Chapter 191: Russian counterattack

St. Petersburg
Suddenly receiving the declaration of war from the Kingdom of Sardinia, the angry tsarist government exploded. Even if the British and French Ottoman empires are all powerful nations in the world, what is the Kingdom of Sardinia?
I really think that Russia is declining. What kind of cats and dogs can come to do things? Angry and angry, because the distance is too far, Russia can't help Sardinia.
Nicholas I gave a cold drink: "Huh!"
"Order the frontline troops, and give me a good greeting to the Sardinians and let them know that the Russian Empire cannot be humiliated!"
"Yes, Your Majesty," the Secretary of the Army replied quickly.
No one could think of the order of Nicholas I under the anger, and it became the key to breaking the Russian army in the future and won a great victory.
On July 18, 1852, the Russian army launched an attack in the Caucasus, and the Turkish army retreated. Restricted by terrain, the Russian army won many battles, but unfortunately the front was advancing very slowly.
The Ottoman Empire also had smart people, knowing that the favorable terrain of the Caucasus could not be abandoned, they hoarded a large number of troops here, the frontline troops collapsed, and immediately sent new troops to the top.
The two sides launched a fierce assault, but it was unacceptable. After paying the bitter price, in August the Russian army was forced to stop the attack.
The casualties were too great. The number of casualties in fighting for more than half a month exceeded 70,000, with an average of more than 5,000 casualties per day. Victory is far behind, and the Russians cannot stand it.
If you want to increase troops, you are limited by the terrain. Logistics supply is a problem. The ability to concentrate 200,000 troops is the result of hoarding strategic materials in advance.
Weapons and ammunition were consumed almost half a month after the attack, that is, the backwardness of the Russian army ’s weapons and equipment can ensure the basic logistical supply. If the British, French, and Austrian troops are replaced, the logistics pressure will increase by a quarter.
The Caucasus couldn't break through, and the Russians once again set their sights on the Balkan Peninsula. After so long repairs, the Russian army has resumed its combat effectiveness and its total strength has increased to 480,000.
The coalition side has more troops, with 170,000 in the French, 20,000 in the British, and 540,000 in the Ottoman Army. The Sardinian army has not yet arrived, with a total strength of 730,000.
However, the Russians were not too disadvantaged. The Bulgarians formed 50,000 troops. Austria helped to hold 70,000 to 80,000 Ottoman troops. The Principality of Montenegro also mobilized 20,000 troops. In addition, the Greeks who prepared the knife behind them also organized 70,000. army.
In general, the combat effectiveness of the two sides is almost equal, and the key to determining the victory lies in the battle between the commanders of the two sides.
"Are the supplies in place?" Asked Menshkov.
The last Bulgarian battle failed to expand the results. In addition to the sudden appearance of the French army that broke their plans, there was also a logistical failure to keep up.
The Russian army's estimation of ammunition consumption on the battlefield was wrong in advance, and after ignoring the replacement of troops, the ammunition consumption of weapons will also increase significantly.
The Russians were outdated in weapons and equipment, and Franz, an ally, naturally would not sit idly by. As soon as the Near East War broke out, Austria sold a large number of new weapons and equipment to the Russians.
The Russians did not have the financial resources to replace a large area, but they still purchased a batch of weapons and equipment for the main force, about three infantry divisions replaced with Austrian weapons, and purchased more than 300 artillery to increase firepower.
Facts have proved that these weapons and equipment are still worth the price. After the replacement, the combat effectiveness of the Russian army improved a lot. These main divisions were the earliest troops to tear open the Ottoman army's defense line.
The fight on the battlefield was smooth, and the ammunition consumption naturally increased. Take the additional three hundred cannons as an example. It only takes one round of salvo and one ton of ammunition is gone.
Expensive is a logistical problem. In contrast to Russian equipment that is frequently problematic, officers suddenly fell in love with Austrian equipment and asked for replacement equipment.
If it is a peaceful era and large-scale purchases of Austrian weapons and equipment, interest groups engaged in weapons production will definitely fight against it.
The period of war is different. Nikola I could not tolerate someone at this time who had to pay so much for this war. He strongly passed the military dress up request.
In the months of repairs, the Russians have not been idle, and they have gradually replaced some army equipment. Up to now, one third of the 480,000 Russian army have been using Austrian equipment.
The main forces have evened the gap with Britain and France in weapons and equipment, and even if there is a lack of training, relying on the fighting will of the fighting nations can make up two or three points.
As in the previous case, the main force of 90,000 Russian troops could not hold 50,000 French troops in the field. Now it is very difficult to happen.
"It's all in place, and some materials have even exceeded our previous plan, which is enough to support our army for three months." The quartermaster replied.
Menshkov nodded with satisfaction, but he had enough confidence in the war. In the last Bulgarian battle, the main force of the Ottoman army had been hit hard.
Even if the number of troops is not declining, the combat effectiveness still inevitably falls. The combat effectiveness of recruits and veterans is completely different, and the gap between elite and cannon fodder is even more disparate.
Menshkov said confidently: "Very well, as long as the logistics are in place, we have won half of this war.
Our domestic combat plan has been approved, and there are still 300,000 troops in the Ukraine, which can always supplement our consumption on the battlefield.
The Ottomans were not worried. The Kingdom of Sardinia was only brought up by the British. Our main enemy was British and French.
The strategic goal of this battle is to annihilate the main force of Britain and France on the Balkans, advance the front to Edirne, and lay the foundation for the conquest of Constantinople.
