登陆注册
15386800000028

第28章

"I am afraid of Germany seizing the convenient opportunity, and attacking us in our rear.Your nation does not love ours; let us make no mistake about it.There was a time when Teutonism played a great role in our national life.But all that has changed since the days of Alexander the Third.We also cannot forget that at the Berlin Congress Master Bismarck cheated us of the prize of our victory over the Turks.""Pardon me, Prince, for contradicting you on this point.The fault was solely Gortchakow's in not understanding how to follow up his opportunity.The English took advantage of that.No doubt Bismarck would have agreed to every Russian demand.But I can assure you that there is no question of national German enmity against Russia, in educated circles especially.""It is possible, but Russia will always consider this aversion as a factor to be taken into account at critical moments, otherwise the treaty with France would probably never have been made.I, for one, can hardly blame your nation for entertaining a certain degree of hostility towards us.We possess diverse territories geographically belonging more naturally to Germany.If your country could take eight million peasants from your superfluous population and settle them in Poland it would be a grand thing for her.Were I at the head of your Government I should, first, with Austria's consent, seize Russian Poland, and then crush Austria, annex Bohemia, Moravia, Carinthia, Styria and the Tyrol as German territory, and limit the Austrian dynasty to Transleithania."Heideck could not help smiling.

"Those are bold fancies, Prince! Rest assured that nobody in Germany seriously entertains such plans.""Strange, if that is so.I should think it would seem the most natural thing for you.What, then, do you mean by a German Empire, if the most German countries do not belong to it? Do you not consider the population of Austria's German provinces is more closely related to you than that of North-East Prussia? But possibly you are too conscientious and too treaty-abiding to carry out a policy of such dimensions."Heideck, not unintentionally, turned the conversation back to the original subject of discussion.

"Which route do you intend taking? Have you decided for Peshawar, or are you also taking Quetta into your consideration?""I have not as yet quite made up my mind.In any case, I mean to take the shortest way back to our army.""If that is so, I would suggest Quetta.Most probably the Russian main army will turn southwards.Their first objective will probably be Herat.The best roads from the north and north-west converge on that point.It is the meeting-place of the caravan roads from India, Persia, and Turkestan.In Herat a large army can be concentrated, for it is situated in fertile country.Once your advance guard is firmly established, 60,000 men can be conveyed there in a relatively short time.If the English advance to Kandahar the collision between the forces will take place at that point.But the Russians will outnumber the English so greatly that the latter will hardly venture the march upon Kandahar.Reinforced by the Afghan forces, General Ivanov, with 100,000 men, can push on without hindrance to the Bolan Pass.""If he should succeed," said the Prince, "the way would then be open for him to the valley of the Indus.For England would be unable to hold the Pass against such a force.""Is it really so difficult to cross the Pass, as it is said to be?"1

"The Pass is about fifty versts in length.In 1839 the Bengal corps of the Indus army advanced through it against the Afghan army, and managed without difficulty to take with them twenty-four-pound howitzers as well as eighteen-pound field guns.""If I remember rightly they arrived, without having met with any opposition worth mentioning, at Kandahar, and occupied the whole of Afghanistan.But, in spite of this, they finally suffered a disastrous defeat.Of their 15,000 men only 4,500 succeeded in returning in precipitate flight through the Khyber Pass back to India."Prince Tchajawadse laughed ironically.

"Fifteen thousand? Yes, if one can trust English sources of information! But I can assure you, according to better information, that the English in 1839 advanced upon Afghanistan with no less than 21,000 combatants and a transport of 70,000 men and 60,000 camels.They marched through the Bolan Pass, took Kandahar and Ghazni, entered Cabul, and placed Shah Shuja upon the throne.They did not suffer any decisive defeat in battle, but a general insurrection of the Afghans drove them from their positions and entirely wiped out their force.""I admire your memory, Prince!"

