He Became Napoleon’S Genius Son [EN]: Chapter 241

(241) Lan Tricked Karl

Archduke Karl, the strength of the Austrian army, excels not in mobile warfare but in defensive strategies.

“Striking directly into Italy is both Bonaparte’s remarkable skill and a significant blunder.”

The Seven Years’ War, the Austro-Turkish War, and the War of the First Coalition all highlight this.

Austria’s victories predominantly stem from defensive counterattacks.

Instances of victories from proactive offensives are rare.

Conversely, even if line infantry were to attack instead of cavalry, Karl is confident in his chances of success.

He has already fortified his camp, formed his ranks, and secured his position.

Regardless of the speed of the maneuver, he believes he can withstand it.

However, Karl considers the overarching strategy itself flawed, a premise preceding all others.

Not his, but Napoleon’s grand strategy.

Karl smiled as he observed the cavalry charge through his telescope.

“It’s the same now. Arriving before the Venetian revolt fully ignites is commendable, but they are unprepared.”

“Then, shall we simply endure the cavalry attack for now?”

“Certainly not. We must deal with these moths drawn to a flame, mustn’t we?”

Karl set down his telescope and replied succinctly.

“The enemy’s intentions are transparent, but isn’t strategically defeating them a valid tactic?”

As if in response, a squad under Radetzky unleashed a volley of fire.

-Bang! Bang! Bang!

The Windbüchse [air rifle], an experimental weapon, incorporates various advanced technologies.

First, it uses gas injection instead of gunpowder. Second, gas charging is complex, requiring a charger carried by wagon. Third, it can only fire precisely 50 shots per charge.

These factors could easily lead to critical issues on the battlefield.

However, on a prepared battlefield, in a short-term engagement, the Windbüchse’s experimental nature becomes an advantage.

The commander, Schwarzenberg, shouted.

“Good! The cavalry is scattering!”

The sight of the cavalry scattering was witnessed by the Austrian headquarters.

“We must pursue now! Your Highness, give the order!”

“If we annihilate the cavalry here, victory is assured!”

“Your Highness, I will lead the charge!”

The generals cheered at the sight of the 3,000-strong cavalry dispersing.

Even the usually composed Hiller, the cautious Bellegarde, and the deliberate Rosenberg were excited.

It would be unusual not to attack when the enemy’s vanguard, charging directly before them, has scattered.

However, Karl shook his head.

“Tell them to hold. The key to this battle is not the pursuit.”

The repulse was solely due to the Windbüchse’s unique characteristics.

The only weapon in the 18th century capable of rapid fire.

However, nearly 30 shots have already been fired, leaving approximately 20 rounds remaining.

Karl was calculating that a pursuit was impossible when…

-Dudududu!

Again, the enemy cavalry, Lan’s cavalry, turned and charged.

“Another cavalry is coming!”

Just as Deputy Chief of Staff Schmidt was about to report, Karl frowned.

“This is absurd. What on earth is the enemy commander thinking? Schmidt, what do you think?”

“They are trying to provoke us and disrupt our formation, I presume.”

“Which general in Europe would fall for such a basic tactic? This isn’t the Turkish army.”

Karl gestured dismissively.

“Prepare a massed barrage!”

Schmidt hurried off with a messenger to relay the order to the artillery in the rear.

-Kurrr.

The steel pillars, 50 cannons, were dragged into position.

“France certainly has the advantage in mobility. But…”

Karl’s eyes gleamed as he looked at the cannons.

The cannons used in the initial engagement totaled 20.

Now is the time for all 50 to strike.

Gunpowder, shells, and stable ground—everything favors a devastating barrage.

In an instant, Karl’s command was issued.

“Our [Holy Roman Empire] is not lacking in firepower! General Karl von Strauss, fire!”

The artillery commander, Brigadier General Karl von Strauss, raised his flag.

Just like Gribeauval, the master of French cannons, Austria also has a founder of its artillery corps.

Josef Wenzel Liechtenstein.

The general who strengthened the artillery corps by integrating transport wagons and cannons, just before the Seven Years’ War.

Not as fast as horse artillery, but the bore and number of shells are significantly larger and greater.

-Kung! Kung! Kung!

Fifty cannons, fifty shells, flew through the air.

“Behold, this is our empire’s pillar, the [Liechtenstein] artillery system!”

With Karl’s cry, the shells hurtled towards Lan.

***

Responding to cavalry charges with gunfire and artillery fire is standard practice for soldiers in the late 18th century.

“The cavalry will all die! Their cannons have high accuracy!”

Even Murat, not known for his common sense, is screaming.

Indeed, it would be strange not to react when shells are flying through the air.

Lan looked at the sky, laughed heartily, and spurred his horse.

“Then run if you don’t want to die!”

“What? No retreat?”

“Murat, do you know this? All soldiers before the revolution know. Austrian artillery is actually the best in Europe!”

Lan, a man who had been a [non-commissioned officer] since before the revolution, shouted.

“Gunpowder, ammunition, equipment. Austrian artillery was actually the best. But our revolutionary army always won in firepower battles. How did we win?”

Murat has no interest in solving riddles.

Moreover, the sight of shells tearing apart soldiers’ bodies is already vividly apparent.

Such a reckless charge.

Even Murat would not employ such tactics.

An exasperated Murat shouted in informal language, running far away from the shells.

