He Became Napoleon’S Genius Son [EN]: Chapter 244

(244) Suvorov Defeats Moreau

Here, there is an old general who has never been defeated in his entire life.

“I always thought, it would be nice to have an equal opponent to compete with on the battlefield. Huhu!”

Suvorov smiled, patting his horse as he surveyed the marching route in the so-called Helvetic Republic, northern Switzerland.

It was truly an arrogant statement.

But considering Suvorov’s track record, it’s hard to call it arrogant.

Because he has won every battle, broken through every difficult enemy, and never failed in his planned operations.

Of course, he has never faced France before.

“Do you think Bonaparte is such a person, Generalissimo?”

The Russian Empire gave this undefeated general the title of Marshal.

However, subordinate generals often addressed this famous general by an even higher title, Generalissimo [Supreme Military Commander].

It is also a title that would be officially bestowed upon him later in history.

Looking back at his adjutant, Suvorov wore a meaningful smile.

“Why, Barclay de Tolly? Do I seem too arrogant?”

“It’s not that, but I doubt if there is anyone who can be compared to the general.”

“Puhahat! Save such flattery for the Tsar. Bonaparte is worthy of such praise. I’ve roamed the battlefield for 50 years, but I’ve never seen anyone actually deploy such maneuvers.”

Of course, Suvorov had never actually seen Napoleon’s maneuvers firsthand.

However, a famous general can discern talent even from afar.

He had only seen the diagrams in the newspaper, but Napoleon’s military operation maneuvers were excellent.

Even Suvorov himself doubted whether he could have executed the same maneuvers.

At that time, a portly man being carried in a carriage behind Suvorov, not even a commander, retorted.

“The French army is certainly strong.”

Suvorov glanced at the stout man and chuckled.

“So, our One-Eye [referring to Kutuzov, who lost an eye] had a hard time with ‘little’ Bonaparte?”

“He was tall, though. Oh, I thought I was going to die, Generalissimo.”

“You’ve suffered. Why did you attempt such a reckless operation? If you had commanded our Russian army, it wouldn’t have been so difficult.”

This was General Kutuzov, who had recently returned from Turkey.

However, instead of returning to Russia, Kutuzov crossed over to Austria and joined Suvorov.

This is because if he returned home, the Tsar might be angry, and he could face severe consequences.

Of course, the Tsar may have already issued a summons, but Suvorov planned to continue avoiding it under the pretext of war.

Anyway, he is Suvorov’s beloved ‘disciple’.

“Ah, the Tsar is out of his mind. There are no supervisors here, right?”

Just as Kutuzov grumbled and looked back, Suvorov nodded.

“Korsakov is following slowly from behind. But, is it that bad?”

“Didn’t you see it yourself? First of all, his unrealistic delusions are severe. Before I left, he was planning to invade India and the far-off New World, you know?”

“India is one thing, but the New World? Are you saying he’s going to cross the Arctic Ocean or something?”

The 80,000 Russian troops currently followed Suvorov’s charismatic command, of course.

However, the suspicious new Tsar Pavel hated Suvorov, whom his mother trusted.

It was a Russian tradition to attach a supervisor to the general, just like the Soviet Union did later in history.

In short, Korsakov, the second chief of staff, was actually the emperor’s supervisor.

He could not openly rebel against Suvorov, whom the imperial soldiers followed like a god, but if there was even a slight problem, he would report it to the Tsar immediately.

But Suvorov didn’t seem to care much.

Because Suvorov’s only concern right now was Napoleon.

However, Kutuzov frowned and seriously replied to Suvorov’s joke.

“No. He said he was going to cross the Vitus Bering Strait? I don’t know what he’s going to do by expanding the frozen land.”

The story Kutuzov told was not a lie, but all true.

Tsar Pavel was currently planning three huge projects simultaneously in 1799.

One was to send Suvorov to suppress revolutionary France.

The second was to cross to the New World and seize modern-day Alaska.

