He Became Napoleon’S Genius Son [EN]: Chapter 110

(110) Announce Wurmser’s Departure

Information gathering is the most important requirement for a renowned general.

The problem is that there’s no guarantee this information is always accurate.

Moreover, even if it is accurate, it becomes useless if it’s even slightly delayed.

Therefore, it’s necessary to have an information organization, not just relying on scouts or spies.

A systematic organization with timeliness, accuracy, and speed.

For that reason, Eugene established the [Banque de Marseille di Milano], the Milan branch of the Marseille Bank, in Milan.

Its appearance is that of a bank, and many of its employees are postmen, but its actual work is information gathering.

However, because it has just started, everything is still rudimentary.

This was also the case for the branch manager, former postal corps sergeant Jacquot Helie.

“I can’t figure it out at all. When will Wurmser move!”

At the secret office of [Banque Milano] on the outskirts of Milan, Helie tore at his hair.

The amount of information is not lacking.

A private organization was created, mainly from soldiers of the former postal corps who wished to retire.

Since they were from Marseille, France, many were fluent in Italian.

Two hundred agents disguised as postmen were spread throughout Lombardy and Brescia.

In particular, Armand Gagnet, dispatched by Eugene, is also working with them.

However, since they are not all trained agents, the collected information is all unsystematic.

It’s more like they’re just reporting what they’ve seen sporadically.

Dumas, who had not yet returned to Paris, chuckled beside him.

“Oh, how would we know that, Monsieur Helie? Not even the Patron knows.”

“It’s the mission the Patron entrusted to us, President Dumas. He instructed us to thoroughly collect information, even if we don’t make a profit!”

“Well, the banking business will eventually be done in Marseille anyway.”

In fact, Dumas also has plenty of work to do when he returns to Paris.

However, Dumas remained in Milan because his mission was to evacuate Eugene’s family and Marie in case of emergency.

At that moment, Dumas’s gaze turned to the map on Helie’s desk.

“Oh, is this an operation map?”

“Yes. Can you read it? You don’t have any military experience, do you, President?”

“Hey, the Dumas family is a military family in its way. My father was the governor of Martinique, although he has now returned to Paris. Anyway.”

Dumas, who was looking at the operation map, had a dumbfounded expression.

“Isn’t this a bit too serious of a movement?”

Military movements are, of course, military secrets.

However, in this Italian expedition, Eugene specially shared military secrets with Banque Milano.

Although it was a private organization, it was Eugene’s direct organization, and everyone was a former soldier.

Moreover, the map itself was a feigned movement to lure the enemy.

Helie picked up another report and replied nonchalantly.

“It can’t be helped. Everyone really has to move for the enemy to be fooled.”

“No, the thing about military movements is that once a large army moves, it’s difficult to change its course easily. Besides, you have to bring supplies with you.”

“There was an order to abandon everything and return if necessary. It’s Commander Bonaparte’s order.”

Helie, who was flipping through the report, eventually threw it down and sighed.

“The real problem isn’t that.”

“Then what is the problem?”

“Our Patron is crazy. He sent the Director to Verona.”

Director, Saliceti.

One of the five Directors, the highest power in France, albeit nominally.

Even though he is practically Napoleon’s proxy, he is currently the highest-ranking French official in Italy.

Dumas was dumbfounded and asked again.

“Did Director Saliceti get caught with some weakness? Seriously! Why did he go?”

“Well, he said he was going for the sake of patriotism, but I think he’s trying to make a fortune in Venice.”

“Huh? Ah, well. He is greedy for money.”

Helie clicked his tongue at Dumas, who was licking his lips.

“If Director Saliceti dies in this operation, it will be a huge mess. An immediate recall order will be issued for the Patron from Paris.”

The occupation of Verona proceeded very easily.

However, if even a slight setback had occurred, it would have been a complete disaster.

Saliceti and Eugene literally risked their lives in the deception operation.

Dumas, who had not yet heard whether it was successful, sighed deeply.

“The occupation of Verona has become more important to us than Wurmser. Damn it.”

