He Became Napoleon’S Genius Son [EN]: Chapter 44

(43) Creating the First Mass Volley Fire Tactics in France

October is usually the time when the harvest is over, and the poor glean the fallen wheat.

However, since the civil war began, all farming has stopped.

The hands that held plows now hold hunting guns.

The nose, once filled with the scent of soil, is now filled with the stench of blood.

They simply wanted to protect their faith.

The continuous crop failures were also difficult to bear.

They also disliked the Parisian bourgeois [middle class] telling them what to do after killing the king they revered.

Then, an order came from Paris to forcibly enlist in the war.

In the end, they couldn’t bear it.

Since then, the farmers who couldn’t farm have seen many strange things.

Killing each other, burning churches, and the precious wheat fields burning away.

Today, what they hold in their hands is another strange flyer they’ve never seen before.

“What on earth is this?”

A farmer named Jacques knows how to read.

In an era with high illiteracy rates, being able to read is a source of pride.

Thanks to the devout priest, Father Mère, who taught him at the church.

But now, Jacques thought about how cursed it was that he knew how to read.

“What does it say?”

“Ah, it’s frustrating, just tell us!”

“It looks ominous with all that red. Tsk!”

Former farmers, now soldiers, chattered around Jacques.

They are the Vendée rebel soldiers guarding Cholet, surrounded by dense forests.

They are also proud soldiers who call themselves the ‘Catholic Royal Army.’

A pamphlet with bright red letters that someone ran in the early morning and scattered throughout Cholet.

Jacques quickly hid the pamphlet and shouted.

“Ah, it’s bad news! It’s blasphemy! These damn traitors!”

The ‘rebels’ guarding Cholet are all devout Catholics.

When the revolution first broke out, the farmers who became rebel soldiers welcomed it.

Because of the abolition of tithes [mandatory payments to the church, often a tenth of one’s income or produce].

However, the revolutionary government instead imposed new taxes, citing financial difficulties.

Moreover, they suppressed non-juring clergy [clergy who refused to swear allegiance to the new government] for not taking the oath of allegiance to the state.

When the foreign war began, the conscription of 300,000 men was ordered.

In the process, nobles and clergy led the farmers.

Naturally, the devout farmers were horrified by the word blasphemy and stepped back.

“These traitors. They’re all blasphemers!”

“Oh, Holy Mary. Curse the enemies and bless us!”

“Is the Maria cannon safe? We’ll have to pour it on the guys who are coming soon!”

They are so devout that they even named the cannons seized from the government army after the Virgin Mary.

The number of cannons is 14 in total.

It is a weapon that has been usefully used to fight against the revolutionary government’s suppression forces.

But there is a problem.

“Unfortunately, we have no gunpowder, brothers.”

Suddenly, an elderly priest appeared in front of the soldiers guarding the outskirts of Cholet.

The peasant soldiers took off their hats and bowed.

It is respect for the clergy that can no longer be seen in Paris.

In particular, Jacques knows the priest who led his village well.

“Father Mère.”

“Don’t worry too much. Our comrades who have fled abroad will soon bring gunpowder again.”

“About those exiled comrades.”

Suddenly, Jacques asked Father Mère.

“Could it be that my friends in England are helping us, Father?”

Vendée is a rural area.

If the era were the Middle Ages, it might have been simple for peasant soldiers armed with swords and spears to fight.

However, the era is the end of the 18th century, and gunpowder weapons already dominate the battlefield.

Conversely, it is very difficult to produce gunpowder in Vendée, a rural area.

It must be brought in from the outside, but there is no place to supply gunpowder to the rebel-controlled area.

He had simply forgotten about it, assuming the higher-ups were taking care of it, but suddenly became curious today.

Priest Henri Mère stared at Jacques and shook his head.

“Well, maybe so. But what does it matter?”

“Ah, that, that is.”

“Even if they went to England, it wouldn’t matter if they kept their faith and had loyalty to the royal family.”

Mère smiled as he looked at the temporary ‘Catholic Royal Army Headquarters’ in the center of Cholet.

“Just like our new commander-in-chief is young, but devout, so he leads us well.”

