The Russian White Guard cavalry had been marching for three days. On the fourth day, even the Don horses, known for their endurance and ability to withstand cold environments, had lost some vitality.

The rearguard cavalry led by Kolchak, however, still maintained their fighting spirit. These Russian White Guards followed their trusted general, harboring the hope of a comeback, riding forward, away from the clutches of the Bolsheviks. To save the horses' strength, the White Guards reduced their speed and advanced toward the agreed-upon station.

In the afternoon, several cavalrymen wearing White Guard uniforms caught up from behind. Kolchak's subordinates immediately stopped, raised their rifles, and prepared for battle. The comers just galloped, obviously not cherishing their horses. In the early winter of October in Siberia, the horses snorted heavily, and upon closer inspection, Kolchak's troops could even see foam at the corners of the horses' mouths.

The leading White Guard cavalryman shouted loudly, "We are from the Second Cavalry Battalion, coming from Omsk!"

Such a shout instead aroused the vigilance of the rearguard cavalry. Everyone who stayed in Omsk had chosen not to follow Kolchak anymore; the purpose of catching up at this time was obviously suspicious.

Kolchak was already among the troops. He parted the soldiers and rode out. The few White Guard cavalrymen who caught up immediately jumped off their heavily panting horses, stepped forward, and saluted Kolchak. "Your Excellency, the Red Army has entered Omsk. After entering the city, they started arresting people; those officers and soldiers who laid down their weapons were all taken away. We escaped desperately and survived."

Kolchak didn't answer immediately. The brutality of the civil war exceeded his imagination. The troops on both sides already had strong hostility and hatred. Not long after the war broke out, shooting prisoners of war became common practice. Kolchak came from a naval background and was very resistant to shooting prisoners of war, but he was powerless. As the vendetta accumulated later, everyone went crazy, completely unrestricted by any bottom line of war.

In these days, Kolchak also reflected on the failure of the war. He helplessly discovered that now, when surrender could not save lives, the troops on the battlefield once erupted with astonishing fighting will. When the White Army was defeated, the will to continue fighting could no longer be inspired. In contrast, the Red Army, which had the advantage, fought stronger and stronger, defeating the White Army like crushing dry weeds and smashing rotten wood.

Kolchak asked about the designation of the Red Army. These few White Guards said it seemed to be Tukhachevsky's troops, but they were only concerned with fleeing for their lives and didn't notice these details at all.

Those rearguard White Guard cavalrymen were instantly enraged. Someone pulled the bolt of his rifle and shouted, "How could you not know the designation of the Red Army? You are here to deceive us!"

Seeing that the expressions of those few White Guards were full of annoyance and fear, Kolchak said, "I believe you. Thank you for coming to notify me of this news. Where are you going next?"

The few former White Guards who escaped were speechless for a moment, and finally said with difficulty, "Your Excellency, please allow us to continue following you."

Kolchak turned back and shouted to the troops, "Change a few horses for them; their horses can't run anymore."

Although the cavalry following Kolchak still didn't believe these guys who escaped, since Kolchak gave the order, no one objected. The cavalry handed over the horses used for replacement to these few White Guards, led their exhausted horses, and continued to advance eastward.

Deng Jinsheng didn't know what happened. As long as the troops continued eastward, they were closer to the Northeast. Kolchak had failed, and Deng Jinsheng held no illusions about them. Returning to the Northeast quickly became Deng Jinsheng's only expectation.

Since they knew the Red Army had caught up, marching slowly was meaningless. The cavalry sped up, and after a few days of arduous marching, finally arrived at the agreed-upon station.

This was a common station on the vast Siberian plain. The tattered Russian double-headed eagle flag hung on the flagpole at the top of the station. The Bolsheviks would raise their flags on all captured landmark buildings. Even so, the troops crept in very carefully, and soon came back to report happily, "Your Excellency, it's still our brothers in the station; they have prepared a train."

The resolute expression on Kolchak's chiseled face remained unchanged. He just nodded and issued an order, "Board the train!"

The whistle sounded. Although it was transporting the rearguard troops fleeing the Red Army's attack, Deng Jinsheng felt the whistle was full of joy. Moreover, what made Deng Jinsheng happy was that this train was actually a vehicle of the Northeast Railway Corps. Since recovering the Chinese Eastern Railway, Chairman He Rui had ordered the establishment of the Railway Corps. This train was one of the many trains 'leased' by the Russian White Guards.

Deng Jinsheng ran to the locomotive and chatted with the Chinese driver. On such a long railway line, the driver didn't worry about any railway switches. The Trans-Siberian Railway was basically a single-track railway, and often running for a day and night might not reach the next station. So he chatted happily with Deng Jinsheng.

"Brother, you are not in the Northeast, so you don't know that life in our place is much better. After the land was distributed, before, half a bowl of rice had to be wild vegetables or something, now a bowl of rice is a bowl of rice. The government also taught how to grow sunflowers. Those who listened to the government earliest can have tens of *jin* of oil a year in one family. We hadn't eaten it before, brother. Those fish in the river, fried in oil and then cooked, are really damn fragrant. Sprinkle salt and pepper directly on the fish and eat it directly; it's fragrant! Really fragrant!"

