Struggle in Russia

Dmitri did not think that Count Rostovtsev's decision-making was particularly wise. At least there were mistakes, at least problems, in the decision-making on the Ukrainian rebellion. How could Ukraine be allowed to be ignored?

This is the breadbasket of Russia and even Europe! How can you be so cruel when it concerns the survival of millions of people?

Especially when Dmitri arrived in Ukraine and saw the most real situation in Ukraine, he increasingly felt that Count Rostovtsev had made a big mistake!

"Where's the information on Chernihiv? Why hasn't it come yet?"

Dmitri stared at the map, dissatisfied with the current situation. Not only did he have problems with logistical supplies, but he also had problems with the morale of his troops. More importantly, he had no idea about the strength of the Chernihiv rebels!

Before going abroad to fight in Wallachia, with the full cooperation of Li Xiao and Alexey, he had not discovered that the Russian army had a lot of basic problems.

For example, regarding the most basic map issue for marching and fighting, he didn't even have a detailed map of the area around Chernysid! The most accurate map on hand turned out to be an antique from the battle with Napoleon half a century ago.

What's the use of this thing? Fifty years have passed. Not only things have changed, but at least road traffic has changed a lot. God knows what stupid mistakes he would make if he really used this old antique to command operations!

Thinking about it, this was still a local battle. He couldn't imagine how Paskovich and Prince Mikhail fought in the past two years when they went abroad to suppress the rebellion in Austria and Hungary. Was it just a reckless way?

Of course it was impossible to go all the way recklessly, but at that time Paskovich and Prince Mikhail had help from Austria. Although Austria was not much more advanced than Russia, at least it could still do this most basic work well.

Dmitry made up his mind that after returning to St. Petersburg, he must urge the General Staff to quickly survey and update the map, and he must not go to war in his own country and lose sight of it. ..

But that is in the future, and the current difficulties can only be overcome by himself. His method was simple. On the one hand, he sent numerous reconnaissance troops to find out the local situation. On the other hand, he actively searched for guides who were familiar with the local situation. Finally, he organized a group of artillery officers to pick up surveying and mapping equipment to improvise.

You ask why an artillery officer did this? The reason is very simple, because they are the only ones suitable for this job. The quality of other infantry and cavalry officers is too low. They don't know a few words in most words. How can they do the work of precise surveying and mapping!

Yes, in this era, the most reliable military quality or the most basic military quality is the artillery officer. Those who are capable of being artillerymen are basically not illiterate, and they also have reliable mathematical abilities. Don't think that artillery is easy, as the requirements for mathematics are not generally high.

You see, Napoleon, who was so powerful in Europe back then, was an artilleryman. Anyone who doesn't know how to use artillery and doesn't understand mathematics will never become a famous general!

Although the overall quality of the Russian artillery is a little worse than that of its European counterparts, the difference is due to the serf soldiers. The Russian artillery officers are still qualified, and there is no problem in doing at least some basic surveying and mapping work.

Of course, not everyone is satisfied with Dmitry's arrangements. A considerable number of officers think that he is a bit too fussy. These people do not think that counterinsurgency requires such a complex and delicate operation.

In their opinion, their opponents are just a bunch of mud-legged people who haven't even washed the mud off their feet. There's nothing to be afraid of! Just go straight to A!

And this is another headache for Dmitry. The emotions of his troops are extremely polarized. Most of the grassroots soldiers and low-level officers are very war-weary. They have just recovered their lives from the Crimean War and really don't want to go to the battlefield again.

What's more, their target this time is still the class they came from, which makes them feel very guilty. After all, they feel the same about the Ukrainian serfs' uprising.

But the mid-level and senior officers are a different story. These people are all eager to fight, eager to put down the rebellion in one fell swoop and earn a large sum of military merit so that they can go back to St. Petersburg to show off their bragging rights. Moreover, being from noble backgrounds, they hated those dishonest mud-legged people and wished they could kill them all.

Moreover, they looked down upon these rebellious serfs and did not take them seriously at all. They felt that as long as their swords, guns and cannons passed by, they would be defeated in a matter of minutes.

As a result, mid-level and senior officers were eager to fight, while low-level officers and soldiers were afraid of fighting. The polarized morale completely torn Dmitri's troops apart. He knew that if he went to the battlefield like this, he would be sure to wait for him. It was a fiasco.

"But Colonel Alexander Vasilyevich and the others are impatient. They have been speaking ill of you, saying that you are as fearful of the enemy as a tiger and as cowardly as a mouse..."

Dmitri replied without raising his head: "Let them speak, but no soldier is allowed to move without my order!"

The adjutant was hesitant to speak. In fact, he was a little bit critical of Dmitri's caution. But after all, he had been with Dmitri for so long. He knew Dmitri's style and knew that this officer was not timid. Man, maybe there’s a reason for his caution?

It's just that the adjutant couldn't figure out the reason. Even if the number of rebels was really large, they were just a bunch of rabble after all!

It’s not like there are no precedents for serf uprisings in history. Even under Nicholas I’s high-pressure rule, serfs revolted, but what did they do?

There was no time when they didn't disperse as soon as the army arrived and were quickly wiped out!

In the opinion of the adjutant, this time is no exception. Although their momentum this time is indeed a bit scary, he does not believe that these idiots can really shake the Russian tradition!

"How is it? What did the count say?" Alexander Vasilyevich asked impatiently.

The adjutant shook his head and said: "The commander-in-chief said that no one is allowed to act without authorization, otherwise military law will be imposed!"

Alexander Vasilyevich slapped the table angrily and angrily yelled: "Shit! We have been living in this hellish place for half a month, not to mention eating chaffy vegetables, there is no dance, no opera, no head mother. Even pigs can’t see that this life is lived by humans!”

The adjutant curled his lips. He knew very well that the source of the anger of the middle and senior officers was not that Dmitri was slow in his actions, but that Dmitri kept letting them stay in a rural place surrounded only by mud.

For most aristocratic officers, a life without balls and ladies is simply unimaginable. They are used to singing and dancing, even on the battlefield they need these things to cheer them up, otherwise they will not be able to endure it for a whole day!