"Marshal, I do not believe the Russian Imperial Army’s attack will be so conservative! I think the Russian Army, with its manpower advantage, will launch attacks on both the north and south shores simultaneously! Having 200,000 troops all besieging the north shore alone is truly a luxury!"

After Marshal Renio finished his speech, Conrobel offered a different opinion.

As soon as Conrobel finished speaking, he immediately received unanimous approval, including from Jerome Bonaparte.

Conrobel was indeed correct; it was too extravagant to have 200,000 troops besieging just the north shore.

The entire north shore’s forces amounted to only about 75,000, among which the 35,000 Ottoman Empire troops had always been in a Schrödinger’s state of combat effectiveness, while the south shore was distanced by the combined 115,000 troops of the French and Sardinian forces (in mid-August, the Sardinian Dynasty dispatched another 10,000 to the Crimea, in return, they were partially relieved from war reparations by France and Britain).

If he were the commander of the Russian Army, he would certainly not leave the French and Sardinian forces unattended.

"General Conrobel is correct!" Jerome Bonaparte said with a serious expression, "We must always prepare for the worst and cannot harbor any illusions! Any illusions will only expose our actions to risk of retaliation!"

Everyone present unanimously expressed: "Understood."

Then, General Bosskey also spoke: "Your Majesty, I think we should not only consider the situations on the north and south shores but also take into account Yevpatoria Town!

Marshal Renio suggested a plan to raid Perekop from Yevpatoria Town, and I believe the Russians will consider this possibility as well.

They are likely to dispatch troops to Yevpatoria to eliminate the 5,000 stationed there (which includes 3,000 French soldiers and 2,000 Sardinian soldiers). 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

I suggest bolstering the forces in Yevpatoria itself and deploying part of the French Navy currently anchored in Sevastopol Port to Yevpatoria. Should the Russian Army attack, the ship’s artillery will become their nightmare!"

"This is a great suggestion!" Jerome Bonaparte nodded with a smile.

General Bosskey, praised by Jerome Bonaparte, beamed with a smile.

After all three division commanders finished speaking, Marshal Pelissier summarized their suggestions and informed them that he would forward all their suggestions to the Staff Department.

The next set of instructions will be issued to them by the Expeditionary Army Headquarters.

After Marshal Pelissier finished speaking, Jerome Bonaparte provided a summary. He pressed his clasped hands against his chin and said seriously, "Ladies and gentlemen, our battle with the Russian Empire has resumed. I urge each of you to remain vigilant at all times! Do not allow the enemy any opportunity to take advantage of our actions, and use your artillery and rifles to inflict maximum damage on the enemy in the shortest possible time!

Let their blood soak this land; let their madness be obliterated on the iron and bronze walls of France. Only by removing this giant bear’s teeth and claws can they genuinely communicate with us in peace!

Until the sharp teeth and claws of this bear are worn down, I refuse to allow anyone to compromise with them!

Do you understand?"

The marshals and generals present stood up simultaneously, with a particularly solemn expression, responding forcefully to Jerome Bonaparte: "Understood!"

"Alright! You can now return to your respective defense zones and await further instructions!" Jerome Bonaparte said, waving his hand at those present.

After Marshal Renio, General Conrobel, and General Bosskey successively departed, Jerome Bonaparte again ordered Jerome Patterson to summon Admiral Bruea, in charge of the French Navy in the Crimean War.

After about half an hour, Admiral Bruea appeared in the Expeditionary Army Headquarters. He first saluted Jerome Bonaparte, then inquired about Jerome Bonaparte’s instructions.

Jerome Bonaparte informed Admiral Bruea that he wished to dispatch a fleet to Yevpatoria to guard against a potential Russian raid.

Admiral Bruea suggested that Jerome Bonaparte dispatch the "Napoleon" and "Friendship" ironclads as the primary vessels to support Yevpatoria, along with 5 double-deck battleships and 8 gunships. This firepower would be enough to intimidate any army attempting to invade Yevpatoria.

"Alright, proceed as you suggested!" Jerome Bonaparte nodded after a moment of thought.

"Your Majesty, please allow me to return to the naval port to prepare!" Admiral Bruea said to Jerome Bonaparte.

Shortly after General Bruea’s departure, La Malamor, the commander-in-chief of the Sardinian Kingdom, appeared at the Expeditionary Army Headquarters, where Jerome Bonaparte and Marshal Pelissier met with him.

"Your Majesty, I have heard that the Russian Empire is deploying in Bakhchisaray, is this information true?" La Malamor inquired as soon as he sat down, addressing Jerome Bonaparte.

