Dmitri did not think that Count Rostovtsev’s decision-making was particularly wise. At least there were mistakes in the decision-making on the Ukrainian rebellion, at least there were problems. How could Ukraine be allowed to be ignored?
This is the breadbasket of Russia and even Europe! It is related to the survival of tens of millions of people, how can you be so cruel!
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 and was very dissatisfied with the current situation. Not only did he have problems with logistical supplies, but also with the morale of his troops. More importantly, he had no idea about the strength of the Chernihiv rebels.
!
Before he went abroad to fight in Wallachia, with the full cooperation of Li Xiao and Alexey, he did not discover 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 Chernisid! The most accurate map he had on hand turned out to be an antique from the battle with Napoleon half a century ago.
What is the use of this thing? Fifty years have passed, not only things have changed, but at least road traffic has undergone great changes. God knows how many stupid mistakes he will make if he really uses 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 two years ago when they went abroad to suppress the rebellion in Austria and Hungary. Was it just a reckless way to go?
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 the most basic work well.
Dmitry made up his mind. After returning to St. Petersburg, he must urge the General Staff to quickly survey and update the map. He must not go to war in his own country and lose sight of it...
But that is a matter of the future, and the current difficulties can only be overcome by himself. His method is very simple. On the one hand, he sends numerous reconnaissance troops to find out the local situation, on the other hand, he actively searches for guides who are familiar with the local situation. Finally,
A group of artillery officers were also organized to pick up surveying and mapping equipment and improvise.
You ask why artillery officers do this? The reason is simple, because they are the only ones suitable to do this. 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 literacy or the most basic military literacy is the artillery officer. Those who can be an artilleryman are basically not illiterate, and they also have reliable mathematical abilities. Don’t think that artillery is easy. It requires mathematics.
It's not that 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 was satisfied with Dmitry's arrangements. A considerable number of officers thought that he was making too much fuss. These people did not think that counterinsurgency required 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 over with A!
And this is another problem that gives Dmitry a headache. The mood of his troops is extremely polarized. Most of the grassroots soldiers and low-level officers are very war-weary. They have just saved their lives in the Crimean War and really don’t want to go back to the Crimean War.
On the battlefield.
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 uprising of the Ukrainian serfs.
But the mid-level and senior officers are a different story. Each of these people is eager to fight. They are 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, they are from aristocratic backgrounds and hate those dishonest mud-legged people.
It would be better to 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 disastrous defeat.
"But Colonel Alexander Vasilyevich and the others are impatient and have been speaking ill of you, saying that you are as fearful of the enemy as a tiger and as timid 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 is 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 mobs 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 scatter like birds and beasts 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 has said that no one is allowed to act without authorization, otherwise military law will be imposed!"
Alexander Vasilyevich slammed the table angrily and angrily shouted: "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 it, this is a life 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, and they need these things to entertain them even on the battlefield, otherwise they will not be able to endure it for a whole day!