He Became Napoleon’S Genius Son [EN]: Chapter 85

Lombardy is France’s Long-Cherished Land

So, what kind of land is Lombardy?

“It’s a land that all French kings have desired but never obtained.”

Italy is divided by numerous rivers flowing from beneath the Alps.

The river that runs horizontally through the northern center is called the Po River.

The Po River basin is the largest granary in the Italian Peninsula, producing rice since the 15th century.

It is also a barrier that the Italian legions, starting their march from Turin, the capital of the Kingdom of Sardinia, must overcome.

Because beyond the Po River lies Lombardy, the territory of the Duchy of Milan.

The Austrian legions are also stationed there.

A land that French kings have desired for 300 years but never conquered.

Napoleon’s Italian legions were now marching towards it.

This time, on foot.

-Step, step, step.

Of course, the officers ride comfortably on horseback.

However, even excluding the Turin garrison, the main force of the Italian legions, still numbering 45,000, is infantry.

Therefore, the marching speed slowed down to keep pace.

Captain Ippolito, adjutant of the Eugene Horse Grenadier Brigade, tilted his head.

“The supply wagons have decreased? Everyone is marching on foot.”

“Because we changed the organization. This time, we concentrated the horses on the cavalry. Instead, we supplemented with horses and wagons requisitioned from Sardinia. It’s difficult for the soldiers to ride them.”

“Then the marching speed will be relatively slow? Or, will we have to force a forced march?”

Originally, the Italian legions actively utilized supply wagons.

In particular, the ability to transport infantry in supply wagons allowed for high-speed maneuvers.

This is also why they succeeded in outflanking and deceiving the enemy in unexpected situations.

In the original history, the lack of supply wagons led to sporadic skirmishes and forced marches by the infantry.

Therefore, Eugene clearly deserves the hidden credit for the complete victory at the Battle of Montenotte.

Because the Boarneh Cartel concentrated on supplying the supply wagons.

However, before the advance on Milan, Napoleon changed the organization again.

This time, he decided to engage in a frontal battle with the cavalry instead of deceptive maneuvers.

Instead, a division of troops rushed ahead.

“So, Massena’s division, lightly equipped, is rushing ahead as the vanguard. Sérurier’s division is taking over the rear again. Laharpe’s regiment, which was originally in the rear, has joined Massena’s division.”

Division, brigade, regiment, battalion, and company.

This is the current organization of the French army.

Among these, [Regiment] is a term from the old royal era, so the current official name of the French army is half a brigade, or Demi-Brigade [a unit consisting of two or three battalions].

However, in the field, they are simply using the old term, regiment.

Laharpe’s brigade, which served as the reserve in the previous Battle of Montenotte, was also a half-brigade, or regiment.

In fact, strictly speaking, Eugene’s brigade is far from fully manned according to this standard.

A division is roughly 10,000, a brigade is 3,000 to 5,000, a regiment is 1,000 to 3,000, a battalion is 300 to 1,000, and a company is 100 to 300 in size.

However, the current Horse Grenadier Brigade, despite its name, has only 300 soldiers.

It’s only about the minimum size of a battalion.

However, the brigade has been synonymous with [independent unit] since it was created by the famous Swedish Lion, King Gustavus Adolphus.

Therefore, Napoleon, who loves history, named it a brigade.

Ippolito whistled as he glanced at the marching column.

“Oh, the main force is finally visible behind that hill. Judging by the flags, is the main force Augereau’s division, the Pyrenees Cavalry, and General Napoleon’s direct division?”

“Roughly. General Napoleon’s direct division consists of Marmont’s artillery, and Rousca, Garnier, Menier, Macquard’s infantry, and Dalmagne’s commander’s guard.”

“What, almost all the infantry generals in the main force are veterans? They’ve been removed from the front lines?”

Jean-Baptiste Dominique Rusca is only 36 years old.

However, Pierre Garnier is 40 years old, Jean-Baptiste Menier is 46 years old, and François Macquard is 56 years old.

