Within the Tsar's field headquarters, Nicholas I was highly satisfied with Albrecht's proposal.
But the Russian generals had a question.
"The tactic is certainly feasible, but who will carry it out?"
Though South Serbia was thinly defended, the Holy Alliance's four hundred thousand troops were all concentrated in Dobruja at present. How long would it take, and how many supplies would it require, to transfer so many men to Serbia?
In truth, many within Russia also opposed a direct assault on Dobruja, because that bone was simply too hard to chew.
By comparison, striking from the Caucasus would be far easier, and would also allow them to plunder more cotton- and tobacco-producing regions.
This was quite alluring to Russia's upper ranks, whose economy was primarily agricultural.
If they were going to send troops to South Serbia now, they might as well go straight to the Caucasus. But the problem was that the main Russian force had only just completed a forced march, and many soldiers had already fallen ill.
If they undertook another forced march, they would likely be filling their own camp with wounded and sick before ever facing the Ottomans.
Moreover, sending troops into South Serbia posed another enormous problem: they would have to pass through Austrian Imperial territory.
Leaving aside whether the Austrian Empire would be willing to let Russian troops enter its lands, Nicholas I was still with the army. If something were to suddenly go wrong, both sides would be left unable to swallow the consequences.
"The campaign against South Serbia will be carried out independently by the Austrian Empire. Your Majesty's soldiers need rest and recuperation. They need only remain here and wait for an opportunity to act."
On one hand, Albrecht meant for the Tsar's main force to rest first; after all, having