He Became Napoleon’S Genius Son [EN]: Chapter 100

(100) Wurmser Marches into Lombardy

August 1795, the end of a century’s summer.

The end of any century has a peculiar aspect.

It is often dominated by upheaval, anxiety, and chaos.

Especially when the established ideas that had been believed in until then collapse, and new systems begin to emerge.

For example, a major event like a revolution.

Nevertheless, it is also a time when the old order still firmly holds its ground.

-Clack, clack, clack!

Military uniforms that perfectly symbolize the 18th century.

White hair and beard.

Even the so-called ‘Austrian knots,’ with golden decorations spiraling around the arms.

Literally, [seasoned marshals] were arriving at the court conference hall.

“It seems everyone has gathered.”

Suddenly, one of the old marshals raised his arm, the golden knot glinting.

While the [epaulette], originating from France, is worn on the shoulder, this knot indicates rank through the pattern on the arm and clothing.

A ceremonial knot that originated in Hungary.

Although it varies depending on the era, generally four golden knots signify a general.

Imperial Army Major General, Intermediate Marshal, Field Marshal, General of Cavalry, Infantry, and Artillery, Imperial Army Marshal.

This is the current official organization of the Austrian army’s generals.

Brigadier General is virtually an unofficial rank given to those who have exceeded the rank of Colonel but have not reached the rank of Major General.

A total of 356 generals have all been promoted according to seniority.

Of course, all ranks are held by nobles.

Comprising a total force of approximately 300,000, it boasts the largest scale in Central Europe at the time.

200,000 line infantry, 2,500 light infantry, 40,000 Eastern Ottoman border guards.

And 50,000 cavalry and 10,000 artillery and engineers.

Most of them, except for the border guards, are troops who have been deployed to the Rhine and Flanders fronts.

However, the situation has changed.

Now, a total of 50,000 men have been lost in Italy.

Along with the seizure of Lombardy.

It was when the committee members were all seated with solemn faces.

“By the authority of Chairman Wallis, I declare the opening of the Supreme War Council of the Holy Roman Empire!”

Old Marshal, Count Michael Johann von Wallis declared.

A veteran who had been active ten years ago during the War of the Bavarian Succession.

He comes from a noble family in Bohemia, having risen to the rank of Field Marshal.

Of course, that doesn’t mean Count Wallis is the highest-ranking person in this position.

At the conference table where solemn-faced old men were seated, Chairman Count Wallis looked at them and announced.

“The King of Sardinia has fled to the island. His Highness Archduke Ferdinand, who was defending Lombardy, has also retreated. Furthermore, the territory of the Republic of Venice is under threat.”

Count Wallis continued, looking at the committee members who were older than him.

“If this continues, all of Northern Italy will fall into French hands.”

Marshal Friedrich Moritz, 67 years old.

Count Ferdinand Tige, 69 years old.

Count Wallis is 63 years old.

At least Cavalry Commander Karl Josef von Latour is the youngest at 58 years old.

That was possible because he was from a prestigious Luxembourg noble family with a history dating back to the 15th century.

In fact, the committee of old men *is* the Supreme War Council.

This grandiose committee was originally established in 1529 during the 1st Ottoman [Siege of Vienna, a major event in the Habsburg-Ottoman wars].

So, in 1795, it boasts a history of 266 years.

Strictly speaking, it is a court institution of the Holy Roman Empire [Emperor], so it is difficult to call it a legal organization.

However, the Habsburg family has occupied the imperial throne for over 500 years since the 13th century.

Therefore, this War Council, the imperial court institution, is also the place that decides the military affairs of the [Empire].

Retired old marshals are committee members, and marshals have been promoted according to seniority and merit.

On the other hand, what about the general who is now intimidating Italy?

25 years old, truly a greenhorn.

“Bonaparte, that greenhorn, has taken Lombardy. Good heavens.”

Marshal Moritz muttered.

It was as if losing the Emperor’s territory was a bigger blow than the annihilation of 50,000 troops.

In fact, Moritz wasn’t the only one who thought so.

Chairman Count Wallis, Marshal Tige, and Count Latour all nodded in agreement.

