He Became Napoleon’S Genius Son [EN]: Chapter 109

(109) Eugene Occupies Verona with a Single Letter

Verona, a city famous for Shakespeare’s tragedy, .

“Goddamn it. At this rate, we’re going to become the protagonists of a tragedy!”

Verona’s [Governor], Pierre Foscari, exclaimed from the governor’s residence.

This place, Verona, is the land territory that the water city of Venice holds on the Italian Peninsula.

Having been under Venetian rule since 1405, it has been under their control for 300 years.

Among them, it is the most important city along with Padua, so a high-ranking official of the [Governor level] stays here.

However, as can be seen from the title of governor, this place is treated as a kind of colony, unlike the home country.

For the Republic of Venice, the mainland is ultimately only the city of Venice itself.

Furthermore, befitting a maritime republic, Venice did not have a standing army in peacetime.

It is the same now, so Foscari is even more agitated.

Especially since France is approaching right in front of Verona.

“Bonaparte is coming? Here? Why!”

“There are many reasons. This is a strategic point, we are allies of the Holy Roman Empire, and we have almost no military power.”

“Gather more militia! At least prevent them from easily crossing the walls!”

Foscari urged the militia commander, Francesco Battaglia.

“Even if the city walls are breached, the San Pietro Fortress must be defended! 8 cannons, 6,000 militia! If we combine that with the reinforcements from the Kingdom of Naples, we can hold out!”

San Pietro Fortress is the fortress corresponding to Verona’s inner castle.

It is a medieval castle overlooking the Adige River, and once the gates are locked, it is difficult to approach due to its location.

However, it is not as naturally fortified as Mantua.

Battaglia did not answer with silence but left the governor’s residence with a gloomy feeling.

This place, Verona, is a thriving commercial city.

However, it is by no means a fortress suitable for war.

The walls built in the old Middle Ages or Renaissance are not suitable for defense now that cannons have appeared.

If the French army deploys only 30 cannons, the walls will be easily breached.

The time has come for the Republic of Venice, which has ignored war, to pay the price.

It’s sad that it’s Battaglia’s hometown, Verona.

Just then.

“Is the Governor of Verona in a state of resolute resistance, Messer [Sir] Battaglia?”

Battaglia turned his head and wore a bitter smile.

It’s a familiar face.

Alessandro Ottolini, the mayor of Bergamo, the westernmost city of the Republic of Venice.

Furthermore, like Battaglia, he was a member of the Italian unificationists, soon the [Patriots: those who advocated for a unified Italy].

He was in the same category as the Italian Jacobin Deril, who had encouraged Napoleon to unify Italy.

Therefore, Battaglia had been in contact with Ottolini before.

“So it seems. Mayor Alessandro Ottolini.”

“Bergamo also has the will to fight to the death. It’s just that gunpowder, firearms, and cannons are lacking.”

“Brescia must have been the same.”

Battaglia suddenly said, grinding his teeth.

“I never thought Austria would occupy Brescia, not France. What was Mocenigo doing?”

Giovanni Alvise Mocenigo is the mayor of Brescia.

In fact, Brescia is not an empty city.

It is strictly a city of the Republic of Venice by law, and it was ruled by a mayor dispatched from the home country.

He surrendered without resistance when Wurmser’s vanguard, Quosdanovich, advanced.

However, there was nothing Mocenigo could do.

In any case, the Republic of Venice does not have a standing army, and Austria is nominally an ally.

So he could not fight with a resolute determination, nor did he have the ability to fight.

In the end, Mocenigo surrendered, and Brescia came under Austrian rule.

Mayer Ottolini of Bergamo, a city located further west than Brescia, smiled bitterly.

“If Austria had come late, France would have occupied it anyway.”

“At least it wouldn’t be in the form of completely losing territory like now. What is this? Even if we drive out France, Brescia will be taken away!”

“Conversely, if France comes, the [Jacobins: radical revolutionaries] will rise up. Isn’t that so?”

Not all Italian unificationists are Jacobins.

Jacobins have the characteristic of aiming for a civic republic.

On the other hand, Venetians have lived in the so-called aristocratic republic for a thousand years.

Foscari, Mocenigo, Ottolini, and Battaglia all shared a sense of revulsion towards revolution and France.

It was the moment when Battaglia was clenching his teeth and nodding in front of the governor’s residence.

“But you’re not wrong, Battaglia. It might be better to move first.”

Battaglia’s eyes widened at Ottolini’s words.

“What do you mean? Mayor Ottolini?”

“To be honest, Bergamo is right in front of Lombardy.”

“It’s practically close to the Lombardy area. But the French army didn’t come towards Bergamo, did they?”

Ottolini suddenly looked around and handed over a letter from his pocket.

-Swish.

Battaglia frowned as he looked at the letter.

“What is this?”

“It’s a letter in the name of General Sérurier, commander of the Milan garrison. But in reality, probably…”

“It’s Bonaparte’s letter. Where.”

But the moment he saw the letter, Battaglia was shocked.

