Solovyov in Tsarist Russia 1796

Since they are so unfavorable to the Prussians, the Russian army, with the Minister of War and the General Staff as the core, is now mobilizing supplies.

The road from the Baltic Sea coast to East Prussia has begun to be repaired during the hottest time of the year to ensure that the Russian army can pass through here smoothly.

At the same time, it is also necessary to ensure the supply of materials and military stations along the way. Van Suchteren also serves as the director of military supplies, so naturally he is strictly guarded against this aspect.

The Russian army's previous military supplies in Austria relied on Austrian support. However, they did not prepare a mule in Italy. By the time of the Third Anti-French Alliance, they were often short of supplies. This problem has always been the same when fighting abroad.

In Prussia, the Russian army is obviously not optimistic about it. In Prussia, the road traffic is acceptable, and there are some hospitals in the cities along the way from East Prussia to Berlin that can be used to accommodate the wounded and sick. The situation in other aspects is still dire. People are worried.

Therefore, the supply lines established in Russia have become the focus.

It is Arakcheev who is now in charge of these affairs. He has actually taken over the responsibilities of the Minister of War and has begun to mobilize soldiers and materials in the rear, while the General Staff is organizing frontline troops.

Next, there is another important task, which is to choose the commander of the Russian army.

In the Fourth Anti-French Alliance, the initial commander-in-chief of the Russian army was Marshal Kamensky, and the chief of staff was General Bennigsen. However, now Bennigsen became the regicide, although he was not present at the scene and was arrested. Forgive, but it has never been used on the main front, so it was sent to the Caucasus.

As for Kamensky, in fact, the last marshal in the Ekaterina era, he knew that his body was not adapted to such high-intensity combat, and his mind was probably unable to keep up.

But among the marshals in the Ekaterina era, he was the only one with enough qualifications to go into battle. You can't let a marshal rely on his position to become the commander-in-chief when he has no command ability and can't control his subordinates, right?

"What is Arakcheyev doing?"

After seeing this proposal, the young chief and deputy ministers of the Department of Operations unanimously expressed high suspicion.

When Suvorov was still there, Kamensky had already stopped leading troops for a long time because he offended Potemkin. Although he was in good physical condition, did Solovyov know that the generalissimo was still there? At that time, being able to command battles at high intensity in Italy was extremely harmful to health, otherwise the old man would not have been taken away by a cold.

As for Marshal Kamensky, although his physical condition is not bad among the elderly, it is very difficult for him to go to the front line to command the battle, even if he is a sitting coach.

However, in order to coordinate the German commanders stationed along the Baltic coast, Kamensky had to be sent out, which was able to suppress them.

"This choice is probably to make the incompetent Bookholder obey orders, and by the way, it also allows the German officers to cause less trouble."

After hearing what Volkonsky said, Solovyov could only shake his head and smile bitterly. He continued: "I have read Langeron's notes. He praised Alexander Vasilyevich highly, but Mi Khail Fyodorovich Sometimes I shouldn’t evaluate the commanders of different factions, as this is detrimental to the relationship within the army.”

Volkonsky saw that Solovyov had swallowed back what he wanted to say, but he actually knew it.

In the Queen's era, Kamensky was second only to Rumyantsev and Suvorov. He was a strict and cruel man. His two sons were also famous for their strict military management and their bravery in fighting without their lives. .

"So what?"

"It doesn't matter. If the old marshal really takes action, he must be assigned a suitable chief of staff, otherwise we will be in trouble."

However, in the Russian army, the staff business has never been very good, so that there is always a lack of talents for the positions of chief of staff or director of munitions.

Solovyov was embarrassed to find that although he always wanted to be the commander of the army, he embarrassingly became one of the more outstanding people in the staff business. He was really the best among the poor.

The ones ahead of him were probably Van Suchteren and Peter Volkonsky, but each of them had to manage two headquarters, and the other was Alexander's trusted military adviser.

If he went to the front line, his rank and qualifications would not be able to influence anyone. If he were to find a chief of staff for Kamensky, he would probably have to go to Prussia to poach someone.

If Solovyov knew the current status of Lao Sha and Ge Shen, he would probably smile awkwardly.

Gneisenau's current status is probably not as good as that of Clausewitz who followed the prince. He is not even a colonel at his age, and there are a group of senior officials above Scharnhorst. There are still many difficulties in the road to promotion. of.

But the staff will definitely have to be set up by then. Before Solovyov opened his mouth, Volkonsky said: "Misha, it looks like I want you to go there."

"I only served as the temporary chief of staff for a short period of time. I was able to help others. But if you really want me to dispatch troops, with this rank, I don't think it will work."

"I know that my uncle will find a way to recommend you to be a general, but it is unlikely that you will be the chief of staff. You may be the chief of the operations department, responsible for formulating combat plans and assisting in the dispatch of troops."

"Trouble, it's really troublesome."

Solovyov thought about it and realized that he was relatively motivated, but now he was almost in a hurry.

Even the selection of the commander-in-chief would have to be decided after fierce debate among the Petersburg gentlemen.

As for the following departments that are mainly responsible, they all have to suffer now.

After returning home, Solovyov wanted to relax himself and prepare to take a bath.

But now the family's servants have been sent to their new home on the causeway, and the stepmother is due to give birth in a few days. Including Adela, who has always been looking after the house in Laundry Lane. Now besides the uncle who is the doorkeeper, he is the only one in the house. He has to boil the bath water himself. He is really the most self-reliant Russian aristocratic master.

