He Became Napoleon’S Genius Son [EN]: Chapter 400

(400) Karl of Mazaria Grabs Moreau by the Scruff of the Neck

There is a monarch who always moves his army with caution.

“Was I too slow? Prussia is already collapsing.”

King Karl of Hungary clicked his tongue, observing the front lines from atop a hill.

A high ground, a position Napoleon valued most.

Karl, too, had studied Napoleon’s tactics and learned to observe the enemy’s situation from an elevated position.

Even in Krakow, the old Polish capital, where the vast East European plains unfold.

But what troubles Karl now is not the French Bohemian Legion facing him.

Rather, he is worried about the outcome of another battle fought in the west.

The Battle of Jena, which Eugene won.

Suddenly, Chief of Staff Wairoder approached and reported.

“Prussia has not yet collapsed. They have only lost the initial engagement, Your Majesty.”

“But it’s not a good sign for Austria’s Leiberich and Laudon to move. Those already slow, old-fashioned generals will become even slower.”

“Look at it another way, Your Majesty.”

Wairoder grinned, his monocle gleaming.

“This is a golden opportunity for Hungary, or rather, for Your Majesty, to take the lead in this anti-French alliance.”

Currently, the Kingdom of Hungary is in a peculiar position.

Although it is nominally an independent state, Karl, the former emperor’s brother, and his military personnel are acutely aware of the legacy of the old Holy Roman Empire.

Also, its position as a landlocked country leads it to pursue a national policy aimed at reviving the old empire for external expansion.

However, the great nobles and people of Hungary, and the soldiers, all yearn for independence.

And Karl received significant support from the Hungarian nobles and people for this war.

This is because he implemented a de facto conscription system under the guise of the Home Guard.

In a situation where national opposition could easily arise, what appeased the Hungarians was one thing: the desire for Hungarian independence.

Although the king is from the Habsburgs, German and Hungarian nobles are intertwined due to long-standing intermarriage.

Therefore, Hungarians are responding to the call-up, fueled by dreams of independence.

Therefore, this war was a gamble for Karl as well.

Karl smiled wryly and lightly rebuked Wairoder.

“Don’t get ahead of yourself, Wairoder. We must annihilate the enemy in front of us first. And hope that the joint attack by Russia and Turkey does not materialize.”

“The possibility is low. Even Prime Minister Metternich, who has not yet returned, agrees with this.”

“Are you sure? Tsar Pavel is clearly an erratic monarch, but Kutuzov and Bennigsen learned war from Suvorov. Moreover, there is Marshal Marceau of the French Empire in the Ottoman Empire.”

Just as the Austrian Empire did in the past, Hungary also faces the potential of a two-front war.

The immediate concerns are the Ottoman Empire in the southeast and the Russian Empire in the northwest.

If Russia mobilizes its army, it can project at least 200,000 troops onto the European continent.

Although Eugene has seized Egypt and Syria, the Ottoman Empire is still a significant power capable of mobilizing 100,000 troops near its own borders.

However, Wairoder simply dismissed the possibility.

“The chances are extremely low. Tsar Pavel has declared war on England, not that he will fight against our Austrian or French enemies. Also, the Ottomans are currently fighting Persia, caught in the ‘intrigue’ of the British.”

In this era, Europe is on the verge of becoming the center of the world.

The wars that take place in Europe soon affect the entire globe.

The fact that the Ottoman Empire ended up fighting Persia while England was fighting France is a prime example of this.

England, which had extended its colonies to India, was supporting Persia with funds, and Persia, in turn, launched a war against its long-time rival, the Ottoman Empire.

Russia, with its chaotic domestic affairs, is not worth mentioning.

As soon as it declared war on England, all ships in the North Sea and the Baltic Sea were attacked by the British fleet, paralyzing its maritime capabilities.

King Karl, who had been lost in thought for a moment, nodded.

“Okay, then we can break Moreau in front of us. What about the plan?”

The sound of line infantry advancing in front was heard loudly.

-Chuck, chuck, chuck!

Chief of Staff Wairoder turned his gaze and reported.

“Moreau is a general who uses orthodox tactics. However, the only difference is that this orthodoxy refers to tactics after the French ‘Great Uprising’ [French Revolution], not traditional methods.”

