Solovyov in Tsarist Russia 1796

Chapter 384 026 Serbia will become Russia’s most reliable Slavic brother

In Bucharest, in the palace of the Duke of Wallachia, General Miloradovic met Ragic, a representative of the Serbian rebels who came to ask for support.

When Miloradovich saw him, he knew he was a tough guy.

Logically speaking, such a strong warrior should still be on the front line. There is still a shortage of personnel under Karageorge, especially well-trained warriors.

"Mikhail Andreevich, you can see that my hand is wounded, and that is why our leader sent me here."

"I'm not surprised. There's just one thing about your current situation."

"Oh, General, you are also a Serbian. You should also know that no matter how many Turks come, we will not be afraid and will fight them to the end. Since two years ago, those bastards who like to slap killed our superior After a hundred nobles, we and the Turks must fight to the end.”

Miloradovich knew that the Ottoman Empire had never completely conquered the Montenegrins in the mountains. Since they could join the battle, it was actually very beneficial to the Serbian independence cause.

At the same time, when the Russian army reaches the Danube River, it does need a capable friendly force to cover its flanks.

Although the combat effectiveness of the Serbian rebel army was due to problems with equipment and organization, it repeatedly clashed with the Ottoman army and did not achieve any decisive victory.

But their performance was already very good, and they defeated an Ottoman reinforcement in 1805. By 1806, they had surrounded Belgrade, and some other towns were also in their hands. For example, they used artillery to capture Belgrade not long ago. of Uriche.

"So, what kind of help do you need now?"

"Your Excellency General, I know that it is difficult to meet with His Majesty the Tsar, and it is also a long way. We are going to Petersburg this time, and we also hope that His Majesty the Tsar can help us. Not only do we need the Russian brother army to come over, but we also need some advisers. as well as"

Miloradovich was very happy to find the Serbs. These fellow ancestral people have never been too roundabout. They did not even ask the Russian army to send 100,000 troops to assist like some previous envoys. They are all strong-willed people. , a real man.

And judging from what Ragic said, Serbian uprising leader Karagiorgi, as well as nobles, officers and soldiers, still regard Russians as East Slavic brothers.

This is not surprising at all. There have always been some connections between the various forces in Russia and the Balkans. However, in most cases, the nobles responsible for these operations always serve as volunteers and lead volunteer troops to Greece in the south. Places like Yugoslavia generally only maintain diplomatic ties.

This does not include republics like Dubrovnik, which generally do not buy it, and are even beaten by Russian troops stationed in Dalmatia.

As for Serbia’s enthusiasm for bringing its own dry food, it should also be the highest among the Yugoslav brothers and Orthodox brothers in Russia. The Bulgarians who are in the Cao camp and whose heart is Han, even if they have civil relations with Russia in NATO, can only be excluded. in the back.

Although the Miloradovich family had gone to Russia from Herzegovina several generations ago and now settled in Poltava, they were still a little touched by the enthusiasm of the Serbs to bring their own dry food, so they He also said: "I can understand your mood, but we will have to send people from Petersburg when the time comes. Because the journey is long, it is unlikely that we will get instructions immediately."

"I understand this, General."

Ragic didn't say much. In fact, both sides, plus Wallachia, knew that those siege guns were very useful and helped the Serbian rebels capture Uzice.

After capturing Uzice, this handicraft center, together with some towns previously controlled by the Serbian rebels, could already provide a certain level of logistical supplies, and even had the conditions to rub muskets and stockpile gunpowder.

It was not because of anything else. The Turkish army was completely annihilated because of their carelessness. The Karageorgi guards led by Petar Jokic, who had no sense of martial ethics, first attacked the Uzice fortress and then entered the city.

The weapons abandoned by the Turkish troops in Wurice Fortress and other places, even some cold weapons, are enough to arm the army.

Even now it is more advantageous for the Serbian rebels.

What Rajic then talked about was the current situation in the areas controlled by the rebels.

After hearing about these situations, Miloradovich also began to think about how to deal with them.

Although he always left the actual command to his staff on the battlefield, his main focus was a fierce attack. During the Battle of Austerlitz, he killed seven in and seven out of the French army, but this does not mean that he His brain is also full of muscles. He can still analyze the situation and think deeply.

Moreover, as a military commander or chief executive, he was able to consider the situation of his subordinates and local people. Instead, he was considerate and considerate, making him a good general and officer.

"Captain Rajic, if you can meet the emperor in St. Petersburg this time and everything goes well, the Moldavia Army and the Dalmatian garrison will provide you with material support. Helping you is also helping ourselves. The Turks have always been in contact with the French, and it is not ruled out that the French will go to Moldavia through the Balkan Peninsula. Across the Dniester River is Odessa, which is the gateway to the southwest of Russia."

"Of course, we can understand that. Those French and Austrians have always promised us things but never did them. , and even "sold" us to the Turks. Of course, they also look down on the barren land in our mountains, and they covet the land of the Turks in Bosnia. "

"Don't consider these. Austria and France have signed an armistice agreement, and the French must go to Dalmatia first, and then see what they will do next."

"Yes, even a reckless man like me understands it. General, I can't stay here for too long, I still have to go to Petersburg."

When Rajic set out, the first round of intelligence had just arrived in Petersburg.

Soloviev had nothing to do with this matter. He was not very familiar with the Balkan stage. Now was not the time for Walter to defend Sarajevo. Sarajevo was still under the control of the Turks. As for the bridge, there was no bridge.

On the Yugoslav side, there were no familiar elements, even the assassins in Sarajevo.

He had to attend because his current position was in the Operations Department and he was on the list of the Guards. If he was studying the plan, he would be indispensable.

