He Became Napoleon’S Genius Son [EN]: Chapter 456

(456) Moscow Burns During the Tsar’s Civil War

Clearly, soldiers who until yesterday wore the same uniforms and marched together now point their guns at each other.

-Bang! Bang! Bang!

Of course, the Russian Imperial Army’s guns are old-fashioned muskets.

Occasionally, some are equipped with new British Brown Bess percussion muskets or French-made Boarneau breech-loading rifles.

However, they are too expensive, and both Britain and France rarely export new weapons overseas.

Thus, most soldiers use muzzle-loading rifles that require loading gunpowder with a ramrod and igniting with a flint.

Nevertheless, the sound resembling continuous fire shows how many soldiers have been投入.

“When will the shooting end!”

“The performance of the muskets is the same anyway. There are just too many enemies.”

“Why have so many of my troops sided with the Crown Prince!”

Tsar Pavel shouted.

“Even though I have never wronged the army or the serfs!”

In fact, the Tsar is not lying.

From the beginning of his reign, Pavel worked hard to address the issues of military treatment.

He banned beatings, tried to raise soldiers’ salaries, and worked to improve supplies.

Of course, like everything Pavel did, it started spontaneously and didn’t last.

The same goes for the serf issue.

The era is the early 19th century, and even in backward Russia, they know that serfdom is a national problem.

First of all, all the income of the serfs goes to the owner, so taxation is a problem.

So Pavel ordered an investigation for serf reform.

Furthermore, he proclaimed that serfs should not be abused indiscriminately.

Of course, no serf heard that order, no farmland was subject to the decree, and Pavel didn’t bother to check.

Tolly shook his head instead of pointing out all these things.

“With 30,000 Moscow garrison troops, it will be difficult to stop the Cesarevich’s [Tsar’s heir] army.”

He stated only mechanically objective facts.

Currently, Russia is divided in two.

The Tsar’s supporters are based north of Moscow, and the Cesarevich’s supporters are based south, centered around Kyiv.

No, the Cesarevich has already received a [coronation] from the Kyiv Orthodox Archbishop, so it would not be an exaggeration to say that two Tsars are fighting.

The problem is that Tsar Pavel has tied up most of the army under the pretext of the Indian expeditionary force.

Still, the border elite, centered on the Polish and Finnish garrisons, still follow the Tsar.

However, the commander of the 200,000-strong expeditionary force is none other than Bagration and Bennigsen.

So Moscow is in danger of falling before the border guards can return.

“Your Majesty, wouldn’t it be better to abandon Moscow?”

Suddenly, a one-eyed general opened his mouth in one corner of the Moscow Kremlin.

Kutuzov, who was trusted by the Tsar and served as the commander-in-chief of the entire Russian army.

However, he was in charge of the rear in the Indian expedition and did not participate directly.

The reason for this is simple: the capricious Tsar Pavel entrusted Kutuzov with the defense of Poland.

Thanks to this, Kutuzov was safe in the rebellion led by Bagration and Bennigsen.

However, Moscow is not a city convenient for defense.

Above all, there is only a flat plain from Kyiv to Moscow, so it is difficult to stop a large army from advancing.

Alexander has not yet fully taken control of the expeditionary force.

So he sent 50,000 vanguards first, and the Moscow garrison, which is not considered elite, is holding them back.

But if this continues, Moscow will surely be occupied.

Pavel shouted at Kutuzov.

“Where is your Polish garrison? Bring them all!”

“I rushed here alone because time was short. They are coming now, but it will be difficult to get here faster than the Indian expeditionary force due to the distance.”

“Why are they so slow! Didn’t you learn tactics from Suvorov, who was once famous for his lightning-fast marches!”

Of course, the Tsar has already completely forgotten that he hated Suvorov.

Moreover, Poland is much farther from Moscow.

It is about 1200 kilometers [745 miles] in a straight line from the center, which is longer than the distance from Kyiv to Moscow, which is about 870 kilometers [540 miles].

There are also obstacles represented by the Vistula River.

In fact, Napoleon in the original history takes the blame for all these problems.

Even if it is not the time of return, it was not easy to advance in the first place.

So no matter how elite Kutuzov made the Polish garrison, it cannot be faster than the Cesarevich’s army stationed in Kyiv.

Kutuzov bowed his head instead of explaining everything to the Emperor one by one.

“Saint Petersburg is more advantageous for defense, Your Majesty.”

Pavel trembled all over and shouted.

“Alexander! You damned son of Satan! Your descendants will be cursed! All will be dragged away and killed by the rebels!”

Of course, Pavel did not remember that Alexander’s descendants were his grandchildren.

***

The place that learns about Russia’s rapid changes the fastest from the west is always Warsaw.

“The Tsar is fighting with the Crown Prince?”

In Warsaw, where the Grand Duke of Warsaw and Duke of Saxony is away, there is a separate person in charge.

Poniatowski, the de facto ruler and descendant of the old Polish royal family.

The epaulettes of a French Imperial Grand Officer, a newly created position by Napoleon, shine dazzlingly on his shoulders.

He was recognized for his 功績 [meritorious service] in rescuing Moreau during the Bohemian campaign in the past.

Suukowski, the deputy commander of the Warsaw Duchy garrison, nodded.

“Yes. Currently, the former Indian expeditionary force is advancing north from Kyiv.”

“The Emperor is in Moscow?”

“Yes. But according to informants, it is likely to fall soon.”

Suukowski’s eyes gleamed.

