First of all, Cherchen found that the farmers in the surrounding farms did not support them. Commander hwadeki''s men were sent to collect food and evacuate civilians again and again, but the thatched houses in the farms were still lit when yelisi''s patrol passed the farms.


    When yelisi walked into these thatched huts, the farmers inside were surprised to see yelisi and others loaded with guns. Then, when they heard yelisi''s Russian accent, the farmers jumped up in surprise and asked if the prince had arrived and hilko''s team had arrived to save them.


    In short, Cherchen found that the people of konotop loved czar Russia more than their defenders.


    When yelishei came back, he also told Chechen that the local Cossacks had not seriously completed the task of poisoning rural wells and other water sources. Many wells are still well preserved and the water inside is safe.


    The same situation also exists in the former konotop Cossacks guarding the city. After the fortification on the first day, on the night of that day, nine of the three hundred Cossacks under hwadeki escaped, and seven of the newly recruited soldiers escaped.


    When Chechen asked why the local people''s morale and morale were so, hevadeji explained to Chechen: "Captain of the Cherchen regiment, the situation in konotop is different from that in the mainland of Ukraine. We are bordering on the border with czar Russia, and people on both sides are inevitably related to each other. Moreover, the Russians and our Cossacks believe in orthodox religion and have the same faith. We are flesh and blood brothers with blood thicker than water."


    Hearing what hwadeki said, Chechen looked at him with scanning eyes.


    "Then, commander hwadeki, are you also on the Russian side?" Chechen asked.


    If commander hwadeki had the same attitude, he would have to consider removing the Cossack company commander''s military power and breaking up his subordinates and reassigning them to blazlav''s team.


    This may cause a civil strife and affect the progress of war preparation, but it is better than being stabbed by one''s own people in wartime.


    Commander hwadeki smiled bitterly when he heard Chechen''s question. He took off his hat, and a lock of gray hair floated in the wind.


    "Captain of the Cherchen regiment, I''m not a local. I''m an old Cossack in ruble. When I was young, I used to be a book compiled Cossack of the Republic of Poland, and almost all of my companions were. We all worked for Prince yarimi. Later, I went with chief Bogdan hemelinitsky, and I cut the knife at my former companions. When their blood splashed I regret it when I look on my face, but it''s irreparable. I''m about to turn 60 now, and maybe I''ll go to see God tomorrow. I won''t aim my knives and guns at my compatriots, but I can''t bear to force my subordinates to aim their knives and guns at their compatriots. Do you understand my thoughts? "


    Of course Chechen understood. He looked at hwadeki''s sad face and said in a deep voice: "I see what you mean. But commander hwadeki, I have a great responsibility to guard konotop. I hope you can tell your subordinates that if they don''t want to stay or want Russia, I won''t stop them if they ask them to leave within three days. But if there is still negative slack or desertion after three days, I can only enforce the military law."


    Commander hwadeki gave a military salute to Chechen and then retreated.


    After commander hwadeki left, Chechen stayed alone in the triangle fort that was built in less than half. Before he came to konotop, he was confident that with his talent and toughness, he would nail the Russians here for two months. Although it was not a simple thing, he was still 60% sure. But now, he is not even 30% sure.


    If people are united, Mount Tai will move. If people are not united, everything will stop.


    Konotop''s popular support and military support are not on his side, but his defender is hostile like an aggressor.


    A breeze blew, and Chechen suddenly heard Pedro''s drinking and scolding behind him.


    "You come, who asked you to come. Don''t you know how dangerous it is here? God! Do you believe in paganism and even women are so bold?"


    Che Chen looked back, which made his eyes stare like the full moon at night.


    He saw Pedro twisting the hand of a Cossack who was his wife Fatima.


    They came to themselves.


    Pedro is still talking there:


    "Cough! Such a woman came with me disguised as a Cossack. I told her to go right away, but she didn''t listen until you knew. Sea! It''s no use! There''s no way!"


    Fatima''s face looked terrified. Her two eyebrows were trembling as if she were about to cry. But it was not because she was scolded and cried by Pedro. She was just afraid of her husband''s anger. So she crossed her hands on her chest like a child afraid of punishment. She began to cry, "Chechen, let me stay, let me stay. I want to be with you."


    Looking at Fatima''s begging face, Chechen''s heart showed infinite tenderness. But reason told him that he must let Fatima go.


    "Fatima, I will ask Xie Miao to escort you away early tomorrow morning." Chechen said.


    Fatima saw that Chechen was also going to drive her away. She continued to beg: "Chechen, I am also a soldier and an expert with a knife. I am here to help you. Let me stay. Otherwise, even if you let Xie Miao keep sending me back to blazlav, as long as he looks back, I will come back. No one can stop me."


    "This stubborn donkey, stubborn donkey," cried Pedro again. But this tone sounds so helpless.


    Chechen was also embarrassed because he knew Fatima would do what she said.


    "Does Natalie know you''re coming?" Chechen asked.


    Fatima nodded.


    "She knows. But she didn''t stop me. Because she''s like me. If you didn''t let her take care of brazlav, she would come with me."


    "Two stubborn donkeys," Pedro muttered again.


    Chechen stepped forward and hugged Fatima, which made Fatima mistakenly think that Chechen had tacitly agreed to stay.


    "Chechen."


    "Sorry, Fatima," Chechen said suddenly.


    Before Fatima could react, his knife fell on the back of Fatima''s neck.


    Fatima softened.


    "Uncle, let Xie Miao send Fatima back to brazlav overnight. Watch her and Natalie and don''t let them leave again." Chechen said in an unprecedented severe tone.


    Pedro didn''t say much, but muttered, "your boy is a man in front of women.".


    He took Fatima and headed for the castle.