He Became Napoleon’S Genius Son [EN]: Chapter 226

(226) Winning a Complete Victory at the Battle of Adrianople

One eye, a scar from a bullet.

Bagration thinks this every time he sees Kutuzov’s one eye.

He really is a lucky man.

In the war against the Turks, he was hit by bullets not once, but twice, yet Kutuzov is still alive and well.

Of course, his eye is grotesquely twisted, he suffers from headaches, and his health is a mess.

Usually, one would die instantly.

However, you can’t wage war on luck alone.

As his adjutant, Bagration began to speak, fulfilling his duty.

“I don’t think it’s something we can simply dismiss, Field Marshal.”

Pointing to the Dardanelles on the map, Bagration began to explain.

“Currently, the enemy is estimated to be 23,000 strong. They won in Konya, the heart of Anatolia, and are advancing north. I believe they will cross the Dardanelles soon…”

“Enough. You don’t even know simple arithmetic, General Bagration.”

“Pardon?”

Kutuzov burst into cheerful laughter, spreading his arms wide.

“If we were in Bucharest, Edirne would certainly be far. But we’re in Haskovo. Right in front of Edirne! We’re faster than the enemy. And we don’t have much time to prepare!”

So, this is why Kutuzov is confident of victory.

From Bucharest to Edirne is a whopping 400 kilometers.

But from Haskovo to Edirne is only about 100 kilometers.

On the other hand, the enemy is said to be coming from Konya via the Bosphorus.

No matter how fast they are, it’s more than twice the distance.

Even if they arrive at the Bosphorus first, it’s still around 200 kilometers.

As far as Kutuzov knows, an army including infantry and artillery can never cover that distance in less than two weeks.

Bagration rolled his eyes.

“Then, we could prepare the cannons first.”

Just then.

-Thwack!

General Bennigsen, with sharp eyes fixed on the map, approached and pointed his baton at it.

“There is one thing to be concerned about.”

“What is it? Bennigsen? If it’s about military training, I’ve seen enough, so there’s no need to worry again.”

“It’s certainly concerning that the enemies are elite. We shouldn’t underestimate them just because there are only 20,000 of them. But the real problem lies elsewhere.”

The German nobleman, Bennigsen, coldly informed the commander.

“According to our investigation, the French army was very fast in the last war. Especially Bonaparte’s army.”

The army currently gathered at this Haskovo encampment totals 60,000.

However, only 1,000 of them are soldiers from the Russian Empire’s mainland.

This is a kind of farce created by the Tsar’s strict orders and Kutuzov’s bold idea.

But how was this possible?

The answer is that the Ottoman Empire was much more of a mess than the Russian generals thought.

“We are not dealing with the collapsed Moldavian army.”

For a moment, Bennigsen frowned, looking back at the army they were leading.

The governor-general’s army of Moldavia, which had been defending the border, had revolted.

In addition, prominent Greek nobles who had been communicating with Russia from within the Ottoman Empire joined forces with Russia.

For example, the Mourouzis family was one of them.

Soon after, as the Ottoman Empire was repeatedly defeated by the French army, it lost control from the center.

In a word, it was a series of fortunate events.

Kutuzov seized this opportunity and succeeded in taking control of the Moldavian army.

Bagration, who came along, was also dumbfounded by this success.

In fact, Kutuzov’s nickname in history is just that.

He was called the lucky man.

However, we cannot fight relying only on that luck.

Then, Kutuzov, the lucky man who survived even after a bullet pierced his head, laughed heartily.

“Puhah! Nonsense!”

“Pardon?”

“Bennigsen, the opponent is not Bonaparte. It’s that young whelp, his stepson. Besides, the opponent that young whelp defeated wasn’t even a European army. Just the Turkish army.”

Kutuzov boasted and smiled faintly.

“Surely, you don’t lack the confidence to fight and win against the Turkish army, do you? Bennigsen? Someone as skilled as you?”

Bennigsen trembled, gritting his teeth.

Thorough planning, strict discipline, and precise operations.

This is a record of Bennigsen, who became the defeated general of Eylau in later history, and at the same time, it is Bagration’s assessment of the current Bennigsen.

That’s why he must hate the man in front of him who is so casual about everything.

And the fact that what that man is doing is succeeding.

“We can win!”

“Good. That’s the kind of motivation we need. Now, let’s start the march tomorrow.”

“Yes? General, where are you going?”

Kutuzov suddenly wore a pleased expression and waved his hand.

“I have some busy work to do in the tent. Hehehe!”

A camp follower will be waiting in that tent.

There are also records left in history.

Kutuzov was accompanied by many mistresses on every battlefield.

Staring at the back of the fat man disappearing with an excited face, Bennigsen finally threw his military cap.

“Even if the opponent is a kid, not everyone in the army is a kid! That fatso, really!”

“Isn’t it General Kutuzov’s habit to leave everything to his subordinates?”

“Bagration, what do you think? Can we stay under Kutuzov like this?”

