He Became Napoleon’S Genius Son [EN]: Chapter 80

(80) The Sardinian Preliminary Skirmish is a Deceptive Forced March

Whenever France tried to conquer Italy, there was always a preliminary gateway.

It was also the gateway to three hundred years of repeated expedition failures.

Namely, the former Duchy of Savoy, now the land occupied by the Kingdom of Sardinia-Piedmont.

“Did you know? Sardinia is actually farther than Corsica.”

In March 1795, Napoleon’s Italian Legion departed from Nice.

The total number was 48,000, a force including 60 cannons and 3,000 cavalry.

Certainly not a small number, but that’s only the case in a defensive war.

Offense always requires stronger firepower than defense, and the Austrian army in Italy numbers at least 70,000.

Moreover, the Kingdom of Sardinia is an immediate problem.

It is strictly an independent country with its own defense forces of over 30,000.

Furthermore, it was a place that France considered a nuisance when campaigning in Italy.

Why?

The reason is simple.

If you just ignore it and pass through, it doesn’t have the national power to dare touch the army of a great power like France.

However, if you want to conquer it, the Alps are quite rugged, making it difficult to easily advance to the capital.

Literally a [white elephant: something expensive and troublesome] of a land.

It is the first enemy that Napoleon’s Italian Legion must face.

Suddenly, in response to Eugene’s question, Hippolyte, while riding, asked back.

“Really? How did an insignificant island become the name of a kingdom here?”

“They happened to occupy Sardinia, and that island has a [throne: a claim to legitimacy].”

“What?”

Again, Eugene also pulled on the reins of his horse and replied.

“A throne determined by the Pope since the Middle Ages. The throne of Sardinia.”

Like medieval knights, the two ride their horses.

Passing by them are carts carrying soldiers.

[Supply transport carts] that Eugene utilized in the Vendée War.

Infantrymen who originally had to move by marching were taking turns riding in the carts.

The entire army of 48,000 cannot ride horses.

However, if supply carts are mobilized, they can take turns riding in the carts and take a rest.

Eugene came up with the idea after seeing the increased number of horses after the Pyrenees cavalry arrived.

Combined with the postal carriages still remaining in Marseille, the current Italian Legion transport carriages were born.

Of course, all the costs required for this were paid by the [Boarneh Cartel: a financial group supporting Napoleon].

It’s not for nothing that Colaud shouted that he would go bankrupt if the expedition failed.

Eugene is pouring all the funds he has earned into this expedition.

It’s a gamble, but it’s not a gamble for Eugene.

Because only Eugene knows that the Italian expedition will definitely succeed.

At that time, Hippolyte chuckled.

“Wow, it’s really medieval. I feel anew how cutting-edge our France is. We’re running with supply carts right now, aren’t we?”

“It’s just our unit that’s like that. Besides, what is France ahead in? Technology, systems, and finance are all ahead in England.”

“Ah, we cut off a king, didn’t we? Well, he died himself, though. Ahem.”

Just as Hippolyte was about to clear his throat after bringing up something he shouldn’t have mentioned.

“But the enemy is not a medieval army.”

With a very stern face, Augereau was glaring at Eugene and Hippolyte.

The unit that Eugene and Hippolyte are currently passing is Augereau’s division.

Among the four divisions of the Italian Legion, it is the unit with the strongest military discipline.

Augereau himself was famous as a [deserter: someone who abandons their military duty] expert during his days as a private.

It seems he is using his experience to harshly train the soldiers.

As evidence, Augereau’s division was not using supply carts.

With a displeased expression, Augereau pressed Eugene.

“Don’t take it lightly. The enemy, the Austrian army, is armed with the latest cannons and muskets, and more abundant military equipment than us.”

“I know it well. Commander Augereau.”

“Hmph, you’ve only read it in documents. Does a boy like you even know the horrors of battle? Giddy up!”

Watching Augereau run back to the front of the infantry division, Eugene tilted his head.

It seems that there is emotion mixed in, rather than just scolding.

