Although the Russian army had sent people to submit an ultimatum to the Northern Navy, which was regarded as a declaration of war, Rumyantsev did not take action.
Since the beginning of spring, he has written three consecutive letters to the "old lady" in Petersburg, saying that without an elite force of 50,000 people, it would be difficult for him to drive the enemy back to the east of the Ergun River.
Beginning in 1790, the Russian army's main strategic goal in the war with Turkey was to besiege the Izmail Fortress, rather than annihilate the Turkish army in the field, so it did not require too many troops, 40,000 troops were enough.
However, the empress's favorite has been obstructing the transfer of the Southern Army Group to the east, so the Russian army currently has only 40,000 troops deployed in Eastern Siberia, of which 10,000 are new soldiers.
Rumyantsev deployed 15,000 elite cavalry and infantry in the direction of Nizhny Udinsk, leaving 10,000 in reserve, while only 15,000 were deployed in the series of fortresses on the Angara River.
The conflict between the old marshal and Potemkin has been around for a long time. He never considered the other person a professional soldier. When the latter ruled the land adjacent to Little Russia, Rumyantsev felt offended.
In fact, if it had not been for the appearance of the Northern Navy, Rumyantsev's military career would have been completely ended. The old marshal, who knew it well, cherished and attached great importance to this opportunity to fight on the Eastern Front and would never allow himself to fail.
Clausewitz in another time and space said that combat is a real military activity, and all other activities serve it. The reason why he said this is because Clausewitz in this time and space only
Just ten years old.
As a commander-in-chief, in the past two years of preparation, what Rumyantsev did most was actually "service". For example, how to provide all necessary things for the troops in a more systematic manner, including daily supplies and support for the rear.
While serving, he also paid attention to the health and logistics of soldiers.
He often wore an ordinary uniform and went deep into the soldiers to chat with them, asking about their family situations and personal requirements, recalling the cities they had captured with the officers, and talking about the countries they had visited. In this way
When the war is approaching, the old marshal's behavior often makes people feel that the war is still far away from them.
The "Seven Years' War" that took place in the 1850s and 1860s, and his later experience as governor of Little Russia, made Rumyantsev not only a military leader, but also accumulated a lot of knowledge on how to govern local areas.
experience.
In the spring of 1789, Rumyantsev arrived in Yeniseisk. It was the early administrative and economic center of Eastern Siberia, and it was from here that later Cossack expeditions moved south and east.
Throughout the following summer, in addition to waiting for the arrival of troops and adjusting training manuals, he spent most of his time patrolling Kolivan Province and the western areas of Irkutsk Province that had not yet been occupied by the Northern Navy.
The administrative planning of the Tsarist Empire in Siberia went through several changes in the more than eighty years from Peter I to Catherine II. The Siberian province in the time of Peter I was a large area; it included the Ural Mountains and the entire
Siberia was the largest of the eight provinces of the Tsarist Russian Empire at that time.
In 1719, Siberia was divided into three provinces, Vyatka, Solkama and Tobolsk, with a cumulative population of more than 60,000 households. By 1724, Yenisey and Irkutsk provinces
It was separated from Tobolsk Province, but still under the jurisdiction of Siberia Province. Later, the western Vyatka Province and Solikamsk Province were placed under the jurisdiction of Kazan Province.
In 1783, the original provinces were abolished. The entire Siberia was composed of three provinces from west to east, Tobolsk, Kolivan and Irkutsk. The Irkutsk Province included the
There are four regions: Irkutsk, Nerchinsk (Nerchinsk), Okhotsk and Yakutsk.
Beginning in May 1789, Rumyantsev began to conduct a "general inventory" of Eastern Siberia, with the main purpose of increasing tax revenue for huge military expenditures.
Subsequently, a large number of staff officers, non-commissioned officers, and clerks were mobilized as auditors to conduct a census of the population and livestock of each settlement. A list of public buildings was made, the number of residences and homeless huts was marked, and the residents were assessed.
Detailed statistics were made on his health, handicrafts, land, and the profitability of various businesses. After that, he ordered that all homeless and bankrupt people be recruited into the army.
Rumyantsev's actions certainly reduced military expenditures and increased tax revenue in Petersburg; on this point, he was always in step with the old lady in Tsarskoye Selo.
But the problem was such that the transition from serfs to free peasants was suspended, and large areas of land ownership and possession of dependent peasants were divided among big businessmen.
Many lower-level soldiers and lower-level officers disapproved of the Eastern Front Command's high-profile internal affairs work. However, many people did not know that in addition to waiting for the arrival of follow-up troops, the Commander-in-Chief also had to select outstanding officers to work at the headquarters; it was also very difficult.
Few people know that he often summoned generals stationed nearby to study the North Korean Navy's tactics and combat plans for a long time.
