He Became Napoleon’S Genius Son [EN]: Chapter 471

Became Napoleon’s Genius Son – Episode 471

(471) Arrived at Borodino, Where Napoleon Was Defeated

August 1809, Russia is often rainy.

– Swish!

Orel, a city 363 kilometers southwest of Moscow.

This city has long been a food supply base for the capital area of the Russian Empire.

In fact, it’s strange to call a place 360 kilometers away from the capital a metropolitan area, but considering the vastness of the Russian Empire, it’s not necessarily so.

However, after the imperial family moved to St. Petersburg, its importance has relatively decreased.

Nevertheless, this place, a granary typical of the black soil belt, still has plenty of surplus food.

Of course, not enough to support an army of 300,000, but it means there is enough space to create a temporary encampment.

For example, enough for the [Women’s Army] to build barracks.

Suddenly looking at the pouring rain, Pauline, wearing a general’s hat, grumbled and rushed into the tent.

“Wow, at this rate, everyone will catch a cold!”

A middle-aged man with a mustache inside the barracks looked at the [chart] and said.

“That’s quite an exaggeration, Duchess of Parma.”

“Just call me Major Pauline. Lieutenant General Larrey. Now, I’m not just in charge of the nursing unit, but also the head of the Knights Hospitaller medical unit, you know?”

“Then, Major Pauline, tell me what we should fear when it rains.”

Pauline shrugged and replied to Larrey, the chief physician of the Grande Armée.

“Sanitation, dehumidification, and above all, preventing the spread of infectious diseases.”

The two people currently responsible for the health of the French Imperial Russian Expeditionary Force are these two.

In fact, in the original history, the problems faced by Larrey and other military doctors were different.

Typhus and dysentery, caused by muddy marching routes.

However, as the Grande Armée’s marching route changed from the northern route to the southern route, the incidence of infectious diseases also decreased significantly.

Nevertheless, as the rainy summer began, disease problems gradually began to emerge.

“Well studied. Lately, according to what I’ve seen with the [microscope], typhus is a disease caused by microorganisms transmitted from rats.”

“It’s not confirmed yet, is it?”

“There has been a lot of progress since the Italian campaign 14 years ago. We haven’t completely discovered the causative microorganism yet, but the theory that almost all diseases are caused by microorganisms is gaining traction.”

Stroking his mustache, Larrey lectured.

In fact, in the original history, Larrey was an excellent surgeon and the inventor of the ambulance.

Also, oddly enough, he was an authority on breast cancer surgery, and even British aristocratic ladies would come to Larrey for surgery.

However, he didn’t pay much attention to microorganisms, but Eugene’s initial interest during the Italian campaign triggered it.

Now, Pauline snorted at Larrey, a professor at the Paris Medical University who advocates the theory of universal microbial infection.

“Hmph, but you haven’t created a cure, have you?”

Larrey, a doctor who hadn’t even thought about a vaccine yet, clicked his tongue and replied.

“That’s why we must be thorough with quarantine. There are already reports of epidemics occurring in some military camps.”

“For now, I’ve urgently isolated them. However, we need to keep those people in the rear, but there aren’t enough guards.”

“It can’t be helped. This is an expeditionary force.”

Larrey said with a serious face.

“The later the battle starts, the more disadvantageous it will be.”

Every expedition is best when it ends quickly.

Especially for the French Empire, Russia is truly a super long-distance expedition area.

Therefore, diseases are likely to occur simply because of the different climate.

But with the rainy summer, outbreaks are bound to occur easily in collective settlements.

Pauline frowned.

“Surely you’re not telling me to ask my brother to rush the battle, are you, Your Excellency Larrey?”

“If the Emperor is difficult, the King of Spain is fine too. I don’t know strategy and tactics, but I know medicine well. If this continues, I might have to show off my [high-speed amputation] after a long time.”

“Even if the battle starts, it seems like it will be the same.”

After a slight sarcasm, Pauline nodded.

“Anyway, I understand the precautions well.”

In any case, Pauline didn’t come to the battlefield for fun.

