He Became Napoleon’S Genius Son [EN]: Chapter 403

(403) The Emperor and the Archduke Clash

The road to Brno in Moravia, or Austerlitz, is smooth but relentless.

-Bang! Bang bang! Bang bang bang!

Suddenly, a gunshot from the side prompted Lieutenant Charles François Huchet de la Bédoyère to shout,

“Good heavens, more pickets! Scatter, scatter!”

The Guardsmen rushed forward, but the enemy soldiers hiding in the forest scattered and fled.

It would likely be difficult to catch them even with a proper chase.

The so-called Germanic forests are still scattered throughout the southern regions of the former empire, even as the modern era approaches.

Therefore, as Austria or Moravia gets closer, the number of enemy soldiers using the forests to ambush increases.

In the distance, Napoleon, riding with the main force, listened to the gunfire.

“Huhu, I’m reaping the benefits of Eugene stirring things up.”

“Even the main Imperial Guard is being attacked by skirmishers to this extent; the damage to the vanguard and rearguard must be even greater, Your Majesty.”

“Then it’s time to test the generals’ capabilities.”

Napoleon, seemingly unconcerned by Marshal Lannes’s advice, gave an order.

“Lannes, relay this order to each division commander of the Imperial Guard Corps. Use any means necessary to follow me. However, if the troop loss rate exceeds 5 percent, that division commander will be demoted!”

It sounds like a strict but reasonable order at first glance.

Unlike foreign armies with many mercenaries, the French Imperial Army consists of national soldiers with strong loyalty, so they don’t desert easily.

However, they are currently on a forced march.

Also, enemy attacks are frequent, so maintaining a 5 percent loss rate is a difficult number to achieve.

Bertier quickly approached Lannes, who was falling behind with a dumbfounded expression.

“Division commanders will be dying off. Who is in charge of the divisions right now? Marshal Lannes?”

“Well, the names that come to mind right now are Murat, Mortier, Brune, Oudinot, Macdonald, and Victor, Chief of Staff.”

“The other fellows aren’t much of a problem, but Murat is. Can you control him?”

Lannes frowned and looked back at his deputy commander.

“Bessières, go and supervise Murat’s division.”

Originally, in the original history, Lannes and Bessières become marshals around this time.

However, this is due to the incident where Lannes lost to Murat in the competition and stepped down from the Commander of the Consular Guard due to embezzlement issues, and Bessières took over as his successor.

But currently, Eugene has suppressed Murat, and Napoleon’s finances are solid thanks to the Beauharnais Cartel.

Therefore, most of the incidents that would have occurred due to money problems have been averted.

As a result, Bessières is still Lannes’s faithful adjutant.

But no matter how faithful he is, there are tasks he dislikes.

Bessières grimaced and retorted bluntly.

“Marshal, keeping an eye on Murat was enough during the Italian campaign.”

“Otherwise, we’ll have to send Murat back to His Royal Highness, the Viceroy. If that happens, His Royal Highness won’t be very pleased, will he?”

“I’d rather serve under His Royal Highness. I heard that Lasalle and Ney had a great time this time.”

Lannes scoffed at Bessières, who was jealous of the two cavalry commanders who were his rivals.

“Hmph, don’t worry. Our great Emperor is not one to give credit to others anyway. Besides, His Royal Highness ate up the [Aperitif – appetizer], but the [Plat Principal – main dish] is just beginning.”

In fact, Napoleon is indifferent to the taste of food, but in the culinary art of war, he yields to no one.

Bessières nodded and narrowed his brows.

“Really, will the Austrian army come out?”

“It’s not just Austria that’s coming out. Hungary is coming out too. Why? Because His Majesty is going as bait.”

“Excuse me?”

Lannes chuckled and glanced at the direction the Emperor was heading, saying quietly.

“Don’t you still understand the essence of this operation? He’s throwing His Majesty as bait to catch a big fish. After all, the enemies can only relax and pat the buttocks of beautiful women in bed if they kill His Majesty!”

Currently, Napoleon is force-marching into Moravia.

But in fact, Napoleon has no reason to rush.

Even though England has completely defeated France at sea, and traders are screaming, it is England that is in a hurry.

England is not a food-producing country but a food-importing country.

But the countries that import that food are traditionally Russia, the United States, and France.

In short, England is fighting with all its food import lines cut off.

Of course, there is also the method of squeezing Ireland in a hurry, and they are also importing food from the princes of the former empire.

However, that alone is not enough to meet the demand in London, where urban workers have begun to increase.

A food rationing system may be implemented soon.

So why is Napoleon rushing to advance?

Even though Eugene’s complete victory in the initial battle bought him time.

The answer is one.

To hurry and deliberately rush to gather all the enemies in one place.

With a dumbfounded expression, Bessières turned around, and Chief of Staff Bertier nodded expressionlessly.

“That’s right. His Majesty is also aware of it.”

“Good heavens. Chief of Staff, shouldn’t we stop such a dangerous operation? Back in the Italian campaign, His Majesty was just a general, so he took a gamble! Now, isn’t he the one responsible for the empire!”

“Can you stop His Majesty? General Bessières?”

When Bessières was caught off guard and closed his mouth, Bertier said in an emotionless tone.

“I’m not confident. Or you can try to persuade His Majesty instead of Murat.”

In the end, Bessières had to turn his horse around.

“I’ll go and monitor Murat right away. Giddy up!”

In any case, a crazy cavalryman is easier to handle than a mad emperor.

***

This surprising information was also obtained in Vienna, the capital of Austria.

“The Emperor is advancing to Moravia at full speed?”

Originally, Moravia, along with Silesia, Lusatia, and Bohemia, formed the [Bohemian Crown Lands – territories historically connected to the Kingdom of Bohemia].

