"General, we'd better retreat! The food in the fortress can't last long. If this continues, even if the Continental Army can't break the fortress, I'm afraid our soldiers will starve to death!"
A British captain stood up and said to Monroe, and just after the captain finished speaking, several officers also echoed behind him.
"No, Captain Charles, you are talking nonsense! General, you must not listen to Charles. It is not that simple for us to retreat. Not to mention the strict order of the Governor, even if our army alone is
If they retreat, won't the Continental Army pursue them?
When the time comes when we lose the protection of the fortress, in the field, although our British army's combat effectiveness can be said to be strong, the Continental Army has more troops. The principle that ants kill an elephant is applicable everywhere!"
An officer immediately stood up and refuted the opinion of the captain named Charles.
At this moment, Monroe was actually in a dilemma.
It is no longer possible to recapture Dayton, but guarding the fortress? Without reinforcements, it is not a long-term solution at all. After all, the amount of grain and grass stored in the fortress is here, and if you retreat, you have to say that in
On the plain, facing the Continental Army tonight, even Monroe, who had always been proud of the British army's combat effectiveness, found it very difficult.
Seeing that Monroe did not express his position, the British officers in the military tent immediately divided into two groups and began to refute each other's opinions. The noisy situation made Monroe even more upset.
"Snapped!"
Monroe slapped the desk in front of him hard, then stood up with an angry face and shouted:
"Why are you making such a fuss? I am the commander, and the next move is up to me. What are you arguing about here?"
After roaring, Monroe immediately said to the messenger next to him:
"Immediately report to the Governor and tell him the actual situation here. If we don't get reinforcements within four days, then for the sake of the Kingdom of Great Britain, we can only abandon the fortress and withdraw our troops!"
After finishing speaking, Monroe stared fiercely at the British general in the military tent and said:
"I don't care what your opinions are. Anyway, I have to hold on for four days. If we don't get reinforcements after four days, then we will retreat!"
Standing on a well-preserved city wall in Dayton, Washington used a telescope to look at the situation of the British fort not far away. As he watched, Washington showed a solemn expression on his face.
"Nicholas, we underestimated the determination of the British! Look at these two fortresses, both from the outside and the inside. They are both strong. It may not be that easy to capture these two fortresses.
ah!"
After hearing Washington's words, Nicholas said with some disdain:
"Your Excellency, Marshal, Dayton has been captured by us, so what do these two fortresses mean? If you ask me, just let the army launch a fierce attack. Two days is enough to capture these two fortresses!"
After Nicholas finished speaking, Washington had a somewhat depressed smile on his face:
"Nicholas, you are brave when you are brave. But you are not a qualified commander at all! War is not a child's play, and it is not something that can be taken for granted!"
After hearing Washington's words, Nicholas said with some disapproval:
"Isn't it you? You are the commander-in-chief of the army, and I can be your pawn. I believe that with you, Marshal, our army can only win!"
Although Nikolai's flattery was a bit superficial, I have to say that Nikolai's flattery still made Washington's previously depressed mood a lot better.
Just when the two people were standing on the wall of Dayton, feeling like they were giving advice, an officer hurriedly came to Washington and said:
"Your Excellency, Marshal, we have obtained important information about the British army. According to a British prisoner of war, the logistics supplies of the two forts are transported by Dayton. There is no large amount of material storage in the two forts!"
Hearing these words, Washington was moved in his heart, and then said:
"Where is the prisoner of war? Take me there quickly!"
With that said, Washington impatiently asked the officer to take him to the location of the prisoner of war.
At the Continental Army prisoner of war camp in Dayton, Washington met this British prisoner of war. This prisoner of war had a high status. Judging from the markings on his uniform, he was a British major.
The Continental Army is not a good place for men and women, and the conditions are limited. Therefore, although this prisoner of war has a special status, the place where he is held can be said to be dirty, messy, and poor.
"I want to protest. I am an army major of the Kingdom of Great Britain. You cannot imprison me in a place like this! I need treatment that matches my status!"
Before he entered the military tent, Washington heard the protest from the British officer in the military tent. After Washington entered the military tent, it was obvious that the officer recognized Washington, and the protest became louder.
It has to be said that before Britain or the major European powers, captured enemy prisoners of war were also separated according to the usual practice. Officers and soldiers, nobles and civilians could not be imprisoned together. Secondly, for noble officers
, even after they become prisoners, their daily treatment is much better than that of the prisoners, and even better than that of the soldiers who guard them.
This kind of thing that is somewhat incomprehensible to Eastern countries is exactly a practice that has been popular on the European continent for hundreds of years.
"Presumptuous, stop your noise, this is the marshal of our Continental Army, Your Excellency Washington! Say what you just said again!"
