He Became Napoleon’S Genius Son [EN]: Chapter 458

(458) The Emperor Declares a Grand Expedition Throughout France

Indeed, a series of explosive situations unfolded, rushing towards Fontainebleau.

“Urgent news! The Tsar has lost Moscow!”

Of course, the urgent news brought by Louis Charles, the Emperor’s aide-de-camp and brother-in-law, was a step behind.

Originally, France gathered news from the East through three main channels.

One was Warsaw, the easternmost front line, another was news coming from St. Petersburg via Denmark, and the last was information from Surte’s agents scattered throughout the East.

The urgent news Louis Charles brought was from Switzerland, not from any of those channels.

So, it was a step behind the information Napoleon had already obtained.

Napoleon raised his eyebrows and then turned his gaze away.

Chief of Staff Berthier, who had been reporting on the army’s preparations, was waiting silently.

“According to the news that came in earlier, Moscow was burned, wasn’t it?”

“That’s correct. The Tsar burned Moscow.”

“Amazing. Wasn’t it once the birthplace of the empire? Even if the current capital is St. Petersburg.”

Berthier replied expressionlessly.

“Now, the Tsar has virtually no way to stop the [Usurper] Alexander. He has no choice but to wage a defensive war in St. Petersburg.”

Usurper, a derogatory term referring to Alexander, who was once the Crown Prince.

This is not just what France calls him, but what Tsar Pavel proclaims.

Danton was also sending letters to Paris daily.

Sometimes they were intercepted by the British, and Danton’s urgent news even appeared in British newspapers.

Napoleon glanced at the Morning Post he had received through spies and nodded.

“Good, old goose. If the Tsar wages a defensive war, how long will it take?”

“There are two previous cases. One is the Battle of Narva, which took place when Peter I attacked the vicinity before building St. Petersburg. It took about four months.”

“The other one?”

Berthier still replied expressionlessly.

“It’s the campaign in which the Swedish King Charles XII attacked Narva, near St. Petersburg. The battle ended in a month, but the siege itself lasted over a year.”

In the 17th century, Sweden was the ruler of the North.

It was Peter the Great who defeated Sweden and seized the hegemony of the North.

At that time, Peter the Great fought a life-or-death battle with the Swedish King Charles XII, and the Battle of Narva is a representative example.

Although it is not a battle surrounding St. Petersburg, it is an example that shows that the area is quite a difficult place to attack.

However, Napoleon tilted his head and clicked his tongue.

“I don’t think Pavel is similar to Charles XII or Peter the Great.”

“Aren’t you underestimating him too much?”

“Come on, goose. I’m rather evaluating him accurately. Pavel is not a fool, but he can never be called a capable general. First of all, he lacks patience!”

In fact, comparing him to Peter the Great is a bit unfair.

However, Napoleon had to coldly assess Pavel’s military capabilities.

Because he had to hold out at least until Napoleon marched.

Conversely, if he holds out for a year, the Russian expedition has a higher chance of success.

Napoleon, who had been calculating Pavel and Alexander’s offensive and defensive strategies, asked again.

“So, what is the judgment of the [Savior]?”

Berthier mechanically replied, again expressionlessly.

“Everyone is in favor of the war, Your Majesty.”

“Oh, Moreau and Hoche too? You didn’t threaten them, did you?”

“Rather, Marshal Hoche has replied that he would participate if necessary. It seems he is getting tired of playing the king of Egypt.”

Napoleon burst into laughter at Berthier’s words, who was making jokes with an expressionless face.

“Puhaha! You’re making jokes now, old goose. Well, I haven’t paid much attention to Hoche. When you think about it, he’s like family.”

It’s not because Eugene’s [Godfather] is Hoche that he says that.

He says this because Hoche’s wife is Désirée Clary.

Unlike the original history, Désirée Clary never had a romantic relationship with Napoleon.

However, the fact that Désirée’s sister, who is now the Queen of Sweden, is Joseph’s wife remains unchanged.

So, Hoche is also a Bonaparte relative in a broad sense.

However, he is also another leader of the military republicans, so he has been forced to stay abroad.

Now that Napoleon’s power has become solid, it is time to bring him back home.

Napoleon, who was thinking about Hoche’s next position for a while, picked up another document.

“Then, is the troop mobilization plan complete?”

“Mobilization is not a problem. 200,000 French troops mobilized during the Third Anti-French Alliance War, 130,000 troops that the Rhine princes are obligated to contribute, and 100,000 troops stationed in the East are possible.”