The last was the Conquest of India, which was being led by Britain.

Even in history, after his relationship with Britain soured, he joined hands with Napoleon and seriously pursued this plan.

That is why the suspicion that Britain orchestrated Pavel’s assassination remains in history.

In fact, when you think about it, these are the conquest projects that the Russian Empire pursued in the 19th century in history.

But now it’s still the end of the 18th century.

Currently, the Russian generals who hear that story, whether it’s Suvorov or Kutuzov, just regard it as madness.

“I don’t know if it’s a place where you can grow potatoes. Tsk.”

“Of course, Generalissimo, who wants to cross the Alps, seems as crazy as the Tsar.”

“Hahahaha! It’s not something a bluffer who offered Turkey to the Tsar should say.”

Suvorov, watching the marching speed of the soldiers following lightly, suddenly asked Kutuzov.

“Has Bagration recovered? I’m thinking of entrusting him with command soon.”

“His body is healthy, but he is mentally distraught and out of his mind.”

“That resentment will soon be resolved.”

Suddenly, Suvorov threw a map at Kutuzov and said.

“The French army is still in Swiss territory. We have to deal with those guys to open the way to the Alps.”

Looking at the army’s maneuver route drawn on the map, Kutuzov laughed and frowned.

“I’ll have to tell him to get up and fight instead of crying. Oh, my head. I understand.”

Leaving Kutuzov’s carriage, which was moving slowly due to the aftereffects of his injury, Suvorov advanced forward.

At that time, a general followed Suvorov.

He frowned so much that he looked as headache-ridden as Kutuzov.

“Generalissimo.”

“What is it, Bennigsen?”

“Are you really going to keep that defeated general as deputy commander? If that guy hadn’t been so arrogant, we wouldn’t have suffered the humiliation of being defeated by only 20,000 French troops in Turkey!”

He is Bennigsen, the chief of staff of the Turkish expeditionary force.

He hated Kutuzov from the beginning, but he seems to hate him even more after experiencing being a prisoner.

Suvorov smiled like a fox and asked back.

“Bennigsen, if you thought so from the beginning, you should have stopped that operation itself. Isn’t that so?”

“G, General. That’s what the Tsar wanted.”

“Proceeding with an impossible operation is neither loyalty to the Tsar nor respect for the soldiers. Do you know what we do?”

Still smiling, Suvorov looked back at the soldiers and told a chilling truth.

“We order soldiers to die for victory. Then at least we have to make that death worthwhile, right?”

Ordering death.

In the end, it is what all generals demand of their soldiers.

But no one talks about it so explicitly.

Also, the soldiers who hear that story just laugh and do not resist.

That is why Suvorov is a truly formidable general.

Just as Bennigsen swallowed hard, Suvorov, still smiling, said.

“Kutuzov did his best. Besides, no one can match that one-eyed man when it comes to seeing the battlefield.”

“I can’t accept it!”

“It doesn’t matter whether you accept it or not. Rather, you have something you need to prove to me.”

Suddenly, Suvorov’s gaze turned west.

“The famous French general, Moreau, is coming to Bern with reinforcements. We must ambush and defeat them. How about it? I’ll give you a guide.”

At that moment, Bennigsen’s eyes gleamed.

“I will definitely do it. This time, I must repay the humiliation to France!”

Of course, Suvorov never said that the road would be easy.

***

In July 1799, France faced a crisis in the Swiss region.

“So, Laharpe and Brune, you two ran away?”

This place is Bern, a city controlled by pro-French factions.

Originally, Switzerland, like the neighboring Holy Roman Empire, was a collection of territories ruled by local lords.

In fact, an alliance that could barely be called a single country was the essence of Switzerland.

However, when neighboring France was caught up in the revolution, Switzerland was also affected.

That is why the bourgeois [middle class] who dreamed of revolution rose up.

That was the Helvetic Revolution.

