Solovyov in Tsarist Russia 1796

Chapter 339 041 Is this the Russian trying to catch our fish?

In the monastery, Kutuzov was still lying on the couch.

"Ah, I can finally have a good sleep. The French will definitely fall into the trap tomorrow."

He was just about to close his one eye and had already entered a dozing state, when the adjutant on duty came in to report.

"Commander-in-Chief, General Schmidt would like to see you."

"Ha, this old man, he is older than me, why doesn't he know how to rest?"

"I'm just a retired old man, Commander-in-Chief, is this considered a re-employment? This is not what I said, it was Michael who said it."

"Ha, Misha. He especially likes to make fun of us old men, but he also respects us."

"Okay, Your Excellency, we should adjust our deployment."

"But the decision has been made, Schmidt, you should also know that we are going to fight the enemy here."

"Some adjustments are still necessary, but our determination remains unchanged."

Schmidt didn't take out the map, he just sat aside.

"Your Excellency, among our six marching columns, Dokhturov's column needs to close the French army's retreat. If the French take the initiative like they did in Hohenlinden, and the subsequent troops march here quickly, this will How about it?"

Kutuzov still didn't come out of the recliner. He thought for a moment and felt that this made some sense.

"In this case, an artillery company is needed there, but this will weaken the artillery strength on the top of the mountain and on Bagration's side. The cannons we use now are only 68."

"But you have to fight them for a while, Your Excellency."

Schmidt thought very carefully. He discussed the problem with several Austrian officers while having a late-night snack, and thought that artillery was always needed when closing the canyon area.

Moreover, during the War of Austrian Succession in 1741, local residents used wood and metal pipes to disguise cannons, and used drum beats to pretend that there was a large army here. This way, the French and Bavarian troops did not dare to attack the then empty Vienna through here.

After Schmidt mentioned this battle case, Solovyov recorded it and prepared to write it as a case in the case analysis of Thirty-Six Strategies after returning to Petersburg.

However, no matter how you look at it, it is a bit of a trick, and it is still an empty city strategy, and it is not something that those pedantic Prussian sauerkraut heads can come up with.

"Well, let's strengthen our artillery. We will not only use 6-pound cannons, but also bring unicorn cannons. It is about equivalent to 10 pounds. As for the 12-pound cannon, it is not convenient here, and we need In these roundabout columns, the artillery needs to maintain a high degree of mobility.”

Kutuzov gave Dokhturov's column an ​​artillery battery, and considering strengthening the columns in front, the artillery was assigned to each column this time, and some cannons were also hidden on the mountains. These places where the artillery was hidden were It can be said to be quite hidden among the woods.

Solovyov received the task assigned by Schmidt at night, which was to go here to see the deployment of artillery.

Here, too, he judged by the faint glow of fires in the villages and vineyards below.

"If you are firing artillery here, can you hit the grenade to the bend of the river?"

"No problem, Colonel, we just need four cannons to shoot there together. You can use solid bullets or grenades."

"Ah, I am very confident in my shooting skills, Captain."

Solovyov did not notice that the little captain was Tushin, and he might not be able to see clearly under the torch. He did not ask who the other person was.

After all, the translated versions he saw all mentioned Captain.

You must know that the military rank system during the Tsarist Russia was different from that in the future. The "kebedan" of captain was still the original rank of captain at this time.

As for the Russian military rank of captain, the correct term should be senior lieutenant. Most people will not notice this kind of trap.

In the past, there was a commander-in-chief military rank, which happened to correspond to the position of general. It can also be said to be a characteristic of the Russian military rank system.

"We can still hit you at this position, Colonel, you seem to be an infantryman."

"Yes, but I am also very interested in mathematics, but although I have mastered calculus, my grades are not very good."

"It doesn't matter. You just need to master some key points. If you come to us as an artilleryman, you can shoot very accurately."

"Ah, thank you, I still hope you can teach me a lesson."

The artillerymen I saw here had a good atmosphere, and sometimes they even joked with the officers.

However, there is no master here now, so it is not unusual to come here.

After seeing the firepower configuration on the top of the mountain, he did not think that a few cannons could completely blockade the enemy. However, the artillery that could be deployed on these artillery positions was mainly to attack the advancing French infantry columns.

The most worrying thing is the weather. In November, it is easy to experience severe severe convective weather around Vienna.

Just as he left Tushin's artillery position, it started to rain.

These artillerymen are now busy ensuring that the ammunition is dry, trying to ensure that their gunpowder can explode and the fuse can be ignited.

The situation is not good, but there are still some farmhouses nearby, as well as private houses and monasteries near Krems that can be used. However, the castle on the west side is now vacant, except that there are some Russian soldiers there, and There are also people here when the officers rest at night.

Solovyov came here to take shelter from the rain late at night. After sunrise, he would go to the Russian column below.

Schmidt originally arranged for him to go to Dokhturov and Miloradovich, but because of the strengthening of artillery, Schmidt is now more relieved and wants to get him back to his column. The main goal is also To intercept the French army that may enter the river valley.

This place is indeed a choke point, and it can also be regarded as a dead place. As long as the intersection is blocked, it will obviously be difficult for the troops who come in to get out.

"Sir, it's raining outside, and we have to give this place to the French, so we can have one more night here."

"Yes," Schmidt had just completed the final plan and instructions and sat down to drink tea. "We have to give up this place at this time. What I am more worried about is that the French have deployed some cavalry here to remove them. They were lured away, and then the enemy was lured into the river valley."

"Is there any way?"

"We have a guide, don't forget that."

Solovyov remembered that an old captain Schmidt had summoned before was very familiar with this area and explained the terrain in detail to the commanders of each column.

"That is to abandon Dilenstein and this castle after the battle. This requires a small number of troops to engage in firefights with the French army, making them mistakenly think that we only have a few troops here, and then we must advance quickly."