Claude Dalmagne, who is in charge of the commander’s direct guard, is also 41 years old.

All generals over 40 years old, except for Sérurier, have been removed from front-line positions.

However, instead of dismissing them altogether, they were gathered as staff members in the [headquarters].

This hides Napoleon’s intentions.

Eugene replied lightly, urging his gray horse forward.

“He thought they weren’t suitable for this turbulent battlefield. Well, except for Sérurier, who proved his performance in Cuneo.”

Just then.

-Clank, clank, clank.

The sound of metal rang loudly.

Just as Eugene and Ippolito turned their heads, they saw 10 wagons passing through the middle of the column.

All sorts of metal objects were loaded on them, but they didn’t seem like cannons or firearms.

Nor were they strategic materials such as gunpowder.

Ippolito tilted his head.

“Oh, that doesn’t seem like food or gunpowder?”

Then a middle-aged officer in his 40s rode up lightly and replied.

“It’s engineering equipment. It’s a necessary item, Captain Ippolito Charles, commander of the Horse Grenadier Brigade.”

The officer was strangely unarmed.

He was wearing a uniform, but he looked more like a civilian.

Eugene, who was turning his head, widened his eyes.

“Colonel Chasseloup?”

“Haha, do you know me? It’s an honor to be recognized by a famous boy jockey. No, maybe now a grenadier of Montenotte.”

“Of course. Aren’t you the best engineer who achieved outstanding results in the Rhine campaign?”

Colonel François de Chasseloup-Laubat.

This man is originally a [technician], or engineer, who represents Napoleon’s legions along with Eblé in the original history.

Although the French army is a mess due to the revolutionary situation, surprisingly, the [engineers] are fine.

Because in this era, the engineering corps belongs to the most intact unit, the artillery corps.

Napoleon, as an artillery officer, not only received artillery training but also engineering education.

His teachers included the famous mathematician Laplace.

Moreover, there is no fear that the engineers will cause a coup or rebellion, so everyone was able to stay safe.

Chasseloup also made a name for himself as an engineer in the Rhine campaign.

However, now that he has been dispatched to Italy, there has been no opportunity for the engineers to play an active role.

Chasseloup replied with an embarrassed face.

“Hahaha! The best is nothing. Just an engineer. I didn’t have a chance to play an active role in the last battle. If I had installed a battery, our engineering corps would have had a stage.”

“The moment you need it will come soon. We have to cross the Po River first.”

“Surely there aren’t any bridges? Besides, there aren’t many pontoon soldiers in our unit either.”

But what do engineers do?

They install fortifications, build batteries, and, above all, build pontoon bridges.

Especially in Western Europe, where rivers form borders and regional boundaries, it is a very important role.

However, pontoon bridges were not particularly needed throughout the Kingdom of Sardinia.

There is a reason.

By the end of the 18th century, almost every river had a bridge.

But now it’s a war.

Bridge piers can be destroyed at any time.

Eugene suddenly asked, his eyes shining.

He had something in mind.

“Can we make a mobile pontoon bridge in advance at the next garrison?”

“What?”

“I have a feeling that the moment you need it will come. If possible, I’d like it to be modular.”

Chasseloup tilted his head and stroked his chin.

“Metal is impossible, but wood is possible. I’ll make one. Instead, I need more wagons.”

“Use our unit’s wagons. Everyone will be riding horses on this march.”

“Thank you! It will help our technicians carry their tools!”

Chasseloup was very excited and quickly ran back to the engineering unit’s column.

Ippolito watched the scene and looked at Eugene in disbelief.

Ippolito and Eugene were riding horses, but not all the soldiers under Eugene were given horses.

In fact, there are about 1,000 soldiers in Eugene’s special brigade recruited from Toulon.

Only 300 soldiers have horses.

But if they give up the wagons, everyone will have to march on foot right away.

“Eugene, is that okay?”

“It doesn’t matter. At this marching speed, there will be enough time to build a pontoon bridge anyway.”