Why on earth did Augereau show displeasure to Eugene?

Just then.

A man who was riding leisurely on his horse, approaching as if to monitor the march, burst out laughing.

“Wow, Augereau is sulking properly?”

“Do you happen to know why he’s like that? Commander Masséna?”

“It’s simple. Augereau is a radical Jacobin [a member of a revolutionary political movement]. Didn’t you know?”

Masséna, the division commander who is making good use of the motorized carts, winked.

“He really hates the knight of the princess. Ah, not me.”

Somehow, Masséna seems to like Eugene again.

Eugene felt a strange feeling.

According to historical records, Augereau is faithful and Masséna is a libertine [a person without moral restraint].

Come to think of it, there is also the libertine Hippolyte around Eugene, who left his name in history as a playboy.

It even feels like he is only gaining popularity with libertines.

Chuckling, Eugene asked Masséna.

“You used to be on a ship?”

“Don’t tell me you’re going to send me to the navy too? I’ll pass. I’m used to land now, so I really like solid ground. Oof! Horses are even better.”

“I have no intention of doing that. However, since you have a record, you would be more advantageous in examining the soil of the coast, right?”

Eugene’s eyes lit up towards Masséna.

“Advance to the Ligurian coast. Preemptively.”

This is why Eugene and his adjutant Hippolyte ran all the way here in the first place.

To instruct the leading division, Masséna’s division, on the route.

The instruction is to go to the coastal road, the flat road to Genoa.

Masséna’s expression became interesting.

“Commander’s order?”

“Yes, I am the chief adjutant, emergency commander, and reserve commander. In fact, that’s why I ran to the front.”

“You have so many roles. What’s the reason? If we go to the coast and get caught by the British fleet, we’re all screwed.”

The Ligurian coastal road certainly has advantages.

The biggest advantage is that you don’t have to cross the Alps.

However, because it faces the sea, there is a high risk of naval attacks.

Doesn’t the Mediterranean Sea still have British naval supremacy?

At that moment, Eugene took out a letter from his pocket.

-Chuck.

The moment Masséna’s eyes widened as he received the letter, Eugene said.

“This is the news that just arrived. The recapture of Corsica has been successful. Of course, only the beach for now.”

A battle that took place off the coast of Ajaccio, Corsica.

The first sortie of the newly reorganized French Mediterranean Fleet was successful.

Of course, it was thanks to the British fleet leaving for the North Sea.

Anyway, Masséna cheered at the news of the victory.

“Amazing. Isn’t this the first victory against the British fleet since the revolution?”

“It’s more accurate to call it a home robbery.”

“That’s the same thing! Victory is a hundred times more important than fighting a strong enemy 멋지게! Kya! [Korean exclamation of excitement]”

Instantly, Masséna grabbed his horse and ran back to command the division.

“Okay, let’s run the Genoa line with excitement!”

Watching the scene, Hippolyte tilted his head.

“Oh, wait. Isn’t our Genoa a feigned advance?”

“That’s right.”

“Then is Masséna’s division just a throwaway card?”

From the beginning, it was decided not to attack Genoa.

But the end of the Ligurian coastal road ends in Genoa.

Could it be that only Masséna’s division is being sent, and the rest of the troops are heading in a different direction?

Eugene shook his head.

“No, our main force will follow behind Masséna’s division.”

To deceive the enemy, you can’t just imitate.

You have to move with [truth], taking extreme risks.

***

If the infantry rides in supply carts, where is the cavalry?

-Clatter, clatter, clatter!

The 13th Pyrenees Cavalry Regiment led by Lannes originally consisted of 9 companies.

Of these, 3 were led by Lannes, 3 by Bessières, and 3 originally by Murat.

Thanks to General Dugommier’s special attention, it was a special regiment boasting over 3,000 horses, exceeding the quota.

But now, the cavalry led by Lannes and Bessières is only 30.

Reduced to one-hundredth.

Bessières, who was running, looked up at the sky and lamented like Murat.

