The Han culture is spreading strongly in Southeast Asia

Chapter 824 The Storm Has Arrived and the Smoke of War Has Risen

The Volga Delta, Astrakhan.

This place was originally the summer palace of the Golden Horde. It was occupied by Grand Duke Ivan IV of Moscow in 1558 and has belonged to the Grand Duchy of Moscow ever since.

After more than two hundred years of management, the Tsarist Rus' Empire's rule in Astrakhan had become very stable, with Rus's people accounting for about 60% of the total population.

At the same time, the city was also built according to the model of a fortress, with seven huge towers in the city, which can be used as high points to set up cannons to bombard the enemy outside the city.

Of the seven towers, three are located in the west, north, and east directions, adjacent to the city wall, and each has a gate connecting the inside and outside.

The city walls were also built with solid white stone from the lower Volga River, making them one of the most sturdy structures along the Caspian Sea coast.

What's most troublesome is that Astrakhan is actually a fortified complex built at the mouth of the Volga River, consisting of seventeen islands or peninsulas connected by canals.

These fortresses are connected by iron chain bridges, and some are also blocked by water fortresses. When connected together, they form a city.

In the event that the enemy breaches the outer city walls, the iron chain bridge can be severed. The seven towers form seven fortresses surrounding the central city, supporting and guarding each other.

The central city of Astrakhan is a Kremlin.

In the Shallo, or in Rus' two hundred years ago, such fortified cities with high walls and towers were called the Kremlin.

The Kremlin refers specifically to this type of building, not to the name of a palace.

The Kremlin in Astrakhan is located on the western side of the seven towers. It covers a vast area and contains a city within a city that could be used for military purposes: the Cathedral of the Assumption and the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity.

It can be said that without the navy, it would be impossible to take Astrakhan, because not only could you not completely surround it, but the army could not even reach many places.

If you dare to bypass Astrakhan and attack other cities instead, whether you head west towards the Dörbert (Kalmyk) settlements or go up the Volga River, your logistics will be completely ruined.

Astrakhan's fleet could even enter inland waterways from the sea and launch attacks everywhere.

This fortified city was completely different from Astrakhan in later times.

Astrakhan in later generations became the Beidaihe of the Slavs, a tourist resort, and a top fishing spot in the world, completely losing its function as a fortress.

At this time, Astrakhan was the most typical fortified fortress complex.

Furthermore, due to the silt deposited by the Ural River and the continuous small-scale land reclamation by successive Rus' people, the city of Astrakhan expanded into the Caspian Sea by several hundred meters.

These towers and fortresses, located on islands at the mouth of the sea, form a cluster that is not on the coast but rather in the city center.

However, at this time, they were by the sea, which undoubtedly greatly increased the difficulty of attacking them.

Inside the Cathedral of the Assumption of Mary, officers led by Lieutenant General Kutuzov, the famous one-eyed general of Tsarist Russia, did not leave after finishing their prayers.

Currently, the massive amount of supplies transferred by the Tsarist Russian Empire has reached Tsaritsyn (Volgograd), Orenburg, and Astrakhan, and preparations for war are complete.

But as a seasoned general, Kutuzov always felt somewhat uneasy.

He paced around the meeting room that the priest had arranged specifically for the officers, adjusting the eye patch covering his injured eye with his right hand.

"As an ancient empire, contemporaneous with the Roman Empire and still existing today, the Seres Empire expanded so rapidly after breaking free from Tatar rule."

This must have been the result of the combined efforts of a powerful monarch and countless brave generals and soldiers.

This was perfectly demonstrated in the battle for Semipalatinsk (the fortress of the Golden Fortress) and when we lost most of Siberia.

Kutuzov first praised China, then changed the subject, "I believe that the news that the Third Rome is going to reclaim its lost territory must have already reached the Seres Empire."

But at a critical time when we needed to mobilize supplies, they appeared so quiet, even slow, which was completely out of character for them.

Is there something we haven't considered?

“Yes, this is very unusual.” Major General Mikhail Barclay, a descendant of Scottish nobles born in Livonia, was the most important general in the history of the Salo Empire in defeating Napoleon’s invasion, the proposer of the Salo Scorched Earth War, and the most important general in the history of the Salo Empire in defeating Napoleon’s invasion.

