He Became Napoleon’S Genius Son [EN]: Chapter 402

(402) The Imperial Guard Goes to Austerlitz

When the defeat was reported, perhaps only the Emperor could laugh.

“Puhahaha! Moreau, what an absurd fellow! To waste soldiers so futilely! And Admiral Treville lost all his ships?”

This place is Mainz, home to the Archbishop of Mainz, the nominal representative of the Rhine Confederation.

In the original history, the so-called ecclesiastical territories would already have been dissolved during the era of the [German Mediatization: the process of secularizing and consolidating church lands and free cities into larger, more manageable states].

This was an event where France took all of the west bank of the Rhine and compensated the princes who had territories in that area with other territories.

At that time, free cities, minor lords, and fading ecclesiastical territories disappeared all at once due to this reorganization.

But now the situation was different.

First, Napoleon became much closer to the Church by trading with the Pope using aluminum coins as a medium.

Second, the Mediatization was originally the last event resolved by the Holy Roman Empire through the Imperial Diet, but the Empire was dissolved early.

Above all, Napoleon didn’t owe any favors to the German princes, didn’t need to be mindful of them, and had no Austrian Empire to keep in check, so there was no reason to carry out the reorganization.

In the end, the absurd situation of the old-fashioned ecclesiastical territories remaining intact occurred.

Instead of feeling awkward about this fact, the French Imperial Army is using the territories for supply.

Chief of Staff Berthier frowned while issuing supply orders to the priests of the Archbishop of Mainz.

“Your Grace, please handle this matter well. Your Majesty, this is no time to be laughing.”

“Then, should I cry? My son has sent news of victory!”

“For now, wouldn’t it be better to wait at the border and observe the other corps’ advance?”

Napoleon chuckled, his eyes gleaming.

“Berthier, do you not know me so well! If I were going to operate the army cautiously in the first place, I wouldn’t have started a war! War, if you don’t start it, you don’t know, but if you start it, you must annihilate the enemy’s main force! That is the only good in war!”

This place is already east of the Rhine, within the territory of the former Empire.

The First Corps under Napoleon, centered on the Imperial Guard, numbers 80,000 in total.

The cavalry ratio, which had been considered since the creation of the Grande Armée [Grand Army], is 20 percent, totaling 16,000.

Furthermore, the number of cannons is 320, a ratio of 4 cannons per 1,000 soldiers.

In the original history, this ratio was about 2 cannons per 1,000 soldiers, and it only increased to about 4.5 cannons during the Russian campaign.

In particular, the entire artillery unit is composed of horse artillery, making it highly mobile on the battlefield.

Of course, during the march, it was no different from foot artillery pulled by wagons.

However, it is certain that this is a well-trained elite force that has never been seen in France before, and that Napoleon himself is commanding for the first time.

Having such troops in hand, move cautiously?

Napoleon is always an aggressive man, even when leading troops inferior to this.

However, active maneuvering naturally brings supply chaos.

Chief of Staff Berthier recalled that point, squeezed his eyes shut, and lowered his head.

“Understood, Your Majesty.”

“Good, let’s summarize the current situation. We moved quickly, but the enemy is faster than expected. The situation is changing every moment.”

“The information received so far is as follows.”

Berthier turned back with a blank face again.

Originally, Napoleon’s headquarters had a structure where Napoleon gave instructions, and Berthier and the staff simply carried them out.

This structure makes it difficult to execute systematic operations like the staff officer corps systematized in Austria or the General Staff in Prussia.

Instead, it has the advantage that the commander-in-chief’s instructions are delivered quickly, accurately, and efficiently.

The general headquarters staff created by Berthier also has such a structure.

“F, first is the Spanish front. Marshal Masséna is blocked at Zaragoza. The opponent is the Spanish Army Commander-in-Chief, Marquis Romana, and the British India Regiment has joined them.”

Staff Adjutant Clausewitz, who received the Chief of Staff’s gaze, quickly reported.

“India Regiment? Surely it’s not composed of Indians?”

