Watching the retreat of the Kingdom of Britain's army like a tide, Commander Largren couldn't help but sigh.

The once valiant and battle-ready army of the Kingdom of Britain now couldn't even conquer a small highland.

Is this still the British Army he knew? Why does it look so much like the Turkish Army?

While Commander Largren was grieving over Britain's loss of martial virtue, the Duke of Cambridge, standing beside him, quickly offered comfort: "Commander, this was just a minor probing attack! If you are not satisfied, I will immediately organize another attack on the opposite highland."

"Forget it! Forget it!" Commander Largren shook his head and responded to the Duke of Cambridge: "Immediately reorganize the withdrawn troops, and make sure this failure doesn't affect our army's morale!"

"Yes, Commander!" The Duke of Cambridge saluted and turned to leave after receiving Commander Largren's instructions.

Riding on horseback, Commander Largren gravely looked at the Kazan Infantry Brigade on the distant fort then sighed and turned his horse to retreat.

Prince Menshikov, stationed at the top of Kurgan Mountain, used a telescope to watch Largren, in his bright red uniform, retreating into the distance. A smile appeared on his face as he shouted aloud, "We have won!"

The two staff members and the soldiers around joined in his shout, also calling out, "We have won!"

One voice spread to ten, ten to a hundred, and the entire Kurgan Mountain echoed with the cries of victory.

On the north bank of the Alma River, the morale of the British Army inevitably dropped after hearing the cheers of the Russian Empire.

However, the decline in morale did not last long. Under the boots and whips of the British officers, the "beasts" of the Kingdom of Britain quickly forgot these matters and devoted themselves wholeheartedly to the next war.

...

As Commander Largren was riding towards the Allied Command, General Pelissier also approached him head-on.

The commanders of the British and French armies met in the middle of the road and Commander Largren curiously asked General Pelissier, "Commander Pelissier, where are you heading?"

"I was coming to find you! Commander Largren!" General Pelissier responded to Commander Largren.

"Looking for me?" Commander Largren looked at General Pelissier in confusion.

"Yes, my staff has formulated a plan to conquer Alma, and I wanted to discuss it with you!" Pelissier said, pointing to the documents tucked under his arm.

"Then let's discuss it inside the command headquarters!" Commander Largren responded to Commander Pelissier.

"Sure!" Pelissier nodded in agreement.

Pelissier and Commander Largren arrived at the Allied Command, situated in a manor built on a highland 5 kilometers northwest of the Alma River. The manor's owner had already fled with his family to Simferopol before the arrival of the Four-Nation Alliance Army.

Everything in the manor was naturally requisitioned to serve as the headquarters of the Allied Command.

When General Pelissier and Commander Largren arrived at the manor, La Malamor, minister of the Sardinian Kingdom, and Omar Pasha of the Ottoman Empire were already waiting for their arrival.

The supreme commanders of the four nations' expeditionary armies sat around a round table. General Pelissier spread out his documents on the table and handed out four copies from the file to each of them, saying, "Have a look before we talk!"

The three present leafed through the plan brought by General Pelissier. After a while, Commander Largren spoke up, "I disagree with making Kurgan Mountain just a feint target!"

"Commander Largren, if you have a different view on this plan, feel free to speak!" General Pelissier said with a humble attitude, asking Largren for his thoughts.

"Undoubtedly! This plan is almost perfect, but I believe we should target Akul Mountain and Telegraph Hill simultaneously to launch a devastating attack on the Russian Empire on the mountains!" Commander Largren replied to General Pelissier.

"However, this approach might lead to massive casualties; a frontal assault is truly unwise!" Pelissier retorted to Commander Largren, pointing at the map: "We only need to pin down part of the Russian Imperial Army on Kurgan Mountain, keeping them from moving! This way, the rest of our forces can flank them, attacking in a pincer movement! We can certainly annihilate the Russian Imperial Army stationed at Kurgan and Telegraph Hill in one fell swoop!"

"Our force is much larger than the Russian Empire's! Why take risks when we can push forward steadily?" Commander Largren adamantly replied.

Although Commander Largren was verbally advocating for caution and steadiness, his real intention was to claim the glory of conquering Kurgan Mountain.

Pelissier's plan was indeed practical, but it wasn't favorable for the Kingdom of Britain.

If Pelissier's plan was followed, the honor of conquering Kurgan Mountain would likely not belong solely to the Kingdom of Britain, as the Kingdom of Britain couldn't execute Pelissier's plan with its current forces.

This was unfriendly to Commander Largren, who had always wanted to wash away the disgrace.

