Chapter 726: War and Generals (Additional chapter for the leader Lin Jiaer)

Chapter 727 War and Generals (Additional update for alliance leader Lin Jiaer clan)

Tormasov saw that Suvorov looked wrong and asked hurriedly: "Marshal, what happened?"

With a dark face, Suvorov threw the battle report to him and exhaled: "Maybe we won't stay in Minsk for too long."

Tormasov quickly read the battle report and frowned: "The loss... is indeed a bit big."

He suddenly reacted and looked at Suvorov: "You mean, we have to leave here?"

"That's right."

"But we have just made a breakthrough, so we should continue to advance westward..."

Suvorov waved his hand: "I'm afraid the imperial finances can no longer sustain the war here. Unless His Majesty the Tsar decides to abandon Crimea."

Tormasov understood immediately.

Crimea was almost destroyed by the Poles, and reconstruction would definitely require huge investments.

In order to encircle and annihilate Kosciuszko, the empire mobilized a total of 60,000 to 70,000 troops.

Especially the Kakhovsky Army marched long distances from Mozyr to Crimea, and it was a rapid march without any baggage.

This depends on continuously delivering supplies to the army along the way.

The several hundred miles from Mozyr to the south, from Sivilia to Yekaterinoslav, are extremely barren, so they can only be transported from central cities such as Lipetsk.

For such a long distance, at least hundreds of thousands of serfs would have to be used for logistical transportation. The cost of this must be frighteningly high.

As for the destroyed city of Bryansk and the captured Kursk Fortress, the losses caused were not so conspicuous.

Originally, the empire's finances were enough to support the army and fight the Poles for about a year, but after Kosciuszko's troubles, it was only enough to fight for four or five months at most.

Now, nearly four months have passed since the war started.

Tormasov was extremely reluctant and said: "We can seek loans."

Suvorov seemed disinterested: "Even if we can get military spending, our military strength is no longer enough."

"How is this possible?" Tolmazov asked in surprise, "We still have more than 80,000 troops in Poland, and the Poles only have 80,000 troops at most.

"I think you can defeat them with just 60,000 soldiers!"

He automatically ignored the Kakhovsky Corps. Although the battle report did not mention the specific number of casualties, it can be seen from the need for a half-year rest that many organizations may have been broken up.

Suvorov sighed: "But I will soon not have 60,000 troops."

"ah?"

"Don't forget the Ottomans." Suvorov said, "Crimea is so empty, they will not be without ideas."

Tolmazov immediately paused.

Indeed, Bakhchisarai was destroyed, and if the Ottomans suddenly sent troops, they could easily capture Crimea.

Russia has to garrison at least 20,000 to 30,000 troops there for defense, and can only leave after Bakhchisarai is almost repaired.

He immediately thought that the Moldavia garrison had been mobilized before. The Ottomans still claim to be the suzerainty of Moldavia and do not recognize Russian control there.

Therefore, the troops there must also be replaced.

After all, the number of troops that can stay in Poland may not even reach 60,000.

Tolmazov was still a little unwilling: "If His Majesty mobilizes the troops from the central provinces and comes to Poland to fight..."

Suvorov no longer wanted to visit Minsk. He turned his horse's head and said, "Go back to the headquarters. The empire will have to cultivate for at least three years before it has the strength to mobilize on a large scale again."

Tolmazov hurriedly chased after him: "No, there must be a way..."

…

St. Petersburg.

Hermitage.

Catherine II clenched her fists hard and said in a deep voice: "There must be a way!"

Zubov cautiously took two steps forward and said, "Your Majesty, if we can get a loan, we can continue to increase our troops."

The Tsar thought for a moment and looked at Rumyantsev: "How much military expenditure do you think is needed to continue Suvorov's offensive?"

The latter pondered: "At least 8 million rubles, Your Majesty. And if there are 12 million rubles, it will be safer."

This number made Catherine II's heart tighten. Russia's total fiscal revenue per year is only 100 million rubles.

She quickly reviewed potential loan candidates. The finances of all German countries are very tight, France owes a lot of debt, and Spain... probably wants to borrow money from Russia.

Therefore, only Britain, which has deep pockets, can provide this huge loan.

She stood up suddenly and said to Zubov: "You go to the UK immediately and get a loan of at least 8 million rubles. Oh, let Bezberodiko go with you."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Just as Zubov was about to turn around, an officer walked in quickly along the wall and whispered a few words in Rumyantsev's ear.

Rumyantsev's face suddenly turned ugly.

He hesitated for a moment and then said to Catherine II: "Your Majesty, the news just came from Crimea."

"Um?"

"Among all the corpses, Kosciuszko was not found. Of course, it is possible that he was shattered by a shell."

The Tsar rubbed his brows irritably: "Is there more?"

"It seems that there are nearly 2,000 Polish troops still operating in eastern Crimea. General Kachowski has sent people to pursue..."

"Bang!" Catherine II slammed the penholder on her hand to the ground.

…

Kosciuszko woke up from the pain.

He opened his eyes with great effort and struggled to look at the place where the severe pain came from. He saw that his left leg had disappeared from the knee down, and half of his thigh was tied with a bandage soaked in blood.

He opened his mouth and sucked in air. After several minutes, he barely got used to the pain.

"I, am not dead?"

He looked around. This was a small gray-yellow house. He was lying on a dirt bed. His military uniform had been changed into a Cossack short shirt.

The door opened and an old woman in Ottoman costume came in. Seeing that he woke up, she hurriedly said a lot of words anxiously.

Seeing that Kosciuszko didn't understand, she turned around and went out again, bringing back a middle-aged man.

The latter said in Russian: "Respected sir, it was Mesih who asked me to hide you here. Oh, he joined the resistance army."

Kosciuszko asked weakly for a long time before he barely understood that he was hit in the left leg by a shell that day and fainted.

The guards led him back to the river. Someone from the resistance organization saw him on the other side of the river and managed to get a boat to float him downstream and hide him in the farmhouse.

"Thank you. Am I alone?"

"Yes, Messich only brought you."

...

Vienna.

Schönbrunn Palace.

Franz II looked at Baron Turgut and frowned, "Are you saying that Russia might cease fire with Poland?"

"At present, it is like this, Your Majesty. The Russian offensive in Minsk and Mozyr has stopped, and some soldiers have withdrawn back to the country. It is said that they suffered heavy losses in Crimea."