He Became Napoleon’S Genius Son [EN]: Chapter 105

(105) Concentrated Bombardment Pierces Lonato

It wasn’t Eugene who first discovered Quosdanovich’s corps.

“Urgent report! Commander, sir! The scouts deployed ahead have captured enemy soldiers, presumed to be from the enemy!”

The point of view shifts back to before Eugene threw the grenade at Quosdanovich.

Napoleon’s corps, which had been marching at a forced pace of 40 kilometers a day, halted.

Not for a brief respite.

It was because the Massena Division, which was at the forefront, had captured prisoners.

A soldier in an Austrian uniform was dragged before Commander Napoleon, wailing.

“P, p, please spare me! I didn’t do anything! I just looted some food!”

He appeared to be in his early twenties.

Undoubtedly a deserter.

The language he spoke was High German, specifically the Southern Bavarian dialect from near the Alps.

Eugene, who could speak German from his past life as a researcher, translated simply, and Napoleon smiled subtly.

“He says he didn’t do anything? He looks like a messenger to me.”

“Shall I translate it that way, Your Excellency?”

“No, he certainly seems to be carrying a letter. Ask him if he hid it in his stomach.”

Suddenly, Napoleon’s eyes flashed.

“Tell him we’ll cut open his belly to take the letter.”

At the extremely chilling words, even seasoned division commanders shuddered for a moment.

However, Eugene simply translated faithfully, with a bitter smile.

Because this was actually what happened around this time in the original history.

Originally, Wurmser and Napoleon engaged in flanking maneuvers around Lake Garda.

Eventually, Napoleon, unable to find the enemy, captured a messenger.

When the very loyal messenger refused to speak, Napoleon had him killed and his belly cut open.

It was an anecdote showing how ruthless Napoleon could be to the enemy if necessary.

In any case, the deserter was fortunately not a messenger, and even less loyal.

“The Imperial Army is currently near the town of Lonato, ahead! They are completely unguarded and don’t even know about the presence of the French army!”

It was already a suspected fact.

However, confirming it through the enemy’s words was entirely different.

The enemy’s carelessness and a surprise attack.

A situation that any tactician would dream of had arrived.

Massena excitedly shouted to Napoleon.

“Now is the perfect opportunity! I will lead the charge again this time!”

However, Napoleon shook his head.

“No, we cannot completely destroy the enemy that way.”

“Yes? What do you mean by that?”

“Breaking through the enemy lines, crushing their ranks, and encircling them from the rear. That is the goal of this battle. No, the goal of this entire campaign.”

No one understood properly.

Napoleon was simply blurting out what came to his mind without explanation.

However, Eugene understood.

“La manoeuvre sur les derrières!” [The maneuver on the rear, a strategic envelopment]

Napoleon turned around in surprise at Eugene’s exclamation.

“Exactly, that’s it! Rear maneuver! That’s what I want now!”

Strategic rear breakthrough maneuver (La manoeuvre sur les derrières).

This is a tactic born in the early 19th century, when there were no radars, telescopes had limitations, and aerial reconnaissance was difficult.

The clash between friendly and enemy forces usually occurs at the vanguard, the scouts.

Therefore, it is difficult to know where the main force is or what form it takes.

In a head-on collision, giving the enemy time to prepare would naturally result in a barrage of cannons and bullets.

In such cases, it is common to be cautious and avoid collision.

Of course, Napoleon does not want a head-on collision either.

However, unlike other generals, Napoleon preferred flanking or rear breakthroughs.

Through these breakthroughs, he cuts off the enemy’s rear lines of communication or operation lines, forcing a decisive battle.

Finally, a tactic of annihilating the enemy by pressuring them from the rear and front.

It is a unique Napoleonic tactic different from piecemeal destruction.

This tactic is prone to counterattacks if detected.

Because the main force of the friendly army is dispersed for the rear breakthrough.

Nevertheless, Napoleon boldly used this tactic in every decisive battle.

Now is the moment to test that tactic for the first time.

Napoleon looked at Eugene and asked urgently.

“How about it, can you do it? The breakthrough!”

Instead of answering, Eugene looked back at Junot and Murat.

“You should ask Junot, the lion’s heart, and Murat, the wild horse, Your Excellency.”

Junot and Murat widened their eyes and laughed.

“Puhahaha! Passing the buck. It is possible, Commander!”

“Now is the time for this body to show the aspect of mountain mobility. I’ll show you the skills I honed in the Pyrenees!”

Lannes hurriedly stepped forward.

“Commander, sir, give me a chance too!”

Clearly, Lannes is a man who leads from the front.

He doesn’t stop in front of the enemies, doesn’t turn around, and doesn’t retreat.

However, Napoleon shook his head again.

Because now is the time when destructive power is needed, not just courage.

“The vanguard is the grenadiers. Go, Freischütz [German for ‘free shooter,’ often associated with marksmen or sharpshooters]! Feed the enemy magic bullets!”

As soon as Eugene saluted Napoleon, he mounted his horse.

“I will bring the screams of the enemies to the Commander!”

And Eugene’s boast became a reality.

***

An army without formation is merely a crowd.

“Uwaaa! Grenades! Take cover!”

Literally, explosions erupted everywhere.

-Bang! Bang! Bang!

The Ketchum, or Eugene Grenade, that Eugene’s mounted grenadier brigade is throwing is the first bursting grenade.

Originally, a grenade is an object that ignites a fuse, and when that fuse burns completely, the flame hits the gunpowder and detonates it.

There is a time limit, and the distance that can be carried is also limited depending on the length of the fuse.