Egyptian expedition, Orient conquest, New France campaign.

Pauline has participated in these battlefields as the head of the Knights Hospitaller nursing unit.

So, she knows very well how important it is to manage the health of soldiers in war.

Quickly leaving the barracks, Pauline headed back to the center of the encampment, using an umbrella to avoid the rain.

However, in the heart of the encampment, a golden tent, Pauline encountered an unexpected person.

A noblewoman who clearly didn’t fit in with this desolate encampment asked in surprise.

“Your Highness, what brings you here?”

Pauline blinked and replied with a bright smile.

“Madam Walewska, it must be tough following us to the battlefield.”

“Tough? Not at all. I’m really living comfortably. It’s nothing compared to the soldiers or Your Highness.”

“I’m a soldier. And this isn’t my first battlefield.”

It was Maria Walewska, soon to be Emperor Napoleon’s Polish mistress.

In fact, in the original history, Walewska did not participate in the Russian expedition.

On the other hand, the fact that Madam Walewska accompanied this southern advance shows how relatively leisurely the French Imperial Army marched.

Of course, it must have been an ordeal in itself for Madam Walewska.

Thinking that Josephine would be furious if she knew in the home country, Pauline lightly asked.

“More importantly, have you seen my brother or Eugene?”

At that moment, a man in a handsome uniform came out of the barracks and whistled.

“Oh, you’re a little late, Your Highness. Hehe!”

“Lannes? The commander of the Guards is here, but why isn’t the Emperor here?”

“It’s not just me. Look, the commander of the Spanish Guards is here too.”

Junot, who was also coming out of the barracks, replied, as if they had been discussing operations.

“Both of Their Majesties have gone out for a battlefield inspection? Oh, what brings Your Highness here?”

However, Pauline was dumbfounded and widened her eyes.

“They went out into enemy territory without the Guards? Good heavens! I have to go protect them right away!”

“There’s no need for that. Better friends than us are protecting them.”

“Who is it, then?”

Junot, once called the Lionheart on the battlefield, chuckled.

“The Polish lancers and the Cossacks. They’re better than our Gascon friends here.”

At that moment, Pauline screamed.

“How can you trust those barbarians!”

Until recently, the Cossack cavalry, who were enemies, were now guarding Napoleon and Eugene.

***

Of course, strictly speaking, Napoleon is the daring one, not Eugene.

“The enemy is currently concentrating its forces in Kaluga, Your Majesty.”

In particular, Duroc, the chief of staff, and Poniatowski, the temporary commander of the Guards, were nervous.

On the other hand, Napoleon was just looking ahead without any fear.

Napoleon’s only concern was whether this plain area north of Orel was suitable for a battlefield.

“This area is really vast. An ideal plain. Especially for fighting a battle.”

“That’s right. It’s called the [Russian Plain]. However, the area near Kaluga is a bit different.”

“How is it different, [King] Platov?”

Then, Platov, the Cossack cavalry commander who had also come along for protection, cleared his throat.

“Ahem, the Kolochia River flows through the Kaluga area. Also, there are ridges, so it’s not a complete plain.”

Cossack King.

The position Napoleon promised Platov.

If he coveted this position, Platov would definitely be loyal to Napoleon until the odds ran out.

Napoleon saw through that point.

Indeed, Platov was completely devoted and didn’t dream of betrayal.

Unless the French Imperial Army suddenly showed signs of defeat.

Since there was still plenty of chance of victory, Napoleon replied leisurely.

“It’s not an ideal place to deploy line infantry.”

“The problem is that it’s the best point to defend Moscow, so there’s no possibility that the Russian army will move further south.”

“Oh, so the enemies will be waiting in the Kaluga area?”

Suddenly, Poniatowski hastily interjected.

“So, we must advance, Your Majesty.”

Platov frowned slightly, but didn’t bother to deny it.

In fact, the French Empire had taken a month’s rest after a high-speed maneuver to Orel.

This was partly because the soldiers were tired from the continued march, but more importantly, to lure the Russian Imperial Army.