“That’s not it, if you give up the wagons, our unit members will get tired. We might have to fight suddenly?”

Ippolito said in a flustered voice, looking at the tributaries of the Po River in the distance.

“If the enemy puts up a defensive battle in front of the Po River, we’ll have to fight as is?”

But Eugene shook his head firmly.

“No, General Beaulieu won’t stop. He’s not a gambler. If there’s a place to stop, it’s one of two places.”

“Where?”

“Mantua, or.”

The fortress of Mantua in north-central Italy.

Originally, Napoleon’s legions would wage their first and nearly last European siege there.

But it is not Beaulieu who wages that siege.

Beaulieu does not use the card of holing up in a fortress or the card of fighting to the death.

General Beaulieu’s choices are limited, as he prefers safe orthodoxy.

“A lure to catch General Napoleon.”

For example, a place like [Lodi].

***

At this moment, there is also a rider running towards Milan.

“Milan! The place where the enemies will be, and the place where I must be!”

Joachim Murat whipped his horse desperately.

-Dududu!

He drove his horse at a truly fierce speed.

Just yesterday, Murat was in Asti, in the Kingdom of Sardinia.

Three days before that, it was Cuneo, the battlefield that determined the fate of the Kingdom of Sardinia.

Five days before that, he had just arrived in Nice.

So, Murat has run here in just 9 days since arriving on land.

Using the Sardinian garrison and Italian legion cavalry he met along the way as guides.

Originally, he had been coaxing those who were bored among the cavalry who had to wait in the Kingdom of Sardinia to run with him.

One of them, Dragoon Jean-Baptiste Murong, shouted as he rode his horse.

“Captain Murat, aren’t you rushing too much! The horse can’t handle it!”

“Shut up! Murong, didn’t you say you served the commander in Toulon? Don’t you know even then?”

“Yes? No, I was just serving as a subordinate. Not to the extent of serving him.”

Just as Murong, who was once an officer in the Toulon garrison, blinked, Murat shouted from his horse.

“Speed! Think about the general’s speed of advance. He conquered the Kingdom of Sardinia in a month! Then, won’t he advance to Milan in the shortest time this time too!”

Truly a man who knows nothing about tactics, strategy, or operations, but has a sense that is even better than Lannes.

It was a judgment worthy of Murat, a man of intuition.

He accurately judged the gist of Napoleon’s operation more accurately than Napoleon himself.

“Indeed, that’s right!”

Murat shouted at Murong, who was suddenly admiring.

“But what good is it if I go after Milan has been conquered!”

This time, Murong just clicked his tongue.

Of course, every soldier wants merit, honor, and glory.

Still, Murat is going too far.

Just then.

-Ihihihing!

He saw horses running wild in front.

Murat and Murong, and about 10 Sardinian garrison cavalrymen, were startled and stopped their horses.

It would be troublesome if they were Austrian or Sardinian army deserters.

Right in front, a [plunder] was taking place in a village near the Po River.

“Come on, give me the fabric right away! Hurry!”

“Is there any bread? Oh, these are good shoes!”

“If possible, give me all the guns you have!”

The villagers could only tremble and beg the cavalrymen who were running wild and plundering.

“S, save me!”

“O, only my life! Ahhh!”

“T, this child can’t! She’s still young!”

Plunder is easy to accompany murder and rape.

The cavalry soldiers smiled lewdly as they looked at the village girls and women with bloodshot eyes.

The commanding officer barely controlled them, preventing murder and humiliation.

“Stop! Just take the things! Huh? Who are you!”

Then Murat approached.

Blue uniform, French army.

The moment they confirmed that they were French soldiers, Murat shouted proudly.

“Former dispatched army of the Mediterranean Fleet and deputy commander of the Pyrenees 13th Cavalry Regiment, Murat! What unit do you belong to!”

“Oh, Captain Murat! It’s me. Lieutenant Joseph Suukowski!”

“What, Suukowski?”

Once a comrade who fought [raid], that is, charge, with Lannes, Murat, and Bessières in the Pyrenees Cavalry.