“I have carefully studied the military equipment of the Seris Empire in the western Kazakh steppe. They have completely controlled the Kazakhs, and their more than one hundred outposts alone can mobilize at least 15,000 people.”

The entire Anxi Grand Governorate of the Seris Empire can mobilize at least 50,000 people, without having to worry about food.

This is a powerful military force that can be deployed immediately. I don't think Crown Prince Seris, who is stationed in Central Asia, can't see this; he is extremely cunning and greedy.

What was said was true, and the senior generals in the room all nodded, but they still didn't understand why the Seris army was moving so slowly, even slower than they were.

"Could it be that the Seres army wants us to take the initiative to attack, and they want to send us to the Aral Sea or even the Hungry Grasslands, and then use the Syr Darya River's convenient water transport to defeat us?"

Major General Peter, the prince of the County of Santoro Wittgenstein (equivalent to a gentleman in the Spring and Autumn Period of China), commander of the Mariupol Light Cavalry Regiment, put forward a viewpoint.

For the Great Yu, if the Salo army could cross the Ural River and launch a proactive attack on the banks of the Aral Sea and the Syr Darya River, it would be exactly what they wanted, as the logistical support alone would be enough to cripple the impoverished Tsarist Rus' Empire.

"That's possible, but if Crown Prince Seris is only this capable, then he's seriously underestimating us."

For the Third Rome, as long as the Ural Mountains-Ural River defensive line can be maintained and the Western Yuz Kazakhs, who have submitted to us, are not defeated, we cannot cross the border to attack them.

Kutuzov shook his head and said that Tsarist Rus' was still too poor at this time. Historically, it was no problem for them to bully the three Central Asian Khanates whose fighting strength was not much different from that of a roadside country. But now that they had encountered a tough opponent like the Great Yu, they did not dare to take the initiative to attack.

"General, but we still need to start the war as soon as possible. Of course, I mean let the Seres attack us."

Because we cannot allow such a large army to be stationed between the Volga and Ural rivers for an extended period.

The speaker was the veteran Earl Gudovic, who had led the army in the last Battle of Jintang City and was deeply impressed by the capabilities of the Great Yu army.

Kutuzov nodded upon hearing this. What was quite embarrassing was that the Tsarist Rus' Empire was too poor at this time. Although this battle was basically fought on home soil, it was actually the Tsarist Rus' Empire that could not afford to suffer losses.

Because the area east of the Don River was not yet well developed at this time, it would take at least another thirty years before it became the granary of Tsarist Russia.

Therefore, most of the food and military supplies had to be transported from west of the Don River, and the rivers in Tsarist Rus' territory were almost all north-south, with no east-west rivers.

Although the Don-Volga canal was planned during the time of Peter the Great, Tsarist Russia was completely unable to do so. Historically, it was not until after World War II that the Soviet Union completed the construction using the remains of guests at the Gulag Hotel.

For this war, the Tsarist Rus' Empire mobilized a total of four legions, nearly 160,000 men.

There are too many. The current stockpiles in Volgograd and Orenburg can only last for seven months at most. After seven months, large-scale transportation will be needed to replenish the supplies.

As for why they didn't transport supplies while fighting, it's because even the most stoic and hardworking serfs still needed basic rest. They had farm work to do and parents, wives, and children to take care of.

They simply cannot sustain large-scale transport in the long term; they can only transport a small amount on ordinary days, at most helping the front lines hold out for about a month longer.

That is, in a maximum of eight months, the supplies stockpiled by the Tsarist Rus' Empire will run out, and then a large-scale transfer will need to be organized.

This was undoubtedly a huge burden for the impoverished Tsarist Rus' Empire, and Kutuzov and his generals dared to stay on the front lines for eight months; if they returned, they would surely be sent to a military court by Tsar Paul I.

"Generals, we need a plan to mobilize the Seris Empire's army. Does anyone have any good suggestions?"

Head coach Kutuzov asked, spreading his hands. He vaguely realized the Seres' tactics: to wear them down and wage a war of attrition.

Since the Salo army dared not venture deep into the Kazakh steppe to attack the Seris army, they continuously reinforced their troops along the border, using their superior national strength to wear them down. Of course, this tactic would become ineffective once they reached the Don River basin, because there, the Seris could not outlast the Rus'.