“How can this be? To use all the precious warhorses for transportation!”

“Bessières, don’t exaggerate. Not all of them, about half. The rest are following well in the main force.”

“Colonel Lannes. Isn’t this too much? Our 13th Pyrenees Cavalry Regiment didn’t come all the way here just to pull baggage carts!”

Reduced from 3,000 to 1,500, and now only 30 are brought out, so it is very shabby.

Moreover, the soldiers who were originally cavalry are now the drivers of the supply carts.

Because cavalrymen know horses well.

Naturally, the complaints of the former cavalrymen who became supply cart soldiers are soaring.

However, Lannes, who is a passionate man, snorted.

“You don’t know anything. Cavalry is originally an auxiliary force. General Bonaparte is rather actively using us.”

“Is this what you call it? Sending us for transportation, reconnaissance, and as advance troops?”

“Bessières, if I were the commander, I would have sent myself as a scout, too?”

There is a reason why Lannes is calm.

When a person gets too excited, they tend to become calm.

In the Pyrenees battlefield, Lannes always fought at the forefront.

There were times when he won, but there were more cases where he took risks of defeat.

Because the battlefield was unfavorable, the generals before Dugommier were terrible, and Dugommier was not a very outstanding general who fought by the book.

But now, Lannes felt something.

He had a feeling that the battlefield he was running on would be a huge war.

And he is running at the forefront of that battlefield.

As a [reconnaissance cavalry: a scouting unit] with the enemy in sight.

Scout Lannes suddenly grabbed his horse and sparkled his eyes.

“Look there. Who would you send to such a dangerous battlefield? If not a daring cavalryman like me.”

Bessières and his subordinate cavalrymen stopped at once.

The border between France and the Italian Peninsula is the Alps.

It becomes flatter towards the coast, but even if you move a little inward, mountains reappear.

Above all, Lannes and Bessières are now much further inside.

Inside the Alps border, the southern end of the Kingdom of Sardinia.

Bessières whispered, hiding his horse on the hillside.

“It’s the enemy.”

“Telescope.”

“Ah, yes. Here it is.”

Lannes put the telescope on Bessières’ shoulder and stared ahead.

Far away, a unit stationed below the mountains can be seen.

Lannes, who was quietly examining the garrison, handed the telescope to Bessières and asked.

“Do you see that cross?”

The moment Bessières saw a very strangely shaped cross, Lannes said.

“It’s the emblem of the Maria Theresa Order [an Austrian military order]. The Empire guys are really old-fashioned, aren’t they?”

“How do you know?”

“There are guys who used that emblem in the Spanish side too. The commander of that unit is the same.”

Bessières asked, looking at the cross-marked army unit in a completely unguarded state.

“Shall we ambush them? The sun will set soon.”

It is a garrison with a minimum of ten thousand troops.

To ambush with only 30 troops, it is certain that Bessières’ liver has come out of his stomach [idiom for being extremely nervous].

However, Bessières and Lannes had experienced quite a few of these battles in the Pyrenees Mountains.

If you rush in at night with fire, it is easier for a small number of cavalry to stir up the enemy camp.

Especially in these mountains.

But Lannes shook his head.

“No. We may be able to gain a small victory here. But we won’t get real glory.”

“Glory?”

“Yes.”

Suddenly, Lannes turned his horse and sparkled his eyes.

“The glory of conquering Italy. Let’s go back as quickly as possible and tell the commander. That the enemies have appeared.”

Southeast Alps, southern end of Sardinia, and northwest Italy.

It was the day when the advance party of the Austrian Legion, Count Argenteau’s unit, met Lannes’ reconnaissance team.

***

In an era without radar, the war situation can only be known through reconnaissance.

“As expected, the Austrian army is moving towards Genoa.”

Loano, in the early days of the Kingdom of Sardinia.

There are no defenders here yet.

From the perspective of the Kingdom of Sardinia, it is not an important area, and it seems that the French army is moving to Genoa.

