Chapter 818: Chapter 726: War and the General (Added for Alliance Leader Lin Jia’er)

Tolmasov noticed Suvorov’s unusual expression and hurriedly asked, “Marshal, what’s the matter?”

Suvorov, with a grim face, tossed the battle report to him and sighed, “Perhaps we won’t stay in Minsk for much longer.”

Tolmasov quickly skimmed through the report and furrowed his brows: “The losses… are indeed quite significant.”

He suddenly reacted and looked at Suvorov: “Are you saying we have to leave here?”

“That’s right.”

“But we’ve just made a breakthrough, we should continue advancing west…”

Suvorov waved his hand: “The Empire’s finances probably can’t sustain this battle anymore. Unless, His Majesty the Emperor decides to abandon Crimea.”

Tolmasov immediately understood.

Crimea had nearly been pounded to rubble by the Poles, and rebuilding it would inevitably require a massive investment.

And previously, to encircle Kosciuszko, the Empire had mobilized sixty to seventy thousand troops in total.

Especially Kahovsky’s Army, which made a long-distance march from Mozhili to Crimea without any baggage.

This required constant supply delivery to the army along the way.

And from Mozhili southward, the area stretching from Sivilia to Yekaterinoslav, these several hundred miles, are extremely barren, so supplies could only be transported from central cities like Lipetsk.

Such a long distance, would require at least hundreds of thousands of serfs for logistical transport, and the expenses would be staggeringly high.

As for the damage to Bryansk City and the captured Kursk Fortress, the losses seemed not as evident.

Initially, the Empire’s finances could support a war against the Poles for about a year, but after Kosciuszko’s ordeal, it would barely last four to five months.

Currently, nearly four months have passed since the war began.

Tolmasov remarked with extreme reluctance: “We could seek loans.”

Suvorov looked dispirited: “Even if we manage to secure military funds, we no longer have enough troops.”

“How is this possible?” Tolmasov exclaimed in surprise, “We still have over 80,000 troops in Poland, while the Poles have at most 80,000 as well.

“I believe, with just 60,000 soldiers, you can defeat them!”

He automatically ignored Kahovsky’s Army. Although the battle report didn’t mention specific casualties, the need for a six-month rest was a clear indication that many units had been severely disrupted.

Suvorov sighed: “But soon, I won’t even have 60,000 troops.”

“Ah?”

“You forgot the Ottoman People,” Suvorov said, “With Crimea left so vulnerable, they won’t be without plans.”

Tolmasov was immediately taken aback.

Indeed, with Bakhchisaray destroyed, the Ottoman could easily invade Crimea if they decide to deploy their forces.

Russia would need to station at least two to three ten thousand troops there to set up defenses, and only after Bakhchisaray is partially rebuilt can they leave.

He then recalled that the garrison in Moldavia had also been mobilized previously. The Ottoman still claimed themselves as the suzerain of Moldavia and didn’t recognize Russia’s control over the region.

So, those troops too needed to be replenished back.

Calculating round and round, the forces that could remain in Poland might not even reach 60,000.

Tolmasov remained somewhat unwilling: “If His Majesty mobilizes troops from the central provinces to fight in Poland…”

Suvorov was no longer in the mood to tour Minsk; he turned his horse around, saying, “Let’s head back to the command center. The Empire needs at least three years to recuperate before it can mobilize on a large scale again.”

Tolmasov quickly followed him: “No, there must be a way…”

…

Saint Petersburg.

Winter Palace.

Catherine II clenched her fists tightly and said in a deep voice, “There must be a way!”

Zubov stepped forward cautiously, saying, “Your Majesty, if we can secure a loan, we could continue to reinforce the army.”

The Tsar pondered for a moment, then looked at Rumyantsev: “In your opinion, how much more military funds are needed to continue Suvorov’s offensive?”

Rumyantsev pondered and replied: “At least 8 million rubles, Your Majesty. However, with 12 million rubles, it would be more secure.”

The figure made Catherine II’s heart tighten. Russia’s total annual fiscal revenue was only about 100 million rubles.

She quickly went through possible loan targets in her mind. The German states were financially strained, France was deeply in debt, and Spain… might even want to borrow money from Russia.

Therefore, only the affluent England could provide such a substantial loan.

She abruptly stood up and instructed Zubov: “You head to England immediately and secure at least an 8 million ruble loan. Oh, have Bezbediko accompany you.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

As Zubov was about to turn around, an officer quickly walked in along the wall and whispered a few words into Rumyantsev’s ear.

Rumyantsev’s expression immediately became more sombre.

He hesitated for a moment but finally said to Catherine II: “Your Majesty, news just arrived from Crimea.”

“Hmm?”

“Among all the bodies, Kosciuszko was not found. Of course, it’s possible he was blown to pieces by artillery.”

The Tsar rubbed his forehead irritably: “Is there anything else?”

“It seems there are still nearly 2,000 Polish troops active in eastern Crimea. General Kahovsky has already dispatched forces to pursue them…”

With a “snap,” Catherine II harshly slammed the pen holder beside her onto the ground.

…

Kosciuszko was awakened by the pain.

He struggled to open his eyes and looked towards the source of the excruciating pain, only to see that his left leg was gone from the knee down. A blood-soaked bandage was tied around the upper part of his thigh.

He gasped for air with his mouth wide open, taking several minutes before barely getting used to the pain.

“Am I not dead?”

He looked around. It was a small gray-yellow room, and he was lying on an earthen bed, his military uniform replaced by a Cossack tunic.

The door opened, and in came an elderly woman dressed in Ottoman attire. Seeing that he was awake, she said a flurry of words in a flustered tone.

When she realized Kosciuszko didn’t understand, she turned and brought back a middle-aged man.

The man spoke in Russian: “Respected sir, Mesih sent me to hide you here. Oh, he joined the resistance army.”

Kosciuszko weakly inquired for a long time before he barely understood that he had been hit in the left leg by artillery and lost consciousness.

The soldiers of the guard retreated with him to the riverbank, where resistance members on the opposite side noticed them, arranged for a small boat to float them downstream, and hid him in this farmhouse.

“Am I the only one?”

“Yes, Mesih only brought you.”

…

Vienna.

Schonbrunn Palace.

Franz II looked towards Baron Tugut, frowning: “You’re saying that Russia might cease hostilities with Poland?”

“Currently, it seems that way, Your Majesty. The Russian Army’s offensives in Minsk and Mozhili have both ceased, and some soldiers have been withdrawn to the homeland. It is said that their losses in Crimea are very significant.”