In fact, in the past, no one would have thought that a huge force of 40,000 people was not enough. However, since Suvorov's disastrous defeat in Yaksa, the overwhelming firepower of the Northern Navy has really made the Russians afraid. Therefore, the most urgent task for the Russian army at present is
The question is what tactics should be used to deal with the North Korean navy's weapon projection density.
Speaking of infantry tactics, the old marshal now felt that in order to defeat the Northern Navy, the column tactics he most admired might not be feasible.
Although the "column loose formation tactic" originated from the French army in the mid-eighteenth century, its use by the French army was not very successful during the Seven Years' War, so the column tactic was considered to have no future at the time and was quickly abandoned.
This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading! The "line array" based on horizontal formations is the cornerstone of infantry tactics in all European countries in this era. A smaller army can destroy the enemy at close range through intensive and accurate firepower.
Large numbers of enemies operating in distant formations but poorly trained. This is what the British Army did in India.
Linear tactics in the classical sense still existed in the British army at the end of the 18th century. The British adopted a new tactic - they deployed their troops behind the mountains, in the blind spot of the enemy's fire, and then launched a decisive attack from the flank by surprise.
.
The infantry formation training in these days was not just about carrying a gun for a walk. When you reached a suitable distance, you would perform a second or third attack. On those seemingly flat battlefields, there were countless potholes, rocks and shrubs. Think about it.
Maintaining an orderly battle line is a skill that requires long-term training. Once the pace is disrupted due to ground obstacles during the march, the order of the entire battle line will fall into chaos.
In addition to ordinary footwork, there is also accelerated footwork when charging. In order to prevent the formation from being dispersed, the requirement for accelerated footwork in these years was 100 steps per minute. So let alone East Asian farmers, European peasant recruits of the period wanted to master it.
These trainings are no easy task either.
In fact, the reason why column tactics were first used by the French was because a large number of temporarily recruited soldiers were of poor quality. They were often put into battle before they had fully mastered complex footwork training, and they could not shoot four times in one minute.
Therefore, column tactics became the only option. This kind of huge column composed of a large number of people would make the soldiers confident of victory.
The Russians had a similar problem. Although Tsarist Russian soldiers have always been known for their high endurance, their formations were not very good. At the same time, the effectiveness of rifle shooting was affected by low fire rate and medium accuracy. So Rumyantsev
In the "Battle of Colburg" twenty-nine years ago, we learned from the French and adopted column tactics against the Prussian reinforcements of more than 10,000 troops. From then on, it became out of control.
However, after Rumyantsev and Suvorov had an in-depth discussion, the old marshal keenly noticed that the Northern Navy's infantry attack tactics were neither lines nor columns, but a completely loose formation spread over a large area.
Combined with the density of firepower suffered by the Russian army in the Battle of Yaksa, Rumyantsev has vaguely understood that if the Russian army wants to win this war, it will inevitably suffer huge casualties. For this reason, he must let his officers
They understand the cost of fighting the North Navy, and this can bring about changes in tactical thinking.
So in the winter of 1789, the Tsarist Russian army used "Zaimka Fortress" as its advance base, surrounded the salt industry town of Usolye, and conducted many battles with the Northern Navy stationed here to test the enemy's firepower density.
.
This trick appeared many times in Africa in the 19th century in the history of another time and space. Whether it was the Sudanese or the Zulus, they always sent death squads first to test the British army's firepower and effective shooting range. As long as they could withstand casualties
, rush to the enemy quickly, then you can win with numbers.
Facing Tsarist Russia's attack, Liu Sheng certainly would not sit idly by. The salt produced in Usolye once supplied the entire Irkutsk Province and could not be taken back by the Russian army, so he moved the original garrison to
From a company to a battalion.
Because of the severe cold in winter, the Beihai Navy adopted a defensive counterattack. At the same time, in order not to expose the artillery, Liu Sheng ordered each company to use only mortars.
After experiencing "ideal" results but heavy losses, Rumyantsev and his staff team tirelessly warned the junior officers that they must adjust their combat methods with the Northern Navy according to the new tactics.
"Gentlemen, you must give up those flashy linear tactics. Maybe this method can be useful against the Turks, but if you want to deal with our enemies in the east, you will only lose your life in vain!"
"We must use a large number of chasseurs and cavalry to attract the enemy from the solid fortifications and launch high-speed mobile operations in the plains."
"Regimental artillery must be dispersed and deployed on the enemy's flanks and in front of the main force. The lessons of Yaksa City are enough to make us vigilant!"
After June 22, Liu Sheng, who received the ultimatum, has yet to take action. His problem is the lack of troops. At present, there are only 3,000 troops in Irkutsk, and the rest are scattered to the east of Lake Baikal.