However, the moment the detonator, fulminate of mercury, was invented, the situation changed.

Just like being able to remove the flint from a gun, a cap could be placed on the grenade, causing it to explode from the impact.

Of course, not all grenades explode.

However, just the fact that it became easier to carry increased the number of grenades that could be fired.

Therefore, Eugene’s mounted grenadier brigade currently carries at least five grenades per person.

Every time a grenade exploded, soldiers scattered in panic.

The actual power is limited.

However, the confusion was maximized.

Listening to the screams erupting everywhere, Murat shouted excitedly.

“Good, draw your sabers as they are! Show them the spirit of the hussars!”

Antoine Lasalle, Clément de Champeaux, and Barthélemy Joubert chuckled and drew their sabers.

“A sword before even firing a pistol! I like it, Wild Horse Vice Commander!”

“I’ll cut down anyone! Let’s go!”

“Leave the guns to our boy sharpshooter! Puhahaha!”

At that moment.

“Brigade Commander’s orders! Forget about cutting them down and just run!”

It was Junot who was shouting at the top of his lungs.

Usually, the adjutant who relays Eugene’s orders is Hippolyte or Tournay.

But now, Hippolyte has returned to the rear to convey Eugene’s words to Lannes, the Pyrenean cavalry.

So, Junot is taking the risk and shouting while maneuvering sporadically in enemy territory.

Murat frowned and retorted.

“No, killing them now maximizes the results!”

“Brigade Commander’s orders, Murat! Or do you want to go back to the ship again? The Mediterranean fleet is still ready for engagement?”

“Tch!”

Murat’s momentum has revived lately, but he is still afraid of Eugene.

In particular, Robert Surcouf, who acted on Eugene’s behalf on the ship and suppressed them, is considered even more terrifying.

Eventually, Murat gritted his teeth and grabbed the reins instead of the sword.

“Damn it, if we don’t win this time, I’ll chew them up and swallow them! Boy Sharpshooter! Let’s go, everyone!”

Of course, Lasalle and his colleagues Champeaux and Joubert, who are always positive, were still running excitedly.

“A cavalry charge instead of a sword is also proof of the hussars, hee-ho!”

“Wow, what did that wild horse eat that he can’t move at all? Did our Freischütz shoot him in the butt?”

“Oh, our Freischütz’s live ammunition is expensive? No, I’m not kidding, it’s really expensive because it’s the latest model!”

The 1,000-strong mounted grenadier brigade broke through the ranks in an instant.

-Dududududu!

Completely penetrating the side of Quosdanovich’s main force, which was in complete panic.

***

However, the experience of the Austrian generals comes into play at times like this.

-Kuuung!

The confusion stops in front of an even greater shock.

Cannonballs fell on the formation.

The soldiers who were screaming closed their mouths.

Was it the enemy’s shelling?

No.

After the cannonballs fell, the commander who was directly holding the cannon muzzle, Marquis de Lusignan, gnashed his teeth and shouted.

“Everyone, get a grip!”

Not only the soldiers but also the commanders were freed from the confusion at the scolding.

The enemy had only thrown grenades and then broken through the ranks.

On the other hand, this side has 20,000 soldiers.

If they form a line, they will never be penetrated again.

As the confusion subsided, Lusignan, who had a long combat experience, issued a series of orders.

“Square! Form squares! Cavalry cannot break through infantry! This is military common sense!”

Karree, or square formation.

It refers to a square infantry formation.

Once firearms appeared, squares were almost never penetrated by cavalry.

Commander Quosdanovich also nodded hastily and issued a concurring order.

“Yes! Squares! All regiments, form squares by battalion! The formation is in four ranks! Fix bayonets!”

Messengers rushed out of the headquarters towards each regiment.

“Squares! Squares! Squares!”

Plauen, Batorquez, Sporck.

The general-level commanders of Quosdanovich’s corps are all experienced.

They are men who have wandered the battlefield for at least 20 years since the War of the Bavarian Succession.

They were flustered by the unexpected attack, but regained their composure.

-Chuck! Chuck! Chuck!

Each regiment formed squares by battalion.

“Now, come whoever you want! You can never break through! Call the hussars in the rear. Have half of them stop the cavalry that broke through us! The other half defends the flanks!”

Now Commander Quosdanovich has regained his composure.

He issued urgent orders to the adjutants and re-examined the situation.

The initial strike was painful, but it cannot be said to be a major blow.

Quosdanovich asked his adjutant, Oxkai.

“Where is the artillery?”

“In the rear, Commander, sir!”

“Good, it’s not yet a combat distance where the enemy’s cannons can reach. Set up the cannons before they approach!”

Soon after, Roselmini and Radetzky were about to run to the artillery to carry out the order.

-Shee-ik.

Roselmini raised his head at the strange sound.

In an instant, Roselmini stopped in shock.

Cannonballs.

He could see iron lumps flying in parabolas.

“No way. Where did they come from? How?”

At that moment, the quick-witted Radetzky shouted to the commander.

“Your Excellency!”

“Good heavens.”

“Their artillery is now running to the front!”

Commander Quosdanovich did not hear those words.

Because he was already seeing it with his own eyes.

Mounted artillery.

A special arm that the French army operates freely with plenty of horses.

They have now advanced right in front of the flank.

Originally, it was a situation where they could not dare to come out because of the gunfire of the infantry.

If the Austrian army had regained its composure just a little faster.

But the shelling had already begun.

-Bang! Bang! Bang!

This time, the formation was really breaking apart.

Because 4-pound iron cannonballs were starting to crush the soldiers.