Chapter 3 third chapter

After returning from the parade, Kutuzov, accompanied by the Austrian general, went into his office, called for an adjutant, and ordered him to send the papers on the actual situation of the troops that had come to the country and the documents of Archduke Ferdinand, who commanded the advance troops. Bring the letters together.Prince Andrei Bolkonsky entered his office with the necessary papers for the Commander-in-Chief.Kutuzov and the Austrian senators of the Military Senate sat before a plan of operations that was laid out on the table. "Ah..." said Kutuzov, looking at Bolkonsky, saying "Ah" as if to make the adjutant wait a moment, and then continuing the conversation which had begun in French.

"General, that's all I have to say," said Kutuzov, with such a beautiful tone of voice that he compelled his interlocutor to listen to every word he uttered without haste.Apparently, Kutuzov himself enjoyed being heard. "General, I just want to say one thing. If this matter depends on my own wishes, His Majesty King Franz's decree has been fulfilled long ago. I have joined the Grand Duke long ago. Please believe in my personality , for me, to transfer the supreme command of the army to a general more accomplished and better than myself, and there are plenty of people in Austria, so long as all the burden of responsibility is removed from me, then it is for me It is a great pleasure to say, General, but facts are often more convincing than our wishes."

Kutuzov smiled, as if to say: "You have every reason not to believe me, and I don't really care whether you believe me or not, but you have no grounds for telling me that. That's the crux of the problem." The Austrian general looked dissatisfied, so he could not answer Kutuzov in the same tone. "On the contrary," he said, in a tone of complaining anger which contradicted his flattering words, "on the contrary, His Majesty highly appreciates Your Excellency's participation in our common cause. But we have always held that the present Delay would deprive the Russian army and its commander-in-chief of the laurels they usually win in great battles." It seemed that he had finished what he had prepared to say.

Still smiling, Kutuzov bowed. "However, on the basis of the letter bestowed recently by His Royal Highness the Archduke Ferdinand, I firmly believe and believe that the Austrian army, under the leadership of such a brilliant deputy commander as General Mark, has won a decisive victory and will never again We need help." Kutuzov said. The Austrian general frowned.Although no definite news of the defeat of the Austrian army has yet come out, legends of widespread defeat have been proved in various cases, so that Kutuzov's speculation about the Austrian army's victory seems like a mockery.But Kutuzov smiled docilely, and he always carried that air, as if to show that he had a right to speculate on the matter.The most recent correspondence he had received from Mark's army had indeed informed him of the victories of the Austrian armies and their most advantageous strategic position.

"Bring the letter here," said Kutuzov, turning his face to Prince Andrei. "Please read it," and Kutuzov addressed the Austrian general in German with an ironic smile on his lips. Read aloud the following from the letter of Archduke Ferdinand: WirhabenvollkommengehalteneKrafte, nahean70000Maun, umdenFeind, wennerdenLechpassirte, angreifenundschlagenzukonnen, Wirkonnen, dawirMeistervon Ulmsind， denVortheil，auchvonbeidenufernderDonauMeisterzubleiben，nichtvertieren， mithinauchjedenAuBgenblick，wennderFeinddenLechnichtpassirte，dieDonau， ubersetzen，unsaufseineCommunika－tions－Liniewerfen， dieDonauunterhalbrepassirenuhddemFeinde， wennersichgegenunseretreueAllirtemitganzerMachtwendenwollte， seineAbsichtalsbald，vereiteln，WirwerdenaufsolcheWeisedenZeitpunkt， wodiekaiserlich－RussisBcheArmeeausgerustetseinwird，muthigentgegenharren， undsodannleichtgemeinschaftlichdieMoglichkeitfinden， demFeindedasSchicksalzuznbereiten，soerverdivent。 ①

① German: We have a fully concentrated force, about 70,000 people. If the enemy crosses the Lech River, we will definitely be able to launch an attack and wipe out the enemy in one fell swoop.Since we have Ulm, we can continue to control the favorable situation on both sides of the Danube; therefore, if the enemy does not cross the Lech, we can cross the Danube at any time, rush to the enemy's communication lines, and cross the lower Danube back to our original position. Therefore, if the enemy wishes to attack our loyal allies with full force, we will not allow the enemy to carry out this attempt.Let us, therefore, take heart, and wait until the preparations of the imperial Russian army are completed, and then, with our unity, we shall not find it difficult to bring the enemy to the doom which he deserves.

