He Became Napoleon’S Genius Son [EN]: Chapter 490

Became Napoleon’s Genius Son – Episode 490 (491/547)

(490) The Fourth Anti-French Coalition Blocks Napoleon

Here stands a descendant of a monarchical family that has long dominated Eastern Europe.

“Cough, cough, cough! So, Napoleon finally crawled out of Moscow?”

Karl asked, gazing at the fortress across the Rhine River in Strasbourg.

That castle was originally a free city of the Holy Roman Empire.

However, the construction of the pentagonal citadel was the result of Vauban’s efforts during the reign of Louis XIV.

Since Alsace became French territory, it has always been ancestral land for the Germans to reclaim.

The same goes for Karl, who is now the King of Hungary.

He thought he would receive the keys to the city gates at least once, but in the end, he failed.

Of course, in reality, Napoleon crawled out of Saint Petersburg, not Moscow.

General Ludwig Yorck, who had rushed in as a messenger, bowed his head.

“That is correct, Your Majesty, King of Hungary. Currently, His [Kaiser/Emperor] Majesty is requesting reinforcements.”

“Can’t he hold out on his own? Just a little longer. If we occupy ‘Strasbourg’ and move near Paris, Fontainebleau will also fall.”

“If we can wait, the British army will also come. Your Majesty, Berlin is in danger now!”

Yorck shouted with bloodshot eyes.

“If Your Majesty were facing the threat of Budapest being occupied, would you be so calm!”

Originally, in the original history, Yorck was forcibly conscripted into the French army during the Russian expedition.

However, after being persuaded by Clausewitz, he returned to Prussia.

Later, he succeeded in the final battle against Napoleon and received the title of Count of Wartenburg.

He is a soldier with very high loyalty to the Kingdom of Prussia.

But Yorck’s words are not necessarily wrong.

Which soldier wouldn’t be in a state of emergency when the capital is about to be taken?

There is one.

Karl smiled bitterly.

If the Hungarian army attacks a little more, Strasbourg, a city called Strassburg in German, will fall.

Furthermore, a 500-kilometer straight plain stretches from the Rhine to Paris.

This means that Paris can be invaded in one fell swoop.

But instead of rushing to save Paris, Napoleon is advancing on Berlin.

Instead of saying that, Karl, despite suffering from headaches due to the aftereffects of epilepsy, spoke indirectly.

“What are you saying? ‘I’ have already abandoned my homeland and brought the entire army here to the Rhine, willingly, in case Louis Bonaparte might launch a surprise attack. Cough.”

“Your Majesty! The situation in Berlin is not that simple. A monster, a demon, Napoleon is coming!”

“Since when has Napoleon become a more fearsome being than monsters or demons? Heh heh.”

Again, Karl sighed, looking at Strasbourg.

“Too bad. Paris is right in front of me.”

Suddenly, Hungarian Marshal Radetzky, who was standing behind Karl, opened his mouth.

“Your Majesty, if you wish, I can lead a suicide squad and launch a surprise attack on Fontainebleau.”

“Marshal Radetzky, if you succeed, this war can be won. Cough. But, if you fail?”

“Then, just one foolish general will die!”

Karl shook his head firmly.

“On the contrary. I would lose a cavalry commander who can catch Napoleon.”

Radetzky’s face seemed moved at first glance.

But Karl was born into royalty and it was natural for him to order others around.

This means that he didn’t say that out of concern for his subordinates.

Karl absolutely needs Radetzky, a truly daring cavalry commander.

Because of Napoleon’s [speed and mobility].

“Why is Napoleon so powerful?”

“Yes? Uh, that’s because the French are brave on the battlefield, and they have capable generals, and he himself is a villain but also an excellent tactician, isn’t it?”

“Wrong. It’s mobility. No one can keep up with the pace of the French infantry, and all the best horses of the time are monopolized by the French army.”

Karl, who had been studying Napoleon’s battles since the early Italian campaign, said.

“Look. Even our Hungarian army lacks cavalry, doesn’t it?”

Currently, the Hungarian army alone has gathered as many as 250,000 troops on this Strasbourg front.

