Make France Great Again-Chapter 643 - 634 Alexander II Arrives in Crimea

Chapter 643: Chapter 634 Alexander II Arrives in Crimea
"Commander, are you really preparing to launch an offensive soon?"
Ivanov Gorchakov’s inquiry once again made Gorchakov’s heart heavy.
He clearly knew that launching a full assault on Sevastopol while the army was plagued by disease was highly unwise, not to mention that the logistics of the Russian Imperial Army were still in a state of short supply.
If the Russian Empire managed to capture Sevastopol, all would be well, but if the Russian Empire faltered, the morale of the Imperial Army would plummet.
As the saying goes, defeat is like a landslide. Gorchakov feared he would follow in Menshikov’s footsteps... no, he might even be judged worse than Prince Menshikov.
After all, Prince Menshikov faced an Allied force several times their size, so even losing would not be too disgraceful.
But Gorchakov held the entire elite forces of the Southern Front in his hands.
If they lost, Gorchakov could hardly imagine if the Empire’s Southern Front would face collapse.
However, not attacking Sevastopol would also be hard to justify to Emperor Nicholas I.
Since entering August, the Ministry of War has been sending letters every few days, urging Gorchakov to prepare the attack plan swiftly.
Gorchakov understood that these letters were orders from Nicholas I through the Ministry of War.
This meant that Commander Gorchakov had no choice but to forge ahead.
Thinking about it, Commander Gorchakov’s heart became melancholic: "Ivanov, tell me what we should do if we don’t follow the Ministry of War’s orders?"
"Commander, in my personal opinion! The priority should be to prepare winter clothing and then order the troops to advance on Yevpatoria! After occupying Yevpatoria, we will then move on Sevastopol!" Ivanov Gorchakov said to Commander Gorchakov, then indignantly added: "Anyone with common sense knows that the temperature drops in September on the Crimea Peninsula! If we attack now, we are bound to face the first cold wave during the advance!
What should we do then? I really don’t know what the people in the Ministry of War are thinking! Can’t those gentlemen come to the front line to see?
Attacking Sevastopol at this time? Do they want our army to fight against the English and French in light clothing?"
Ivanov Gorchakov’s statements were exactly what Gorchakov wanted to say but couldn’t because he knew that the Ministry of War also didn’t want to fight now; behind them stood the monarch, Nicholas I.
If he didn’t start the war, Nicholas I would suspect Gorchakov of colluding with Crown Prince Alexander II and Minister of War Dolgorukov to maliciously resist his policies.
To Gorchakov, being dismissed or exiled by Nicholas I wasn’t a big issue.
After all, he was almost sixty years old and had lived long enough.
If he implicated Crown Prince Alexander, then Gorchakov himself would be eternally guilty.
The Russian Empire needed a reform, and Nicholas I obviously couldn’t lead it; thus, only Crown Prince Alexander could be its leader.
Gorchakov, who loved the Russian Empire more than his own life (not missing a penny that should be had), could not let Crown Prince Alexander be troubled.
"Major Ivanov!" Gorchakov furrowed his brows and loudly rebuked Ivanov Gorchakov: "Who allowed you to recklessly critique your superiors!"
"Commander, this is just the Ministry of War’s nonsense!" Ivanov Gorchakov clearly did not understand the inside story; he fully believed that Nicholas I was unaware of this: "If you this to His Majesty Nicholas I, I don’t believe the Ministry of War could still urge you!"
"Hmph!" Gorchakov coldly replied, "If it was just the Ministry of War’s orders, it would be easier!"
"You mean..." Ivanov Gorchakov drew out his words to Gorchakov.
"Some things are better for you not to know!" Gorchakov seemed to say nothing yet everything.
"Your Majesty, what is all this for?" Ivanov Gorchakov’s voice trembled slightly: "We obviously have such huge territories; we can entirely rely on them to wear them down! Now we, instead, are being led by the nose. Is Sevastopol more important than Moscow? Didn’t we abandon Moscow back then?"
"Enough! Don’t say any more!" Gorchakov sternly rebuked: "We are soldiers; our mission is to obey the will of the monarch! To shed the last drop of blood for the monarch; look at your current state, do you still consider yourself an exemplary soldier? Are you that afraid of death?"
