Looking at the eager Chief of Staff of the Black Sea in front of him, nshikov’s lips curled into a smile. Although he himself was not well-versed in naval warfare (nshikov was originally an army general and knew nothing about the navy), he believed that as long as the navy had the sa determination to die for His Majesty the Tsar as the army, it would be invincible.
"Good, good, good!" Prince nshikov patted Admiral Kornilov on the shoulder, said "good" several tis, and then reassuringly promised, "I have witnessed your loyalty to His Majesty the Tsar. I can guarantee in my na, Alexander nshikov, that as long as you and your fleet can defeat the Ottoman Empire Navy, I will personally report to the Tsar. At that ti, His Majesty the Tsar will not hesitate to reward you, and he will personally award you with a dal of Honor that is rightfully yours!"
After hearing nshikov’s encouragent and promise, Admiral Kornilov’s face showed an expression akin to the fervor of a convert. Standing straight, he loudly assured nshikov that under his leadership, he would do his utmost to eradicate the Ottoman Empire Navy entrenched in the Black Sea Region, allowing the glory of Tsar Nicholas I to cover the entire Black Sea area.
Afterwards, as the Chief of Staff of the Black Sea, Admiral Kornilov imdiately invited Prince nshikov to inspect the military port in Odessa.
With a mindset of having co all the way, Prince nshikov followed Kornilov to inspect the military port.
Kornilov and nshikov, escorted by the Guard Battalion, passed through the bustling streets of Odessa, walked along the stone-walled coastline, and soon arrived at the military port 2 kiloters from Odessa.
Here, half of the Russian Empire’s naval fleet in the Black Sea was stationed, including three sailing battleships (each with two to three decks and at least seventy guns), six double-deck battleships, two fast three-masted warships, and seven steamships. The combined forces at the port were enough to win a small-scale naval battle.
A detachnt of sailors stationed at the military port, led by their Major, was patrolling the port. When they saw Admiral Kornilov and Prince nshikov approaching from a distance, they quickly stepped forward to salute Admiral Kornilov and nshikov: "Commander, Your Highness Prince nshikov!"
"And you are?" nshikov looked at the vibrant Major in front of him, and a smile appeared on his face, his tone involuntarily becoming much more amiable.
Those who knew nshikov were aware that he most appreciated young nobles full of vitality like this, while he expressed utter contempt for those who only wished to indulge in the debauchery of St. Petersburg.
"Your Highness, I am Andrei Bolkonsky!" Andrei Bolkonsky said excitedly.
Then, nshikov kindly inquired about Andrei Bolkonsky’s father’s na. Upon learning that Andrei Bolkonsky was the son of a duke from St. Petersburg, nshikov felt even more pleased for Andrei Bolkonsky.
"The Empire now needs bloodlines like yours who can continue our glorious military honor!" Prince nshikov encouraged Andrei Bolkonsky.
"Your Highness, I am honored to be a part of the Imperial Navy! Under the great glory of the Russian Empire, to win victory for His Majesty!" Inspired by nshikov’s praise, Andrei Bolkonsky responded excitedly.
"Rest assured! The ti for you to swear allegiance to His Majesty the Tsar is coming soon!" nshikov once again reassured the Major in front of him.
"Really... really? That’s wonderful! I’ve been waiting for this opportunity!" Andrei Bolkonsky replied, his voice trembling.
"Rest assured! You won’t be left out when the ti cos to head to the front lines!" Admiral Kornilov, standing by, also responded to Andrei Bolkonsky, then proceeded to introduce the position Prince nshikov currently held.
Upon hearing that nshikov served as the Governor of Cria and the Caucasus Region, Andrei Bolkonsky imdiately saluted nshikov, and nshikov also returned the salute to Andrei Bolkonsky.
In the following period, nshikov began to inquire about Andrei Bolkonsky’s position. Upon learning that Andrei Bolkonsky served as a deputy captain of the fleet, nshikov was even more satisfied with him.
After a brief chat, nshikov and Andrei Bolkonsky parted ways. nshikov and Kornilov swiftly boarded a small boat, which would take them to the ship Kornilov commanded.
