Chapter 236： Constantinople Demolition Team (1/2)
St. Petersburg
After receiving the emergency call from Menshkov, Nicholas I had a headache, especially after seeing the ammunition consumption estimate mentioned in the note below, his heart was bleeding. This is money!
For this war, the Tsarist government has spent three or four hundred million rubles. If the economic losses caused by the war are added, this figure can be doubled.
Where is the victory? No one can answer this question. Judging from the situation on the battlefield, there is still no way to go before the two sides can win or lose.
If we knew in advance that the war would be the current result, Nicholas I promised that he would never provoke this war.
Even if the casualties are not too much, Russia's great cause can bear, but the cost of war is completely beyond his expectations.
Before the British and French entered the war, the Tsarist government prepared to attack Constantinople in multiple ways, conquer Constantinople within three months, and kill the Ottoman Empire within one year.
After the British and French participation in the war, the Tsarist government believed that after the Bulgarian war, it was easy to attack Constantinople. After winning Constantinople, everyone negotiated to solve the problem.
Unexpectedly, when I reached the gate of Constantinople, I met the French again.
The 200,000 French army guarded a fortress city. This result was enough to make anyone desperate, but there was no way, forced by domestic pressure, to stick to their heads.
Even the Russians were stunned when they were touched. They used up all kinds of means and finally came to the conclusion that they had to be bombarded with cannons.
Nicholas I asked, ”What do you think of General Menshkov's proposal?”
Secretary of the Army Ivanovic replied, ”His Majesty, General Menshekov's proposal is fine.
Constantinople is one of the best fortresses in the world. The enemy has deployed heavy guards. There is no shortcut to overcome it. Only one fortress and one fortress can be pulled out.
Fortunately, the Ottoman Empire has decayed, neglecting the construction of the fortifications, and we can use cannons to advance all the way. ”
This answer is very speechless. If the Ottomans ignored the upgrade of the fortifications, it would not be possible to use even a cannon now.
This is a fact. The Russians can get heavy artillery. Will the enemy on the other side be short? If the war requires it, Britain and France can easily take out thousands of artillery pieces.
According to General Menshkov's proposal, build artillery positions a few kilometers away and bombard Constantinople. Anyway, the target is so large that people can hide, and the building has no place to hide.
The 200,000 French troops are scattered in this city, and there are absolutely not enough artillery holes. As long as the random bombardment can cause the French to suffer heavy losses, the prerequisite is that there are enough cannons and enough ammunition.
Civilian casualties have never been considered by the Tsarist government. Knowing that the war is coming, and not knowing the way to run, that is to find the way to death, guns and guns do not have eyes.
Chancellor of the Exchequer Aristanli Rod frowned: ”Your Majesty, the number of artillery and ammunition consumption required by General Menshekov is too horrible, can't they save a bit of use?
You know that these heavy artillery and ammunition are not cheap, even if the Austrians do n’t rob them in the fire, this is an astronomical figure! ”
He is not opposed to the plan, but simply distressed with money. Constantinople must attack, otherwise it cannot be explained to the country, which is the consensus reached by everyone.
For this big picture, Astanley Rhodes still has. The problem is that the Tsarist government really has financial problems. It is too difficult for him to give out hundreds of millions of rubles at one time.
Austria was not robbed by fire, which is one of the reasons why the Tsarist government supported Austria in the Paris meeting and was not flickered by Britain and France.
Nicholas I was a credible person, as long as he did not exceed his bottom line, he would basically honor his promise.
Of course, it goes without saying that he is also a czar. Refer to the practices of his ancestors to see that this is a gift of family inheritance.
”Mr. Astanley Rhodes, it is now important to conquer Constantinople. After this goal is achieved, I can cease war with Britain and France.
If the war continues, we may have more military expenditure in the later stages than we do now. Persuaded by Foreign Minister Karl Worsell
They are all people on a boat. If the boat overturns, everyone will be unlucky.
Now the river has started to rise, and the big waves are rolling at any time, and the only way to overturn the ship is to dock at the port as soon as possible to avoid the waves.
If you want to land, you must capture Constantinople. Having won Constantinople, it can soothe people's hearts from the inside, and own capital to bargain with the enemy to the outside.
Chancellor of the Exchequer Astanley Rhodes said dissatisfied: ”Marquis Carl, am I the kind who ignores the big picture?
The problem now is that the Ministry of Finance simply does not have so much money to pay for the war.
According to General Menshkov's plan, it would not be possible to complete without two or three hundred million rubles, and this was based on everything going well.
In the actual battlefield, there will definitely be changes, and maybe it will continue to increase.