“Summarize it.”

“He will probably try to collapse our front with a combined tactic of infantry and artillery, followed by a volley of fire from the line infantry. A bayonet charge is expected.”

Karl looked around.

Hiller, Bellegarde, and Rosenberg are visible.

They are aristocratic generals of the Habsburg family who have followed Karl since the First Anti-French Coalition War.

Could he really order them to charge with bayonets?

Karl sighed lightly and shook his head.

“The French are truly brave. I cannot force such a dog’s death on the Magyars [Hungarians]. Nor on my generals.”

“Conversely, they hardly use flanking maneuvers.”

“Napoleon’s tactics. It’s wise not to follow what you’re not good at. But it makes it easy for us to predict.”

Suddenly, Wairoder adjusted his monocle and smiled.

“Considering that the enemy cavalry is mainly Polish, an effective annihilation战 [annihilation battle] is possible.”

Every army has a core unit and auxiliary troops.

But what happens when these core units and auxiliary troops are composed of different ethnic groups?

King Karl, as a general who commanded the Austrian Imperial Army, which used 16 languages, knows this very well.

Karl reviewed Wairoder’s operation plan and approved it.

“Indeed, this will work. Execute it.”

Soon, Karl’s three deputy commanders, Hiller, Bellegarde, and Rosenberg, rushed to their respective divisions.

-Da-da-dak!

Exactly as they had learned from the French Imperial Army.

***

The Bohemian Legion was originally an army organized with three types of troops.

First, the army of the Duchy of Bohemia, a satellite state of France, whose core was the old Moreau Legion.

Next, there was the army of the Duchy of Galicia, also a French satellite state, which was forcibly conscripted and organized, but was recently completely defeated by King Karl.

But the last category is a bit special.

It is a cavalry unit composed of soldiers from the former Polish Kingdom army.

“Duke Poniatowski, General Moreau’s order has been issued!”

A young cavalryman wearing a cuirass [body armor], like an old knight, turned his gaze.

“It has finally arrived. General Dombrowski. Send a reply that we can do anything, whether it’s a charge or a feint.”

“Unfortunately, there is only one order issued to our regiment: reconnaissance.”

“Why!”

Cavalry commander Jozef Poniatowski exclaimed.

“Right now, the enemy is completely focused on the front! If it were His Imperial Majesty, he would have ordered a feint or a rear maneuver at this time!”

Behind Poniatowski, the cuirassiers all lowered their heads.

These are the cavalry of the so-called [Polish Legion] who were advocating for Polish independence.

In fact, it is easy to mistakenly believe that Poland collapsed in the mid-18th century.

However, in reality, Poland finally collapsed in 1795, when the French Revolution broke out and Europe was engulfed in war.

So, in 1806, there are still countless people who remember the days when Poland was still intact.

Most of them succumbed to Russia or emigrated to the New World, America, but there are still many who run to France dreaming of independence.

Because since Louis XV married a Polish princess as his queen, France has been one of the pro-Polish countries.

Poniatowski, the former young royal who is exclaiming now, is the same.

He is a hero who participated in the Polish War of Independence with middle-aged General Dombrowski.

But Dombrowski coldly told his superior and lord, Poniatowski.

“That’s not something we exiles can demand, Your Excellency.”

“But!”

“Until the day His Imperial Majesty achieves Poland’s independence, we have no choice but to be loyal to the orders of the imperial generals.”

Poniatowski gritted his teeth.

When the Duchy of Galicia was created in the past, the Poles had great expectations.

But France unexpectedly appointed Duke Friedrich Salm-Kyrburg, who was not Polish, as the Grand Duke.

However, Polish independence activists were able to return to the Duchy of Galicia.

Filled with disappointment, they returned and became soldiers to protect their homeland.

The Polish cuirassiers tremble with resentment.

However, if they knew the original history, they would breathe a sigh of relief.

Originally, Napoleon, who did not trust the Polish Legion, sent them to Saint-Domingue [Haiti], where they contracted yellow fever and almost all died.

“I understand. Gee up!”

Poniatowski and the cuirassiers unsuitably set out to scout the Krakow plains.

Originally, reconnaissance is the job of hussars [light cavalry], not cuirassiers [heavy cavalry].