For the ultimate victory, we must tear down the enemy ’s defense line and encircle the British-French coalition forces in the shortest possible time regardless of the cost of the war.
Only by hurting them can we win this war. "
Russia's military system is a bit chaotic, and the Tsarist government employs casually. Menshkov was originally from the Army, served as a diplomat in Vienna, participated in the Anti-French War, the Eighth Russian-Turkish War, and served as a Tsar's servant.
After retiring from the army, he entered the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Then he entered the Navy and served as Commander of the Black Sea Fleet, Chief of Staff of the Navy Command, and Minister of the Navy. He is now an admiral.
Being able to leap from the army to the navy and becoming an admiral, some people may think that his naval talent is so extraordinary that he has made an extraordinary promotion. In fact, on the contrary, he went to chaos.
The direct consequence of Menshekov's entry into the navy was to delay the technical advancement and combat training of the Russian navy, and apply the army's training model to the navy, which can be regarded as a gravedigger of the Russian navy.
At this time, he, the admiral, was sent to command hundreds of thousands of army operations, and as the commander-in-chief of the expeditionary forces in the Balkans, naturally he would not be convinced.
Although he was from the Army, but after leaving the Army for more than ten or twenty years, his professional capabilities inevitably deteriorated, which is not convincing.
It is more appropriate to say that he is a soldier now that he is a politician. The Tsarist government's employment mechanism cast a shadow over this forthcoming war.
Russian Chief of Staff Fitzroy Summers objected: "His Commander, Persimmon is looking for a soft grip. To win this war, the easiest breakthrough is obviously in the Ottomans.
What we have to do now is to look for opportunities to destroy the Ottoman army, and then come to the hard bones of Yingying and France.
Without the Ottoman army as a vassal, less than 200,000 troops in Britain and France, we can easily kill them. "
Menshkov explained with certainty: "If we focus on attacking the Ottomans, the British and French forces will slip away when we see that the momentum is not right, and we simply cannot afford to keep them at the same time.
If Britain and France cannot be hurt, even if we occupy Constantinople, this war will continue.
They can continue to send troops to the Balkans by sea, and this will become a distant future.
From the outbreak of the war to the present, we have paid at least 130 million rubles of military expenditure. If we add the preparatory preparations for the war, our military expenditure has exceeded 200 million rubles. This is the fiscal revenue of the Russian Empire for one year.
If the war continues for a long time, our finances will be unsustainable. In terms of financial resources, we cannot fight English and French, even if we add Austrians. "
Struggling for money, the British are invincible in this era. Even if they only look at the financial revenue, they are all riding on the dust. France, Russia, and the Qing Dynasty, who are in the second echelon, can't keep up with the horses. Everyone has only the sixth and seventh floors of the British.
This gap can only catch up slowly after countries complete the industrial revolution.
"But Commander-in-Chief, we do not have an advantage now. The result of the war is likely to be defeated and fail to achieve the ultimate goal." Fitzroy Summers frowned.
Menshkov shook his head and said, "Both defeats must also be fought. In any case, we must fight English and French, and force them to withdraw from the war.
If we fight step by step, are we going to fight this war for one, two, or ten or eight years?
It is not the same as before. We could fight the Ottoman Empire for more than ten years in a war. But is it possible now?
The high cost of war has told us that quick battle is the best choice. If it is delayed, the price we pay will only be more severe. "
The soldiers look at the problem, but it is enough to start from the military. When politicians look at issues, they are more politically considered.
Myshkov has been excessive to politicians. He can care less about the losses of the Russian army, but he cannot accept that the war will continue.
It is clear to the Russian government that the longer the war lasts, the worse it is for them. In the later stages, it can only be seen who can afford it more.
In order to avoid this, the best way is to use the brutal casualties on the battlefield to scare Britain and France and force them to make concessions.
In the history of the Crimean War, the British intervened in European affairs and converged a lot. They avoided themselves as much as possible and laid the foundation for the Prussian united German region.
It can be said that the Crimean War helped the Germans. After the war, internal contradictions broke out in Russia, and reforms must be carried out. They did not come out for more than a decade. The two victors in Britain and France were also reluctant to interfere in the unification war initiated by Prussia.
With a unified understanding, the Russian army began to prepare. Fortunately, information transmission was inconvenient in this era. Although cable telegraphs appeared, they are only available in large cities, and the Balkan Peninsula has not yet become popular.
Otherwise, as the Russians do now, their actions have not begun, and the enemy is ready to receive the news.
...
Wars need to be compared. The Russians command chaos, which is better than the British, French, and Ottoman forces, but they go three ways.
Britain and France did not budge from each other. The Ottoman Empire could only be neutral. They were afraid that it would not be possible for Britain and France to withdraw. Then they were finished.
In history, Emmaboule Jean-Jacques Perlisier served as the commander of the coalition forces, barely able to command coalition operations, and now Emmaboule Jean-Jacques Perlisier is only one of the three commanders.
The sequela is that when coordinated operations are required, everyone must report to the coalition headquarters and only after the three commanders have reached an agreement can they proceed.
The Russian army was preparing to launch an attack, but the coalition side knew nothing. The Ottoman Empire did not attach importance to intelligence work. All intelligence sources were provided by the Chinese people.
Under the bureaucracy, many of these intelligences have not been verified and are directly used. It is a pity that the Russians also do not attach importance to intelligence work. Otherwise, passing some false news in the past will cause the coalition to suffer a great deal.
Both Britain and France passed Jiang Long and did not have the ability to collect information. Their bureaucracy should not be underestimated, and they directly believed that the Ottoman Empire would solve this problem.
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