A Continental Army officer scolded, but who knew that after being scolded, the British officer snorted coldly, then turned his head to the side without even looking at him. This made the Continental Army officer embarrassed.
To die.
Just when the Continental Army officer felt insulted and was about to use the whip in his hand to teach the British prisoners of war with bad attitudes, Washington grabbed the hand of the Continental Army officer and shook his head.
.
Then, Washington showed a smile on his face and said to the captured British officer:
"I'm sorry, because Dayton has just been captured. It's not on the right track yet, which makes you feel wronged. But don't worry, we will arrange for you treatment that matches your status right away. In this regard, our Continental Army
It can still be done!”
Washington's kind words had an effect, at least after hearing Washington's words. The expression on the British officer's face relaxed a little, then he turned to Washington and said:
"You must be Washington. I know that you, an army colonel who once fought for the glorious Kingdom of Great Britain, actually succumbed to becoming a thief. This is a shame for the glorious British Army! Your family has been loyal to the great British royal family for generations, but why?
Your generation is full of rebellious people, but you are not afraid of being crushed and thrown into ashes in the future!"
Even Washington, who has always been good-tempered, felt angry in his heart after hearing these words of the British officer.
You don’t slap people in the face when you hit them, you don’t expose others when you scold them. But now this British officer’s words are a naked slap in the face. How can this make the Washington Department angry?
However, Washington was no ordinary person. To be able to become the supreme commander of the Continental Army, Washington naturally had his own unique personality charm.
I only saw Washington smiling and saying:
"The British royal family has deprived the colonial people of their rights. For the sake of freedom and democracy, we naturally have to take up arms! Well, if you don't confess again, I can't guarantee that I can give you treatment that matches your status. You can't
Wish I had put you with those nigger slaves!"
After hearing Washington's words, the British officer's face turned red and white, and then he said dejectedly:
"I am the logistics officer in Dayton City. All the supplies for the fortress are supplied by Dayton. According to the current situation, there is not a lot of grain and grass supplies in the fortress. This is what I know!"
“How much is there if it’s not more?”
"No comment!"
Washington hit a rough patch, but he didn't care.
After walking out of the military tent, Washington said to Nicholas beside him:
"Pull the major inside out and put him with our black soldiers, and tell them to go down and let the black people take good care of our major, do you understand?"
As he spoke, a cold light flashed in Washington's eyes, and Nicholas naturally understood Washington's instructions.
For an arrogant person, the easiest way to break the arrogance in his heart is to let those who he once regarded as ants live with him day and night, and let these former ants become people who are above him.
In this case, arrogance will naturally disappear.
After learning that there was not much food and grass in the British fortress, the planned attack on the fortress was also stopped.
.....................................
"Why isn't it better yet? Hurry up!"
Standing on the Peter the Great of the Baltic Fleet, Alexander said anxiously to Ushakov beside him. At this moment, the crowd on the St. Petersburg pier was as busy as ants. These crowds were all nobles who wanted to escape St. Petersburg and their
Their families, and as for the civilians of St. Petersburg, it was impossible for them to even enter the dock area.
Because Alexander has issued an order to requisition all the ships on the St. Petersburg pier, and these ships will be used to carry the property of the St. Petersburg nobles. At the same time, the dock area has also been under martial law. If there is no family emblem ring passed down by the nobles from generation to generation, then even
Neither can enter the dock area.
After hearing Alexander's words, Ushakov looked a little embarrassed and said:
"Your Majesty, there are too many nobles, and they all carry a lot of belongings with their families. It will naturally take a long time to move these things!"
After Ushakov finished speaking, Alexander snorted coldly. You must know that the time now has passed five hours since he and Paning discussed it, far exceeding the original limit of three hours.
After all, after the nobles of St. Petersburg prepared to flee, they naturally rushed to the dock area hoping to leave with Alexander. As for these nobles, even if Alexander wanted to leave them behind, Alexander knew that if he really did this
, then the Romanov family will really be finished.
After all, it is impossible for a dynasty that has lost its popular support to make a comeback.
"In addition, Your Majesty, whether it is our warships or the ships that have been mobilized, they have reached a critical point. If there are no further restrictions, I am afraid that the ships will not be able to bear such a heavy weight and will not be able to operate!"
Ushakov thought for a while and then said in Alexander's ear. Alexander's face darkened when he heard Ushakov's words.
Looking at the doomsday scene on the pier, everyone was crowding onto the ship like ants, regardless of whether the ship could accommodate it. Moreover, some larger items occupied a larger space inside the ship.
Not long after Ushakov finished speaking, the ships still docked at the pier were seen signaling that the ships were full and overloaded.