Jacques couldn’t ask if it wasn’t just because all the previous leaders were dead.

Because Mère had such a trusting expression on his face.

Forcibly smiling, Jacques nodded.

“That’s right, Father.”

Father Mère moved to comfort the other soldiers.

Watching him, Jacques looked around.

Smugglers, shepherds, farmers, bell ringers, thieves.

These are the people gathered in the Vendée army.

Everyone has different thoughts, there may be sinners, and there may be evil people.

But they are united by faith, loyalty to the royal family, and patriotism to the country.

That’s what I’ve been thinking so far.

Jacques muttered.

“Everyone is united.”

Suddenly, Jacques’ hand crumpled the pamphlet in his pocket.

-Crumple.

The flyer with red letters.

The content is very simple.

It is about the Vendée rebels joining hands with England.

England, which he had clearly been taught was an enemy country since he was a child.

Didn’t Father Mère say when Jacques was young?

England abandoned Catholicism, attacked France in the Seven Years’ War, and was once an enemy in the Hundred Years’ War.

Tearing the paper apart, Jacques cried out.

“What on earth is this!”

At that time, the bell rang from the belfry of the sacred city, Cholet.

-Ding! Ding! Ding!

The soldiers began to pray.

This is Cholet.

The base of the Vendée rebels who revolted by the farmers.

Furthermore, it is a gathering place for old nobles who dream of restoring the royal family.

***

However, the big shots always run away when things go wrong.

“Commander-in-chief, is this true?”

Those who failed to escape are usually not quick-witted people.

For example, like the young man sitting in the seat of honor at the headquarters with a tired face.

The commander-in-chief of the Vendée ‘Catholic Royal Army,’ Henri de la Rochejaquelein, shook his head as he looked at the flyer his subordinate handed him.

“Do you believe this, Forestier?”

The Eugene Postal Company was quite brave and quite capable.

Anyway, hundreds of red propaganda flyers were spread to Cholet, the headquarters of the royalist Vendée rebels.

Although they tried to collect as many as possible, rumors are already spreading among the soldiers.

Even the vanguard leader, Henri Forestier, rushed to ask.

Rochejaquelein said firmly.

“Of course, it’s a lie. Everyone knows that our army rose up spontaneously, right? We were all recommended; we didn’t intend to revolt from the beginning.”

“But people are agitated. Besides, there are people who say they saw an English merchant.”

“It’s all lies. Tell everyone that those who spread these words will be punished by military law!”

Still 19 years old, the young royalist Forestier bowed his head and left.

However, in fact, the commander-in-chief of the rebels, Rochejaquelein, is just as young.

He’s only 21 years old now.

The young nobleman, Rochejaquelein, who has to take responsibility for 100,000 Vendée rebels, or farmers, sighed.

He never thought he would be attacked like this.

“This is a big problem.”

Suddenly, a young nobleman standing next to Rochejaquelein opened his mouth.

The Marquis Louis de Lescure, who is a staff officer.

He is only 27 years old and has no military experience, only military school.

As a result, Rochejaquelein, who has a little military experience, was appointed commander.

The staff officer, Marquis Lescure, said.

“Rochejaquelein, this is the work of traitors. Clearly.”

“Who doesn’t know that, Marquis Lescure? But isn’t what they’re saying true?”

“Shh.”

Lescure looked around and lowered his voice.

“Someone might hear. We can’t let it be known that Prime Minister Pitt is supporting us.”

William Pitt, the Prime Minister of England.

The de facto leader of the British Empire, which is on the path of constitutional monarchy.

A powerful figure behind the scenes who sees revolutionary France as dangerous and supports the royalists.

He is also a sponsor who supplies the gunpowder and food used by the Vendée rebels.

It was Prime Minister Pitt who sent the British forces to Toulon.

This is a fact known only to the rebel leaders like Rochejaquelein and Lescure.

Of course, neither Rochejaquelein nor Lescure has any intention of betraying their country.

It’s just that with France under the control of the revolutionary government, they have no choice but to receive supplies from abroad.

But what would happen if this fact were known to the soldiers, who are mostly farmers?

They might start thinking as this propaganda suggests: that they are traitors.

