On the morning of July 26, 1854, in Yekaterinburg, the headquarters of the Russian army, the commander of the Russian army, Field Marshal Wittgenstein, had just gotten up and had not had time to wash, but there was a knock on the door. When I opened the door, I saw Lieutenant General Nevelskoy waiting outside with an anxious face.

"What's wrong? Lieutenant General Nevelskoy, is there another bad news from the front? "Field Marshal Wittgenstein had a headache, and the current development of the war situation seemed to be completely beyond his expectations. Originally, he thought that relying on an army of millions could completely resist the attack of the Chinese. But I did not expect that the attack of the Chinese * army would be so fierce, and the Russian troops in the direction of Omsk and Chelyabinsk were defeated one after another.

However, Marshal Wittgenstein was optimistic about the future of the war. After all, the Russian army has a huge superiority in troops, and they were just caught off guard by the Chinese. After they react, it will not be so easy for the Chinese* army to defeat the Russian army again. Then, when follow-up reinforcements arrive, the Russian army may be able to counterattack.

"Your Excellency, it's a big deal. Last night, Petropavl was captured by the Chinese, and all the logistical supplies of General Alexander fell into the hands of the Chinese. Now General Alexander has led the army back back. It's just that the Chinese are chasing after each other. The shape that General Alexander faced might not be too good. Lieutenant General Nevelskoy said.

"What? How did that guy Alexander. Even Petropavl he threw it away! "Marshal Wirtgenstein was furious. In Petropavl, however, supplies for an army of more than 300,000 led by Admiral Alexander were stored. Petropavl one was lost. The fate of Admiral Alexander can be imagined.

"Order Admiral Alexander, find a way to collect the rout, establish a new defensive line, and be sure to block the attack of the Chinese!" Marshal Wittgenstein said with a gloomy face.

"Yes, Your Excellency Marshal!" Lieutenant General Nevelskoy nodded. However, he has fought against the Chinese* army many times before, and he has a deep understanding of the strength of the Chinese* army. Since the Chinese* army has already gained an advantage, it is unlikely that Admiral Alexander wants to resist the attack of the Chinese in a disadvantaged situation. At least. In the case of not having enough reinforcements. That's impossible.

It was at this time that a staff officer arrived in a hurry.

"Report to Your Excellency the Marshal, General Alexei is calling!" The staff officer said loudly.

Field Marshal Wittgenstein took the telegram and glanced at it in a hurry. Subsequently. His face turned pale.

"Your Excellency, Marshal. What happened? "Lieutenant General Nevelskoy already had an extremely bad feeling in his heart.

"The Chinese launched an attack in the early hours of the morning, and our troops were caught off guard and suffered heavy losses. Alexei, that guy is retreating towards Chelyabinsk. The Chinese are about to pursue to Chelyabinsk. Field Marshal Wittgenstein said weakly.

"Damn it!" Lieutenant General Nevelskoy also cursed.

The army led by Admiral Alexander and Admiral Alexei was defeated at the same time. This is undoubtedly terrible news for the Russian army. If they could not stop the Chinese, then it was really possible for them to meet in Yekaterinburg. Once Yekaterinburg falls, then the Russian army will no longer have a foothold in the Western Siberian Plain.

"Let the reinforcements of the Orenburg governor-general come directly to Yekaterinburg without going to Chelyabinsk." Marshal Wirtgenstein said.

"Your Excellency, are you planning for the worst?" Lieutenant General Nevelskoy asked. Field Marshal Wittgenstein assembled reinforcements to Yekaterinburg, undoubtedly intending to have a final decisive battle with the Chinese* army here.

"I don't want to do that either, but that's how the battle goes!" Field Marshal Wittgenstein looked a little lonely.

"Also, send a telegram to St. Petersburg asking for reinforcements! The Chinese used only half a million people to paralyze us. However, the war in the heart has begun, and more Chinese* troops are definitely rushing to the battlefield. We need more troops to be able to withstand the Chinese attack. Otherwise, we're going to lose this battle! Marshal Wittgenstein said.

Lieutenant General Nevelskoy also nodded, and the Chinese defeated millions of Russian troops with only half a million men. If the size of the Chinese* army is increased to a million or even more, then will Russia still have a chance?