But east of the Volga, the advantage lies with the Seres.

“Then let’s go to the Caucasus region,” suggested the veteran Count Gudovic.

After his defeat at the Battle of Jintang, he was sidelined by Catherine II and was in charge of military operations in the Caucasus region, so he was relatively familiar with the situation.

Currently, Georgia in the Caucasus region is ruled by the Kingdom of Kartli-Kakhti and the Kingdom of Imelesch.

The former has been largely controlled by the Tsarist Rus' Empire, while the latter is still putting up a fierce resistance, and they are the main targets of the Great Yu's aid.

The Armenian region was ruled by five principalities, wavering between the Ottoman, Persian, and Tsarist Rus' empires.

The Azerbaijani region is also fragmented, with the Baku Khanate, Ganja Khanate, and others oscillating between Tsarist Rus' and Persia, or rather, between Tsarist Rus' and Da Yu.

"The Kingdom of Imeleishi and the Khanate of Baku are hoping that the Seris Empire can become their ally. The Seris Emperor can become their emperor. The Seris Empire has fought us many times over the years to support them."

If we launch an attack on these Caucasian princes this time, and the Seres Empire doesn't come to their aid, they will lose prestige among the local people.

If they come to their rescue, then our fleet can cut off their retreat from the southern Caspian plain.

Count Gudovic became more and more excited as he spoke, as if the blows and humiliations he had suffered from being defeated by the Seres over the years were about to completely disappear in the upcoming battle.

"But the Seres are wise men; they know it is impossible to hold the southern plains of the Caspian Sea, especially now that our army has reached Astrakhan."

Therefore, they will definitely launch a preemptive strike on the northern shore of the Caspian Sea, both to give the Georgians hope and to avoid actually venturing to the southern shore.

Kutuzov pondered for a moment, a fierce look appearing on his face. Combined with his typical Russian muscular physique and one eye, he looked like a cannibal.

"That's not enough. We need to provoke them even more, Count. I order you to capture all the Kalmyks before attacking the Caucasus region."

Whether they are Kalmyk nobles or commoners, all those who do not speak the Rus' language will be rounded up and forced into hard labor. If necessary, you may confiscate their property or even execute them!

At this time, the Kalmyks, the remnants of the Torghut tribe, numbered only about 100,000 and were under close surveillance by the Tsarist Rus' Empire.

However, they were always a destabilizing factor, so Kutuzov decided to eliminate all those who dared to resist before the war began.

At the same time, he knew very well that these Kalmyks must be in contact with the Seres and that they would definitely try to notify the Seres.

"By the way, don't we have a small fleet on the southern coast of the Caspian Sea?" Kutuzov suddenly remembered that the Caspian Fleet was a very useful force unique to the Third Rome.

"Yes, Your Excellency, we have a fleet of twenty-four warships, thirteen hundred sailors, and eight hundred garrison troops at Enzeli Port on the southern shore of the Caspian Sea."

"Major Admiral Alexander, I order you to take two more 200-ton frigates to Enzeli Port and take full command of this fleet. Make good use of them and prevent the Seres from venturing south of the Caspian Sea to support the Caucasus!"

In fact, Kutuzov was completely wrong. The reason why Da Yu did not take any action was not because it was waiting for the Russian army to attack, or at least not for that reason.

Da Yu was waiting for two things: one was for two hundred skilled naval soldiers and corresponding steam engine engineers to arrive, and the other was for the completion of the Siqi Port (Turkmenbashi, Turkmenistan) on the eastern shore of the Caspian Sea.

The fleet recently acquired by Senior Colonel Vladimir is extremely important to the Great Yu, as it is the only fleet that the Great Yu can quickly acquire at present.

Therefore, Crown Prince Dassen was afraid that too much commotion would cause any chain reaction that would lead to the Tsarist Rus' Empire transferring the fleet away.

Kutuzov, as a renowned general of the Salo region, could not possibly be unaware of the urgent need for the Caspian Fleet in the Great Yu. He did see it, but he felt that this fleet, with a combined displacement of only two thousand tons, could not change the situation.

After all, the fleet on the northern shore of the Caspian Sea had a flagship, the Saint Catherine, which alone weighed over 600 tons and was equipped with 38 cannons.

