The Crescent of the Sultan

Chapter 17 The End of the Hero



Although the Ottoman right wing showed signs of collapse numerous times, it eventually stabilized.

Potemkin was almost going crazy. With red eyes, he wanted to take the lead in a bayonet charge, but was stopped by the adjutant beside him.

Because the Russian army concentrated its left wing too much, the right wing and center area appeared relatively weak. When Potemkin failed to defeat the right wing of the Ottoman army, the Russian right wing was already threatened by the Ottoman infantry.

The diagonal tactics adopted by Napoleon allowed the Ottoman army to further expand the attack area against the Russian infantry, aggravating the chaos of the Russian army.

As for Suvorov, the cavalry artillery could indeed provide sufficient fire support for the cavalry he led, but it also meant that he was unable to drive away the fleeing Sipashi cavalry.

This group of Ottomans, led by their general, once again began to attack Suvorov, but this time it was a small-scale attack.

Facing the entangled Sipashi cavalry, Suvorov felt helpless.

Let's retreat, that is to put the Sipaxi cavalry in and deal with the Russian army.

If you don't retreat, your right wing is almost penetrated, and Potemkin's attack is making no progress at all.

"Maybe we are really going to be defeated," Suvorov thought pessimistically, imagining that Rumyantsev could turn the tide.

Facing the fierce attack of the Ottoman army, Rumyantsev sent out his reserve team after hesitating for a while.

"Lepnin, take your soldiers to save our right wing, Potemkin, withdraw your troops. Suvorov, cover Potemkin's retreat."

Following Rumyantsev's order, the Russian army took action. After receiving reinforcements from Repnin, the Russian army successfully repelled the Ottoman army's attack on the right wing.

The Russian army on the left was not so lucky. Suvorov felt that he was as big as two people. He had to guard against the attacks of the Sipashi cavalry to avoid the cavalry slowing down, and he also had to constantly open gaps for Potemkin. Cover the retreat of your own infantry.

While Suvorov was fighting between the cavalry and infantry of the Ottoman army, a bullet hit his horse. The 58-year-old general was thrown to the ground in embarrassment. He rolled nimbly. , avoided being trampled by a Sipaxi cavalry, and then flew into the air, knocked another Ottoman cavalry off his horse, and found another mount for himself.

Potemkin also successfully withdrew after abandoning some of his troops, but this was undoubtedly a matter of waiting to die. The Russian army was already out of food. If it had, it would not have started a decisive battle with the Ottoman army.

Thinking back to the previous flaw, it was just the opponent's trap.

Rumyantsev gave a bitter smile and looked towards St. Petersburg, where he joined the Guards at the age of six and became an officer at the age of fifteen.

He looked towards the Rhine River, remembering that when he was twenty-three years old, he went on an expedition with the army and saw the genius commander Frederick II for the first time, and he looked forward to fighting him.

Later in the Seven Years' War, he came to prominence at the Battle of Veliky Yegelsdorf. At that time, he commanded only one brigade and got the Russian army out of trouble. Make a bold determination to counterattack the Prussian army.

He led the two regiments quickly through the forest, deployed at the edge of the forest, and launched an assault on the flanks and rear of the Prussian army, buying time for the Russian army's formation to expand and winning the victory.

In the Battle of Küllersdorf, a direct confrontation with Prussian King Friedrich II, after the Prussian army had defeated the leading troops of the Russian and Austrian allied forces, he led 17 regiments to rely on the geographical advantage of the Kungrount Valley to guard Dash. Pitts Artillery Position.

This place is far away from Fort Mill. Under his command, a dense array of Russian musketeers blocked and defended this place. As a Prussian officer commented: "The Russians were lined up on the high ground in lines of eighty or even a hundred people." They were a disorderly mass, protected by fifty cannons that spewed a hail of bullets."

Under his command, the Russian infantry knelt on one leg and fired continuously. One row fell and another row came up, but they never retreated. Some fell in rows, letting the Prussian soldiers step over them like slain men, and then leaped up to shoot them in the back.

Although the Russian army is known for its relatively inferior individual weapons and various calibers, in this battle, he managed to get a large number of guns that fired heavy lead bullets into the hands of the Russian army.

This weapon, which was less lethal but highly destructive, caused many Prussian troops to temporarily lose their combat capabilities at critical moments.

Therefore, although some of Frederick's infantry crossed the valley, they were either killed on the opposite side or pushed down the Kungrounte Valley, providing key support for the coalition to win.

Rumyantsev gradually recovered his thoughts. He called Potemkin and Suvorov and began to discuss a breakout.

"Potemkin, you leave with the main artillery force, and the rest stay. Suvorov, you lead the cavalry to cover Potemkin, and seize the time to withdraw to Odessa. I will stay here to fight for opportunities for you and block the attack. enemy."

The Russian army took action again, but this time, morale was obviously low. After all, no one wants to be an outcast. If they haven't rebelled yet, it's because the three famous generals have organized their troops well.

Rumyantsev walked to the center of the camp and began mobilization before the war.

"Dear soldiers, I know that many of you are dissatisfied with me. You think you have been treated as an outcast, but I will stay here. I block my dignity and reputation and swear to God, I will be with you.

I want you to look back at the pitiable situation you put the Ottomans into before this war.

Everything today is just a sudden change made by the God of Destiny to both parties...Caesar also became a slave of pirates for a time, and later finally became the master of the world.

Seriously, if it weren’t for the unlimited trust in you and your qualities, which you have shown so many times as warriors and sons of your motherland.

I would never let you take on such a difficult task. There is almost no one among you who has not achieved great success in battle. I know everything you have done for the motherland and will never forget it.

Therefore, I also have great faith in this campaign. The motherland has the right to expect you to show courage, and you will not lack courage. The final moment has arrived.

The problem is not the enemy's numbers, or their advantage, but yours.

Am I to think that you will live up to the title, remembering that you are Russians? If any of you are afraid of undertaking this task, he can leave now with the two generals without any rebuke. !

I know that none of you will turn your back on me. Then I will rely on your help and believe that I can successfully break through.

Well, fellow soldiers, hug your comrades around you again. After today, no matter whether you succeed or not, many of them will never be seen again. "

As Rumyantsev's last words fell, the Russian army let out a thundering roar, and the trapped beast was about to begin its final struggle.

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