第372章

第372章princeandreyreachedtheheadquartersofthearmyattheendofjune.thefirstarmy,withwhichthetsarwas,wasstationedinafortifiedcampatdrissa.thesecondarmywasretreating,strivingtoeffectajunctionwiththefirstarmy,fromwhich—soitwassaid—ithadbeencutoffbyimmenseforcesofthefrench.everyonewasdissatisfiedwiththegeneralcourseofeventsintherussianarmy.butnooneevendreamedofanydangeroftherussianprovincesbeinginvaded,nooneimaginedthewarcouldextendbeyondthefrontiersofthewesternpolishprovinces.

princeandreyfoundbarclaydetolly,towhomhewassent,onthebankofthedrissa.sincetherewasnotonelargevillagenordwelling-placeintheneighbourhoodofthecamp,theimmensemultitudeofgeneralsandcourtiersaccompanyingthearmyweredistributedabouttheneighborhoodfortenverstsroundinthebesthousesofthevillageonbothsidesoftheriver.barclaydetollywasstayingfourverstsawayfromthetsar.hegavebolkonskyadryandfrigidreception,andsaidinhisgermanaccentthathewouldmentionhimtothetsarsothatadefiniteappointmentmightbegivenhim,andthatmeanwhileheedhimtoremainonhisstaff.anatolekuragin,whomprinceandreyhadexpectedtofindinthearmy,wasnothere.hewasinpetersburg,andbolkonskywasgladtohearit.hewasabsorbedintheinterestofbeingatthecentreoftheimmensewarthatwasinprogress,andhewasrelievedtobefreeforatimefromtheirritabilityproducedinhimbytheideaofkuragin.thefirstfourdays,duringwhichhewasnotcalledupontodoanything,hespentinridingroundthewholeofthefortifiedcamp,andbytheaidofhisexperiencesandhisconversationswithpersonsofgreaterexperience,hetriedtoformadefiniteideaaboutit.butthequestionwhethersuchacampwereofuseatallornotremainedanopenoneinhismind.hehadalready,fromhisownmilitaryexperience,formedtheconvictionthatinwarthemostdeeplymeditatedplansareofnoavail（ashehadseenatausterlitz）,thateverythingdependsonhowunexpectedactionsoftheenemy,actionsthatcannotpossiblybeforeseen,aremet;thatalldependsonhow,andbywhom,thebattleisled.inordertosettlethislastquestiontohisownsatisfaction,princeandreytookadvantageofhispositionandhisacquaintancestotrytogetaninsightintothecharacterofthepersonsandpartieswhohadahandintheorganisationofthearmy.thiswasthegeneralideahegainedofthepositionofaffairs.