Looking at Nicholas's schedule again, the boy has made some progress recently. Solovyov can rest assured to ask for two days off. Military affairs are obviously more important.

However, when he arrived at the Winter Palace, he was the first to arrive.

"It's really impossible. You have to come early when you are summoned."

"Your Highness, you are here earlier than usual."

"People who don't have wives at home come faster. But how about Madame Recamier?"

"You found this out."

Grand Duke Constantine only knew the story of Solovyov and Madame Recamier from some special channels.

"If you want to get married, you may have to stay away from that French woman for a while, even though she is one of us."

"I know, but it's hard to refuse an invitation to a literary salon. Besides, as you know, if you were lovers, you should have a child by now, but your wife has never gotten pregnant."

"Yes."

Although Constantine has been in the army, it is more important to strengthen his muscles and put women aside, but he also has a mistress and will give birth to illegitimate children.

"But you are really proud of it."

The relationship between Grand Duke Constantine and Soloviev is not so tense. After all, he has no intention of the throne, and treating subordinate officers is different from beating his wife at home.

Soon, the generals summoned by Alexander also came to the office of the Little Winter Palace.

As for Alexander, he was late for a while in the morning to accompany Louisa at the Tavrid Palace.

"Your Majesty, can we start now?"

As the artillery inspector, Arakcheev came to preside over the meeting today, temporarily replacing the elderly Sergei Kuzmich.

But anyone with a discerning eye can see that Sergei Kuzmich will not be in the position of Minister of War for too long, and Arakcheev may even take over his work before he retires.

No wonder Alexander also hopes that Arakcheev will also serve as the inspector of the infantry while serving as the artillery inspector, and he actually has great power.

Soloviev simply wants to learn from his master, Marshal Suvorov, who died almost six years ago, to comment on Arakcheev.

For example, "Arakcheev understands the duties of the Minister of War, but this duty does not understand him."

It can't be said, after all, Suvorov, who was still the commander of the army at the time, mocked Kamensky so much, which resulted in the breakdown of the friendship between the two comrades-in-arms. They have been enemies for a long time until Suvorov promoted his youngest son to reconcile.

It is easy to make enemies but difficult to resolve them. When speaking in Petersburg, he did not have the prestige of the Grand Marshal. Although he could learn from his abstract speech, he could not offend anyone.

Therefore, he said nothing and just waited for Arakcheev to announce: ". According to your majesty's request, the Moldavia Corps will increase its troops to 50,000. In addition, it will provide support to the Serbian resistance instead of the verbal warnings to the Turks in the past."

"Yes, your majesty, we should provide help at this time."

The first speaker was General Apraksin, who came to Petersburg from Smolensk. As the son of the late Marshal Apraksin, he had the highest status among the military governors and commanders present.

Of course, he would not be sent to the southern battlefield, and at this time he could also say some polite words to show his support for Alexander.

Konstantin wanted to speak, but Solovyov pulled his sleeve and signaled him to listen to what others said.

If he, as the "co-ruling Tsar", spoke to the Crown Prince too early, those fence-sitters would lean to one side too early.

It was appropriate for Apraksin to fire the first shot, and then several generals also expressed their opinions.

At this time, Alexander also found that his impatient second brother had not spoken today, so he turned around and faced Constantine.

"Constantine, as the commander-in-chief of the Guards, you should also express your opinions. In the past, when we met here, you always expressed your opinions first."

"I think according to the request of the Serbs, we can first send them a delegation to reach a diplomatic agreement. As for military support, our Danube Corps has limited manpower, and its main purpose is to protect Wallachia. The Serbian resistance army still has to rely on themselves on the battlefield. Therefore, I think we should provide material support, and ask the Danube and Moldavian Corps to train their troops."

Alexander was not surprised. Since the Battle of Austerlitz, Constantine has become much more stable, and the opinions he put forward are like the time when he suffered a loss at the side of the Grand Marshal, and he can often come up with some reasonable and good suggestions on a whim.

"So, what should we do?"

"Brother, the General Staff is collecting intelligence and will soon formulate an aid plan or a combat plan."

The ball was kicked to Alexander. His current plan was very clear. The Danube front was still a secondary battlefield, and the main force had to stay to deal with the French.

But the battle with the Ottoman Empire and the Persian Qajar Dynasty would also involve a lot of troops. It was already very hard to maintain more than 80,000 people on the two battlefields of the Caucasus and the Danube.

Although Alexander wanted to recruit more than 10,000 Cossacks to join the Danube battlefield, the current realistic threat did not allow too many troops to be invested in the Danube direction.

It seemed feasible to support Serbia, which brought its own dry food.

He did not make up his mind at this time, but waited for further reports from Michelson and Miloradovic, as well as the delegation sent by Serbia, to present it to him.

So he turned to his confidant Peter Volkonsky.

"Volkonsky, you are now in charge of the Operations Department. You need to formulate plans in two directions. One is that we will send a large number of troops to Serbia and increase support; the other is that we will only provide material support to the Serbian resistance army and transform their army when only a small number of troops are sent or no reinforcements are sent."

After Alexander told Volkonsky this, Soloviev remembered something, that is, the armed uprisings of peasants, herdsmen or tribesmen are similar and will make the same mistakes. Most of the troops can only be dispatched during the slack season.

The reason why Serbia was founded so late is that its own combat effectiveness is not bad, but it often cannot concentrate its strength. Without external support, it is easy to be defeated by the Ottoman Empire. Therefore, it was not until the second Serbian uprising that it became a semi-independent vassal state.

In short, it is still necessary to strengthen training and find ways to strengthen the Serbian army.