"What? London is ordering my troops to support Silistra right now?"
Inside the tent at Rhodes Island, Duke of Raglan looked at Ambassador Canning, who had arrived at Rhodes Island by motorboat, with a face full of surprise, and confronted him with slightly agitated words.
"Commander Raglan, please don’t be so excited!" Ambassador Canning whispered with a helpless smile at the corner of his mouth.
"Does London know that when I took over this troop, it was already on the verge of collapse! A 7% casualty rate is not a small number! And now, after just a week, they want us to head to Silistra! Are they not afraid of inciting a mutiny?" Baron Raglan couldn’t help but vent all his anger on Canning.
The harsh cold on the Gallipoli Peninsula not only brought physical harm to the British Army but also a psychological blow. Expecting them to overco their fear of the cold after just a week, especially for British troops inexperienced in bloody battles, was an impossible task.
Indeed, Baron Raglan could order officers to use whips and spurs on Martin boots to force the British Army to mobilize.
But soldiers are humans, not animals; relying solely on fear to drive an army into battle will only further dampen the army’s morale,
and before long, Baron Raglan and others might "gladly welco" a mutiny.
"I understand, Commander, it’s not easy for you!" Ambassador Canning forced a smile, saying, "But you also have to consider London’s perspective. From the ti the British Governnt declared war on the Russian Empire until now, almost three months have passed, and our army hasn’t achieved any results that would satisfy the London public. London has to consider so public pressure..."
"Public opinion, public opinion... I’ve only been away from London for a few days, and now they’re held hostage by public opinion!" The Conservative Baron Raglan couldn’t help but grumble, "I say we should bring all those clamoring for war to the front lines! I would certainly have my officers teach them a harsh lesson with their boots!"
After saying this, Baron Raglan stomped heavily twice, as if in protest.
"Commander, sotis the governnt has to consider the attitude of the London citizens!" Ambassador Canning tried to explain to Baron Raglan as gently as possible. This military man, who had spent most of his life alongside the Duke of Wellington, was even more stubborn than Baron Wellington in so respects, "London’s only asking you to reposition your troops, not to have you engage in a bloodbath with the Russian forces in the ice and snow!"
"Oh?" Baron Raglan glanced at Canning in surprise and asked in confusion, "What does that an? Are the British troops going all the way to Silistra not to fight the Russian Empire?"
"The governnt has considered that the British Army might face so difficulties, so they’re not requiring the British troops to imdiately engage in combat once they reach Silistra!" said Ambassador Canning. Suddenly he exclaid, "Oh right! I almost forgot this idea!"
"What’s that?" Baron Raglan looked at Ambassador Canning in confusion.
"Commander, I suddenly realized that since our governnt is only having the troops make a show of going to Silistra to support the Ottoman Empire to mislead the Russians, then we can do the opposite!
Once the British Army reaches Varna, you can justify having the troops remain in the Varna Region under the na of combined operations from the Allied Command! After all, this is a joint military operation; Britain, in principle, cannot defy the opinions of the Joint Command. This way, the army can satisfy the London Governnt!" Ambassador Canning proposed a solution to Baron Raglan.
Upon hearing Ambassador Canning’s solution, Baron Raglan’s eyes lit up, and he tightly shook Canning’s hand. "You really are the savior of the army!"
"Commander, it’s what I ought to do. I don’t want those British lads fighting the Russian Empire in this icy wasteland either!" Ambassador Canning replied with a strained smile, as his hand was wrung painfully by Baron Raglan’s rough grip.
"Then what are we waiting for? Let’s act on it at once!" Baron Raglan said excitedly to Ambassador Canning, but then he realized this plan required cooperation from the French Army. He then turned to Ambassador Canning, "Ambassador Canning, about France..."
Ambassador Canning understood Baron Raglan’s aning imdiately; he patted his chest and reassured Baron Raglan that he would coordinate with France.
Following that, Ambassador Canning and Baron Raglan walked out of the tent shoulder to shoulder, with Baron Raglan personally seeing Ambassador Canning off onto the motorboat.
After Ambassador Canning’s departure, Baron Raglan gathered his aides and the officers commanding the troops to convey the London Governnt’s orders to them.
The Generals and Colonels, led by the Duke of Cambridge, expressed that the British Army’s morale was still in recovery, and it would be best to remain at Rhodes Island.
