He Became Napoleon’S Genius Son [EN]: Chapter 49

(48) The Royalist White Army Takes the Bait of Nantes

White symbolizes the royal family.

In later history, this is why the army defending the imperial family during the Russian Revolution was called the White Army.

1793: a year of chaos in which the whole of France was embroiled in the clash between revolution and counter-revolution.

Among them, the ‘Royal Army’ of Vendée, the stronghold of the Royalists, was no exception.

Even though their uniforms were stained with blood and dirt, their hearts remained white.

A cavalry scout rushed to La Rochelle, the new base of the White Army, which symbolized their pure cause.

“It’s empty! The road is open! The road to Nantes is clear!”

Antoine Philippe de la Trémoille,
the heir to the Count of Laval and the only cavalry commander of the counter-revolutionary army, delivered the news.

Originally, he was the rebel commander guarding Cholet, filling in for the commander-in-chief Rochejaquelein, who had rushed to La Rochelle.

However, for the revolutionaries, or rather, for the royalist army, those deemed traitors faced a dire situation.

The revolutionaries were concentrating their forces on Cholet, but advancing ‘slowly’.

On the other hand, unlike Trémoille, who was bursting with excitement, the La Rochelle rebel headquarters remained cautious.

The chief of staff, Marquis de Lescure, voiced his concerns.

“This is suspicious, La Rochejaquelein.”

“I know.”

“What’s suspicious, Lescure! They’re trying to crush Cholet now and then concentrate their forces on La Rochelle, so they’ve left Nantes undefended!”

Rochejaquelein shook his head at Trémoille, who was chattering excitedly.

“It’s probably a feint [a deceptive maneuver]. It was like that in Luçon before. But that’s not the main problem.”

Luçon was a small city between Cholet and La Rochelle.

It was also the place where Eugene and Kléber first met.

The Battle of Luçon, where the Royalists were defeated, took place there.

At that time, the former commander, Duke de Biron, used a feint, causing great damage to the Royalists.

Rochejaquelein, who had experienced defeat then, still sensed a trap.

However, Nantes was still a valuable prize.

Rochejaquelein gritted his teeth and said to the embarrassed Trémoille.

“Nevertheless, Nantes is worth occupying.”

Nantes was definitely valuable.

There were two ports in northwestern France where the United Kingdom could directly project its naval power.

One was the Cherbourg Peninsula in Normandy, and the other was Nantes.

The La Rochelle area had a small port, but it was vulnerable to attacks from the still-existing French Atlantic Fleet.

On the other hand, if Nantes was occupied by the Royalists, the United Kingdom would have a reason to break through the defenses of the Atlantic Fleet.

Because it would create a justification for dispatching a large-scale fleet.

That meant the warmongers could persuade the British Parliament.

In short, it was valuable because it was easy to get help from foreign powers, even the enemy country, England.

He couldn’t bring himself to say this outright, but Lescure and Trémoille understood Rochejaquelein’s meaning.

Lescure nodded heavily.

“Yes, it provides a justification. Our comrades are trapped and dying in the dungeons of Nantes.”

“Stofflet and Charette can approach from both directions. A three-pronged attack is possible.”

“I wonder, will this siege be successful?”

Suddenly, Rochejaquelein turned his gaze.

“There, there’s gunpowder. And there are cannons we seized from the traitors. Twelve of them.”

In the city of La Rochelle, which had been liberated by the Royalists, gunpowder sacks were piled high.

That gunpowder had been obtained from the coast.

Rochejaquelein didn’t say who provided the gunpowder.

But anyone could guess.

It was England.

However, now that gunpowder, ammunition, and shells had been provided, it was important to be able to use that firepower.

For now, they had to close their eyes and accept the support of the enemy country.

Rochejaquelein gritted his teeth once more and said.

“If we concentrate all our forces, it is possible.”

Once Nantes was breached, the United Kingdom would take care of the supply.

It was truly a one-shot gamble worth the risk.