St. Petersburg, the capital of Russia, inside the Winter Palace, in the office of Tsar Alexander II. At this moment, although it is the height of summer, the temperature in the office is very low, and the commander-in-chief of the Russian army, Gorchakov, who is standing in front of Tsar Alexander II, feels a cold that penetrates deep into the bone marrow. Alexander II was in a state of rage at the moment, and the ministers were silent and silent.

"Damn, how could this happen? An army of millions was defeated in just three days. What the hell are those guys on the front line doing? Didn't Marshal Wittgenstein promise me that he would be able to withstand the attack of the Chinese? Tsar Alexander II roared angrily.

The commander-in-chief of the Russian army, Duke Gorchakov, buried his head low and did not say a word. The rest of the ministers are the same.

"Tell me, what are we going to do now? You can't watch the Chinese drive straight in, right? Tsar Alexander II asked. In just three days, the battle situation at the front was eroded, which was unacceptable to Alexander II. How can he raise his head when an army of millions of people was defeated by 500,000 Chinese* troops? His wish to take revenge on the Chinese Empire could not be realized at all. If the Russian army's appearance has always been like this, then it is simply impossible for Russia to take revenge!

"His Majesty, Marshal Wirtgenstein declared in a telegram that he would make every effort to resist the Chinese and to hold the battle line as steady as possible on the West Siberian plain. He needs more reinforcements, though! Duke Gorchakov said.

"Reinforcements? Where do we have reinforcements? "Alexander II was red-eyed. Before the war, Russia's standing army was only 1.5 million. Two-thirds of them were deployed in the Western Siberian Plain and Central Asia to compete with the Chinese Empire. On the rest of the fronts, there are only 500,000 people in total. Originally, everyone thought that relying on an army of millions was enough to resist the attack of the Chinese. Even if you can't defeat the Chinese, you can resist their attacks. However, the current battle situation has given them a slap in the face.

"Your Majesty, we may be able to send 100,000 men from the Western Front to Central Asia. Although the Kingdom of Prussia is still mobilizing, their main enemies are not us, but Britain, France, and other countries. We can first reinforce our forces to the Western Siberian Plain. Wait until our mobilization is complete, and then send troops to the Western Front. In addition, the troops that have completed mobilization at the moment can also be sent to the West Siberian Plain! Duke Gorchakov said that this was the best he could think of.

Tsar Alexander II's face was gloomy, but he did not hesitate and nodded. At present, the Chinese Empire is Russia's worst enemy. In the event of a crushing defeat on the front, Russia would not only lose the entire Western Siberian Plain and Central Asia, but also Eastern Europe. Here, however, is the foundation of Russia!

"Majesty, the defeat of the Eastern Front, which may have a serious crisis for the Empire. The enemies around us will think that there will be an opportunity to take advantage of it. Therefore, we had better stabilize the eastern front as soon as possible! Said the Foreign Minister, Count Niechel Rodie.

Russia's enemies now are not only the Chinese Empire, but also the Ottoman Turkish Empire and the Kingdom of Prussia. Although, both countries are still mobilizing, and there is no sign of an attack on Russia yet. However, once the Russian army is defeated in the Western Siberian Plain, it is foreseeable that the army of the Ottoman Turkish Empire will immediately enter the territory of Russia. And the Prussians, on the other hand, will not sit idly by. Once it gets to that point, then Russia is really in danger.

Alexander II's face was already gloomy and dripping water. He is not a fool, and naturally knows the knock-on effect that will be caused by the fiasco on the Eastern Front.

"The mobilization of the army must be accelerated. We need more troops, the more the merrier! Alexander II said. Originally, Russia only planned to expand its military strength to three million. However, from now on, three million may not be enough.

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Duke Gorchakov nodded. However, he was very bitter in his heart. The expansion of the army is not just the recruitment of people, it is also necessary to arm these troops with a large number of weapons and equipment, and in addition, it is necessary to conduct training. Otherwise, sending unarmed, untrained troops into battle is just sending them to their deaths.

"Your Majesty, at this point, we need to ask our allies for help. They must provide us with weapons and equipment, and in addition, open up new battlefields to hold back the strength of the Chinese. Otherwise, once the Russians are defeated, it will not do them any good! Adviser to the Government of the People's Republic of China, Rukovs said.

Alexander II nodded: "Count Nesherrody, urgently contact Britain and France, if you don't want to completely lose this war, then provide support to Russia." ”

"Yes, Your Majesty, I will make an appointment to meet the ambassadors of Britain and France at once!" Count Niechel Rodie hurriedly said. (To be continued......)

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