Taking advantage of the gap, Napoleon’s Italian Legion conducted wide-area reconnaissance in this vicinity.

Inside the temporary headquarters barracks, Napoleon pointed to the map over the shadows cast by candlelight.

“So far, what our Pyrenees Cavalry, Masséna’s division, and Eugene’s mounted postal unit have confirmed is as follows.”

Pyrenees cavalry reconnaissance team.

Masséna’s quick-footed infantry reconnaissance team.

As a result of mobilizing even the postal special squadron that Eugene had originally nurtured.

Objects were placed on the map.

-Chuck, chuck, chuck!

Napoleon’s Legion advancing to the northwest coast of Italy.

In response, the Austrian army and the Sardinian royal army are advancing.

But the direction is strange.

Napoleon’s eyes narrowed.

“Defending Genoa, moving towards the Kingdom of Sardinia, and in fact, the Sardinian army is in western Turin.”

Division commander Serurier, a middle-aged man commanding the rear division, widened his eyes.

“Are you wary of the Alps Legion? General Kellermann won’t move on that side.”

“The enemy doesn’t know. Thanks to that, it’s become quite easy.”

“Are you saying? A direct hit to Turin?”

Currently, there is also a legion in the Swiss side of France.

It is the unit of General Kellermann, who made achievements in the early days of the revolution.

However, General Kellermann lacks courage and plays a role in assisting Moreau’s Rhine Legion.

So, he could not recklessly enter the Kingdom of Sardinia.

However, the Kingdom of Sardinia does not know that fact.

Therefore, the main force is being deployed to the front of General Kellermann, that is, the northwest of the Kingdom of Sardinia.

On the other hand, the Austrian Legion understands Napoleon’s advance route as Genoa.

Clearly, [deception] has succeeded.

Then where to next?

According to the battle tactics of the old era, capturing the capital comes first.

Napoleon twisted his lips at Serurier’s orthodox logic.

“Does everyone think so?”

“Yes? Isn’t it?”

“Yes, Augereau. The Sardinian army and the enemy’s advance party discovered by the Pyrenees cavalry today will think the same way.”

Napoleon shook his head in response to Augereau’s question.

“After flanking maneuvers, annihilate them by individual attacks.”

The capital is not the problem.

The problem is the enemy’s military power.

You can conquer the capital, the country, and the people only by defeating the military.

This is the conclusion reached by Napoleon, a military genius who was born with the ability to see through the [weaknesses] of others.

Although this is the first time for a large-scale expedition, he has grasped the core of the war.

Of course, this operation is not without problems.

Masséna, a fairly daring man and former smuggler, licked his lips and asked.

“Your Excellency, are you going to make a flanking maneuver here now?”

“Yes.”

“While leaving the enemy behind us?”

If you go to the capital, the moment you meet the enemy will be reduced to once.

It is only once to meet the Austrian army that has run to the capital and the Sardinian army that has returned.

But the method Napoleon is talking about now is different.

It means that the army running to Genoa will be drastically maneuvered to flank and defeat the enemy one by one.

In this way, the army that has reached near Genoa, that is, the Austrian main force, will be left behind.

The main force of the Austrian Lombardy Legion, Bolieu’s army.

Napoleon smiled.

“So didn’t I say? So, the key to this expedition is speed. Why do you think I mobilized precious horses and expensive transport carts to allow the soldiers to rest as much as possible?”

It is to run at the right time.

The time has come when a literal [forced march: a long march under difficult conditions] is needed.

Just as everyone was swallowing dry saliva, Napoleon shouted.

“Now, it’s to run. Come on. Everyone, get ready to run! Run to catch up with the enemy first, and defeat them again!”

The driving force that made the French army invincible during the French Revolution.

Feet.

The time has come for the peasant soldiers to sprint.

Then, Chief of Staff Berthier asked.

“Then, where are we going?”

The decision is made by the commander.

The role of the staff is to make it possible.

So, in order to plan the march, food, and advance route, the destination had to be known.