“Captain Jean Chaumont is there for now. He has soldiers who participated in the Vendée War [a counter-revolutionary war in France] as escorts, so escape is possible in case of emergency.”

“That’s a relief.”

It was then.

-Thump, thump!

A man burst into the Milan Banque.

A soldier, Armand, who had been carrying out intelligence operations in Brescia.

Helie hurriedly greeted Armand, who came in panting.

“Huff, huff, huff!”

“Sergeant Gagnet? What’s wrong? Have some water and speak.”

“Wurmser, gulp, is moving!”

Armand shouted to the surprised Helie.

“I saw it in Brescia. Wurmser’s large army is starting to march!”

At that moment, Helie clenched his fist tightly.

“Verona has been occupied.”

“Yes? No, what are you talking about all of a sudden? Monsieur Helie?”

“Are we the only ones gathering information? Besides, the Republic of Venice is originally an Austrian ally. Verona is the second largest city after Venice.”

Helie shouted to Dumas with a glint in his eyes.

“The news of the occupation of Verona has reached Brescia. That’s why he’s moving!”

Although he has never been trained, and was originally just a lower-ranking soldier, Helie’s analysis is accurate.

It was not for nothing that Eugene entrusted Helie with the private information organization.

Instantly, Helie turned to Armand.

“Sergeant Gagnet! I’ll attach postal soldiers to you!”

“Yes?”

“Run to Verona immediately. Can you do it? I heard you originally learned horseback riding in the royal court!”

Even if only postal soldiers are sent from here, the news will be delivered.

However, accuracy is the most important thing about information.

The reliability of the information received also varies depending on who brings the information.

Armand is from the royal court, so his reliability is the best.

Armand gritted his teeth and jumped up.

“When I get discharged, the position of postal manager at Milan Banque is mine!”

Helie shouted excitedly from behind Armand as he ran out.

“If you make this achievement, that kind of thing won’t be a problem!”

It was the moment when Armand’s unwanted sprint began.

***

Then, would it have been better for Armand to go directly from Brescia to Verona?

-Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!

But there is a reason.

In the late 18th century, there were no so-called paved roads in Italy, let alone throughout Europe.

The only well-paved routes were the roads leading to major cities.

Therefore, when departing from the vicinity of Brescia, one had to cross Lake Garda to move directly to Verona.

However, Lake Garda was naturally under the control of the Austrian army.

So Armand had no choice but to return to Milan.

But going back to Verona like this, it would have been better to go around Lake Garda.

“If I had known it would be like this, I would have just gone to Verona myself!”

“Wouldn’t you like to take a little rest?”

“Shut up! I have to return to Verona before Wurmser goes to Lonato!”

Armand shouted at the soldier attached to him and rode on.

In any case, horses themselves were expensive means of transportation in that era.

Unless it was a place like Gascony in the south where people raised horses and lived, horseback riding itself was a high-class skill.

Armand, who had lived as a page in the royal court, was surprisingly good at horseback riding.

That’s why he is now being used as a messenger.

It was then.

“Sergeant! Isn’t this road crossing the enemy’s marching route?”

“That’s right. It’s the road I ran on.”

“Then there is a risk of encountering the enemy!”

Armand replied from horseback to the surprised postman.

“It’s not like I want to go this way! I’m going because I can’t get there in the shortest amount of time except for the Peschiera road!”

Right where the Mincio River first extends from Lake Garda.

He was running to Peschiera.

The problem is that this area, the western shore of Lake Garda, is controlled by the Austrian army.

“Oh, it’s soldiers!”

The main army had already departed from Brescia.

However, Marshal Wurmser had scattered patrol soldiers throughout this area.

The soldiers who blocked Armand’s group were one of them.

The opponents were infantry, and the number was only about a platoon.

About 30 people.

Of course, it is more than Armand’s group of about 10 people.

Austrian soldiers in white uniforms shouted, aiming their muskets.

“Hey, who are you!”

Not yet loaded.