In general, it is a typical fishing tactic.

Solovyov always felt that this seemed to be something that a group of Satsuma Hayabusa people who lived a good life often did.

Schmidt was still very confident, and by the next morning, they quickly evacuated the castle.

This place used to be the residence of Richard the Lion-Hearted, the great public servant of Austria. Speaking of people in the Middle Ages, they may not have the same martial ethics as those who fought in the Napoleonic War.

After all, Mark and others were released only after the Austrian army released a group of captured French officers before allowing them to go back. Even the Duke of Liechtenstein was leading the cavalry in the Austrian army. Both sides acquiesced in this matter, and there was no point of contact. What disputes arise over such an issue.

The French army was in pursuit, and Motier's own headquarters was with Gazan's division, pursuing forward as the vanguard of the entire Eighth Army.

He is still relatively confident. After all, current intelligence shows that the Russian army is retreating, and there are only sporadic troops making weak resistance along the way. At this time, it is obvious that he also hopes to join the French army that set off from St. Polten in Vienna. , as if the French army were now to share the honor of entering Vienna.

This simply ignored Napoleon's series of instructions. The emperor himself hoped that the French army would destroy allied troops around Vienna as much as possible, and drive those who could not be eliminated from the battlefield. Kutuzov decided to fight in Vienna anyway. , instead of struggling in Vienna, the French army should also pursue and divide the coalition forces as its main purpose.

You must know that the Russian and Austrian troops arriving one after another have a total strength of more than 100,000 people. If they are allowed to gather somewhere in Austria, such a large group of enemies will not be able to gnaw at Napoleon no matter how good his appetite is.

Outside the field, there is Prussia who is neutral and wants to gain benefits. If they come in, although they only have more than a hundred thousand soldiers who can fight, there are so many soldiers!

For France, it is still necessary to deal with the coalition forces faster at this time, and at least defeat Austria. Therefore, Napoleon still advocates annihilating the enemy instead of worrying about Vienna.

This means that Murat is unlucky. He and Lanner are now heading towards Vienna. In fact, it is because many bridges on the Danube River were destroyed by the retreating allied forces. However, the bridges in Vienna are convenient for movement, and the Austrian capital should be in There are also some enemies.

Rather, he wanted to be popular in Vienna, which was a secondary factor.

As for Motier, they arrived in Marbach and were scheduled to arrive in Dürenstein on November 10th.

The French army's current pursuit speed is very fast, and they are out of touch with each other, which has exposed a large gap.

However, Kutuzov and Schmidt still estimated based on the previous situation, and did not know that the gap between Gazan's division and Dupont's division had further widened.

They still followed the original plan, which was to spread out on the north bank of the Danube after each column was separated, and destroy nearby bridges.

At this moment, Motier did not know that his cavalry troops were in the northwest, chasing a group of Cossacks approaching to harass them, and they had been separated from the main force.

He was still very optimistic. After the 54th Line Infantry Regiment, the vanguard of the Gazan Division, exchanged fire with the small coalition forces, he also sent a liaison officer back to report.

"Your Excellency, Marshal, we had a brief exchange of fire with the Russian army. They ran away and we are pursuing them."

"In which direction?"

"The pursuit along the Danube towards Dürenstein!"

"Very good, you can go back!"

At this time, Gazan's command was rather awkward because the commander was here and the command structure was here.

"Edward, will the Russian army want to fish? There are huge rocks in the valley ahead, and the mountains can also block part of the view. Such a place is very suitable for hiding troops."

"The Russians only have a small number of troops to intercept us here. How can they have a large force? If they really exist, I think they will also adopt a strategy of avoiding war. It is not appropriate to engage in firefights with us in this area."

"Then you should be on guard! Kutuzov is a cunning old fellow!"

Gazan said this because he had naturally worried after looking at the topographic map, and the instructions from the emperor.

Moreover, when His Majesty was the commander of the Italian Corps, he was good at hiding his troops and using the terrain. The generals below were able to learn some of it.

Of course, many people can only learn part of it, and some are in a state of learning.

At least in this battle, Motier was in a state of learning. Napoleon's instructions were generally brief instructions, but this time there was an italicized explanation written by Napoleon's personal secretary, indicating that the Russian army might have a trap, and even show weakness to lure the vanguard of the Eighth Army into a trap.

"Your Majesty is overthinking. If he came here and saw this situation, he would definitely launch a pursuit."

Fortunately, Soloviev didn't see it, otherwise he would think that Motier was infected by Mark.

Mark occupied a strategic position, but ended up being surrounded. This was Ma Su's behavior.

Motier did not listen to Gazan's advice and Napoleon's instructions. This kind of self-willed behavior is also a Ma Su behavior.

Moreover, each of them has a subordinate who said that the superior's fighting is problematic. This is not Ma Su's behavior, but Wang Ping's behavior.

Soloviev felt strange. He heard from Madame Recamier that his French translation of the Three Kingdoms was a bestseller in Paris and Berlin. These contents should be known to everyone.

It may be that the marshals and generals of France and Austria are not as eager for knowledge as writers and thinkers such as Voltaire, and they have set off an oriental craze, which has led to some hobbies among monarchs.

Perhaps it is. The full version is divided into several volumes, and they have not read it yet.

Of course, Napoleon himself only saw Mark's pamphlet, not the novel.

Now, Gazan was more suspicious. The Russian army might be fishing near Dürenstein. Although the main force did not appear here, the march along the way was too relaxed. It was not like the previous pursuit when the Austrian army was still fleeing and the Russian army often fought desperately.

If they were relaxed, it would obviously make people more suspicious.

In this case, the vanguard of the French army had entered the Russian army's pocket formation and was about to enter the ambush position.