Bagration stared at Bennigsen and shrugged.

“I also find it difficult to acknowledge anyone above me unless it’s General Suvorov. However, the tactics General Kutuzov has prepared are reasonable in themselves.”

Suddenly, Bagration’s cold gaze turned towards the rear of the encampment.

“Just look at the preparation of 100 Unicorns [a type of Russian cannon].”

The massive long-range cannons, still being transported endlessly, are now being placed on the ground.

-Thump!

Mammoth cannons, accompanied by gunpowder and shells.

Even if the Tsar only learned about war at his desk, he is not a fool.

The Tsar not only sent 1,000 soldiers and the Black Sea Fleet but also granted all of Kutuzov’s requests to be able to fight on land in case of emergency.

In other words, he gathered and sent a massive amount of cannons.

“A war of attrition, that’s the only way we can be sure of victory.”

“Hmph, you’re from Georgia, aren’t you? That’s why you don’t know much.”

“What do you mean by that? How long has our family been settled in the Russian Empire?”

Bagration, who is from the royal family of Georgia, east of the Black Sea, protested.

However, the German nobleman, Bennigsen, sneered.

In Bennigsen’s eyes, Bagration is just a nobleman from Asia.

“Then your study of Greek classics must be lacking. Remember well. Only virgins can ride Unicorns! Do you see any virgin men here! Especially the commander!”

Bennigsen, still fuming, kicked a random firearm, making a loud noise.

Watching that scene, Bagration frowned.

In fact, Bagration is also a man who ignores everyone except Suvorov.

Moreover, he is so capable that even Napoleon acknowledged Bagration’s abilities.

Originally, he is also brave enough to have a record of defeating Murat in history.

However, at the same time, Bagration also acknowledges the abilities of his opponents.

Although he simply calls it luck, the strategy of instigating a rebellion in enemy territory and seizing the army is not just luck.

It is clearly Kutuzov’s ability.

“He must really hate the commander. He’d be in big trouble if he went under General Suvorov, tsk.”

“Then, shall I tell the soldiers to wait here today?”

“Do so. And tell Colonel Nikolai Raevsky to make sure the cannons are well maintained. And to be careful not to get frostbite in the winter.”

Nodding at the adjutant’s question, Bagration stared at the Unicorn cannons.

“Those cannons will make our army the ruler of Greece. And the restoration of our Kingdom of Georgia.”

A man who dreams of his country’s independence someday, Bagration was also confident of victory.

Believing that no army could match Russia in a war of attrition.

***

In the year 1798, all supplies must ultimately be moved by people and horses.

“Left foot, left foot, left foot!”

Russian officer Nikolai Nikolaevich Raevsky, who cannot even imagine steam locomotives, vigorously commanded the jogging.

All the generals in the Russian expeditionary force are full of complaints, but Raevsky is an exception.

Originally, Raevsky is a relative of Prince Potemkin, the former Tsar’s lover.

Pavel, who hates everything Catherine the Great touched and despises her lover even more, also put Raevsky on the dismissal list.

However, unlike Western European countries, it is difficult for nobles in the Russian Empire to live solely on income from their estates.

Whether they are bureaucrats or soldiers, they are likely to go bankrupt unless they hold some position in the central government.

This is due to the country’s low economic power, and that is why unemployment is a big problem even for nobles.

Fortunately, what allowed him to escape the unemployment crisis was this Greek expedition.

A grandiose strategic plan to seize local forces with a small number of troops, block the French army advancing north from Egypt, and furthermore, occupy the Ottoman Empire.

However, this plan was the only way for Raevsky, who was at risk of unemployment, to survive.

Of course, if you look closely, the German Bennigsen and the Georgian Bagration also came here because they didn’t want to be demoted.

At that time, someone approached Raevsky, who was shouting slogans.

“Raevsky. Oh, do you have to supervise all the marches? You’re working hard.”

“C, Commander! When did you get here?”

“Isn’t the marching speed and assembly of our corps all my responsibility? Of course, it’s something you, Raevsky, Bennigsen, and Bagration will do, but still. Hehe!”

Kutuzov, a general who respects the autonomy of his subordinates if you put it nicely, and is irresponsible if you put it badly, laughed.

“How is it, can you fight? With these soldiers?”

Looking back at the soldiers, most of whom are from Wallachia and Moldavia, modern-day Romania, Raevsky licked his lips.

“It’s difficult. If General Suvorov were here, he would have given up on the war.”

“Puhahat! That man really values infantry combat. What did he say? Bullets miss, but bayonets don’t miss?”

“In this war, the tactics of the late Prince Potemkin will be effective.”

As expected, as a relative of Potemkin, Raevsky mentioned Potemkin first.

“We must pour cannons from a distance. Only then, if we fight, will we have a chance of winning.”

This is the tactic Potemkin used in the last Russo-Turkish War.

A war of attrition from a distance.