Since it is a flintlock, it will take time to put gunpowder and bullets into the muzzle.

Armand, who was keenly observing the situation, asked his subordinate in a low voice.

“Weapons?”

“Only pistols.”

“Their range is longer. But, our guns don’t need a loading process, do they?”

The subordinate, Jean-Louis, licked his lips and nodded.

“Yes, but our guns are at risk of exploding.”

It is a percussion pistol.

The fact that postmen, who are not soldiers, have such new weapons shows how much Eugene cares about the organization.

Of course, the agents and postmen performing the mission, and Armand, were not very grateful.

Armand narrowed his eyes, gauging the distance.

“It would be nice if it was a little closer.”

Lightly urging his horse forward, Armand deliberately joked.

“Hahaha! Good work. We are postmen. We are on our way to deliver letters.”

“Postmen? Which affiliation? If you came from Milan, we need to search you. Everyone, put your hands up and get down!”

“We’re in a bit of a hurry. Can you let us through if you take this?”

At that moment, the pistol was aimed at the Austrian patrol soldiers who were careless, thinking it was a bribe.

-Click, bang!

The soldier died, and the other soldiers were surprised and grabbed their muskets.

“Everyone, shoot!”

“It’s the enemy! Load!”

“No, it’s too close! Ugh!”

The former Marseille postal corps soldiers poured bullets at them.

-Bang! Bang! Bang!

Putting the used pistol in the holster, Armand grabbed the reins.

“Run, we’ve used all the pre-loaded pistols!”

“If we break through like this, it’s Venetian territory!”

“Ugh, a gun from behind!”

In an instant, one of the Austrian soldiers who had barely succeeded in loading aimed his musket.

-Bang!

Blood spurted out, and the horse ran out behind it.

***

Sometimes, the great adventures of life are only a moment in history.

Death, fear, sprint.

A young man who had experienced all kinds of things ran into Verona.

To the city hall square, where the French military headquarters was located.

-Clatter, clatter, clatter!

It was Armand Gagnet, an employee of the Eugene Cartel and a sergeant in Napoleon’s postal corps.

Gagnet, dressed in a postman’s uniform covered in dirt, ran and fell from his horse.

The square was in the midst of disbanding the Verona militia.

Lannes, who was taking away weapons and sending soldiers home, was surprised and looked back at Eugene.

“Black uniform? Aren’t those the postmen from your bank?”

At that moment, Armand, panting, staggered towards Eugene.

“Huff, huff, huff!”

Eugene, who was quietly looking down at Armand, asked.

“Don’t talk long, Armand. Did Wurmser move?”

“Th, that, huff, hoo, huff!”

“Speak, did he move!”

At Eugene’s urging, Armand answered with all his might.

“Yes!”

Until he got here, Armand had truly had the adventure of his life.

He ran from Lonato to Brescia, then from Brescia to Milan, and from there across the Mincio River to Verona.

It was such a difficult journey that the postmen who were moving with him died along the way.

Nevertheless, the commander, Eugene, only coldly urged him.

Eugene grabbed Armand’s shoulder, who felt like he was about to cry.

Armand was surprised and raised his head.

Eugene was crying.

“Well done! If there is anyone who has made the greatest contribution in this battle, it is you!”

Armand didn’t understand what he was saying.

He only realized that Eugene had praised him.

On the other hand, Lannes, unlike Armand, understood Eugene’s true intentions.

“It’s time to return. Prepare for the entire army to move out!”

Then Eugene turned to Lannes and tilted his head.

“Leave 1,000 cavalry, Lannes.”

“What?”

“We can’t leave it completely empty, can we? Focus on the wounded and tired soldiers. Bessières will be in charge of the garrison commander.”

Very quickly, Eugene ran out of the city hall square and shouted.

“We are returning to Commander Bonaparte! Now is the time when real speed is needed!”

August 27, 1795.

Wurmser was finally caught on the hook.

Eugene and Lannes shot out of Verona like lightning.

-Doo doo doo!

Now, it’s time to reel in Wurmser.