Nakhimov was indeed a military man, but not a strategist. Otherwise, he would never have entertained the slightest thought of giving up the Black Sea Straits.
In Sevastopol, Nicholas I clenched his fists. His plan had once again met with the collective opposition of Russia's senior generals.
"Enough! The warriors of Third Rome are shedding their blood to reclaim the old capital. We should be doing everything in our power to help them!
"We are only one step away from success! Can't you all see that?!"
Nicholas I shouted himself hoarse. He had yearned for that city for a very long time; even before he became Tsar, he had already set his sights on it.
After becoming Tsar, Nicholas I became even more convinced that reclaiming Constantinople and restoring Third Rome was his destiny.
Thus, Nicholas I could not tolerate failure when it was so close at hand, and so he chose the most frenzied course of action. Now that action had been obstructed, he naturally intended to commit troops without hesitation. He wanted that city.
"Your Majesty, fighting on three fronts is too much for us! For this surprise attack, we staged massive feint offensives on both the eastern and western fronts.
"This has already tied down far too many of our troops. The situation in the Battle of Constantinople is still unclear. If we rashly strike out, we may walk straight into the enemy's trap!"
Before an old general could finish, Prince Menshikov cut in.
"This is a penny-packet tactic, a grave taboo in warfare! Your Majesty, you must think twice!"
Prince Menshikov was a favored minister of Nicholas I, but this fellow's military aptitude was truly nothing remarkable—perhaps not even equal to Nicholas I's.
Of course, Nicholas I did not favor Menshikov for his intellect, but for