“What about the Duchy of Warsaw army?”

At that moment, a man who had been pricking up his ears next to him, Poniatowski, shouted.

“All Poles will gladly come forward if you give us just one promise. 90,000 elite troops are waiting. Your Majesty!”

Originally, in the original history, 95,000 Poles participated with the goal of independence.

But now the conditions are even better than in the original history, so there is no reason not to participate.

Napoleon, who had a strange smile for a moment, tilted his head.

“Good. Senior General Poniatowski. I have currently put the Duke of Saxony forward as the Grand Duke of Warsaw, not you.”

“It doesn’t matter. If the former Polish territories become one and can be independent again!”

“However, our French Empire is based on the citizen regime, and the [Alliance] also recommends the same system.”

Suddenly, Napoleon threw a bait to Poniatowski.

“When this war is over, you will be the first [Prime Minister] of the independent Kingdom of Poland, Poniatowski.”

However, Poniatowski shook his head and replied vigorously.

“It doesn’t matter if I’m not the Prime Minister. Viva Napoleon! I’m going back now to organize the [Polska Legion]!”

“Good. The homeland, the Rhine Confederation, and Italy will also prepare, but please complete the supplies as much as possible.”

“Of course. Your Majesty!”

Napoleon, watching Poniatowski salute and leave, asked Berthier.

“He’s full of enthusiasm. Is that friend a friend of the Greek King Constantine Ypsilantis?”

“Yes, that’s right. In fact, he is also a friend of General Suukovski.”

“Suukovski is already a general? Time flies. Oh, and tell Greece, Serbia, and Croatia to send troops too.”

Berthier raised his eyebrows as he wrote down Napoleon’s instructions.

Greece, Serbia, and Croatia became independent 20 years earlier than in the original history.

Perhaps it was because Eugene reorganized the Balkans during the Orient expedition.

Thanks to independence with French assistance, they were virtually French allies.

However, their military power is not very good, as is the case with new countries.

“Will those friends be of any help?”

“They can be used as supply soldiers. Who is the commander of the supply corps?”

“It’s General Guillaume Mathieu Dumas. He is definitely the right person to create supplies from the Rhine to the Danube, then to the Vistula, and even to the Moscow River.”

Originally, he was the man who was in charge of supplies during the Russian expedition in the original history.

Of course, it failed as a result, but he was a soldier who made thorough preparations in the preparation stage.

It’s just that Russia’s harsh cold was a nature that the French had never experienced.

Napoleon smiled contentedly as he recalled Mathieu Dumas’s face.

“Good. The pontoon bridge made by Chasseloup must be completed too, right? Call Bacler d’Albe. We need to complete the eastern map soon!”

Looking at Russia on the globe again, Napoleon smiled.

“With this war, I will be remembered in history!”

Of course, Napoleon did not realize that he did not necessarily have to win to be remembered in history.

***

Therefore, Eugene, who knows the original history of the Great Expedition, has a complicated mind.

“Th, the supply wagons will total 20 battalions, approximately 7,800 wagons. The supply depot is likely to be located in the Duchy of Warsaw and Pr, Prussia.”

Clausewitz, the operations officer of the General Staff, stammered and recited the supply plan.

This is one of the offices in the Guards barracks of the Palace of Fontainebleau.

Originally, it was a place used as an arcade by the Guards officers, but suddenly, as the Russian war changed rapidly, it became a place where marshals gathered.

Clausewitz seems to be even more nervous because the highest-ranking generals are watching.

Suddenly, Ogiereau looked back at Jomini, who was standing next to Clausewitz.

“It’s enemy territory. Prussia.”

“Strictly speaking, they are our allies. Ah, but Warsaw will be the main supply base. 100 heavy cannons, 530 light cannons, 200 new Boarner-style cannons, and old-fashioned cannons will be prepared, for a total of 1,100 cannons.”

“You can’t shoot cannons just because you have cannons. What about cannonballs and gunpowder?”

Jomini, who is currently directly under the King of Spain, but at the same time originally belonged to the General Staff, smiled.

“We’ll ship it from Egypt. 1 million ammunition boxes, 100 tons of gunpowder! Of course, it will also be contributed from France, Poland, Prussia, and Italy.”

Lannes, Massena, who had rushed from Spain, and Ogiereau, who had returned from the Swiss border, all had dissatisfied faces.

