Lieutenant Colonel Malaveyev emerged from the desert, anxious and cursing.
As he felt the soft sand beneath his feet turn to hard gravel, his anxiety grew, and he only thought of quickly capturing Kabul so that he could be redeployed home.
General Bakhov's orders quickly arrived, instructing him to send two companies to collect supplies in the vicinity.
However, when a Cossack cavalry battalion returned at twilight, they brought back less than half a cart of food, which consisted of a random mix, including potatoes, barley, and jujube.
Malaveyev glared fiercely at the company commander: "Damn it, did you go to some village to find women?"
The latter hurriedly replied, "Colonel Sir, all the villages within 10 li around here are empty. You can ask Captain Vorobyov."
Just then, another cavalry battalion returned with even less.
Bakhov quickly received news that the nearby Afghan tribes had all relocated, and his heart was filled with anxiety.