But the number of cavalry is only 50,000.

Also, there is a severe shortage of reserve horses.

Why did this happen?

It’s a very simple reason.

When Napoleon, who valued cavalry, destroyed the Holy Roman Empire, he requisitioned a large number of horses.

Furthermore, during the Russian expedition, he took countless horses from Germany and Hungary.

Thanks to this, the Grande Armée [Grand Army] currently possesses all the horses in Europe.

Not only warhorses but also packhorses.

Cavalry Commander Marshal Radetzky licked his lips.

“Th, that’s right.”

“Fortunately, this war is not just being fought by Hungary. In particular, the Rhine Confederation and the Prussian army have quite a few cavalry. Of course, Prussia stole them from Poland.”

“A war of plunder, as expected, like those ruthless Prussians.”

Yorck frowned, but Karl and Radetzky ignored him.

However, if the environment allowed for plunder, Karl would have gladly plundered horses as well.

But when Karl heard the news that Napoleon was trapped in winter, Hungary was too far from the Russian expeditionary force.

So Karl had to choose one of two options.

Whether to seize the [Northern Route Army] stationed in Warsaw or to issue a general mobilization order and advance into France.

As a result of choosing the latter, Karl gained a large army but lost his cavalry.

However, Karl also has something he believes in.

“But Napoleon will have difficulty using his boasted mobility in this war.”

Radetzky tilted his head at Karl’s unexpected remark.

“Why is that?”

“Long-distance marches inevitably exhaust soldiers and horses. Napoleon is in a hurry now. The later it gets, the higher the possibility that Paris, his wife, and his children will be taken prisoner.”

“So he’s rushing to fight us without rest!”

Karl nodded.

“Yes. That’s when your cavalry is needed. To fight Napoleon with Napoleon’s tactics.”

In short, he’s talking about deploying a broad front with flanking maneuvers.

It’s like exploiting the weaknesses of the exhausted Grande Armée.

Originally, even in the original history, Napoleon gradually slowed down after the Ulm campaign.

Considering that point, Karl’s insight is truly remarkable.

Radetzky, the dashing man who once succeeded in escaping during Napoleon’s Italian campaign, saluted.

“I understand, Your Majesty. I will gladly carry out Your Majesty’s will!”

Yorck also had a dissatisfied expression, but he left without complaint since Hungary was withdrawing its troops anyway.

However, if there is anyone who is most dissatisfied, it is naturally Karl.

If he had been given just 10 more days.

“Really, too bad. I thought I could have Paris at my feet.”

If that had happened, he could have crushed the morale of the Grande Armée before it even charged.

***

In Metz, a border city in the Lorraine region, two Prussians faced each other.

“As expected, Napoleon is fast.”

The one-armed Chief of Staff, Scharnhorst, smiled bitterly and spoke first.

This is the first war Prussia has started since declaring itself an empire.

However, the French army led by Sérurier defended with all its might.

Even though the capital Paris was embroiled in civil war and uprisings of the former Jacobin National Guard were taking place all over the country.

Nevertheless, veterans from the Revolutionary Wars, including Macdonald, Lefebvre, and Kellermann, all came out to successfully defend.

Of course, if they had been given a little more time, the defense line would have eventually collapsed.

Blücher, the 68-year-old man who has now become the commander-in-chief of the Prussian army, grumbled.

“Why have you lost your courage along with an arm, Scharnhorst?”

“Marshal Blücher, you can insult me if you want. It is a reality that Napoleon is retreating too quickly.”

“Aren’t those guys tired at all? How far is it from Moscow to Warsaw, and then to the Oder River, and how can they come so quickly?”

The Oder River, a region that would later become the trigger for the World War in the original history.

This region was originally the boundary between Germany and Poland in the Middle Ages.

However, as a result of the Eastern Colonization [Ostsiedlung], including Prussia, it is now in a state where it can no longer be called a boundary.

But Napoleon has advanced to the Oder River basin.

Handing over a report with his one remaining right arm, Scharnhorst said.