Rochejaquelein sighed and said,

“What should we do, Marquis Lescure? All our capable commanders are dead now.”

“Why do you say there are no capable commanders? There’s still François de Charette, and Major General Jean-Nicolas Stofflet, isn’t there? Above all, you’re here!”

“I can’t compare to Bonchamps. If only Marquis Bonchamps were still alive!”

The Vendée rebellion, which they call the Uprising, was initially led by others.

Cathelineau, d’Elbée, and Bonchamps.

All three were experienced in military service, especially Bonchamps, who had participated in the American Revolutionary War.

That’s one of the reasons why the early rebels were so successful: because there were very capable commanders in the rebel army.

However, the revolutionary government committed 100,000 troops to the Vendée and carried out a scorched-earth campaign that bordered on a massacre.

This operation was brutal, but it had a significant short-term effect on suppressing the rebellion itself.

Anyway, Cathelineau, d’Elbée, and Bonchamps all died trying to stop the massacre.

Those who remain are mostly young noble commanders and farmers who don’t know how to command in war.

Charette and Stofflet are experienced soldiers, but they are headstrong.

They operate separate forces to fight, independent of the main army.

Just then,

“Let’s fight.”

Rochejaquelein said with a determined face.

Let’s fight.

He’s talking about launching a full-scale offensive.

Currently, the Vendée rebels have won most of the battles, but they have suffered too many casualties.

Therefore, they are retreating to their base and focusing on defending it.

Moreover, gunpowder, food, and ammunition are all in short supply.

Lescure pointed that out.

“What are you talking about? The gunpowder promised by England hasn’t arrived yet.”

“If we don’t have enough, we can just charge with bayonets. We are currently isolated in Cholet. We need a breakthrough anyway.”

“Where to? Have you forgotten that the recapture of Nantes ultimately failed? Is there anywhere else to attack?”

The largest city in this Vendée region is by far Nantes.

There were disgruntled factions within the city, and the surrounding farmlands were overwhelmingly royalist.

So, the Vendée rebels’ plan was to occupy this place and make it a stronghold for the royalist forces.

However, even the early leaders of the rebellion ultimately failed.

Now, there are not enough commanders, soldiers, or gunpowder.

Is recapture really possible?

But Rochejaquelein said firmly.

“These rumors are affecting the soldiers because of the lack of supplies. To solve this, we need the sea, we need victory. Isn’t Machecoul still under our control? And Savenay to the north of it too?”

“Both are on the Loire River coastline leading from Nantes to the Atlantic. That’s how we’re receiving supplies from England, too.”

“Let’s change our thinking. I see that the enemies are only paying attention to Nantes, Anjou, and Normandy in the north.”

Suddenly, Rochejaquelein’s gaze turned to the map on the table in the center of the temporary headquarters.

“Let’s go to La Rochelle instead. I heard that the troops that were there are moving north.”

South of Vendée.

It’s the opposite of the north, where the main force of the revolutionary army’s suppression forces is concentrated.

A surprise attack, so to speak.

Lescure’s eyes widened, and he worried.

“That’s a brilliant idea. But then Cholet will be empty.”

“How long can we hold out in this inland area?”

“That’s true.”

In the end, they will only be isolated and wither away in Cholet.

Besides, isn’t there a precedent?

The case of Toulon, where the British army directly intervened.

Although the rebellion in Toulon failed, Rochejaquelein, who used to love Greek heroic tales before the revolution, felt it.

This situation is like a scene of hardship in a heroic myth.

Unlike those who failed in Toulon, Rochejaquelein will succeed in La Rochelle.

Like a heroic tale from mythology.

“We need to secure the coast and communicate directly with England. Let’s recapture La Rochelle. Marquis, please protect Cholet.”

However, Rochejaquelein didn’t read the heroic tales thoroughly, so there was something he didn’t know.

A hero in mythology becomes one of two things.

Either they die, or they become a god.

Most of them die.

Also, sometimes the real ‘hero’ who leads the situation is someone else.

For example, Eugene, who deliberately emptied La Rochelle.

***

So, where is Eugene now?

“Good job, Sergeant Ellie. It’s fortunate that there’s someone from Vendée in our unit.”

