He Became Napoleon’S Genius Son [EN]: Chapter 404

(404) The Last Hope of Prussia Has Arrived

Traditionally, wars concluded with the capture of the capital, not necessarily the army.

“But Napoleon changed everything!”

Potsdam, a small city just south of Berlin, is the location of the Prussian Royal Palace.

Following the devastating defeat at Jena, the Prussian leadership regrouped in Potsdam.

To be clear, Prussia’s military strength wasn’t entirely depleted.

Despite the defeat, the Prussian army, built upon strict discipline, rigid regulations, and [corporal punishment – physical discipline], still maintained control within the country.

However, this alone wouldn’t be enough to defeat the French Imperial Army.

This was a stark reality.

That’s why the King was seriously considering Blücher’s advice, despite usually regarding him as a stubborn general.

Nevertheless, the King frowned at Blücher’s bold proposal.

“The army is what matters, not the capital or territory!”

“So, you’re suggesting we integrate our entire army with Austria’s?”

“We must unite, Your Majesty!”

Blücher exclaimed, waving his white beard.

“Otherwise, if Napoleon is victorious in Moravia, no one will be able to stop him!”

The envoy from King Karl of Hungary hadn’t arrived yet.

However, it was clear how Napoleon, Karl, and Austria’s Laudon were positioning themselves.

Historically, these events occurred within a day’s travel of each other.

Furthermore, Prussia had extensive experience operating in Moravia from past attempts to seize Silesia.

Perhaps this is why Blücher, a veteran of the Seven Years’ War, confidently advocated for advancing into Moravia.

However, the other generals, except for Blücher, seemed hesitant.

King Friedrich Wilhelm III shared their apprehension.

“My uncle Louis is dead.”

“In war, casualties are inevitable, Your Majesty!”

“Does that mean it’s acceptable for 50,000 people to die? Is that what war is? Isn’t it customary to spare prisoners after a battle is decided?”

King Wilhelm exclaimed, his fists clenched and trembling.

“How can the French barbarians massacre the defeated so cruelly!”

He appeared consumed by anger, but it was actually fear.

This was a cry of terror.

The Prussian generals were also inwardly horrified, though they remained silent.

How could they annihilate the enemy in war without taking prisoners?

This was largely due to Eugene’s choice of a war of attrition, but it also shattered the established norms of European warfare at the time.

Even during the previous Italian campaign, surrendering would at least result in being taken prisoner.

However, Eugene focused solely on annihilation this time, refusing to allow surrender.

As a result, the Prussian Third Army had no survivors except for the officers and soldiers who managed to flee.

At that moment, Queen Louise, who had been quietly observing, spoke.

“Your Majesty, venting your frustration will not lead to victory.”

“Louise, was it a mistake to decide on war? Should we all go to Napoleon and beg for our lives?”

“Pull yourself together, Fritz!”

Calling the King by his nickname, Louise grabbed his hand and urged him.

“Summon the British ambassador, hold them accountable for instigating the war, and request additional military funding. Then, lead the entire army and advance as Field Marshal Blücher suggests!”

In other words, join them in Moravia.

Leading the entire army.

But this would leave Berlin undefended.

And Freischütz was currently advancing towards Berlin.

The King looked stunned and asked again.

“Then, what about you? The children? Berlin?”

“The princes and princesses can take refuge in Königsberg! Leave the defense of this place to Duke Hohenlohe, and you advance with Duke Brunswick. I will accompany the army!”

“Wait, you’re coming with us?”

Queen Louise’s eyes flashed with determination.

“There are times when royalty and soldiers must risk their lives for the country! Now is such a time!”

Königsberg, in the original timeline, is modern-day Kaliningrad.

It is the easternmost part of the kingdom, where the Teutonic Knights, the origin of old Prussia, established their capital.

Historically, it was also where Prussia sought refuge to resist Napoleon.

However, Louise was now advocating for fighting, even if it meant the fall of Berlin.

At that moment, the Prussian generals, who had been trembling with fear, were galvanized.

“Her Majesty is right! I, Karl von Brunswick! As a Field Marshal of Prussia, I will give my life!”

“Don’t worry about Berlin. We will defend it to the last man. That ruthless sharpshooter with the magic rifle will not dare to invade!”

“I, Ernst von Rüchel, will protect His Majesty and Her Majesty with all my might!”

Even Blücher, who had been gaping in surprise, clapped his hands.

“Hahaha! A knight fights for his lady. I will gladly join!”

Finally, King Friedrich Wilhelm’s face hardened with resolve.

Either way, the war had already begun.

The choice was simple.

Fight the French Empire, or surrender to Napoleon.

For those born into royalty, surrendering to a parvenu [a person of humble origin who has gained wealth and celebrity] was unthinkable.

“Good. If the army takes precedence over the capital or territory, that is the tradition of Prussia! As the Great Friedrich demonstrated!”

Once he made a decision, King Wilhelm acted swiftly.

“Duke Hohenlohe, your Second Army will defend Berlin. The rest of the First and Fourth Armies will march to Moravia. I will accompany the Queen!”

The Prussian generals in black uniforms stamped their feet in unison and saluted.

-Thump, thump, crack!

It was the moment when Prussia’s elite, 100,000 strong, decided to march south.