“W, well, not exactly, b, but they are mercenaries of the East India Company who fought in India. O, of course, they are mainly British, but some Germans are also included.”

“Masséna’s sense of combat has deteriorated a lot. Is he delayed because he couldn’t break through that? I told him to use the division of the old Kingdom of Aragon!”

Napoleon clicked his tongue.

Of course, it’s an unfair statement for Masséna.

He followed all the instructions and was advancing successfully, but he was struggling after encountering an unexpected opponent.

Namely, the conqueror of India, who is not yet known in Europe.

Clausewitz wiped his sweat nervously and explained.

“N, next, the Flanders front is quiet. The British Navy is still attacking our coastline, but there are no signs of a landing operation. T, the main reason seems to be the North Sea campaign towards Russia.”

“Speaking of that, could they be aiming for Denmark?”

“Excuse me? Denmark is a neutral country.”

Napoleon, looking at the embarrassed Clausewitz with a pathetic gaze, urged.

“You’re from Prussia, so you don’t know anything! Do the British care about that? In my opinion, the greed of the British will not end until they swallow the whole world! They will definitely aim for Copenhagen. Surratt and the Ministry of Interior should keep an eye on Denmark!”

Chief of Surratt and the man who followed the Emperor on this expedition, Rochejacquelein, bowed his head with a bitter smile.

But other military spies are Berthier’s responsibility.

Berthier, wondering how to send spies to Copenhagen, stepped forward himself.

“I will re-emphasize it after the strategy meeting. Next is the Austrian and Hungarian front.”

“I heard that Hungary is completely ruined, but what is Augereau doing? Why hasn’t he entered Austrian territory yet?”

“He is advancing into the Duchy of Württemberg outside Austria. There are no special reports, but it seems he is trying to lure out the Austrian army.”

At that moment, Napoleon slammed the temporary desk for commanders.

“Hmph, shouldn’t we drag that faithless Franz from the throne! Augereau doesn’t know how to gain glory. He should rush into Vienna at once and lead them to the desired battlefield!”

Of course, it’s not that simple.

However, if it were Napoleon, he would have carried out a bolder and faster maneuver.

Berthier, who was licking his lips, reported the last corps movement.

“Lastly, there are the victor of Jena, Viceroy Eugene, and Marshal Junot. Currently, the Viceroy’s army is advancing to Berlin after the victory at Jena.”

“Hehe, as expected of my son. But it’s a rash judgment. If he enters the Prussian mainland, there is a risk of being surrounded by 150,000 troops.”

“Then, shall we send an order to retreat?”

But Napoleon shook his head.

“No. I will advance myself. Then, I can easily break the siege!”

80,000, the Imperial Guard of 10,000 led directly by the Emperor and the 70,000 of the 1st Corps, began to move.

***

In any case, the only army that can cover 427 kilometers from Mainz to Munich in fifteen days at this point is Napoleon’s corps.

“I, it’s been a while. Y, Your Majesty.”

Completely unexpected by the Emperor’s direct advance, Maximilian Joseph, the Elector of Bavaria, hurried out to greet him.

However, even though the Elector came out, the Emperor’s gaze is not favorable.

Napoleon glanced at the Elector, sitting on a temporary chair in the meadow in front of Munich.

“Elector of Bavaria, you seem very busy?”

“Excuse me? W, what do you mean?”

“No, I mean it must be hard to move here and there. How fast must it be to go to England the day before yesterday, Prussia yesterday, and France today?”

It has been only 4 years since Napoleon became Emperor.

So, in the eyes of the Elector, the contemporary head of the House of Wittelsbach, which boasts a thousand years of history, he is truly a parvenu [a person of humble origin who has gained sudden wealth and importance] from the lower classes.

But at this moment, the Elector trembled like an aspen and knelt before the Emperor.

“Please forgive me, Your Majesty! It’s just that I had to receive envoys because of old friendships from the old Empire, and then!”

He realized that Napoleon had already grasped Bavaria’s movements.

