Chapter 34 Chapter nine

The 35,000 Russian troops commanded by Kutuzov were pursued by the 100,000 French troops commanded by Napoleon, and they were hostile by residents everywhere they went.The Russian army lacked supplies, lost confidence in the Allies, and was forced to fight in unexpected harsh conditions. It had to retreat along the Danube in a hurry, stopping only at the place where the enemy was overtaken, and engaged in a rearguard battle to defend the baggage.There were battles at Lambach, Armitten, and Mork, and despite the courage and firmness of the Russian army, which the enemy had to admit, the result of the fighting was only an accelerated retreat.The Austrians, having escaped capture at Ulm, joined forces at Braunau and Kutuzov, and now also left the Russians.In this way, Kutuzov was left with only an exhausted army.The defense of Vienna was out of the question.While Kutuzov was in Vienna, the Austrian Royal Military Council had given him a well-thought-out offensive plan according to modern strategy, but now Kutuzov had only one goal to strive for, which was almost unattainable. It is to avoid the annihilation of the whole army as Mark did under the city of Ulm, and to join forces with the newly transferred troops from Russia.

On October 28, Kutuzov led his troops across the Danube to the left bank, and confronted the main force of the French army across the river, and then stopped for the first time.On the thirtieth he attacked Morgier's division on the left bank of the Danube and routed it.For the first time in this battle the Russian army captured spoils: flags, cannons and two enemy generals.After two weeks of retreating steadily, the Russian army stood firm for the first time.After fighting, he not only held his position, but also repelled the French army.Although the Russian army is ragged and exhausted, and has lost a third of its personnel due to stragglers, casualties, and diseases; The large hospital and large residence in Rems, converted into a field hospital, still cannot accommodate all the sick and wounded; despite these circumstances, the fact that the Russian army gained a foothold in Krems and won victory at Morgiers is still a matter of course. Greatly boosted morale.All over the army, at the headquarters, there were happy and unreliable reports of the approaching arrival of Russian reinforcements, of the victory of the Austrians, of Napoleon's panicked retreat.

In this battle, Prince Andrew followed the Austrian general Schmidt who was later killed.His mount was wounded and his arm was grazed by bullets.In order to express his special regard for him, the commander-in-chief sent him to the Austrian court to deliver the good news.At that time, the Austrian court had left Vienna, which was threatened by the French army, and moved to Brno.On the night of the battle, Prince Andrei was so excited that he couldn't feel tired (Prince Andrei looked weak, but in fact he was more able to endure hardships than ordinary strong people), and he rode to the Krems came to see Kutuzov.That very night Prince Andrei was sent to Brno as a courier.Being appointed as a messenger is not only a reward, but an important step in promotion.

The night was dark, but the sky was full of stars.There was a snowfall during the battle yesterday, and the road looks very black in the white snow at the moment.Sitting in the speeding stagecoach, Prince Andrei sometimes recalled yesterday's battle, sometimes happily imagined the scene of his going to report the victory, and at the same time thought of the farewell scene of the commander-in-chief and his companions. The long-awaited happiness.As soon as he closed his eyes, the sound of the guns filled his ears, and the sound of the guns merged with the sound of the wheels and the impression of victory.He sometimes imagined that the Russians had fled and that he himself had been killed; but he came to himself at once and realized with joy that there was no such thing at all, but that the French had fled instead.He recalled the whole process of winning the battle, thought of his calm and bravery in battle, felt at ease, and fell asleep... The starry night passed, and the bright and happy morning came.The snow melted in the sun, the horses galloped, and the road passed by various woods, fields and villages.

At a post he overtook a convoy of Russian wounded troops.The Russian officer in charge of the transport lay sprawled in the first carriage, shouting and cursing the soldiers with foul language.A group of long German carriages jolted violently on the gravel road, and in each carriage sat six or seven wounded soldiers with pale faces, bandages, and filthy bodies.Some of the wounded soldiers were talking (he heard speaking in Russian), some were eating bread, and the most seriously wounded remained silent, looking at the messenger passing by with the pathetic honesty of a sick child. Prince Andrew ordered to stop, and asked a soldier in what battle he had been wounded.

