Chapter 877 Mutual Calculation (Two in One)

The sun swayed to the ground, reflecting the white snow, emitting a golden light.

The snow all over the ground, the frozen Neva River, swears that when winter comes, St. Petersburg is more worthy of snow.

When encountering such good weather in the past, Alexander III would definitely take his family out to bathe in the sunshine in winter.

At this moment, the senior officials of the tsarist government in the Gatchina Palace gathered together and were discussing the next national policy.

Foreign Secretary Oscar Jiménez: "Last night, the French Minister revealed at the banquet that the French government is preparing to increase its assistance to us.

As soon as the troops on the front line conquer Herat, or the Wakhan Corridor, underwrite war bonds of a billion francs for us.

The intention of the French is very obvious, that is, to weaken the British by our hand, and the Anglo-French alliance can be said to exist in name only.

Before that, the Austrian government also showed a similar meaning, but the French were more anxious.

The British usually do too many bad things, and now the whole world is full of their enemies. The current international situation is very favorable to us, and the next step is to look at the military. "

Turning an enemy into an ally can be considered a miracle in the history of diplomacy. However, considering the complex relationship between Britain and France, it is normal for this to happen.

Britain and France are a feud, and there is absolutely no reason to pit the British; if the French government wholeheartedly helps the British, then there is a real problem.

Army Minister Ivanov: "The front line is progressing very smoothly. We have advanced the front line to Herat, the important city in western Afghanistan, and Kunduz, the transportation hub in the east.

Breakthrough at any point, and we will take the initiative in the war. Judging from the current situation, the success rate of capturing Herat or the Wakhan Corridor before the arrival of the British reinforcements is still very high.

The only problem that tests us now is logistics, which is getting slower and slower as the front moves forward.

If this situation does not change, it will not be long before the troops on the front line will stop and wait for supplies. "

Anyone can take the blame, not to mention what Ivanov said is true.

The smooth progress of the Russian army in the early stage was based on the availability of sufficient materials. As the materials reserved before the outbreak of the war were exhausted, they must now rely on the rear for transportation.

Hearing the lack of logistical supplies, Alexander III's face suddenly turned ugly, and he turned his murderous gaze to Argent, the Minister of Logistics, as if to say: You'd better give me a reasonable explanation, otherwise...

Argent, who had been prepared for a long time, explained calmly: "It is not our responsibility that the logistics materials are not available.

The section of the road in Central Asia was not very smooth, and guerrillas often carried out sabotage, which seriously affected the progress of logistics and transportation.

There are also front-line troops who are mobilized from time to time, and many times they have not notified the logistics department in advance. The people below often have to go the wrong way. How can they not be slow? "

Ivanov sneered: "If your logistics department can't do it, leave the material transportation to our army department, don't make so many bad excuses.

Guerrilla attack?

The military has cleared the surrounding resistance organizations, and also sent heavy troops to protect the safety of the transport team along the way.

Since the start of the war, the convoy has been attacked seventeen times by the guerrillas, with a maximum number of no more than 500 people, and nine of these incidents were initiated by you.

In order to reduce conflicts, we even relocated the aborigines around 30 kilometers, and you can all go the wrong way.

As for not informing you in time, that's bullshit.

The large-scale material mobilization of the Logistics Department requires your approval in St. Petersburg. The person in charge of the front line only has the right to mobilize materials below the division level.

The situation on the battlefield is ever-changing. Our front-line generals don’t know what will happen next. They need to adapt accordingly. How can we notify in advance? "

The conflict between the military and the logistics department is actually an extension of the conflict between the military and the government bureaucrats. In the final analysis, it is a battle for the right to speak.

Logistics is the government's best way to control the military. In the eyes of government bureaucrats, it is not worth mentioning sacrificing a little efficiency in order to limit the military's expansion.

Especially after the invention of the telegraph and the speed of information transmission, many European countries have strengthened the control of logistics materials.

Not to mention this era, even during World War II, the logistics systems of various countries were still in chaos.

It's not that everyone doesn't know how to solve it. The problem is that once the government hands over logistics to the military, it loses its checks and balances on the military, and it is easy for the military to expand.

Although there are problems with everyone's logistics system, this is the era of rottenness. As long as others are a little better, it will be a success.

Argent replied calmly: "Your Excellency Marshal, professional things should be left to professional people.

With all due respect, if you let your military manage the logistics, the situation will only be worse than it is now.

Don't forget that in addition to distributing materials, the logistics department is more important to raise materials. There are many problems involved.

As for the problem of untimely deployment, our logistics department is already trying to solve it, and the situation will improve after a while. "

It is absolutely impossible to hand over the right to allocate logistics materials. Without this part of the power, the logistics department will really be a nurse, or the kind without wages.

In addition to the loss of power, the more important thing is the loss of vital interests. The positions of the logistics department are all fat and poor. Only by controlling the procurement and distribution of materials at the same time can everyone make a fortune from it.

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In order to dispel the idea of ​​the military, Argent did not hesitate to make direct threats. It was clearly told to Marshal Ivanov that without the cooperation of the logistics department, the military would not be able to raise materials at all.

