Chapter four hundred and sixty-ninth the sluggish British Army
Jérôme Bonaparte and Baron Raglan reached a compromise amidst laughter and laughter. The joint command composed of the British and French armies was only responsible for delivering messages and coordinating operations.
At the strategic level, the commanders of the two armies are not subordinate to each other and fight side by side.
In terms of specific tactics, the British and French armies need to formulate corresponding tactics based on the characteristics of their own troops.
Neither party has the right to interfere with the other party's formulation of tactics, but only has the right to make suggestions to each other.
In general, this time the British and French coalition adopted the policy of fighting yours and mine. As long as there are no differences at the grand strategic level, the tactical level will depend entirely on the combat effectiveness of the two armies and the ability of the commanders.
In this regard, Jerome Bonaparte had absolute confidence in the French army he had transformed.
Moreover, Jérôme Bonaparte, who had no interest in commanding the British army, was also happy to see various "King of Kitchen"-style tactical command of the British army on the Crimean battlefield.
After all, if there is no British army as a foil, how can we show the correctness and necessity of Jérôme Bonaparte's military reforms.
Military operations are the only criterion for testing military reforms.
Jérôme Bonaparte did not mind stepping on Britain and Russia to announce to the world that the army that once swept across Europe was back again.
Of course, Jérôme Bonaparte can be sure that after the Crimean War ends, there will be a new round of military preparations.
Moltke Sr., who was good at learning advanced experience, would never let go of such a once-in-a-lifetime learning opportunity, and Jerome Bonaparte still welcomed Moltke Sr.'s transformation of the Prussian army.
Because the more Moltke Moltke transforms the Prussian army, the stronger the Prussian army will be; the stronger the Prussian army will be; the bolder the Junkers will be; the bolder the Junkers will be, the easier it will be for Bismarck to come to power. As long as Bismarck comes to power.
, then he will inevitably follow the "trend" to expand Prussia's territory, and the contradiction between Prussia and Austria in Germany will become greater.
At that time, Jérôme Bonaparte only needs to stand aside and fan the flames. Prussia will inevitably take action against Austria, and he will let Bismarck know what it means to turn against someone...
However, the premise of all this is that the French army cannot stand still after the Crimean War and must continue to deepen reforms.
Strong firepower and a complete mobilization system are the guarantee for the survival of the French army in the international community.
These two points are still far from the current French army.
After the deliberations of the combined forces were completed, Jérôme Bonaparte invited Baron Raglan to dine with all the generals present.
During the dinner, Jérôme Bonaparte and Baron Raglan smiled at each other and talked happily.
Under the deliberate guidance of Jérôme Bonaparte, Baron Raglan became the "protagonist" of the banquet. After a while of changing glasses, the slightly tipsy Baron Raglan told everyone present about the previous era.
Some interesting things happened, among them the Duke of Wellington, Emperor Napoleon, Marshal Soult, Talleyrand, Metternich and Fouche.
Memories always make people sad. Lord Raglan, who was deeply in love, couldn't help but burst into tears. He missed his friend (Duke Wellington), and he also missed the enemy who had hurt him (Emperor Napoleon, Marshal Soult).
).
In the words of Baron Raglan, their era has passed and now is the era of Jerome Bonaparte.
"Your Majesty, I seem to see the figure of the great man in you!" Baron Raglan, half drunk and half awake, said to Jérôme Bonaparte.
"I am truly honored to receive such a comment from you, sir!" Jérôme Bonaparte said happily.
"Actually, in some aspects, you are more terrifying than the great man back then!" Baron Raglan burped, rolled his tongue and said to Jerome Bonaparte: "You... are more powerful than he was back then.
Patience! If the great man of the past could be like you, we might not be able to defeat him at all!"
"I am just an ordinary person who is sheltered by the emperor, and I cannot deserve such a high evaluation!" Jerome Bonaparte said humbly to Lord Raglan.
Baron Raglan smiled, shook his head and lamented the passage of time.
The dinner ended with a burst of laughter. The drunken Baron Raglan was helped by his not-so-drunk adjutant to leave the Tuileries Palace and get on the carriage bound for the British Embassy.
Standing in the courtyard of the Tuileries Palace, Jérôme Bonaparte watched the carriage carrying Baron Raglan gradually drive into the darkness with the cold wind blowing in his face.
Immediately, Jerome Bonaparte stood in the cold wind for a long time, then turned and returned to the Tuileries Palace.
On the other hand, Baron Raglan, who returned from the Tuileries Palace to the courtyard of the British Embassy, opened his blurred eyes under the concerned gaze of Ambassador Cowley, and then pushed away the adjutant who was supporting him.
"Commander Raglan, how do you feel now?" Lord Cowley asked Raglan.
