase so much food? Are you doing related business?"

This question may seem ordinary but it is actually speculative. Li Xiao replied that he is not in the food business. They're probably going to say, there are only two people in your boy's house, and hoarding so much food is not doing this kind of business, why is that? Could it be that you have some ulterior secret?

If Li Xiao answered that he was in the grain business, the gendarmes would be even happier. They would also talk about how to transport grain to the outskirts of St. Petersburg. They had only heard of reselling in the city, but never outside the city. Is it possible that the grain business you do is simply a smuggling business, which is to transport the grain to Viborg or by sea to evade taxes and go abroad!

These three people thought very well, thinking that no matter how someone answered, they would always fall into the pit, as long as someone fell into it, would they still want to climb out? Impossible!

It's just that Li Xiao's answer was beyond their expectations: "Why do you need to buy so much food?" Someone sneered at Kutepov and said, "Then you have to ask the deputy head... "

"The Captain Gazinski he has been defending, that is, my superior has not allocated a grain of food since I took office. The soldiers of the second company are not full and are making trouble. I want the company commander to explain... ..."

"What can I say? The higher-ups refused to give the food they asked for, and they refused to agree to the money to buy the food. Now the soldiers are complaining and complaining, and it seems that there will be a big mess... As the Grand Duke of the Empire and an officer of the Empire, I You can't just sit back and watch things get worse, can you?"

"But the higher-ups have never given a solution, and I can only pay for them temporarily to stabilize them... Just in time, gentlemen, you are here at the right time, why don't you ask for me when the food will be allocated, my family is too weak to last too long For a long time, there must be a solution!"

Suddenly the three gendarmes were shocked,

It is not uncommon for the Russian army to deduct rations and military salaries severely, but it would be too much to let the soldiers below to fend for themselves without giving a grain of food. But someone's expression clearly didn't mean to be fake, could it?

The burning pain on Kutepov's face, especially after the gendarmes looked at him, made him feel even more humiliated, but on this occasion he couldn't lose the chain, and he couldn't get his sore feet caught, so he said solemnly :

"The supply of food in winter is tight, so a few days later is nothing! It's all a fuss!"

Li Xiao immediately sarcastically said, "How many days? Lieutenant Colonel, you probably aren't very good at math. According to Erlian's written records, the last time food was allocated was more than two months ago. More than 70 days is much more than a few days! Otherwise, you will also be paid according to this standard in the future, and it doesn’t matter if you are two or three months late! Anyway, you don’t live on military salary, do you?”

"What are you talking about!" Kutepov jumped up as if his tail had been stepped on, and he shouted angrily at the gendarmes: "Gentlemen, you have all seen, this is his attitude! No superiors, no rules, no laws. , do whatever you want with impunity!"

Li Xiao sneered, and said sarcastically: "It's useless for you to say more adjectives. This topic is too blunt. Don't bother to talk about him. I just want to know when you will pay the food owed to Erlian as soon as possible." Send it in a few minutes, otherwise I will have to go to the Navy Department to cry, and then let the whole of St. Petersburg see how you bully people!"

The three gendarmes are speechless, and only a disgraced grand duke like you would really shamelessly go to the navy department to cry poorly. You are a grand duke, even if you are shameless, you must save some face for the country and the royal family!

Kutepov was trembling with anger, but he was determined not to take the blame. He squinted at Mesadov, who was watching the play, and said, "I don't care about this matter. You should ask the logistics to respond!"

Li Xiao was not fooled, so he wouldn't fall for Kutepov's misfortune. Finding Major Antonov, the director of military supplies, is tantamount to finding trouble with the commander of the regiment, Mesadov. Although these two products are of the same breed, we still cannot blindly expand the scope of attack. It is the right way to catch Kutepov and beat him to death, not to touch Mesadov's side.

"Why should I look for logistics, and logistics is not my direct superior. I only look for Captain Gazinski, who is my superior. I must give me an explanation. Why should I deduct my company's rations? What are you trying to do by allowing your subordinates to rob me of the life-saving food that I personally paid for? Are you deliberately stirring up a mutiny and preparing to rebel!"

After a pause, Li Xiao pointed at Kutepov's nose and cursed: "You have been defending and protecting Captain Gazinski just now! If you have nothing to do with him, why did you slander me without asking indiscriminately? You must give Let me confess, otherwise even if this lawsuit goes to His Majesty, I will accompany you to the end! You must expose your hypocritical mask and let you, a despicable villain, have nowhere to hide!"