He is near the revolutionary army’s headquarters for the suppression of Vendée, south of Nantes.

In fact, the Vendée rebellion is a back-and-forth battle with neither side completely taking the lead.

So, while small coastal cities are in the hands of the rebels, the revolutionary army controls the roads that run through the interior.

It is truly a place where the suppression army and the rebel army are mixed and fighting.

That is the characteristic of Vendée, the battlefield of chaos.

In this situation, a local is essential to infiltrate the enemy lines and spread propaganda leaflets.

Fortunately, one of the original members who went to Martinique with Eugene was from Vendée.

Jacob Ellie, the sergeant who had just returned from Cholet, scratched his head and smiled.

“It’s much easier than killing people, Monsieur Eugene. No, Major Eugene.”

“I’m sorry for making you participate in the army.”

“Well, it can’t be helped in this time of revolution. Anyway, I’m also a military veteran. More than that.”

Suddenly, Sergeant Ellie asked.

“I saw the rebels moving from Cholet. What are you going to do now, Major?”

Eugene turned his gaze to the map.

Strictly speaking, Cholet is on the outskirts of the area called Vendée.

It’s quite far from Nantes, where the main army of the revolutionary army is located, and La Rochelle is extremely close.

If they send their main force to La Rochelle, can Cholet withstand the revolutionary army’s all-out offensive?

Eugene judged that it would hold.

Because in the original history, the revolutionary army only managed to occupy Cholet after a more thorough preparation before attacking.

Only after Rossignol was kicked out.

So, there is a very high possibility that the all-out offensive led by Rossignol now will fail.

Under this premise, Eugene affirmed.

“We give up La Rochelle and replace the commander. This is the basis of our plan.”

“Then, this information is…”

“We hide it. From the headquarters.”

Eugene looked at the map and his eyes sparkled.

“We need to make them concentrate their forces on Cholet without knowing anything.”

A deceptive operation to deceive both allies and enemies has begun.

Late October 1793.

The revolutionary army’s all-out offensive on Cholet and the rebel army’s attack on La Rochelle have begun.

***

There is a saying that a cornered rat will bite a cat.

“Let’s go! To Cholet! We will take their base!”

Originally, the revolutionary army for the suppression of Vendée had been repeatedly defeated day after day.

Because of that, the full-scale offensive was passive, and they focused on destroying rebel bases.

In the end, the massacre was also carried out as part of this base scorched-earth operation.

However, the Vendée revolutionary army, with sufficient troops, supplies, and murderous intent, was driven into an absurd corner.

The pressure that news of the massacre could reach Paris.

This moved the Vendée revolutionary army.

They were forced to advance directly to Cholet, the rebel base.

The non-main force was positioned at the rear under the command of Commander Rossignol.

Naturally, the Marseille Postal Special Company, commonly known as Eugene’s Company, was one of them.

Eugene was in the center of it, riding a pony and marching.

“By the way, there’s something I want to ask before we go into battle.”

Suddenly, Ippolito, the adjutant who was following beside him while keeping watch, spoke.

“What is it?”

“Well, battle is always something where you can die.”

“You won’t die if you’re next to me.”

Ippolito laughed in disbelief at Eugene’s very confident affirmation and asked again.

“Wow, our gambling prodigy is so confident. Anyway, I couldn’t stand being curious. What the hell is Freemasonry? It’s the reason why General Kléber trusted you, Eugene.”

In fact, Eugene was not just saying it with confidence.

Anyway, if there is a crisis of death, the silver letters appear before Eugene’s eyes—that is the reality.

It’s a mystery presumed to be the providence of the [Transcender] who reincarnated Eugene into this era.

In that respect, Eugene could understand why the Vendée people rebelled when they touched the church.

Furthermore, he could understand why [Freemasons] are so strongly united.

Because it is a club that worships truth like a transcender.

Eugene replied simply.

“What are you talking about? It’s a public club. It’s a membership-based social club that dealt with very subversive ideas. Now, that subversive idea has become a revolution.”

“But is that enough for General Kléber to move? Captain Brueys also moved with that word before.”

“You’re sharp. Well, isn’t it the difference between people who believe in the organization’s principles and those who don’t?”