First of all, it is too large-scale a supply plan.

In fact, the French Empire has been operating a large army of nearly 1 million since the Revolutionary Wars.

But this war is truly a super-long-distance expedition.

Moreover, the fact that the goal is unclear is a stumbling block for the marshals.

What is the ultimate purpose of this war?

Conquest of Russia?

Suddenly, the highest-ranking member of the General Staff, Marshal Berthier, turned his gaze.

“Do you have anything to say, Your Majesty the King of Spain?”

Eugene looked at the report with a heavy face and replied.

“The East has almost no paved roads like France or the German region.”

“We’ll solve that with small carts and ox carts.”

“The rainy season will come around the time the march begins in earnest. Can you handle it? What about epidemics?”

In fact, even in the original history, the French General Staff was not foolish during the Russian expedition.

Food, ammunition, gunpowder, weapons, supplies, engineers, medical care.

They made a daily plan on how to mobilize all goods and resources.

It was just a plan made through distance and schedule on the map, so they could not withstand the sudden rain, cold, and epidemics.

However, Berthier replied with an unwavering expression.

“We’ll need stronger military boots. I’ll ask the Poli armory. For medical care, I’ll call the Knights Hospitaller nursing unit and the Imperial Army Medical Inspector Larrey.”

Berthier, as he did in the original history, is a person who faithfully implements the goals set by Napoleon.

So, he accurately presents efficient ways to achieve that goal.

But he is not a man who can react quickly when faced with unexpected events.

Moreover, the three marshals next to Eugene, Massena, Lannes, and Ogiereau, have never experienced such a great expedition.

Eugene sighed instead of listing more of the challenges of this expedition.

“I understand. Then, I will think about the most important issue.”

“An important issue? What is it, Your Majesty?”

“The route of advance.”

Suddenly, Eugene pointed to the map Berthier was holding.

“If we advance as planned now, we will all be trapped in the mud due to the autumn [Rasputitsa] [the season of impassable roads due to mud or snow].”

But Berthier’s eyes widened.

“What is that? What is it, exactly?”

Even all the other three marshals as well.

***

It is natural that French people do not go on tourist trips to Eastern Europe in this era.

“Oh, goose. Are you here?”

Napoleon, who was very relaxed and being attended to by his chief aide and brother-in-law and Duke of Parma, Louis Charles, waved his hand.

But Berthier was not relaxed.

This is because an unexpected problem has occurred.

“Your Majesty, I have something to tell you.”

“About my speech? Isn’t it good? It will be declared to the parliament and all of France soon.”

“It’s not that, it’s about the route of advance.”

Berthier hurriedly whispered in Napoleon’s ear.

“If we advance towards Poland, there is a risk of getting stuck in the mud, Your Majesty.”

Napoleon stopped as he was about to go to the [podium] [a raised platform where a person stands to speak].

But Berthier knew that there was no shaking in Napoleon’s expression.

Suddenly, Napoleon replied in a low voice.

“As for that problem, I heard it’s the same no matter where you go. Whether you go north or south.”

“Yes? Oh, did you know?”

“Huh, why do you think I suddenly value people from Poland so much? Especially Poniatowski gave a long speech.”

But Napoleon has a very easy answer.

“Leave that to Eugene and Poniatowski. The important thing is from now on. Let’s go.”

The logic is that the person who raised the problem should solve it.

Besides, Napoleon doesn’t have time to worry about Rasputitsa right now.

As he ascended the podium, the curtain was drawn as if to show the stage.

-Chwareureuk!

The Emperor, Napoleon, looked down at those gathered below the podium.

“Friends of the Rhine, soldiers of France, and citizens of the Empire and allied nations! I have heard surprising and shocking news from the East. Tsar Pavel has been betrayed by the Crown Prince!”

The princes of the Rhine, the high-ranking generals of France, the members of parliament representing the people of the Empire, and the ambassadors representing the allied nations.

Hundreds of people were shocked again by the urgent news they had just received.

Napoleon had already declared that he would march to Russia to support the Indian expedition.

But that was only to support the super-long-distance expedition, not to attack Russia itself.

However, the moment the Tsar was betrayed by the Tsarevich, the purpose of the expeditionary force changed.

“Therefore, I will declare a war of justice to depose the usurper Alexander! I hope everyone will join me!”

April 1809.

The true Russian Great Expedition was finally declared.