“I don’t know! All I know is that we’re about to die!”

“You idiot! We won by running. By constantly moving!”

“Can’t those guys move? Do they not have feet?”

However, Lan nodded and veered his horse.

“That’s right. The Austrian artillery has extremely few horse artillery! So keep scattering and running! We must lure the enemy out!”

Lan’s cavalry is not moving according to standard formations.

Scattering, spreading out in dots, dodging shells and bullets, and running in zigzags.

A bizarre curve, like a snake crawling on the ground, is drawn across the Verona plain.

Shells rained down on it.

-Kung! Kung! Kung!

At that moment, Bessières, who was veering far away, shouted.

“Commander! Shells ahead!”

Shells were falling in Lan’s path.

It must be targeted fire.

However, shells of this era are not so fast that they cannot be avoided when spotted.

Especially for cavalry riding on horseback.

“Archduke Karl! You made a mistake. If you wanted to catch me!”

Suddenly, Lan laughed, spurring his horse even faster.

“You should have brought hussars [light cavalry known for scouting and raiding]!”

At that moment, a shell fell where Lan had just passed, creating a deafening roar.

-Kuuung!

Fortunately for Lan, the shells currently being fired by the Austrian army are not bursting shells.

They are typical shells that emphasize penetration.

Therefore, damage could be minimized by accurately avoiding the point of impact.

Rather, because shells were raining down on Lan’s light cavalry, there was no opportunity to fire guns.

Even Schwarzenberg’s infantry, who had prepared for rapid fire, were shielding their eyes from the smoke.

Lan did not miss this moment.

Suddenly, Lan took his hands off the reins and grabbed the rifle he had been carrying behind him.

“Look, a gap has opened! Eugene Ferguson Rifle! Machine-gun fire, commence!”

The light cavalry, the [Lan Cavalry], who control their horses only with their feet, simultaneously raised their guns from all directions.

-Bang! Click, bang! Click, bang!

This is an improved version of the breech-loading rifle, the Ferguson Rifle.

In the meantime, mass production was carried out according to the blueprints left by Samuel Pauli at Eugene’s weapon factory.

It is still expensive and difficult to operate, but it has at least reached a level where it can be fired almost in rapid succession on horseback.

The front line was breached by the sudden mounted gunfire.

“The formation has been broken!”

Just as the Austrian army was wavering, Lan raised his gun high and shouted.

“Good, retreat as is!”

This moment is the real operation Lan had prepared.

***

The most enraged was naturally the commander of the unit whose formation had been broken.

“Pursue! How dare they break our army’s formation!”

The vanguard, Schwarzenberg, shouted and began to run.

Karl frowned as he watched the scene.

It is clearly a retreat with intention.

Karl turned to Schmidt and said.

“This is a trap.”

“Your Excellency, we cannot stop them. The soldiers are all excited right now. No, even the generals!”

“But even if it’s a trap, what if the enemy’s morale is truly broken?”

Karl then turned to Chief of General Staff Leiberich and asked.

“Leiberich, what do you think? Am I wrong?”

However, Leiberich was not looking at Karl.

Karl hesitated for a moment whether to exert his authority as Archduke.

Suddenly, Leiberich quickly handed over his telescope and reported.

“They are really retreating. The entire army!”

Only then did a surprised Karl look at the front through the telescope.

-Dadada!

That is, the retreating cavalry had plunged into the center of the enemy lines.

The sight of soldiers surprised and running away is truly vivid.

Even leaving the cannons behind and retreating like a receding tide.

Hiller, Bellegarde, and Rosenberg ran up and shouted again.

“We must not miss this opportunity. Commander-in-Chief!”

“Your Highness, give the order!”

“Now is the moment of victory! If we miss this opportunity, the enemies will recover!”

Clearly, it was definitely a lure operation at first.

But the sight of the French army now is unmistakably a retreat.

For a very brief moment, Karl hesitated.

There is no way Napoleon is such an incompetent commander.

It is clearly a lure operation to draw Karl out of this battlefield.

There is only one reason that shakes Karl’s heart even though he knows it.

The Battle of Bavaria.

Karl’s greatest military achievement.

The battle in which he defeated Moreau in Bavaria, causing him to flee all the way to Mainz.

It reminds him of the aspects of that battle.

Defense, failed raid, and the opponent’s confusion and pursuit.

Karl eventually succumbed to temptation.

“Yes, now is the time to decide the war! Charge!”

The Austrian army, which had been attacked by the cavalry until then, rose up all at once.

-Waaaa!

A 50,000-strong army, especially the line infantry, took the lead and advanced.

Of course, they are not coming while maintaining a horizontal line formation.

But they all hold loaded guns and fire before reaching the range.

Suddenly, Berthier, the chief of staff, asked Napoleon, who was running away from the gunfire.

“Commander-in-Chief! What about the cannons!”

Napoleon quickly ordered, twisting his lips.

“Leave them all behind and run! The cannons are not the problem now!”

“Yes?”

“The cannons are coming anyway. Did you forget?”

At that moment, Napoleon’s gaze turned southeast.

“Augereau is coming. Run, towards Caldiero! Lan did a really good job!”

Indeed, a life-risking lure was successful.

However, there is still work left to risk one’s life.

Leaving even the cannons behind, Napoleon’s 30,000 troops rushed south all at once.

-Dudududu!

In a disorderly formation that could almost be seen as a rout.