Lescure nodded.

“Okay, let’s march.”

Then Trémoille looked hesitant, and Rochejaquelein asked.

“What’s wrong? Count Laval? Isn’t this the advance you wanted?”

“There’s one thing that bothers me.”

“What is it?”

Trémoille, who had rushed in excitedly but became more cautious after seeing Rochejaquelein’s attitude, said.

“When we were carrying out the deception operation in Cholet, there was a unit with guns that could fire in bursts.”

Burst fire, that is, firing bullets in rapid succession.

Rochejaquelein blinked.

Of course, there were units that could fire in bursts.

The Red Coats.

That is, the British Army.

Since the United Kingdom had seized India, the supply of gunpowder had become plentiful.

Thanks to this, when other European armies couldn’t conduct live-fire training, only the United Kingdom was able to do so.

If you formed a three-row formation and trained to fire in bursts with muskets, you could shoot non-stop.

But that was almost impossible for other European armies.

Especially the Revolutionary Army.

Moreover, he heard that the gun itself was capable of burst fire?

Rochejaquelein was dumbfounded and exclaimed.

“How is that possible? Burst fire, that’s impossible for anyone!”

“No, I think I heard about the Holy Roman Empire developing such a gun when I was in the army. But I also heard that it wasn’t put to practical use.”

“Why are you telling me that now? How many were in that unit?”

Could it be a secret weapon of the Revolutionary Army?

If so, they needed to know the exact number.

Trémoille, lacking confidence, estimated.

“About 30 people? I don’t know exactly because we fought in a hurry, but there weren’t many.”

This was about Eugene’s Postal Special Company.

Trémoille’s answer was actually completely wrong.

First of all, Eugene’s Special Company had 100 people, not 30, and the Girandoni repeater [an early repeating air rifle] could only fire up to 20 shots, after which they had to use the Ferguson rifle [an early breech-loading rifle].

However, when he heard that there were 30 people, Rochejaquelein was relieved.

The main force of the White Army in La Rochelle alone was 50,000 people.

If you combined the armies of Stofflet and Charette, it reached 60,000.

This was not a war that could be overturned by 30 shooters.

“Okay. How long can Cholet hold out?”

At Rochejaquelein’s question, Trémoille tilted his head again.

“I don’t know. They’ve launched an all-out offensive. But if we occupy Nantes first, won’t they come back?”

“That’s definitely true. Who did you say was their commander-in-chief, Marquis de Lescure?”

“Kléber. I heard he was a defeated general who was captured by the Austrian army in ‘Mayenne’. It seems that he was newly appointed after Rossignol took responsibility and stepped down.”

Lescure confirmed the ‘rumors’ that had recently arrived.

Strictly speaking, the reason he learned Kléber’s name was different.

Because the Revolutionary Army was spreading ‘leaflets’.

It was a seditious document declaring the suspension of the national loyalty oath.

The signatory of the document was the new commander, Kléber.

However, the rumor that Kléber was a defeated general was spread by Eugene using Gomi and the La Rochelle regiment from the Vendée region among the Postal Special Company members.

Since it was true, Lescure had no reason to doubt it.

Rochejaquelein beamed.

“That’s great! If he’s a defeated general, he’ll be cautious. If we mobilize first, we can occupy Nantes before Cholet falls!”

In the end, the attack on Nantes was a gamble.

However, Rochejaquelein saw it as a gamble with a chance of winning.

If the Revolutionary Army mobilized its main force, it would bring a huge amount of supplies, including cannons.

Unless they prepared ‘in advance’, they could never return quickly.

“Send people to Stofflet and Charette. Tell them to prepare to advance on Nantes!”

“Where should we go? Luçon is still in the hands of those traitors. It seems empty, though.”

“The road to Luçon is easy for them to spot. Since we’re going, let’s take the road that joins Stofflet in Machecoul.”

Looking at the map, Rochejaquelein drew a line.