"Indeed!" Jerome Bonaparte replied calmly to La Malamor, "According to our information, the Russian Empire is indeed moving towards Bakhchisaray and Simferopol! What’s the matter?"

"Your Majesty, what I mean to say is..." La Malamor hesitated for a moment, then gritted his teeth and said to Jerome Bonaparte, "Your Majesty, our Sardinian army is willing to follow your command! What are your orders?"

"I wouldn’t call them orders! The Sardinian Kingdom and the French Empire are allies who have experienced fierce battles together, not in a superior-subordinate relationship! We only hope the Sardinian army can hold its ground! I don’t require you to stay at your position to the death, just inform us slightly before you flee the battlefield!

Do not simply run away like a few years ago during the Great Revolution!

I’m warning you in advance. If Sardinia flees without notification during the war, I won’t care whether it’s intentional or unintentional. I will send them straight to the gallows!" Jerome Bonaparte threatened La Malamor without a flinch.

During the 1848 Great Revolution, the Sardinian army was ruthless enough to abandon even their troops, and Jerome Bonaparte feared they might abandon the French army as they did before.

Jerome Bonaparte’s words brought a look of shame to La Malamor’s face. He stood and assured Jerome Bonaparte that he and his army would defend the left wing of Inkman Mountain to the death, not letting any Russian army approach.

"With your promise, I’m relieved!" Jerome Bonaparte smiled, "Pelissier!"

"Present!" Pelissier responded to Jerome Bonaparte.

"How many artillery units do I still have that haven’t been deployed?" Jerome Bonaparte asked Pelissier.

"There are still two artillery legions not deployed!" Pelissier replied after some thought.

"Then allocate one artillery legion to Sardinia! Also, divide the 50 heavy cannons (siege artillery) just shipped from Paris, giving them 30 and we keep 20!" Jerome Bonaparte ordered.

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Marshal Pelissier responded.

"Your Majesty, thank you for your generosity!" La Malamor said excitedly to Jerome Bonaparte.

As the Kingdom of Sardinia was extremely impoverished, the three army divisions they transported to Crimea had only a few pitiful cannons. Jerome Bonaparte’s allocation of thirty heavy cannons and one artillery legion resolved their firepower issues.

Stationed at the left wing of Inkman Mountain, La Malamor had more confidence in holding the position.

"Remember what I just said! If your army dares to desert during battle..."

Before Jerome Bonaparte could finish, La Malamor firmly replied to Jerome Bonaparte, "Your Majesty, I assure you, you won’t have to act! I’ll execute them on the spot!"

"Good!" Jerome Bonaparte nodded in satisfaction and then encouraged La Malamor with promises, saying, "I can assure you, as long as we defeat the Russian Empire, the Apennine Peninsula issue will no longer be a thorny problem!"

Saying this, Jerome Bonaparte fell silent, leaving La Malamor to interpret his words on his own!

After all, Jerome Bonaparte merely said the Apennine wouldn’t be a problem, he didn’t pledge to oppose the Austrian Empire for the sake of the Sardinian Kingdom.

The reason French can serve as a diplomatic language lies in its ambiguity.

"Your Majesty, rest assured! I know what to do!" La Malamor, evidently led astray by Jerome Bonaparte’s words, confidently replied.

"Minister Malamor, I’m looking forward to your performance!" Jerome Bonaparte patted La Malamor’s shoulder, offering encouragement.

After La Malamor departed with dreams of Italian unification, Marshal Lagren and Omar Pasha arrived at the Expeditionary Army Headquarters together.

Jerome Bonaparte warmly welcomed them with great enthusiasm as well.

As the main spokesperson for the North Shore, Marshal Lagren inquired if Jerome Bonaparte was aware of the Russian Empire’s movements.

Jerome Bonaparte, slightly annoyed, recounted what he had said to La Malamor to Marshal Lagren.

Marshal Lagren then informed Jerome Bonaparte that if the North Shore became the primary attack target of the Russian Empire, he hoped Jerome Bonaparte would send support if the North Shore fell into crisis.

Jerome immediately assured Lagren that if it came to that, he would send forces to the North Shore, provided that the French Army was not tied down.

Currently, it’s more likely that Russia will conduct multi-point attacks rather than solely targeting the North Shore.

[PS: As of the end of August, on the Crimean battlefield, the ratio of the Allies to the Russian Imperial Army was 185,000 to 260,000, with the French Army comprising 90,000, the British Army 40,000, the Sardinian Army 30,000, and the Ottoman Army accounting for 35,000.]