He Became Napoleon’S Genius Son [EN]: Chapter 498

(498) The Bombardment Decides the Fate of Europe

In truth, there’s no inherent reason why it *had* to be Leipzig.

“The British are moving? Do those guys even *have* an army? That’s news to me.”

Napoleon, sipping coffee leisurely in Dresden, the capital of the Saxon Duchy, frowned.

In fact, Napoleon was considering alternative strategies.

One was to attack Prussia, a logical alternative since the defending forces were either annihilated or had fled.

Another was to head straight for Paris to reorganize back in France.

However, Chief of Staff Berthier suddenly brought a report that the British were on the move.

“They do, Your Majesty. It’s a historically significant unit called the Hanoverian Regiment. An army directly controlled by the British royal family since the time of the Electorate of Hanover [a former German state ruled by the British monarchy].”

“So, we need to be on alert because of a *regiment*-sized army?”

“It’s not regiment-sized. It’s a corps [a military formation typically consisting of two or more divisions].”

Berthier reported with an expressionless face.

“The British are willingly ordering a total mobilization in the Hanoverian kingdom, something they can’t do in their own country. They are very self-serving people.”

Berthier had now received the title of Prince of Neuchâtel [a principality in Switzerland].

Also, unlike his demeanor in the army, his private life was quite flamboyant, still keeping an Italian noblewoman as his lover.

But in front of Napoleon, he still maintained the attitude of a mechanical chief of staff.

When delivering such urgent news, it greatly helped Napoleon maintain his composure.

Napoleon turned to his chief aide-de-camp, Louis Charles Cafarelli, who was sitting across from him, drinking coffee, and grumbled.

“Indeed, the Germans are good to use as soldiers. We have quite a few Germans in our army, don’t we?”

“There’s the problem that their loyalty is difficult to guarantee, but they are deliberately divided and deployed.”

“Hmph, it’s all because those Rhine Confederation [a confederation of German states allied with Napoleon] guys betrayed us. I can understand the King of Bavaria, but for the Saxon Grand Duke to betray me… Ungrateful!”

Then, Masséna, who was there for another report some distance away, turned to Bernadotte and whispered.

“Could it be because the Saxon Grand Duke was deprived of the Duchy of Warsaw? What do you think, Bernadotte? You were originally stationed in Eastern Europe, weren’t you? You know the Saxon Grand Duke well, right?”

“Actually, he wasn’t deprived of it. Duke Massena. Strictly speaking, the Kingdom of Poland was revived. If they changed the capital to Krakow, they might have been able to maintain the Duchy of Warsaw.”

“If you think about it, Krakow was originally the Duchy of Galicia, so that guy should also start a rebellion.”

The Duke of Galicia, Friedrich Salm-Kyrburg, was certainly not capable of starting a rebellion.

Poniatowski, currently serving in the Grande Armée [Napoleon’s army], was slated to be the next King of Poland.

Also, with Napoleon’s reoccupation of Warsaw, the Saxon Grand Duke’s position was effectively stripped away.

In the end, the unreasonable move Napoleon made to carry out the Russian campaign was the root of all problems.

Thanks to that, the Russian Empire was divided, though.

“So, how many troops do these Hanoverian corps or regiments have?”

Napoleon, ever the brazen man, asked, and Berthier, the expressionless man, handed over the report.

“As I mentioned, it’s one corps. A total of 70,000 men, of which 20,000 are cavalry. The only elite cavalry the British possess.”

Originally, even in the original history, Wellington didn’t trust the cavalry in the British army the most.

Thus, all the cavalry that Wellington relied on were from the Kingdom of Hanover.

Currently, the army mobilizing under the orders of the British mainland at Castlereagh’s request is the cavalry of the Kingdom of Hanover.

Napoleon also knew the state of the Hanoverian kingdom’s military, so he frowned.

“That’s not a force to be ignored. Damn it. Of all places, they came right up to the Rhine!”

“Weren’t you planning to stop near Leipzig anyway because of King Eugene?”

“Still, I wanted to break through to the Rhine if possible! Because that’s strategically advantageous.”

Napoleon threw down the report and grumbled again.

“In the end, it’s going to be as Eugene said. I can’t help it.”

War never goes according to plan.

This time too, Eugene had proposed a grand strategy, but Napoleon thought there was a lot of room for change.

Because he easily defeated Prussia.

However, as the Kingdom of Hungary used Britain as a diversionary force, the situation changed again.

Originally, in the original history, Britain used the Prussian army as a diversion, so Eugene might have called it ironic if he had seen it.

“By the way, are King Eugene and the 4th Corps coming? Chief Rochejaquelein?”

Suddenly, Masséna called out the head of the Surêté [French secret police], Rochejaquelein, who had been silent.

In the current situation, whether Eugene comes or not, it’s necessary to advance to Leipzig.

However, he was curious if Eugene would really come.

Rochejaquelein nodded, his face slowly turning white these days.

“He will come.”

“Is that faith, or information?”

“It seems similar to how Marshal Lannes doesn’t feel uneasy. However, intelligence has been received that he won in the North Sea.”

Then, Napoleon stood up abruptly instead of Lannes.

“What? Eugene won in the North Sea? Why are you telling me such information so late!”

Berthier’s General Staff, marshals like Masséna, and aides-de-camp led by Louis Charles were all taken aback.

Because it was information that had not been obtained until now.

For a moment, Rochejaquelein blinked and bowed his head.