With this revolution that occurred in early 1799, the Swiss lord system was overthrown.

Furthermore, a federal republic system was established for each state.

Of course, it was the result of France’s support from behind.

In fact, the reason why Napoleon dispatched Laharpe was also for this reason.

However, there were many Swiss who hated the Helvetic Republic, which was virtually a satellite republic of France.

Therefore, the Helvetic Republic was embroiled in disputes as soon as it was launched.

It was at this point that the Russian Imperial Army arrived.

In addition, the opponent was Suvorov, so Laharpe had no choice but to flee from the capital, Zurich.

“Yes, Commander Moreau.”

“That’s absurd. You should have been prepared to die and stopped them.”

“I judged that it was more important to preserve the troops.”

Looking at Laharpe, who was reporting with humiliation, Moreau clicked his tongue.

“The Helvetic Republic is an important ally of our revolutionary France. You abandoned that alliance! How could you do this!”

Of course, it is not something that Moreau, who abandoned the Irish Rebellion, should say.

However, Laharpe lost 20,000 defenders and has no choice but to rely on Moreau, who brought 60,000 reinforcements.

Suddenly, Deputy Commander Jean-Baptiste Jules Bernadotte, who was standing next to Moreau, snorted.

“Hmph, it’s all because they’re cowards.”

“Shut up, Bernadotte! Cowards!”

“Brune, I should be telling you to shut up! If I had been on that battlefield, I would have immediately charged at Suvorov and taken his head!”

Bernadotte’s eyes flashed as he drew his sword at Brune.

“Commander! Give me a division. I will immediately retake Zurich and advance to Schwyz!”

It seems like he is drawing his sword recklessly, but there is a reason for this.

One of the revolutionary army generals, Bernadotte, originally mainly operated in the Swiss region.

In history, he participated in the Italian expedition later to support Napoleon, but Eugene deliberately did not call him, so he continued to fight in Switzerland.

So it is natural to be furious that Switzerland, which he risked his life to protect, was taken over at once.

On the other hand, the cautious Moreau sat on the headquarters chair and shook his head.

“First of all, our mission is to defend the Geneva defense line. We will stay in Bern and observe the situation.”

“Commander!”

“I heard that the enemy is an 80,000-strong army. Besides, the Austrian and Bavarian armies are also mobilizing, right? Our army could be surrounded and become vulnerable.”

Moreau bringing 60,000 troops itself is a very big commitment.

If this many troops are invested in the Swiss region out of limited troop resources, the line will be weakened.

Although reserve commanders including Jourdan are holding out in the rear, he cannot rashly make a move.

However, Laharpe, Bernadotte, and even Brune were dissatisfied with his passive attitude.

Geneva is a city at the western end of Switzerland and the eastern end of France.

Bern, located in the west-central part of Switzerland, is about 160 kilometers away.

Then why stay in Bern and observe the situation instead of retreating to Geneva?

It is questionable whether he is too cautious and indecisive.

It was then.

“Commander, the enemy has appeared!”

Suddenly, a general rushed into the headquarters tent.

A man with a sturdy, soldier-like face stood out.

Brigadier General Emmanuel Grouchy.

Moreau asked with a dumbfounded face.

“What are you talking about? Didn’t you say the enemy was in Zurich? When did they come to Bern?”

“It seems that they chased after the remnants, no, General Laharpe’s troops.”

“Good heavens!”

The moment Moreau sighed, Bernadotte this time aimed his sword at Laharpe.

“You coward, you even told them the location of our troops! What is this, Laharpe!”

Laharpe, who was gritting his teeth, instead took a step forward in front of the sword and retorted.

“I will take responsibility.”

“How!”

“Isn’t it enough to go out and fight until I die!”

Bernadotte and Laharpe glared at each other.

At that moment, Moreau quickly intervened between them.

If a sword fight breaks out, Moreau will be responsible for everything.

