The War Court and Lap Pillow, Austria's Mandate of Heaven

Chapter 1690: Unconventional Approach

Franz knew that the Russians were planning something big, but he habitually assumed that, as in history, the Russians were aiming for Sinop on the Black Sea, belonging to the Ottoman Empire.

The Battle of Sinop is considered one of the greatest naval victories in Russian history, but it is also a classic example of a tactical victory but a strategic failure.

At this time, the Russian Navy was stronger than it had been in history, while the Ottoman Navy was weaker. Franz was very confident that the Russian Navy would achieve a good start.

As for whether the British would enter the Black Sea and declare war on Russia, given the unclear attitude of the French, he was unsure.

However, by this point, whether Britain participated in the war or not made little difference to the Austrian Empire, and Franz naturally did not care about it.

However, Nicholas I chose to attack Constantinople directly. In fact, all countries had considered this possibility before, but without exception, they all concluded that the feasibility was almost zero.

The Ottoman Empire occupied this area for hundreds of years. More than ten forts of varying sizes were scattered along a 31-kilometer stretch from the mouth of the Bosphorus Strait to the Golden Horn. These forts were interspersed to form an effective network of fire, leaving no escape for ships entering the area.

In addition, there are at least three blockade chains, each located in a narrow section of the waterway and protected by corresponding gun emplacements and barracks.

Each blockade chain consisted of thick, heavy iron chains and driftwood. The chains were fixed to gun emplacements or barracks on the shore. Normally, they were submerged at the bottom of the water, but in the event of war, they were raised by winches to cut off the water surface.

With the addition of the Golden Horn Bay Fleet, five battleships and nearly a hundred warships are no joke.

Theoretically speaking, any foreign warship that enters the area is doomed to death. Even if there is a generational gap in weaponry between the two sides, it is difficult for the attacking side to escape unscathed.

In fact, this was not only the view of other countries, but also the view of the vast majority of officers in Russia and the Ottoman Empire.

When Black Sea Fleet Commander Nakhimov received the Tsar's order, he even called it a suicide attack. However, Nicholas I didn't care about such things; it was the fastest way he could think of to capture Constantinople.

In fact, this idea had been in the Tsar's mind for a long time, and he had long since begun to send people to collect all the intelligence that could be used.

Nakhimov and his naval and army commanders only learned the details of the operation a week before it began, but some still suggested that Nicholas I could compress it into a probing and intimidating move.

After all, success is the best outcome, but if it doesn't succeed, there's no real loss.

However, Nicholas I did not believe in this. He was determined to take a gamble, after all, in his eyes the Black Sea Fleet was dispensable compared to Constantinople.

However, Nicholas I's gamble proved correct. The Ottomans strengthened their defenses on both the eastern and western fronts, and even reinforced the defenses of several important ports along the Black Sea, but neglected the capital, Istanbul.

It wasn't exactly an oversight, but rather a case of being caught off guard by unintended attacks. The Ottomans hadn't expected the Russians to arrive so quickly.
In fact, the Russian Black Sea Fleet had set off two days earlier; the Russians had already calculated the timing perfectly.

After all, Nicholas I never intended to negotiate from the beginning; he set the time for the operation at dawn, the same time Russia declared war on the Ottoman Empire.

The reason why the Black Sea Fleet only launched its attack on Istanbul at around 3 a.m. was entirely because it took the Black Sea Fleet more than three hours to pass through the Bosphorus Strait.

This was because we had a tailwind; if it had been a headwind, we might not have arrived until almost 5 a.m.

Even this favorable wind was part of the plan, since it's not impossible for people who have lived here for a long time to estimate the wind direction over a period of time.

Under the cover of night, the Russian navy entered the fjord without any hindrance.

Meanwhile, small boats loaded with Russian troops also docked at the shore, and the Russian soldiers who disembarked immediately began their surprise attack on the shore's artillery positions and barracks, as planned.

The three lines of blockade became key targets for the Russian army.

Istanbul in April may be quite cool for tourists, but it's not so friendly for soldiers who have to be on duty in the middle of the night, especially with the salty sea breeze blowing in.

Many veterans on the gun emplacement would wrap themselves in thick wool blankets and sleep in a corner, so they could react quickly even if there was a surprise inspection by superiors. Those forced to stand guard at night were all new recruits from Anatolia, most of whom were farmers or shepherds, timid, cowardly, and easily bullied.

A new recruit leaned against a stone pillar, drool still dripping from his mouth. His comrades were equally audacious; to ward off the chill, they lit a campfire, using an even more horrifying fuel.

These Ottomans used black powder as fuel, a skill exclusive to soldiers in the ammunition depot.

The seaside was extremely humid, and what they were given was either low-quality coal or damp, withered branches they had picked up from nearby.

Using ordinary methods of ignition, it would be difficult to start a fire even after using a whole box of matches, not to mention that matches were not cheap at the time.

However, if black powder is used, only a small amount is needed to quickly ignite a flame.

As for the source of black powder, this gun emplacement has no shortage of it, since there is an ammunition depot nearby, so it is easy to get some black powder.

Note: Black powder is actually an excellent accelerant. If it is ignited directly, it will usually cause a violent combustion reaction and will usually only explode in a confined or semi-confined space.

Compared to the drowsy gun emplacements above, the soldiers in the barracks below the fortress were quite alert. However, instead of being on constant vigilance, they were playing cards and boasting.

Kasim was the barracks commander, and his face was flushed from the effects of alcohol and gambling.

"I refuse to believe we can't win today! I'll bet you my entire year's salary!"

Another sentry, looking smug, laughed and said.

"Kassim, where will you get your pay next year? You've already lost money for five years!"

"Ha ha!"

The surrounding soldiers burst into laughter.

Kasim's face turned even redder.

"I'll have money! I'm telling you, when the Russians come, I'll cut off the heads of ten Russian soldiers for you, that should be enough!"

"You blow it!"

Kasim took another big gulp of his homemade lak, then suddenly drew his sword from his waist, startling everyone around him into taking a few steps back.

Another sentry immediately adopted a very magnanimous tone and said.

"Don't be impulsive, we're just playing cards. You can pay me back whenever you want. Let's drink! Let's drink!"

However, Kasim persisted.

"Let me tell you! It was with this very knife on the banks of the Danube that I beheaded three Russian soldiers with a single stroke!"

After saying that, Kasim brandished his scimitar, which startled the people around him, causing them to retreat in fear.

"Commander, you're awesome!"

Someone shouted something, and the people around immediately echoed in unison.

"Commander, you're awesome!"