Of course, the Russian Empire, which had time to conscript and gather troops, also moved quickly.

However, once they moved to Kaluga, the Russian Imperial Army stopped there.

“How is the supply situation, Old Goose?”

“Not very good. Because we have been advancing with high-speed maneuvers as the main axis, the supply wagons are scattered in a row. There are no collective attacks, but there are sporadic attacks.”

“Oh, are the Zaporozhian Cossacks causing trouble? Or the serfs? Tsk.”

Listening to Chief of Staff Berthier’s report, Napoleon waved his marshal’s baton and shouted.

“Whichever it is, they don’t recognize my [liberation army]! It’s outrageous! I must punish them! These evil thieves!”

Of course, it’s nothing compared to the original history.

Originally, what Napoleon would face is the collapse of all supply lines and the continuous attacks of local residents.

Even if only a few soldiers were scattered, the troops would be destroyed by the attacks of not only the Cossacks but also the peasants.

However, the commoners and serfs of the current Russian Empire are in confusion.

Because Napoleon has gained a very effective justification.

– In the name of God, restore Tsar Pavel!

In the eyes of the Russian imperial people, the Tsar is the one who has been crowned in the cathedral.

No matter how unpopular and crazy the Tsar was trying to carry out an expedition, Pavel is still reigning in the capital.

Furthermore, thanks to the early blockade, a dangerous expedition was not carried out.

Rather, Alexander is forcibly conscripting and exploiting commoners and serfs, claiming to stand against the French Empire.

So naturally, the antipathy towards France could only weaken.

Moreover, the Don Cossack army, which accounts for more than half of the Cossack cavalry, is now under Napoleon’s command.

But even so, staying in enemy territory for a long time is still not good.

Another owner of the marshal’s baton smiled next to Napoleon.

“Indeed, a decisive battle is needed, Your Majesty.”

“Massena, do you have the same judgment? How about you stand at the forefront in this battle?”

“Hey, I’m getting old now. Young people should take the lead. I recommend His Majesty the King of Spain, or Suchet. Davout wouldn’t be bad either.”

Napoleon nodded, listening to Massena’s recommendation.

“Good. Tell Eugene. I’ll attach Davout to him, so tell him to take the lead! Tell him to come back now!”

So, where is Eugene now?

***

Very boldly, he is in the [front lines].

“Really, I wanted to avoid it.”

In the end, he came here.

To the decisive battlefield of the Russian expedition.

Eugene watched from a slightly higher altitude as the soldiers built their camp.

It was close enough that the Russian army would immediately attack if they found it, but Eugene wasn’t very afraid.

Ippolito, who didn’t know it was thanks to the silver letters, clicked his tongue and replied.

“I don’t really want to go near either? Achoo! It’s even cold!”

“It’s cold too. I’m not really enjoying the weather either.”

“Don’t talk so casually. Soldiers are getting colds now.”

Ippolito frowned, considering it fortunate that the view was obscured by the rain.

“The later the battle is delayed, the more disadvantageous it is for us.”

Ippolito can’t exactly be called a first-class tactician, but he has learned from Eugene’s side.

The army is a hotbed of infectious diseases, and diseases will break out if the garrison is not changed frequently.

Also, the supply lines from the Ottoman Empire coming up from the south are too long.

The moment Eugene nodded, Lasalle whistled.

“So, we’re going to fight there? What was that place called? Jomini, do you know?”

However, before Jomini could answer, Eugene opened his mouth.

“Borodino, an ominous name for France. At least, until today.”

Ippolito, Lasalle, and Jomini didn’t know why that place was ominous.

In fact, only Eugene in this world would know.

That Borodino was the true tomb of Napoleon.

Suddenly, Eugene’s eyes flashed and he turned his horse’s head.

“But, not from tomorrow.”

Winning here.

That is the purpose of the game that Eugene has been reborn into this world and has been walking.

August 7, 1809.

It was the day that Eugene, the gambler, first set foot on the battlefield of Borodino.