“It’s what they call beginner’s luck in card games. Hmph.”

Count Tige retorted, as if spitting it out.

No one in this place thought the [old guard] were the problem.

In the first place, the military is a complex organization.

It’s not something that young ones can move around recklessly.

Austria has only been defeated in Italy.

On the Rhine, the Austrian army actually won.

Chairman Count Wallis glanced at the victorious general who was picking his ears at the head of the committee.

Rhine Front Commander-in-Chief, Marshal Dagobert von Wurmser.

He is currently a 71-year-old veteran.

Just thinking that Bonaparte was just lucky, Wallis watched Moritz, Latour, and Count Tige discuss.

“We defeated Moreau on the Rhine, and now Lombardy is the problem.”

“I heard Holland is in danger, will it be alright?”

“Strictly speaking, the British and Prussians are responsible for that. We can’t be responsible for all fronts. Besides, I heard Duke Josias is seriously ill? So, we need to pay attention to Lombardy.”

Rhine, Flanders, Italy.

These are the European fronts where France has launched an all-out offensive.

Of course, unlike the world wars of later generations, it is a war fought in scattered battlefields.

However, the area where the battles are fought is as wide as a world war.

Among these, Moreau, who defends the Rhine, repeatedly launched offensives towards Bavaria but was defeated.

He was defeated by the corps led by Wurmser.

However, Moreau also had considerable capabilities and succeeded in retreating without suffering significant damage.

Nevertheless, the Rhine front is where the Empire and the [Anti-French Alliance] are celebrating victories.

That is why Rhine Commander-in-Chief and Imperial Marshal Wurmser was able to come to Vienna.

At that moment, Count Tige turned his gaze.

“By any chance, about that Bonaparte in Italy… Do you know anything about him? General Dumouriez?”

A man sitting like a prisoner at the end of the committee meeting raised his head.

“I don’t know. Bonaparte is someone I hardly know either. The fact that such a person suddenly became commander itself shows France’s instability. However…”

Dumouriez, a soldier who was the Commander-in-Chief of the French Flanders front.

A traitor to the revolution.

A French war minister kidnapper who has become a mere exile.

Even the kidnapped minister became useless because the French regime changed.

Now, his only value is providing information about his old comrades to the enemy.

General Dumouriez, who had reached a miserable state, replied with a pale face.

“I know the ‘prodigy’ who is with Bonaparte. He is a cunning fellow.”

In fact, Dumouriez knows nothing about Napoleon.

He has only heard a little about the Battle of Toulon.

However, he knows Eugene quite well.

This is because Eugene was behind the Mars Field Massacre, the beginning that ruined Dumouriez’s career.

Even if he doesn’t know everything, he knows that Eugene was one of the main people who made Lafayette a hero in the process.

On the other hand, the noble veterans who were members of the War Council looked at each other as if they were dumbfounded.

“Is that what he’s providing as information now?”

“No, I remember hearing that too. Before the revolution, there was a fuss about a gambling prodigy being brought into the Palace of Versailles as a page.”

“Then Bonaparte must be taking him around as a page too. Anyway.”

Chairman Wallis, who had been clicking his tongue, turned his head.

“Your Highness, what do you think?”

In this committee full of old veterans, there is only one young man in his 20s.

A soldier who is even younger than Napoleon, the 24-year-old Archduke Karl, the Emperor’s brother.

A noble young man wearing a splendid ceremonial dress, Archduke Karl quietly opened his mouth.

“Marshal Wurmser, I think we have no choice but to send you.”

A dignified, deep bass voice echoed through the conference hall.

Even Wurmser, who couldn’t hear the meeting well, could understand.

Wurmser, startled, clapped his hands and nodded.

“Ah! Are you talking about me! That’s right. I’ll leave the Rhine to Your Highness!”

Of course, military power belongs to the Emperor.

However, the Holy Roman Empire, which is not a centralized state, is virtually controlled by a committee of great nobles.

The decisions made by this committee are ultimately the Emperor’s decisions.

However, it is also the Emperor who sends his brother, Archduke Karl, to project power into the committee.

The Emperor’s proxy, Archduke Karl, asked.