Standing at the bow, nshikov and Kornilov watched the many sailing battleships and steamships lurking on the sea surface around them, feeling a sense of pride.
"Do you think Andrei is now capable of being a ship captain?" nshikov suddenly asked Kornilov.
"This..." Kornilov pondered for a mont before responding to nshikov, "Although young Andrei has the ability to be a captain, his age..."
At this point, Kornilov fell silent, shifting the question back to nshikov.
For appointnts in the Black Sea Fleet, it was not up to him as the Chief of Staff, but rather the current Chief Commander, nshikov. He only needed to provide his opinion; the rest depended on nshikov’s interpretation.
"So, Andrei is fully capable of being a captain of the fleet?" nshikov asked Admiral Kornilov once again.
"In terms of ability, he absolutely has no problem!" Kornilov replied firmly to nshikov.
"Then let’s appoint him as a captain of the fleet!" nshikov ordered Kornilov.
"But, regarding his age..." Kornilov reiterated once more.
In this naval aristocratic atmosphere where rank dictated seniority, there was no shortage of nobility.
Although Andrei Bolkonsky was capable, he should proceed step by step; at 25, taking the helm of a ship was simply too young.
The youngest captain in the entire Black Sea Fleet was also around 37 or 38 years old.
"If he has the ability, then there’s no need to consider age! The navy is here to fight, not for a retirent!" nshikov replied sternly to Kornilov.
"Yes!" Kornilov responded decisively.
While nshikov and Kornilov were conversing, the speedboat had already approached the command ship.
This was a three-deck flagship sailing ship with over eighty cannons mounted on its sides, rightfully called Russia Empire’s "colossus."
Moreover, this ship was also outfitted with a steam engine from Britain, enabling the fleet to move faster, and to quickly eliminate the enemy forces after closing in.
Within this triple-deck flagship sailing ship were over 800 sailors and logistic personnel; they were the true soul of this ship.
With the sailors’ help, nshikov and Kornilov boarded the flagship smoothly, eting with the sailors on the deck as nshikov introduced the position he was about to assu.
Upon hearing nshikov’s position, the sailors present saluted him.
nshikov also nodded and returned the salute. Afterwards, he inspected the sailors on the remaining two decks of the ship, each of them offering cordial greetings to Prince nshikov without exception.
After reviewing all sailors on the command ship, Prince nshikov decided to return to Sevastopol with them.
When Prince nshikov asked Kornilov how many days it would take to complete the ship’s resupply, Kornilov imdiately assured nshikov that he would finish the resupply within two days.
"Rember, I am only giving you two days!" nshikov reminded Kornilov.
Thus, nshikov stayed on the command ship, and to show respect for Prince nshikov, Kornilov offered his own quarters to nshikov while he stayed in the officers’ area.
During these two days, nshikov took a small boat to visit each ship, building rapport with the captains and inquiring about the fleet’s resupply status.
Two days later, Admiral Kornilov stood before nshikov, reporting, "Your Excellency, the Black Sea First Detachnt’s entire fleet has completed resupply!"
"Depart now!" nshikov nodded and gave Kornilov the order.
"Yes!" Kornilov responded in a resolute tone.
At Kornilov’s command, sailors ascended the lookout to signal to all surrounding fleets.
Upon seeing the signal from the command ship, the surrounding fleet quickly signaled back in understanding.
Once everything was ready, Kornilov ordered the sailors below deck to start the steam engine,
A few sweat-soaked, shirtless sailors shoveled coal waste into the piston cylinder. The waste burned to boil water, generating steam that pushed the pistons, which, through leverage, drove greater force...
With the steam engine functioning, the command fleet began to move slowly, and the main sails on the masts were released one by one.
With the steam engine and sails’ assistance, the command ship led the entire fleet, the remaining battleships following behind the sailing ship.
A fleet of eighteen ships ford a line heading toward Sevastopol Fortress, the setting sun emitting dazzling light — was this a foreshadowing of the sailing fleet’s fate?
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