同类推荐
  • 许氏医案

    许氏医案

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 明伦汇编官常典巡检部

    明伦汇编官常典巡检部

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 郊庙歌辞 禅社首乐

    郊庙歌辞 禅社首乐

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 彰化节孝册

    彰化节孝册

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 解拳论

    解拳论

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 创世璃火之末世重置

    创世璃火之末世重置

    你们难道没有注意到吗?在十分相近的一段时期,地球上几个文明的统治者,先后进行了一场文明大清洗,虽然仍有少数漏网之鱼,但是,大部分的内容都被销毁了。这些只是一种巧合吗?还是有人蓄意而为?为了销毁某些证据?历史想要掩埋的真相到底是什么?那许多的神话传说,是空穴来风,还是确有其事?你们从书上看到过的历史是真实的,还是仅仅只是一部命题小说?那些被发掘出的古墓的主人,是人们对号入座,还是真的就是那个人呢?两百年前外星人入侵地球的目的是什么?我们要用什么方法才能夺回地球战胜外星人?那些人类已经发现,却还来不及使用的科技是什么?这所有事情背后的真相,只有我知道。
  • 阴花咒月

    阴花咒月

    沧海化湖仙人冢,焱仑断天诸神葬!乾坤倒转妖罹难,无极湮灭巫古殇!残月生,苍穹裂,万古葬尽!且看少年如何将心中的月挂于苍茫,光辉永驻,开启波澜壮阔的人生!
  • 永恒之寂

    永恒之寂

    修炼一道,无数纷争;一手遮天,一怒屠城。魔武九转,化圣飞升;四方有路,仙妖魔神。忘情湖灵,缘定三生;雨中红颜,一笑倾城。世间百态,惟情动人;宇宙万物,惟寂永恒!
  • 灾星蓝小二

    灾星蓝小二

    从前有个小孩,出生时差点死了。后来长大了,差点死了。想要修行,差点死了。吃着饭,差点噎死。散散步,差点摔死。就着这无数的差点之中,这位倒霉蛋慢慢长大,带领着外星来客,龙家大少,与他亲生的盟兄弟以及背负血海深仇、杀宠大恨的神秘大叔,阵容华丽,所向无敌,在无数人的见证下,终于死了······
  • 匪王2

    匪王2

    《匪王2》又名《雪峰山剿匪记》,是行销一时的《匪王》的续篇。乱世出英雄,也出土匪。清末民初,湘西匪乱猖獗。张云卿本出身贫苦,因天性不愿做任人欺压的顺民落草为匪。投身绿林后,凭着狠毒与阴险,他拉起一支土匪队伍。在财主梅满娘的资助下,一步步壮大……在那个军阀混战的年代,因有各种利益集团的冲突和争夺,张云卿最终脱颖而出,成为雄据湘西一域的一代匪王……
  • 血煞天魔诀

    血煞天魔诀

    我命由我不由天!一个从边陲小地长大的少年,为了知道自己的身世,破除天地的诅咒,一路高歌狂飙,打造一个属于自己的天下。。。
  • 主神之书

    主神之书

    一念风起一念云动看他如何一步步登上主神宝座
  • 超级肥皂

    超级肥皂

    一颗神奇的种子,制造出神奇功效的肥皂苦逼毕业生顾成依靠着手中的肥皂,登上人生巅峰痴情女总裁,俏皮小妹,功夫美女高手环绕身边美女,要肥皂不
  • 盗墓奇檀

    盗墓奇檀

    年轻的泥鳅,看到同村的狗蛋通过盗墓发了财,便随着狗蛋踏上了盗墓这条路。这一次他们的目标在罗布泊……故事才刚刚开始,一场更大的阴谋正在向泥鳅逼近……罗布泊,百慕大,穿越时空的盒子,秦始皇……谁才是真正的幕后黑手……————————————————————————新书连载中,求收藏,求推荐!!!
  • 他说,做我女神可好

    他说,做我女神可好

    七年前。他拿着心中女神的照片看得出神,她讽刺轻笑:“叶慕寒,你天天这么看有意思么,有本事把人家追到手啊。”他冰冷出声:“多管闲事。”后来,他的女神被人追走了,她陪他喝酒。他却将她压在身下,笑得魅惑:“做我女神可好?”他的眸中明显闪着不同于平常的暗光,她却依旧沉沦了下去。一夜疯狂,他销声匿迹,无影无踪;她怀孕,被学校开除。七年后。他是G市最有权势的男人,而她只是一家公司的小小职员。一个小男孩抱着他的手,指着她问:“爸爸,她是谁,怎么跟妈妈长得有点像?”他没有回答,只是看着她,灼热的视线让她的心跳乱了节拍:“或许,我应该叫你一声婶婶。”