Among them, Lusatia and Silesia were taken by Prussia, and Bohemia was taken by Napoleon’s brother Louis, but Moravia is still Austrian territory.

But in the era when the entire former empire was divided, it also became a border region.

But now Napoleon is coming there.

Alarmed, Austrian King Franz II, along with elders and ministers, exclaimed in surprise.

“This is definitely aimed at a joint attack on Vienna, Your Majesty!”

“Good heavens, what is Archduke Karl, no, the King doing? We must send reinforcements immediately!”

“If Augereau and Napoleon attack together, Vienna will not be able to withstand it this time either!”

Not only former Chancellor Thugut, who had already retired, and current Chancellor Cobenzl, but also Count Barthausen, who is likely to be the next chancellor, are in an uproar.

It can’t be helped.

Currently, Austria has only one-third of its national power compared to its heyday.

Also, Hungary, which was a source of vast military resources, has been separated and independent.

The French army, which had been defeated even when the former empire was intact, and Napoleon himself is coming.

How on earth should they deal with him? Both the Austrian Chancellor and the military are perplexed.

Suddenly, Franz II pondered and turned to Baron Laudon.

“Where is Eugene Freischütz, my cousin-in-law? Marshal Laudon?”

Johann Ludwig von Laudon, the nephew of the famous meritorious subject of the Seven Years’ War, Marshal Laudon, only blinked.

“Yes? Why are you suddenly looking for him?”

Why on earth is Emperor Franz, no, former Emperor Franz, looking for Eugene?

“Strictly speaking, Viceroy Eugene is not yet His Majesty’s cousin-in-law. He is only a fiancé. There is a high possibility that there was an unsavory incident, though.”

“Isn’t he just a figurehead put forward as Napoleon’s adopted son?”

“Let Prussia take care of such an outrageous person.”

When Thugut, Cobenzl, and Barthausen added a word each, King Franz burst into anger.

“Are you saying that even after seeing Prussia’s crushing defeat at Jena! Quickly confirm where Eugene Freischütz is maneuvering! Also!”

Suddenly, Franz stared at Chief of Staff Leiberich, who was standing behind Laudon.

“Politely ask my brother and ally, the King of Hungary, that reinforcements are needed!”

At that moment, all the courtiers in Vienna’s Hofburg Palace were shocked.

They are masters of court politics, even if they don’t know the strategic meaning.

Everyone knows what Franz said means.

But if this happens, the division of the empire will become irreversible.

Ludwig von Cobenzl, the current Chancellor and Chief Minister of Foreign Affairs, cried out.

“Your Majesty, that is recognizing Hungary’s independence!”

“Isn’t it an actual independent country?”

“Good heavens, Your Majesty!”

However, former Emperor Franz shouted resolutely.

“Now is not the time when appearances are important. Since the war has already begun, the only thing that is truly needed is victory! I will bow my head to anyone if I can win, and I can do anything!”

Originally, in the original history, Franz spends a lot of time checking his capable brother Karl.

But currently, there is no room for that at all.

Rather, he should step down even if Karl says he will become emperor.

Because the Habsburg family is in danger of being wiped out by France.

King Franz then proclaimed to the entire court.

“Go forth and proclaim to all the Austrian people. I will declare a general mobilization order for all adult men!”

“Yes?”

“Your Majesty, that will cause great chaos throughout the country!”

This time too, Franz did not stop.

“This is a national emergency! No one will want Vienna to be trampled on by the French again! Mobilize all the artists in Vienna to propagandize!”

Rossini and Strauss have not yet been born, but it is an era when Beethoven and Haydn are still alive and well.

Vienna is by no means behind anywhere in Europe, at least in art.

Franz declared, unaware that he was creating a new field of national propaganda art.

“Surely, this time I will bring the bumpkin from Corsica to his knees before me!”

Of course, if there is time for a general mobilization order to be issued to the entire country, it may not be impossible.

***

But Napoleon is too fast.

-Thud.

Originally, in the original history, conscription close to national mobilization is prepared over almost four years.

Also, they gather horses that have not yet been plundered and form the best cavalry in Europe.

But now, if there is anything better prepared than the French army, it is, oddly enough, manpower.

King Karl looked away, seeing the sight of a large army of nearly 120,000 making camp.

“Moravia, they have marched there without any obstacles. In the old days, it was unthinkable.”

“It’s because of the aftermath of the dissolution of the empire. In the past, all the princes who would have resisted have given up.”

“No, it’s because Prussia lost at Jena.”

Karl replied to Chief of Staff Weyrother and stared ahead.

They arrived exactly half a day early.

The French Imperial Army, that is.

Seeing the 80,000 troops lurking near Brno, he is reminded of the battle that took place in front of Vienna in the old days.

Can we really win this time?

“Can a secret envoy be dispatched to Prussia, breaking through the enemy’s obstruction?”

“Yes? Are you thinking of drawing the Prussian army into Moravia?”

“Of course, it’s the land they coveted. But now is not the time to be picky, is it?”

Karl replied with a thorough attitude that never let his guard down and frowned slightly.

“We will hunt the Emperor here.”

Dizziness swept through his head.

His chronic epilepsy seems to be slightly recurring.

Karl secretly hoped that his body would be normal until the end of the war and gritted his teeth.

The opponent is truly the strongest adversary among the soldiers Karl has faced.

Furthermore, defeat is not allowed for the sake of the revival of Habsburg and the former empire.

“Afterwards, I will reorganize Europe with my own hands.”

Finally, former Archduke Karl and current Emperor Napoleon clashed.

In a rural village called Austerlitz, near Brno.