“Do you have a plan? I want to know. With our current capacity, we can send up to 80,000 men. However, that is only possible if Alvinczi withdraws.”

“I know the troops that can be mobilized immediately! It’s 50,000!”

“That’s right. That’s about the size of the Tyrol army. What are you going to do?”

The deaf marshal, Wurmser, laughed and shouted.

“Don’t worry! We still have Mantua!”

Tyrol, southern Austria and northern Italy.

A city located near the Alps.

A strategic point that has long defended the Austrian side.

The Holy Roman Empire army is currently recruiting new soldiers and gathering here.

However, the number is 50,000.

It is not a small number, but it is not enough to annihilate Napoleon’s Italian army.

Nevertheless, Wurmser looked elsewhere.

-Clack!

Wurmser pointed to Mantua on the map.

A strategic point in Lombardy that has not yet been conquered.

Also, there are still garrison troops here.

Of course, they cannot be called elite, but they are regular troops with cannons, guns, and gunpowder.

Wurmser pointed to other places here.

“Mantua is a natural fortress. Moreover, if the surrounding troops are combined, 10,000 will gather. In addition, there are the Papal States’ army, the dukes including the Duke of Parma, and the Neapolitan soldiers.”

The War Council members blinked.

Is there anyone here who doesn’t know that?

Why is Wurmser bringing up something so obvious?

If Napoleon could be defeated simply by gathering troops, why did Beaulieu fail?

At that moment, only Archduke Karl understood Wurmser’s words and shouted.

“Ah! That’s it. Now we will be concentrated, and the enemy will be dispersed!”

It is a matter of concentration and dispersion.

Now, the Italian army has no choice but to be divided to defend the conquered territories.

On the other hand, the Austrian army aiming to recapture can concentrate as much as possible.

Therefore, Wurmser can defeat Napoleon’s dispersed Italian army individually.

Wurmser chuckled and smiled with a fox-like expression.

“That’s right, Your Highness. Send letters to the Vatican and Venice. We only need to aim for one thing.”

Wurmser’s eyes flashed as he pointed to Milan on the map.

“Bonaparte!”

Literally a concentrated decapitation strike [a swift attack aimed at eliminating the enemy’s leadership].

This is Wurmser’s master plan and the essence of his grand strategy.

***

However, what is said in official settings is always different from actual execution.

“Unfortunately, it’s not as easy as it sounds! The [old marshals] of the committee may *think* it’s easy!”

The old marshal Wurmser, who had left the Vienna court war council and returned to his quarters, clicked his tongue.

Adjutant Colonel Klenau smacked his lips and watched Wurmser carefully.

Wurmser doesn’t want to talk to Klenau right now.

He’s just trying to organize his thoughts alone.

But suddenly, Wurmser heard a question.

It was such a heavy bass that even the deaf Wurmser could hear it.

“Is it really that difficult, Commander?”

“The Archduke will understand! But the results of the committee meeting go to His Majesty the Emperor! So, we have no choice but to guarantee victory!”

“I am the Archduke, Commander.”

The deaf marshal Wurmser, startled, turned his head and paid his respects.

“Your Highness? What brings you here!”

Karl Ludwig Johann Joseph Lorenz von Habsburg.

A man commonly called Archduke Karl of Austria.

Of course, in fact, the Archduke does not yet have a designated territory, so it cannot be called an official title.

It is just a position called by the imperial family and the military because he is the Emperor’s brother.

Moreover, he has been sickly since birth and suffers from a mild form of epilepsy, or seizures.

Nevertheless, the Emperor and the military respect Karl.

He is one of the few members of the imperial family with military experience, has a brilliant mind, and has a track record of defeating the revolutionary army after the revolutionary war began.

Archduke Karl, a sickly but noble man, looked at Wurmser and said.

“Tell me your real plan. According to the report, Beaulieu also executed a decapitation strike.”

“I heard. It was the report from Adjutant Major Radetzky and Deputy Commander Roselmini? Come to think of it, Roselmini survived quite well. He survived Monte Notte and Lodi.”

“Usually, they would say he ran away cowardly, but this time it’s different. The French bastards are barbarically carrying out [wars of annihilation].”