"Uncle, I am not afraid of sacrifice!" Ivanov Gorchakov retorted: "But I hope my sacrifice has meaning," (Ivanov Gorchakov shaking his head) "I really don’t understand why our monarch is so eager to capture Sevastopol!
Can’t he wait a little longer? Must he make us attack amidst the wind, snow, and cold?"
"Major Ivanov!" Gorchakov slammed the table heavily and said to Ivanov Gorchakov, "Your position is merely an ordinary staff officer in the Russian Army, and your task is to complete the assignments I give you! The rest, you need not concern yourself with, nor do you have the right to concern yourself with, understood?"
Major Ivanov Gorchakov, who had been admonished by Gorchakov, replied in a low voice, "Understood! Commander Gorchakov!"
"Alright! You just continue to follow up with the hospital! I’ll handle the rest!" Gorchakov ordered Ivanov Gorchakov with a wave of his hand.
"Yes!" Ivanov Gorchakov replied listlessly, then turned to leave.
"Wait!" Before Ivanov Gorchakov reached the door, Commander Gorchakov’s voice called out to him.
"Commander, what is it?" Ivanov Gorchakov turned around and asked Commander Gorchakov expressionlessly.
"The wine on the windowsill, take it with you!" Commander Gorchakov pointed to the wine and said to Ivanov Gorchakov, "You’ve worked hard!"
"It’s what I should do!" Ivanov Gorchakov forced a smile, took quick steps to the windowsill, and picked up the wine.
"Take your wine and go!" Commander Gorchakov waved and ordered Ivanov Gorchakov to leave.
Not long after Ivanov Gorchakov left, Gorchakov’s face was filled with worry again. He looked once more at the list of non-combatant casualties in his hand, unsure whether he should send this news to St. Petersburg.
About 5 minutes later, Gorchakov placed the list into the drawer.
It’s better not to inform St. Petersburg about this; even if they were informed, it would only result in more scolding.
Emperor Nicholas I would never understand the difficulties of the frontline troops; he would only relentlessly urge advancement.
Just as Commander Gorchakov was preparing to leave the room for a walk, a knock sounded again.
Sigh! I wonder what bad news it is this time!
Gorchakov sighed, then sat back down and said towards the door, "Come in!"
The door opened, and an adjutant rushed in in a fluster.
"What’s wrong?" Commander Gorchakov looked at the adjutant in confusion.
"Commander!" The adjutant swallowed and replied to Gorchakov, "The special envoy of His Majesty the Emperor has arrived!"
"What’s there to panic about?" Commander Gorchakov shrugged and responded to the adjutant, "Just let the envoy in!"
"Commander, this envoy requires you to personally greet them!" the adjutant said to Gorchakov.
"Requires me to personally greet them?" Gorchakov was even more puzzled. He didn’t know what kind of envoy would require his personal greeting. "Is the envoy a relative of His Majesty the Emperor?"
"It’s the Crown Prince!" The adjutant hastily informed Gorchakov, not keeping him in suspense.
"What?" Upon hearing news of the Crown Prince’s arrival, Gorchakov’s pupils dilated slightly, and his face showed a shocked expression. "Where is the Crown Prince now?"
"Commander, on the opposite side of the river (Crimea River) in the small town!" The adjutant said to Gorchakov.
"What are you waiting for! Take me to see the Crown Prince!" Commander Gorchakov immediately got up and headed outside.
Upon leaving the fortress, the adjutant and Gorchakov led a team of Cossack cavalry northward, quickly arriving at a military bridge, and after crossing it, they entered the Ukraine Region.
"How much longer?" Commander Gorchakov asked the adjutant while riding a horse.
"Commander, about 10 versts more, and we will reach a small town where the Crown Prince is stopped!" The adjutant gestured toward the distance and responded to Gorchakov.
[PS: Verst: A Russian length unit, 1 verst = 500 sazhen ≈ 1.0668 kilometers.]
Gorchakov and the adjutant continued forward, and after the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the small town appeared before them.
As the group rode into the small town, they immediately garnered the attention of the residents, many of whom looked at these unexpected visitors with curiosity.
"Where should we go now?" Gorchakov asked the adjutant.
"Follow me!" The adjutant and Gorchakov led the group towards the direction of the town’s only tavern.