Chapter 91 041 No Reason to Stay in a Doomed Alliance

Chapter 91 041 No Reason to Stay in a Doomed Alliance

Chapter 91 There is no reason to stay in an alliance doomed to fail
What some Austrians said at this salon actually gave the Russians a reason to leave.

Judging from the implementation of the plan, the Austrians were so stupid that they wasted a great opportunity to completely defeat France for their own ridiculous interests. The price they paid would be even greater.

By November, the climate will not be so suitable for fighting. In so many years of large-scale wars, even in Western Europe, there were not many wars in winter. From the ancient Greek city-states to the Roman Republic, winter camps had to be set up in places from Gaul to Germany. This season is not suitable for a truce.

"If this continues, it will only give the French a chance to catch their breath. The troops in Genoa are insufficient, and at the same time Switzerland and southern Germany. Your Highness, what do you think?"

"Soloviev, it's useless for you to discuss this. It depends on the attitude of the emperor in Petersburg. If he decides to withdraw from the war, or if we stay and continue fighting, we have to wait for the imperial edict. Before that, everyone needs to rest. This trip to Italy and Switzerland has consumed a lot of our energy."

"It's more than just a waste of money. If it weren't for your suggestion, those Cossacks would have quit long ago!"

The idea of ​​letting the Cossacks use their horses to carry supplies on the road and burning their spears to keep warm was proposed by Grand Duke Constantine himself. If it were someone else, it would have caused a big uproar. After all, when the Cossacks went on an expedition, except for ammunition and supplies which were sometimes provided by the government, the rest was provided by themselves.

"If we didn't do that, we would all be trapped in the Alps by that old soldier and would not be able to hold such a reception in Prague."

The Grand Duke was happy today, probably because he knew he was going to be a father, and he spoke more relaxedly.

"This kind of life is really boring. It's better to go back to the barracks!"

"But if we go back, the emperor should summarize the lessons learned from this expedition. If someone reports it when he is recalled, he will shirk his responsibility."

The news of Korsakov's defeat reached Petersburg faster than Suvorov's army escaped. Now, only the imperial edict of Tsar Paul expressing his dissatisfaction with him and recalling him for accountability appeared. The imperial edict promoting Italian Prince Suvorov to the rank of Grand Marshal and summoning Grand Duke Constantine to return to Petersburg had not yet arrived.

This actually made Solovyov uneasy, so he told it in front of Grand Duke Konstantin.

Then, as for Korsakov himself, France, Austria and Russia all had the same feeling about him.

"You are just a jester around the emperor! You, the jester, were promoted based on your abilities. Korsakov almost ruined the Russian army. If such a person were to go to St. Petersburg, he would definitely shirk his responsibilities. And I saw everything that happened in Italy and Switzerland, and I don't think he can deny it."

It is also necessary to prepare early to give this straightforward Grand Duke a heads-up.

"Your Highness, we also have to consider what others will say. And we also have to take precautions against the incident that happened before we set out on the expedition."

"What are you going to say? A lot of things happened when we set out."

"That report to senior officers. I happened to be with Alexander Vasilyevich at the time and saw the relevant report on the Smolensk conspiracy group. One of them was once an adjutant to His Excellency the Marshal."

"The problem is still very difficult. If Father believes those rumors at this time, I'm afraid it will be very disadvantageous to us."

Although Grand Duke Constantine was straightforward, he was able to realize the interests involved after being reminded.

"No, if we receive an order, we must return to St. Petersburg immediately. You should come back with me, there is nothing we can do in Bohemia!"

Suvorov himself did not care much about this. At this point, the coalition operation in the Netherlands had failed and the advantage in northern Italy was huge. Melas might not be able to achieve such great results as Suvorov, but he could still maintain a huge advantage and trap the remaining French Italian Corps in the Ligurian coastal area where Genoa was located.

As for southern Germany and Switzerland, the French would not attack them at the gates of Vienna, because there is such a big country like Bavaria in the middle. However, Switzerland has been anti-Habsburg since ancient times, and the fact that this dynasty originated in this region is a joke from hell.

When Paul's edict arrived in Prague on November 11, the Russian army cheered loudly. This was the first marshal to be promoted because of his military achievements. At this time, Tsar Paul and Marshal Suvorov had a good relationship, and it seemed that all doubts did not exist.

At the same time, there were also some orders that were not unexpected.

Russia withdrew from the anti-French alliance, and at the same time, Russian troops in the Habsburg territory began to withdraw and return to the country in winter. However, the army had to return to the winter camp near the border and could not return to St. Petersburg until the beginning of the following spring.

At the same time, Grand Duke Constantine would also be recalled to St. Petersburg, and his entourage would naturally have to return at the same time.

Solovyov was about to return with Grand Duke Konstantin, and before leaving, he came to Suvorov's headquarters in Kvorets Castle.

It was already afternoon when he arrived, and he could see that the Grand Marshal himself looked very tired.

"Misha, you're here. I know you want to go to Petersburg. Of course you should go back. You won't learn anything by staying here with an old man like me. I've already taught you everything I could have taught you in the past."

At this point, he took out a letter.

"When you return to Petersburg, give this letter to Suvorochka, my daughter. I have something to tell her. At my age, I may be called by God at any time to find a land with abundant grass and water. You, a child, will not shed a few tears when you say goodbye like others, but I know that you have rich emotions. Don't suppress yourself too much. If you have the opportunity to lead an army in the future, if you cannot express your emotions and are still such an emotionless person, you will not be able to become a senior general."