The Battle of Lodi was literally an annihilation battle.

There were survivors even there.

Radetzky and Roselmini, who had fled from Monte Notte, are the main characters.

Generally, generals or officers who flee from the battlefield are subject to execution.

However, the situation is completely different this time.

Annihilation.

The fact that he survived and returned from the Lombardy Corps, which had completely disappeared, is rather commendable.

The old marshals have not yet clearly felt the exceptional nature of this battle.

On the other hand, the 24-year-old Karl reacted sensitively.

“But that barbarity is dominating the war. What is your plan?”

The [rules] of war are changing.

The usual etiquette of engaging in offense and defense, capturing prisoners if you win, and exchanging them.

The tactic of occupying strategic points and cutting off supply lines to make the enemy retreat on their own.

Furthermore, the solution of finally setting borders and ending the war after negotiations.

Everything has collapsed.

Of course, when you think about it, the Anti-French Alliance, which is trying to overthrow the revolutionary government, and the revolution that killed the king in the first place, are all unrelated to the old rules.

Suddenly, Wurmser stared at Archduke Karl and opened his mouth.

“That General Bonaparte has only defeated our army twice.”

“That’s right. But as a result, Lombardy was taken.”

“There is a commonality in the two battles, Your Highness.”

In fact, that’s not accurate.

Because it’s not twice.

Because there was also the Battle of Cuneo, where Serurier won.

However, Cuneo has been forgotten, and only Napoleon is important to Wurmser and Karl.

Wurmser narrowed his eyes and said.

“He fought in the battlefield that Bonaparte wanted, in the way he wanted, at the time he wanted.”

Karl’s eyes widened.

Every general wants to get the time, place, and tactics as they want.

But that is impossible.

Because the opponent is not stupid either.

How on earth did Napoleon make that possible?

Wurmser tapped the table lightly and said.

“This is the [magic] that Bonaparte has unleashed, Your Highness.”

“How was that possible?”

“Because he didn’t defend. Perhaps, it will be the same this time. He will not defend, or will try to defend only to a minimum.”

Archduke Karl, surprised, asked back.

“Then you can’t carry out the strategy you mentioned in the committee?”

Concentration and dispersion.

That is the essence of the grand strategy that Wurmser spoke of.

However, according to Wurmser’s explanation now, Napoleon does not defend.

The dispersion of troops is also likely to be minimal.

How can you prevent him from fighting in the place he wants, at the time he wants, in the way he wants?

Wurmser smiled strangely.

“You can.”

“How?”

“You can use bait. That is, me.”

Suddenly, Wurmser pointed to the Flanders side on the map spread out in the quarters.

“The real main force will be Alvinczi. So, to make this operation a success, a premise is needed.”

Marshal Josef Alvinczi von Berberek.

A hero of the Seven Years’ War and the War of the Bavarian Succession.

He once taught military affairs to the current Emperor Franz II.

After the revolutionary war, he was in charge of victories under Duke Josias, the commander of Flanders.

The most elite and sharpest sword in the current Austrian army is Alvinczi.

Archduke Karl narrowed his eyes solemnly.

“We must send Alvinczi, who was the Empire’s sword in Flanders, quickly.”

“That’s right, Your Highness.”

“Then, what if we can’t hold out until then?”

Wurmser laughed heartily and boasted.

“Have you forgotten? Until now, God has been the Empire’s shield. In the Seven Years’ War, the Ottoman War, and this Revolutionary War as well.”

Karl looked at Wurmser and firmly grabbed his hand.

“I will definitely send the [sword]. In a timely manner!”

The Empire has also decided to fight the Italian Legion with all its heart.

***

At that moment, Napoleon was strangely looking at a [tin can].

-Clatter, clatter, clatter!

Literally, a mountain of stacked tin cans were being assembled.

It seems that it cost quite a lot of money just to collect these tin cans.

Napoleon, who was looking at perhaps hundreds of thousands of tin cans, turned his head.

Tin can factory owner Marie and businessman Eugene were smiling.

“This, it really preserves, Eugene?”

It was the moment Napoleon first encountered [canned food].