After reading the letter, Kutuzov drew a heavy breath, and looked attentively and affectionately at the senators of the Military Senate. "But, sir, you know that there is a wise rule of conduct: to expect the worst," said the General Austrian, evidently wishing to end the chatter with a joke and to proceed to something serious. He looked dissatisfied and looked back at the adjutant. "Excuse me, General," interrupted Kutuzov, who also turned to Prince Andrew. "My dear, listen to me, ask Kozlovsky for all the information on our scouts. Here are two letters from Count Nostitz, and here is a letter from His Royal Highness the Grand Duke Ferdinand, And there are others," he said, handing him some official papers. "From all these official documents, prepare a memorandum in clear French, ① compiling all the information we have on the Austrian military operations into a report. Well, do like this, and send it to your lordship."

①French: official notes and official documents. Prince Andrei bowed his head, expressing that as soon as Kutuzov spoke he understood not only what he said, but also what he wanted to say to him.He packed up the documents, bowed to the two, and walked slowly from the carpet to the reception room. Although Prince Andrei had not passed much time since he left Russia, he had become much during that time.There was little in his facial expression, movement, and gait of the false, tired, and lazy look of old.He had the air of someone who has no time to think about the impression he makes on other people, but is simply busy with a pleasing and interesting task.He had a look of excessive self-satisfaction and satisfaction with those around him.His smile and eyes look happier and more endearing.

He caught up with Kutuzov in Poland, and Kutuzov treated him very well and promised him that he would not forget him. Unlike other adjutants, Kutuzov admired him very much, took him to Vienna, He does more important things.In Vienna Kutuzov wrote a letter to his old colleague, the father of Prince Andrew. “My son,” he wrote, “is a man who is expected to be a different officer because of his dedication, determination, and diligence. I consider myself very lucky to have such a man by my side.” In Kutuzov's headquarters, and in general in the army, Prince Andrew had two diametrically opposed reputations among his colleagues.There were some, that is, a few, who recognized Prince Andrew as a special man different from himself, expected him to achieve something in the future, obeyed him, admired him, and imitated him.Prince Andrew was generous and honest with these people, and he found himself in a good mood when he was with them.Others, the majority, did not like Prince Andrew, seeing him as domineering, cold, and repulsive.Prince Andrew knew how to deal with these people, to make them respect him, and even fear him.

Prince Andrei came out of Kutuzov's office and went into the reception room. He took the papers with him and asked a colleague, the adjutant on duty Kozlovsky, who was reading at the window. "Hello, prince, what's the matter?" asked Kozlovkis. "There was an order to draw up an official memorandum explaining why we were not moving forward." "why?" Prince Andrew shrugged his shoulders. "No news from Mark?" Kozlowski asked. "No." "If he is indeed broken, the news will come." "Probably so," said Prince Andrew, and went to the door.But at this moment, a tall Austrian general who looked like he had just arrived from another place walked quickly into the reception room and slammed the door behind him.He wore a frock coat, a black turban around his head, and the Order of Maria Theresia around his neck.Prince Andrew stopped walking.

