Holy Roman Empire - Chapter 202

Chapter 202: Chapter 89, The Ultimate Realm of Trapping

Translator: 549690339

The British reinforcements had just arrived in the Balkan Peninsula and had not yet taken over the entire defense zone when the Bulgarian Guerrilla Team launched a comprehensive counterattack. The Russians were also very cooperative, tightly suppressing the Allied Forces at the front line.

It proved that Plovdiv was indeed a bait set by the British, intending to surround and annihilate the main force of the Bulgarian Guerrilla Team there, but they managed to control the beginning, not the end.

The battle had just started when the situation changed; more than a dozen cities, including Plovdiv, were simultaneously attacked by the guerrilla team.

Most of these were feints, but this chaotic assault exposed the British defenses, which were still incomplete.

There was no helping it. Although the Greek people were not powerful, their timing was too good. Who knew if they would kill all the way to Constantinople? For safety’s sake, the Ottoman Empire had no choice but to divert troops to blockade them.

Lacking sufficient forces to defend the city and with traitors inside, even a feint could breach the walls. If these places were lost, the Allied Forces in the Sofia Region would be surrounded, and the British Army was forced to send reinforcements.

The Bulgarian Guerrilla Team was too weak in firepower; they could bully the Ottoman’s second-line troops, but they were no match for the British on the front.

Being unable to win didn’t mean there was no way to fight. The British forces, having just arrived at the front, hadn’t clashed with them, and the cocky Allied Commander directly treated them as if they were natives from a colony.

This understanding wasn’t wrong, as Bulgaria could theoretically also be considered a colony of the Ottoman Empire, albeit a directly governed one.

However, the gap in strength was vast. The Bulgarian Guerrilla Team had been trained by Russian and Austrian instructors and, with their high morale, could unleash formidable combat power.

With a loud “boom,” the marching British Army was once again attacked by the guerrilla team, and after a moment, the gunfire abruptly ceased, indicating the guerrillas had retreated.

A young officer, pale-faced, said, “General, we’ve been attacked by the enemy at the front, two soldiers are dead, and seven are injured!”

“How many times have we been attacked by the enemy?” asked Major General Oliver.

“The eighteenth time!” the young officer replied softly.

“Then what are we waiting for? Send men to pursue them immediately!” Major General Oliver ordered.

The Bulgarian Guerrilla Team’s attacks did not cause significant casualties, but the frequent assaults not only delayed their marching speed but, more importantly, impacted the troops’ morale.

Major General Oliver was not one to suffer losses without retaliation. Of course, he would strike back.

Due to lack of experience in fighting guerrilla warfare, most times they ended up losing sight of the enemy midway, and if unlucky, additional traps awaited them along the way.

In this round of skirmishes, not only did the British Army gain no advantage, but the key issue was that they also missed the best opportunity for battle. By the time they arrived at their destination, the guerrilla main force had long since vanished.

Everyone knew that the main base of the Bulgarian Guerrilla Team was in the Balkan Mountains, and Major General Oliver’s mission was to suppress the guerrillas.

But entering the Balkan Mountains was to play to the enemy’s strengths and their own weaknesses. Large units were difficult to maneuver, and the artillery lost its effectiveness. In this type of warfare, the casualty ratio between the two sides was nearly 1:1.

To exchange one British soldier for one guerrilla fighter was not something Major General Oliver would consider. If he dared to do so, his days before a military tribunal would not be far off.

This was Major General Oliver’s first time commanding troops in battle; otherwise, as a gilt-edged relative, he would not have taken on this unfortunate task.

British generals who have spent a long time in the Balkan Peninsula would rather face off with the Russians at the front than march into the mountains to suppress the guerrilla team.

To them, the enemy is visible on the front, and the British forces are slightly superior in combat strength. As long as they are not surrounded by enemy forces several times their number, the risk is controllable; however, the latter option seems less risky on the surface, as the guerrilla team would definitely be no match for a regular army, but once they entered the mountains, it would be a different story.

Major General Oliver thought he had outsmarted them by setting up a bait, which lured the Bulgarian Guerrilla Team into the trap.

The result now was clear—the enemy had fallen for it, but unfortunately, he overestimated the marching speed of the British Army. They couldn’t close the pocket formation in time due to the enemy’s surprise attack.

Plovdiv, this strategic stronghold, had already fallen significantly, yet its defenders were still resisting stubbornly. Siege warfare was not the strength of the guerrilla team, and even with collaborators inside and outside the city, they were unable to take it in one go.

The commander of the guerrilla team, Edimir, gave the order, “Command the troops to stop the attack and gather strategic supplies as much as possible. Take what can be carried away, and set fire to the rest; we can’t leave it for the enemy.”

The middle-aged officer reluctantly said, “Commander, to burn so many treasures, isn’t it a pity? If we organize civilian husbands to carry them, we can still transport them out.”