But Moreau did not completely trust the Poles.

-Doo-doo-doo!

Just as they were bypassing the outskirts of the Krakow front, Dombrowski hurriedly reported.

“Whoa! This is strange, Your Excellency. The enemy is retreating!”

“What’s so strange about that? Send a messenger right away! Urge the Marshal to launch a general attack!”

“But, um. I understand!”

Dombrowski thought something was strange about the front, but soon obeyed the order.

In fact, Polish generals are generally brave, but not particularly skilled in tactics.

You can tell just by looking at the fact that the 병종 [military branch] is not a modern line infantry or artillery, but a cuirassier.

In the original history, the main force of the Polish Legion was actually lancers.

Still, Poniatowski, who is currently holding a saber and pistol instead of a spear, shouted towards the battlefield.

“This time, Austria will be overthrown, Prussia will collapse, and Poland will be independent!”

In the distance, Moreau’s Bohemian Legion line infantry can be seen firing all at once.

-Tang, click, kirik. Tang!

Of course, the enemy is not Austria but Hungary.

But Poniatowski also knows that King Karl of Hungary is at the forefront of the revival of the old empire.

Also, if the old empire and Prussia collapse in this war, the remaining Polish territory except for the Russian territory can be recovered.

Who knows?

If he makes great achievements, a Pole may sit on the throne of the Grand Duke instead of Archduke Friedrich, who did not play a role in this war.

“Look! The strongest line infantry of the time! The warriors of the French Imperial Army!”

Just as Poniatowski turned to look at his generals in excitement, Dombrowski narrowed his brows.

“Again, this is strange. Your Excellency.”

“That’s right! We must break through when the enemy is weakened!”

“No, that’s, rather than a breakthrough. Oh!”

At that moment, Jan Henryk Dombrowski shouted.

“We are being surrounded!”

Clearly, under Moreau’s command, the Bohemian Legion was breaking through the enemy lines.

But at some point, the Hungarian divisions split to both wings and began to encircle them.

But Poniatowski shook his head violently and shouted.

“But, even if they surround us in that situation, they will be broken through instead, right?”

Dombrowski, who had seen the breakthrough power of the French Imperial Army, was about to tilt his head.

-쾅! 쾅! 쾅!

The artillery simultaneously struck the surrounded French Imperial Army.

Even at a speed that cannot be seen in a muzzle-loading cannon with strong recoil.

Poniatowski was surprised by the suddenly changed battle situation and shouted.

“Rapid-fire cannons? Good heavens. Follow me, Polish cavalry! I’m going to save our allies!”

The cuirassiers charged into the battlefield all at once.

***

However, the era when cavalry charges could single-handedly change the battle situation is long over.

“Retreat! Retreat! Can’t you hear me!”

Moreau ran around the battlefield and shouted, but the front of Krakopa was already full of smoke.

“Marshal! You must escape!”

“The soldiers are in danger of being annihilated here, in a foreign country, not even French land! Are you telling me to escape alone!”

“That’s why you should run away even more!”

In an instant, Bernadotte, who had cut down a charging soldier with a saber, shouted.

“Since the revolution began, only the soldiers who survived could retaliate against the enemy! No one recognizes the fallen soldiers!”

This seemingly cowardly statement is true.

Since the Revolutionary War began, the French army has not always won.

However, it was because those who survived retaliated against the enemy with victories that they gained the title of the strongest in Europe.

In a situation where defeat has already been virtually decided, if even the commander dies, all of Europe will look down on France.

Moreau gritted his teeth and looked around at the surrounded situation.

“But, how do we escape from here?”

At that moment, a roar erupted.

-Toowoong!

A cavalry unit wearing shining armor broke into the battlefield.

“Marshal! It’s the Polish Cuirassier Brigade! Hurry, escape from here!”

Moreau hurriedly asked the cavalry commander.

“Who are you people?”

“We will create a path as the Marshal escapes!”

“Thank you, General Poniatowski!”

With Poniatowski behind him, Moreau began to run.

“Retreat! Right now!”

The French Imperial Army suffered its first defeat since the start of the war.

October 1, 1806, in front of Krakow, the old capital of Poland.

It was the work of King Karl of Mazaria, who was aiming for a counterattack.