Chapter 666 Russian Counterattack
The Prussian army's intention to open the situation in the southwest did not affect the strategic layout of the tsarist government. Marshal Ivanov continued the previous strategy.
For a war with millions of participants, the gains and losses on local battlefields are no longer so important.
As long as the southwestern front does not collapse completely, it is within the allowable range of the tsarist government, and now they have a more important target - Smolensk.
No matter how well-prepared the Prussian army was, war was always going to kill people.
Smolensk has become a meat grinder, with thousands of people falling down every day. The brutal casualties are a difficult test for both the Russian army and the Prussian army.
One month after the start of the war, in order to compete for Smolensk, the number of casualties of the Russian army has exceeded 100,000; the Prussian army as the defender did not take much advantage, and the number of casualties was as high as 70,000.
Half of them were killed or disabled and left the battlefield permanently. It can be said that both Prussia and Russia suffered heavy losses.
The cold numbers on the battle report did not shake Marshal Ivanov's will, but instead strengthened his previous judgment.
The war of attrition is the cruelest, but also the safest. According to the current situation, the first one who can't hold on will definitely not be Russia.
Marshal Ivanov can accept it, but it does not mean that others can also accept it. The heavy casualties still caused doubts within the tsarist government.
The Hermitage, at a high-level government meeting
The Minister of the Interior Mikhail took the lead: "Your Excellency Marshal, it has only been more than a month since the war started, and we have paid hundreds of thousands of casualties, and the front has hardly moved forward. Shouldn't you explain it?"
Ivanov said unmoved: "Your Excellency, to be precise, we have lost 65,863 people and wounded 97,684 people since the start of the war.
Oh, this is the data collected two days ago, and now this number should have increased a lot. The total number of casualties exceeded the 200,000 mark this month without any problems.
However, you can't just see our losses, and the enemy's losses are not small. Judging from the statistical data, the death toll of the Prussian army also approached 60,000. "
The "Victory of Kamen", which is full of water, contributed a quarter to this figure, directly narrowing the exchange ratio between Prussia and Russia.
Chancellor of the Exchequer Christan Wahl: "Your Excellency Marshal, no one is denying your record. The problem is that our losses are too great, and the war has only started for more than a month!"
Ivanov sneered: "Where there are undead in the war, as long as the victory can be won, any sacrifice is worthwhile.
Of course, it is not impossible to end this war as soon as possible, but the damage to our international reputation will be very great. "
At this time, I was still thinking about fighting for power and profit. Ivanov hated these politicians and did not save face for them at all.
Whether it is really dissatisfied, or just to show the tsar, this question must be seen by the benevolent and the wise.
Chancellor of the Exchequer Christan Wahl asked excitedly: "What way, as long as we can fight this war, we can slowly restore our international reputation."
It's not that Kristenvall doesn't pay attention to international reputation, it's just that their international reputation is originally the bottom of Europe.
Everyone turned their attention to Ivanov, looking forward to his answer.
After a pause, Ivanov pretended to be relaxed and said, "It's very simple. You can follow the example of Tartu. Send troops to the enemy's territory to destroy them and minimize their war potential."
Everyone sucked in a breath of cold air. Where is the destruction, it is clearly a massacre.
Foreign Secretary Chris Basham hurriedly objected: "No, doing this will provide Britain and France with an excuse to interfere in this war, and I am afraid that even Austria will not support us."
It is now the nineteenth century, and it is no longer appropriate to play Holocaust on the European continent.
Through the eyes of everyone, Ivanov knew that no one supported the plan. It's not that everyone doesn't want to, it's mainly that they don't dare. Russia can't bear the consequences of the massacre.
Ivanov: "If this is the case, then we can only moderate it a little bit, just do damage and not kill."
When he said this, Ivanov himself did not believe it. Only doing damage and not killing people is completely idealistic.
In the actual operation process, the enemy will definitely resist, how is it possible not to kill people after a conflict? Killing red eyes on the battlefield, with the military discipline of the Russian army, it is simply unbearable.
Moreover, Ivanov was going to send Cossack cavalry to carry out this plan, and the situation was even more uncontrollable.
Alexander II shook his head: "It is impossible not to kill people, but to selectively kill them. The young and young who have eliminated the enemy will leave the old and weak, and it will be enough to give an explanation to the international community.
Talk about your plan. The enemy is not a fool. It is not so easy to go deep into the enemy alone. If you are bitten by the enemy, you will be in big trouble. "
The famous Alexander II didn't care for a long time. Since he was already an enemy, he naturally wanted to weaken it as much as possible. He wouldn't mind a massacre if it weren't for the reaction of European nations.
Ivanov: "Your Majesty, this plan is a combination of land and sea. On land, the Sax cavalry dressed as robbers crossed the border to destroy it.
The sea attack is the same as the last war, but this time we have a special mission. In order to avoid unnecessary trouble, some troops may need to pretend to be pirates.
We can issue privateer licenses and encourage civilian armed forces to participate in the looting of enemy coastal areas, and if we can attract real pirates to participate, all the better.
Taking into account the position of the Vienna government, the hostages taken by the pirates could be sold to Austrian colonial traders. "
Ci does not control the army, in order to win the war, Ivanov has given up his integrity.
After weighing the pros and cons, the room fell silent. There is neither support nor opposition. Obviously everyone is the elite of the bureaucracy, and they are reluctant to take responsibility for things.
Alexander II glared at everyone: "Why are you dumb? Whether you support or oppose, you must have a clear attitude today."
After a pause, he added: "If you object, then come up with a better plan. The situation on the battlefield is in crisis, and there is not so much time for you to waste."
Forced to do so, Minister of Finance Christan Wahl stood up: "Your Majesty, Marshal Ivanov's proposal is very good, but some details need to be improved.
It is not easy to penetrate deep into the enemy's territory. If you are not careful, the entire army will be wiped out. How can we ensure the safety of the dispatched troops? "
agreed. No way, Kristenvall is not good at fighting, and asking him to come up with a combat plan is completely embarrassing.
Ivanov said confidently: "This is very simple, on the frontal battlefield, we have already contained the main force of the Prussian army, and the enemy in the rear will not be too strong.
Moreover, there is also airship reconnaissance, which can grasp the mobilization of the enemy's large forces and make timely adjustments.
Troops attacking by land and sea, as long as they do not go too deep into the inland area, can completely withdraw before the enemy arrives. We're just sabotaging, we don't need to occupy places.
The land is mainly Cossack cavalry, coming and going like the wind, only the Polish cavalry can threaten them, but their number is too small.
Because of logistics, we will control the scope of activities and will not be far from the main force. "
This is all theoretical. In actual combat, it is definitely not as simple as Ivanov said. If nothing else, as long as the Prussian army moves at night, the airship will not be able to detect it.
Even if the mobilization of the Prussian army was discovered, the high-altitude reconnaissance could not distinguish the main force from the cannon fodder. If the Prussian army is willing, it is entirely possible to dress civilians in military uniforms and pretend to be the army.
Naturally, Marshal Ivanov wouldn't say these questions, or else he'd be a fool again. He has absolutely no expectations for the military level of his colleagues.
...
The resolution passed, and Ivanov breathed a sigh of relief. Once this plan is launched, blood will flow and the reputation of the Russian Empire will once again hit rock bottom.
No matter how beautified, this will be a black history.