Solovyov in Tsarist Russia 1796.

Chapter 403 045 The Russian Commander-in-Chief and Chief of Staff are now in a difficult situation

Since the Russian army is so pessimistic about the Prussians, with the Minister of War and the General Staff as its core, it is now mobilizing supplies.

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

At the same time, the supply of materials and military stations along the way must also be guaranteed. Van Suchteren also served as the Director of Military Supplies, so he naturally had to guard this aspect strictly.

The Russian army's previous military supplies in Austria relied on Austrian support, but it did not prepare a single mule in Italy. During the Third Anti-French Alliance, it often lacked supplies. This problem has always been the case when fighting abroad.

As for Prussia, the Russian army was obviously not optimistic. The only thing that was still okay in Prussia was the road traffic, and there were some hospitals along the way from East Prussia to Berlin that could be used to accommodate the wounded and sick. The situation in other aspects was still worrying.

Therefore, the supply lines established within Russia became the focus.

The person now in charge of these affairs is Arakcheev, who has actually taken over the duties of the Minister of War and has begun to mobilize troops and materials from the rear, while the General Staff is organizing the front-line troops.

Next, there is another important task, which is to select the commander-in-chief 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, Bennigsen has now become a regicide. Although he has been forgiven for not being present at the scene, he has never been used on the main front and was sent to the Caucasus.

In fact, Kamensky, the last marshal of Catherine's era, 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 of Catherine's era, he is the only one who has the qualifications to go into battle. You can't let someone who is a marshal by virtue of his status but has no command ability and cannot control his subordinates become the commander-in-chief, right?

".What is Arakcheev going to do?"

After seeing this proposal, the young Minister and Deputy Minister of Operations unanimously expressed great doubt.

When Suvorov was still in power, Kamensky had not led troops to battle for a long time because he offended Potemkin. Although his physical condition was still good, Solovyov knew that being able to command battles in Italy at a high intensity while the Grand Marshal was still in power had greatly damaged his health, otherwise the old man would not have been killed by a cold.

Although Marshal Kamensky's physical condition was relatively good among the elderly, it was very difficult for him to go to the front line to command the battle, even as a sitting commander.

However, in order to coordinate the German commanders stationed on the Baltic coast, Kamensky had to be sent out to calm them down.

"This choice is probably to make the incompetent Buckholden obey orders, and also to prevent those German officers from getting into less trouble."

After hearing what Volkonsky said, Solovyov could only shake his head and smile bitterly. He continued, "I have read Langgeron's notes. He praised Alexander Vasilyevich highly, but Mikhail Fedorovich sometimes I shouldn't comment on the old marshals of different factions. This is not good for the relationship within the army."

Volkonsky saw that Solovyov swallowed back what he was about to say, but he actually knew what was going on.

During the Empress's time, Kamensky was second only to Rumyantsev and Suvorov in terms of strict discipline and brutality. His two sons were also known for their strict military discipline and their bravery in fighting without regard for their lives.

"So what?"

"It can't be helped. If this old marshal is really the one taking action, we must assign him a suitable chief of staff, otherwise it will be troublesome."

However, the staff work in the Russian army has always been not very good, so there is always a lack of talent for the positions of Chief of Staff or Director of Ordnance.

Solovyov discovered with embarrassment that although he always wanted to be the commander of the army, he awkwardly became one of the more outstanding staff officers. He was really the tallest among the short ones.

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

If he goes to the front line, he won't be able to command anyone with his rank and qualifications. If we want to find a chief of staff for Kamensky, we may have to poach people from Prussia.

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

Gneisenau's current status is probably not as good as Clausewitz who followed the prince. He is not even a colonel at his age. And Scharnhorst has a group of masters above him, so there are still many difficulties on the road to promotion.

But the General Staff would have to be set up by then. Before Solovyov could even speak, Volkonsky said, "Misha, it looks like you'll have to go there again."

"I was only the temporary chief of staff for a short period of time. I'm fine for helping others, but if you really want me to dispatch troops, I don't think I'm qualified with this rank."

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

"It's troublesome. It's really troublesome."

Solovyov thought about it and realized that he was quite ambitious, but now he was almost forced into a situation where he was not doing things right.

Even the selection of the commander-in-chief was probably something that even the masters in St. Petersburg had to go through fierce debate before they could decide.

As for the following departments that are mainly responsible, they now have to bear the consequences.

After returning home, Solovyov wanted to relax and prepared to take a shower.