Eugene glanced at the Mainz Division, which was also marching in the rear of the suppression army.

“Enlighten the world with truth. Freedom and equality are the torches of truth. Therefore, illuminate the world with freedom and equality.”

“What’s that?”

“It’s a rough summary of the Freemason’s creed. Well, it was created in England, originally.”

In this alternate modern era, the Freemasons are often seen as a gathering place for [conspiracy theorists].

However, in the late 18th century, during their early days, they were a social club that championed freedom, equality, and truth.

Like many unusual movements, it began in England.

It started when British intellectuals joined a secret society derived from the [Stonemasons’ Guild] and transformed it into a club for discussing freedom and enlightenment.

So, not all stonemasons are Freemasons.

It just so happens that General Kléber, a Freemason, was also a stonemason.

In any case, this club sent shockwaves through European society, which was largely dominated by the Church.

It proposed that principles like science, reason, and logic could also be considered [truth], not just faith.

The discussions within these clubs sparked the American independence movement in the British colonies of the New World and the French Revolution in France.

However, after independence and revolution, the club’s influence waned.

In France, for example, the Duke of Orléans, who was originally the Grand Master, fled the country.

So, what unites those who are still Freemasons?

Eugene understands it this way.

“Those who truly believed remained, while those who saw the revolution as a means to an end, or simply lost faith, left.”

“So, those who remain now think the revolution is going in the wrong direction?”

“Opinions may vary. But…”

Suddenly, Eugene pointed to the side of the road and said quietly,

“It’s hard to justify those corpses.”

Vendée is littered with corpses, but the roadsides are even worse.

This is because the rebels and government forces fought fiercely to control these roads.

Even now, there have been several ambushes during the march, and battles to repel them.

If they were soldiers of an enemy country, it might be understandable.

But aren’t these people French?

Ippolito nodded heavily, then tilted his head.

“So, what are you planning?”

“What do you mean?”

“Oh, you’ve raised the stakes too high. This is a situation where 100,000 troops are involved in the entire Vendée region. Information could leak to Paris.”

Ippolito whispered, glancing at Major Marceau, who was leading the company’s march ahead.

“We originally came to find Marceau’s lover, you know.”

In fact, there was another reason why Eugene’s company was dispatched.

The reason given to Napoleon was to foster a pro-Napoleon faction within the suppression army.

The reason nominally reported to Paris was to monitor the postal situation.

However, the real reason for heading to Vendée was clearly because of Marceau.

Where could Marceau’s lover be?

But Eugene brought up an unrelated topic.

“Do you know that every adult male now has one vote?”

“What’s with that out-of-the-blue nonsense? Oh, did I have a vote too?”

“You just didn’t vote. Most men over 20 have the right to vote. The National Convention has significantly lowered the property ownership standards.”

Originally, immediately after the revolution, the National Assembly limited citizenship to ‘active citizens.’

These active citizens had to be male and own a certain amount of property.

Out of approximately 7 million men over the age of 19, about 3 million were excluded.

Furthermore, only about 500,000 people were actually able to vote.

Robespierre changed this.

Robespierre used the rapid changes in the political situation when the king was executed to push through so-called ‘universal suffrage.’

As a result, the property standards were lowered, granting voting rights to 3 million *sans-culottes* [common people or working-class citizens of Paris] .

An election with as many as 1.8 million participants was held, and the [National Convention] [the assembly that governed France from 1792 to 1795] was born from this election.

It is currently the highest authority in France, centered in Paris.

However, those who elect them are ultimately the voters, the citizens.

The terms of the representatives are two years.

The National Convention started a little earlier than in the original timeline, in 1792, so there should be a new election in 1794.

But what if Vendée is liberated by then?

Just as Ippolito’s eyes widened, Eugene smiled and pointed out,

“But aren’t the people of Vendée French citizens?”

So, Eugene was answering Ippolito’s question about what he was planning.

The people of Vendée also have the right to vote.

Of course, only adult men will have the right to vote.

Also, their voting rights may be temporarily restricted because they are rebels.

However, hundreds of thousands of people – that in itself is power in a republic.

“In a republic, power comes from the votes of the citizens.”

