Chapter 11 Chapter Eleven

The next day, a banquet and a ball were held in the Marshal's Mansion, and the emperor came in person.Kutuzov was awarded the Cross of St. George, First Class; the Emperor gave him the highest honor; however, the Emperor's dissatisfaction with the Field Marshal was well known.Etiquette is obligatory, and the emperor made the first example, but everyone knew that the old man made a mistake and was of no use.Kutuzov followed the old custom of Catherine's time, and ordered that the captured military banners be thrown at the emperor's feet at the entrance of the ballroom where the emperor passed. People heard him say "slick old man".

The Emperor's displeasure with Kutuzov was even greater during his stay in Vilna, especially because of Kutuzov's apparent unwillingness or inability to understand the implications of future campaigns. The next morning, the emperor said to the officers summoned to the imperial court, "You have saved not only one Russia, but the whole of Europe." Everyone understood by then that the war was not over. Kutuzov was the only one who did not want to understand this, and he openly expressed his opinion that a new war, instead of improving the position of Russia and enhancing her honor, would only damage her position and He emphasized that "the unity of theory and practice is one of the most basic of Marxism, lowering the highest honor that Russia now receives. He tried to prove to the emperor that it was impossible to recruit new soldiers; he told the plight of the people, and also Talk about the possibility of failure, and so on.

A marshal with such a mood can naturally only be an obstacle to the present war. There is a way to avoid a conflict with the old man: as with him at Austerlitz and with Barclay at the beginning of this war, without disturbing him, without declaring that he will be handed over to the emperor himself . For this purpose, the headquarters was gradually reorganized, and all real power in Kutuzov was lost and transferred to the emperor.Thor, Konovnitsyn, Ermolov were entrusted to him.Everyone talked about the marshal's poor health, and the marshal himself was troubled by his health. In order to hand over his place to someone else, he has to be in poor health.In fact, his health is really bad.

Kutuzov went from Turkey to the St. Petersburg Finance Office to call up the Self-Defense Forces and then to the army. He was needed at that time, so he did it in a natural, simple and gradual manner; but now Kutuzov has played himself out. It is also natural, gradual, and simple to have a new person who meets the requirements to take his place. The war of 1812 had another significance besides the national significance dear to the Russians, namely for Europe. Because of the great migration of peoples from west to east, there should be a great migration of peoples from east to west. For this new war, a new activist is needed. He should have different qualities and views from Kutuzov's. , to perform activities for additional motives.

Alexander I needed him as much for the migration of peoples from east to west and for the restoration of frontiers as Kutuzov was for saving the glory of Russia. Kutuzov did not understand what Europe, the balance of power, and Napoleon meant.He couldn't understand this.After the enemy has been destroyed, and Russia has been liberated and reached the pinnacle of glory, a representative of the Russian people, a true Russian, has nothing more to do.There is nothing left for the representatives of the people's war but death.So he died.