After firing so many shells that the barrels melted, Potemkin succeeded in occupying the northern Black Sea.

It’s the only tactic a general with confidence in firepower can use when there are no elite soldiers.

Kutuzov, riding on a gentle horse, smiled and nodded.

“That’s right. But you left out one thing.”

“Are you talking about cavalry?”

“Yes. We have almost no cavalry. On the other hand, I heard that the enemies have Mamluk cavalry [elite slave soldiers].”

Kutuzov patted Raevsky on the shoulder and smiled casually.

“All you have to do is this. When the enemy’s cavalry appears, form a square and block them. Understand?”

Raevsky’s eyes lit up.

This casual attitude is also the secret that made Kutuzov the most popular man in the Russian Imperial Army.

Of course, it’s an attitude that rival generals hate.

In the case of Raevsky, an officer who is still far from competing with Kutuzov, he found it quite attractive.

Besides, Raevsky also heard rumors about participating in this expedition.

“It’s the mistake that the idiot of Vidin, Pazvantoğlu [Ottoman rebel leader], made.”

“We don’t have such idiots in our army, but those soldiers are not our Russian Imperial Army.”

“I know. But they are basically competent. They all have experience fighting against the Austrian army.”

There are rumors that the French army is excellent in cavalry warfare.

In fact, it’s close to nonsense, but the Ottoman Empire really sees it that way.

This is because Eugene mainly showed cavalry tactics in the Syrian campaign and the Battle of Konya.

The Russian army, which relies on information from the Ottoman side, had no choice but to make the same misjudgment.

Suddenly, Raevsky pounded his chest and boasted.

“Just leave the square formation to me.”

Kutuzov laughed and grabbed the reins.

“Good! Let’s go, to Adrianople!”

At that moment, a loud noise rang out.

-Thump!

Kutuzov, who almost fell off his horse, grabbed his military cap in surprise and looked around.

“What, what is this sound?”

At that moment, Bennigsen hurriedly ran to Kutuzov’s side and shouted.

“Commander! What are you doing! Why are you here!”

“What do you mean, this is the front.”

“Not at all! The front is on the other side!”

Bennigsen shouted, pointing south from the middle of the army marching east.

“The French are crossing the Meric River south of Edirne and ambushing us. With artillery!”

Only then was Kutuzov, who had been so relaxed, shocked.

“Impossible. How could they have covered more than 200 versts [Russian unit of distance, approximately 1.067 km] and arrived here already!”

However, this is the marching speed that France showed even in history.

***

Of course, ambushing the opponent this easily is a rare experience even for the French army.

Especially if the opponent is a European army.

“Are you sure we’ve surrounded them?”

Marsot looked ahead suspiciously.

The Russian army stopped across the Meric River, in front of Edirne.

This is because Eugene’s artillery was firing from all four sides.

Dommartin is directly commanding the horse artillery in the north, and Desaix is commanding the general artillery in the south.

Looking through the telescope at Desaix, who was firing the cannons captured from Mustafa Pasha on the battlefield, Eugene replied.

“That’s right.”

“No, the first step is to send irregular infantry for reconnaissance. Don’t those guys know that?”

“They’re not the Russian army, are they? Just maintaining their assembly must have been a task in itself.”

Eugene turned his telescope to look at the rear of the Russian corps, or rather, the Romanian infantry.

“Perhaps, the real thing is the cannons that were coming beyond that.”

Hundreds of cannons can be seen stopped on carts.

It is probably the Russian Empire’s special cannons, later known in history as Unicorns.

Junot, who approached Eugene’s side and finally discovered the cannons, widened his eyes.

“Wow, the numbers are no joke? 80? No, is it 100?”

“If necessary, the Russian Empire can gather even 600 cannons.”

“Are you kidding me?”

Eugene shrugged and replied.

“If we invade Russia, that’s what we can expect. But not now.”

This is the battle commanded by Kutuzov, Bennigsen, and Bagration.

A war in which Eugene and Junot would have had to fight to the death in history.

The final battle of the Russian expedition, the Battle of Borodino.

But at this moment, they are just iron lumps that cannot hold gunpowder.

Junot, who was tilting his head, jumped up.

“Hey, Commander Eugene! Aren’t you going to send us? We have to kill the enemy commander!”

“Junot, I told you not to charge recklessly, didn’t I?”

“If we kill even one Russian general, wouldn’t that be helpful?”

Eugene looked at the reckless Junot and chuckled.

“That person is not like that. Maybe later, but not now. When the shelling is over, send Desaix. He’ll take care of it the fastest.”

Certainly, in history, Kutuzov defeats Napoleon.

But that’s not because Kutuzov is outstanding.

Rather, it’s because Napoleon did something stupid.

The foolish act of invading Russia in winter.

-Thump!

The sound of cannons echoed over the winter sky of Edirne, where snow had already fallen.

Early November 1798.

It was the moment when Eugene defeated Russia’s Kutuzov in Adrianople.