“Wait a minute. That’s only nominally true, and in reality, the members of the National Convention hold the power.”

“What if we change that into reality? Here, in Vendée, there are at least 300,000, maybe even 600,000 people. Including the suppression army, it might be around 700,000.”

Here, the reason Eugene gave Napoleon for going to Vendée becomes relevant.

“What if we could make these people supporters of General Bonaparte?”

Not just the Vendée army, but Vendée itself as a support base for Napoleon.

A counter-revolutionary area steeped in royalist sentiments.

Ippolito’s jaw dropped at the enormous scale of 700,000.

“That’s huge, but wasn’t Bonaparte a soldier? Does he need citizen support?”

“Things have changed now, but don’t you know that officers and soldiers were elected by vote in the early days of the revolution?”

“Oh, was that so? Ha, but isn’t this very far from finding Marceau’s lover?”

Eugene shrugged.

“Why not? I’m tracking her down while carrying out the operation.”

“What?”

“Where do you think the soldiers of the La Rochelle Coastal Regiment went? They’re conducting a search operation under the guise of a suppression operation. After all, many of those guys are from this area near Vendée.”

Come to think of it, more than half of the La Rochelle Coastal Regiment is missing.

Most of the officers, except for Colonel Thureau, have also disappeared.

I thought they had gone out as scouts, but there was another reason for their disappearance.

It was to find Marceau’s ‘first love,’ Angelique, using her portrait.

Just then, Marceau approached Eugene and Ippolito from the front.

“Whew, it looks like we’ll be arriving soon. Should we prepare for battle?”

Looking at Marceau with his gaunt eyes, Eugene replied,

“We’ll be in the rear anyway.”

“I guess so. Okay. Then let’s slow down.”

“Marceau.”

Suddenly, Eugene affirmed to Marceau,

“Don’t worry, just wait. My gamble won’t fail. Neither will the Angelique search gamble.”

Marceau stared at Eugene and then chuckled.

“I believe you. Before that, I’m a soldier too. Protecting the Republic comes before personal feelings. More than that, what are you going to do?”

Although the reason for coming to Vendée was to search for Angelique, Marceau is a very responsible person.

Seeing the mess in Vendée, he must have thought that he had to do something about it.

That’s probably why he’s helping Eugene’s extremely dangerous ‘trap.’

Eugene’s eyes flashed as he looked at Cholet, which was faintly visible in the distance.

“The army must lose, and we must win.”

The moment the Battle of Cholet was about to begin.

***

Cholet is a kind of basin surrounded by hills.

“All divisions, advance! Seize the high ground first and engage in a shooting battle. They don’t have gunpowder!”

*Infanterie de ligne*, the famous line infantry [standard infantry of the French Revolutionary Army].

A line of soldiers holding muskets, lined up in three ranks.

So, the soldiers advance in a three-rank line.

A total of 5 divisions, 50,000 soldiers.

-Bang! Bang! Bang!

The main revolutionary army, commanded by Rossignol, advanced towards Cholet.

Cholet was originally a city famous for its weaving industry before the revolution.

However, after the revolution, it became the central stronghold of the royalist rebels.

This is also the place where the first uprising occurred in February 1793, when the 300,000 conscription order began.

Eight months later, the sound of gunfire rang out loudly again on the outskirts of Cholet.

50,000 Vendée suppression troops, or 5 divisions, commanded by Rossignol, stormed into Cholet.

The Mainz Division, the La Rochelle Regiment, and the Marseille Postal Company were in the rear.

It was Rossignol’s desperate effort to clear his name of murder by achieving merit.

From the perspective of later generations, it may seem ridiculous, but the gunfire of 10,000 soldiers firing in a three-rank line is powerful.

The 100,000-strong Cholet defense force can’t even mount a proper defense.

Rossignol, who was directly commanding his division from the front, shouted from behind the line.

“Never retreat!”

On the left, Westermann’s division, Lecomte’s division, and Jean Lechelle’s division joined in.

Even excluding the Mainz Division in the rear, that’s 40,000 soldiers.

Even though Cholet is where 100,000 Vendée rebels have gathered, it’s not easy to stand against them.

