The Shadow of Great Britain

Chapter 1371: Chapter 197: Arthur Hastings Report_3

After I established a close relationship with this captain, he confided in me his expectations for the soldiers: the guns must be polished to a shine, but no requirement for shooting accuracy. Everything is for review, not for actual combat. The artillery does not train to aim, and the hit rate is extremely low. But regardless of whether they hit the target, the report must be loud.

Meanwhile, based on my observations along the way, the Russian army’s artillery equipment largely remains at the level of the Napoleonic Wars. Their artillery mainly consists of 6 to 12-pound field guns, 1/4 pood, and 1/2 pood unicorn guns. According to my visual estimation, the maximum range of these guns is around 600 yards. Currently, the British army uses 6-pound and 9-pound field guns, which have an effective range of over 800 yards, and 24-pound siege cannons can easily cover 1500 to 1800 yards.

Through contact with General Balakov, the commander of the 2nd Cossack Cavalry Regiment in Ukraine, I observed that this elite Russian Cossack cavalry is still equipped with the 1812 carbines produced by the Tula Military Factory.

At the warm invitation of the Cossacks, I personally test-fired this handgun and confirmed that its effective range should be between 100 to 150 yards. Beyond this distance, the accuracy becomes poor.

I also tried the 1812 model rifle held by the garrison. The theoretical range of this rifle can reach 300 yards, but due to significant recoil, it is usually only experienced veterans who can maximize its potential.

In the current context, choosing to compete with the Russians in terms of army numbers is clearly not a wise choice, nor does it align with the military principles consistently implemented by Britain. The development path of the Russian army mainly emphasizes the potential of people, while I would suggest that Britain focuses the development of its army on technological innovation.

Currently, the main equipment of the British army is the Baker Rifle, with an effective range of about 200 yards and a maximum range of up to 500 yards. As I understand, the Royal Armament Bureau is currently developing a new Enfield Rifle, with an effective range of up to 300 yards and a maximum range that can be increased to 600 yards.

If the Ordnance Bureau can continue in this direction, once the effective range of the rifles exceeds 600 yards, we can easily deploy the army’s skirmish line outside the range of the Russian artillery. Fortunately, according to the information I received from the garrison captain, the constitutional police officer, and General Balakov, Russia currently has no plans to develop new weapons, so with a little effort, we still have hope of achieving this goal.

Moreover, I must send a friendly reminder to the Cabinet. Even though Tsar Nicholas I likes to intervene in local affairs through the military, when selecting provincial governors and other high-ranking local officials, he usually prefers generals with military backgrounds. However, even so, mobilizing military commanders from elite cavalry units like Balakov’s is still an extraordinary move.

Perhaps Balakov did not lie to me, and he is indeed ordered to investigate the history of the Pugachev uprising, but I believe this may not be the only task he bears. Given that Balakov’s subordinate units have had multiple battle experiences in the Caucasus Region, after arriving in Saint Petersburg, I will report this matter in person to the Ambassador, Earl of Dalhousie, and suggest immediately instructing the Consul in Kiev, Sir George Harlington, to contact the British merchants near Zaporozhye to quickly ascertain whether the Ukraine 2nd Cossack Cavalry Regiment stationed locally has been mobilized, and to convey the relevant information via diplomatic channels to the Resident Minister in Persia, Your Excellency John McIntosh.

Sir Arthur Hastings

February 1, 1834

Arthur was sitting in the Vienna carriage gifted by the Mayor of Druiysk to General Balakov, leisurely writing the first diplomatic report after arriving in Russia.

Suddenly, the whip lifted the curtain, and Balakov’s face appeared at the window. The Cossack general, upon seeing the letter in Arthur’s hand, half-jokingly and half-seriously asked: ”Brother Hestingov, are you secretly reporting me to the higher-ups?”

Arthur tucked the letter into his jacket pocket and replied with a smile: ”Reporting you? What have you done that’s worth reporting? Are you referring to this carriage? But isn’t this carriage something you won from Mayor Bakarjin in a bet? It’s a pity I wasn’t as lucky as you that night, and only won some clothes money. If I were luckier, this carriage would bear the name of Hestingov by now.”

Gogol, sitting on a small blanket, sighed: ”General, thanks to your good fortune, without this carriage, I would surely have suffered all the way.”

Hearing this, Balakov nodded in satisfaction.

This Hestingov fellow, at least, doesn’t seem to be as obstinate as some of those constitutional soldiers, unwilling to clash with the locals and remove an entire province’s officialdom just to exchange for a position as the Commander of Constitutional Soldiers. Someone like him might even be a future collaborator.

When he returns from the Caucasus, with some luck, he might even get promoted by one rank.

If he earns a major general’s rank, then there would be a chance to apply for a term as a provincial governor somewhere local, where the skies are high, and the emperor far. If Hestingov is willing, he could see if there’s an opportunity to maneuver him into the position of Constitutional Soldier Commander. With the two of them working together, solid as a rock, after a lifetime of fighting, it’s time for Balakov to enjoy the life of a local sovereign.

Suddenly, a soldier’s announcement rang outside the carriage: ”General, St. Petersburg has appeared on the horizon!”

Upon hearing this, Arthur used his cane to lift the curtain and gaze outside.

At first, the silhouette of St. Petersburg was just a blur on the horizon, like a faint outline in a painting.

As the carriage slowly moved forward, the city’s outline became more distinct, rising from the vastness of ice and snow.

The Neva River ran through the entire city, with its magnificent architectural complexes, solemn domes, intricately carved bridges, the gilded Winter Palace, and the spacious Nevsky Prospect, all like an ice flower emerging from the cold winter, waving at Arthur.

As if saying: Welcome to St. Petersburg, welcome to the heart of Russia, Arthur Hastings, or Hestingov!