Struggle in Russia

Does Li Xiao have any idea? Strictly speaking, no, because the situation is there, Grand Duke Constantine is very stubborn, and at this moment, both father and son are like gamblers who are red-eyed after losing. How can they stop trying to make a comeback?

The forces that Russia can mobilize have basically been mobilized. Unless the situation on the other side of the Danube changes drastically, Russia will not have more troops to use in Crimea.

Once Archduke Constantine fails in this attack and consumes all the last remaining mobile forces in Crimea, it can basically be said that the fall of Sevastopol is just a matter of time.

No matter how much preparation Kornilov and Nakhimov made, the result would be nothing more than postponement, but it could not be avoided. To be honest, no one can fill this pit, it is simply a dead game.

Li Xiao sighed and said: "If you just solve the drinking water problem, I can still help you, but in the long run, it will be very difficult to defend Sevastopol, and it can even be said to be more desperate!"

Kornilov and Nakhimov looked at each other. They were not very surprised by this answer. They were mentally prepared for this after the coalition forces landed in Crimea. Especially after Menshikov and others continued to deliver food desperately, they knew that it was as difficult as climbing to the sky to hold Sevastopol.

For them, the question of whether they can hold on is no longer a consideration. They are now just monks hitting the clock every day. If they can hold on for one more day, just hold on for one more day!

"Then can you tell me how to solve the drinking water problem?" Kornilov sighed.

"Hurry up and try to dig a well in the city! It seems that you still have two months," Li Xiao replied, "It's best to try to build some water reservoirs and store as much water as possible!"

Kornilov and Nakhimov immediately felt distressed, because if Sevastopol was suitable for digging wells to extract groundwater, then why bother building an aqueduct. As for building a reservoir, damn, where is the space in the city for this?

How big of a reservoir would it be if tens of thousands of people could drink water? Isn't this a joke!

"I can help you find a solution to the problem of digging wells. I have some experts in this area. As for the water reservoir, try to build it as much as possible. It's better than nothing!"

Kornilov and Nakhimov looked at each other and sighed. That was all they could do now, but they were curious about Li Xiao's purpose. They didn't believe that someone would take such a risk just to reminisce about the past.

"The main purpose of my trip is, first, to see the situation on your side... and second, I hope that you two can cooperate with us in carrying out some harassment operations. We must attack the coalition's sea lines of communication, otherwise once spring starts, your side will The situation will take a turn for the worse, and then the entire war situation will collapse!"

Kornilov and Nakhimov showed stern expressions. They naturally knew that the prospect was very bad, and the moment when the spring flowers bloomed was their fatal moment. Once Sevastopol is captured by the coalition forces, the blow to Russia will be extremely fatal!

They are not willing to be the sinners of the nation and the country, and even if they can barely support them, they hope to last longer.

"Strike the coalition's sea lines of communication? This is easier said than done!" Nakhimov sighed.

In fact, he, the person in charge of commanding the Black Sea Fleet, is the most depressed one now. For more than ten years before the war started, they had been constantly asking the Admiralty and Nicholas I to build more steamships. But the old eunuch and the tsar were both too stubborn to listen.

As a result, now that the war has begun, the Black Sea Fleet is at a comprehensive disadvantage facing other people's steam fleet. Although the withdrawal into the Sea of ​​Azov temporarily avoided the annihilation of the entire army, is there not much difference between such a fleet and the annihilation of the entire army?

It’s just a decoration!

Kornilov and Nakhimov get angry when they think about this. If their suggestions back then could be implemented, would they be so passive now?

But it is meaningless to say this now. What they are more curious about is what Li Xiao will use to attack the coalition's sea lines of communication.

Li Xiao replied confidently: "Naval battles are not limited to a decisive battle between large fleets. Although we have now lost control of the sea, there is nothing we can do against the coalition fleet. But this does not mean that we can do nothing!"

Li Xiao walked to the map of the Black Sea and said: "Although the main fleet of the coalition is very powerful, their attention must always be focused on Sevastopol, which means they control the Black Sea near Crimea. and blockade capabilities are the most powerful.”

"Secondly, there is the Bulgarian Port of Navarre. This is an important supply port for the coalition forces, and they pay special attention to it. But this is far from enough. If the main force of the Black Sea Fleet can cooperate and make some feints to cover our Danube Fleet's attack, it is completely possible. Do something."

Kornilov and Nakhimov were stunned. What the hell is the Danube Fleet? They remember that Wallachia only had a river fleet. Although there were many steamships, most of them were small boats, which was not useful at all!

"Small boats have their uses!" Li Xiao replied with a smile, "Now the Danube Fleet has a total of twenty-one steamships. It may not be able to deal with the coalition's battleships, but it is not a big problem to deal with the coalition's transport and supply ships. !”

In fact, Li Xiao had been holding back to causing trouble at sea. He had never intended to watch the British and French fleets run rampant in the Black Sea. Yes, he can't defeat your fleet, but he can defeat your transport ship.

Kornilov and Nakhimov were very cautious about Li Xiao's plan. After all, the British and French combined fleets were too powerful. They required the main force of the Black Sea Fleet to cooperate with feints and had to plan carefully. If something went wrong, this capital would be lost in an instant. All may be reimbursed.

However, Li Xiao dismissed this. In his opinion, the Black Sea Fleet had no value in the first place. What was the point of the old pure sail battleship? Besides scaring the Turks, what else can you do?

Even Turkey cannot be scared now. In the future, it will be just a pile of rotten wood. This is still an old battleship. As for other old frigates or frigates, they are even less valuable.

If this pile of junk can help the Danube Fleet sink more coalition supply ships, it will be of some value and can be used as waste heat. Otherwise, it is really just a pile of money-losing goods.

However, it was impossible for him to say this directly in front of Kornilov and Nakhimov, which would be tantamount to a slap in the face, so Li Xiao said: "I don't need the main force of the Black Sea Fleet to take too much risk, I just need to go out to Asia." Just take a quick stroll across the sea to attract the attention of the coalition navy and cover us in breaking through the blockade at the mouth of the Danube."

If it were just this request, Kornilov and Nakhimov would be able to agree, but they still don't have much confidence in the Danube Fleet...