Deng Jinsheng's family was among the earliest batch to 'listen to the government', but at that time sunflowers had just begun to be promoted. Before they could grow a result, Deng Jinsheng had been ordered to be a liaison officer with the Russian White Guards. Hearing that life at home was better now, tears and saliva couldn't help but gush out.

Wiping away tears and swallowing saliva, Deng Jinsheng said happily, "When I get home, I must taste the fresh food."

The Railway Corps had fixed supplies and oil coupons every month. Being out for so long, frightened and worried, he ate even worse. The driver also wiped the corners of his mouth and echoed loudly, "Must taste it! Not having eaten these, I feel like I've lived in vain! Brother, my family is from Heilongjiang. Meeting abroad is fate. When we return to Harbin, I'll treat you!"

How could Deng Jinsheng think of being polite? He answered loudly, "Alright! You treat, I pay!" After speaking, he laughed loudly.

Unlike the laughter and joy inside the locomotive, Kolchak and the White Guard Deputy Chief of Staff who stayed at the agreed place to wait for him were having a conversation with a heavy atmosphere.

Deputy Chief of Staff Nikolaev looked anxious. "Your Excellency, we'd better not use the Chinese railway. They are eyeing our gold. We cannot let them succeed!"

Kolchak certainly knew that the purpose of the Northeast government was to make money, with no intention of aiding the White Guards. But this gold was no longer so important compared to the current situation. Since the Russian Provisional Government had fled east, the only power left to rely on was the Japanese government. Kolchak asked, "Nikolaev, what is the attitude of the Japanese government?"

Deputy Chief of Staff Nikolaev looked sorrowful and indignant. "The Japanese government proposed that we cede Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands to support us. Moreover, the Japanese government demands privileges in Vladivostok. Chief of Staff Zyuganov is arguing with the Japanese government representatives."

Kolchak was not surprised. It would be surprising if the Japanese government proposed no requirements. At this time, the Russian Provisional Government must rely on foreign forces to persist, only then was a successful counterattack possible. At least, it needed the support and protection of world powers to continue to exist. Kolchak must persist until that time.

To get Japan's protection, one must have enough capital. Kolchak asked the Deputy Chief of Staff about the personnel retreat. The Deputy Chief of Staff looked slightly calmer at this time. "The Chinese transported coal and grain. Although everyone is starving, at least they haven't starved to death yet. But the Chinese do not allow us to enter their border. They threatened us that if we approach their border, they will act according to the emergency clauses in the agreement."

Kolchak wasn't very clear about the emergency clauses inside, and only after asking the Deputy Chief of Staff did he confirm, "The Northeast government will no longer provide any grain and materials, and will deduct the train deposit from the gold we placed in the Northeast Bank. If the train cannot return safely to their side, the Northeast government will confiscate these deposits."

"How much gold do we still have on the Chinese side?" Kolchak asked.

"There are still 31 tons," the Deputy Chief of Staff replied.

Kolchak possessed the gold of Tsarist Russia in the Kazan treasury, containing 500 tons of gold. Previously, purchasing Chinese weapons and materials had already spent nearly 200 tons, and another 100 tons were transferred to the British side through the Northeast Bank.

The British side provided a lot of financial support at the beginning of the Russian Civil War. After Kolchak and Denikin were defeated, Britain interrupted its support. As for the French, they had no power in the Far East, only stringing along the Czechoslovak Legion, letting the representative of the Czechoslovak Legion act as France's mouthpiece in the Russian Provisional Government.

By now, Kolchak had parted ways with the Czechoslovak Legion. Thinking left and right, Kolchak had an idea. "When we reach Lake Baikal, demand the Chinese immediately provide a batch of grain. We won't wait; head south immediately, receive the grain on the way, and everyone walks to Vladivostok."

The Deputy Chief of Staff hadn't expected Kolchak to actually want to march thousands of miles on foot to Vladivostok in this cold early winter. For a moment, he didn't know whether to be moved or astonished. But on second thought, he didn't object anymore. The Chinese transportation service charged fees. If over a million people were sent to Vladivostok, nothing would be left in the Provisional Government's treasury.

If they walked to Vladivostok, a large amount of materials and funds could be saved. This was also the last capital of the Russian Provisional Government.

The news was sent to Shenyang via the radio carried by Deng Jinsheng and was soon known by everyone in the Northeast Bank. The President of the Northeast Bank was named Wang Yongjiang, one of the bureaucrats in the old Northeast bureaucratic system of the Zhang Xiluan era. After He Rui took power, he gradually replaced the old bureaucrats. Among the old bureaucrats, Wang Yongjiang was the first one not only not replaced but standing out.