“If you lend us the [road: allow passage through your territory] to annihilate the Austrian army, we will not occupy the city?”

Would it be around the so-called [Noon Pass: a strategic mountain pass]?

Of course, asking to borrow the road is essentially asking to hand over control of the city.

If the opponent uses force, they may end up losing control of the city.

With a dumbfounded face, Battaglia looked at Ottolini.

On the other hand, Ottolini brazenly said to Battaglia.

“In reality, they didn’t move to Bergamo. But we decided to form a cooperative relationship.”

“Mayor, that’s treason against the Republic!”

“Otherwise, at least 10,000 French troops will invade. Don’t you know who Sérurier is? He’s the victor of the Battle of Cuneo. He’s the second-in-command of the [Italian Legion: French army division] after Bonaparte! He’s entrusted with the base!”

Of course, there is a slight misunderstanding.

However, it is true that Sérurier, as the oldest division commander, appears to be the second-in-command of the Italian Legion to the outside world.

Also, he is the victor of the Battle of Cuneo.

Ottolini had been talking about his antipathy towards France until just now.

Why did he come all the way to Verona?

Could it be that he has another purpose besides asking for help?

Battaglia glared at Ottolini and asked, grinding his teeth.

“So, did you come to get permission from the Governor of Verona? Because the Governor of Verona is the number one land administrator in [Terra Ferma: Venetian mainland territories]?”

“No. How could that be? I came to see you. Actually.”

“Why?”

Ottolini handed over another letter.

“Open the gates of Verona?”

This time it’s a letter to Battaglia.

Battaglia, who was reading the contents of the letter, hurriedly looked around.

Fortunately, no one is wary of Battaglia, the militia commander, or Ottolini, a high-ranking official from outside.

But conversely, it means that the soldiers guarding Terra Ferma, soon Venice’s mainland territory, are undisciplined.

With a bitter smile, Battaglia glared at Ottolini again.

“So, did you come to tell me to surrender? Under Sérurier’s orders?”

“No, I’m not telling you to surrender. Just open the gates.”

“Isn’t that the same thing!”

Ottolini shook his hand.

“It’s different. Bonaparte doesn’t have the capacity to conquer our Republic. Why? Because Wurmser came.”

Battaglia blinked.

Of course, Battaglia already knew the information.

Venice is a country of merchant aristocrats, and valuing information is a national policy.

But somehow, Ottolini’s words seemed to have more analysis than just information.

Ottolini explained in a heated tone.

“This is a lure, Battaglia.”

“Then?”

“Their goal is to pretend to occupy our Verona and then go back. So what should we do? Wurmser has occupied Brescia. It’s no different from France.”

Battaglia frowned, sighed, and nodded.

“The answer is to make them fight each other to the point of mutual destruction.”

Whoever wins, make them fight each other.

That is the core of Ottolini’s argument.

With a very satisfied face, Ottolini also nodded.

“That’s right, Battaglia.”

In the end, Battaglia, persuaded by Ottolini, staggered towards his residence.

It was the moment when Ottolini was wiping away his cold sweat as he watched the scene.

A middle-aged man who had been hiding in a corner of the alley until then took a step forward and smiled.

“You are very persuasive, Mayor Ottolini.”

Behind the man stood Captain Gomi, Eugene’s bodyguard.

So the person Gomi is guarding must be a high-ranking French official.

Ottolini, who was looking around with a troubled face, asked the man.

“Is Bergamo safe now, Commissioner Saliceti?”

“I am one of the top five commissioners in France. Can’t you trust my guarantee? I even risked my life to come all the way here.”

“I believe that. But I wonder if I can trust the French army, or General Bonaparte.”

Saliceti, a bold commissioner who infiltrated a city of a nominally enemy country, scoffed.

“Ottolini, trust the situation, not me. General Napoleon has already defeated Austria twice. Perfectly, too.”

Of course, Saliceti didn’t just risk his life and come.

Originally, terrorism and infiltration were commonplace for Saliceti since the Corsican independence movement.

Infiltrating a large Venetian city in a non-combat situation is not that difficult for Saliceti.

Nevertheless, it is worth noting that the commissioner himself came forward.

Eugene smiled contentedly as he watched Saliceti, who had acted as expected.

“Battaglia is a [Patriot: Italian unificationist]. So is Mayor Ottolini.”

Junot, who knows a little about politics as Napoleon’s adjutant, pretended to know.

“So he’s an Italian unificationist? But that doesn’t mean he’s on our side. He can turn around at any time.”

“It doesn’t matter. Our purpose is not to occupy this place now anyway.”

“Oh, that’s true. So are we retreating now?”

Eugene suddenly looked west and said.

“No. I heard that Wurmser made a plan on a daily basis. It’s the same for me. By tomorrow or the day after, I have information coming to Verona.”

It is more urgent than coming from Brescia across Lake Garda, west of Verona.

Only when the urgent report arrives can Eugene move.

Finally, the news that Wurmser has set out.

Only then will Eugene retreat.