Eagle’s Glory

After discussing with Edmund Dantès, Aigron revised his strategic plan and set a strategy of "buying Heide, and then using her as a puppet and banner to take the opportunity to march into Ioannina".

This meant that they had to use their time as quickly as possible, to get Haidai in their hands before they marched on Ioannina and used Haidai's banner, lest she be cut off by the enraged sultan.

In Aegron's heart, he has another hidden worry - that is the Russian Empire.

Since he came to Greece and played the banner, the Russian Empire has been ready to move, ready to leave the merits of liberating Greece in the hands of the tsar, for which they have been concentrating their troops on the Danube and the Caucasus border, and now the arrow is on the line, whether it is Metternich or him. , I know in my heart that their march is an imminent problem.

In this case, when Aigron considers the problem next, he must take into account the important factor of the Russian Empire.

Before the Russian Empire ended in person, he had already won enough victories and prestige for himself, and he would not dare to hope for such good luck in the future.

Of course Aigron would not know, because the distance brought about by the lag, his news has lagged behind reality - in fact, while he was secretly talking with Edmund Dantes, the Russian Empire was already marching into the Balkans .

And Pushkin, the genius poet recognized by the upper class of the empire, is also in this army at this time, following the imperial army like a tide, and experiencing the upcoming historical events firsthand.

Originally, there was no need for this prestigious poet to take part in military operations. He could continue to stay in the imperial village to enjoy the extravagant court life and gain the ostensible respect of the tsar.

But Pushkin, who was already tired of the boring life in the court, sincerely asked the Tsar to grant him the honor of participating in the war. With his sincerity, His Majesty finally granted the poet's request.

So, he was next arranged to the Izmailovo Guards, and as a member of this elite force, he was transferred to the assembly area along the Danube.

According to the plan, after the war, their troops would cross Wallachia and Bulgaria with the main force, and head towards Adrianople, the gateway to Constantinople.

According to the expectations of the court, if they are lucky enough, they will continue to march, all the way to the glorious capital of Rome; if they are not lucky enough, the tsar has to stop the march under the pressure of European powers, then at least they will also hit the Turks hard, Win a glorious victory - and once again make the Tsar the savior of Europe.

After the **** Decembrist turmoil of his succession to the throne, the tsar desperately needed to earn such a halo for himself in order to demonstrate the legitimacy of his throne to his subjects, and to Europe as a whole.

Pushkin had already heard about the thoughts of the upper echelons of the empire, but at this time he didn't care about these "national events". His whole mind had already been put on the various experiences of front-line service, as well as his reverie about the next.

On this late autumn morning, Pushkin rode on his horse and headed southwest against the warm sunshine. On this not wide road, the Russian army was also moving in a bit of a hurry.

Not far away is the sparkling Danube, and as long as they cross there, they will enter the Balkans and begin their glorious expedition.

The length of the marching troops could not be seen. The surrounding woods had been dyed orange-red or dim-yellow in late autumn, swaying in the wind, like those ladies waving handkerchiefs to see them off, he looked around. Go, in the wilderness of Ukraine, there are all kinds of hats worn by officers and soldiers everywhere, and bayonets are like a jungle, shining with a sharp cold light.

The strict formation made this unit seem to be a whole, like the footprints of giants, overwhelmingly pressing towards the crumbling Turkey.

Although their steps are so powerful and their military looks so chilling, there is no fear on the faces of these soldiers. They laughed and rushed to the battlefield with hopeful eyes, as if they were just carrying out a grand battle. procession.

Pushkin knew that the army within his line of sight was only the regiment he was in, and on the entire front, there would be many regiments, countless infantry, cavalry, and artillery, who would embark on the same journey as himself.

This is great Russian power! Invincible power!

Although the great poet loves freedom and has never liked the tyrannical and oppressive court, when he was personally involved in this monstrous wave, he was also very proud of being one of them.

The Russian Empire will fight for the liberation of its Orthodox compatriots, marching toward Constantinople, and he will see it with his own eyes and record it truthfully.

After coming to the army, although Pushkin took the initiative to ask to undertake the task, Shangguan knew that the great poet's reputation in the court was extraordinary, how could he dare to call him casually? So, Shangguan arranged paperwork for him - so that he didn't have to go straight to the front line and try his luck before the scythe of the **** of death.

Pushkin has no complaints about this. While he completed his work silently and earnestly, he kept a diary every day to record what he saw and heard after he joined the army. Sometimes he even took the time to write letters home to those illiterate soldiers in the regiment. .

For others, it was tiresome, but Pushkin enjoyed it because he observed the lowest-ranking members of the army, learned what every soldier was thinking, and what they were up to. , which will inevitably enrich his vision and provide him with countless writing materials.

Although his time in the army was still very short, Pushkin was pleasantly surprised to find that, compared with the state of being almost exhausted when he stayed in the imperial village, at this time, he was simply full of ideas, whether he was writing poetry or writing at his fingertips—— So he often secretly glad that he found a good place for himself.

In the cool autumn wind, Pushkin breathed the fresh air in the field, thinking silently about his next poems in his heart.

Suddenly, he heard a whistle from the side.

"Aleksandr Sergeyevich, we are finally marching, how do you feel?"

Without looking back, Pushkin knew that the person who greeted him was his friend Boris Petronovich Volkonsky, who also followed him on horseback.

This friend of his, whose family is quite prominent in the court, is also deeply loved by the upper class. It is because of his help that he was so easily allowed to participate in this expedition by the tsar.

And it was through his operation that Pushkin was able to come to the Izmailovo Guards Infantry Regiment where he was.

After Pushkin came to the army, because he had no previous service experience, there must be a lot of incompatibility. Fortunately, this friend often took care of him, and he did not encounter any problems.