It’s not just probing, Napoleon has been personally operating numerous spies to collect battlefield information.

There is no way he would leave a country located in an important strategic point like the Electorate of Bavaria alone.

However, there is a reason why he left it alone even though he knew it was straddling both sides.

Napoleon asked, patting the Elector’s shoulder with a subtle attitude.

“Elector, don’t you want to be a king?”

“What, what do you mean, Your Majesty?”

“The Holy Roman Empire has already perished, Elector. Also, there are only two empires in Europe. France, and Russia.”

The Elector rolled his eyes at the completely unexpected words.

It doesn’t seem like Napoleon is going to execute the Elector right away.

Then what is he trying to demand?

“That means that France and Russia will divide the hegemony of Europe. Of course, if I lose this war, things will be different. But, do you think that will happen?”

The Elector swallowed hard and bowed to Napoleon.

“N, no one doubts that the goddess of victory is with Your Majesty!”

Napoleon chuckled, looking back at Lannes, Berthier, and his generals.

“Really? It seems that Your Excellency the Elector doubts it. Doesn’t he?”

“Y, Your Majesty!”

“Of course, I am a generous person. I give even traitors a chance. Also, Bavaria has a great army, excellent writers, and culture. Unfortunately, there is no Goethe, though.”

Goethe is from the Duchy of Saxe-Weimar, which has a similar name.

In other words, it’s the land that Eugene passed by recently while fighting the war.

Of course, unlike Napoleon, Eugene, who is not exactly a fan of Goethe, passed by indifferently.

The Emperor ordered the Elector, who was secretly anxious that he should have recruited Goethe earlier.

“So, I will give you only one chance. You will be fully responsible for the supply in this war.”

“Excuse me? Ah, th, that is.”

“Don’t you want to? Of course, I am a generous person, so I won’t force you. However, if that happens, I don’t know what my son will think about the betrayal. I need to turn back my son who is advancing to Berlin.”

The Elector, recalling the Jena disaster at that moment, shouted.

“I will mobilize all the materials of the Duchy to support the advance of the Imperial Grande Armée! P, please forgive me!”

Napoleon laughed and got up, hitting the Elector of Bavaria on the shoulder.

“Good. Then, send the bill to our Foreign Minister later. He will handle it ‘appropriately’.”

Of course, that means he won’t give a penny.

-Step, step, step!

The Elector could not get up until Napoleon and the Imperial Guard left the place.

***

The French Imperial Guard, who had a comfortable rest in Bavaria, prepared again.

“Your Majesty, preparations for the march are complete.”

Napoleon, who had been awake since dawn, stared at the map and rose at the Chief of Staff’s report.

“Good. Go at full speed. You have received cooperation permits from the principalities on the march route besides the Electorate of Bavaria, right?”

“Of course. Hesse-Kassel, Württemberg, Saxe-Weimar, and the Duchy of Saxony have all promised full cooperation.”

“The canned goods supplied from Milan?”

Chief of Staff Berthier answered flawlessly.

“It will be transported through the Duchy of Weimar via the Helvetic Republic route. By the way, where is the destination, Your Majesty?”

Napoleon has spent the night alone with that problem so far.

If it were Prussia, it would have been decided after a heated debate among the staff, and if it were Austria, it would have been decided after a coffee meeting of old generals.

However, the Grande Armée dangerously makes all final decisions regarding marching, supply, and movement alone by Napoleon.

It’s just that Napoleon is a genius.

“It’s very simple. A place where we can gather all the enemies in one place.”

Suddenly, Napoleon’s eyes flashed.

“Moravia. In Austria’s remaining northern border, we will crush the remnants of the old Empire and the descendants of Frederick the Great at the same time.”

Moravia, the Czech Republic in modern history.

Despite the partition, this place is still the territory of the Austrian kingdom.

In the southern part of this place, there is a city called Brno.

It is a strategic point for direct access to the capital Vienna, and near this city, there are quiet plains and villages.

That is, Austerlitz.