Speaking of which, Baron Sergei is really getting stronger with age, and he will be able to add more children as he gets older.

And he is about to marry a wife, little Katya. This girl seems to be a girl who knows how to run a house and knows the rules, and her family status is much higher than hers. If it weren't for the military achievements, Prince Vasily would be more optimistic about her. , it is also difficult for such a smooth secret engagement.

Of course, he also knew that if Prussia fought with France this time, something would inevitably happen.

"I don't know what Alexander can do when he goes to Berlin to negotiate with the cruel King of Prussia. Don't let this fool come up and destroy the army."

While saying this, the uncle guarding the door came in to report.

"Master, there is a visit from Prince Bolkonsky."

"Is it Andre?"

"Yes, Master."

I really didn’t expect that Andrei would come from Smolensk at this time, but now that he has transferred to the reserve, it is impossible to ask the old prince to come forward. The old man’s physical condition is not very good, but his energy and mind are better. Better.

"Go and invite him quickly."

The bath water cannot be boiled, so I'm afraid I have to go to the bathhouse. There is a public bathhouse not far outside Xixi Alley, but this place is considered "public", and only the master often goes there to take a bath.

When Andre came in, he was wearing a top hat and did not wear a cumbersome coat in the summer. He walked in with a smile on his face. Solovyov just hugged his friend, and then they sat down to talk.

"Andre, you looked fine. We all thought you were dead."

"It's always good luck. Fyodor didn't have that luck."

"It's good to be alive now. How is Nikolai Nikolayevich? Lisa must be fine too, but I heard that your son is very weak?"

"That's true, but the doctor also said that after the child is born, as long as a clean environment is ensured, the child will always be able to grow up if it is not too weak."

"I hope so. I am already engaged, a little later than Pierre, but I can only adopt a secret engagement method to protect the girl. If something happens to me during this year, she will still be there." You are free and you don’t have to worry about me.”

"Well, if you continue like this, you will become a bad lyric poet, just like Davydov."

"Ha, Davydov! That big mouth, he really dares to say anything. I don't know how he is doing in the Hussars recently."

"It should be good. Although he likes to cause trouble, only a pen can cause big trouble."

Solovyov also knew that in the circle of adjutants, Davydov was very popular, and his writing skills were not bad. He was a cavalry poet, and he could also mount a horse and kill people.

However, what he writes is always contraband, and he may lead children astray in the future - this refers to Pushkin.

"You are such a person, you talk like a barrage of words and don't give me any time to think."

"No way, this is just a habit."

"I came to Petersburg to take care of some personal matters. Also, if you need help with anything?"

"There should be none now, but there will always be in the future. Mikhail Ilarionovich recently left the court, but the emperor always needs him. But another problem is that now the commander-in-chief and chief of staff The emperor is still in Berlin, and when he comes back to make a decision, some people say it is Kamensky, while others recommend Tolmazov, or even the governor of Smolensk, Apu. General Laxin, but these people are not suitable."

"When you are in Petersburg, your talkativeness and sharp tongue are becoming more and more like the locals."

"There is no way. The Minister of War is Sergey Kuzmich, but now it is Arakcheev who is in charge and doing things. I can't comment on him, lest he cause trouble, and I can't spread the word."

It would be a bad thing if Arakcheev takes power in the Ministry of War. In fact, Russia needs a good minister of war, and there will always be someone in this position in the future.

However, people often step down from this position due to misappropriation of military funds. Like Sergey Kuzmich, it is probably a miracle that he has been working for so long.

Whether there will be one in the future is another matter.

For these two young colonels, there were some things they couldn't say much even at home.

"Let's go to the public bathroom. Although it's not a Turkish bath, the conditions are not bad. Otherwise, I might still be a 'master' who boils water by myself. To be honest, I still make people feel comfortable on the front line, or on the girl's side. on their bed.”

"You guy, you are still like this even though you are engaged to that French woman."

"I am different from you. Your family tradition is different from other descendants of Rurik. As a descendant of a small country noble like me, I can live a freer life."

Andre looked at this guy and was a little speechless, but he was not a meaningless errand boy, so the relationship between the two was pretty good.

As for taking a bath, it was also to relax. It was too hard in the past period of time. I had to work all day long. Even if I went on a blind date, I couldn't rest. I had to continue working after I came back.

At this time, even in the bathhouse, some generals came here and did not forget to discuss in the bathroom.

But no matter who came, it was easy to discuss the issue of the commander-in-chief.

Even if Petersburg was always far away from the war, they would still discuss it like this, especially among the masters.

"Damn it, these people really like to talk about it, it's just that the fog is lingering here."

"It seems that this is a hot topic."

"Where do you live now? Pierre also has a mansion in St. Petersburg. If he lives in my house, the guest room is still a little small. Others say that my guest room can only be used by housekeepers and servants."

"Of course I still have a place to live, and I will return to Smolensk in just a few days here. You know, there are many things to do, both official and private. In a few days, I will go from Smolensk to Moscow and Tula."

"I really envy you, you can live in the manor, while my family's land is only The frame of the house is completed."

"If it is a new house, you should also try to get a kitten in it."

"I understand, this is a traditional custom. If there is a chance, I will invite you and Lisa to go. And Pierre, he is now separated from his wife, we can arrange for him to relax."

"I am afraid you don't have the time, Misha. You never have time to relax, and you are always accompanied by work wherever you go."

"Maybe it will be better after marriage, or there will be no war in Europe, and people will always have to take a breath. Napoleon always has trouble with those Germans, he is not a lazy man, now we must go to the front line."