The towns are dispersed and garrisoned. Therefore, the current defense is sufficient and there is no chance of attacking.
When the reconnaissance team previously sent to the northern foot of the Sayan Mountains arrived at the edge of the Angara Basin, they encountered a tenacious blockade by the Russian cavalry and light infantry. No one was stupid, and the Russians were also capable of "battlefield cover". Although they brought
They were armed with machine guns, but a reconnaissance team of more than twenty people could not carry a large amount of ammunition, so they had no choice but to turn around and return.
One afternoon in mid-July 1790, Zhao Xin, whose trip was delayed due to two heavy rains, finally arrived in Irkutsk with the guard camp. Without making any fanfare, he mingled with the guard camp and pretended to be a soldier.
The arrival of a large number of reinforcements and Zhao Xin made Liu Sheng finally feel relieved. He was nervous not because of Zhao Xin, but because Fan Tong returned news from Kyaktu two days ago.
According to reports from the Navy's hidden line in Maimai City, about 10,000 Qing troops arrived and stationed twenty miles south of Maimai City, most of them were Khalkha Mongolian cavalry. As a result, the Beihai Special Zone was divided into the north, west and south.
There are enemies in three directions.
Zhao Xin knew about this situation when he arrived in Verkhnokhnudinsk. He now seriously suspected that Tsarist Russia had colluded with the Manchus in the south. As soon as the ultimatum was issued here, Kulun's troops moved over there. This was also
What a coincidence, right?
Even if the Manchus and Qing Dynasties did not dare to act rashly because of the lesson they learned from Dagonkou, they would be at war with Tsarist Russia in the front, and with such a large number of troops guarding their backs, no one would be able to stay at ease.
Liu Sheng said: "I plan to ask Fan Tong to issue an ultimatum to the Qing army in Qia Ketu and tell them to get out, otherwise they will bombard the trading city."
Zhao Xin shook his head and said: "It makes no sense. The Manchus have now made it clear that they want to be a dog-skin plaster. If they can't defeat us, they will cause trouble for us. I guess what Qianlong wants is that once we are defeated by the Russians, he will have to pounce on us and take a bite."
Liu Sheng said: "If he does this, he won't be afraid of us going to Dagukou again?"
Zhao Xindao: "Didn't Xiao Fan say that he is a Mongolian from Khalkha? When the Manchus and Qing dynasties come and push one, six, two and five, and then find a Mongolian Taiji Kacha to take the blame, what will you do? I guess they have figured us out now.
I have no time to look south and wait for the opportunity to become a fisherman."
"Fisherman?"
"The snipe and the clam are fighting."
After hearing this, Liu Sheng threw a cigarette to Zhao Xin and said with a smile: "I have heard what Lao Yu said, your knowledge has improved greatly in the past year, you like to talk half a sentence, and you always talk about words. With that gang
If a scholar stays for a long time, he will become a black man if he is close to the ink."
Zhao Xin smiled and scolded: "Damn! How about we switch? You deal with those scholars, and I help you guard the border and let you increase your knowledge?"
"Stop it, I'm still waiting to march into the desert." Liu Sheng turned around and looked around. Seeing that there was no one around him, he suddenly asked in a low voice: "Is your battlefield syndrome getting better?"
"What the hell, why don't you open the pot?" Zhao Xin shook his head, and then said: "Let's not talk about this anymore, let Fan Tong come back, and then call 'Governor Zhang', and we will have a meeting together tomorrow."
After that, he walked to the map hanging on the wall, pointed to the Angara Basin to the west, and asked Liu Sheng without looking back: "What do you say about the intelligence of the reconnaissance team?"
"They only found one regiment of troops." Liu Sheng came over and said, "I suspect that the Russians put at least five regiments there."
"Nine thousand people," Zhao Xin murmured to himself: "Let's count it as ten thousand people. Ten thousand people in the west and fifteen thousand people in the north. This is less than the original strength of Yaksa. They have been preparing for two years.
,is it possible?"
Liu Shengdao: "The information I got from Sibiliakov and Basnin was not accurate. Some said 50,000, some said 40,000, and some people told me about the increase in troops in St. Petersburg.
We argued for a long time."
When he said this, he suddenly asked: "By the way, when do you plan to meet those five businessmen? They are waiting crazy for this year's tea. I have asked Malkovich several times. Zhang Jingxuan doesn't know,
Just come and ask me. How the hell do I have time to care about this!"
Zhao Xin smiled and said: "Liu, you should have told me this in the telegram before. You have to care about tea. It is also a kind of weapon, useful for both Tsarist Russia and the Mongols. So,
In your name, I tell Sibiliakov that if you have time, I will pay him a visit at his home tomorrow, no, the night after tomorrow."