He Became Napoleon’S Genius Son [EN]: Chapter 489

Napoleon’s Genius Son – 489 (490/547)

(489) Napoleon Retreats via Warsaw

The path of the Grande Armée remains a quagmire.

– Squish, squish, squish!

Leading the vanguard are none other than the infantry.

It’s late March, spring, but Northeastern Europe is still cold.

The unpaved roads, neither fully frozen nor thawed, drench the French soldiers’ boots in mud.

Usually known for their rapid marches, the French army is forced to proceed slowly on this route.

Suddenly, Marshal Masséna, following on horseback the path cleared by the infantry, whistled.

“Wow, if we had returned through this path in winter, we’d all be dead!”

Of course, Masséna doesn’t know that this actually happened in the original timeline.

However, he is aware that if Eugène hadn’t altered the strategy during the preparation for the Russian campaign, they might have taken the [Northern Route, implying a more direct and potentially more dangerous path].

So, he’s making a chilling joke.

At that moment, Augereau, overseeing the line infantry’s march, clicked his tongue with a displeased expression.

“Even with the ‘advance team’ compacting the road beforehand, it’s still like this, Masséna.”

“Oh, please, call me the Duke of Kiev from now on. And you were the Duke of Livonia, right?”

“As soon as I return home, I’ll renounce that title, so it’s best not to use it.”

Augereau firmly told Masséna, who tilted his head.

“That place is a battlefield I never fought on. Monte Notte, maybe.”

Augereau had already compromised his Jacobin [a radical, revolutionary political movement during the French Revolution] beliefs by accepting a noble title.

But he wouldn’t abandon his last bit of pride.

If he were to officially become a noble, he would at least receive the name of the place where he achieved that merit.

If Napoleon had bestowed upon him the title of Duke of Borodino, he might have accepted it, albeit reluctantly.

However, Livonia, the modern-day Estonia and Latvia, is unrelated to Augereau.

Of course, in the original timeline, it was one of the invasion routes during the Russian campaign.

Masséna chuckled as he rode his horse.

“Aren’t you being too rigid? Moreau accepted the title of Duke of Vladimir as soon as it was offered.”

“That’s truly laughable. A man who once claimed to be a Jacobin could have declined at least once.”

“Moreau never shies away from honorable positions. You know that by now.”

Suddenly, Masséna glanced ahead with his telescope and said.

“Besides, he’s doing the dirty work behind the scenes. Moreau is currently leading the ‘advance team,’ you know.”

The total number of the Grande Armée [French for Great Army, referring to Napoleon’s main army] on the retreat route is 230,000.

Surprisingly, 100,000 of them are cavalry.

The reason for this is the inclusion of Polish soldiers and Cossack [a group of East Slavic people who became known as members of democratic, self-governing, semi-militarized communities] light cavalry who joined as auxiliaries.

Perhaps they know that if Napoleon is defeated, all the promises of an independent kingdom will be nullified.

However, the muddy road is even more difficult for cavalry to march on than for infantry.

Therefore, someone needs to lead the infantry and pave the way.

Moreau was taking on that role.

Currently, all the routes retreating from Saint Petersburg are enemy territory.

Although the Grande Armée is advancing with full preparation, the burden on the vanguard is significant.

Thus, Moreau is willingly bearing this burden.

On the other hand, Augereau retorted, clearly displeased.

“That makes me even more uneasy. I should have been the vanguard.”

“Since our Grande Armée’s best vanguard is missing, there’s no choice. Moreau isn’t the best vanguard, but he’s cautious. He’s the optimal choice for this perilous march.”

“Why is the King of Spain going to the dangerous North Sea? Do you know the reason?”

Suddenly, Augereau frowned, looking towards the distant, invisible North Sea.

“If the King of Spain is shipwrecked in the North Sea, France’s future will become uncertain.”

If Eugène had taken on the vanguard, Augereau wouldn’t have felt any anxiety.

Since the Italian campaign, Eugène has shown unparalleled skill in avoiding danger.

On the other hand, Moreau has a history of being ambushed and completely defeated when Karl, the King of Hungary, was an Archduke.

But Masséna focused on a different point and teased Augereau.

“Oh, amazing. I thought you were still a republican.”

“I don’t deny even the citizen-emperor system. Moreover, King Eugène is the only man capable of ruling this complex empire that the Emperor has created.”

“Is there still a spot left in King Eugène’s line? How about I arrange a place for you to join hands?”

Augereau stared at Masséna and shook his head.

“Masséna, you really have no worries.”

It means he refuses.

Of course, Masséna doesn’t expect Augereau, a long-time Jacobin, to join Eugène’s line.

However, if Eugène becomes the next Emperor, it seems Augereau won’t oppose it.

“Well, worrying won’t make bullets avoid me, will it? Besides, I’m still loved by the goddess of fortune. Hahaha!”

Laughing lightly, Masséna spurred his horse.

The hooves heading towards his 2nd Corps [a military formation] are very energetic.

Marshal Augereau muttered as he watched him.

“That fellow is truly optimistic.”

“Why are you so worried, Marshal? We are returning home after a victory.”

“We are clearly entering a place where enemies are waiting. I don’t know if supplies will be properly delivered. Russia is helping with supplies, but do you trust them? Verdier?”

Augereau replied to Chief of Staff Verdier’s question with a blank expression.

“We could all die in this war. Perhaps it will be the most difficult war we’ve ever experienced.”

Of course, compared to the original timeline, the Grande Armée’s return route is like heaven.

But even so, the condition of having to retreat through enemy territory is, in some ways, even more harsh.

Because they have to face the enemy on every route.