“First, check the soldiers and hurry up to prepare for departure. There will be time until the enemies approach. Also, check if there are mountains and rivers near Lausanne that are essential for defense. And…”

It was when Moreau was ordering standard countermeasures.

-Waaaa!

The barracks were shaken by the sudden shouts.

Did the enemy come from the front?

But the direction is strange.

A general covered in blood rushed to Moreau, who was hurriedly going outside.

Also, from the rear.

“Commander, something terrible has happened!”

“What’s going on, Division Commander Macdonald? I entrusted you with the rear!”

Jacques Macdonald, a 34-year-old young general with Scottish ancestry, shouted.

“These crazy bastards seem to have crossed the Alps in the south and attacked!”

The moment Moreau opened his mouth wide, shouts were heard from the southern highlands far away.

-Oorah! [Russian battle cry]

It was the moment when the Russian Imperial Army crossed the Alps horizontally and ambushed Moreau’s corps from the rear.

***

This situation is a sight that even Austria, which knows the Alps at least better than Russia, is shocked by.

“W, what, what kind of situation is this?”

17-year-old Johan, a young man with black hair, trembled and asked.

The identity of this young man is the 13th son of the late Emperor Leopold II.

So, he is the youngest brother of the current Austrian Emperor Franz and Archduke Karl.

Of course, Johan is not commanding the army, and General Franz von Lauer and other staff officers are virtually attached as advisors.

However, not only Johan but also Lauer and the 30,000 Austrian auxiliary corps were all shocked and unable to move.

Only the Russian soldiers who were watching the situation from the hill in front of Bern were calm.

Generalissimo Suvorov stroked his pointed chin and replied.

“It’s simple, Duke Johan. We stabbed the enemy in the back.”

“But, even so, how can soldiers appear in the enemy’s rear? Is it magic?”

“It’s not that either. It’s something that was done only with courage and fighting spirit.”

Suvorov pointed to Bennigsen’s troops running from the southern mountains and said.

“They crossed the Alps in the south and advanced. It is the hard work of our Russian Empire’s excellent general, Bennigsen.”

In short, Suvorov used this tactic.

First, break Laharpe and make him run away to find where the French main army is.

Next, Suvorov’s main force chases after him with the Austrian reinforcements.

But the real move is next.

They crossed the southern spine of Switzerland, the Alps, horizontally and attacked Moreau’s rear.

Of course, to do this march on time, a huge sacrifice is required.

Falls are bound to occur frequently.

Johan trembled and asked Suvorov.

“Then, w, won’t the troops be damaged?”

“I haven’t heard all the reports yet, but I know that about 2,000 people died out of 20,000 sent.”

“Yes? Isn’t that 1/10 of the total!”

Losing 10% of the entire army is virtually the same as defeat.

However, Suvorov was very calm.

The Russian generals were all just listening with expressionless faces.

“To win, you have to be prepared for that much sacrifice, Your Highness Duke Johan.”

This is the real power of the Russian Empire.

Ruthless orders to soldiers.

Soldiers who follow that order stubbornly.

But Suvorov is the most special among them.

In that the soldiers willingly give their lives.

At that time, Adjutant Barclay came and reported.

“It seems that the battle will be over soon, Generalissimo.”

“It seems that the Austrian army will need to be reinforced. I hope you don’t mind, Your Highness Duke?”

“D, do so. You can take any regiments you need. B, but where are you going?”

To Duke Johan’s question, Suvorov still smiled with a good-natured face and replied.

“Now we have to cross the Alps and go to southern Italy.”

Even at that moment, the Russian soldiers were stabbing the French soldiers expressionlessly.

-Fyuk! Fyuk! Fyuk! [Sound of bayonets thrusting]

With bayonets, without a single mercy.

July 7, 1799.

The allied forces of 80,000 Russians and 30,000 Austrians, a total of 110,000, defeated Moreau’s 60,000 reinforcements.

It was two weeks before Suvorov crossed the Alps.