The struggle of his subordinates, Alexander III pretended not to see.

There was a conflict between those in charge of troops and horses and those in charge of grain and grass, and that was what he was happy to see; if the two were as close as brothers, Alexander III would really not be able to sleep.

Seeing that the atmosphere was not right, Finance Minister Alisher persuaded: "Okay, you two, the logistics department will strengthen the power of front-line deployment officials and be directly responsible to Admiral Okinets to ensure the timely deployment of front-line supplies.

In addition, the speed of domestic material transportation is increased. If the quantity is not enough, it will be purchased from Austria. Anyway, we must do our best to ensure the needs of the front-line troops. "

The face of the sponsor cannot but be given, whether it is the logistics department or the military, it must rely on the funding of the Ministry of Finance.

In this context, the Chancellor of the Exchequer also acts as a lubricant for coordinating conflicts between various departments. Although it does not have the name of the prime minister, it actually exercises some of the powers of the prime minister.

Marshal Ivanov did not imagine that he really got the logistical rights. What the military did not get during the Russian-Prussian War is even more impossible now.

As long as the front-line commander can have the right to temporarily deploy front-line materials and ensure the supply of materials for the troops, he is satisfied.

Marshal Ivanov accepted it, and Argent couldn't find an excuse to refuse, so he could only bite the bullet and accept it.

The disposition of supplies was chaotic, and it was not that he deliberately held back the military. The root cause of this happening is the insufficient supply of materials.

This involves deep-seated reasons. There are too many interest groups involved, and Argent can only choose to cover up.

In the case of insufficient materials, it is inevitable to tear down the east wall to make up for the west wall. In many cases, the distribution of materials is wrong, that is, the front-line bureaucrats are forced to do nothing, and they delay the time under the excuse of wrong distribution.

Anyway, the procedure for exchanging materials is very complicated, and the time will pass once and for all.

The supplies that were supposed to be three months were likely to be fooled after two months of distribution, and the remaining month was saved.

No, it should be said to be owed. When it can be cashed, it depends on the specific situation. Anyway, as long as you don't play too much, there will be no major chaos.

What to do with the Russian army on the front line with insufficient supplies?

This problem, the ancestors have long thought of a solution, just send troops out to grab it, anyway, this is the tradition of the Russian army.

Of course, this is also risky. During the original World War I, because the war lasted too long, the Russian army could not find a place to grab supplies. This routine collapsed and directly buried the Russian Empire.

After the episode, Alexander III laughed: "The situation is more interesting now, the Austrians support us to fight the British, and the French also support us to fight the British.

France and Austria actually thought of going together. If there is no conspiracy behind this, I will not believe it.

What do you think is the real purpose of France and Austria? What kind of interest is enough to make them send us such a big bargain? "

Suspicion is the instinct of the rulers. The French and Austrian countries are not very clever, and the traces of deliberately provoking the Anglo-Russian war are too obvious.

Knowing that there is a conspiracy here, the Russian Empire may have become a pawn, but for the sake of interests, Alexander III still chose to jump into the pit.

There is no way, the current international situation is very clear, and the road to the west of the Russian Empire has been blocked.

There is a lesson from the Russian-Prussian War, that even the most radical pro-war faction does not see a future in expanding to the European continent.

The only thing left is to go north, south, or east. There is no doubt that going north has no future. In addition to ice cubes in the Arctic Ocean, the only Nordic Federation is a hard bone.

Dongjin is not a good choice, the weather is too bad. The light journey from the west to the east would take a year, so it was not suitable for large army operations at all.

Going south became the only and best option. Although you have to compete with the British, why not compete these days?

Even if it is a chess piece, Alexander III must be a chess piece that can jump out of the chessboard at any time, instead of being confused and regarded as an abandoned piece.

Foreign Secretary Oscar Jiménez: "Looking at the current international situation, France and Austria support us to go to war with the British, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs believes that there are three main possibilities.

First, let us go shopping with the British and consume our strength, so that France and Austria can enjoy the success of the war.

Judging from the current level of support from the two countries to us, the suspicion of making money from war can be ruled out.

The second is to use us to destroy Britain, and then divide it up.

This is less likely. Despite repeated promises from the French that they would choose an opportune moment to go to war with the British, they demanded that Austria declare war on the British first.

We tested it, and the Vienna government was not ready to turn against the British, let alone go to war with the British.

Third, France and Austria want to use the war in Afghanistan to hold us and the British so that they can take action on the European continent.

What the action will be is still uncertain. Judging from the performance of France and Austria, we can judge that the French government is more eager. The Austrian government has been relatively indifferent, and they don't seem to have made up their minds.

Based on this, we can preliminarily judge that France and Austria have not reached an agreement, and even the strategic goals of the two countries may conflict this time.

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People think that the goal of France and Austria should be Central Europe.

Austria wanted to take the opportunity to unify the German region, but they had no confidence in their hearts, they were not sure to complete the unification under the obstruction of the French, and they were not willing to give up this opportunity.

The French attempted to use this opportunity to expand into Central Europe, with the goal of annexing parts of Belgium and the German Confederation.