"Your Majesty, slogans have been posted on all ships. The ships are already full or even overloaded. If this continues, no one will be able to leave!"
Ushakov said to Alexander with a solemn expression.
To be honest, Ushakov does not want to leave St. Petersburg. After all, he lives in this city and his family is also rooted in this city.
However, his loyalty to the Romanov dynasty still led Ushakov to accept Alexander's order.
As a veteran who has experienced the most glorious period of the Russian Empire. Looking at the doomsday scene in front of him, Ushakov couldn't help but feel a little sad.
"Order, fleet and all ships, to pull anchor immediately and proceed to Copenhagen!"
Alexander gave this order with a cold face, and then it seemed that Alexander couldn't bear to look at the scene in front of him anymore, so he turned and walked towards the cabin.
The Peter the Great immediately sent out a semaphore, and after seeing the flagship's semaphore, the Baltic Fleet and the mobilized ships no longer ignored the crowds crowding the dock waiting to board the ship and began to put away the sampans and pull out the anchors.
"Wait a minute, my son hasn't boarded the boat yet!"
"Why is the sampan being withdrawn? Don't leave, we haven't boarded the boat yet!"
The ship and the pier were full of noisy and dissatisfied people. Some of their families had not yet boarded the ship, and some of their belongings had not yet been loaded onto the ship.
But when they protested against the captain of the ship, the sailors on the ship held guns to their chests.
"It is His Majesty's order to sail the ship. Everyone obeys it unconditionally. If I ask you any more, I will throw you overboard!"
In the face of power, people bowed their heads, but cries began to sound among the crowd.
Just when the people on the dock began to feel desperate, they suddenly saw two transport ships docked at the corner of the dock.
"Everyone, hurry up, there's a boat there!"
People who saw it immediately ran towards the corner of the pier.
But unfortunately, unlike before, these two ships were not used to carry them.
The two ships docked at the corner of the pier were the ones Alexander left on the pier to carry the Guardsmen on duty. After all, if there were no ships left for these Guardsmen, I am afraid that these Guardsmen would have fled in all directions.
Where is it possible to maintain order?
"These two ships belong to the military. Please stop immediately. Please stop immediately. Otherwise, military law will be enforced!"
Several officers stood behind the blockade formed by soldiers and kept shouting to the rushing crowd, but it was obvious that these people did not pay attention to the shouts of these officers.
After all, when people see a path of hope, even in the face of a hail of bullets, they will do their best for that glimmer of hope.
"shot!"
Finally, when the crowd on the pier was about to break through the blockade and saw that the soldiers could no longer resist, a Guards officer with the rank of colonel on his shoulder immediately gave the order to fire.
You must know that there are still some soldiers who have not boarded the ship. If they are blocked by this crowd at this time, then those soldiers may never want to board the ship. It was under this situation that the Guards officer gave the order to open fire.
And just after the officer's order was issued, although the hands of these Guards soldiers were trembling, they still followed the officer's order and pulled the triggers one after another.
"Bang bang bang bang..."
Explosions like beans began to sound on the pier, and those who rushed to the front were shot and fell down. The crowd was stunned after the soldiers opened fire, and then when they saw a large number of people around them being shot
After falling down, the crowd began to flee.
"What are you stunned for? Get on the boat quickly. Do you still want to leave?"
After seeing the shooting, several soldiers were obviously stunned. A Guards officer yelled and cursed, then dragged the soldiers and ran towards the ship.
At nine o'clock in the morning on June 1, 1794, Brankov led the rebels into St. Petersburg without any bloodshed.
The remaining noble ministers of the former dynasty in St. Petersburg stood at the gate of St. Petersburg to welcome Brankov's arrival.
However, Brankov didn't pay much attention to these gate nobles. He directly led the army into St. Petersburg. After all, he had the army blockade the entire St. Petersburg immediately.
"Immediately organize the army to impose martial law on St. Petersburg and arrange patrol teams. During this period, anyone who behaves strangely and takes advantage of the chaos to burn, kill, humiliate and loot will be captured by me regardless of their identity! In addition, in accordance with the importance of the army protecting the city of St. Petersburg,
Buildings, especially the Winter Palace! No one is allowed to touch anything without my permission!"
After entering the Winter Palace, Brankov issued his first order after taking over St. Petersburg.
Surrounded by a group of rebel generals, Brankov came to the main hall of the Winter Palace.
Looking at this majestic and gorgeous hall in front of him, Brankov felt complicated. He thought about how he had been received by Catherine II in this hall countless times.
He looked extremely humble in front of the Romanov dynasty.
But now, he has become the owner of this building that he once inexplicably awed! (To be continued...)