"Of course, I know that staying on Rhodes Island to recover morale is the best option, but the governnt’s orders must be followed without any room for negotiation!" Baron Raglan said authoritatively to the Duke of Cambridge, scanning the room with sharp eyes.
Under Baron Raglan’s enforced command, the Duke of Cambridge and others had no choice but to comply with the orders from the Expeditionary Army Commander.
"Alright, go back and prepare!" said Baron Raglan, taking out his pocket watch to check the ti before waving to the Duke of Cambridge and others, "Order your subordinates to set off promptly at four in the afternoon!"
"Yes, sir!" responded the Duke of Cambridge and others, each heading to their respective commands.
After the news of the Duke of Cambridge and others’ departure was conveyed to the officers under their command, they were t with the officers’ complaints.
The Duke of Cambridge and others had no choice but to use Baron Lagren as a scapegoat to placate them, subsequently issuing Baron Lagren’s orders to them.
Thus, under such level-by-level orders, the soldiers also began to resent the uncompromising Baron Lagren.
In the end, under the officers’ boots, the soldiers reluctantly began to pack up and prepare for departure.
Their wives, upon hearing the news of the departure, also prepared to follow them.
However, in an order given an hour later, Baron Lagren clearly demanded that the military wives must stay on Rhodes Island, reasoning that the existing British ships could not accommodate the wives.
So of the military wives obeyed Baron Lagren’s order, but the majority persisted in believing that Baron Lagren would eventually relent and let them aboard.
By 3 PM, Vice Admiral Dundas led the diterranean Fleet and transport ships to the vicinity of Rhodes Island’s waters.
Small boats were lowered from the warships and rowed towards Rhodes Island.
When the small boats reached Rhodes Island, the soldiers stationed at Rhodes Island, under scenic organization, lined up one after another to board the boats. The boats carried soldiers, cannons, and horses to the warships.
As for the military wives also waiting to board, under the strict supervision of Baron Lagren, no officer dared to allow any military wife to board.
The tragedy of Gallipoli had already indirectly reflected the backwardness of the military wives’ system.
After four-plus hours, all 18,600 soldiers boarded the ships. When the last small boat, carrying Baron Lagren in the quiet and chilly night sky, boarded, the steam warship emitted a dull "roar" and started.
Heading north, it gradually disappeared from view, leaving behind the wives stranded on Rhodes Island, along with more than a few thousand French logistics personnel stationed there (including engineering troops and technical workers).
After a night’s voyage, the steam warship swiftly crossed the Bosporus Strait, approaching Varna Port by 4 AM.
Through the binoculars, Vice Admiral Dundas saw the French warships anchored at Varna Port and imdiately turned to enter the warship, gently knocking on Baron Lagren’s cabin door.
"Co in!" Baron Lagren responded energetically to Vice Admiral Dundas outside the door.
Upon entering the room, Vice Admiral Dundas saw Baron Lagren standing beside the table gazing intently at the map. He hurriedly reported to Baron Lagren, "Commander, my fleet has successfully reached the vicinity of Varna Port’s waters!"
Baron Lagren lifted his head, looking at Vice Admiral Dundas with weary eyes, nodded, and said, "I know! You just draw near as you see fit!"
"Yes!" Receiving the order, Vice Admiral Dundas left Baron Lagren’s cabin.
The Duke of Cambridge, living next door to Baron Lagren, got up from his fixed army bed after hearing the commotion next door. After slightly tidying up his appearance, he went to Baron Lagren’s door.
With his head still lowered and hearing the noise outside the door, Baron Lagren did not lift his head but responded with a faint, "What’s happening now?"
"Commander, did you stay up all night?" The Duke of Cambridge tentatively asked Baron Lagren.
Upon hearing the voice of the Duke of Cambridge, Baron Lagren raised his head, t the Duke’s gaze, and replied in a calm tone, "Didn’t you stay up all night as well?"
"I...is just because I’m nervous!" The Duke of Cambridge stamred a response.
At this ti, the Duke of Cambridge was only 34 years old, having never been in a war, a thorough nobleman by descent, making him both nervous and excited about the impending battle.
"There’s nothing to be nervous about!" Baron Lagren said slowly and calmly, "Once you truly enter the battlefield, you will forget everything and throw yourself entirely into the fight! To achieve honor and everything you seek!"
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