Because of this, he is very grateful to his friends for their help this time.

"Boris Petrovich," he said, tilting his head to look at his friend. "I feel comfortable...more comfortable than I've ever been."

"So you are even more eager for war than an old soldier!" Boris Volkonsky whistled again, pretending to be surprised.

"No, I don't like war or bloodshed." Pushkin shook his head, then looked at the sparkling Danube in the distance, "but I like the feeling of being in the torrent of the times, I can feel that we are creating History, the history of our generation... In 1812 I was too young to be a part of it, but now I can finally grasp the pulse of the times, and we are doing a great business."

Peace is of course precious, but it will inevitably bring mediocrity, but mediocrity is also the enemy of poets, so at this time Pushkin has a feeling of "fortunate to attend a grand event".

If it is an unprovoked invasion of other countries and deprivation of the freedom of other peoples, he may be disgusted; but this time, the purpose of His Majesty's dispatch of troops is incomparably justifiable, and it is a cause that is conducive to human freedom and liberation. There is no disgust - no matter how selfish the Tsar's Majesty is in it, Pushkin is extremely supportive of Greece's cause of independence and liberation.

As in the great year of 1812, they will once again set out on their journey as liberators to free Greece from pagan tyrants.

"Many people may have different views on freedom or liberation, and I don't make any comments." Boris Volkonsky replied with a smile, "What I'm looking for is stimulation and merit, and only these things can make My blood is on fire, I just hope these **** Turks can resist a little longer so that I can get a few more medals with my bastards!"

Pushkin could only smile bitterly.

No matter what, the two people with different minds are now in the torrent of people, rushing towards their fateful destination.

In the open river in the distance, the blood of history is flowing, and destiny is tumbling and rolling in it, roaring and roaring, just waiting for the thunder that descends from the empire.

"Are you still interested in Duke Leichstedt?" After a moment of silence, Boris Volkonsky suddenly asked again.

Pushkin was surprised by the question, but he nodded quickly.

"Indeed still interested. Do you have any news?"

"That lad is amazing!" Boris Volkonsky rode his horse, getting closer, then lowered his volume, "I'll tell you something - he took someone down a while ago. The fortress of Methorongion, and accepted the surrender of the defenders."

"What? So fast?" Pushkin was slightly surprised.

Although he did not have much actual knowledge of the war itself, after he came to the army, Pushkin also did some homework more or less, and learned about the geography and humanities of Greece. In addition, he was also familiar with the great poet Byron. , so of course he understood the meaning of the news.

"This means that he has cleared the obstacles of Western Greece!" Pushkin blurted out a moment later.

"It's an astonishing achievement indeed." Boris Volkonsky narrowed his eyes narrowly, "so you should understand, why is it not allowed to spread the news?"

Pushkin immediately understood why his news was lagging behind - the empire didn't want its soldiers to know how many honors the young man had won.

Since his arrival in Greece, Greece's otherwise precarious cause of independence and liberation has taken a dazzling turn, so much so that the Empire has not even kept up.

There is no doubt that, judging from the current situation, even without the advance of the Russian Empire, Greece would have won the War of Independence under his leadership and help...

And this is a fact that the tsar and other important court officials are absolutely unwilling to face.

Therefore, the tsar ordered his army to advance in advance, that is, in order to forcibly take the crown of victory for himself.

Thinking of the dazzling liberation cause that had been cast over so much by the political selfishness of all parties, Pushkin felt a little discouraged for a moment.

"Hopefully our victories are glorious enough." He could only answer dryly. "I believe we can destroy the Sudanese army."

"I believe so too." Boris Volkonsky nodded, "but, my friend, the more brilliant we achieve, the more we will be hated by those Western European powers, and I doubt that in the end they will Instead, I wish Duke Reichstedt more success."

"This is also Duke Reichstedt's plan!" Pushkin also suddenly realized.

He also saw that Duke Leichstedt was not afraid of the entry of the Russian Empire, on the contrary he was happy to see the European powers quarreling about it.

Although he saw through his plot, Pushkin did not have any disgust in his heart, but a sense of admiration.

"What does His Majesty plan to do with him?" Pushkin asked quietly, "Boris, have you received any secret orders?"

"I'm sorry, no, at least I haven't heard of it at this level." Boris Volkonsky spread his hands, "I think His Majesty the Tsar and his important ministers also have a headache for this little guy."

Then he smiled and said, "It would have been easier if the Austrians declared him a fugitive after he fled, but the old slickers didn't do that! So what is he now? He is still the Habsburg royal family. Member, Duke Reichstedt by all accounts, and no one even claims that he is engaged in illegal activities - after all, how can liberating Christians be illegal?"

Pushkin also nodded in agreement. "So His Majesty the Tsar would rather turn a blind eye to him for the time being."

"I can only turn a blind eye." Boris Volkonsky replied with a smile, "Of course, if Duke Leichstedt himself collided somehow, that would be another matter - after all, in this world It's always full of surprises and doesn't need a special order from the Tsar, right? But I'm sure he's not that stupid, he looks pretty smart."

That's true... Pushkin once again sighed in his heart.

He found that he couldn't contain his curiosity about the young man more and more.

After all, someone in the world is destined to be different.

If you can find a way to meet him...

"Okay, my friend, let's leave him alone, wait until we camp tonight, let's go have a good drink—" Boris Volkonsky suggested.

Pushkin immediately agreed.

The imperial army has a clear hierarchy. An officer like Boris Volkonsky has enough salutation to fill several carriages, with all kinds of dresses, and of course caviar, cheese pastries and must-haves. The indispensable vodka, Pushkin is also happy to share with him during the march.

This march will be a pleasant journey.