Edimir glared at him and said, “Stop your nonsense. Can we still move if we carry so much? If the British catch us, even if our forces were increased tenfold, we would not be their match!”

Edimir was satisfied to destroy this portion of the supplies. Although it was regrettable not to take the whole of Plovdiv, politically, they could declare that they had conquered the place and strive for a better position with the Russians.

The Russians are very realistic. At the beginning, the Bulgarian Guerrilla Team’s treatment was just enough to keep them from starving. Since they had torn through the defense lines of the Sardinian Army and broken into the enemy’s rear, the treatment for the guerrilla team was on par with that of the Russian Army.

They might not have access to logistical supplies for the time being, but the Russians still issued them a batch of arms, which were transported through the small paths across the Balkan Mountains.

Many guerrilla officers, including Edimir, received formal military ranks from the Russian Army, and they were now officially enlisted men.

Fitzroy Somerset had also promised that those willing to continue serving after the war could receive official Russian military numbers and be responsible for guarding Bulgaria; those who wanted to retire could also enter government departments and receive a matching treatment.

“Independence”? Don’t dream about it. The Russians didn’t come to do charity work, having fought so hard for so long, just to let the Bulgarians become independent.

The demands of the Bulgarians were not so high now; autonomy was their ultimate goal. Most people still hoped to be under the protection of the Russians, ensuring they were not enslaved by the Ottomans.

Especially the clergy, who were the standard pro-Russian faction, were filled with great expectations for Bulgaria to join the big family of the Russian Empire.

The future of Bulgaria was either to be a province, an autonomous province, or to join Russia as an autonomous principality. The specific situation would depend on the decision of the Tsarist Government.

The prerequisite was for the Russians to win the war. If they lost, they should not mention any spoils of war since losers do not have the right to enjoy them.

Sofia

At the Allied Command, General Montes had already cursed Major General Oliver’s entire family in his mind. There was no need to be so deceptive, not even with one’s own people.

If it weren’t for his delay in taking up his position to set up the so-called pocket formation, the Bulgarian Guerrilla Team wouldn’t have been able to take advantage of the situation and capture three and a half cities within a week.

The city belongs to the Ottomans, and Montes didn’t care much even if it was captured; the problem was that the supplies stored within were theirs.

Even the Great Britain Empire, with its vast interests, could not afford to disregard such a loss without considering its political impact.

The immediate consequence was that Montes couldn’t hold his head up in front of the French. At a deeper level, the Bulgarian region became even more unstable as more and more people saw the possibility of breaking free from Ottoman rule and began to support the guerrilla forces.

“Send a message to Major General Oliver to immediately reclaim the lost territory and ensure the security of our army’s supply lines,” Montes ordered.

The matter of suppressing the guerrilla forces could wait; if push came to shove, it could be left to the Ottomans. After all, this wasn’t the Great Britain Empire’s territory, and Montes couldn’t care less.

“Yes!” replied the adjutant.

At the time he issued this order, Montes had not yet noticed that danger was looming. Fitzroy Somerset was already planning a decisive battle.

Initially, the battlefield at Sofia was in a deadlock, with Russian forces composed of 73,000 plus 20,000 Bulgarian Guerrilla Team against 50,000 British Army, 20,000 Sardinian Army, and 30,000 Ottoman Army troops; both sides were evenly matched.

Now, after reinforcements, the Russian Army still had over 70,000 men, while the Ottoman Army within the Allied Forces shrank to less than 10,000. Of the left 42,000 British soldiers, only 35,000 were at the front line; the Sardinian Army, on the other hand, still had 19,000 left.

It must be said that the Italians were exceptionally adept at self-preservation; among all the combatants, they had the lowest casualty rate. The battlefield survival manual once compiled by Franz has now taken a firm hold in the hearts of the Sardinian Army.

This meant that, while the Allied reinforcements were held up by the Bulgarian guerrilla forces, the Russian Army already had an absolute advantage on the battlefield.

The Ottoman Army had been severely weakened, and with the Sardinian Army merely going through the motions, even the strong British forces couldn’t withstand an enemy, the Russian Army, twice their number.

On December 27, 1852, under the leadership of Fitzroy Somerset, the Russian Army launched a fierce attack in the Sofia Region.

This time, unlike previous attacks, the Russian forces targeted the Sardinian defense lines, which had been identified as a weakness by Fitzroy Somerset after the breakout by the Bulgarian Guerrilla Team.

But at that time, the opportunity was missed. To avoid alerting the British to this vulnerability, this area became the target of feints by the Russian Army; they always attacked with a ferocity that suggested a major offensive, but in reality, they exerted little effort.

The Sardinian Army cooperated very well, with their habitual practice of firing aimlessly into the sky, both sides putting on a fierce show.