An elite from Poland who could speak as many as four languages, he was now in a situation where he had defected to France as Poland was destroyed.

So, in a word, he is a [gentleman].

Murat couldn’t help but be surprised to see such a gentleman plundering.

“Seeing our Polish gentleman friend plundering, Lannes must be very busy. Or is the supply situation that bad?”

The Polish gentleman officer, Suukowski, sighed and replied.

“I can’t help it. Our army is even more short of food now than when we left Nice.”

“Why? The excellent boy jockey bought a lot of food, right?”

“He ate it all, and he couldn’t load much either.”

Suukowski replied with a cloudy face.

“We are moving as lightly as possible now. Still, it’s slow because we are accompanied by infantry.”

In short, Napoleon strengthened the cavalry instead, making the infantry’s luggage lighter.

Conversely, not only the traditional convoy but also the Boarhte Cartel’s special supply wagon are limited.

Instead, he ordered them to [procure locally] the insufficient food.

Of course, Murat, who is not a gentleman, rather jumped into the plunder with excitement.

“Good, let’s run wild together! Where, is my first achievement a plunder! Hahaha!”

Just then.

“That’s enough.”

The cavalrymen who were plundering in the village of Sale near the Po River stopped all at once.

Other cavalrymen were lined up as if to surround them.

Horse Grenadier Corps.

A unit that broke through the enemy’s ranks and captured the commander in the last Battle of Montenotte.

Colonel Eugene Boarneh, the commander of the cavalry brigade, was glaring at them.

Eugene said clearly.

“Captain Suukowski, the headquarters’ order is not plunder but requisition.”

“S, sorry. Colonel.”

“Apologize politely to the farmers. Also, if they do not cooperate when requisitioning goods, then you may forcibly requisition them.”

Of course, from the farmers’ point of view, requisition or plunder will not be much different.

Still, they don’t have to worry about rape and murder anymore.

When the farmers sighed in relief and Murat, who was about to plunder, became dissatisfied.

Eugene’s cold gaze turned to Murat.

“What are you doing, Captain Murat. Is there still not enough seawater?”

At that moment, Murat’s eyes widened.

Why couldn’t Murat run in the Battle of Montenotte?

Why did Murat have to run alone from that distant Nice to this place?

Why was Murat sent to the conquest of Corsica and had to suffer on the ship?

All because of Eugene de Boarneh in front of him.

But what if he displeases Eugene?

The Mediterranean Fleet is still in Corsica.

Murat, terrified, hurriedly jumped down towards the farmers.

“Ah, I just have to apologize!”

Murat, who was bowing and apologizing to the village chief, muttered lowly.

“I will never go to the sea again! Damn it.”

The moment the wild horse Murat bowed his head to Eugene for now.

***

Cambio, the temporary headquarters of the French Italian legions, was set up in a small city beyond the Po River.

This is a city belonging to the [Lombardy] region.

Of course, no one was guarding it, so it was easy to occupy.

But rather, that was strange, so they stopped advancing for a while.

As soon as they stopped, Napoleon asked with an interesting face to the unexpected guest who came to visit.

“Murat is back? Has he become docile?”

Murat answered in a motionless posture as if roaring.

“Yes! Commander! All preparations to carry out the order are complete!”

“Good, then you’ll be ready to work under our boy jockey!”

“Of course! Sir!”

Of course, he is not happy.

But at least Murat realized what the cost of disobedience is.

He would rather face execution with dignity, but he absolutely refuses to become a sailor.

Napoleon nodded with satisfaction and looked back at the staff.

“With the wild horse back, it will be much faster. By the way, where do you think the enemy will move?”

There are currently three major generals in the headquarters, Napoleon, Augereau, and Sérurier.

In addition, Brigadier Generals Rusca, Garnier, Menier, and Macquard were also present.

However, the generals who could calculate the enemy’s movements were limited.

Suddenly, Quartermaster General Berthier opened his mouth.

“We passed Sale yesterday and crossed the Po River.”