At that moment.

– Whoosh, bang!

Hearing the explosion in the sky, Augereau ordered.

“Signal, mortar fire! Forward, engage! Advance in columns!”

This is 30 kilometers ahead of Warsaw.

So, the Grande Armée was advancing rapidly towards Warsaw.

***

In reality, it was a bolt from the blue for the Prussian forces stationed in Warsaw.

– Bang! Clank, click, crack, bang!

Until now, Prussia thought that Napoleon was still far from retreating.

For the Prussian army as well, the mud of Eastern Europe is an unfamiliar experience.

Therefore, they were optimistic that the army was not in a state to march.

But Napoleon solved this problem very simply.

He attached Russian light infantry to Moreau to break through the road.

Thanks to this, it was already too late when the Prussian army discovered Moreau’s vanguard.

The commander of the Warsaw garrison, Friedrich Wilhelm Freiherr von Bülow [a Prussian general], desperately shouted.

“Stop them! We must delay them here, even a little, so that His Majesty the Kaiser [German emperor] has time to retreat the army!”

However, the number of Prussian troops stationed in Warsaw is only 3 divisions.

In reality, they are no match for Napoleon’s Grande Armée, which consists of 5 corps and Polish and Cossack cavalry.

Moreover, they are far behind in terms of firearms, with the Grande Armée possessing breech-loading rifles or percussion muskets, albeit muzzle-loading.

Suddenly, cavalry commander Leopold Wilhelm von Dobschütz rushed over and reported.

“Commander Bülow, it seems like it’s all over.”

“Shut up, Cavalry Commander Dobschütz! His Majesty entrusted Warsaw to us and went to capture those vile Frenchmen. But we haven’t even occupied Galicia!”

“Well, it’s only natural since the Polish are united and resisting desperately.”

Dobschütz, who was older than Bülow, spoke cautiously but firmly.

“If we continue like this, we will eventually be annihilated.”

Originally, in the original timeline, both Bülow and Dobschütz were famous generals of the Sixth Napoleonic War.

In particular, Bülow is called the savior of the nation for stopping the French army led by Ney right in front of Berlin.

But now, in the face of overwhelming force, Bülow had no other choice.

Eventually, Bülow also gave up, judging that it was more important to preserve their strength.

“I have no choice. Let’s retreat. However, to do so, we must inflict a strong blow on the enemy.”

“I will attempt a surprise breakthrough.”

“Good. I will entrust everything to you, General. Huh?”

But Bülow’s eyes widened as he gave permission for the surprise attack.

“W-w-what, what is that?”

Warsaw is a city built on a plain.

So, it has the advantage of clearly seeing when the enemy is trying to do something.

But even though it’s clear what those objects approaching in the distance are, there’s no way to stop them.

– Rumble.

Cannons were coming.

The person standing in front of the cannons is not Marmont, Duroc, or even Eblé.

Instead of France’s renowned artillery commanders, a Russian general is standing there.

Alexei Petrovich Yermolov.

A Russian Imperial artillery general who also participated in the Battle of Borodino.

But the number of cannons that Yermolov’s artillery brought exceeded Bülow’s common sense.

“What, are those all cannons?”

“No way. Are they just fake?”

“F-fall back out of range!”

Just as the officers were giving orders, Yermolov’s command fell.

“Licorne [a type of howitzer], fire!”

At that moment, 300 cannons spewed fire.

– Bang! Bang! Bang!

Originally, in the original timeline, the Prussian army should have been familiar with large-scale artillery by 1810.

However, because Napoleon won so overwhelmingly quickly, there was little competition for artillery fire in Western Europe.

So, this is the first time for the Prussian army.

The concentrated bombardment of a large-scale artillery unit itself.

“Madmen, bringing over a hundred, no, over 300 cannons to the battlefield!”

But it was too late when they realized.

***

After the bombardment that practically turned Warsaw to dust, Napoleon entered the city.

“Certainly, the Russian-made ones are cheap and effective.”

Of course, the shells didn’t reach the city center of Warsaw.

But damage during the battle was unavoidable.

Also, Napoleon is not a monarch who cares about the affairs of other countries.

Chief of Staff Berthier nodded with a blank expression.

“It seems the Prussian army is seeing this sight for the first time.”

“At Austerlitz, we mainly fought with cavalry and infantry. Besides, the main force doesn’t seem to be here.”

“Where did they go? I thought they would be blocking us.”

But Grand Marshal Duroc rushed to the Emperor.

“Your Majesty, we have learned amazing news from the captured Prussian soldiers!”

“What is it, Duroc?”

“King Wilhelm of Prussia is calling himself ‘Kaiser’ and has audaciously headed to the Western Front to invade our French Empire!”

The moment Napoleon raised his eyebrows, Duroc delivered a truly shocking report.

“Furthermore, the Hungarian army is with them! The combined forces amount to a staggering 400,000!”

The Kaiser claim was actually information already obtained by Rochejaquelein’s Sureté [Napoleon’s secret service].

Furthermore, news of a rebellion breaking out within France and Austria and Prussia taking advantage of this opportunity to invade France had also been heard in advance.

But the fact that the number is as high as 400,000 is information obtained for the first time this time.

A tremendous scale of mobilization.

Napoleon knows best that this could never be achieved overnight.

“This is Karl’s handiwork. Good. I trust Sérurier. However, increase the speed of the march even more! In 10 days, we will have lunch in front of Berlin!”

Napoleon’s marshals and senior generals shouted in unison, taking their leave.

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

Now is the time for the Grande Armée to begin its full-scale high-speed march.

Right on the German stage.