Baron Raglan, who was staggering around in the Tuileries Palace before and looked as if he was drunk, now "miraculously" stood up straight without anyone's help. The adjutant following him immediately understood that Baron Raglan had been in Tuileries before.
Satonomiya's drunkenness was just a show of pleasure.
Baron Raglan, who was standing on the spot, slightly adjusted his wrinkled cuffs, then patted Ambassador Cowley on the shoulder and said sadly: "Don't worry! That little wine won't make me drunk at all!"
"Then..." Ambassador Cowley still looked at Baron Raglan with suspicion.
"I couldn't control my mouth at the banquet before, and I talked a bit too much!" Baron Raglan responded to Ambassador Cowley with a wry smile.
Grain stalks
"Yeah!" Ambassador Cowley nodded and responded with one word to Raglan, and then ordered the servants in the embassy to take care of Raglan.
Early morning on February 2nd.
The sky in Paris was filled with crystal clear snowflakes, and the cold wind was even more biting than yesterday, as if it was trying to penetrate the thick cotton clothes and take away the last trace of warmth from people's bodies.
There are few pedestrians on the streets, only slow-moving public carriages. Through the slightly fogged glass windows, you can see the "office workers" inside the carriages. They are sitting on cold armchairs, rubbing their hands and breathing.
That is to say, in such weather, Baron Raglan and his adjutant will take a carriage to the railway station in the neighboring province that is not covered by snow, where they will take the railway to the port of Toulon, and then take the French warship to King's.
Fort Tantino.
…
It took Baron Raglan and his lieutenants three days to arrive at the port of Toulon after leaving Paris.
At the port of Toulon, they met the French Admiral Dicko.
After a brief self-introduction, Minister Dicko immediately dispatched two sailing steam battleships and three steam engine ships to escort Baron Raglan to the Near East.
Baron Raglan expressed his gratitude to Dicko, and the two parties shook hands and said goodbye. The steam speedboat carried Baron Raglan aboard the sailing steam battleship.
The steam engines began to start and the battleships gradually left the port.
After another three days of life at sea, Baron Raglan finally arrived in the waters near Rhode Island.
At Rhodes, Baron Raglan joined the British Expeditionary Force.
At this time, the British Expeditionary Force had already abandoned its own artillery and rifles, and replaced them with all-Migne rifles and small Napoleon cannons.
Even their war horses were given as gifts by French army teammates.
If it weren't for the military uniforms of the British Expeditionary Force, as well as the Duke of Cambridge and others, Baron Raglan would have almost thought that the army in front of him was a disguised French force.
The temporary commander in charge of this army, the Duke of Cambridge, showed an expression of relief after seeing the arrival of Baron Raglan. He finally no longer had to worry about the declining morale of the British army.
"Commander!" The Duke of Cambridge, together with the Chief Quartermaster and others, came to Baron Raglan and saluted Lord Raglan.
Baron Raglan returned the greeting with a serious expression, and then the group headed to the camp on Rhode Island.
The Duke of Cambridge in the camp told Baron Raglan with an angry expression that they had been deceived by British intelligence.
The Gallipoli Peninsula is not a suitable place to be stationed at all. There is nothing there for their troops, and it is impossible to obtain supplies there. Coupled with the impact of the recent snowstorm, their troops have suffered a large number of non-combat attrition.
"How many people do you have on hand now?" Baron Raglan asked the Duke of Cambridge and others.
"In those days on the Garibaldi Peninsula, our troops lost a total of 1,400 people! Now there are about 18,200 people left!" the Duke of Cambridge reported the number of troops to Baron Raglan.
After hearing the number of non-combat attrition reported by the Duke of Cambridge, Baron Raglan couldn't help but frown.
The casualties of 1,400 people were comparable to that of a medium-sized battle.
The Duke of Cambridge also told Baron Raglan that the sudden blizzard not only caused a certain degree of casualties to the British Kingdom, but also had a certain impact on the morale of the British soldiers.
Many soldiers believed that the reason why they were hit by the blizzard must be God's will, and God did not want to see them going to war against the Orthodox for the pagans.
"When did this word spread?" Baron Raglan asked the Duke of Cambridge.
The Duke of Cambridge shook his head and shrugged, saying he didn't know.
"Forget it!" Baron Raglan glanced at the Duke of Cambridge angrily and turned to leave.
The Duke of Cambridge touched his nose awkwardly and stood still without moving.
In the next few days, Baron Raglan devoted all his energy to boosting morale.
The morale of the British army quickly recovered with the encouragement of Baron Raglan.
On February 12, a steam speedboat gradually approached Rhode Island, and he would give the next order to the British army in Rhode Island.