"Is Admiral Kutuzov here?" The general who just arrived from other places said quickly with a harsh German accent, while looking around, he walked towards the door of the office without stopping. "The general is not free," Kozlovsky said, and hurriedly walked in front of the unknown general and blocked the passage in front of the door. "May I ask your name?" The general, whom he did not know, looked contemptuously at the small Kozlovsky from top to bottom, as if surprised that anyone could not recognize him. "The general is not free," Kozlovski said calmly. The general frowned, his face darkened, his lips twitched and trembled.He took out his notebook, wrote a few words quickly with a pencil, tore off a page and handed it to Kozlovsky, and then he walked quickly to the window, sat down on a chair, and looked at the people in the room. I glanced at it, as if asking in my heart: Why are they all looking at me?Then the general raised his head and straightened his neck, as if he was about to say something, but then he sang to himself as if carelessly, and sang a strange sound, which was cut off immediately.The door of the office opened, and Kutuzov appeared in front of the threshold.The general in the turban, stooping as if avoiding danger, walked towards Kutuzov with swift steps on his thin legs. "VousvoyezlemalheureuxMack," he said in a sudden change of voice. ① French: You saw the unfortunate Mark with your own eyes. Kutuzov stood at the door of the office, his face frozen for a while.Then, a wavy wrinkle appeared on his face.His forehead stretched; he bowed his head respectfully, closed his eyes, let Mark pass by without a word, and closed the door behind him. The original report that the Austrians had been routed and surrendered before Ulm turned out to be true.Half an hour later, adjutants were dispatched everywhere with orders indicating that the Russians, who had hitherto remained silent, were also about to engage the enemy. Prince Andrew was one of the few officers in the headquarters who cared much about the whole course of the campaign.When Prince Andrei saw Mark and heard the details of the fall of his army, he knew that half the battle was lost and the situation of the Russians was extremely difficult.He thought vividly of what the army was about to face and what role he should play in it.When he thought of the ignominious defeat of the overconfident Austrian country, and that in a week he might witness and participate in the unprecedented armed conflict between Russia and France after Suvorov, he could not help feeling a thrill of joy. emotion.But he was afraid of the genius of Bonaparte, who surpassed the valor of the Russian army, and he could not allow his hero to be humiliated. Prince Andrei, agitated and annoyed by these thoughts, went to his room to write letters to his father, to whom he wrote every day, and met Nesvitsky and Joker, who lived in the same room, in the corridor. Zherkov.As usual, they laughed for no reason. "Why are you so sad?" Nesvitsky asked, noticing that Prince Andrey was pale and his eyes were shining. "There's nothing to be happy about," Bolkonski replied. When Prince Andrew met Nesvitsky and Zherkov, the Austrian general Strauch, who had just arrived yesterday, and the senators of the Austrian Military Senate came from the other side of the corridor; At Kutuzov's headquarters, overseeing the food supply of the Russian army.The corridor was wide enough to allow free passage for two generals and three officers; but Zherkov pushed Nesvitsky away and said out of breath: "They're coming! . . . they're coming! . . . Step aside, get out of the way! Please make way! " Two generals walked over, both of them put on a look of avoiding troublesome etiquette.Suddenly a giddy smirk appeared on the face of the witty Zherkov, who seemed unable to bear it. "My lord," he said in German, taking a few steps forward, and turning his face to the Austrian general, "I congratulate you, it is my great honor." He lowered his head, and like a child learning to dance, he stretched out his left foot and his right foot stupidly, and began to salute with both feet. The Senator-General of the Austrian Military Senate glanced at him gravely, but he couldn't help noticing him for a moment, noticing his silliness and silliness.The general narrowed his eyes to show he was listening. "General Mark has arrived. He is safe and sound, but this place is bruised. I am very honored to congratulate him." He pointed to his head and added with a slight smile. The general frowned, turned around and walked forward. "Gott, wienaiv!" he said angrily, stepping away a few steps. ①French: Oh my God, how naive! Nesvitsky laughed and embraced Prince Andrei, but Bolkonsky turned paler, pushed him away with a look of resentment, and turned to Zherkov .Mark's look, the news of his defeat, and all the thoughts aroused by the situation facing the Russians, had thrown him into a state of nervous excitement.Zherkov was amused inappropriately, he felt resentful, and all this was vented to Zherkov in his anger. "Your Excellency," he said in a harsh voice, his jaw trembling slightly, "if you want to be a squire buffoon, I can't stop it. But I declare to you publicly that if you dare to make fun of me in my presence again , I will teach you a lesson and teach you how to behave." Nesvitsky and Zherkov expressed their astonishment at this perverse behavior, and stared at Bolkonski in silence. "Why, I was just congratulating," Zherkov said. "I'm not messing with you, please don't talk!" Bolkonsky shouted, grabbed Nesvitsky's hand, and walked away from Zherkov, who could not answer. "Well, brother, what's the matter with you?" Nesvitsky said in a soothing tone. "What's the matter?" said Prince Andrei, stopping in agitation, "you must understand that we are officers who serve the king and the country, rejoice in common victories and mourn in common defeats. ; or we are some lackeys who have nothing to do with the cause of the sovereign. Quarantemilleshommesmassacresetlarmeedenosalliesdetruite, etvoustroucezlalemotpourrive,” he said, as if to justify his opinion with this French phrase. "Cestbienpourungarconderien, commecetindiBvidu, dontvousavezfaitunami, maispaspourvous, paspourvous, only a young child can amuse like that." Prince Andrei, finding that Zherkov could still hear him, added in Russian, speaking with a French accent. The word child. ① France: 40,000 people died, and our allies were wiped out, but you are making such a joke.You can be forgiven for making friends with this gentleman, a villain like him, but you, you are unforgivable. He waited a moment to see if the ensign would answer.But the cavalry ensign turned away and walked out of the corridor.