"On the Danube the day before yesterday," replied the soldier.Prince Andrew took out his wallet and gave him three gold coins. "For everyone." He said to the officers who came over. "Brothers, I wish you a speedy recovery," he said to the soldiers. "There are still many battles to be fought." "Oh, Mr. Adjutant, any news?" asked the officer, evidently wanting to chat. "Good news! Let's go!" he called to the coachman, and the carriage drove on. It was already dark when Prince Andrew reached Brno.He saw high-rise buildings all around him, brightly lit shops and houses, bright street lights, beautiful carriages rolling by, and the bustling atmosphere of a big city.This weather is especially attractive to those who have just left the barracks.In spite of the high speed and the sleepless nights, Prince Andrew arrived at the palace feeling more refreshed than the day before.His eyes were bright as a fever, and his thoughts were clear and fleeting.He vividly recalled the whole process of the battle, and made a brief report to Emperor Franz in his mind.He also wondered vividly what questions they might ask him, and how he should answer them.He thought they would immediately lead him to the emperor.But at this moment an official ran to meet him from the gate of the palace, and knowing that he was a messenger, he led him to another gate.

"Cross the corridor to the right; there, my lord, you will find the aide-de-camp on duty," said the official to him, "and he will show you to the Secretary of War." The aide-de-camp on duty greeted Prince Andrew, told him to wait, and then went in to inform the Minister of War.Five minutes later the aide-de-camp returned, bowed very respectfully, put Prince Andrew in front, and accompanied him through the corridor to the office of the Minister of War.The aide-de-camp was particularly polite, as if he was afraid that the Russian adjutant would be too familiar with him.Prince Andrei's joy suddenly subsided as he walked towards the office of the Minister of War.He felt slighted.His feeling of being slighted immediately turned into baseless contempt for everything.He was very clever, and it immediately occurred to him that he could also despise the aide-de-camp and the minister of war.He thought: "They can't smell gunpowder, and they think victory is easy!" He narrowed his eyes contemptuously, and deliberately walked into the office of the Secretary of War.His contempt was intensified when he saw the Secretary of War sitting at a large table, ignoring anyone who entered for a couple of minutes.The Secretary of War, with his grizzled, bald head buried between two candles, read papers and made notes with a pencil.He heard the door open and footsteps, but did not look up until he had finished the papers.

"Take this and send it away," said the Secretary of War, handing the official document to the adjutant, still ignoring the messenger. It seemed to Prince Andrew that the Minister of War was either busy with his duties and least interested in the actions of Kutuzov's troops, or he was trying to impress on the Russian messenger. "I don't care at all," thought Prince Andrew.The Minister of War sorted out the rest of the official documents before raising his head.His head appears intelligent and has a lot of character.But at the moment when he greeted Prince Andrei, the wise and resolute expression of the Minister of War changed, half out of habit and half out of intention: a foolish and false smile, which was undisguised for this kind of falsehood, appeared on his face. It was the usual look of those who received a steady stream of visitors.

"Is it from Generalissimo Kutuzov?" asked the Minister of War. "There must be some good news. Has Morgier ever been fought? Was it won? It's time!" The Secretary of War took the urgent papers addressed to him and began to read them with a gloomy expression. "Oh, my God! My God! Schmidt!" he said in German, "what a misfortune! what a misfortune!" The Minister of War read the urgent papers, put it on the table, and glanced at Prince Andrey, obviously thinking about something. "Oh, what a misfortune! Do you think the battle was decisive? But Morgier was not captured." The Minister of War thought for a moment, "I am glad you have brought good news, although Schmidt's The price is too high for death in exchange for victory. His Majesty will certainly be willing to receive you, but not today. Thank you, you can go and rest for a while. You can come again after the review tomorrow. I will notify you then."

The silly smile that had disappeared during the conversation returned to the Secretary of War's face. "Goodbye, thank you very much. His Majesty the Emperor will certainly be willing to receive you." The Minister of War repeated, then nodded. When Prince Andrew left the palace it seemed to him that all the joy and happiness which the victory had brought him were now in the hands of the indifferent Minister of War and his respectful aide-de-camp.All his thoughts suddenly changed: the battle seemed to be a distant memory.