What he teaches is always strange, and it seems that he teaches according to the students' aptitude.

It may also be that after applying to Paul to go to the monastery, he received the order to go to war. After the expedition, the old man sometimes felt where his end was. When he spoke, he had an indifferent attitude. His words were always unpredictable.

"Your Excellency, Grand Marshal, I have learned a lot from you. This time when I accompany Your Highness back to Petersburg, I will explain to the Emperor everything that happened in Italy and Switzerland."

"Good boy, you are the only one who can accurately help His Highness make suggestions in front of the Emperor. I know what Korsakov is going to do, and the Emperor will not be deceived by him. If he really wants to do something, it will be the result of the Emperor's temper like a blizzard. As long as you don't get shot, you still have a long life ahead of you, and you don't need to do anything for an old man like me."

Then he sat there, looking out the window. "It snows very early here. After returning to Petersburg, I want to find a monastery to relax. Misha, get ready and go back. Your promotion and new personnel appointments will be decided by the emperor. Otherwise, based on your merits in Italy, you should have received not only the medal from the emperor, but also the rank of major. An 18-year-old major is too young, not considering the royal family and those noble children, and it is easy to be envied."

After saying this, Suvorov continued to look out the window. His complexion had become a little bad. Although he had not been sick recently, he could realize that his life was slowly coming to an end.

"Take care of yourself, Alexander Vasilyevich, and if you send for a doctor, don't let him bleed you."

"Go, Misha. I know this. Being called by God is the fate of devout believers. You are an atheist like my old friend in Tongshan, but you should also have your own beliefs. You can go now. Thank you, thank you."

Solovyov left the Field Marshal's headquarters and went to Grand Duke Constantine. They had to first reach Krakow, then pass through a series of post stations in Austria to the Russian border, from where they would change to sleds and hurry on their way to St. Petersburg before the worst weather came, and then return there to spend the winter.

Grand Duke Constantine had previously gone to tell the Grand Marshal the same thing, and he was also shocked by the old man's indifference.

"Misha, it's really interesting. The Grand Marshal seems to take all this lightly. I just don't understand."

"Maybe it's because there have been too many such things in the history of our country, and he has experienced it all."

"If that's the case, it's possible. You have a sensitive nose. How do you smell this essential oil?"

"Your Highness, this smell is a bit pungent, too strong."

"But this is high-end stuff. I know Anna may not like me, but I have to give her some compensation. And this necklace, the ruby ​​necklace is for Anna, and the diamond necklace is for my sister-in-law."

"Excuse me, Her Royal Highness the Crown Princess has always liked to wear simpler clothes. Although this diamond necklace is suitable for her, it is too luxurious for her personal preference."

"Hahaha, I know. You were a model for Elena in the palace. You knew it from her, right?"

"That's right, Your Highness. You also have to consider that two of your highnesses are getting married."

Konstantin is a really rough man, and he is too young now. He doesn't understand women's hearts even more than Solovyov.

Solovyov himself also had problems. He was very polite, but not good at taking things further. During the days he was with Silvia from Milan, it was the other party who was more proactive.

Before leaving Prague, he wrote a letter to Sylvia, saying that he would soon return to St. Petersburg.

His words reminded Constantine that compared with Alexander and his sisters' daily "communication game", what he got was always more practical, from the prey brought back from hunting to all kinds of novel gadgets.

Now he also wanted to prepare some gifts for Alexandra and Elena, but this would have to wait until he returned to Petersburg.

After the group set off, a messenger delivering the news from Prague quickly arrived in Vienna and announced Russia's plan to withdraw from the alliance.

At the same time, something was happening in Paris. After a coup d'état, the Directory's rule over the First French Republic came to an end. It was now replaced by a triumvirate of citizens Sieyès, Dux and general citizen Napoleon Bonaparte, who were elected as rulers.

Napoleon now stepped onto the political stage, and he would use some means to become the powerful First Consul again, turning the Consulate system designed by Sieyès upside down and turning it into a military government in fact.

He wanted to use his own power to tear apart the anti-French alliance at will, especially since Russia had already withdrawn.

But what he had to do was to accumulate strength and invest it in the battlefields of the Rhine and Italy in the coming year to win victory through decisive battles.

But he didn't realize that being too involved in political activities would affect his judgment on the battlefield, and he did run very fast.

Of course, he also heard some strange things in Paris.

Some captured French soldiers talked about their experiences after returning. Some of them mentioned that they had met a young Russian officer who always asked a question.

"Do you know a lady named Rose? Something like that. She's my stepmother's cousin."

Polina told him this strange story at a salon.

As we all know, her sister-in-law Josephine usually does not attend the salons hosted by Paulina, and the two have always had some "little conflicts".

"Paulina, if it's a Russian officer, or maybe a royalist in exile, asking about his relatives, that's normal, don't take it seriously."

What he was more concerned about was how to transform France according to his ideas after gaining the position of power. He wanted to win on the battlefield, in politics, and everywhere. This seemed to be his "mission."

The first ruler really had no idea that someone's mission to find their relatives was right at his doorstep.

After all, his wife Josephine really came from the West Indies, and this experience was consistent with de Rivery's account. It was just that when those loud-mouthed and uneducated old soldiers passed the news to Marseille and Toulon, there were also some problems. That is, the news had just entered France and it had been completely distorted.

After all, the full names of French people are too long, and these people always can't remember many names, so it's impossible for them to find their real names!
(End of this chapter)