“One good thing is that Napoleon chose the southern route of advance because he was concerned about Hungary. It’s a longer distance to Berlin.”

There are two main routes from Warsaw to the Oder River.

The road that runs straight to Berlin.

The other is the southern detour.

Scharnhorst had determined that Napoleon had taken the detour.

However, from Prussia’s point of view, they cannot abandon Berlin.

Because Berlin is not just a capital, but everything is concentrated in it, including the industry, economy, and population of the Kingdom of Prussia.

With a face that couldn’t hide his annoyance, Blücher shouted.

“It’s really unfair. Napoleon is fine as long as he has an army, no matter where we occupy. On the other hand, we have to protect our territory, capital, and people!”

But Scharnhorst shook his head.

“Your Excellency, but Napoleon will eventually target our army.”

“I know. But also, that guy doesn’t care if Paris is ruined, and he doesn’t care if Berlin becomes hell. Even if he plunges the entire European continent into the fires of war!”

“In the end, Napoleon’s method of operation is to seize strategic strongholds first.”

In fact, what Blücher is saying is what Napoleon said in the original history.

It was after the failure of the Russian expedition, when he was trying to bring Austria to the French side.

Napoleon meets with Metternich.

Naturally, Metternich demanded many concessions from France, which was at a disadvantage.

If he had accepted these concessions, Napoleon might have won even in the original history.

But Napoleon did not concede and instead shouted.

That he would turn the whole of Europe into ruins.

Of course, it was something he said out of anger, but it is also one of Napoleon’s essences.

But that’s not likely to happen in the current situation, and Scharnhorst has studied Napoleon for as long as Karl has.

“Perhaps, Dresden. This is most likely Napoleon’s target.”

Dresden is the capital of the Kingdom of Saxony.

It is 200 kilometers south of Berlin, and passing through it leads to Leipzig and then Cologne.

After passing Cologne, France soon appears.

Blücher snorted.

“The Saxon Grand Duke will be dumbfounded!”

“Since Warsaw was taken from Poniatowski, he will be furious and rush over.”

“Does that mean the Rhine Confederation army will return that quickly? Good.”

Suddenly, Blücher slammed the desk and muttered.

“I will make this place Napoleon’s grave.”

At that time, Scharnhorst frowned.

“There is one unfortunate thing.”

“What is it?”

“The British army. Are they still not leaving the port of London?”

Blücher roared again like thunder and grumbled.

“Those guys will never move until the Hindus come. They are fools who don’t even know how to fight on their own!”

In other words, Britain is still waiting for the armies of continental Europe to exhaust each other.

***

The Rhine Confederation army broke through the Rhine front and even reached Besançon, French territory.

“Advance, advance! Hurry, we must return and protect Dresden!”

But now that Napoleon has returned, they have no choice but to retreat.

Not even by the order of the Saxon Grand Duke Friedrich August, who is urging the entire army.

However, the commander-in-chief of the Allied forces, King Maximilian Joseph of Bavaria, has an uneasy expression.

“Something feels strange.”

“What is it, Your Majesty? Napoleon’s return was already scheduled anyway. It’s just that it’s much faster than expected.”

“Brede, why Dresden? Napoleon could have attacked Berlin. Wasn’t divide and conquer Napoleon’s specialty?”

Maximilian frowned, looking back at Bavarian military commander Count Brede.

“Besides, where is King Eugene? According to the messenger from the home country, the flag of the King of Spain is not visible.”

Eugene Fraysuiss, the victor of Jena.

He is also an emperor killer with a history of capturing Maximilian.

At that moment, Brede, recalling what had happened at the time, whispered with an astonished face.

“Could it be that King Eugene is preparing a surprise diversionary attack? On Bavaria, too?”

“It’s possible enough. Didn’t he move like that in the Battle of Jena before?”

“Then, what should we do?”

Maximilian watched the Saxon Duke at the head of the column and said in a low voice.

“Let’s advance slowly, as late as possible.”

With three countries and three colors of thoughts, the Fourth Anti-French Coalition began to retreat from the Rhine.

To fight against the returned monster, Napoleon.