But now the servants in the house have all been sent to the new house on the embankment, as the stepmother is going to give birth in a few days. This also includes Adela, who has been looking after the house in Laundry Lane. Now, apart from the uncle who looks after the house, he is the only one at home, and he has to boil his own bath water. He is really the most self-reliant Russian nobleman.

Speaking of which, Baron Sergei is still in good health and has been able to have children even when he is older.

And he was about to get married, little Katya. This girl seemed to be a good housekeeper and a well-mannered girl, and her family background was much higher than his own. If it weren't for her military achievements and Prince Vasily's liking for him, it would have been difficult for him to get engaged in secret so smoothly.

Of course, he also knew that if Prussia and France went to war this time, something would inevitably happen.

"I don't know what Alexander can talk about with that timid Prussian king in Berlin. This idiot should not destroy the army right away."

As he said this, the uncle guarding the door came in to report.

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

"Is it Andre?" "Yes, sir."

I really didn't expect that Andrei would come from Smolensk at this time. However, he has now been transferred to the reserve, and it is unlikely that the old prince will be asked to take action. The old man's physical condition is not very good, but his spirit and mind are better.

"Go and invite him here quickly."

Since I couldn't boil water for bathing, I was afraid I would have to go to a bathhouse. There was a public bathhouse not far from the laundry lane, but although this place was "public", usually only masters went there to take a bath.

When Andrei came in, he was wearing a top hat, and even in the summer he didn't wear a cumbersome coat, and he walked in with a smile on his face. Solovyov just hugged his friend, and then they sat down and talked.

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

"Always lucky, but Fyodor doesn't have this luck."

"It's good to be alive now. Is Nikolai Nikolayevich in good health? Lisa must be fine too, but I heard that your son is in poor health?"

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

"I hope so. I am also engaged, a little later than Pierre, but I have to adopt the method of secret engagement, which is also to protect the girl. If anything happens to me during this year, she will still be free and will not have to feel sad because of me."

"Well, if you keep going on like this you'll become a bad lyric poet, like Davydov."

"Ha, Davydov! That big mouth, he really dares to spread anything. I wonder how he is doing in the Hussars recently."

"It should be good. Although he likes to stir up trouble, it is only with his pen that he can get into big trouble."

Solovyov also knew that Davydov was very popular among the adjutants, and that he had good literary skills. He was a cavalry poet and could also ride a horse and kill people.

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

"You are such a person. You speak like a machine gun and don't give people time to think."

"I can't help it. It's a habit."

"I came to Petersburg to take care of some personal matters. In addition, if you need any help, please contact me."

"Probably not now, but there will be one in the future. Mikhail Illarionovich recently left the court again, but the emperor will always need him. But another problem is the selection of the commander-in-chief and chief of staff. The emperor is still in Berlin, and we don't know how he will make the decision when he returns. Some say Kamensky, some recommend Tormasov, or even General Apraksin, the governor of Smolensk, but none of these people are suitable."

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

"I can't help it. The Minister of War is Sergei Kuzmich, but the one who is in power and doing the work now is Arakcheev. I can't make any comments about him, so as not to cause trouble, and I can't let it get out."

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

However, there are also people who are often removed from their positions due to embezzlement of military funds. For example, it is probably a miracle that Sergei Kuzmich has been in office for so long.

Whether it will exist in the future is another matter.

For these two young colonels, there are some things that cannot be said, even at home.

"Let's go to the public bath. It's not a Turkish bath, but the conditions are pretty good. Otherwise, I might still be a 'master' who boils his own water. To be honest, it's more comfortable to be at the front, or in the girls' beds."

"You're still like this even after you're engaged, with 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 either, so the relationship between the two was pretty good.

As for taking a bath, it is also to relax. I have been too busy in the past period of time. I have to work all day long. Even if I go on a blind date, I still can't have peace. I have to continue working after I come 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 comes, the issue of choosing the commander-in-chief will easily arise.

Even though St. Petersburg was always far away from the war, such discussions were still held, especially among the gentlemen.

"Damn it, these people really like to talk, it's just because it's foggy here."

"It looks like this is a hot topic."

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

"Of course I still have a place to live, and I will only be here for a few days before returning to Smolensk. 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 envy you so much that you can live in a manor, while my family's land has only completed the frame of the house so far."

"If it's a new house, you'd have to get a kitten in there to try."

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

"I'm afraid you don't have the time, Misha. You never have time to relax. You're always working wherever you go."

"Maybe it will be better after we get married, or maybe there will be no war in Europe, so we can take a break. Napoleon always has a hard time with those Germans, but he is not a lazy man. Now, we must go to the front."

(End of this chapter)