Mainly the territory west of the Rhine, where the coal mines the French needed most, could make up for their shortfalls in resources.

Of course, this is only a guess, and the French government's appetite may not be so great.

After all, the strength of the German Federation is not weak, and Austria is on the side, and it will definitely send troops to interfere. From a strength point of view, the French do not have a high chance of winning against the German-Austrian coalition.

Unless the French can make a quick decision, rush to the Austrian troops, and create the established fact of occupying the above-mentioned territories, and block the German-Austrian coalition with the natural danger of the Rhine. "

Strategic plans can’t be hidden just because they want to. They don’t need evidence, as long as they have motives. There is no doubt that both France and Austria have motives to expand into Central Europe.

While initiating the war with the British, the Tsarist government did not neglect its concerns on the European continent.

In fact, if it were not for the mutual restraint between France and Austria on the European continent, the tsarist government would not dare to go south with all its strength.

War Minister Ivanov shook his head: "I agree with Your Excellency's judgment, the third scenario is the most likely.

However, I have a different opinion on the specifics. It is true that France and Austria are interested in China, but the strength of the German Confederation is not weak.

If Austria wants to annex the German Confederation, it can do it from the inside through political means, and there is still some possibility of success.

If the French attack the German Confederation, even if Austria does not intervene, they will lose a few teeth.

It is impossible for the French government to fail to see this. Instead of taking risks without certainty, it is better to settle for the annexation of Belgium. "

Because of the relationship between the Russian-Prussian War, the Tsarist government's assessment of the combat effectiveness of the German state has all been upgraded by one level.

From a purely paper perspective, the current strength of the German Confederation is not weak.

Its military strength is similar to that of the former Commonwealth of Nations, its economic aggregate is second only to that of Britain, France, Russia, and Austria, its heavy industry is the same as that of France, and its population is more than 25 million.

To save others by himself, Marshal Ivanov did not think that the French would gnaw on this hard bone, especially since there is a lion ready to hunt behind this bone.

By contrast, annexing Belgium is much less difficult. Everyone does not know about Biomio, and it seems that the annexation of Belgium will offend the British.

However, as far as Anglo-French relations are concerned, offending is also offending. Even the issuance of war bonds to the Russians was done, and there was nothing the French dared to do.

Foreign Minister Oscar Jimenez shrugged: "Marshal, the French are not as rational as you, but they have always regarded themselves as the world's No. 1 army.

If you have never been to France, you may not know that the French are very arrogant. Since Napoleon III, the French government has been promoting the invincibility of France.

Many French people are still in the Napoleonic era and think they are invincible. Even our defeat of them in the war in the Near East didn't change that. "

The War in the Near East cannot be counted. Britain, France and Russia all claim to be victors. The only one who admits that they are losers is the Ottoman Empire, which has disappeared in the long river of history.

Oscar Jimenez can talk about the war in the Near East, but Marshal Ivanov has no face to talk about the war in the Near East.

While the Russians did win strategically, they lost tactically. The so-called victory is entirely based on human life.

The battle damage ratio of the Russian army is simply impossible to see. In many cases, the Russian army was twice as strong and was beaten to the ground by others.

In the eyes of an orthodox soldier like Marshal Ivanov, it was not a victory for the Russian army, but a shame.

Sensing that the atmosphere was wrong, Alexander III said, "Okay, the appetite of the French is just a small issue.

Although I don't want to admit it, the balance of power between the four major European powers has indeed been broken in recent years, and we are the weakest.

The strength of Britain, France and Austria is above us. We are now able to compete with the British for the Afghan region, which is also the result of Fao's support.

However, France and Austria can provoke a war between us and the British to reap the benefits of the fisherman. Why can't we follow suit?

The Central European issue is the core contradiction between France and Austria. Whether Austria wants to unify the German region or France wants to move eastward into Central Europe, as long as one of them takes the first step, a fierce conflict will break out.

Now that we are at war with the British, France and Austria have no worries. If we push from behind, there is a very high possibility that they will break out into a war.

As long as we use the war to make Fao lose both sides, we have a chance to re-establish our dominant position on the European continent, and we can pull them together on the same starting line. "

Any teammates can be pitted, France and Austria can use the Russian Empire as a pawn, and Alexander III can also counterattack.

Britain and Russia have already fought, and the two countries will definitely suffer heavy losses after the war. If the strength of France and Austria is not consumed, then the strength gap between the four great powers will be completely widened.

Foreign Secretary Oscar Jiménez reminded: "Your Majesty, once war broke out between France and Austria, we lost foreign aid.

Without the support of France and Austria, and only by our own strength, Azerbaijan

I'm afraid the battlefield in Afghanistan..."

Alexander III interrupted: "Don't worry, provoking the Franco-Austrian War will not happen overnight.

Even if action was to be taken, it was time for the dust to settle on the battlefield in Afghanistan. Until then, we were good allies.

What we need to do now is to ask France and Austria for loans and materials as much as possible. If they want us to work hard, we must provide benefits. "

After hearing this explanation, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. It doesn't matter if you provoke the Franco-Austrian War, as long as it doesn't affect the battlefield in Afghanistan.