I'm the Dauphin in France

Chapter 1425 The Tsar's Counterattack

Vorontsov and the other Russian ministers were so frightened that they lowered their heads and stood to the side, not daring to breathe.

Alexander I waved his hand dismissively: "Why are you all so nervous? I'm serious."

He rose from the large, comfortable chair and looked at Count Alakcheyev: "Which military is stronger near Tbilisi right now, the Ottomans or the Persians?"

Arakcheyev, as the most responsible official of the War Committee, was intimately familiar with all kinds of frontline battle reports and immediately replied: "Your Majesty, it is the Turkic army of Tsarka, numbering more than 3. Moreover, they acquired a batch of excellent cannons from Europe a few months ago."

"Now, only the last line of defense remains on the southwestern side of Tbilisi."

Alexander I nodded and instructed Vorontsov: "Give Tbilisi to the Ottomans. Then hand over the entire area from Katli to Imereti to the Persians."

"However, we must retain control of northern Gori."

Vorontsov was stunned upon hearing this, but then his eyes lit up.

Tbilisi, located in the central South Caucasus, is the largest and most prosperous city in the region and guards a strategic military route, making it arguably the heart of the South Caucasus.

Katali and Imeredi are both located in western Georgia, belonging to western Georgia—they are outwardly subservient to eastern Georgia, namely the Kakheti Kingdom, but in their hearts they always lean more towards the Ottomans.

The Tsar handed over Tbilisi, which the Persians were determined to conquer, to the Ottomans, but in return, the Persians controlled West Georgia, which the Ottomans claimed sovereignty over.

Once Russia withdraws its influence from the South Caucasus, war will soon break out between Persia and the Ottomans.

Regardless of who wins, firstly, they will no longer harass Russian territory in the short term. Secondly, the victor will certainly expend a large amount of military strength. When Russia resolves the problems on the western front and advances into the South Caucasus again, it will face a weakened enemy.

As for Gori, it is a city on the southern slope of the Caucasus Mountains, and the Zhivari Pass on its north side is the only passage from Russia south to the South Caucasus.

Since Russia so generously relinquished almost the entirety of Georgia, neither Persia nor the Ottomans should be bothered with the small place of Gori.

Vorontsov bowed deeply in admiration and said, "Your Majesty, your strategic wisdom is comparable to that of Peter the Great! This will easily resolve our predicament in the South Caucasus and lay a solid foundation for the eventual acquisition of Georgia!"

Alexander I squinted, enjoying the adoration of his subordinates, but conveniently ignored the fact that the strategy of "cross-abandoning the South Caucasus" was first proposed to him by George Canning, the Under-Secretary of State of the British Foreign Office.

After finishing discussing matters concerning the South Caucasus, the Tsar looked at his ministers and said, "Next, we can concentrate our forces to deal with the Poles."

How many men can the Goodwich Legion send to the Western Front?

General Guldanov, commander-in-chief of the Russian Southern Army, hurriedly replied, "Your Majesty, there are approximately 10,000 infantrymen and about 2,000 Cossack cavalrymen."

"So little?"

Alexander I frowned, but was not surprised.

The Russian army had already suffered heavy casualties in the fighting in Tbilisi, and many corps needed a long period of rest to recover their combat effectiveness. Furthermore, sufficient troops needed to be stationed in Gori—no one could guarantee that the Ottomans would abide by the armistice agreement.

The maximum number of soldiers that can be mobilized is 12,000.

Arakcheyev continued, "Your Majesty, the more than 3 new recruits we have enlisted in the Urals and Moscow have completed their training and will be able to reach the vicinity of the Dnieper River by the end of the year."

Alexander I's expression softened somewhat.

If Kutuzov could obtain more than 4 fresh troops, including over 1 experienced veterans, the western defense line would become very solid. He immediately thought of another problem: "What about logistics? Can the supply be guaranteed?"

Arakcheyev and Finance Minister Vasilyev exchanged a glance and hesitated before saying, "If we include the supplies that the British will be sending next month, it should be enough to sustain the Western Front for at least a year."

The Tsar pressed further, "Can you guarantee that the Poles will sign an armistice within a year?"

Silence fell over the study.

Whether it was reports sent back from Poland by spies or descriptions from frontline officers, all the Russian high command knew that Poland was currently in a state of military frenzy, and no one could guarantee when they would be willing to cease hostilities.

Alexander I said coldly, "I am waiting for an answer."

Count Arakcheyev gritted his teeth and stepped forward, saying, "Your Majesty, unless we can quickly eliminate Koschusko's main force, the war could very well continue for several years, given that Poland is receiving aid from France."

What suggestions do you have?

“Actually, this is an operational plan that my staff and I devised two months ago,” Arakcheyev said, taking a deep breath. “But this requires us to first abandon the defensive line from Vitebsk to Muskyslav…”

Upon hearing this, all the Russian ministers in the room secretly gasped.

Both places Arakcheyev mentioned are on the front line of defense on the east bank of the Dnieper River. If they are abandoned, the Polish army will be able to reach the Smolensk fortress directly.

If this medieval fortress falls, Moscow will be in grave danger.

Moreover, after the Polish army occupied Vitebsk, it could divide its forces and move north. Until it reached the Novgorod fortress, Kutuzov's army had almost no terrain that could be used for defense.

Novgorod is only 180 kilometers from St. Petersburg.

Alexander I looked calmly at Arakcheev and said, "Please continue."

……

Paris.

Palace of Versailles.

In the Crown Prince's drawing room, Countess Deburnnac curtsied respectfully to Joseph, but glanced at Talleyrand, who was talking incessantly, and deliberately raised her voice, saying, "Your Highness, your guests are ready to depart."

Joseph nodded apologetically and said, "Please tell her... uh, it's him, I'm coming right now."

As per the pre-arranged schedule, he was to depart for Brest today, and Queen Mary would accompany him in disguise.

However, many important things have happened recently. Generals Talleyrand and Berthier came to him early this morning to report, and it is almost 10:30 now, but they have only just begun to say what they have said.

Joseph gestured toward the gate to Talleyrand and the others: "Let's talk in the car."

Talleyrand limped alongside the Crown Prince and continued the previous topic: "Your Highness, given Ziadin's attitude, I believe that if our country can provide Constantinople with a loan of 300 million francs, they will most likely abandon grain exports to Britain. At the very least, they will raise prices to the level we desire."

Joseph smiled slightly: "Why should we make them give up? I think this is a very good deal."

(End of this chapter)