Chapter 57 Chapter Eleven

The next day, the emperor stayed in Visau, and the imperial physician Villiers was called several times to visit him, and the news of the violation of the Eucharist was spread in the general headquarters and nearby troops.According to the attendants, the emperor did not eat that day and did not sleep well at night.The reason for the violation of the Eucharist was that the tragic sight of the casualties strongly stimulated the compassionate heart of the Emperor. At dawn on the 17th, a French officer holding a military envoy's flag asked to see the Russian emperor and was taken from the outpost to Visau.The military envoy was named Savary.The emperor had just fallen asleep, and Savary had to wait.At noon, Savary was summoned by the emperor.An hour later Savary rode with Prince Targorukov to the French outpost.

Legend has it that Savary's mission was to propose a peace treaty and a meeting between Alexander and Napoleon.The emperor refused to meet in person, much to the satisfaction and pride of the entire army.And the victor at Visau, Duke Torgorukov, was ordered to accompany Savary to negotiate with Napoleon, if the other party really had a desire for peace. In the evening Targorukov returned and went directly to the Tsar, where he remained alone for a long time. On November 18th and 19th, the troops continued to march forward, and the enemy outposts retreated after a brief exchange of fire.From noon on the 19th there were frequent movements of troops until the morning of the next day, November 20th, when the memorable Battle of Austerlitz took place.

Before noon on the 19th, all activities, excited conversations, busy running, and the dispatch of adjutants were limited to the emperor's Xingyuan.That afternoon the activity extended to Kutuzov's headquarters and the column staff.In the evening, this activity was extended to all departments of the army through the adjutant.On the night of the 19th to the 20th, the 80,000 coalition troops set out from the campsite, with noisy voices, stretching for nine versts, and advancing forward. In the morning, the central movement starting from the emperor's shaft is like the start of the main wheel of the big bell on the bell tower, which gradually promotes the operation of all parts.Slowly one wheel turned, then a second, and a third, and all the wheels, pulleys, and gears turned faster and faster.Then the clock made a bang, and the little man who told the time jumped out, and the hour hand moved slowly, indicating the result of the movement.

The structure of a military machine is the same as that of a clock. Once it begins to move, it will go on irresistibly to the end. Before it turns, all parts remain motionless. Just like the parts of a clock, the wheels ring on the axle and the gears bite each other. Stop, the pulley whizzed and turned quickly, but the wheel next to it was still silent and motionless, as if it was going to sleep like this for hundreds of years, but when the lever caught the wheel, it made a sound obediently, turned, and merged into a unified actions, although not knowing what the purpose and result of the movement will be.

Like a clock, the result of the complex movement of countless wheels and pulleys is only to make the hour hand tell the time slowly and evenly, the 160,000 Russian and French troops, with their enthusiasm, desire, remorse, humiliation, pain, pride, fear and revelry , the result of carrying out all the complex activities is only the failure of the Battle of Austerlitz, which formed the so-called Great War of the Three Emperors, that is, the slow movement of the hour hand on the clock face of human history. Prince Andrei was on duty that day, and was by the commander-in-chief's side at all times, never leaving him.

Before six o'clock in the evening, Kutuzov came to the emperor's palace, stayed there for a short time, and then went to see Count Tolstoy, the imperial minister. Prince Andrei took advantage of this opportunity to go to Targorukov to inquire about military details.Andrei noticed that Kutuzov was in a bad mood, something displeased him, and the officials in the camp were not satisfied with him.The tone of their voices showed that they knew secrets that others did not know, so Andrei wanted to talk to Torgorukov. "Oh, hello, brother," said Torgorukov, sitting with Bilipin over tea, "tomorrow we can celebrate. How is your old man? Is he in a bad mood?"

"I can't say he's in a bad mood, but he wants his opinion to be heard." "At the military council, everyone has heard his opinion. As long as what he said is reasonable, everyone will still listen to him. But now is the time when Napoleon is most afraid of battle, and he can no longer wait and see." "Yes, you saw him?" asked Prince Andrew. "And how was Napoleon? How did he make an impression on you?" "Yes, I have seen him, and I believe he is most afraid of battle," Torgorukov repeated repeatedly, apparently attaching importance to the general conclusion he had reached after meeting Napoleon, "if he is not afraid of battle, then Why should he meet with the emperor, negotiate, and above all, retreat? Retreating is totally against his tactics. Please believe me, he is afraid, afraid of a big battle, his end is coming. I am sure."

"Then tell me, what does he look like?" Prince Andrey asked again. "He was wearing a gray suit and wanted me to call him 'Your Majesty,' but he was disappointed because I didn't call him that at all. That's what he is, that's all." Torgorukov replied to Andrei, smiling Look back at Billy Pin. "Despite my great respect for old Kutuzov," continued Torgorukov, "the enemy is now in our hands, and if we hold back and give them a chance to escape or fall for their tricks, we will That's what it looks like. Yes, we must not forget Suvorov and his creed: don't let yourself be beaten passively, but take the initiative to attack. In my opinion, the energetic young generals in war are often more able to point out the right things than the veteran ones who worry about gains and losses the way."

"Then where should we attack the enemy? I have been to the outposts today, but I cannot tell where the main force is," said Prince Andrew. He wanted to tell Targorukov the plan of attack he had drawn up. "Oh, that's quite inconsequential," said Torgorukov at once, getting up and opening the map on the table, "everything is taken into account: if he's in Brno . . . " Then Torgorukov spoke hurriedly and vaguely of Willot's plan for outflanking. Prince Andrew objected to this plan, stating that his plan was no worse than Willot's, but unfortunately Willot's was approved.Prince Andrei was about to explain the disadvantages of the latter and the advantages of the former, but Prince Targorukov did not listen to him, did not look at the map, and only looked indifferently at his face.

"However, Kutuzov has a military council tonight, at which you can express these opinions," said Targorukov. "That's what I will do," said Prince Andrew, walking away from the map. "Everyone, what are you worrying about?" Biliping, who had been listening to their conversation with a smile until now, obviously wanted to joke, "Regardless of tomorrow's victory or defeat, the honor of the Russian army will be preserved. Except for your army Tuzov, the columns don't even have a Russian commander. The current commanders are His Excellency General Wimpfen, General Langeron, Duke Lichtenstein, Duke Hohenlohe... and a bunch of Polish names. "

"Shut up, poisonous tongue," said Torgorukov, "no, there are already two Russians: Miloradovich and Tokhodurov, and there may be a third, Arakche Count Yeve, but he's too nervous." "I think it's time for Kutuzov to come out now," said Prince Andrew. "I wish you happiness and success, everyone!" he added, shaking the hands of Targorukov and Bilipin. go out. On the way home, Prince Andrei could not resist asking Kutuzov, who was sitting silently next to him, what he thought of tomorrow's battle. Kutuzov looked sternly at his adjutant, was silent for a moment, and replied: "I saw that the battle was going to be lost, and I told this to Count Tolstoy, and asked him to pass it on to the emperor. What do you think he answered me? 'Oh, my dear general! I am busy with rice and meat pies, and the military affairs are up to you. Come on', look... that's what he answered me!"