Why?

Because of the amount of gunpowder.

Of course, the revolutionary army doesn’t have an abundance of gunpowder either, but they have more than the rebels.

However, it’s a bit strange to those who have already seen Napoleon’s tactics in Toulon.

Even Ippolito, who is not a tactical expert, tilted his head.

“What’s wrong? Why aren’t they firing cannons?”

“They must be short on gunpowder. They’re probably saving it until they get close to the city?”

“Huh? This is a battlefield. How can they fight if they’re short on gunpowder?”

Eugene, mounted on a pony, watched the front and replied,

“The front line is, after all, the border area. Here, we have to fight with minimal supplies. That’s why the war is so sluggish.”

The Marseille Postal Company was entirely composed of mounted infantry, so-called dragoons [soldiers who fight on horseback or on foot].

Of course, by the end of the 18th century, dragoons were virtually cavalry.

However, Eugene filled the Postal Company with pure mounted infantry.

It wasn’t that they needed a cavalry charge that *required* cavalry.

Moreover, since they were newly conscripted former royalist soldiers, a proper cavalry charge was difficult to execute.

Instead of joining the main infantry force trudging on foot under Rossignol, Eugene’s company remained mounted.

Originally, they were supposed to be guarding La Rochelle alongside the La Rochelle-Tourou Regiment.

Ippolito, watching the battle from the high ground north of Cholet, clicked his tongue.

“At this rate, they won’t break through at all? They’re more stubborn than I thought.”

“If Kléber or Marceau were in command, they could manage it. It’s Rossignol’s incompetence that’s the problem.”

“Wherever you go, incompetent, overnight-success generals are a plague. Oh, look there!”

Just then.

Suddenly, the situation on the front lines shifted.

The Vendée rebels, who had been desperately defending the outskirts of Cholet, launched a counterattack.

-Doo-doo-doo!

With surprising speed.

A cavalry unit emerged, circling around the forest on the western edge of Cholet.

They were exploiting the heavily forested terrain of the Vendée.

“Break through the enemy lines, loyal soldiers of the King!”

As the commander shouted, Ippolito gaped.

“Good heavens. Is that cavalry?”

Nimble cavalry, short muskets, light armor.

Not just mounted infantry, but a higher grade of gun cavalry, carabiniers [light cavalry armed with firearms].

With remarkable speed, the gun cavalry struck the flank of Rossignol’s main force.

-Tang! Tang! Tang!

The battle line began to crumble.

Not only Rossignol’s division, advancing from the front, but also Westermann, Le Comte, and Jean Quell’s divisions were caught off guard.

This highlights a weakness of line infantry, the era’s strongest firepower unit.

Due to the nature of muzzle-loading muskets, accuracy was highest when fired from a standing position.

Therefore, soldiers had to advance in a line, making them vulnerable to flank attacks.

No one had anticipated the rebels possessing cavalry.

“Ugh!”

A soldier’s scream pierced the air.

At this rate, the revolutionary army would collapse before the Mainz division could even reinforce them.

Rossignol was proving even more incompetent than Eugene had predicted.

“Are we all going to die, trap or no trap?”

Just as Ippolito was about to comment, silver letters flashed before Eugene’s eyes.

[Danger, prepare for rapid-fire counterattack.]

Eugene frowned.

If the cavalry charge was simply a flank attack, Eugene would be relatively safe.

The silver letters appearing now meant only one thing.

The cavalry charge would sweep towards the rear.

Reacting instinctively to the alert, Eugene acted.

-Click!

Drawing his pistol while still mounted, Eugene shouted.

“Prepare for a volley!”

“What? W-wait a minute. I’m not ready!”

“Don’t be ridiculous, Ippolito! All troops, dismount!”

Surprise attacks induced panic.

Soldiers were no different.

What motivated them in this situation was the commander’s presence.

Eugene’s special unit moved with the calm assurance of their commander.

-Thud!

At their head was Marceau.

“They’re coming, Eugene!”

Marceau’s cry cut through the air.

Before they knew it, the gun cavalry, having struck the flank of the revolutionary army, was wheeling around to attack again.

Fortunately, the gun cavalry’s muskets were not rapid-fire.