“We’re going to the coast. England has also agreed to help.”

In the end, Rochejaquelein, who brought up England, quietly closed his mouth.

It was a slip of the tongue.

However, the foundation that allowed this gambling operation to be carried out was ultimately the help of England.

If not, how could the Royalists fight the government army in a situation of isolation?

Lescure smiled bitterly.

“To join hands with the enemy country to save the country? It’s a bitter pill to swallow.”

“There’s no choice. If we go on like this, all the residents of Vendée will be massacred. Those damn traitors!”

“Yes. If we win here, ‘Louis XVII’ [the uncrowned King of France] will return and sort everything out.”

Louis XVII, the brother of the former king.

The figure to whom the Royalists now pledged their allegiance.

To liberate the country by restoring the king.

That was the Royalists’ cause.

Rochejaquelein shouted vigorously.

“Let’s occupy Nantes, without fail!”

The Royalist White Army’s gamble had begun.

***

In this era, the marching speed of infantry was usually about 4 kilometers per hour, and the daily marching distance was about 25 kilometers.

-Step, step, step.

But now the Royalist White Army was literally on a forced march.

There was one reason why this was possible.

Because the supply wagons were only carrying cannons and gunpowder.

Suddenly, Jacques, a soldier of the Royal Army, wiped away his sweat.

“Whew, I’m thirsty.”

Then he saw water bottles lined up on the coast.

The soldiers stopped marching and ran towards the water bottles.

They drank water excitedly to quench their thirst.

-Glug, glug, glug!

The Royal Army soldiers chattered excitedly.

“Wow, there’s food every time we go to the coast.”

“This must be the insight of the young commander-in-chief, right? Hahaha!”

“God’s grace! Praise be to God!”

On the other hand, Jacques’ expression was dark even while drinking water.

It felt like he was committing a sin.

At that moment, a soldier asked from behind Jacques.

“Why do you look so glum, Jacques?”

The young aristocrat, Henri Forestier.

Originally, before the revolution, he was a so-called high-ranking person whom Jacques wouldn’t have dared to look at.

But strangely enough, the revolution tied the aristocrats and peasants together under the name of ‘rebels’.

Now, the former aristocrat Henri and the former peasant Jacques, who had become rebels together, had become friends.

Jacques replied to Henri with a dark expression.

“Henri, is this really prepared by our Royal Army people?”

“What? What do you mean?”

“It feels like someone left it on the sea.”

Jacques muttered, chewing on strangely tasteless bread.

“Like the British left it behind.”

Of course, the taste of the bread was a matter of perception.

Because this bread was actually made by refining smuggled wheat from France in England.

Anyway, Jacques’ intuition was accurate.

Henri, a noble officer who knew the general situation, couldn’t say anything.

Was the king someone who must be brought back even by selling the country to the enemy?

None of the Royalist White Army would be able to answer that with certainty.

At that time.

“Okay, it’s meal time! There’s delicious bread and meat!”

“Oh, it’s the marchioness’s luncheon!”

“Let’s go eat! Jacques!”

From afar, Marie de Lescure, the wife of the Marquis de Lescure, came and shouted, handing out bread.

“You’re Jacques, right? Please take good care of my husband in this battle too!”

Again, the young noblewoman in her 20s, whom he wouldn’t have dared to look at before the revolution, was smiling.

Looking at that smile, Jacques couldn’t voice his doubts.

If they lost the war, that woman would be dragged away and humiliated.

He wanted to prevent that from happening.

Although Jacques wasn’t a noble knight.

“Yes, Marchioness. I will definitely protect him in the name of God.”

The bond created by the nobles humbling themselves.

The only force that united the Vendée rebels was moving Jacques and the soldiers.

***

Finally, 50,000 White Army soldiers reached the mouth of the Loire River, where Nantes could be seen.

“Good judgment, Commander-in-Chief! Nantes is really empty now. Moreover, Carié is guarding it as a market proxy!”

