Chapter 1093: A Bold Decision

At this moment, Rumyantsev displayed his superior strategic awareness.

He was a famous general of Tsarist Russia, having demonstrated his exceptional military mind and brilliant command ability in several major wars. This was experience; in recent years, Tsarist Russia had been constantly at war with the Ottoman Empire, as well as with Sweden, and with Poland... Long-term combat had made him accustomed to many things on these battlefields and beyond.

The nobility?

He had always sneered at such things.

Of course, he also knew what kind of influence these nobles, originally at Balkhash Lake, might have on the direction of the war. But as a professional soldier, Rumyantsev truly looked down upon these nobles.

They could be utilized; this was true.

Thus, he took a gamble.

He gambled that the opposing commander would make a move regarding these nobles!

They would try to find a Method through the nobles!

This was an absolute form of reverse thinking.

And so, in the process of planning the subsequent attack,

Facts proved that Rumyantsev had bet correctly.

It was that Wang Feng's side felt these nobles would influence something, would influence their side's attitude. Therefore, on the day Rumyantsev launched his first wave of attacks, he made too much of an issue out of these nobles. This directly led to many of the day's defensive tasks not being in place.

When the enemy launched their attack, he used iron chains to lock these fence-sitting nobles up and sent them directly to the front line!

He thought this would hinder the offensive of the Tsarist Russia Army.

However...

It did not.

Rumyantsev did not take these nobles seriously at all. When he saw them crying and howling as they were sent over as cannon fodder, he deliberately hesitated for a while. Once the opposing defensive soldiers began to have loose formations, he suddenly launched a thunderous, fierce attack against these nobles.

At this, Wang Feng was completely stunned.

Those nobles, naturally, were also stunned.

Wasn't it said that the Tsarist Russia Army would treat them well? What was going on? The nobles were all crying for their fathers and mothers.

Wang Feng also could not figure it out.

Wasn't it said that these nobles held the intelligence on the Russian Army? His defensive work today had been deployed entirely according to the enemy situation they had described!

Disaster!

However.

As an Army Marshal of Tsarist Russia, Rumyantsev had extremely rich practical combat experience; how could he miss such an opportunity?

Attack!

Attack like a madman!

At this moment, Wang Feng was truly dumbfounded. It turned out that the enemy's military configuration was completely different from what the nobles had said! This was false intelligence deliberately released by Rumyantsev! Next, naturally, came Wang Feng's various frantic responses, but that is how the battlefield is; one must seize the day. The troop types and Weaponry and Equipment he had prepared were completely unsuitable for this defensive battle.

And the result?

It goes without saying.

Wang Feng was defeated miserably, and those nobles naturally truly became "cannon fodder." In just one day of fighting, the entire Balkhash Lake fell into the hands of Tsarist Russia. Wang Feng's fighting was certainly very heroic. But such was the Great Trend, and he had no Method; in the end, his sacrifice was also very soul-stirring.

He led his troops and fought until the very last moment.

Yet Balkhash Lake was still lost.

"Hoo..."

After reading this battle report, Liu Zheng himself felt a bit unwell.

It seems Tsarist Russia came prepared this time... He naturally knew who Rumyantsev was; in short, he was a very strong general. As an Army Marshal, he turned defeat into victory at the last moment during the Seven Years' War, and several Russo-Turkish Wars were likewise won by Tsarist Russia because of his command...

He had a nickname.

It was "Victor of the Trans-Danube"! One can imagine how high his historical evaluation would be.

Liu Zheng naturally had no good Method for this.

The enemy army has already entered Longyan, so there is only one word: fight!

He immediately sent a letter to the Western Regions, appointing Zou Sheng as the Commander-in-Chief of all forces in the Western Regions; all troops in the Western Regions, including the armies of those various Feudatory Kings of the Western Regions, were to be under his command and dispatch.

The entire Western Regions and Liangzhou were to mobilize troops, and Chuan Shu and the Southern Barbarians were also to send troops to the Western Regions simultaneously; they must take back Balkhash Lake within one month!

"One month?"

"Hahahaha, you must be joking!"

"Vice Minister Liu..."

"You are dreaming!"

"One month? The troops won't even be able to reach Balkhash Lake, and you want to take it back?"

A group of Feudatory Kings naturally sneered at Liu Zheng's decision and laughed one after another.

Liu Zheng looked at this group of people quietly.

In fact, what he was contemplating now was not how to transport troops—transporting troops was no longer a big problem because his Train was about to be unveiled. What he was contemplating was another problem... What consequences would arise from Balkhash Lake falling into enemy hands? Clearly, the entire country's anti-war sentiment would rise even higher, but at the same time, there would also appear many people whose positions were not firm enough—the kind of Guide Party that had appeared many times in history.

That is to say, while a particularly positive anti-war sentiment would emerge, extremely negative sentiments would also appear.

This happens in any war.

Those who have nothing to do all day but study Learning, those who advocate for world peace, those who start opposing the war without a brain.

Now, in Longyan, there have even appeared quite a few people clamoring that Tsarist Russia is here to save us poor people!

Welcoming them in is the path to our prosperity!

In their view, the entire Longyan being taken by the enemy without a fight is also as it should be; anyway, they are the Guide Party, and the enemy will not treat them poorly.

But in fact...

Tsarist Russia is a wolf.

No matter at any time, as long as a war breaks out between the two sides, the other side is a wolf.

There is only one way for a war to end, and that is to crush the opponent. It does not matter in which field they are crushed. Because war is diverse: direct armed conflict, trade wars, biological warfare, public opinion warfare...

Is it possible that only bombardment by Cannon constitutes war?

That is too narrow-minded.

And as long as it is between nations, this kind of war is unavoidable.

Then...

It comes back to that same point: only by crushing them.

Will the war end.

It could also be said that war will never end.

Furthermore, what they will crush is not just the Longyan Imperial House, but the entire order of your Longyan, and then they will establish an order that they desire!

The destruction of order sounds like it has nothing to do with the common people, but that is not the case. In this process, it will also cause many people to become cannon fodder, to become victims.

"One month. I said one month, and it will be one month."

Liu Zheng could not be bothered to pay attention to this group of useless people, and said coldly.

"You..."

The group of people naturally did not believe him.

"Additionally..."

Liu Zheng took a deep breath.

He made a bold decision.

"Immediately announce the passing of the Emperor, and welcome the new Emperor to the throne!"

"What?"

Everyone's expression changed drastically. Pop-ups have been frequent lately, click to download to avoid pop-ups.