However, they were about to discard their muskets and draw their pistols.

In that instant, Eugene ordered.

“Commence firing!”

Simultaneously, Eugene’s Postal Special Unit began firing in unison from a kneeling position.

In rapid succession.

***

At the end of the 18th century, guns were generally incapable of rapid fire.

-Tang! Ta-tang! Ta-ta-tang!

However, Eugene’s Postal Special Unit’s guns were of two types.

One was the Ferguson rifle, capable of breech-loading [loading from the rear of the barrel].

The other was the Girandoni rifle, equipped as an emergency measure.

It used a tubular magazine, allowing bullets to be loaded in succession.

“Uwaaaaaa!”

Ippolito screamed and fired.

The cavalry rushing towards him was terrifying.

But the order had been given, and his hand moved automatically.

He continuously fired the bullets from the magazine, propelled by compressed air.

Exactly 20 rounds.

An air gun that required gas to be recharged after firing.

But rapid fire was possible for those 20 rounds.

100 company members fired 20 rounds in rapid succession, all at once.

-Neighhhhh!

First, the horses panicked.

The royalist cavalry, which had been charging with such momentum, began to falter.

The cavalry commander, a young nobleman, dropped his feathered hat and shouted.

“Re-retreat!”

Although they were gun cavalry, the Vendée rebels were essentially irregular forces.

They lacked proper training.

Just as quickly as they had charged, a simultaneous retreat began.

-Doo-doo-doo!

Immediately after, Ippolito’s gun stopped.

-Click!

Air guns were less powerful than gunpowder guns.

Moreover, firing in rapid succession like Ippolito quickly depleted the 20 rounds.

If the young nobleman commanding the gun cavalry had been bolder, the outcome might have been different.

However, the Vendée army’s gun cavalry was terrified by the [collective rapid-fire] they had witnessed for the first time.

That decided the victory.

Putting away the Girandoni rifle, Ippolito wiped away his cold sweat.

“T-that was a close call.”

Marceau, Colonel Tourou, and Tourou’s adjutant, Lieutenant Colonel Grignon, were excitedly chattering.

“This isn’t like our revolutionary government army. Rebels with cavalry. Good heavens.”

“Th-that must be La Trémoille. The second son of the Duke of Thouars and Count of Laval. A man known as a knight.”

“That must have been their last strike. If we push now, we’ll win!”

Antoine Philippe de La Trémoille.

A soldier who made a name for himself as a cavalry commander in the Vendée rebellion.

As is often the case with cavalry commanders, his charge was excellent, but his strategic vision was limited.

This time, he panicked and retreated when a sudden counterattack occurred.

If he had a broader view, he would have realized that only Eugene’s company was counterattacking.

In particular, Colonel Tourou’s regiment, with half the number of soldiers, was vulnerable to being swept away by the cavalry.

Suddenly, Ippolito suppressed his surprise and looked back at Eugene.

Eugene, still on horseback, sighed in relief and smiled.

“I told you, Ippolito. You won’t die if you’re with me, right?”

Ippolito was dumbfounded, then burst into laughter.

“Ah, right. I survived thanks to you! Hahaha!”

At that moment, an officer rushed towards the rear from the south.

Eugene turned to look at the officer, his eyes gleaming.

It was Captain Desmarres.

A figure he had deliberately left behind while evacuating La Rochelle.

A kind of [punishment] for the massacre, perhaps.

He seemed to have survived and run all the way here.

Covered in dust and looking disheveled, Desmarres shouted.

“Something terrible has happened! Where is the commander!”

“What’s wrong, Captain? Commander Rossignol is currently at the front of the operation area.”

“This is no time for that! La Rochelle!”

Captain Desmarres shouted.

“La Rochelle has been captured by a surprise attack by royalists!”

The government army had concentrated its forces on Cholet, leaving a gap.

The royalist rebels had exploited that gap.

It was truly an unexpected blow.

But Eugene secretly smiled.

“Good.”

The royalist commander had moved according to Eugene’s plan.

Now, Rossignol’s position was finished.

October 30, 1793.

It was the day Eugene first demonstrated the collective rapid-fire tactic in France at Cholet.