"If that's the case, we'll follow your suggestion!" General Pelissier conceded a step, pointing at the map on the table: "Tomorrow morning, England and Turkey will make an all-out attack on Kurgan Mountain, while the forces of France and Sardinia will assault the highlands of Telegraph Hill!"

"Yes!"

After concluding their discussions, everyone returned to their respective camps to carry out the next steps of the deployment work.

That night, General Pellissier, the acting commander of France, visited the Sardinian Kingdom's camp.

"Welcome, welcome!" Upon receiving the report from his soldiers, Minister of War La Malamor from the Sardinian Kingdom quickly exited his tent to greet General Pellissier.

"Minister Malamor, I want to discuss tomorrow's attack with you! Do you have time?" General Pellissier inquired straightforwardly.

"Of course, I have time!" responded La Malamor immediately to Pellissier, then entered the tent with General Pellissier.

Sitting down, La Malamor promptly asked General Pellissier, "Coffee or tea?"

"Coffee, please," Pellissier replied to La Malamor.

La Malamor called in his adjutant, ordering him to prepare two cups of coffee and some pastries specially transported from the Apennine Peninsula.

No matter where or when, the Sardinian Kingdom always maintained a luxurious and indulgent lifestyle.

Of course, this situation was not unique to the Sardinian Kingdom; the lifestyle of all high-ranking officers, including those of France, was severely disconnected from the lower ranks.

It's just that the degree of disparity was more extreme in the Sardinian Kingdom.

Pastries and coffee from Italy soon entered the tent, and Pellissier and La Malamor discussed while enjoying the treats.

"I plan to deploy all the mountain warfare regiments from our two countries in the attack on Telegraph Hill!" Pellissier spread the map before La Malamor, pointing to it and saying: "These regiments will engage in climbing operations near the cliff; once they reach the summit, they will immediately flank and ambush the defenders on Telegraph Hill.

During the landing of these regiments, I will dispatch my Guard Division to intimidate the forces on Telegraph Hill, making them think we are attacking from the front, thereby failing to notice our flank deployment. Once our mountain troops reach the South Shore, it will be time for us to launch an all-out assault on the Russian forces atop Highland Mountain.

By then, those regiments will become a significant force in the attack on Highland Mountain."

Pellissier relayed his half-cut plan from Commander Lagren to La Malamor, who, after pondering for a moment, nodded and responded, "Commander Pellissier, I agree with your plan!"

"It's wonderful to have your agreement!" General Pellissier replied with a smile, extending his hand to La Malamor.

General Pellissier and General La Malamor shook hands, after which General Pellissier returned to the camp, escorted by La Malamor.

Incidentally, after the meeting, Commander Lagren and Omar Pasha did not engage in communication like Pellissier and La Malamor did.

Therefore, both men harbored some individual plans for the attack in their minds.

...

Just as General Pellissier was about to lie down on his camp bed to rest, Brigadier General Troche appeared in Pellissier's tent.

"What's the matter?" General Pellissier inquired in confusion of Brigadier General Troche.

"General Pellissier, Marshal Saint Arno has awakened!" Brigadier General Troche responded excitedly to General Pellissier.

Upon hearing Brigadier General Troche's words, a hint of melancholy flickered in General Pellissier's eyes.

The awakening of Marshal Saint Arno meant he, as the acting Commander-in-Chief, would revert to being the commander of the Third Division.

Although Pellissier felt somewhat reluctant in his heart, he still displayed a joyful smile and hurriedly got up from bed to accompany Brigadier General Troche to Marshal Saint Arno's place of recovery.

At this time, Marshal Saint Arno still looked as if he had little time left, gasping for breath, expressing gratitude to Pellissier for taking over in his perilous state and maintaining stability for France.

"Please don't say that! Since you've awakened, the position of Commander-in-Chief of France should rightfully be yours!" General Pellissier respectfully addressed Marshal Saint Arno.

"General Pellissier, do I look like someone capable of commanding the army in my current state?" Marshal Saint Arno replied weakly to General Pellissier, "Since they've chosen you for this position, I hope you won't decline. You, like me, were among the earliest generals to support Your Majesty, and you have the qualification to lead them! Also..."

Marshal Saint Arno paused, then spoke softly to Pellissier, "Don't you want to obtain a Marshal's Staff?"

Thinking about the Marshal's Staff, Pellissier couldn't help but take a few deep breaths; a Marshal's Staff represents the highest honor a general can achieve, and Pellissier naturally also desired one.

Even if the Empire's Marshal's Staff holds far less value than it did at the height of the Empire.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.