Chapter seven hundred and ninety-eight no confidence
Does Li Xiao have any idea? Strictly speaking, no, because the situation is such that Grand Duke Constantine is very stubborn, and at this moment, both his father and his son are like gamblers who have lost their sights, trying to make a comeback.
Are you willing to stop?
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 unavoidable. To be honest, no one could fill this hole. It was simply a dead end.
Li Xiao sighed and said: "If you just solve the drinking water problem, I can still help you, but in the long run, it is not that difficult to hold Sevastopol, 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 Menshikov and others who were desperate
After the ground kept delivering food, they knew that holding Sevastopol was as difficult as climbing to the sky.
For them, the issue of whether they can hold on is no longer considered. 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 reservoirs and store as much water as possible!"
Kornilov and Nakhimov immediately felt distressed, because if Sevastopol was suitable for drilling wells to extract groundwater, then why bother building an aqueduct? As for building a reservoir, Nima,
Where is this space in the city?
How big is a reservoir when tens of thousands of people drink water? Isn’t this a joke?
"I can help you find a solution to the problem of digging a well. 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, firstly, to see the situation on your side... and secondly, 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. The moment when spring bloomed would be their fatal moment. Once Sevastopol was captured by the coalition forces, what would happen to Russia?
The blow will be extremely fatal!
They are not willing to be the sinners of the nation and the country, and even if they are trying to support them, they hope to last longer.
"Strike the coalition 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. However, the old eunuch and the Tsar were extremely stubborn and could not do it at all.
listen.
As a result, now that the war has begun, the Black Sea Fleet is at a complete disadvantage in the face of its steam fleet. Although it has temporarily avoided annihilation by withdrawing into the Sea of Azov, is there little difference between such a fleet and annihilation?
It’s just a decoration!
Kornilov and Nakhimov are very 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 and have nothing to do against the coalition fleet, it 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 that they control the Black Sea near Crimea.
and the most powerful blocking capability.”
"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 was the Danube Fleet? They remembered that Wallachia only had a river fleet. Although there were many steamships, most of them were small boats and were not useful at all.
ah!
"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 has always been holding back to do things at sea. He 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 always defeat your transport ships.
.
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 was dismissive of this. In his opinion, the Black Sea Fleet had no value in the first place. What was the point of the old pure sailing battleship? Apart from scaring the Turks, what else could it 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 more worthless.
If this pile of junk can help the Danube Fleet sink more allied 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...