“The Tsar will either be captured by the Crown Prince, killed in battle, or flee to Saint Petersburg.”

It was only three months ago, in January 1809, that the Tsar declared the Indian expedition.

In the meantime, he sent numerous messengers to Paris and also received strange instructions.

The instructions were to prepare in case the Emperor might 親征 [personally lead the army] himself.

It was already a 벅찬 [difficult] situation, but Russia is said to have started a civil war.

Suddenly, General Dąbrowski, who was standing next to him, flashed his eyes.

“This is an opportunity, Your Excellency.”

“Do you think so too?”

“Of course. The Tsar is waging a civil war with the Cesarevich. If not now, when else can we invade Russia?”

Dąbrowski, a man who had failed in the old Polish independence movement, cried out.

“An opportunity will come to divide Russia, just as Poland was divided!”

The partition of Poland began in 1772.

However, Poland finally fell in 1795, during the height of the French Revolution.

So it was only 14 years ago.

Millions of Poles remember the days of independence.

Poniatowski, a soldier of the old royal family who represents the Polish people’s desire for independence, became 沉痛 [solemn].

“But all the generals who have invaded Russia have failed. Charles XII of Sweden did so a hundred years ago.”

“This time it’s different. There is the French Empire, Emperor Napoleon, who has conquered Europe! Furthermore, King Eugene of Spain, the victor of Jena, will also be with us!”

“They don’t know the eastern battlefield.”

Suddenly, Poniatowski asked with a 重한 [serious] face.

“If they face [Rasputitsa] [the muddy season], can they overcome it?”

Then Dąbrowski and Suukowski just looked at each other and lost their words.

In particular, Suukowski, who was Napoleon’s aide, could not find any logic to refute.

First of all, the horror of ‘Rasputitsa’ is a secondary issue.

The real problem is that Napoleon is a man who advances without looking back once he decides.

Even if there are obstacles of nature, he will not stop.

Also, from the perspective of the Poles, they cannot ask to stop if they advance into Russia.

If Russia is not conquered, the complete revival of Poland will be forever out of reach.

Then someone ran into the headquarters of the Warsaw Duchy garrison.

“Your Excellency, Grand Officer! Urgent news!”

Andrzej Tadeusz Bonawentura Kościuszko, the last commander of the old Polish kingdom.

Currently, he is working under Poniatowski, dreaming of Poland’s complete independence.

He is usually a calm soldier, but he has an unusually embarrassed face.

Poniatowski asked hastily.

“What’s going on, General Kościuszko?”

Kościuszko swallowed hard and said.

“The Tsar has abandoned Moscow. No, he burned it down!”

Poniatowski 벌떡 일어났다 [jumped up].

“A messenger to Paris! No, I’ll go myself. Now it’s war!”

It can’t be delayed any longer.

When Alexander ends this situation, no one can intervene in Russia.

Neither France nor Poland, no country.

Conversely, it will be possible now.

***

Moscow is the old capital, the 副首都 [secondary capital], and the city like the beginning of Russia.

-화르륵! [Sound of flames]

The flames that have been burning for over 10 days are even magnificent.

The historic cathedral that has been 내려온 [passed down] since the Moscow Principality has long been ashes.

Count Tolstoy, a man who once served as the governor of Moscow, said in a trembling voice.

“Alexander Your Majesty, I inform you that the mayor of Moscow has surrendered.”

Alexander, the Tsar 自稱者 [self-proclaimed], looked back at the count with tired eyes.

He was originally an aide to the 宰相 [Prime Minister].

However, when the mass coup occurred, he could not 빼지몸 [remove himself].

Also, he thought that Tsar Pavel was a crazy man, so he was quick to submit to the Crown Prince.

Nevertheless, he seems to be 흔들리는 [shaken] by the sight of Moscow burning.

“All the generals and soldiers, and the people too.”

“Your Majesty?”

“No, it’s nothing.”

Alexander shook his head.

Here and there, soldiers are scattered and looting.

The Indian expeditionary force is mostly composed of serfs.

So it is natural that military discipline is not strict.

Suddenly, Bennigsen stood next to Alexander and glared.

“How dare those guys! Catch them all and execute them!”

“That’s enough, Bennigsen.”

“Your Majesty, they are daring to disrupt military discipline in the sacred Tsar’s army!”

Looking back at Bennigsen, who was flattering even at this moment, Alexander smiled 씁쓸히 [bitterly].

“Suddenly I miss Kutuzov.”

“Yes? Are you talking about that 아첨꾼 [flatterer]?”

“That’s right. He’s an 아첨꾼 [flatterer], but he would have maintained military discipline in a reasonable way instead of execution.”

Ignoring the embarrassed Bennigsen and Bagration, who was standing silently behind him, Alexander moved on.

“Your Majesty, the fire is hot!”

“The reality we will face anyway will be even hotter.”

“Yes?”

Alexander narrowed his brows and narrowed his eyes.

“I have joined hands with England.”

“No, Your Majesty, that is.”

“Then, with whom will my father, who is in a corner, join hands?”

Originally, Alexander makes countless strategic failures in the original history.

However, as can be seen from the decision to fight Napoleon, Alexander’s judgment is often correct in terms of 대국적 [grand strategy].

Now, Alexander’s judgment is like that.

“We will have to fight France.”

The Tsar 참칭者 [pretender], Alexander’s 예감 [premonition] echoed in the air.

Over the ashes of Moscow, the symbol of the burning empire.