General Stofflet, who was guarding Machecoul at the southern end of the Loire River estuary, joined them.

Before the revolution, he was a lower-ranking officer working under noble generals.

However, when the world turned upside down due to the revolution, this man strangely succeeded in the Royalist rebels.

Looking at Stofflet with a rough face, the handsome young man Rochejaquelein smiled brightly.

“That’s a relief, Major General Jean-Nicolas Stofflet.”

“Hahaha! What major general! But if His Majesty the King returns and officially appoints me, that’s what I’ll be!”

“Now, if we cross that pontoon bridge, it’s Chabenet. From there, we will bypass Nantes and strike directly.”

There was still no bridge over the Loire River.

Therefore, a temporary pontoon bridge was essential for crossing the river.

Thanks to Stofflet, who had extensive military experience, the pontoon bridge could be easily built.

However, Stofflet, who actually built the pontoon bridge, frowned at an unexpected point.

“Do we have to be with Charette?”

François de Charette.

A participant in the American Revolutionary War.

In the current situation where the early leaders of the Vendée rebels, including Marquis de Bonchamps, were dead, he was virtually the most senior.

However, due to his low rank, he had given up the position of commander-in-chief in the Vendée rebels, which were dominated by noble officers.

In later history, he was also a general who fought to the end even after the Vendée rebels collapsed.

He was in a competitive relationship with Stofflet within the rebels.

Even if the country collapses, even if you start a rebellion, competition always exists.

Rochejaquelein replied with a bitter smile.

“General Stofflet, we are not deploying all our forces now.”

“I know! Isn’t it because we have to protect Cholet!”

“So we definitely need two experienced generals. The enemies have fewer numbers than us, but they have no non-combat personnel, and their firepower is stronger.”

Stofflet clicked his tongue and turned his head.

“I know. Ah, there’s Charette!”

Now, they were undertaking a risky gamble.

Whether it’s a competitor, an enemy, or even an enemy country, they had to borrow strength to defeat the [traitors].

Only then was there a future.

“Did you bring all 12 cannons, including the Saint Mary Cannon?”

Suddenly, Charette, who had rushed in, asked without even greeting.

This was also why Stofflet hated Charette.

Rochejaquelein nodded, blocking Stofflet, who was frowning.

“Of course. Major Charette.”

“To attack Nantes, shelling is essential. There will be enough manpower to build a pontoon bridge on the Nantes Island side when the infantry advances, right? Major Stofflet?”

“Tch, of course.”

Charette nodded.

“Good. Let’s divide into three armies and attack Nantes. You must be tired from marching, but there is no time to delay. The enemy can retreat at any time.”

That’s right.

Time was on the enemy’s side.

They had to capture and destroy Nantes as soon as possible for the Royalists’ gamble to succeed.

The Royalist White Army was divided into three armies and advanced towards Nantes.

Charette, who was at the forefront, set up cannons and gave orders.

“Everyone, prepare for shelling! Huh?”

At that time, Charette’s eyes widened.

“What is that?”

Shells were being fired from the sky.

Clearly not from the Nantes side.

To be exact, from the north.

It was a direction where the government army couldn’t come.

-Whoosh.

The shell exploded in the air and sparks flew.

An explosive shell.

It was also a shell that was made to explode in the air by making the fuse very short.

-Boom!

Sparks flew in the wake of the exploding shell.

Towards the black forest, towards the forest that covered this entire Vendée region.

Towards the grateful hiding place that had sheltered the Royalist White Army until now.

It was a destructive method that the Vendée corps, composed of farmers, couldn’t even imagine.

“Fire!”

Amid the soldiers’ screams, Rochejaquelein screamed.

“Where the hell did those traitors come from!”

From the north, that is, the exact opposite of the south, Cholet.

Literally, the Revolutionary Government Army had arrived by deceiving and bypassing the front.

It was the moment when the [gambling war board] created by Eugene by deceiving the Royalists was revealed.