“The bridge was a mess, so Chasseloup’s efforts were great. I’ve never seen an engineering officer who can build a pontoon bridge so quickly!”

“Yes? Ah, that’s just because of the advice of Chief Adjutant Eugene. It was advice to build a pontoon bridge in advance.”

Napoleon smiled as he looked back at Chasseloup and Eugene, who were waving their hands.

“Well done. But, we crossed the Po River. What does that mean? Chief of Staff Berthier?”

Berthier answered calmly.

“As the commander just said, the bridge piers were broken. What that means is obvious.”

“What is it?”

“The enemy has no intention of defending Milan.”

Why did they suddenly need a pontoon bridge?

In this era, there are already bridge piers near the main city rivers.

But the enemy, that is, Beaulieu’s legions, destroyed them all and ran away.

Why?

To buy time.

If they were to defend Milan, there would be no need for this.

Rather, they should run to Milan without even having time to destroy the bridge and do their best to put up a defensive battle.

But the enemies destroyed the bridges, bought time, and are fleeing.

Not towards Milan, the capital of Lombardy.

Napoleon frowned.

“Are they giving up this Lombardy?”

“It means they will defend in a more secure fortress. Milan has always fallen easily.”

“Yes. It’s been like that since Charles VIII. Louis XI, Francis I. All the French kings who invaded this place conquered Milan.”

There are French monarchs who have invaded northern Italy in the past.

Starting with Charles VIII’s first invasion, Louis XI and Francis I did so.

Since then, the Louis kings of the Bourbon dynasty have always coveted northern Italy.

However, Milan was easy to occupy, but they could not conquer northern Italy.

Therefore, this land is a territory that the kings wanted but could not obtain for France, that is, a long-cherished land.

The strongest fortress that protects this place is not Milan.

Berthier nodded.

“Then, the place where the enemy will head is Mantua. Perhaps, they intend to slow down our speed of advance.”

A city surrounded by rivers and lakes, and a star-shaped fortress built in preparation for cannons.

The fortress of Mantua is difficult to capture even for the French army.

Above all, it is even more so if Beaulieu’s remaining Lombardy legions, 40,000 strong, gather.

Augereau nodded and asked.

“That makes sense. Then, should we call back Massena, who is out in front?”

“Why should we, Augereau?”

“Yes? But if we go like this, Massena’s pursuit will be meaningless, won’t it?”

Napoleon shook his head.

“No, it’s meaningful! If Massena catches up with them before they enter Mantua.”

Berthier’s analysis, Napoleon also thought about it.

But rather, if so, the role of the vanguard, Massena, is important.

What if they catch the enemy before they reach Mantua?

All they have to do is delay time.

A full-scale battle is rather a dangerous act.

Until Napoleon’s main force arrives, if they just hold the enemy back.

They can defeat Beaulieu.

“If you delay for a little time, our main force can join forces and attack.”

Then Eugene slipped out of the barracks.

However, he did not leave alone but dragged Juno, who is now the deputy commander of the Horse Grenadier Brigade, out with him.

Juno, who came out together because of his quick wit, asked Eugene.

“Why, Colonel Eugene? The strategy meeting hasn’t ended yet?”

“Juno, do you have any quick-witted subordinates? If possible, a friend who knows the geography of Italy well.”

“Huh? Well, there are some friends who are originally from northern Italy. They were originally in the Sardinian army, but they sympathized with the revolutionary ideology and came over to our side.”

Eugene nodded and instructed Juno.

“Please mobilize 30 of those friends as messengers.”

“What? 30 people? No, why?”

“We need to confirm Massena’s location.”

Eugene recalled the map in his head and narrowed his eyes.

“Perhaps, Massena’s speed will be a variable. Not Milan, not Mantua, but a completely different place could be the battlefield.”

For example, the place where Napoleon met Beaulieu in the original history.

“For example, Lodi.”

The battlefield that may determine the fate of Lombardy.

Lodi, the gateway to Mantua, was approaching.