The largest fleet on the southern coast of the Caspian Sea was only a little over 100 tons and had only eleven guns, all of which were six-pounder guns, making it completely outclassed.

Kutuzov never expected that Da Yu had already mastered the horizontal reciprocating steam engine, whose powerful horsepower could allow ships of over 100 tons to travel swiftly across the Caspian Sea.

The Dayu also has a rapid-fire cannon that can fire one shot per minute. Once installed, it will easily defeat the old cannons of the Russian army in the Caspian Sea, which can fire one shot every three minutes.

This is technology, no, this is the result of the comprehensive generational gap between the two countries.

1802 October.

Upon learning that Kutuzov had arrived in Astrakhan, before Count Gudovich had even reached the Caucasus region, Crown Prince Dassen immediately ordered an operation to commence on the southern Caspian coast plain.

The reason the information was so accurate was entirely due to the Embroidered Uniform Guard's money. This has always been the case with intelligence; apart from those with the strongest beliefs, there is no intelligence that money cannot buy.

On June 15, the Anxi Envoy's Hezhong Town Army, also known as the Anxi Army Hezhong Town, suddenly mobilized 3,500 elite soldiers. Each soldier and three horses galloped 500 kilometers in six days and suddenly appeared around Enzeli Port.

The Russian army at Enzeli Port was caught off guard and had not prepared for battle at all, so the Anxi army stormed into the port.

The defenders instinctively tried to escape by boat, but the fleet suddenly raised the blue flag with a gold sun and moon symbolizing the Seres navy.

On June 22, when Russian Major General Alexander arrived at the port of Enzeli, he found it deserted. Apart from the large number of dead Russian soldiers in the city and the remaining Russian soldiers who had fled to the surrounding mountains and then came out again when they saw the warships arrive, there was nothing left.

Major General Alexander dared not delay, nor did he dare linger in the port of Enzeli. He could only load some fresh water and soldiers before quickly returning to Astrakhan.

Meanwhile, Crown Prince Dassen personally arrived at Siqi Port (Turkmenbashi) to hold a grand welcoming ceremony for Colonel Vladimir, and on the spot, he paid out the remaining reward of 45,000 silver dollars and the title of baron.

Engineers from the Central Plains began to modify these warships.

In early July, the Salari Navy finally discovered Siqi Port and dispatched thirteen warships, including the flagship Saint Catherine, to besiege it.

However, with the help of the three forts in Siqi Port, the Salo navy twice tried to rush in during high tide but was repelled and had no choice but to leave.

After receiving the news, Kutuzov vaguely guessed that Da Yu was modifying warships, and he even guessed that it involved steam engines.

However, because he had never witnessed the power of the latest steam engine, Kutuzov did not make up his mind to mobilize the entire navy and send 10,000 to 20,000 troops ashore to completely destroy the fleet in the port of Siqi.

If Kutuzov had known the truth and had been able to make such a resolute decision, then Sissi Port could very well have fallen.

Destroying at least most of the warships brought by Colonel Vladimir is achievable.

Unfortunately, Kutuzov didn't see the whole picture and didn't dare to take such a military risk.

In order to force the Great Yu to launch a decisive battle as soon as possible, under Kutuzov's arrangement, the Kalmyks and the natives of the Caucasus were tortured to death by the Sharo Empire, and letters pleading for help flew like snowflakes to the desk of Crown Prince Da Laosen.

Therefore, Boss Sen decided to take the initiative and not let Kutuzov keep his eyes on Siqi Port.

In mid-July, the leader appointed Gui Han as the commander of the Southern Route Army, leading 7 troops across the southern coastal plain to support the princes of the Caucasus.

Yang Fang was appointed as the commander of the Northern Route Army, leading 15,000 light cavalry and dragoons to the northern edge of the Kazakh steppe to harass the Orenburg line.

With Li Xingtai, the crown prince of Xia, as the vanguard general, he led an army of 40,000 westward across the Enba River and marched to Atyrau, a city at the mouth of the Ural River, to seize this key fortress of the Salo at the mouth of the Ural River.

The main force was commanded by Yizhou Bomogongling. After a short rest and a large-scale conscription of Anxi soldiers, they marched westward.

The great battle has officially begun.

(End of this chapter)