Wang Yongjiang was born in 1872, a native of Jinzhou, Fengtian. He read extensively in his youth and was exceptionally talented. He had a quick mind and was also skilled in medicine. While serving in the Liaoyang police administration, he performed his duties faithfully and was deeply appreciated by Yuan Jinkai, being promoted to the director of the Fengtian Provincial Capital Tax Bureau.

Because of Wang Yongjiang's literati style, there was no corruption or perversion of the law during his tenure. After staying in office, he passed the political review and worked quite hard during the land reform, truly standing out among a group of old officials who mourned the land reform as if they had lost their parents.

Later, when the Northeast Bank was formed, he was appointed as the Bank President.

After becoming the President of the Northeast Bank, Wang Yongjiang raised an objection for the first time, and directly opposed He Rui's opinion.

As the central bank of the Northeast government, the Northeast Bank was one of the cores of economic work. He Rui knew there were no senior financial talents in the current Civilization Party, so besides establishing a party branch of the Civilization Party, a committee was also established.

As an old official, Wang Yongjiang did not oppose the influence and control of the Civilization Party branch in the Northeast Bank. He only publicly opposed the few foreign employees in the Northeast Bank.

The reason for objection was very simple and clear: how could the central bank of the Northeast allow foreigners inside? They were unreliable.

Wang Yongjiang was not the only one with such a view; many Civilization Party members had similar thoughts. As a result, Wang Yongjiang temporarily became the leader of opinion expression within the Northeast Bank.

He Rui finally had to hold several meetings with Wang Yongjiang and the others before everyone accepted this arrangement.

More than a year later, Wang Yongjiang had accepted He Rui's idea. The risk of a bank did not lie in some incredible secret news being known by others; the risk of a bank lay in the safety of a large number of account records.

Foreign employees working in the bank were just earning money based on their skills. As long as those account records were safe, foreign banking experts were actually not a threat. What could they do? Tell others the amount of funds in the Northeast Bank? Or tell others the future monetary policy of the Northeast Bank?

These news didn't need this group of foreign banking experts to reveal at all; the government regularly published various reports in newspapers. It was really publicized with great fanfare.

If there was any news they didn't want these foreign employees to know, just don't let them attend the meeting. For example, learning that the million-strong White Guards didn't want to rely on the railway service provided by the Northeast to go to Vladivostok, Wang Yongjiang didn't notify these foreign employees when convening the meeting.

At the beginning of the meeting, Wang Yongjiang, who was older than this group of young people, had to bear the responsibility of an elder. "Comrades, I hold this meeting to say some homely words. Not letting foreigners participate is because I want to say a few words. Having earned Russian money all along, have we forgotten not to stretch our hands too far?"

These words were indeed a bit hurtful, and the first reaction of the young people was anger. However, Wang Yongjiang had prepared long ago. As he said, holding the meeting without notifying foreign employees was to save face for everyone. Disgrace shouldn't be shown in front of foreigners.

Before the young comrades could speak unhappily, Wang Yongjiang continued, "Everyone say it clearly first, do you think that gold belongs to the Russians?"

With such a question, the more agitated young comrades were speechless. There were also some comrades who didn't covet this gold originally, just watching this somewhat awkward meeting quietly.

Seeing that at least there were no such obsessed guys among the comrades, Wang Yongjiang continued, "Some people say Yuan Shikai betrayed the country and was forced to accept the Twenty-One Demands. So the Japanese government is a bastard. I think the Japanese government is a bastard because they pose a threat to us. But things have to be looked at from the origin: it was Yuan Shikai who proposed borrowing money from the Japanese government, and only then did the Japanese government propose the Twenty-One Demands. Even facing the angry scolding of the whole country, Yuan Shikai still wanted to borrow money! Yuan Shikai did betray the country because he accepted the Japanese conditions in exchange for loans. The Northeast Bank indeed needs more gold. I understand everyone wants to make the Northeast Bank better. This is not wrong. But that idea is wrong; our comrades in the Northeast Bank cannot think like that!"

A speech left the young comrades of the Northeast Bank speechless, and the conference room was silent for a moment.

Wang Yongjiang breathed a sigh of relief. If someone still jumped out to say some bastard words at this time, Wang Yongjiang could only immediately let the bastard god leave the small temple of the Northeast Bank.

Not giving these people a chance to be foolish, Wang Yongjiang ordered, "From today on, everyone stop discussing the Russians' affairs. The Chairman proposed the requirement of building rural cooperatives, opening banks in various villages and towns, depositing money, and issuing production loans. Our work is very heavy; comrades participating in this work will have to work hard. Meeting adjourned!"

This matter soon reached He Rui. He Rui made a phone call to Wang Yongjiang's office and invited him to have dinner together.

He Rui's dinner was very simple: four dishes (two meat, two vegetable), and a soup made of corn grits. There was no wine on the table. He Rui raised his water cup. "Thank you for your hard work, President Wang."

Seeing He Rui support him so much, Wang Yongjiang was also quite happy and raised his water cup. "It's my duty."

The two drank the plain boiled water dry, both happy.