“It seemed that Your Majesty was busy. As far as I know, you were contemplating how to handle the Prussian Queen Louise.”

“Enough! Sound the victory! To the entire army! My son has defeated the British at sea!”

“Your Majesty, it’s better to keep it a secret.”

Rochejaquelein said lowly to Napoleon, who was delaying the advance with a plan to capture Queen Louise, *if you knew*.

“It’s unlikely that British spies have infiltrated the high command, but who knows at the soldier level.”

This place is truly a tea party for the high command of the French Grande Armée.

However, there’s no guarantee that British Alien Office [British intelligence agency] agents haven’t infiltrated at the soldier level.

But is it really advantageous to announce that Eugene has won?

Napoleon nodded and narrowed his brows.

“Then, I ask. How is he coming?”

“So far, the information has not been obtained yet.”

“Really secretive.”

Of course, this is Napoleon’s joke.

No matter how many informants Rochejaquelein has spread out, this is not the era of telegrams.

The most he could do was deliver the news of victory.

Napoleon looked at the remaining coffee with a slightly disappointed face, then poured it on the floor without regret.

“Good. I’ll look forward to Eugene’s surprise show. Then, we’re going to Leipzig! The British army will be dealt with by Oudinot’s corps!”

All the generals responded in unison.

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

It was the moment when the Grande Armée was about to rush to Leipzig.

***

However, what Napoleon saw when he came to Leipzig was beyond imagination.

-Bang! Bang bang! Bang bang bang!

It’s not yet within firing range.

However, concerted fire was taking place from the entrenchments [fortified defensive positions] installed near the walls of Leipzig.

Originally, in the era of line infantry from the late 18th to the early 19th century, such shooting battles did not occur.

Because the musket requires standing fire, and gunpowder is scarce.

Moreover, a structure that Napoleon did not expect was also visible.

“What on earth is that?”

Napoleon widened his eyes as he looked through his telescope.

It would be a lie to say that he had never seen such a foundation before.

Because he had seen and experienced it enough during the Battle of Borodino.

Chief of Staff Berthier mechanically stated.

“It’s a battery made of cannons, Your Majesty.”

“Who’s asking because they don’t know! Why wasn’t it reported that something like that was being built in Leipzig!”

“The situation was such that scouts could not approach.”

Berthier answered still expressionlessly, but with a hint of shaking in his eyes.

“Because all of our skirmishers were being killed by snipers.”

This is an era where people have to directly see and obtain all intelligence.

Naturally, reconnaissance must also be carried out by light infantry approaching in skirmish formation.

However, the area near Leipzig is a wide plain, making it difficult to hide and approach for close observation.

As a result, most of the scouts died.

But if it’s sniper fire, it means they were shooting from hiding.

Napoleon raised his eyebrows.

Sniping is extremely difficult with standing fire.

“The Hungarian army has breech-loading guns? How!”

“There are Beaurnais-style rifles from the Pauli armory that they received from the Rhine Confederation. In addition, the old Austria originally had Girandoni air rifles [an early form of air rifle]. It seems they have organized and operated a sniper unit this time.”

“Why wasn’t this intelligence obtained, Rochejaquelein!”

Rochejaquelein bowed his head, his face pale from staying in Russia.

“I’m sorry, Your Majesty. I didn’t pay enough attention.”

It’s because they’ve only been winning too much.

Even Rochejaquelein, who usually collects information thoroughly, made a mistake.

Of course, even if he had known in advance, there would have been no way to prepare for it.

Now, Karl has built a great entrenchment that is impossible to approach.

Occupying such a fortress-like place is a battle that is happening to Napoleon for the first time in almost 20 years.

“I can’t help it. We brought all the cannons we have, right?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Then, show them the power of the artillery. Is this like Toulon to me?”

Remembering the Battle of Toulon, Napoleon called the artillery commander.

“Marmont! Gather the Grande Batterie [a large concentration of artillery guns]!”

This is the time to show the power of the Grand Battery.

***

Both sides, a total of 750,000 men, and 1,000 cannons were gathered.

-Bang! Bang! Bang!

If you think about it, the Allied forces have overwhelming power.

But they are stationed in the walls and entrenchments of Leipzig and do not move.

So, they fired with the intention of demolishing the entrenchments with artillery, but the problem was that the other side responded with the same tactics.

In short, a continuous artillery battle began.

“Aaaagh! Retreat! We can’t break through!”

“Medic! Bandage! Aaaagh!”

“At this rate, the battle line will break!”

Chief Chamberlain Duroc approached Napoleon, who was staring at the battlefield filled with gunpowder smoke, and said.

“Your Majesty, you should move the artillery back for now.”

However, instead of giving the order to retreat, Napoleon burst into anger.

“Unbelievable. Does Hungary, no, Austria, have such elite artillery? Then, why was it a mess until now?”

“Could it be because the commander-in-chief has changed?”

“So, it’s different when Karl commands, is it?”

Of course, this is just Napoleon and Duroc’s prejudice.

In fact, old Austria was famous for having the best artillery in Europe before the French Revolution.

Rather, the reason why France was successful during the French Revolution was thanks to its large-scale mobilization and Napoleon’s mobile warfare, not because of artillery.

Karl is simply utilizing the existing artillery power efficiently.

In any case, the opponent Napoleon is facing is a powerful firepower unit like never before.

“This is, there’s really no answer. How on earth should we break through?”

The emperor, facing difficulties for the first time in his life, stared at the front.

Leipzig, the battlefield where the emperor was defeated in the original history.