Montes was fooled, truly believing the initial breach made by the Bulgarian Guerrilla Team was due to the Sardinian forces being new to the area and unfamiliar with the environment, allowing the guerrillas to find a path through.

Furthermore, due to a shortage of troops, it seemed as though the Sardinians had pushed through, bringing vigor to the battlefield and withstanding the Russians’ assault, so Montes did not order the British forces to join them in defense.

Looking at the long-term situation, Montes’s decision was the right one. Had the British and Sardinian forces defended together, it’s likely that the elite British forces would have been decimated before long.

Mantuya might not be a good general, but he was certainly a good boss. To lower the casualty rate among soldiers, he repeatedly emphasized safety as the top priority, endearing himself to his troops.

In the eyes of the Sardinian soldiers, this wasn’t their war; the battlefield was simply a place to earn their pay. Hence, they always held back their efforts if possible.

All this was crystal clear to General Mantuya, who deeply understood human nature. This army would become his political capital when he returned to the Kingdom of Sardinia; winning the soldiers’ loyalty was essential.

Leading them to win battles and to plunder riches was out of his reach, so he opted for ensuring their survival instead. A general who valued the lives of his soldiers would be equally welcomed.

The situation has now become dire, for the Russians across are not cooperating, leaving Mantuya with a headache. To abandon the defense line and flee is an easy thought, but if he actually did so, the enraged British would undoubtedly execute him on the spot.

What could the allies do anyway? Could the Kingdom of Sardinia do anything to the British besides lodging a complaint?

A middle-aged officer suggested, “General, what if we open a gap at the juncture with the British defense line and let the Russians through? Even if the British come searching for a scapegoat after the war, we can shift the blame onto them.”

Constantly being chided by the British, the People of Sardinian have their own tempers, and the disparity in treatment has only intensified this discontent.

In name, everyone’s provisions were the same, but once in place, the British always managed to obtain some fruits, vegetables, potatoes, bread, and other supplies.

Given the limited quantities, only British officers were entitled to these provisions, naturally leaving none for them.

Even Mantuya, as a general, didn’t fare much better; to improve his meals, he had to dip into his own pocket to bribe British quartermasters.

They had protested to the British before, but the British bureaucrats took out the contract signed by both countries, which clearly stated: The Great Britain Empire would provide logistical support for twenty thousand Sardinian soldiers.

Since it was agreed upon for “soldiers,” that’s the only treatment they were entitled to. To the Sardinian officers, equating them with regular soldiers was not just a matter of treatment—it was an insult to their dignity.

In this situation, even General Montes, the Allied Commander, was powerless.

The bureaucrats in London were untouchable for him; they operated strictly within the regulations, fully in line with British laws, so complaining domestically was futile.

If there was no solution from London, could they perhaps get some provisions from the Ottomans?

Obviously, that was impossible. Just looking at the state of the Ottoman Army, one would know—with treatment guaranteed only for high-ranking officers, the lower-ranking soldiers depended on the British for relief.

If it weren’t for the relentless dedication of bureaucrats in London, who continued to distribute supplies according to the original headcount at departure, Montes would not have been able to spare extra beef jerky and biscuits for the Ottoman Army—without which, the Ottoman soldiers at the front would still be fighting on empty stomachs.

Mantuya shook his head and said, “We can’t do that. If there’s an investigation afterwards, we won’t be able to escape involvement. We can’t afford the responsibility for losing the defense line; it would affect our national reputation.”

It’s one thing to undermine an ally, but it must be done with finesse. A sloppy move could easily spell disaster for oneself. Mantuya would not engage in such a crude tactic as openly relinquishing a defense line.

“So what do we do? The Russian onslaught is so fierce, our losses are heavy; I’m afraid we won’t be able to hold on much longer,” an officer said with a wry smile.

Mantuya frowned and lowered his voice, “We can’t continue this war. There’s no need for us to stay and die for the Ottomans.

Order the troops to abandon the frontmost positions, and conveniently leave behind the British troop deployment data on the battlefield, with clear markings.

Make sure to write it in Bulgarian, since the Russians will be able to understand it too. The Ottomans will have to bear this burden, as it’s quite normal for their army to have Russian spies in their ranks.

Once the Russians get their hands on this information, they will certainly shift their focus of attack. As soon as the defense line fails, we’ll draw back our forces and move to the Kosovo area, then we’ll return to Thessaloniki through the Macedonian region.”

Clearly, he had been prepared for some time, with even the escape route already planned. If the British manage to block the Russian offensive, then well and good—let the investigation into Russian spies within the Allied Forces begin!

The first suspect would naturally be the Ottoman Army. In theory, the British Army and Sardinian Army are outsiders; the Russians simply wouldn’t have had the time to infiltrate them.