***

However, a decision alone cannot move an army.

“The problem is the route. Currently, southern Prussia is surrounded by the puppet state of Bohemia and Eugene Freischütz’s corps.”

In many ways, warfare is dominated by logistics and movement.

Even in an era where aerial drops are possible, the army’s advance is necessary for occupation.

This was even more critical in 1806.

Napoleon eventually fell in the original timeline not because of battle defeats, but because of the disastrous retreat.

Blücher frowned as he listened to Colonel Boyen’s explanation from the staff.

“There’s something strange.”

“Yes? What do you mean?”

“Freischütz is moving slowly towards Berlin. Unlike his usual lightning-fast movements.”

Blücher glanced at the direction of Eugene’s army and then at Scharnhorst.

“It seems like he’s aware of the Austrian army, don’t you think?”

Scharnhorst, now with only one arm, tilted his head, his face pale.

“He may be wary of our Prussian army’s movements. In any case, Eugene’s army still numbers 35,000.”

“If Napoleon weren’t advancing, we would have crushed them immediately.”

“In terms of firepower, they possess new weapons that we don’t know about. They are not an opponent to be recklessly confronted.”

Scharnhorst was the only one present who had directly fought Eugene.

Therefore, Scharnhorst’s words carried significant weight.

Even though he was defeated, the other generals knew that the outcome would have been the same regardless of who was in command.

Suddenly, Commander-in-Chief Duke Brunswick asked.

“Then we’ll have to detour. Where do you think we should go?”

Scharnhorst struggled and drew on the map with his one arm.

-Scribble!

Pointing to the route drawn with black charcoal, Scharnhorst said.

“The Bohemian Route.”

Duke Brunswick, who had been intently studying the map, raised his head.

“This is a bold move. This is clearly enemy territory.”

“It was Austrian territory until three years ago. Most of the local officials and residents harbor anti-French sentiments.”

“They probably don’t have good feelings towards Prussia either, right? Isn’t Moreau a concern?”

In other words, Scharnhorst was suggesting a route that crossed Bohemia from Prussia.

This was due to Moravia’s location.

Moravia is located in what is now the southern Czech Republic, south of Bohemia, which corresponds to the northern Czech Republic.

To advance from Prussia, they had to either go around southern Germany or pass through Bohemia.

But didn’t Moreau and Bernadotte, despite their defeats, still operate in Bohemia?

“Moreau is already moving to join Augereau. A gift from the Duke of Saxony.”

Scharnhorst said with a faint smile.

The Duke of Saxony had chosen Prussia just before the Battle of Jena.

Currently, the army that Prussia was operating included a large number of soldiers from Saxony.

Thus, despite the Battle of Jena, he was still forcibly allied with Prussia.

Brunswick chuckled.

“Ha, is the Duke of Saxony still playing both sides?”

“I guess he doesn’t have the courage to side with France now.”

“Good. The entire army, march at full speed. Let’s show them that forced marches are not the exclusive domain of France. Blücher!”

Blücher raised his eyebrows and turned to Brunswick.

“Yes, Commander-in-Chief.”

“I’m entrusting this battle to you.”

“What do you mean?”

Karl Wilhelm Ferdinand Brunswick, the heir to a long line of dukes, smiled at Blücher.

“Freischütz, looking at that cursed young sharpshooter, I realized I’m definitely old. Unfortunately, the only general in our army who is relatively young and full of energy is you, an old man.”

Duke Brunswick had been fighting against France since before the defeat in the famous Battle of Valmy.

The Seven Years’ War, the War of the Bavarian Succession, and the Revolutionary Wars.

He fought bravely in every battle, sometimes winning and sometimes losing, but now he had to admit it.

Now, at the age of 71, Brunswick was outdated.

The one to entrust the future to was also an old man of 64, but still.

“Besides, I don’t have the confidence to bow my head to King Karl.”

Blücher, who had to bow his head anyway because he was a lower nobleman, laughed heartily.

“I don’t intend to bow my head either, but I’ll do anything to win. I understand, Your Excellency.”

Prussia had drawn the best card they could play.

***

Thus, the Royal Prussian Army crossed the territory of an enemy nation and arrived at the battlefield.

-Thud!

Planting his saber, sheath and all, on the ground, Blücher’s eyes flashed.

“Finally, Moravia.”

The two armies facing each other were visible in the distance.

80,000 French troops and 120,000 Austrian troops.

If 100,000 Prussian troops joined them, the [Allied Forces] would outnumber the [Imperial Forces].

Suddenly, Scharnhorst, looking pale, surveyed the situation and asked.

“Will the Duke of Saxony and Hohenlohe be able to contain Freischütz?”

“We should assume they’ll miss him. However, our reserves are important in case he suddenly advances, although the possibility is low.”

“Well, it’s almost impossible to suddenly mobilize from right in front of Berlin to Moravia. Duke Hohenlohe isn’t a fool either.”

Blücher nodded and roughly swung his sword.

“So, we just need to focus all our efforts on catching that Corsican upstart.”

The saber cut through the air in the direction of the French Imperial Army’s camp.

-Swoosh!

As if to cut off Napoleon’s head.

October 25, 1806.

Austerlitz, near Brno, Moravia.

The encirclement of Napoleon by Blücher and Karl was complete.